Kendall Toole became a fan favorite at Peloton for her tough-as-nails Metal Rides and for putting mental health front and center. When she left the company in June 2024, her followers — more than a million strong on Instagram — wondered what her next chapter would look like.
That answer: the NKO Club, her new workout-meets-mental-wellness platform. “Putting out a fitness app for the world is not anything new. We know a lot of people do it, and there's so much choice out there,” Toole says. “I would love to help build other habits beyond just movement.”
While most apps live in one camp — mental health or movement — Toole wanted both. Here, she explains her mindset, what keeps her active, and where she’s heading next.
On the phrase that gets her through
“They can knock you down, but they can never knock you out. That idea came from my dad and got me through my tough mental health chapter.”
On the body–brain connection
“When I was in college and my mental health was really at its worst, the only time I could find quiet in my brain was when I was moving my body. I put on these big sweeping cinematic playlists and let myself feel and move. All of that kinetic energy had an outlet.
Then, I found that next level with boxing. When I started training, I started understanding that I could take all of that energy and convert it into power. We can take these bigger feelings, these emotions that we have, and turn them into something tangible. Our brains do all this thinking and all this protecting us. But we need to find a way to take those thoughts and turn that energy into something positive.”
On evolving
“I look back at old classes and I cringe. I'm like, oh man. And it's kind of a beautiful thing. I'm not just the high-energy pop-punk, metal, ‘rah’ girl. That’s a big part of who I am, but there's a whole other side.
Today, you're getting the most real, vulnerable version of myself — which is both very exciting and very nerve-wracking. But I think that's where growth comes from. If I allow myself to be seen, I hope the rest of the world feels empowered to do the same.”
On moving beyond Peloton
“I was moving 14 times a week, and it was my favorite thing to do for my mental health. But it did become, at times, a job and a chore — like anything does when we do it that much.
When you're forced to stop, you kind of see all the balls that were in the air and how the machine was operating. [This pause] has given me a chance to go internal and say: What do we need next? What do I need next? If I were guiding myself, how do we evolve from here?
A lot of things are becoming so automated. It feels like we're losing our instincts, we're losing the joy of the movement. We're all about metrics and sharing and posting — it becomes about the PR. I put so much value in performance for a long time.
I want people to fall back in love with moving just to feel good — not because they have to post it or share it. I love it if you do. But I want you to feel great and well by your choice.”
On speaking up and speaking out
“I love to speak openly about mental health. I want to encourage others to do the same. So if there's something to say in that area, I will.
But for other topics, even if I have opinions… am I the best person to speak on them? Most of the time, the answer is no.Setting those boundaries — knowing when it’s time for me to have the mic and when it’s time to pass it to someone else — has given me a lot of peace. I don’t need to be everything for everybody.”
Rapid-fire
Song that gets you out of a bad mood: “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”Fashion trend she’s into: Baggy pantsFavorite snack: Chomps stick + Babybel cheeseMust-see streamer: Rewatching ScandalCurrent music obsession: Olivia Dean
Interview has been edited and condensed for clarity
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