Missing Richard Simmons Podcast

Is anyone listening to this podcast?

It's fantastic! It's by a guy who was in his fitness class for years and considered Simmons a friend until the day he suddenly disappeared from public sight (3 years ago). The podcast is both an amateur PI investigation, and also a touching series of interviews with people who he helped and cared for over the last 40 years.

Besides being totally entertaining and delightful to listen to, it actually brought up a whole bunch of emotions that I didn't even know I had about obesity. I was struggling hard with my body image in the 80s when I was a teenager and Richard Simmons was on every channel.

Remember when Deal a Meal & Sweating to the Oldies were everywhere?! They were serious programs to him and his followers but it was always clear to me that he and his fat friends were the butt of everyone's jokes. I was a teenager who wanted to be in on the joke, but I was also scared that I was who they were making fun of. Listening to him interviewed on the podcast gave me this weird mix of emotions--both comfortable and uncomfortable. Does that make sense? I guess I am still a scared fat kid on the inside...

I have always had a soft spot for Richard Simmons. I know he was always the butt of jokes, but to me, he really cared about helping obese people. He always made me feel better about myself. I actually think he was/is a very genuine person.

I haven't listened to the podcast, because I wasn't sure if it was a joke or making fun of him -- and I've never been okay with that. I don't like that people made fun of him for being effeminate (as if it's so bad to in any way have female qualities!) or for his hair. It's shallow. -- and I sort of thought maybe this podcast was capitalizing on the "joke" of Simmons.

Reading your post and knowing you, I am interested in listening now.

I hope he okay.

I wasn't sure if it was going to be sincere or not either, but it really is sweet and touching. I mean, he is still Richard Simmons, so he is larger than life and somewhat crazy, but the people who loved him, really loved him, and that part is no joke.

That's good to hear. I was worried it would be exploitive. I'll check it out!

I always loved Richard Simmons!! I did not care what anyone else thought. I always dreamed of attending his exercise classes in person. I loved seeing him on talk shows.

I did not know about the podcast but am listening to it now. Thanks.

I know what you mean -- it was sort of embarrassing to admit to being a fan, back in the day. But I found his Sweatin to the Oldies tapes (and eventually I upgraded to DVDs) to be great for being able to work my way up to about an hour of exercise when I first got obese. And he really was so genuine; he cared about the people he helped.

I know he's quietly retired now and out of the public eye, but lots of people do miss him and his sunshiny, you can do it personality.

After all the hoopla about the podcast came out, I saw an article that quoted the LA police department. They said they had done some "well being" checks on Richard, had spoken directly to him, and that he was fine and was not being held against his will.

He did call in to some show a while back saying he was fine. But I wish he would make a public appearance to alleviate all his fans concerns. He was such an inspiration to so many people for such a long time.

I know he made these statements, but as the podcast shows--his disappearance just doesn't square AT ALL with who is is and how he lived his life. He was in touch with a lot of people who is was very close to, every single day and then suddenly never speaks to literally anyone ever again? He is either having a breakdown of epic proportions, or he is being controlled by someone. It is very very sad.

I think it is both. Some sort of epic breakdown. Maybe his people then thought they were protecting him but this is crazy. I think it is about the money. He is worth millions and someone is taking advantage of him to control his money.

The 94 year old woman who misses her friend of 40 years and his other friends deserve answers. So sad.

Omg this podcast is so good! I was concerned about it being exploitive as well but the first episode touched me. The interviews with the people across the country that he made weekly calls to were so sweet. He definitely had a side to him I never thought of before.

And the 94 year old killed me, I felt so badly for her! I'm still a little worried it's a little exploitive but the guy does genuinely seem to be worried about him and it sounds like he did verify that health wise Richard is fine before he started the project.