Fitmixtape

Operatic soprano Alyson Cambridge has had a lot of laudatory adjectives thrown her way — radiant, powerful, revelatory are just a few. Add to the list: fit. A dedicated runner and strength trainer, she adheres to a consistent workout and wellness plan geared to make her a strong, healthy and resilient performer. She started singing when she was 12 and debuted at the Metropolitan Opera at 24. She has appeared with numerous opera companies and stepped out on Broadway last year in Rocktopia, a mash-up of classic rock and classical, where her endurance — which allowed her to hit an expansive range show after show after show — didn’t go unnoticed. We chatted with the award-winning singer, who lives in New York, about her love affair with running, how she strategizes her sleep and nutrition for peak performance energy, why she refuses to be too precious about taking care of her voice and what goals she has her sights on in the opera world and beyond. On Alyson’s workout playlists: Upbeat pop, EDM, techno   “Too Clo

When I spoke with Jon Shockness, aka Kid Astronaut, he had recently performed at Red Rocks, the famous open-air amphitheater situated a few miles from Denver, Colorado, his hometown. A big deal by any measure, but a particularly heady experience for Shockness, a soulful vocalist and musician, whose second solo album, Full Moon, came out in the spring. A former member of the hip-hop band Air Dubai, which disbanded in 2015, Shockness craves movement and connection with his environment. Listen to us touch on how he fell into yoga, what his workouts have looked like over the years, the role movement plays in managing his mental health and how a relentless quest to be better finds its way into both his musical and physical pursuits. Follow Kid Astronaut on Instagram @kidastronavt and Twitter @kidastronavt. Find him on Facebook @kidastronaut. For Kid Astronaut merch — and the chance to give back a little — visit kid-astronaut-shop.myshopify.com. $5 from the sale of each tee supports the Denver Food Rescue. Check ou

The ’80s hair-metal scene is known for a lot of things, fitness and wellness not normally included. But try telling that to Bobby Rock, an accomplished drummer and fitness enthusiast who committed to a healthy lifestyle back in 1984, just as his career was getting off the ground. (“One night,” he writes, in his new book The Boy is Gonna Rock, “in the back lot of a Red Roof Inn somewhere in Mississippi, I did so many sets of squats I could barely walk the next day—no exaggeration.”) His dedication is real. He’ll perform a full set on stage and then head to the gym (often after midnight) to get in a workout. He ran two marathons largely because his mother was a runner. He is a quiet leader, loves animals, supports several animal-welfare organizations and has been a strict vegan since 1993. He meditates. He’s written nine books and has toured with the likes of Slaughter, Nelson, Vinnie Vincent Invasion and more. And, at 54, he’s still drumming — currently on the road with metal icon Lita Ford — and is injury fr

Nina Osegueda is the frontwoman of the heavy metal band A Sound of Thunder. She lost 60 pounds in the early 2000s after overhauling her nutrition and exercise habits, and has held to a terrifically realistic approach to fitness, wellness and overall health ever since. She is a runner (sometimes begrudgingly) and likes a group fitness class. She is also an awesome role model for young women who want to, say, take a stage by storm with a heavy metal band — or who just want to do their thing out in the world (whatever that thing may be) with confidence. We talked about what she does now to stay healthy and fit, where her creative inspiration stems from, how she and the band envision their musical impact and the energy she aspires to for the rest of her career. (Hint: Iron Maiden factors into that one.) Find Nina on Twitter @DuchessODork. Info on A Sound of Thunder can be found on their website asoundofthunderband.com. Follow the band on Twitter (@asotband) and Instagram (@asotband). Show notes can be found at 

We chat with Eileen Moon, associate principal cellist with the New York Philharmonic and avid runner. Moon spoke with us early last year about her love affair with running, how prepping for performances and prepping for races isn’t so dissimilar, her dedication to the welfare of animals and her endless energy and capacity for doing good. A breast cancer survivor, Moon began running as part of her recovery and was such a stellar story (and ambassador for the sport) she was named a Runner’s World cover search winner in the fall of 2016. She’s a total gem.      Show notes can be found at fitmixtape.com. While you’re there, sign up for our weekly newsletter. Follow the show on Instagram and Twitter: @fitmixtape Have a comment, question, suggestion or killer playlist? Send an email to fitmixtape@gmail.com.