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CoSIDA Goodwill & Wellness Committee
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Communicators Outside the Lines Feature Series
This is the next profile in a series entitled
Communicators Outside the Lines: Better Yourself, Better Your Community produced by the CoSIDA Goodwill & Wellness Committee. Read past profiles at
CoSIDA.com/CommunicatorsOTL.
WE NEED YOUR IDEAS!
If you have any ideas for this series, which will revolve around CoSIDA member volunteerism and health and wellness, please contact Goodwill and Wellness Committee chair
Jeremy Rosenthal, Indiana University Assistant Director of Strategic Communications, at
jr359@indiana.edu.
Zach Fisher: Crank up the music and ride the day away
Michigan State University, Assistant Director Athletic Communications
by Denise Thompson – Delaware, Associate AD, Communications & Creative Services / Goodwill & Wellness Committee member
Zach Fisher is an assistant director for athletic communication for Michigan State baseball and football, where he has served since 2016. Fisher completed his undergrad at Carroll College in 2001 and has since had stops at Pittsburg State, West Texas A&M and Utah State. He is married to Kara Fisher, who is also his coworker at Michigan State. The couple are regular participants in CoSIDA activities such as the Fitness Challenge and 5K. Below, Zach shares about their decision to buy a Peloton and how it helps him maintain a healthy lifestyle and deal with the stresses of life.
Sign up for the virtual or in-person #CoSIDA22 5K Fun Run/2-Mile Walk at CoSIDA.com/5K.
First photo with a Peleton before first ride on day bike was delivered, getting rock on with the AC/DC ride.
You recently bought a Peloton. What made you purchase one?
ZF: We’d had a gym membership for a long time but basically just became a monthly donation since we never went, and had heard great things about it from my sister and other folks. So figured I couldn’t have the excuse of “I can’t make it to the gym” if it’s in my house and I just have to go down to the basement. I had mentioned something to my parents one time about how we were looking at getting a Peloton as our Christmas present to each other, so they ended up purchasing it for us as our birthday, Christmas and Anniversary presents, and ironically it was delivered on Kara’s birthday.
Besides the Peloton, are there any other forms of exercise that you have taken up within the last year?
ZF: We both got bicycles during COVID, so we went on a lot more bike rides last summer and fall. Unfortunately, living in Michigan means not much outdoor activities in the winter, which is another reason why we got the Peloton, so we can ride that bike in the winter.
Reenacting the faux controversial Peloton ad.
What are some ways that you have found to fit in workouts to balance your work schedule?
ZF: It’s been great to come home after a stressful or frazzled day and go for a ride. Instead of letting the crappy day fester, boil, toil and trouble the night away, I take out the day on the pedals and feel so much better. Sure I’ve got some sore legs, but have a more clear head and lighter shoulders! We have ours in our unfinished basement, so there’s no other distractions like TV or anything. It's just me and the bike. I crank the music up and ride away the day.
Why is staying healthy important to you?
ZF: While it hurts to admit it, I’m getting older and not a spring chicken anymore, and have heard and seen people my age having some major issues from not being healthy. Plus, I’m not so good looking enough as is, so I don’t need to add extra chins and weight.
Smiling for photo to act like not tired after a workout! Fake it til ya make it!
With the shift of our work schedules and going towards a more hybrid one, have you seen that as a positive for your mental health? If so, why?
ZF: Yes, I’ve been able to work from home more, especially after a long night or if know will have a long, late night, so can kind of ease into the day instead of just diving in to a long day.
Our hours in athletics communications are hectic, but you’re married to one of us! How have you and Kara managed to not bring work home with you too much?
ZF: We often end up talking about home life at work sometimes, and people feel bad about interrupting, but we’re probably just making a grocery list or figuring out dinner plan, so sometimes will get their input. As much as we try our hardest to not talk work at home, especially at the dinner table, something comes up or we think of something so we have a “just to talk work for 17 seconds...” (I have no idea why 17 seconds is the timeframe, sometimes it’s more, sometimes it’s longer…) intro to shift to work talk for something quick and then go back to non-work talk. We’ll also go on walks or bike rides together, and have an unwritten, unofficial rule to not talk work while on a walk. When we’re at home, we’ll sometimes just stash our phones and my Apple watch under a couch pillow while watching a TV show or movie, just for a little bit of undisturbed time together.
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