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THE GOAL WAS always to connect. It was 2019 and, as I do regularly for my job, I was talking with a trainer, who asked me how he could supercharge his career.
It was a question I’d heard from other trainers, too, and especially trainers of color. Heck, I’d had that same question early in my career. In that moment, I realized that Men’s Health could provide that connection.
Several months later, with the help of editor-in-chief Rich Dorment, we launched the Strength in Diversity program. Its mission: Help trainers from marginalized communities strengthen their brands and jump-start (or super-charge) their fitness careers.
Now in its sixth year, SID has moved 53 trainers through the program. And it’s a team effort. We’ve worked with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) (and, over the past four years, Women’s Health) to identify, mentor, and develop eight to 10 trainers from diverse backgrounds each year. All of these trainers gain access to a three-month series of live Zoom clinics, as well as free certifications from the NSCA and Precision Nutrition.
And all have gone on to contribute to MH and WH as fitness models, videostars, and burgeoning experts. Look hard enough and you can find SID grads all over the MH site and social pages. I’ve connected in some way to everyone in SID. There are too many moments of inspiration to count. Like when Joe Seeley (Class of 2023) drove 90 minutes from NYC to Larchmont, New York, for a late-night workout session with me last June, then stayed in the gym for an extra hour to hone his on-camera skills. Or Jaimar Brown (2022) calling me at 10 p.m. two years ago to ask for writing tips. Or Sunny Choi (2025), who studied for and passed her C.S.C.S. exam barely a month after Zooms started, reminding me that, yes, a person can balance studying and work and training if they have a plan.
When I watch SID trainers (and anyone, really) crush opportunities, it often makes me ask myself if I’ve done enough with my own. I think back to the cool moments I’ve had, like my first photo shoot (with Peloton’s Andy Speer in 2017, after weeks of prep) and my first cover story (Patrick Mahomes during the pandemic). Recalling how hard I’ve worked makes me double down on the hard work of my next chapter.
This is the underrated symbiosis of real connection: We can inspire others, and they inspire us too. And sure, that connection can begin on a screen. But it’s most dynamic and impactful IRL.
Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., is the fitness director of Men’s Health and a certified trainer with more than 10 years of training experience. He’s logged training time with NFL athletes and track athletes and his current training regimen includes weight training, HIIT conditioning, and yoga. Before joining Men’s Health, he served as a sports columnist and tech columnist for the New York Daily News.
