spotlight
He’s cute. He’s out and proud. He’s all about helping others
(laughter) I’m a Gemini. It’s hard to keep my mind only on one thing. But it’s all
find happiness and he’s the main reason you’d tune in to
starting to fall under the same umbrella of helping people change their lives,
Bravo’s Work Out. But what you may not know about the
which is nice.
“Happy Living Expert” is that his wellness philosophy has
Rage: On Work Out, you seemed to know the sensitive Jackie Warner under the hard profes-
less to do with pumping iron, and revolves more around sional surface. Have you kept in touch with her since your days at Sky Sport and Spa?
unleashing one’s own confidence. But between fending
JB: We’ve both been so busy. Every week her life changes. It’s hard to get both
off rumors of new establishments in L.A. and recalling the
our schedules to line up with one another now. But I just got back and sent her a
obnoxious memory of Brian Peeler having the nerve to
text, “Tell me when! Dinner! Now!”
call Jesse “fat” on national television, I decided instead to
Rage: Tell me about your experiences at Le Cordon Bleu School.
inquire as to Jesse’s kind nature when dealing with mere
JB: Ooh! You said that with the right snobby inflection! Le Cordon Bleueuueu!
mortals like us. That is, after all, what he’s known for doing. [Laughter] Well… it was a really intense program. I was a teacher’s assistant my last
half there, so I had to be there at 5:00 a.m. every day. During that whole time, I was
Rage: Your training style on Work Out seems like the perfect balance of physical drive and working four jobs so I could make money while doing school. It was a whirlwind,
gentle encouragement. Where did you first learn how to promote fitness this way? but I learned so much stuff about food! I always loved cooking and I always had
Jesse Brune: I don’t know that I learned that anywhere. I think that growing this really sexy fantasy about being a chef. I just called them, and the next week I
up being the gay kid in public schools, I just innately cheered on the underdog. was in culinary school!
I’ve always tried to treat everybody with compassion. In a situation like [Work
Out], I know people are there trying to improve their lives. You need to be able to Rage: Wow! Were you 19 at the time?
speak to the part of them that is really insecure. I guess you could call it motherly JB: Oh you’re sweet. Um, no. (laughter) I was 24…or 25. I don’t know. It’s all a
instinct! My background is in boot camp-style training. That’s a really hardcore, blur. Actually I came out and went to art school for two years. You know, I was
in-your-face approach. My personality coupled with that sort of training just gets young and cute in L.A. so of course I tried acting. I started picking up speed with
that balance. it and went with a larger management company; they told me I had to go in the
closet if I wanted to be successful. Being young and impressionable—and really,
Rage: Word is out that you’re opening a gym in West Hollywood. Is that true? really wanting to succeed—I said, “yeah, sure! Of course!” And that sat with me for
JB: [Laughter] No, absolutely not. I was actually up in Seattle working on a fit- about two days. (laughter) I called them, “I can’t do this. It’s just not me! …And I
ness studio concept. I had to slash it and come back to L.A. because I had a lot of think you’re the devil!”
things here which were moving a lot quicker than I thought—which is a rarity in
Los Angeles. It’s really a “hurry up and wait”-sort of industry. To my delight and Rage: Do you have any advice for those who are interested in a culinary career?
surprise, a lot of the ideas I came up with—with my creative partners—are gain- JB: Yeah! Why not! It’s so fun. This goes for everything in life: If you’re going to go
ing foothold. Los Angeles is now so saturated with fitness studios that I’m more for it, make sure you really love it. If you love waiting tables—god bless you—do
inspired by taking people out of L.A. Right now I’m actually working on a business it! It’s the same with food. It’s such a commitment that you really have to invest in
concept—a body, mind and soul retreat experience that mixes extreme outdoor it. My one suggestion is: go work in a restaurant, or a catering company, or for a
exercise with meditation and organic foods. It’s a complete body overhaul with private chef and try out different hats to get a vibe for what you want to do before
the luxury of Ojai or Big Bear. It’s an extreme get-to-know-yourself retreat. you rush into culinary school. It’s a pretty big financial investment.
I’m at a point in my career when I just get to do what I love—being able to teach
people how to cook and prepare foods on television. I teach cooking classes all Rage: Your catering service “Jesse Delivers” sounded amazing.
over the country. I teach spin classes all over L.A. and I also do personal training. JB: That was an organic delivery service, actually. It was sort of the same idea
The Body,
Mind and
Soul of
by david vera
Brune
56 RAGE monthly | MARCH 2009
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