The Fitness Business Podcast

Looking for a way to improve your revenue? Offering a signature wellness program may be the perfect addition to your list of services. Lindsay Vastola delivers an episode filled with amazing advice on how your signature wellness program will result in revenue, retention and most importantly success! Lindsay Vastola is the founder of MOMENTUM 365, a lifestyle coaching program for women. She serves the fitness industry through her Fitness Leadership Academy, providing professional development education and training for fitness professionals. She is a former gym owner, previous editor of Personal Fitness Professional (PFP) magazine, advisory board member, and experienced speaker and coach across industries specializing in creating signature programs, communication, Emotional Intelligence, and personal leadership

Jarron Aizen is the founder and CEO of Hapana, a studio and club management software company that helps automate operations, increase revenue, and nurture client relations. Recently, Hapana underwent a re-branding process, transforming the company from One Fit Stop to Hapana. Jarron recounts the journey of this transformation, noting that it wasn't supposed to be a complete re-branding at first, but simply a refresh of the One Fit Stop brand. Hapana originally began their journey working with personal trainers, and has since expanded to helping gyms and studios. They enlisted a brand strategy agency, interviewed their current customers, partners, industry leaders, and internal staff to get a feel for how they were seen in the market, and what their competitive edge would be. The program was to sharpen and elevate the company's brand. Through this journey, One Fit Stop was able to strengthen its purpose and brand, without changing the name of the company.   Visit our show notes page:  https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/500 Learn more about Hapana: https://hapana.com  

Ever think about organizing a fitness retreat?  Lauren George provides the key components needed to organize, host and successfully market an amazing fitness adventure with your friends, members or clients. Fitness retreats are a perfect way to help your participants re-establish their healthy habits, love for fitness, and most importantly, return feeling refreshed.  Lauren George has over 15 years experience in the fitness industry. She has created multiple fitness formats and educational workshops, run group fitness programs at large health clubs and university campus recreation centers, and trained thousands of new instructors. 

Body language is the nonverbal signals used to communicate.  In a professional setting like an interview, the way you carry yourself tells the interviewer a lot about your personality. Sharlene Lynch is a Body Language expert with over 30 years experience in coaching and psychology. Sharlene is a regular on the speaking circuit and is obsessed with finding and bringing out the best in people, so they find their confidence and certainty.  Show Notes:  https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/498

Don Faul, the CEO of CrossFit, is passionate about harnessing the power of community for fitness. In this interview, JT talks with Don about the hugely popular CrossFit Games, which are so beloved among fans, and what he plans to bring to the table as CrossFit's newest leader.  CrossFit delivers a top-tier fitness experience for all loyal devotees. It's rooted in building meaningful connections and celebrating solidarity during intense physical challenges.  Since we launched The Fitness Business Podcast, I have personally stalked the CrossFit CEOs and head office to get someone on the show.  And while my background is a big box club owner, there is so much I love about CrossFit as a brand and exercise modality. Don Faul, an exemplary leader with a distinguished U.S Marine Corps background and extensive CrossFit experience, was named the CEO of CrossFit in August 2022. He's certainly no stranger to success - he'd been at countless technology companies like Pinterest and Google in high-level roles before joining us. His impressive résumé included being Facebook's VP of Global Online Operations, as well as Manager for Sales & Operations at Google.  Get the shownotes here: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/497  

Music licensing has been a barrier that many fitness professionals have had to navigate. But with all the music laws, it's hard to ensure you are following the rules, so you don't not end up in music infringement jail. We sought out the best in the industry to update you on the guidelines, so you can continue to inspire your classes through musical connection.   To help you navigate these muddy waters, we brought on industry expert Denise Imbesi to explain the current rules around music licensing. As the founder of Muscle Mix Music, the long time fitness music supplier, we couldn't think of a better industry expert to speak on this topic. Denise understands the frustrations and struggles that pros like yourself face. Show Notes:  https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/496  

Dipra Ray, the co-founder and CEO of Bodymapp, a 3D body scanning company, is on the cutting edge to revolutionize how people monitor their health and fitness in the comfort of their own home. We go in-depth with Dipra on how he co-founded Bodymapp with two high school friends from his native New Zealand, and why he and WE believe Bodymapp's mobile 3D body scanning app is perfect for your fitness club or boutique.  What you'll learn: How does Bodymapp improve member experience? What Sets the Mobile 3D App Apart from the Competition? How Trainers & Clubs Can Use the App to Upsell Services The Importance of Preserving Privacy & Providing Accuracy How Trainers can Benefit from Bodymapp's partnership program What does Bodymapp Cost? And much more!  Full Shownotes: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/495    

R.A.M. (random acts of marketing) is a catchy phrase Debbie Oster warns all marketing directors to steer clear from. It's easy to throw ideas out there and hope that one of them sticks, but this form of marketing is setting your business up for failure. In this episode, Debbie guides you to success by preaching how important it is to have a marketing strategy. 

Did you attend IHRSA 2023 or miss this year's conference? Well,  don't worry, because Allison Flatley and I will recap the highlights of the biggest trade shows this industry has to offer.  Listen along as we share a few ah ha moments and a few laughs today laughs on the Fitness Business Podcast.  Full show notes and transcript: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/493 Please visit our sponsor: https://bodymapp.co/partner

When Brad Ritter hit a crossroads in life, he knew drastic action was needed. He decided to take the plunge into Kokoro Camp - a boot camp-style training inspired by Navy Seal Hell Week and known as the toughest civilian experience around. After graduating in 2015, he wanted to use his newfound resilience to help others gain control over their lives and get unstuck forevermore. He created School of Grit.  Learn how to build mental toughness and grit in your personal and professional life. Learn how grit can be trained every day, not just in physical ways, but also mentally, by putting oneself in situations where emotions are tested. Show notes: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/492  

Staying ahead of the curve is a must for any fitness boutique business, and Anne Mahlum knows how to navigate these waters better than anyone. As an entrepreneur and philanthropist, she's able to look into the future of this ever-changing industry, so you can keep your plan up-to-date with the latest trends. Don't miss out on her expert advice that will ensure your business stays 'new' and 'fresh', all while creating an environment of success around it! For the last two years, online training has led the leaderboard as one of the top fitness trends. But 2023 is here to sprinkle a few new trends onto the scene. Powerhouse Anne Mahlum shines light on what is ahead for the boutique fitness industry. Sit back and listen to entrepreneur, philanthropist and Ted Talk speaker Anne Mallum today on the Fitness Business podcast. My guest, Anne Mahlum, is the epitome of a go getter, and it's no surprise that her most recent fitness venture is entitled Ambition. Anne Mallum is founder of the nonprofit Back on My Feet (BoMF) and founder and former CEO of [solidcore]. Show Notes: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/491

Cameron Falloon is a success story for gym and fitness businesses everywhere. Through his own experiences, he has learned that building a strong community and focused use of technology are the keys to longevity. He speaks from experience. After creating an online fitness tribe gathering around his brand with regular challenges, sociable activities and the latest in tech, he has seen first-hand how it can drive growth - enabling him to take his business to the top of its game. If you want to hear more about how Cameron has achieved this incredible feat, then don't miss out on listening to his story – it's truly inspiring!   Show notes:  https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/490

Unlock the secrets to email success! Jay Schwedelson can show you all the hottest ways to get your members excited about engaging with your campaigns. With so many emails in our daily lives, it's important that yours stands out - which is why adding a few special characters here and there could skyrocket open rates by 20-40%. Invest 30 minutes today for rewarding returns tomorrow: maximize clicks on your messages now! Full show notes:  https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/489

This episode celebrates female fitness professionals who are blazing a trail towards progress! Reena Vokoun, CEO & Founder of Passion Fit, LLC ignites an inspirational spark with her words, encouraging female warriors to make their mark in the fitness industry. She passionately speaks of gender equity and highlights how essential it is for women to be represented in this field. In an ever-changing landscape, gender equity remains a pressing issue in the workplace. To bolster health and wellbeing during times of challenge, women must play their part by supporting one another - particularly when leading an industry such as fitness through example. Show Notes:  https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/488  

The average job applicant looks at 16 job opportunities in every job search. The workplace has changed, and it's not going back to the way it was. Richard Hadden, co-author of the Contented Cows Leadership book series, explores the benefits of building an employer brand for recruiting and retaining top talent in the post-pandemic workplace. Learn how to put your company's best foot forward to convince them that working for you will be the best decision. The only way to solve the labor shortage is to be better than the next organization. Get show notes here: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/487

Mason Bendewald has helped build top fitness companies and coached trainers to become on-camera fitness stars. If you can spark imagination with the foundations of a well-told story, you will get people to turn their heads in your direction, instead of yawning and ignoring you. So how do you do that? This episode will teach you step by step to become the best video storyteller! Read show notes here:  https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/486

 ISSA has seen rapid growth in recent months, launching new certifications and acquiring new ventures. They offer three custom health coaching programs, launched the Yoga 200 program, the only full online yoga course approved by the Yoga Alliance, and recently acquired the Functional Aging Institute and Revolution Running. Additionally, they have a joint venture agreement with Train Fitness, offering over 50 specializations, and are providing recruitment solutions to help students find careers rather than just jobs. Johnny August, Manager of Strategic and Business Partnerships at ISSA, joins Dori to update us on these exciting new developments. Full Show Notes & Transcription: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/485  

Calling all group fitness instructors...this episode is the state of the union address for Group Fitness! Jenn delivers the latest trends in group fitness, as well as the current industry benchmarks around group fitness participation. It's a fun episode, but isn't that one of the secret ingredients that makes group fitness so special? Full show notes and transcript:  https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/484  

Welcome to the Industry Current Affairs show by the Fitness Business Podcast. Our guest is Anthony Vennare, cofounder of Fitt Insider and Fitt Capital.  Anthony has his finger on the pulse of the industry, and we'll hear what he sees and hears from industry statistics to perspectives on industry development. Anthony is a lifelong athlete, strength coach, and former United States Marine. He now works at the intersection of technology, venture capital, and health and fitness. What You'll Learn: Super interesting data on the state of the industry Individuals and brands who are the movers and shakers we should keep an  eye on in 2023 What was at the 2023 CES Show in Las Vegas. Investment opportunities. Thoughts on the economical shifts, labour challenges, tech and any other variables that may impact the resilience and stability of the industry? Download Full Show Notes Here: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/483

Are you a fitness business operator whose group fitness schedule could use a little refresh? Are you a fitness business operator still recovering financially from the pandemic? If you answered yes to one or both of those questions, you have come to the right place – WARRIOR could be just the ‘edgy' programming to help your health club reinvent itself! Join Sarah Pellegrino as she speaks with Ellen de Werd, Owner of WARRIOR Rhythm, Strength, Kids, and Combat to hear how you can incorporate this unique, rebel-like, license free programming into your fitness business or become a WARRIOR instructor!  Check Out The Show Notes Page Here! https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/482

What makes us buy the things we do? What triggers the fear of missing out, also known as FOMO. These are real questions that marketing directors in the fitness industry need to ask themselves. Our guest, Mindy Weinstein, is here to answer those questions and many more. Stay tuned for an enlightening episode about scarcity marketing. Mindy Weinstein, PhD, was named one of the top women in digital marketing globally. She is founder of the digital marketing firm Market MindShift.  Get full show notes here:  https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/481

Looking for a refresher when it comes to sales calls? Eric Tepper, the founder of Sales Architect, is here to remind us that the phone should be used as a gateway to persuasive sales conversations, as he believes fitness sales staff have strayed away from the basic sales conversations. Grab your sales team and listen! For show notes visit: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/480

After a $5 billion company acquisition, Cassandra Worthy, frustrated and stressed, almost quit her job.  Just another top talent voluntarily resigning during a significant organizational change. Instead, she woke up one day and decided to view those feelings as a signal that she was sitting in a moment of opportunity.  Cassandra Worthy is here to preach about cultivating a mindset and shifting your perspective, so you can ensure your organization has the tools to grow through change. She discusses their journey from a positive and optimistic child to embracing the difficult emotions that come with change, while still maintaining optimism and positivity. She emphasizes that it is not about blindly being optimistic in the face of change, but rather embracing the difficult emotions and using them as signals to guide people through change.  Cassandra is this year's keynote speaker at IHRSA Conference 2023. Listen here for a sneak glimpse of her session topic. Get show notes and download the full transcript here:  https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/479

Why is it that some brands and logos seem to hit our 5 senses stronger than other brands? In today's episode, Brand Strategist and Brand Magic author, Debbie O'Connor, shares steps to update your brand so it oozes personality, speaks to your members, and truly represents who you are.   

Across the globe, there is a labor shortage, and gym owners compete not only with other gyms for quality staff, but also other industries. Today, we dedicate an entire episode on helping our FBP Family find and select the right people to join your team!

Sales expert Larry Levine was fired from his corporate job at 50 years old. Then...he started a movement.  Attention sales leaders, sales people and sales managers. Think about what it would mean to you and your business growth if you led with heart and empathy, when it came to sales.  Author Larry Levine encourages us to repair and rebuild the trust that is sorely lacking in this industry. Have your sales team listen and then meet up for a coffee discussion. It's a perfect team bonding session to start the year! Full show notes and transcript:  https://www.fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/476

Our country is suffering from an inactivity crisis, and the Physical Activity Alliance has identified a brilliant way to bring awareness to this issue. Join Sarah Pellegrino as she speaks with Graham Melstrand, President of the Physical Activity Alliance (PAA). We'll be talking about our country's inactivity crisis, and PAA's call to action called the "The CEO Pledge for Physical Activity". , which aims to help leaders create a culture of physical fitness.  He will share ideas that leaders can easily implement to create a physically fit ‘work' culture.  He also talks about fitness specific opportunities that fitness business operators need to be mindful of going into 2023.

Abby Marks Beale spent her adolescence, college years, and 3 years in the business world hating to read. Then, she got a job that completely transformed her attitude towards reading. Dori chats with speed reading expert Abby Marks Beale. Abby has taught thousands to build reading confidence and competence for over 30 years.  She shares some simple, yet powerful strategies to read faster and talks about the impact that speed reading has on comprehension.   

One mentorship transformed him from an introvert with dyslexia to a master connector and changed his life forever. Steve Spiro, host of the LinkedIn Live show Master Connector, is on the show today. He is an inspirational speaker and professional development expert. Steve shares unique strategies and tactics to grow a strong professional network.  He also shares how to be your most authentic self, and how to build more meaningful connections and collaboration. Connect with Steve: https://10000cards.com/card/steve-spiro For more detailed show notes, visit https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com.  

As we wrap up our Generations in the Gym series, Dr. Sarah Marion is here for our final segment on the Baby Boomers.  Dr. Marion shares some insights on what baby boomers are looking for in a fitness program, and how to best reach them. Learn tips for attracting boomers into fitness facilities that will help make the gym more appealing and accessible to seniors. This episode will give you the information needed to ensure your marketing and programming is attractive for the members of this generation.  What You'll Learn: 3 Tips for Attracting Boomers Into Fitness Facilities How Baby Boomers Approach Healthy Living The Differences Between Male and Female Baby Boomers' Health and Fitness Routines How to Appeal to Baby Boomers in Your Marketing The Different Generations of Fitness Enthusiasts The Impact of Age on Fitness Motivation and Approach The Impact of the Pandemic on Boomer Fitness Trends The Impact of Price on the Exercise Habits of Older Adults The Benefits of Exercise for Boomers

Are you looking for secrets to content marketing? John Egan, author of The Stripped-Down Guide to Content Marketing, brings infectious energy to this episode on content marketing. John has a fun, but intriguing approach to what works and what doesn't, when it comes to content marketing. John will guide and navigate you to marketing success.

In today's episode, learn how your email list can add value to your business, and what's the most common mistake when composing an email. Email marketing has been around for a while, so this is the perfect episode to refresh your practices. Come along with Corey Hiben for the next 30 mins to put some spice into your email marketing campaign.

Join Sarah Pellegrino as she speaks with Ken Reinig and Rick Mayo about liabilities in the fitness industry today, ways in which Reinig Risk Management can help protect your fitness business and train your staff, and recommendations on how to best manage your fitness business in 2023!

Jim Czupil from Battlefield Leadership delivers a superb episode. Jim is the Senior Business Facilitator for Battlefield Leadership, and he talks about this amazing program that you and your team can experience together.  Jim stresses the importance of your "hallway reputation." That means you need to be intentional and mindful of your hallway reputation, because Jim will tell you that the importance isn't what you think, the importance is what your team thinks of you. Seeking out your blind spots will allow for personal growth and growth among your team.  Leadership is a skill set, and Battlefield Leadership is a way to manage your skill set. Come along for the journey today in today's episode, and walk away with knowledge that you can convert into power.

We launch a new segment called "Industry Current Affairs" with Kaumil Gajrawala from Credit Suisse. In a report Kaumil released in June 2021, it was forecast that the wellness economy – including fitness - could grow 7.1% annually from 2018 to 2024, with many sub-segments growing quite a bit faster. Over part of that time, we've had a pandemic, inflation, labour shortages, world leaders turnover, and even the media telling us there is an impending recession.  Find out what Kaumil thinks of our industry from an investors perspective in our first episode of Industry Current Affairs!

This episode is designed to help you strategize your 2023 budget to attract Generation X to your club. This generation has the money for a membership, but time is a barrier. Convenience is top of their list when considering joining a gym. Find out what else is important to this generation when it comes to their approach to fitness! It has been fascinating to compare the generations side by side and see the difference in wants and needs from Generation Z to the Millenials to Generation X. There are some parallels, but there are also key differences.

Are you passionate about growing and achieving dramatically better results in your fitness business? If so, REX Roundtables is what you need to help you achieve your goals. Join me, Dori Nugent, as I interview REX chairperson Justin Tamsett to discuss the benefits of Rex Roundtables in this episode of The Fitness Business Podcast.

Just in time for your budget planning season! Danielle loves to crush numbers, and she is here to give her expert advice on how to improve your profits by tweaking each of your profit centers by 1%. Also in this episode, Danielle dissects the 7 drivers in business: Price, Volume, Direct Labor Costs, Operating Expenses, Accounts Receivables, Inventory and Accounts Payable. So if you are looking to improve your profits...hit the play button!

Join Sarah Pellegrino as she speaks with Mary Milkie, InTouch Sales & Customer Success Leader. Learn how InTouch's lead generation platform helps operators capture leads, automate follow up, track staff performance, and support the new member throughout their entire journey!

Paul Meldrum stops by the Fitness Business Podcast to drop a few powerful tips on how to become the best possible trainer for your clients' wants and needs. Getting your clients to use a food journal is vital, and learning how to approach your training depending on your clients level is a great place to start. Stop what you are doing, grab a notebook, because I guarantee you will take away a few key points from today's episode.

Ben Ludwig is a returning guest on The Fitness Business Podcast. In today's episode, Ben takes on the topic of leadership and managing your team through the ugly. Leading your team through changes and challenges can be stressful and frustrating for a leader.  Ben's calm and natural way to lead offers inspiration, hope and positivity to those leading the way for their teams.  Take 30 mins and give yourself a boost of optimism!

The fitness needs of Millennials are different than Generation Z or Generation X, according to Dr. Sarah Marion. Take a listen as she explains exactly what they are looking for and what isn't on the top of the list for them. Make sure your marketing is on point for this generation, sit down, relax and take a few notes! There are lots of potential new members in this generation!

For gym operators, finding qualified trainers in today's market is challenging. On the flip side, personal trainers are having a hard time finding jobs. Today's episode will speak to both of those issues. Johnny August from ISSA delivers beneficial information on personal trainer recruiting trends and solutions. If you are a gym operator, learn tips on how to find and retain qualified talent. If you are a personal trainer, learn the value of arming yourself with several certifications.   

Let's talk Group Fitness! In today's episode, Vanessa covers group fitness topics such as programming, using group fitness to promote small group training, the importance of a great experience for retention, and introducing an instructor assessment to your group fitness team. Vanessa does a wonderful job at capturing a fresh, updated vision of group fitness. Take a listen and see for yourself!

We caught up with Jarron Aizen, CEO and Founder of Hapana. If you are looking for a software company that focuses on marketing automation, nurturing the members journey, and digital content as a marketing tool, this is the episode for you.  

“How you show up matters”, according to today's guest Brian Weaver. Showing up to work with the right mindset will not only set you up for success, but will also trickle down to your sales team. And speaking of success, Relationshipping Wednesday will take your employee and member engagement to new heights! Listen to Brian's advice on how to implement this into your monthly schedule.

Laugh your way through this Thinking Ahead episode. Michael Kerr delivers not only a humorous episode, but also one that we can all relate to. Your attitude towards your job has a huge impact on your happiness. If you sit in a leadership position at your workplace, Michael will deliver some tips to ensure your employees are happy! Take 30 mins to make your life and your employees' lives brighter!

Welcome to the first of four episodes that unleash what each generation is looking for in a fitness facility, according to Murphy Research. Join Dr. Sarah Marion as she gives us the rundown on each generation, starting with Generation Z. The findings are quite interesting and will definitely help you market and design your programs to tailor to each generation's wants and needs.

The Global Health & Fitness Alliance just released its Deloitte Report, and the findings are fascinating. This first ever report examined the economic and socioeconomic impact of the global health and fitness industry. We invited Andrea Bell, Chair of the GHFA, to highlight key findings of the 64-page report.    

Join Sarah Pellegrino as she speaks with Brad Thorpe, Inventor of the Isophit, to learn about this safer, more effective, and more efficient workout. We cover the benefits of isometric training, how to partner with Isophit, and which Isophit model is the best fit for your business!

Attention personal trainers and PT departments, this episode is for you! Michael Hughes, Functional Movement Specialist and CEO of Gymnazo EDU, is here to help you improve your fitness business and your skill set. Michael has 7 skills that have helped him become successful, and he wants to share them with you. Grab a seat, a pen, a note pad, and follow along.