In this episode, Rick Mayo chats with Jay Croft, a fitness marketing expert and author of Selling Longevity Over 50, about how fitness businesses can cater to the growing over-50 demographic. Jay shares the insights that helped him craft a guide for gym owners looking to serve this age group, showing them how to market effectively and, more importantly, how to connect with people who are often overlooked in the fitness space. Jay breaks down how fitness for those over 50 isn’t about hitting extr...
Aug 13, 2025•33 min•Ep. 304
In this episode, Rick speaks with Alloy franchise business coach Kelly Johnston about her role with Alloy franchisees. With a career spanning over 30 years in both education and fitness, Kelly brings a rare mix of coaching, leadership, and business acumen to the table. Rick and Kelly dive into what makes Alloy’s franchise support system unique, from structured director calls to personalized coaching and operational audits. Kelly shares insights on franchisee success, emphasizing the importance o...
Aug 06, 2025•26 min•Ep. 303
In this episode, Rick and Suzanne speak on the many ways you can finance your franchise locations. From bootstrapping with cash to leveraging your 401(k) or even tapping into home equity, this episode explores every legitimate funding avenue. Suzanne brings extensive real-world knowledge about franchisee behaviors and finance strategies. Her guidance is grounded in working with hundreds of aspiring owners through the complex franchise process. Rick and Suzanne break down six ways to fund your Al...
Jul 30, 2025•25 min•Ep. 302
Rick Mayo and Matt Helland break down how to confidently increase your membership rates without losing your sanity or your client base. With decades of experience in the fitness business, Rick and Matt discuss Alloy’s tested strategy for rolling out rate hikes in a way that boosts both your margins and your team’s confidence. They start with raising rates for new members to build proof, then walk through how to approach existing clients with personal conversations rooted in value. They explore t...
Jul 23, 2025•29 min•Ep. 301
In this powerful episode, Rick Mayo welcomes Courtney Clark, a keynote speaker, author, and resilience researcher with an extraordinary backstory. From aspiring actress to nonprofit founder to four-time cancer survivor, Courtney has a deep understanding of what it means to pivot when life demands it. Courtney discusses her concept of resilience, not as positivity, but as adaptability. She argues that many people are stuck in rigid mental models and need to “quit to keep going.” Her research reve...
Jul 16, 2025•32 min•Ep. 300
In this episode, Rick speaks with multi-unit Alloy franchisee, Mike Arce, about his new book "The Standard is You." Mike talks about his new book and how it’s designed to unlock the potential in employees by teaching them to manage up. He explains the concept of self-leadership and how employees can take ownership of their growth. It’s a fresh way of thinking that turns the traditional "just do your job" mentality on its head. Business owners will also learn how empowering their staff to lead fr...
Jul 09, 2025•37 min•Ep. 299
In this episode, Rick speaks with Joy Sandoz, a multi-location Alloy franchisee known for her excellent community-building practices. With a background that spans graphic production to personal training and business ownership, Joy shares some tips on how to create a gym where members feel like family. She shares how the simple things – from knowing everyone's names to hosting fun events – make a huge difference in member retention. Rick and Joy also discuss the importance of leadership and devel...
Jul 02, 2025•31 min•Ep. 298
In this episode, Rick discusses Alloys’ rapid growth and the changing landscape of the fitness industry. Rick reveals how Alloy has been able to scale its fitness franchise model, now with over 300 locations sold and 100 open, all while catering to an underserved age group: 45-65-year-olds. He also highlights how the wellness space is becoming increasingly complex with trends like cold plunges and extreme diets, and how the focus should return to foundational practices like strength training and...
Jun 25, 2025•44 min•Ep. 297
In this episode, Rick Mayo and Matt Helland discuss the science and psychology behind the Alloy method of training frequency. With over three decades of experience, Rick and Matt explain why 2-3 days a week is ideal for the majority of Alloy clients, especially those 40 and older. They break down the physiological and psychological benefits of less frequent, high-quality training, including better strength gains, improved insulin sensitivity, reduced injury risk, and elevated mood. Alloy’s struc...
Jun 18, 2025•25 min•Ep. 296
In this episode, Rick Mayo shares how his business has managed to create a thriving, close-knit community while scaling up to hundreds of locations. Rick was interviewed on the Dynamic Disruption Podcast, where he dives into Alloy’s approach to building relationships, simplifying operations, and putting human connections at the heart of fitness. Starting in 1992, Rick explains how his Alloy stands out by focusing on personal, one-on-one interactions instead of the typical crowded gym experience....
Jun 11, 2025•21 min•Ep. 295
In this episode, Rick Mayo sits down with John Herrera, the guy who crushed the presale record at Alloy Alamo Heights and built an awesome community from day one. He is the director of training. John’s journey through the fitness world - from managing gyms in different states to leading at Alloy - is full of lessons on what it really takes to get people excited and keep them coming back. Rick and John discuss how quick follow-ups and genuine care make all the difference in turning interested lea...
Jun 04, 2025•42 min•Ep. 294
In this episode, Rick Mayo sits down with Chris Hogan, a dynamic coach who transformed his life by losing 100 pounds and overcoming a lifelong stutter. Now coaching across multiple Alloy clubs, Chris shares how he turned his challenges into a passion for helping others. Chris and Rick discuss why effective coaching goes beyond programming to building trust, holding clients accountable, and creating a community where everyone feels like a winner. He also reveals the mindset shifts that helped him...
May 28, 2025•27 min•Ep. 293
In this episode, Rick and Matt break down the three most common questions they get from franchise hopefuls. Rick brings over 33 years of experience running a fitness business that’s not only resilient to economic shifts but also built on integrity and leadership. They explain why Alloy’s premium model thrives through economic ups and downs, the company’s ambitious yet realistic goal of opening 800 clubs by 2030, and what separates good franchisees from great ones. They also reveal how small grou...
May 21, 2025•28 min•Ep. 292
In this episode of the Alloy Personal Training Business Podcast, Rick and Matt tackle a pain point that haunts most salespeople: following up with leads. This applies to personal training or other service-driven businesses. The right mindset is important if you are to succeed in sales. The follow-up is a test of courage, persistence, and empathy. Drawing parallels between buying personal training and buying a car, Rick and Matt reveal how emotional timing plays a critical role in decision-making...
May 07, 2025•38 min•Ep. 291
In this episode, Rick speaks with multiunit Alloy franchisee, Laurel Roach, about how to build a solid referral network in your community. Community marketing is a great way to build genuine relationships and get good referrals from businesses you share the same avatar client with. She emphasizes the need for patience and approaching other local businesses with lots of confidence and value upfront. She details a specific campaign involving a nail salon, which resulted in six new members. Laurel ...
Apr 30, 2025•49 min•Ep. 290
In part 2 of this 2-part series, Rick Mayo and Matt Helland dive into the next phase of the Alloy Personal Training franchise journey, what happens when you and your team finally arrive for in-person training. Matt walks through the structure of the training week, including the daily expectations, team involvement, and the classroom-to-hands-on learning style. Franchisees will quickly learn that training is more than just information; it’s an intense, immersive experience designed to equip owner...
Apr 23, 2025•30 min•Ep. 289
One of the most common questions we get from new Alloy Personal Training franchisees is what they should be doing before in-person training. In part 1 of this 2-part series, Rick Mayo and Matt Helland give you the roadmap - what to do, when to do it, and how to do it well. Matt shares the exact steps every franchisee should be taking in the months leading up to training, from hiring your core team to launching marketing and building buzz in your community. If you're in the “hurry up and wait” ph...
Apr 16, 2025•36 min•Ep. 288
In this episode, Rick speaks with Alloy COO Suzanne Robb about whether weight loss shots are a friend or foe of the fitness industry. Suzanne revisits her experience with GLP-1 weight loss medications - semaglutide and tirzepatide. She offers a unique perspective on how medical intervention doesn't have to conflict with a fitness-first lifestyle. Suzanne also opens up about her struggles with weight loss in her 60s despite years of working out and healthy eating. When traditional methods failed,...
Apr 09, 2025•33 min•Ep. 287
In this episode, Jody Donaldson shares his fascinating journey from law enforcement to real estate and now to entrepreneurship in the fitness industry. Jody discusses the powerful impact of fitness on both physical and mental health and how he took the leap to open his own business. Jody talks about his experience with the Alloy Personal Training Franchise and how the proven business model drew him in after he had considered other opportunities. He also dives into his mindset on leadership and g...
Apr 02, 2025•27 min•Ep. 286
In this episode, Rick Mayo sits down with Wes Barefoot, a franchise consultant, entrepreneur, and father of three, who found out that simplicity, not intensity, is the key to long-term health transformation. Wes shares how he lost over 40 pounds and completely reshaped his health by ditching the hype and embracing a strategy centered on progressive strength training, daily walking, and hitting daily protein targets. With a full plate of businesses and toddlers, Wes proves it’s possible to priori...
Mar 26, 2025•34 min•Ep. 285
In this episode, Rick Mayo is joined by Matt Helland for a masterclass on what it really takes to keep personal training clients coming back. Alloy Personal Training has one of the industry’s leading retention rates. Matt shares his unique approach to making retention a repeatable, trackable process, starting from the very first interaction. They break down the essential role of the Starting Point Session, explain why great onboarding is more than just a formality, and how “pulse checks” can res...
Mar 19, 2025•38 min•Ep. 284
A lot of business owners dream of running their gym without being there all the time. But let’s be real - there’s no such thing as a truly absentee business owner. The good news? You don’t have to be in your gym 24/7 to make it successful. You just need to know what to focus on. In this episode, Rick Mayo sits down with Adam Blankenship, who recently took over Alloy’s corporate gym operations, to break down exactly how top franchisees, many with zero fitness experience, are thriving. They reveal...
Mar 12, 2025•32 min•Ep. 283
Just like all other businesses, AI has affected franchising in a great way. If you are still clinging to legacy systems, this episode is a wake-up call! In this episode, Rick speaks with the founder of the Franchise CTO, Parnell Woodard, about how technology is and will affect franchising. Parnell is a tech entrepreneur who has built and sold multiple companies specializing in data analytics and digital transformation for franchises. With years of experience in both technology and franchise oper...
Mar 05, 2025•32 min•Ep. 282
In this episode, Rick Mayo sits down with Chamberlynn Campuzano, the VP of Corporate Operations at Alloy, to discuss one of the biggest challenges facing new franchisees: the shift from corporate life to business ownership. Many people assume that buying a franchise means they can be hands-off, but the reality is different. Chamberlynn shares her personal journey from being an executive assistant to leading a team, learning to delegate, and stepping into a leadership role. Rick and Chamberlynn d...
Feb 26, 2025•40 min•Ep. 281
In this episode, Rick shares his 33-year fitness entrepreneurship journey from a personal trainer working his way through college to a fitness franchising powerhouse. With over 320 locations awarded and 100+ open, Rick reveals what it takes to build a scalable, sustainable, and high-retention fitness brand. Rick explains how AI and automation are changing franchising by streamlining operations and improving retention. He shares tips on how to integrate AI seamlessly in a fitness business and how...
Feb 19, 2025•33 min•Ep. 280
Tired of chasing new leads without seeing results? Let your happiest clients do the work for you. In this episode, Rick and Matt share how a strong referral system can grow your business. Matt explains how asking for referrals at key moments, maintaining accountability, and building community partnerships lead to more clients. Rick and Matt also discuss how gamification and measurable systems make referrals a consistent part of business operations. Learn creative strategies for getting referrals...
Feb 12, 2025•38 min•Ep. 279
In this episode, Rick Mayo chats with Kevin Gardenhire, a dynamic Alloy franchise partner, about his transition from the corporate world to entrepreneurship. Kevin has a fascinating background, he has worked in finance, corporate leadership, and even a stint at Walmart. He’s here to share how he turned those experiences into a thriving fitness franchise business. Kevin gets honest about the importance of leadership, taking ownership (even when things go sideways), and hiring the right people who...
Feb 05, 2025•40 min•Ep. 278
Are distractions keeping you from growing your fitness business? In this episode, Rick speaks with fitness industry expert Mike Arce about what makes a successful studio owner. Mike works with more than 60 brands at the franchisee level and is also personally invested in multiple Alloy locations. Mike is the founder of Loud Rumor, a company dedicated to helping gym owners thrive. He shares his journey from fitness coach to entrepreneur and why he chose Alloy Franchise for its scalability, low st...
Jan 22, 2025•38 min•Ep. 277
In this episode, Rick speaks with Alloy franchise partner Ken Campbell, a golf management executive who recently became an Alloy franchisee. Ken has shattered all our presale records by signing 130+ members before opening his location. He shares how he transitioned from managing golf courses to building a successful Alloy fitness franchise business. Rick and Ken discussed the service-first approach, the keys to leadership in semi-absentee ownership, and the lessons he learned from an unprecedent...
Jan 15, 2025•38 min•Ep. 276
Building a successful franchise system is no easy feat. As Rick and Matt share in this episode, scaling a franchise requires more than just ambition—it demands intentionality, focus, and a deep commitment to the people at the heart of the business. Reflecting on the HUGE milestone of awarding 300 franchises, Rick and Matt discuss 3 factors that have driven Alloy's growth and sustained success. The backbone of any successful franchise is the franchisee. As Rick aptly states, "The strength of the ...
Jan 01, 2025•29 min•Ep. 275
