In this episode, Justin Santamaria discusses the evolution and impact of remote fitness coaching. Starting with his background at Apple and Airbnb, Justin shares how his past experiences in developing cutting-edge communications technology helped shape the foundation of a new approach to personal training. The conversation highlights the integration of human coaching with advanced AI tools, emphasizing the importance of human connection and personalized guidance in fitness. With insights into th...
Jun 29, 2025•47 min
In this episode, Emre Ozgur, CEO and co-founder of Safe Sweat, joins the discussion on the Future of Fitness to introduce his innovative concept of private fitness suites. Based in Vancouver, Safe Sweat offers personalized workout experiences featuring private rooms, customizable environments, and advanced fitness equipment—without the pressure of typical group classes. Emre shares his journey from athlete and fitness operator to entrepreneur, as he builds a new fitness model designed to attract...
Jun 24, 2025•42 min
In this conversation, Eric Malzone and Anthony discuss the recent rebranding of Fitt Insider, exploring its evolution from a newsletter to a comprehensive holding company. They delve into the importance of community, mental health, and the challenges facing the fitness industry, including the need for investment and authentic connections. Anthony shares his vision for the future of Fitt Insider, emphasizing the importance of holistic health and the role of media in shaping the industry. The disc...
Jun 19, 2025•55 min
In this episode , Eric Malzone moderates a powerhouse panel on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the fitness industry . Featuring insights from Taylor Nakamura (Fit19), Spencer Honeyman (Vi), and Florian Sauter (EGYM), this discussion dives deep into real-world AI applications, from retention strategies to personalized training and operational efficiency. Whether you're a multi-location gym operator or a solo fitness entrepreneur, you'll walk away with actionable AI insights to help you d...
Jun 14, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Eric Malzone is joined by Andy, Pete and Jason Moore, CEO of SPREN, to discuss a groundbreaking partnership between Lyft Brands and SPREN. This collaboration aims to integrate advanced body composition analysis technology with gym experiences, coaching services, and on-demand content. Andy and Jason delve into how this innovative approach will enhance user engagement, retention, and overall fitness outcomes through a unique combination of smartphone-based body scanning, AI-driven coaching, and p...
Jun 13, 2025•19 min
In this episode, Eric welcomes back Paul Byrne to discuss the significant topics surrounding the 'Make America Healthy Again' (MAHA) movement, tariffs, and their impacts on the fitness industry. Paul shares his extensive background in the fitness business, notably with Precor and Harrison Company. The discussion delves into the health crisis in America, highlighting alarming statistics about chronic diseases and obesity. Paul outlines the roles and initiatives of key players in the MAHA movement...
Jun 09, 2025•49 min
In this engaging conversation, Eric Malzone and Rick Mayo discuss the evolution of the fitness industry, focusing on the growth of Alloy, a successful fitness franchise. They explore the challenges and opportunities in the market, emphasizing the importance of returning to fundamental fitness principles. Rick shares insights on the modern fitness prescription, advocating for strength training as a foundation and the significance of understanding cardiovascular training. The discussion also highl...
Jun 04, 2025•48 min
In this conversation, Eric Malzone, Juliet Starrett, and Alex discuss recent transactions in the fitness industry, including Crunch and EoS, and analyze quarterly reports from major companies like Peloton, Planet Fitness, and Lifetime Fitness. They explore the challenges and strategies these companies face in a fluctuating economic environment, highlighting Peloton's struggle to grow despite cutting costs, Planet Fitness's impressive membership growth, and Lifetime's strong financial performance...
May 30, 2025•1 hr 10 min
In this conversation, Dr. Bob Gabbay discusses the evolution and impact of GLP-1 medications on weight loss and fitness. He highlights the importance of integrating lifestyle changes with medication, the current state of GLP-1 treatments, and the role of fitness professionals in supporting patients. The discussion also touches on the future of healthcare, technological innovations, and the potential of exercise mimetics. Takeaways GLP-1 medications have been around for 20 years but have recently...
May 25, 2025•48 min
In this episode, Eric Malzone welcomes Julian Barnes, co-founder and CEO of BFS Network, for an insightful discussion on the state of the boutique fitness industry. Drawing from BFS's latest annual report, Julian shares data-driven strategies that gym owners can use to improve profitability, streamline operations, and build sustainable businesses. The conversation covers everything from fundamental KPIs to surprising trends that challenge conventional wisdom in the fitness space. https://podcast...
May 23, 2025•24 min
In this conversation, Eric Malzone and Edward Hertzman discuss the evolving landscape of the fitness industry, focusing on the impact of media, the need for rebranding, and the significance of upcoming events like the CEO Summit and Innovation Summit. They explore how the industry is adapting to economic challenges, the role of AI in media, and the importance of personalized experiences for attendees. The discussion highlights the necessity for collaboration and communication among industry lead...
May 20, 2025•51 min
In this episode, host Eric sits down with Marco Benitez, CEO and founder of ROOK, to explore how digital health data is reshaping the fitness and healthcare landscapes. They discuss how wearable technology drives innovation in health monitoring, especially during the pandemic's impact on the industry. Marco shares his expertise in biomedical engineering and big pharma, highlighting how data-driven insights can enhance patient outcomes. The conversation dives into the challenges of standardizing ...
May 15, 2025•46 min
In this conversation, Tom Dowd discusses the significant progress made at F45 over the past year and a half, highlighting leadership changes, franchisee engagement, and the challenges faced, including accounting issues. He emphasizes the importance of innovation and strategic focus in the fitness industry, introducing the new 'Fit House of Brands' strategy and differentiating the VAURA Pilates brand as a unique offering in the market. In this conversation, Tom discusses the strategic growth and ...
May 10, 2025•50 min
In this conversation, Eric Malzone and Sam O'Keefe discuss the intersection of fitness, health, and financial opportunities through HSAs and FSAs. Sam shares his unique background and how it led him to identify a significant business opportunity in connecting health and fitness with financial wellness. They explore the differences between HSAs and FSAs, the market potential for these accounts, and how fitness businesses can leverage them to enhance customer retention and acquisition. The discuss...
May 05, 2025•40 min
In this episode, Darren MacDonald, the CEO of Tonal, sits down to discuss the state of the connected health and fitness industry at the Connected Health and Fitness event in Los Angeles. They reflect on the event's interesting discussions, including the speaker sessions on GLP-1s. Darren shares his thoughts on the promising aspects of the event and how various players in the industry can contribute. The conversation pivots to Darren's insights on the impact of GLP-1 drugs on fitness routines and...
Apr 30, 2025•47 min
In this conversation, Eric Malzone and Dana Milkie discuss the evolution of the fitness industry, focusing on eGym's innovative technology and the role of Wellpass in connecting companies with fitness facilities. Dana shares his journey into the fitness world, the importance of AI in personalizing workouts, and how eGym's open ecosystem allows for flexibility in equipment choices while enhancing user experience. They explore the future of AI in fitness and the significant investment eGym is maki...
Apr 25, 2025•43 min
In this insightful conversation recorded at the Connected Health and Fitness Summit in Los Angeles, Eric Malzone sits down with David Knies of PA Consulting to explore where the next trillion dollars in the wellness industry will emerge. David shares research-backed insights on five major market disruptions shaping the future: the convergence of healthcare and consumer industries, the growing GLP-1 economy, consumer struggles with "wellness overload," the shift toward hyper-personalization, and ...
Apr 20, 2025•46 min
In this conversation, Eric Malzone speaks with Dr. Gloria Winters, the Chief Health Officer of the YMCA, about the organization's historical significance and its role in promoting health and wellness. They discuss the challenges of the current healthcare system, the importance of preventative health, and the potential for innovative strategies to improve community health. Dr. Winters emphasizes the need for a shift from traditional sick care to a more holistic approach that integrates behavioral...
Apr 15, 2025•46 min
In this engaging conversation, Eric Malzone and Tim Green discuss the evolving landscape of the fitness industry, focusing on the importance of community, technology, and the opportunities for new businesses. They explore how fitness has transformed from a simple workout space to a community hub, the role of technology in enhancing user experience, and the significance of retention over acquisition in building a loyal customer base. Tim shares insights on the future of group fitness, the impact ...
Apr 10, 2025•42 min
In this conversation, Eric Litman discusses the innovative field of wellness robotics, particularly focusing on the on-demand massage experience provided by Aescape. He shares insights into the technology behind the massage robots, the consumer experience, funding challenges, market reception, and the demographics of users. The discussion also touches on the go-to-market strategy, partnerships, and the future of wellness robotics, addressing concerns about job displacement and the importance of ...
Apr 05, 2025•36 min
In this episode of The Future of Fitness , Heather Dietrick, Chief Media Officer at Outside Interactive, shares her journey from law school to leadership roles at Gawker Media and The Daily Beast , and now to shaping the future of outdoor media. She dives into the benefits of outdoor activities for both mental and physical well-being and how Outside Interactive combines inspiring content with practical tools to help people get outside. Heather also explores the shifting media landscape, the role...
Mar 31, 2025•46 min
In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Noura Abul-Husn discusses the rapidly evolving field of genomics and its implications for personalized health and wellness. She shares her journey from a physician scientist to a senior role at 23andMe, emphasizing the importance of genetic testing in preventive healthcare. The discussion covers the current state of consumer awareness regarding genetics, the integration of AI in genomic data interpretation, and the innovative Total Health initiative by 23an...
Mar 26, 2025•48 min
In this conversation, Eric Malzone interviews Benji Donhardt , the CEO and founder of Superfit Grow, a marketing agency focused on helping gyms and fitness studios grow through authentic communication and customer service. Benji shares his journey from a military background to becoming a fitness entrepreneur, discussing the challenges and opportunities he faced along the way. The conversation delves into the unique approach of Superfit Grow, emphasizing the importance of understanding clients' n...
Mar 21, 2025•44 min
In this quarterly report, Eric Malzone, Juliet Starett, and Alex discuss recent developments in the fitness industry, including personal updates, the launch of the Starett System, experiences from the Connected Health and Fitness Summit, and a detailed analysis of quarterly reports from major fitness companies like Lifetime, Planet Fitness, Peloton, and Garmin. The conversation highlights trends in member engagement, coaching, and the evolving landscape of health and fitness technology. They als...
Mar 16, 2025•1 hr 8 min
In this engaging conversation, Eric Malzone and Bryan O'Rourke explore the evolving landscape of the fitness industry, touching on personal experiences, the necessity of content creation, reflections on 2024's growth, and the maturation of the market. They delve into the importance of authentic experiences in fitness and the challenges of human capital in the industry, highlighting the shift in career dynamics and the impact of technology on fitness delivery. In this conversation, Bryan O'Rourke...
Mar 11, 2025•49 min
In this conversation, Eric Malzone and Dan Garner explore the evolving landscape of health and fitness, emphasizing the importance of Vitality over traditional metrics of health. Dan shares his extensive experience working with high-performance individuals and how blood work has been a cornerstone of his coaching methodology. They discuss the limitations of the current fitness coaching model and the need for a more personalized approach based on objective data. The conversation highlights the si...
Mar 06, 2025•51 min
In this conversation, Eric Malzone interviews Kyle W. Jones, CEO and co-founder of iCryo, discussing the evolution of the wellness and recovery industry, particularly focusing on cryotherapy and its expansion into a medical model. Kyle shares his journey from being a multi-sport athlete to founding iCryo, the challenges and opportunities in transitioning from a wellness-focused business to a medical franchise, and the importance of staffing and recruitment in this new model. The conversation als...
Mar 01, 2025•49 min
In this engaging conversation, David Meltzer shares his mission to empower a billion people to be happy through community building and content creation. He discusses the evolution of the fitness industry, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing health and wellness. Meltzer provides insights on transitioning skills in a changing market, the significance of pragmatic coaching, and the necessity of content creation as a business tool. He also offers strategies for amplifying content to reach a w...
Feb 24, 2025•32 min
In this conversation, Eric Malzone and Emma Barry explore the evolving landscape of the fitness and wellness industry, discussing the impact of technology, generational shifts, and the need for a rebranding of the industry. They delve into the systemic changes in humanity post-pandemic, the role of AI in democratizing health, and the importance of community and connection in a digital age. The conversation highlights the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead as society navigates the comple...
Feb 19, 2025•56 min
In this conversation, Eric Malzone and Brad Kearns discuss the evolution of fitness, the flaws in traditional endurance training, and the importance of a balanced approach to health and fitness. Brad shares his journey from a competitive athlete to an author and emphasizes the need for a sensible approach to fitness that prioritizes longevity over intensity. They explore the addictive nature of high-intensity training and the need for the fitness industry to evolve towards more sustainable pract...
Feb 14, 2025•55 min
