Escape Your Limits & LIFTS

On this week's episode of the Escape Your Limits podcast, we interview Shari Castelli, the Director of Industry Development at ClassPass. ClassPass is a monthly fitness membership that connects members to thousands of fitness studios and gyms in 2,500 cities across the globe. In its latest Series E round, the startup raised $285 million putting the company's valuation at over $1 billion. So, what makes the ClassPass business model so successful? Tune in and find out.

Our guest this week is Rod Hill, the President of énergie Fitness Europe. He’s an expert at navigating the ups and downs of international expansion and recently signed a master franchise agreement to develop 75 clubs in Spain over the next 10 years. In our interview, we explore the influence of European gym design and what the rest of the world can learn from this emerging market, why you need to invest capital back into your trainers, and how your franchise could be missing the mark if you turn your back on Baby Boomers.   More Episode Highlights:  Navigating the ups and downs of international expansion. How you could be missing the mark by turning your back on the largest and most affluent demographic. The merging of fitness and wellness. How changing market dynamics offer franchises new opportunities. Want to be successful? You have to be authentic. Ways in which the boutique space will continue to grow. How brick and mortar gyms are integrating hybrid fitness models.

In 1976, Joe Gold founded World Gym International during the heyday of Muscle Beach in Venice Beach, California. World Gym is where iron men like Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno worked out on the regular. This week, we interview Jarrod Saracco, World Gym's COO. He is a 25-year veteran of the health and fitness industry with experience at every level of club operations. We discuss: • The history of World Gym • What he anticipates the future of World Gym will look like • Key essentials for running a successful gym or club • What to know about gym equipment before you stock your gym • Why gym design and member experience are more important than you think World's Gym owners are projecting that the brand will grow to 500 locations by 2023.

Our guest this week is Troy Casey, a former Versace model turned Certified Health Nut. His intriguing, unconventional approaches to biohacking the body and mind have earned him the reputation of a leading longevity authority. He has helped millions of people restore their physical, mental, and emotional balance with holistic health practices. In our interview, we discuss: How to get and stay ripped at any age, the purpose and meaning of legacy, why you should meditate and get more sleep, the art of sexual kung fu, and how working with indigenous tribes in the Amazon and participating in Ayahuasca ceremonies have awakened his consciousness.

Eric Fleishman aka "Eric the Trainer" is the go-to guy in Hollywood when it comes to burning fat and building lean muscle. In our interview, this sought-after personal trainer shares his secrets to getting celebrities and musicians insanely fit for film roles and world tours. Eric the Trainer can help you create the body of your dreams in just a matter of weeks. No fads, trends, or gimmicks — just unbelievably quick results. Learn all about the four body archetypes, workouts and diets that get his clients ripped, why recovery and good sleep are important to accelerate body transformations, and what it's really like working with A-listers.

Dr. Stephanie Estima is an expert on metabolism, hormones, and body composition.  Using her framework, The ESTIMA Method™, she is particularly focused on distilling strategies in nutritional proxies, movement, posture, and mindset to actualize human potential, health span, longevity and achievement. She is also the host of the podcast Better! With Dr. Stephanie and author of the best-selling book: The Betty Body, which offers a blueprint for readers to discover their best feminine health.  In this episode, we dive into the benefits of a supercharged sex life, the differences between men and women when it comes to testosterone and weight loss, the science behind the female menstrual cycle, and why keto diets boost brain health.

Are you looking for real secrets for success as an entrepreneur? This week's Escape Your Limits podcast episode featuring Snap Fitness founder Peter Taunton reveals his winning formula for dominating domestic and international franchising and expansion. Peter went from owning a single gym to accumulating a net worth of over $100 million. This entrepreneur got his big break after turning around a failing health club only to go on and found one of the largest wellness brands in the world, with over 6,000 franchises across 3 brands in 28 countries, including 9Round, Farrell’s, YogaFit, STEELE Fitness, and Fitness On Demand. If you’re wondering how to become a successful business owner, Peter reveals how to develop a winning business model and mindset, why you need to plan ahead and have an exit strategy, and what he learned from a costly $40 million mistake.

In today’s episode, we reconnect with Frank Zane, 3x Mr. Olympia and one of the most admired and influential bodybuilders of all time. He’s also one of our most popular podcast guests. Wondering how you can build a stunning physique like Frank Zane? Well, this 3x Mr. Olympia legend is keen on sharing his wealth of wisdom and expertise. During our interview, we discuss his cutting-edge training techniques, diet and nutrition insights, recovery, his commitment to excellence, and even answer some of his fans’ most pressing questions. If you’re aspiring to achieve a Frank Zane body… here’s how he got it.

How do you know if you're getting enough sleep? How much sleep do you really need? Is your sleep not what it used to be? Do you wake up at 3 a.m. and struggle to fall back asleep? Are you feeling sleep-deprived no matter how many hours you spend in bed? A good night’s sleep is incredibly important for your health. In fact, it’s just as important as eating healthy and exercising. However, according to the CDC, about 70 million Americans have chronic sleep problems. Chronically bad sleep is more than just annoying. It weakens the immune system, reduces memory and attention span, and increases the likelihood of chronic conditions like depression, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Studies suggest that the less sleep you get, the shorter your life span. Why sleep is so important is still a bit of a mystery, but Dr. Michael Breus a.k.a. the "Sleep Doctor" can help you determine your unique sleep needs and answer the most common questions to solve your sleeping problems and optimize your health.

The fitness business is a traditionally male-dominated space, but some women like our guest today have broken through the glass ceiling to rise to the position of CEO. She’s calling the shots at one of America’s fastest growing boxing and kickboxing franchises, RockBox. Since making the jump from Orange Theory, she has been an influential force in the expansion of the fight club meets night club brand. With plans to expand the franchise internationally, this powerhouse executive has her sights set on making boxing accessible to as many people as possible. How? You’ll have to watch and find out.