Escape Your Limits & LIFTS

Brendan Cosso’s temptation to smuggle drugs landed him in the most dangerous prison in South America. He rebuilt his life and dedicated it to education, events and helping people take a positive path. In this breathtakingly graphic and candid interview, we learn the value of decision-making from the CEO of the World Calisthenics Organisation. Watch the full episode on YouTube Growing up in a middle class family in California, and living a life of luxury working the VIP clubs of Hollywood, Brendan made one bad decision that saw his life come crashing down.  Tempted by a lot of money and the lure of the Brazilian party scene, Brendan strapped himself up with cocaine and headed back to the US. Caught at the border, his decision landed him in the most dangerous prison in South America. Brendan rejected the idea that he would remain ‘a criminal’ and spent his term learning and educating himself. Improvising with whatever was available, he made a pulley system to work out on, improving his strength and movement – the system he later developed into the CrossCore, now sold worldwide.  He has rebuilt his life and as CEO of the World Calisthenics Organisation, he dedicates it to education, events and creating opportunities in fitness for people who don’t have careers.  After being introduced to Calisthenics through a friend, Brendan saw the entertainment potential and created a competition in the park – making up the rules and pulling together make-shift equipment. Instantly popular with onlookers and contestants, Brendan sought sponsorship and quickly grew the contest to become Battle of the Bars – the global competition known on the streets today.  Along with Kenneth Gallarzo, Brendan Cosso founded the World Calisthenics Organization (WCO) with the overarching intention of bringing the calisthenics and street workout movement to the forefront of the mainstream fitness industry. The WCO was the first organisation to hold a calisthenics competition on such a large and professional scale, reaching nearly 37,000 onlookers at the LA Fit Expo January 2013.  Combing elements of street workout, parkour, gymnastics, free running and tricking, Battle of the Bars has become an intricate part of the growing community. Through WCO, Brendan is creating opportunities in fitness for people who don’t have careers and is championing the recognition of calisthenics as a sport. See www.worldcalisthenics.org for more details.   Episode highlights :  How even in the darkest of places, you can find the strength to turn your life around – with self-reflection, acceptance, hard work and good decisions. Understanding that it isn’t until you forgive yourself for what you’ve done that it allows you to move forward to forgive others for what they did to you. The importance of mental strength and dealing with difficult experiences in enabling you to be good and make a difference from today on. How by accepting whatever help your connections offer, you can help yourself to change your life. The importance of not worrying what others think, focusing on your goal and never giving up on what you think is achievable.   Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Brendan Cosso…

Brendan Cosso’s temptation to smuggle drugs landed him in the most dangerous prison in South America. He rebuilt his life and dedicated it to education, events and helping people take a positive path. In this breathtakingly graphic and candid interview, we learn the value of decision-making from the CEO of the World Calisthenics Organisation. Watch the full episode on YouTube Growing up in a middle class family in California, and living a life of luxury working the VIP clubs of Hollywood, Brendan made one bad decision that saw his life come crashing down.  Tempted by a lot of money and the lure of the Brazilian party scene, Brendan strapped himself up with cocaine and headed back to the US. Caught at the border, his decision landed him in the most dangerous prison in South America. Brendan rejected the idea that he would remain ‘a criminal’ and spent his term learning and educating himself. Improvising with whatever was available, he made a pulley system to work out on, improving his strength and movement – the system he later developed into the CrossCore, now sold worldwide.  He has rebuilt his life and as CEO of the World Calisthenics Organisation, he dedicates it to education, events and creating opportunities in fitness for people who don’t have careers.  After being introduced to Calisthenics through a friend, Brendan saw the entertainment potential and created a competition in the park – making up the rules and pulling together make-shift equipment. Instantly popular with onlookers and contestants, Brendan sought sponsorship and quickly grew the contest to become Battle of the Bars – the global competition known on the streets today.  Along with Kenneth Gallarzo, Brendan Cosso founded the World Calisthenics Organization (WCO) with the overarching intention of bringing the calisthenics and street workout movement to the forefront of the mainstream fitness industry. The WCO was the first organisation to hold a calisthenics competition on such a large and professional scale, reaching nearly 37,000 onlookers at the LA Fit Expo January 2013.  Combing elements of street workout, parkour, gymnastics, free running and tricking, Battle of the Bars has become an intricate part of the growing community. Through WCO, Brendan is creating opportunities in fitness for people who don’t have careers and is championing the recognition of calisthenics as a sport. Seewww.worldcalisthenics.orgfor more details.   Episode highlights :  How devastating and life-changing results can occur when you’re influenced by the wrong crowd and attracted by an easy route to the lifestyle you want. The importance of taking responsibility for what you’ve done and making the right decision to protect your future and those you love. The reality of what it means to break the law and just how dangerous that can be. How sometimes the most terrifying thing isn’t the horror of what you have to deal with in front of you but the possibilities of what you might have to do to protect yourself in the future. The realization that if you make a bad decision you can give other people the power to decide your fate.   Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Brendan Cosso…

Sam Bakhtiar escaped the bombs of Saddam Hussein to become a serial entrepreneur in the USA, providing for his children and helping thousands of people achieve their fitness goals. In this honest and emotional interview, we can all learn a lot from the founder of The Camp Transformation Center and One Percent Nutrition. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/MvEnYLsA82Y Born in Iran, Sam lived there until he was 11 years old. He grew up in conflict, hearing bombs and sirens throughout attacks by the Saddam Hussein regime. To avoid Sam being recruited for the military, his family left for the USA via France as refugees of war, with bag of luggage and $500 to their name. It was a culture shock.  In America, Sam’s passion for fitness developed from a little room full of bodybuilders, with an atmosphere of chalk, rusty weights and sweat. Working out improved his confidence and gave him a sense of belonging. It didn’t take long for Sam to start finding new ways of improving other people’s lives, as he had his own. Sam Bakhtiar started his first business through a passion for body transformation. Camp Transformation Center is a franchise business dedicated to changing thousands of people’s lives, empowering communities through health and fitness. It’s also home of the free six-week weight loss challenge, and has 100+ locations with group training to inspire no-gimmick transformations. One Percent Nutrition offers supplements for people who accept no compromise. With science-based ingredients and high standards, Sam Bakhtiar surrounds the business with the values of faith, family, fitness and finance to bring out the best in everything he does.   Episode Highlights -  How the evolution of a business can flourish into an entirely new entrepreneurial journey bringing more success than you can ever imagine. The importance of mentorship and how other people’s experience can benefit whatever you do. Never work in an insular environment. This is the ultimate story of overcoming adversity, both in a war torn upbringing and dealing with credit mistakes and financial struggles. Why negative self-thought will do nothing for progress, and how to overcome stress. How to scale and 10x a fitness business from a small PT set up to further success. The importance of understanding when you’re not equipped to provide a particular service, and how you can better suit a customer by referring them to another partner or offering.     Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Sam Bakhtiar…

David Stalker pioneered change in the country’s not-for-profit health body for the physical activity sector, bringing a fresh face to its thousands of members. Today, he’s joined the Myzone team as CEO of EMEA, passionate about saving communities with fitness technology, experience and understanding. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/kMG-_n7f6D0 Born and brought up in Kenya, David Stalker has been in the UK since 1988, after falling in love. He joined the fitness industry on a YMCA fitness instructor course and started out as a PT before transitioning to eventually become an award-winning fitness manager.  David’s continued success saw him rise through the ranks of the UK fitness industry in successful chains on both sides of the corporate and local authority fences. As CEO of ukactive, he led the fight against the nation’s obesity epidemic, while pioneering change from the Fitness Industry Association through its rebrand. Even after his time at ukactive, David’s enthusiasm to get more people, more active, more often is at his the heart of everything he does. He’s passionate about sharing his core values about wellbeing with the Myzone team and beyond. Myzone is an innovative wearable heart rate based system that uses wireless and cloud technology to accurately and conveniently monitor physical activity. It is successful due to its accuracy at 99.4%. This is the tool for anyone who wants an accurate, gamified and motivating wearable. Myzone monitors heart rate, calories and time exercising that convert into Myzone Effort Points (MEPs), with a focus on rewarding effort rather than fitness.     Episode Highlights:  Differences between fitness business in the corporate world and local authorities, and how the challenges of each can change. How the fitness industry overall has changed and what all the advances have left behind. The ways in which a new generation shifts how the industry needs to react, what benefits it provides and how customer education affects business. Why boutiques may be perfect for bigger cities and continue to grow, but how their growth into smaller cities may not be as successful. How we can learn from past mistakes in order to benefit the health of the nation. The effect of the pharmaceutical companies and other companies on why fitness isn’t more available to nations when it comes to accessibility. How businesses based around junk food and sugar have changed their models to parallel healthier options with their own products. How best of breed insights have been implemented in fitness equipment, and how the standards of training and facilities has improved dramatically through industry communication.   Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with David Stalker…

As founder director at The Gym Group, John Treharne is on the brink of one million members since starting it in 2007. He knows how to build innovative and inclusive initiatives that work for the people, and this episode will help you improve and develop any business. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/1s-Bfsuo0Rk  John is no stranger to the demands of fitness and working out, as he used to play squash for England. In business, his ability to meet and exceed the needs of members and his team has seen him win awards and continue a career of triumph after triumph. He’s floated a company on the stock market twice and explains how learning to run a business properly and managing private equity investors is key to success, sometimes even over a passion for the market itself. John knows the customer well, and has implemented his knowledge in both improving the experience of gym goers and staff alike over decades. To start with, John borrowed money against his house to open his first concept. His growth success level reached 22 clubs at around one a year, whereas now that figure has risen to 20 per year. Today, The Gym is the largest low-cost gym operator in London, and has recently opened a new location in Monument with other locations all over the UK. It’s owned predominantly by large city institutions that have a long-term view on investment. Put simply, John is all about the people. The Gym is the only business in the sector with a Gold Investors in People award, and continues its understanding and inclusive approach to fitness around the UK.   Episode highlights : Learn how the equipment found in gyms and the behavior of gym-goers have both changed over the past decades, and how The Gym has evolved with these changes. How staying open all of the time expands your customer base into a whole new market such as shift workers. The difference between investment set-ups and how funding decisions ultimately affect the longevity of your business. How to break down barriers to fitness, such as the fear that you need to be fit before you even go through the doors to become a member.    Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with John Treharne …

From workouts and training advice to supplements and meal plans, Jim Stoppani’s goal is to provide the most complete system of fitness information – all backed by science – that delivers life-changing results. Passionate and professional, with an exhaustive level of knowledge, his self-imposed responsibility to educate, drives Jim to continue growing what he’s created and sharing it with as many people as possible. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/8hSboI6xZew Jim Stoppani grew up in the shadow of a very fit family – his dad was a professional boxer and his cousin was a US Olympic weightlifter. He’d always aspired to have strength. As well as being into bodybuilding, Jim was active playing baseball, racing motorcross and involved in other sports. He decided to study sports medicine and soon saw the transition between an industry concentration on cardio to the rise of weights and resistance training through new research and studies. From here, Jim took more of an interest in exercise physiology, gaining a PhD and undertaking research of his own for the betterment of the fitness industry. He’d always loved to write and had a passion for fitness magazines. It only took one phone call before one publication offered Jim a job, so he left academia. Following his graduation and time at Yale University School of Medicine, Jim served as senior science editor for Muscle & Fitness, FLEX and Muscle & Fitness Hers magazines for over a decade. Even before his work became a business proposition, Jim was an early adopter of the internet, leading the way before fitness magazines in hosting workout information and video content online. He wanted to share his knowledge with as many people as possible. His JYM supplement line launched in 2013, providing the trusted nutrition he needed for his own performance and offering transparency about ingredients and propriety blends for his customers. Jim has authored and co-authored multiple books, as well as working as personal nutrition and health consultant for celebrities such as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson,LL Cool J, Dr. Dre and Mario Lopez. Today, Jim not only continues to educate and inform, but he also films his own workouts and gives them away for free on his website as “Train with Jim” sessions.   Episode Highlights -  Revolutionary, science-led insight into exercise. This episode will make you question everything you know about fitness. Why a lot of medical professionals can’t speak professionally about supplements, and why many fear them. Why the understanding of weight training and muscle growth is such a new field from a scientific perspective. How strength training is critical as you get older and lose muscle tissue, and how this form of exercise can benefit older adults. The difference in benefit between education through published studies or anecdotal evidence, and why official papers don’t always provide real results.   Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Jim Stoppani…

Always growing and inspiring others on their paths to success, Frank Napolitano is passionate about personal development, new experiences and sharing knowledge with his peers for the betterment of everyone. In this episode, he gives us insight into how to survive and thrive as the president of the world’s largest fitness chain. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/uQ2JRZvLm7Q Frank Napolitano isn’t your typical fitpro. He started his career in public accounting before becoming a lawyer and then pivoting into real estate. It wasn’t until 1984 that he ended up owning a single gym almost by accident. From here, he began acquiring and adapting larger facilities previously used for tennis that had become unprofitable. Growing this network with his business partner, Frank also developed a chain of hotels. However, it was the fitness industry he fell in love with. Frank has developed an understanding to know what both employees and customers need. He also appreciates the differences between what people want at different times in their lives. He’s seen the fitness industry evolve and has implemented so much in the way of trend setting and decisions that have influenced business around the world.  Today, with experience around the world in and out of the industry, he’s perfectly placed to observe patterns of business, create culture underneath him in 24 Hour Fitness and continue to push the boundaries for both his own career and the success of others. Almost four decades of 24 Hour Fitness has seen the business nurture the career of countless fitpros. Many have gone on to build empires of their own around the world. This alumni is testament to the insight of founder Mark Mastrov and the ways of working that he created. Following the company’s sale, Frank has been in 24 Hour Fitness for four and a half years, continuing the original journey of improving lives through fitness. With over 400 clubs in 13 states 24 Hour Fitness is showing no signs of slowing down, and Frank Napolitano explains why in this episode.    Highlights include -  Corporate lifecycles and how your position on a curve will affect your success if you don’t act now. How to grow the industry on the back of fitness professionals. What clients need in order to keep motivation when personal circumstances change. Building the bones of a business, implementing the structure and identifying where you need to focus to lead your team to success. Why a good leader should lose the ego and be able to encourage and empower employees, making it possible for people under them to succeed. The importance of collaboration. Expand your circle of influence, surrounding yourself with good people and sharing ideas to continue to improve your business and that of others.     Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Frank Napolitano…

In this episode of the Escape Your Limits podcast, we’re invited to experience a party on a bike with president of CycleBar franchising, Ryan Junk. Ambitious, intelligent and experienced, Ryan takes us all on a ride to further our personal growth and understanding of what makes a great entrepreneur. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/hRY8AxHXHig Bob Marley fan Ryan Junk grew up in a small town in Hawaii. While he didn’t graduate from college, his success has come following an original goal of becoming a district manager – Ryan has far surpassed that. He’s passionate about educating employees to sell in the right way, embracing historical approaches and adapting them to the modern fitness space and needs of clients. Through understanding and intuition, Ryan has implemented his logic and quick reaction times to go from success to success in 24 Hour Fitness, UFC GYM and more before joining another one of the most successful companies around today.  He explains the challenges and benefits of franchisee models, along with a revolutionary look at the evolution of customer experience, exploring how its link with sales is no bad thing. CycleBar is the world’s first premium indoor cycling franchise, operating in over 400 territories around the world. Since being bought by fitness empire Xponential Fitness in 2017, the brand has seen mounting success, selling 365 studios in its first year under new ownership. Xponential is made up of eight different brands, and each one is run independently. Every CycleBar member knows it’s more than just a spin class. The excitement and entertainment in the studio is backed by supportive stats delivered straight to their inbox afterwards.   Episode highlights :  The importance of implementing as many touch points as possible to service members or clients and enhance their experience. How to educate first-time members and provide a premium service at the same time. What members are going to the gym and to classes for, and why it’s not information that they’re after anymore. The difference between an entrepreneur and a franchisee, and how this can affect anyone’s suitability at holding a franchise. How to hire and keep the right trainers that can provide the best instruction experiences and learn the ways of the business approach. Hear why business in the fitness space can easily descend into a downward spiral before closure, and how any boutique can avoid it.   Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Ryan Junk…

Host of the Escape Your Limits podcast, Matthew Januszek, looks back on the year and gives valuable insight on how to start a podcast, how to overcome challenges, and how to always keep improving in anything you do. It’s been an incredible first year for the Escape Your Limits podcast. Across 60 episodes, guests range from Mr Olympia bodybuilding legends and UFC fighters to exciting new fitness entrepreneurs and veterans of the industry. Thanks to you, we’ve clocked up well over one million minutes of viewing time on YouTube alone. This final episode of 2018 aims to give a reflection on a successful year and more. Host Matthew Januszek will talk through how we got started, how we overcame challenges, what we’ve learned and how you can use the most important lessons to better your own life. Thanks for your support over the past year and thank you for listening. Watch the video – https://youtu.be/5L2pI4mUjXc   Episode highlights Lessons we’ve learned about patterns within the fitness industry from key entrepreneurs worldwide. The most common advice that we’ve heard from CEOs, PTs, celebrities and other fitness icons; how this has benefitted their businesses and how it can help yours. Behind the scenes explanations of the challenges faced and overcome at the start of creating a podcast, and how to use these lessons to improve. Why anything you do needs to add value to the audience, customer or client, and how it can’t just be about what you want or your business needs. The importance of goal setting and the real reason why so many successful entrepreneurs do it. How to overcome nerves in front of a camera for the first time, whether on a vidcast or on social media. Discover the importance and appreciation of feedback, and how it’s vital for the continuation of improvement with anything.     Join Matthew Januszek to look back on the Escape Your Limits podcast and what lessons we’ve all learned…  

A world leader in both physical and digital fitness, Rasmus Ingerslev has founded innovative club chains, built business brands and successfully sold ventures to move onto the next entrepreneurial opportunity time and time again. Watch the full episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/UgaOg8bxm3g Driven by looking after loved ones, Rasmus Ingerslev grew up with a single mother of three. He’s always had a desire to create a safe environment around his family. His mother passed away from cancer when he was 16. One source of inspiration to succeed was a promise Rasmus made to himself that he will never be in the position where he can’t afford to pay for any treatment relating to the health of his family. Aside from entrepreneurial ventures, he’s also been a martial arts athlete – a heavyweight in the national karate team, winning a national team title as payback for all the hard work he put in. Alongside every great man is a great woman; in the case of Rasmus Ingerslev he stands beside his medical doctor and neuroscientist wife, Mouna Esmaeilzadeh. This performance power couple has gone on to rise above and beyond competition in either of their respective fields.  Once a fighter, always a fighter – Rasmus Ingerslev’s martial arts success has only been matched by a fighting spirit on his entrepreneurial journey. He holds many senior positions as chairman of Barry’s Bootcamp Nordic, urban fitness chain REPEAT, investment group Stockholm Leisure Partners, and he’s also Executive Vice Chairman of Wexer Virtual. Rasmus is a global leading businessman, forging the new path in digital fitness and sharing as many of his experiences with others along the way.   Episode highlights -  Understand determination and how a fighting mentality will set you up for success and help you overcome when times are tough. Knowing when to rest, both mentally and physically, so that you don’t burn yourself out in business or in fitness. The same goes for the business itself – realising the timing of when to invest and add resources, or when to let productivity rest to find better timing in any market. The importance of written goals and how they’ll fuel you to achieve your long term plans as well as celebrating the quicker wins, too. How Rasmus believes that martial arts is the best education in the world, thanks to the discipline and patience needed to succeed and progress. Why leadership, your location and your people are the three most important things to surviving any market trends and changes in the industry.   Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Rasmus Ingerslev…