

Fitness Business Podcast: Leadership, Innovation, and Profit
Justin Tamsett | Fitness Business Leader
Are you a gym owner or manager looking to improve conversions from prospects to members, member satisfaction, employee retention, innovation and profitability? Many fitness podcasts focus solely on lead generation, but we believe the real key to long-term success lies in effective leadership and reducing churn of both staff and members. Host Justin "JT" Tamsett, a leader in the global fitness and wellness culture, brings you actionable advice from multiple industry experts in each episode.
With over 1 million downloads, this podcast offers brilliant strategies to overcome challenges in the fitness industry today. Whether you run a big-box gym or boutique studio, this podcast is your lifeline to hands-on experience. Educate yourself today on how to hit record sales numbers, boost member retention, build a high-performing team, and skyrocket your revenue through strong leadership. Listen and subscribe now!
Q: Is this podcast right for me?
A: The podcast is for independent, chain and franchise owners, managers and department managers ready to be the best: Planet Fitness, LA Fitness, Equinox, Anytime Fitness, PureGym, David Lloyd Leisure, Virgin Active, Snap Fitness, Crunch Fitness, F45, Pure Barre, Barry's Bootcamp, SoulCycle, Psycle, The Movement Nation, and much more.
Q: How often are new episodes released?
A: New episodes drop twice a month, delivering valuable education to help you grow your fitness business.
Q: What can I expect to learn from the show this season?
A: Expect to learn about building strong communities, boosting member retention, creating a better employee experience, and navigating the future of fitness.
Q: Who are your sponsors?
A: This show is supported by REX Roundtables and Active Management
About Your Host: Justin "JT" Tamsett is a seasoned fitness industry veteran and passionate advocate for promoting physical activity. His mission is to reduce the health care costs across the globe by having more people move and move more often. JT's hope is that his daughter Zoe can grow up in a world full of opportunity rather than one where governments and communities don't have the burden of an ageing and sickening population. With over 30 years of experience, JT has owned gyms, coached fitness classes, and now specialises in business coaching for fitness entrepreneurs.
Through his company, Active Management, JT provides guidance and support to gym owners worldwide, empowering them to build successful businesses and contribute to a healthier society. He also leads 8 REX Roundtables in the US and Australia, spoken at over 40 conferences in 23 countries, and consulted with gyms worldwide. JT's commitment to improving health extends beyond his professional endeavours, as he has also dedicated himself to coaching various sports and actively participates in industry organisations.
With over 1 million downloads, this podcast offers brilliant strategies to overcome challenges in the fitness industry today. Whether you run a big-box gym or boutique studio, this podcast is your lifeline to hands-on experience. Educate yourself today on how to hit record sales numbers, boost member retention, build a high-performing team, and skyrocket your revenue through strong leadership. Listen and subscribe now!
Q: Is this podcast right for me?
A: The podcast is for independent, chain and franchise owners, managers and department managers ready to be the best: Planet Fitness, LA Fitness, Equinox, Anytime Fitness, PureGym, David Lloyd Leisure, Virgin Active, Snap Fitness, Crunch Fitness, F45, Pure Barre, Barry's Bootcamp, SoulCycle, Psycle, The Movement Nation, and much more.
Q: How often are new episodes released?
A: New episodes drop twice a month, delivering valuable education to help you grow your fitness business.
Q: What can I expect to learn from the show this season?
A: Expect to learn about building strong communities, boosting member retention, creating a better employee experience, and navigating the future of fitness.
Q: Who are your sponsors?
A: This show is supported by REX Roundtables and Active Management
About Your Host: Justin "JT" Tamsett is a seasoned fitness industry veteran and passionate advocate for promoting physical activity. His mission is to reduce the health care costs across the globe by having more people move and move more often. JT's hope is that his daughter Zoe can grow up in a world full of opportunity rather than one where governments and communities don't have the burden of an ageing and sickening population. With over 30 years of experience, JT has owned gyms, coached fitness classes, and now specialises in business coaching for fitness entrepreneurs.
Through his company, Active Management, JT provides guidance and support to gym owners worldwide, empowering them to build successful businesses and contribute to a healthier society. He also leads 8 REX Roundtables in the US and Australia, spoken at over 40 conferences in 23 countries, and consulted with gyms worldwide. JT's commitment to improving health extends beyond his professional endeavours, as he has also dedicated himself to coaching various sports and actively participates in industry organisations.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 17, 2023 • 38min
524 Mastering the Art of Selling Personal Training with Anthony Amen
Learn how to take your personal training business to new heights with Anthony Amen, the owner and visionary behind Redefine Fitness in New York. Anthony shares his expertise in selling personal training. He emphasizes the importance of knowing how to sell to help more people and make a difference in their lives. He discusses the steps to take before starting the sales process, including creating a welcoming and clean gym environment, making a personal connection with potential clients, and offering a tour that focuses on building rapport. He also highlights the importance of role-playing to improve sales skills and overcome objections. Anthony concludes by explaining the key elements of a successful fitness assessment and the importance of asking for the sale. Check out the show notes here: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/524

Oct 10, 2023 • 25min
523 Terry Blachek: How to Build a Dream Team for Your Fitness Business
Terry Blachek, CEO and owner of Austin Fitness Group, LLC, which operates 133 Orangetheory studios across Texas, Arizona, and Kansas, shares his insights on building a dream team and cultivating a successful and productive work environment. Terry Blachek is a seasoned leader and entrepreneur with extensive experience in the fitness industry. He has successfully launched and managed multiple fitness businesses, and is known for his expertise in building dream teams. Terry is also the host of the podcast "Tuesdays with Terry," where he shares insights on self-development, leadership, entrepreneurship, and sales and marketing. He's also one of the original founders of Orangetheory Fitness. Get the full show notes here: https://fit

Oct 3, 2023 • 26min
522 The ChatGPT Revolution & Simplifying Your Life with Donna McGeorge
Donna McGeorge joins the Fitness Business podcast to discuss the power of ChatGPT (also known as Charlie) in improving productivity. ChatGPT is a language model that can generate written content based on a vast amount of data it has been trained on. Donna explains that ChatGPT can be a valuable tool for fitness business owners in various aspects of their work, such as writing social media posts, marketing materials, and website copy. She emphasizes the importance of approaching ChatGPT with curiosity and using it as a tool to enhance and refine written communication. Donna also highlights the need for proofreading and editing to maintain credibility and avoid potential errors or inaccuracies generated by ChatGPT. SHOW NOTES: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/522

Sep 28, 2023 • 12min
521 The Value Proposition for Going Global with FIT Summit
Join Sarah Pellegrino as she speaks with Ross Campbell, CEO of FIT Summit, all the way in Singapore for September's Value Proposition episode. FIT Summit is a global, business network for the health, fitness and wellness industry, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific market. FIT manages many business networks and events and produces exclusive business content, all while promoting the industry globally. When attending a FIT Summit, attendees can expect to see large scale operators representing several verticals: fitness, hotel, resorts, retreats. This is an amazing time for us to collaborate and communicate between multiple verticals and meet as many buyers as possible. FIT Summit is where wellness meets health, health meets fitness, and fitness meets sports. Their next event is this November 21-23 in Sydney, Australia, and you can expect about 750 CEO's at this next VIP event. Learn More About This Event and Their Calendar of Events for 2024: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/521

Sep 26, 2023 • 32min
520 4 Step Process for Handling Customer Complaints with Hank Ebeling
Hank Ebeling is the founder and owner of H4 Training. He is passionate about helping small businesses transform their customer service and elevate their customers' experience. Hank is the author of the book "Crushing the Competition with Service" and has created an online course called "Superhero Service Super Profits" to help businesses deliver outstanding service consistently. He joins us to discuss his four-step process for handling customer complaints. The process includes acknowledging the complaint, apologizing, making it right, and thanking the customer. Hank emphasizes the importance of listening to the customer, avoiding defensiveness, and finding a solution that meets the customer's needs. He also highlights the value of thanking customers for bringing issues to your attention and using their feedback to improve your business. Show notes and more resources: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/520

Sep 19, 2023 • 29min
519 Mastering the Instagram Algorithm with Joanne Hernon
Discover the secrets to mastering the Instagram algorithm and boosting your business! Tune in to the latest episode of the Fitness Business podcast to learn from social media maven Joanne Hernan. Joanne Hernan has over 17 years of experience working with Instagram and other social media platforms. She is known for her expertise in mastering the Instagram algorithm and creating authentic and engaging content. Summary: Joanne Hernan joins the Fitness Business podcast to discuss how to master the Instagram algorithm and use social media to grow your business. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity, consistency, and creating great content. Joanne explains that the Instagram algorithm looks at various data points, such as user behavior, content engagement, and hashtags, to determine what content to prioritize in users' feeds. She also shares tips for leveraging Instagram stories and reels to increase visibility and engagement. Joanne encourages listeners to conduct an audit of their Instagram accounts to identify areas for improvement, and offers a free audit tool to help with this process. Get show notes: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/519 0:00:06 Introduction to the importance of social media for businesses 0:01:03 Sponsorship message from Hapana 0:02:28 Myzone's Fitbizpiration segment 0:02:36 Top three suggestions for getting content seen on Instagram 0:03:33 Sponsorship message from Myzone 0:04:02 Introduction to the interview with Joanne Hernan 0:04:35 Definition of the Instagram algorithm 0:07:01 Signals that Instagram uses to understand content preferences 0:09:21 Instagram's consideration of user-posted content and captions 0:12:26 Leveraging the algorithm for success on Instagram 0:15:30 Importance of branding and addressing customer problems in posts 0:16:37 Creating a professional persona for target audience 0:17:50 Reels have a bigger reach and longer shelf life than stories 0:19:32 Using an Instagram account audit to identify areas for improvement 0:21:30 Contact information for Joanne and subscription link provided 0:22:46 Quickfire Five introduction for next week's guest, Hank Ebling 0:23:20 Hank's guilty pleasure: chocolate chip cookies 0:24:21 Productivity habit: getting up early 0:24:49 Calming activity: cooking 0:25:57 Book recommendation: "Magic Words" about persuasion and relationships 0:27:03 Pitch for next week's episode on handling customer complaints [0:28:24] Thank yous [0:28:24] Founding partner, Active Management [0:28:24] Partners: myzone warrior instructor, Academy, Body Map, Hapana [0:28:24] Advertisers: Rex, Roundtables, Mxmetrics [0:28:24] Leaving a legacy

Sep 12, 2023 • 46min
518 Thinking Ahead Roundtable: The Prospects of AI, AR and VR and the Potential Impact on the Fitness Industry
Jason Stolwell leads a roundtable discussion with three expert guests on the prospects of artificial intelligence (AI), artificial reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) in the fitness industry. The guests discuss the potential impact of these technologies and where fitness businesses should make strategic capital investments in the next three to five years. They also explore the integration of cryptocurrencies into the fitness industry and the role of a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in navigating these technological advancements. Learn how to leverage artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to boost productivity and achieve health, wealth, and freedom in this special "Thinking Ahead" edition. The Panel Jake Posner: Engineering & Product Leader at Meta in Reality Labs, specializing in user-facing experiences for the Quest line of devices. Michael Benso: Co-Founder of Buzops, a fitness business owner and developer in the Web 3 space, with a focus on NFT projects and decentralized finance. Michael Gaio: Founder and CEO of Mythic Systems, an entrepreneur, educator, and innovator focused on leveraging AI and emerging technologies to boost productivity and achieve health, wealth, and freedom. Visit our show notes page for links, resources, and more!

Sep 5, 2023 • 24min
517 Chad Bryant: 30 Days to Make a New Employee Soar
Are you struggling to find highly engaged employees for your fitness business? Discover the key to building a high-performance team in your fitness business. Learn how to identify and attract the right candidates from workplace culture expert Chad Bryant. Chad Bryant, owner of CWB Workplace Culture Consulting Company and Fitness Director at Raintree Athletic Club, joins Dori to discuss the importance of the first 30 days in cultivating an authentic relationship with new hires. He emphasizes the need to prioritize the health and culture of the company over smart policies and systems. By defining the company's belief system, screening and hiring candidates who align with those beliefs, businesses can build a high-performing team. Chad also highlights the importance of measuring the success of on-boarding through turnover rates, member retention, and online reviews. Read full show notes: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/517

Aug 29, 2023 • 31min
516 Will Guidara: Unreasonable Hospitality in the Fitness Industry
Hospitality isn't just for restaurants. Learn how to create unforgettable experiences for your customers and build loyalty in your fitness business. Will Guidara, author of "Unreasonable Hospitality" and former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, shares his insights on hospitality and how it can be applied to the fitness industry. He emphasizes the importance of giving people more than they expect and creating memorable experiences. Being present and listening to customers is key, as well as personalizing gestures to make individuals feel seen and valued. Read full show notes here: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/516

Aug 24, 2023 • 22min
515 The Value Proposition for the Fitness Industry Suppliers Association
Join Sarah Pellegrino as she speaks with Sal Pellegrino & Chris Torggler on the history of the Fitness Industry Suppliers Association, how they connect great products with great people, upcoming events, and their visions for a successful 2024 & beyond! Join Sal Pellegrino and Chris Torggler on The Value Proposition for the Fitness Industry Suppliers Association to hear about the history of FISA, how FISA lives out their mission to connect great products with even better people, and how the team is gearing up for their 51st event in Florida, October 30th – November 1st! With the first class locations and intimate one-on-one meetings, it's no surprise that 80% of the suppliers who participate in FISA return for future events year after year. Don't miss this episode if you: Haven't heard of FISA yet and want to know more Have an interest in attending as a supplier Are a fitness professional on the West Coast Are a fitness professional on the East Coast Are a fitness professional in the non-profit sector Could use important data, like the data in the Commercial Market Trend Report in your fitness business View the full show notes: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/515 Learn more about FISA Events: https://www.fisaevents.org/


