

The Show Up Fitness Podcast
Chris Hitchko, CEO Show Up Fitness
Join Chris Hitchko, author of 'How to Become A Successful Personal Trainer' VOL 2 and CEO of Show Up Fitness as he guides personal trainers towards success. 90% of personal trainers quit within 12-months in the USA, 18-months in the UK, Show Up Fitness is helping change those statistics. The Show Up Fitness CPT is one of the fastest growing PT certifications in the world with partnerships with over 500-gyms including Life Time Fitness, Equinox, Genesis, EoS, and numerous other elite partnerships.This podcast focuses on refining trade, business, and people skills to help trainers excel in the fitness industry. Discover effective client programming, revenue generation, medical professional networking, and elite assessment strategies. Learn how to become a successful Show Up Fitness CPT at www.showupfitness.com. Send your questions to Chris on Instagram @showupfitness or via email at info@showupfitness.com."
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 3, 2025 • 19min
How to raise your rates as a Personal Trainer 2025/26
Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Want clients to say yes to higher rates without flinching? We unpack a practical, honest roadmap to charging more in 2026 by doing the one thing that always works: raising your value and proving it in the session. From smarter warmups and sharper assessments to hands-on seminars that light a fire under your coaching, this conversation tackles the skills, scripts, and mindset needed to step into premium pricing with integrity.We start with a hard look at undercharging and why it’s usually a communication issue, not a market limit. Then we map the environments where $100 to $200 per hour is normal and show how to align your services with that expectation. You’ll hear how to swap passive foam-rolling time for targeted prep, use a simple movement screen to personalize programming, and integrate nutrition and recovery guidance without overstepping scope. We also share a reusable script to announce your rate change, timeline it, and give clients real options: pre-purchase at current rates, sponsor your education, or join a charity workout that funds your seminar travel.Along the way, we dive into the compounding power of seminars—why two days of supervised, hands-on learning can beat months of trial and error—and how proximity to high-level coaches, physical therapists, and dietitians expands your network and your confidence. You’ll get tactics to trim an energy-draining roster, consolidate your schedule, and get comfortable with “no” so you can say “yes” to better-fit clients and higher leverage work. If you’re ready to turn passion into a durable career, this is your blueprint: learn, implement, communicate, increase.Subscribe for more no-fluff coaching, share this with a trainer who needs a push, and leave a review to tell us your 2026 rate goal.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Dec 3, 2025 • 49min
Training India's Elite: Vinod Channa on Discipline, Fitness & Longevity
Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!A life can pivot on a single “no.” For Vinod Chandel, repeated rejection at the police gate became the spark that turned a frail kid into a national bodybuilding champion and, eventually, one of India’s most sought-after celebrity coaches. We unpack how he built a career on anatomy, humility, and relentless learning—then rebuilt it after a slip disc forced him to rethink strength from the spine out.We walk through the transformation from old-school, mirror-first training to a 360-degree method that blends mobility, yoga, calisthenics, kettlebells, and stick work. Vinod shares how balanced shoulder development demands understanding muscle heads and alignment, why cat-cow and hip control can unlock heavier squats, and how long days at desks or on sets age the body faster than birthdays. He opens up about pricing and negotiation, the realities of traveling with stars, and the principle that knowledge—not hype—earns trust and income.What stands out is the cultural fusion: Western exercise science sharpened his programming, while Indian warrior traditions—gada, mudgar, sword work—taught rotational strength, grip, and presence. That blend helps everyone from actors to IT pros move better, recover faster, and stay injury-resistant. For new trainers, Vinod’s playbook is simple and demanding: train all kinds of bodies, repeat your own transformations, and cook your craft under real-world pressure. Subscribe for more grounded conversations on strength, mobility, recovery, and the mindset that turns setbacks into skill. If this story moved you, share it with a friend and leave a review so others can find it too.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Dec 1, 2025 • 17min
Run Pain-Free: 30-day strength training program w/ prehab/rehab
Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Want to run more without getting sidelined by cranky feet and tight calves? We walk through a real client scenario—a 20-year-old cardio diehard who stacked three five-mile runs onto a week of classes—and show how to turn enthusiasm into a durable plan. You’ll hear the exact warm-ups, strength circuits, and weekly progressions we use to build mileage safely, fix plantar fasciitis flare-ups, and keep motivation high.We start with the biggest injury driver most runners ignore: sudden volume spikes. From there, we map a simple progression rule of thumb, then layer in intensity with controlled tempos once volume settles. The foundation is strength built around running’s demands. Day one is hinge-focused with hip thrusts, chin-ups, and deep landmine calf raises. Day two is squat-focused with low-impact jumps, heels-elevated back squats, and core patterns that train adduction and extension. Day three turns unilateral and frontal-plane, using skater hops with stick landings, single-leg RDLs, and suitcase carries on toes to blend trunk stiffness and foot strength. Throughout, we target the plantar fascia, gastrocnemius, soleus, tibialis anterior, and peroneals so every step gets more stable.We also get practical about tools and coaching. Footwear rotation, soft tissue mobilization with a barbell or lacrosse ball, and isometrics to calm tendons when symptoms spike. For coaches and ambitious self-trainers, we dig into anatomy-driven programming, progressive overload, and the career skills that make plans stick: clear cues, on-the-fly adjustments, and confidence that comes from mastering the fundamentals. If you’re chasing bigger miles, stronger glutes, and fewer setbacks, this is the blueprint to build resilient legs and a steady training rhythm.Enjoyed the conversation and want more like it? Follow the show, share it with a friend who runs, and leave a quick review so we can help more athletes train smarter.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Nov 25, 2025 • 17min
SUPERSET: The BEST Personal Training App For Bookings, Payments, & Programs
Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!What if your entire coaching business—programming, payments, client feedback, and messaging—lived in one clean, simple place you actually enjoy using? We sit down with Noah, a former baseball player and health coach who joined Superset after discovering how much better training can be when systems work with you, not against you. His story moves from early interests in lifestyle coaching and Z-Health to building features that reflect what coaches really need: speed, clarity, and client results.We dig into practical training insights first: why vestibular and visual drills belong in warm-ups, how a 30-second eyes-closed balance test reveals coordination gaps, and what that means for athletes and aging clients alike. Then we move into the business backbone. Superset’s spreadsheet-style builder, Superset Sheets, lets you drag in programs from spreadsheets, PDFs, or videos and instantly translate them into a polished client app. AI tools help speed up programming and synthesize client notes so you can adjust plans without drowning in admin. The activity feed centralizes videos, comments, and progress updates, replacing scattered texts with a structured, searchable dialogue.If you’ve felt the chaos of juggling Excel, Venmo, and endless DMs, the platform’s integrated payments via Stripe, built-in exercise library, and customizable content put everything under one roof. New coaches can use the 14-day trial, add themselves as a test client, and get comfortable with real workflows before onboarding clients. For growing businesses, the pricing scales predictably, and the team ships features based on daily feedback from working coaches—so the product evolves with your needs.Ready to focus on outcomes instead of overhead? Hit play to learn how to set clear boundaries, streamline your tools, and deliver coaching that scales without losing the personal touch. If you enjoy the conversation, subscribe, share it with a fellow coach, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Nov 15, 2025 • 13min
Ep. 275 How to Double Your Personal Training Rates 2025/26
Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Charging more isn’t about louder marketing; it’s about undeniable value. We break down the three pillars that move trainers from average rates to premium pricing: advanced anatomy mastery, a real referral network with physical therapists and dietitians, and the discipline to look the part without slipping into influencer theatrics. You’ll hear why precise knowledge of shoulder and hip mechanics changes client outcomes, how to screen pain within scope and reduce discomfort so training never stalls, and the simple phrase that protects your reputation: when in doubt, refer out.We get real about the market too. In major cities—especially near Equinox or Lifetime—$150 to $300 per hour is achievable when your offer includes structured assessments, coordinated care, and proof of results. We talk through transforming your own habits into an authentic calling card, using clear metrics and steady progress rather than filters and hype. Clients buy competence and congruence: a coach who explains the why, programs the how, and lives the habits they teach. Rate objections fade when trust is this tangible.To make it repeatable, we map the systems that keep your business smooth: a clean intake process, movement screens, flare-up protocols, PT handoffs, and ongoing re-assessments. We also show how to add thoughtful revenue streams—like a $100 per month online program—without burning out or eroding your premium offer. The aim isn’t hustle for hustle’s sake; it’s sustainable professionalism. If you’re ready to master the science, respect the discipline, and build a team that supports client results, hit play and take notes. Subscribe, share with a coach who needs the push, and leave a review to help more trainers level up.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Nov 14, 2025 • 47min
How to pass NASM-CPT 7th Edition 2025/26 SUF-CPT guarantee to pass NASM in 30-days
Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Most new trainers don’t fail because they’re lazy—they fail because they were set up to memorize, not to coach. We sit down with Cori, a dedicated runner navigating NASM overwhelm, and turn tangled chapters into clear, usable coaching. You’ll hear how to translate planes of motion into exercises you can demo immediately, how to spot agonists and antagonists without guessing, and how to use synergists and stabilizers to make your cues land.We walk through the OPT model the way hiring managers want to hear it: Phase 1 builds control and competency, Phase 2 pairs stable with less stable for smarter supersets, Phase 3 drives muscle, Phase 4 loads heavy for strength, and Phase 5 blends power and strength with purpose. You’ll get a no-fluff take on energy systems and fiber types—anchored to duration and intensity—so exam questions become quick wins. Then we make assessments useful: identify what “arms fall” and “knees cave” really mean, apply the red-versus-green muscle lists, and choose fixes that actually change movement. Foam roll and stretch what’s tight, strengthen what’s sleepy, and cue breathing and bracing so reps look and feel better.Safety and screening matter, so we hit the essentials: PAR-Q, hypertension basics, the SA node, and knowing when to refer out. More importantly, we show how hands-on learning, live feedback, and mentorship build confidence faster than any textbook—because clients won’t ask about amortization, they’ll ask for results. If you’ve been grinding through chapters and still feel stuck, this conversation gives you a study map, coaching language, and a training method you can use tomorrow.If this helped you see the path more clearly, follow the show, share it with a trainer friend, and leave a quick review—it helps more future coaches find their footing.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Nov 11, 2025 • 31min
How to start your own Personal Training Business - From Crunch to Life Time w/ Anna
Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!If you’ve ever passed a certification and still felt lost on the gym floor, this conversation will sound uncomfortably familiar—and surprisingly hopeful. We sit down with Anna, a Cincinnati trainer who went from textbook confidence to real-world clarity, trading fear-based assessments and complicated plans for simple, effective coaching that clients actually feel.We start with her early days at Crunch, where 30-minute sessions exposed the limits of memorized protocols. Moving to Lifetime changed the trajectory: peer-led discovery sessions, floor observations, and direct feedback sharpened her coaching lens. Anna explains how learning by watching seasoned trainers, then being corrected, built a skill set no chapter could deliver. That shift is the throughline of the episode: master core movement patterns, keep programming competent and flexible, and use your freed-up attention to connect, listen, and guide.From there, we dive into building a business without gimmicks. Anna breaks down a client-first model: start in a rented space, create clean discovery processes, charge with confidence, and build a referral network with physical therapists and chiropractors to keep clients safe. We also take aim at common industry traps—like misusing the overhead squat to scare people into buying—and outline a better standard: test only what you’ll retest, train what the goal requires, and treat psychology as part of the program. You’ll hear practical scripts, mindset shifts for pricing, and a clear plan for standing out in a crowded market by doing the quiet, expert things most skip.If you’re a trainer wrestling with imposter thoughts, or you’re ready to go independent without getting overwhelmed, this episode gives you the blueprint: simplify, collaborate, and show up. Subscribe, share with a coach who needs it, and leave a review with one action you’re taking this week.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Nov 6, 2025 • 13min
Africa CPT Guemra_ How to become a Personal Trainer Morocco
Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!What if your training career wasn’t limited by a sales quota or a noisy gym floor? We sit down with Moroccan coach Abdul Jalil Guemra to map his leap into a five-star medical spa where fitness coaches work alongside doctors, physical therapists, and dietitians to design true longevity programs.Abdul pulls back the curtain on a model that starts with comprehensive consults and flows into personalized plans built on five pillars: metabolic function, nutrition and diet, sleep and recovery, physical fitness, and stress management. You’ll hear how each guest gets a tailored path—whether that means more structured recovery and performance work for athletes or deeper focus on sleep, stress, and nutrition for high-burnout executives. The result is a collaborative system where coaches stay within scope, clinicians lead diagnosis and treatment, and clients see measurable, life-changing progress.We also dig into the career skills that actually win elite roles. Abdul credits mentorship and internship-style training for giving him the confidence to communicate with clinicians and the judgment to know when to refer. He makes a strong case that soft skills—presence, listening, hospitality—separate great coaches from the pack, especially in luxury wellness environments. And he breaks down how the resort’s business model removes sales pressure, allowing coaches to focus on delivery, service quality, and outcomes that go beyond PRs to include better sleep, lower stress, and stronger daily function.If you’re a trainer aiming for a high-end or clinical setting, you’ll leave with a clear playbook: invest in real mentorship, master scope, and treat communication as a core skill. Enjoy the conversation, share it with a coach who needs a nudge, and don’t forget to subscribe and leave a quick review so we can keep bringing you practical, career-changing insights.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Nov 4, 2025 • 47min
From Equinox to 10k per Month - Tyrus the life of an independent Personal Trainer
Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Ever wonder why top trainers walk away from big-name gyms even when the pay looks great on paper? We sit down with Tyrus to unpack his leap from Equinox to independent training, the fears that came with it, and the unexpected relief of having space, time, and creative control. He shares how he retained his core clients, why micromanagement pushed him to the edge, and what actually sustains a long-term book: trust, outcomes, and a coaching style that trains the human, not a rigid plan.We get into the unglamorous but critical parts of going solo—budgeting for front-loaded income, setting airtight policies, and structuring smaller packages for steadier monthly cash flow. Tyrus explains his daily readiness approach and why he prioritizes movement patterns and client context over exhaustive programming reports. If you’ve felt the summer slump, been pressured into floor shifts you don’t need, or questioned the value of endless documentation, this conversation offers both validation and a roadmap.For leaders inside big box gyms, we outline a retention playbook: distribute leads with an eye on lifetime value, shield seasoned trainers during seasonal dips, and replace fear-based selling with real continuing education. For independent coaches, we share referral scripts, seminar-sponsorship ideas, and content tactics that turn client wins into organic growth. The goal is a career with more autonomy, deeper client relationships, and clear steps to scale—whether you plan to mentor others or eventually open your own space.If this resonates, follow along, share it with a coach who needs it, and leave a review. Your feedback helps us reach more trainers ready to build a career with freedom and integrity.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Nov 3, 2025 • 37min
INDIA - Pro Tips for Personal Trainers w/ S&C coach Arjun Jain
Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!What if the real difference between a stagnant coaching career and an elite one isn’t a new certificate, but how you learn, coach, and connect? We sit down with Arjun, a Mumbai-based strength and conditioning coach working with Olympians and top prospects, to unpack the real substance of S&C—far beyond “weights inside, conditioning outside.” From injury prevention and periodization to testing, data, and tailored communication, he shows how the job blends science with coaching art.Arjun shares his path from a college gym in Pune to advanced study in exercise physiology and S&C in the UK, including a COVID-era pivot into entrepreneurship and a grind of multi-role coaching across universities, clubs, and cricket. He reveals practical lessons from programming under tight competition calendars, microdosing training to maintain adaptations, and coaching different personalities—youth athletes who need play and cues, pros who need precision and trust, and general population clients who need pain management, mobility, and strong foundations.For coaches in India—and anywhere—Arjun lays out a clear roadmap: get the right education to reach the door, then accumulate real coaching hours to open it. Replace outcome-chasing with process, and make LinkedIn your professional arena for value-first networking. Share problems you’ve solved, follow up with what you learned, and become the person people remember when roles open. We close on his north star: contributing to India’s next Olympic medal by being part of the team behind the podium. If you’re ready to move from certificate collector to trusted coach, this conversation gives you the blueprint.If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a coach who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find these stories. What’s the next skill you’ll build this month?Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com


