Fitt Insider

Today, I’m joined by Kari Saitowitz, chief marketing & creative officer of New York Sports Club and founder of Fhitting Room. After founding and operating NYC-based boutique HIIT and functional fitness studio Fhitting Room, Kari joined New York Sports Club upon its acquisition of her brand in late 2022. Now, she’s merging Fhitting Room’s programming while working to redefine the health club experience. In this episode, we discuss the evolution of boutique fitness, Kari explains the club-in-club concept that led to Fhitting Room’s acquisition, and we talk about how demand for strength training and functional workouts is reshaping gyms. In this episode, you’ll learn: • About Kari’s 10-year journey at the helm of Fhitting Room • How boutique fitness has evolved over the past decade • How health clubs and boutique studios can work together Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider/ - The Fitt Insider podcast is brought to you by Jack Taylor, our exclusive PR partner. More than just PR, they’re creative storytellers and brand builders who actually understand the health and wellness industry. Learn more and get in touch at JackTaylorPR.com/Fitt Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:29) Kari’s Background (02:41) Observing consumer behavior (03:16) Fhitting Room’s origin story (08:39) Growth strategy (15:02) Fhitting Room's @ strategy (17:44) Creating a financially sustainable business  (23:37) Journey to getting acquired by New York Sports Club (33:34) Reasons for the acquisition (35:29) What to expect post-acquisition and Kari’s new role (41:48) NYSC’s main objectives (42:51) Conclusion

Today, I’m joined by Dr. Andrew Brandeis, co-founder & CEO of OK Capsule, a private-label supplement manufacturer and distributor for DTC wellness brands. Meticulously formulated and scientifically backed, Dr. Brandeis and team have developed 70+ supplements that prioritize quality, transparency, and efficacy, providing companies and their clientele with a custom wellness solution through daily vitamin packs. In this episode, we discuss OK Capsule’s B2B platform for performance nutrition and how technology can disrupt the traditional supplement industry. We also talk about how wellness brands can use personalization, convenience, and design to stand out. In this episode, you’ll learn: • How Andrew’s B2B approach plays to his strengths • How OK Capsule’s tech streamlines manufacturing, packaging, and distribution • Andrew’s perspective on AI and how it will affect the future of medicine Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider/ OK Capsule Website: okcapsule.com Andrew’s Email: andrew@okcapsule.com - The Fitt Insider podcast is brought to you by Jack Taylor, our exclusive PR partner. More than just PR, they’re creative storytellers and brand builders who actually understand the health and wellness industry. Learn more and get in touch at JackTaylorPR.com/Fitt   Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:31) Andrew’s background (01:57) The power of supplements (02:57) Challenges in the supplement industry (05:20) Current state of the industry (07:49) Personalized supplement experience (09:16) OK Capsule’s business and strategy (12:17) Future of personalization in the supplement market (13:16) Scaling personalization (16:44) Supplement industry misconceptions (17:35) Compliance and regulation (18:54) Importance of customer experience (21:45) OK Capsule vs. other supplement companies (24:28) Future roadmap (26:15) Growth strategies (27:26) Integrating AI (31:48) Brand loyalty is losing to convenience (32:34) Online sales process for supplements (35:11) Potential opportunities and product expansion (40:37) Conclusion  

Today, I’m joined by Andrew Lacy, founder & CEO of Prenuvo, a preventative healthcare company utilizing comprehensive whole-body MRI scans. Prenuvo offers advanced medical imaging services that provide personalized insights into an individual's health, enabling early detection and prevention of major diseases. Shifting the paradigm with proactive screening, the company’s clinicians can identify and advise on over 500 common and rare conditions. In this episode, we discuss the tech-enabled future of preventative care and how Prenuvo differs from other MRI services. In this episode, you’ll learn: • How Prenuvo works and what its team of doctors look for • Andrew’s plan to make preventative MRIs financially feasible for all • AI’s potential impact on radiology and medicine Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider/ Prenuvo Website: www.prenuvo.com - The Fitt Insider podcast is brought to you by Jack Taylor, our exclusive PR partner. More than just PR, they’re creative storytellers and brand builders who actually understand the health and wellness industry. Learn more and get in touch at JackTaylorPR.com/Fitt Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:28) Andrew’s background (03:05) Andrew’s journey to founding Prenuvo (05:52) Prenuvo Customer experience (08:46) MRI scans pricing (10:18) How often should people get a scan? (13:02) Offering follow up education on a diagnosis (13:58) Detecting and preventing major diseases (16:27) Problems with reactive care (19:07) Prenuvo’s technology (21:35) Screening healthy people (24:07) Future of preventive healthcare (26:44) Demand for scans after COVID (28:48) Future expansion and growth plans (31:48) Integrating AI with image analysis and radiology (35:18) Conclusion

Today, I’m joined by Samantha Diamond, co-founder & CEO of Bird&Be, an at-home fertility care platform. After suffering from prenatal and fertility issues themselves, Sam and her co-founders rallied to create an easier way for people to optimize their outcomes. Combining conventional and naturopathic medicine, Bird&Be’s at-home diagnostics and personalized supplements serve women through every stage on the journey. In this episode, Sam shares how her own fertility journey led to creating bespoke at-home kits. Plus, she explains how Bird&Be is partnering with medical professionals to develop and distribute their products. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Sam’s vision for the future of fertility care • The flaws of fertility education and how to fix them • How Bird&Be’s testing process and precision supplementation improves fertility  Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider/ Bird&Be Website: https://birdandbe.com/ Bird&Be IG: https://www.instagram.com/birdbeco/ Bird&Be TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@birdandbe   - The Fitt Insider podcast is brought to you by Jack Taylor, our exclusive PR partner. More than just PR, they’re creative storytellers and brand builders who actually understand the health and wellness industry. Learn more and get in touch at JackTaylorPR.com/Fitt Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:25) About Bird&Be (02:50) Sam’s journey to founding Bird&Be (07:41) Improving fertility and prenatal education  (11:12) Bird&Be’s at home fertility care (13:15) Future product offerings (17:05) Partnering with doctors (23:22) Marketing strategies (29:18) Future roadmap (31:48) Fundraising (34:27) Conclusion

Today, I’m joined by Dave Long, co-founder & CEO of Orangetheory Fitness, a HIIT-based boutique studio franchise. Founded in 2010, Orangetheory’s science-backed, heart rate-based workouts aim to deliver maximum results in a short amount of time, splitting exercisers between treadmills, rowers, and strength equipment. Growing its international community, OTF has opened over 1.5K studios in 25+ countries. In this episode, we discuss the company’s tech-driven approach to interval training, Dave talks about getting back into growth mode post pandemic, and we explore the potential for healthcare-prescribed group fitness. In this episode, you’ll learn: • How Dave and team build product and community by taking classes themselves • Why new class concepts are part of the brand’s strategy • How Orangetheory is laying the framework for movement as medicine Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider/ - The Fitt Insider podcast is brought to you by Jack Taylor, our exclusive PR partner. More than just PR, they’re creative storytellers and brand builders who actually understand the health and wellness industry. Learn more and get in touch at JackTaylorPR.com/Fitt Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:37) Orangetheory’s current state (03:25) Orangetheory’s franchises (06:40) Post-pandemic experience and growth strategy (10:07) Building product and community by taking classes (12:32) Marketing strategies (17:14) Hybrid fitness sentiment (21:06) Creating and executing new class concepts (27:50) Personalizing members experience to reach their goals (30:31) Future growth plans (33:09) Conclusion

Today, I’m joined by Christian Toetzke, founder & CEO of HYROX, a global fitness racing competition. Christian, a former professional athlete and entrepreneur, created HYROX with the goal of making fitness more accessible and engaging for people of all fitness levels. The company hosts mass-participation events, putting competitors on the clock for a series of functional exercises, while licensing training programs to gyms across the world.  In this episode, we discuss the rise of fitness racing, and Christian breaks down why the company’s challenge is both inclusive and effective. In this episode, you’ll learn: • How HYROX is more approachable than CrossFit • Christian’s plan to partner with gyms to complement its rapidly growing events business • What it takes to be the “marathon of fitness racing” Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider/ HYROX Website: https://hyrox.com/ - The Fitt Insider podcast is brought to you by Jack Taylor, our exclusive PR partner. More than just PR, they’re creative storytellers and brand builders who actually understand the health and wellness industry. Learn more and get in touch at JackTaylorPR.com Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:21) HYROX background (03:02) Christian’s journey to founding HYROX (11:02) The HYROX philosophy and race format (17:14) HYROX vs. CrossFit  (25:02) Revenue streams and growth strategy (33:47) Partnering with gyms (42:21) HYROX’s vision and roadmap (47:25) Future partnerships to look out for  (50:42) Conclusion

Today, I’m joined by Rachel Soper Sanders, co-founder & CEO of Rootine, a personalized nutrition and diagnostics platform. Founded in 2018, Rootine’s unique approach to health and wellness combines DNA testing with a genomic algorithm to create customized vitamin subscriptions tailored to each member’s specific needs, be it performance, stress-reduction, or everyday health. In this episode, Rachel details the shortcomings of the unregulated supplement industry and how to remove barriers between wellness, nutrition, and healthcare. In this episode, you’ll learn: • How Rachel’s poor experience with healthcare led her to start Rootine • Why proof of impact is key to reshaping a broken system • How the one-size-fits-all supplement industry is making people sicker Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider/ - The Fitt Insider podcast is brought to you by Jack Taylor, our exclusive PR partner. More than just PR, they’re creative storytellers and brand builders who actually understand the health and wellness industry. Learn more and get in touch at JackTaylorPR.com Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:21) Rachel’s background (04:58) About Rootine (06:54) Rachel’s journey to founding Rootine (10:30) Building products around customer data (13:38) Being a Rootine member (16:45) Future of personalized nutrition & supplementation (19:05) Growth strategies (21:33) Quality of personalized supplements  (24:02) Rachel’s opinion on one size fits all supplementation  (27:44) Integrating wellness into healthcare (32:28) Healthcare industry and retail (34:40) Future roadmap (35:47) Conclusion

Today, I’m joined by Michael Easter, best-selling author, professor, and advocate for rewilding the modern lifestyle to achieve optimal health. Acclaimed author of The Comfort Crisis, Easter’s work focuses on how humans can integrate modern science and evolutionary wisdom for improved health, meaning, and performance in life and at work. In this episode, we talk about the value of doing hard things and the pitfalls of obsessing over health wearables and wellness routines. He also explains his  “2 Percent” philosophy for living a healthier and happier life.  In this episode, you’ll learn: • Michael’s career journey that led him to writing The Comfort Crisis • How short-term discomfort can lead to long-term growth • Why wearable data and routines can be a negative thing Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider/ The 2 Percent Newsletter: https://unique-painter-9003.ck.page/441934d2f0 - The Fitt Insider podcast is brought to you by Jack Taylor, our exclusive PR partner. More than just PR, they’re creative storytellers and brand builders who actually understand the health and wellness industry. Learn more and get in touch at JackTaylorPR.com Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:53) Michael’s background (03:31) Origin of The Comfort Crisis (07:41) Michael’s trip to the arctic (12:17) Incorporating discomfort into daily life (14:10) The benefits of carrying weight (18:27) Michael’s “2 Percent” philosophy (23:28) The pros and cons of health wearables (26:51) Are morning routines beneficial? (30:48) Using your most productive time for your main goal (33:15) Showing up and doing the work (36:15) Michael’s take on AI (39:37) Rights of passage (40:53) Modern resilience and mental health (42:32) Conclusion

Niki Leondakis, CEO of CorePower Yoga and an expert in hospitality and boutique fitness, shares her insights on merging these worlds. She discusses CorePower's unique strategy for post-pandemic growth, emphasizing the lasting importance of in-person classes. Niki highlights how community plays a crucial role in fitness, fostering emotional connections and engagement. She also introduces the 'Strength X' class, aimed at promoting inclusivity and breaking stereotypes within yoga, while underscoring the significance of mental health in fitness.

Today, I’m joined by Brandon Marshall, founder & CEO of House of Athlete, a lifestyle wellness brand training athletes of all levels for peak mental and physical performance. After a 13-year NFL career, Brandon Marshall founded House of Athlete to empower athletes and fitness enthusiasts to reach their full potential through holistic training, nutrition, and recovery programs at its facilities and on its digital platform HOA+. In this episode, we discuss Brandon’s transition from football to the fitness industry and how mental health and community are key pillars to performance. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Brandon’s journey from NFL player to founding House of Athlete • House of Athlete’s approach to achieving peak mental and physical fitness • The highs and lows of being a founder in a highly competitive industry Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider/ - The Fitt Insider podcast is brought to you by Jack Taylor, our exclusive PR partner. More than just PR, they’re creative storytellers and brand builders who actually understand the health and wellness industry. Learn more and get in touch at JackTaylorPR.com Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (02:07) About House of Athlete and building a brand (05:08) Journey to founding House of Athlete  (11:51) Cultivating peak physical and mental fitness (16:40) Finding committed training clients (21:11) Brandon’s day to day involvement at HOA (25:54) Building a program off of Brandon’s NFL training regimen  (29:22) Future roadmap (33:04) Building community into the brand (36:55) HOA’s growth plans and economic standing (39:30) Call to action (40:15) Being vulnerable during the entrepreneurial journey (42:12) Conclusion