Future of Fitness

Something changed after 40. Recovery takes longer, energy dips, and the effort that used to work stopped working. You were told it's just aging. Neurophysiologist Christian Drapeau makes the case that it's something else entirely: the decline of your body's own repair system. In this first episode of The Science of Vitality After 40, a four-part series with Christian Drapeau, host Eric Malzone explores the system almost no one talks about. Christian wrote the first paper proposing that our stem cells function as the body's repair system back in 2001, and here he explains what that system is, why it declines so early (by your early 30s you circulate a fraction of what you had at birth), and why the shift lands hardest on women in their 40s. In this episode: What the repair system is, and why it works like a second immune system Why medicine treats the body's ability to heal as a "black hole" The steep, early decline in circulating stem cells and what drives it Why estrogen loss creates a "double whammy" for women at midlife Why weight-bearing exercise keeps emerging as the one clear lever What your circulating stem cell count may predict about how you age Christian Drapeau is a neurophysiologist, a pioneer of stem cell mobilization, Founder and Chief Science Officer at STEMREGEN, and author of the bestselling Cracking the Stem Cell Code. CONNECT WITH CHRISTIAN DRAPEAU Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stemcellchristian/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stemcellchristian Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/STEMREGENOfficial/ Explore the science of the repair system: https://www.stemregen.co/blogs/articles/stem-cells-101-discover-what-stem-cells-actually-do-and-why-understanding-them-changes-everything-about-your-health?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=vitality_after_40&utm_content=ep1  

7/15/26 • 36:41

Alberto Perlman has been trying to get on this podcast for years — turns out all it took was bumping shoulders at an industry event. As co-founder of Zumba, he's built the world's largest branded fitness program: over 15 million weekly participants, 200,000+ locations, and a presence in 185+ countries, all while surviving 25 years of hype cycles, fads, a pandemic, and everything in between. In this episode, Eric Malzone sits down with Alberto to trace the entire Zumba story from the beginning — a packed gym class in Aventura, Florida with a literal padlocked door, a co-founder who couldn't speak a word of English pitching investors, VHS tapes selling in the millions, and a brand that's somehow ended up teaching classes in the jungles of Thailand and mandated in schools across India. They get into brand protection at global scale, why Zumba refuses to chase the algorithm on social media, and Alberto's honest, still-evolving read on where AI fits into the next chapter of the fitness industry. Key Takeaways: 🔒 The wild true story of how Zumba started — including a padlocked gym door and a line out the building 30 minutes before class 🗣️ How Beto (Zumba's creator) pitched investors without speaking English — and the 60-day scramble to teach him one phrase 📼 How Zumba's business model evolved from VHS tapes and infomercials to an instructor-membership model that still drives the company today ⚖️ The realities of protecting a global brand — including having to legally challenge a dictionary in Denmark over trademark rights 📱 How Zumba grew one of the biggest social media followings in the fitness industry without chasing the algorithm 🌍 The surprising places Zumba has ended up — jungle classes in Chiang Mai, a sign in Bhutan, mandated school programs in India, drug rehab initiatives in the Philippines, and PTSD support for police officers in Colombia 🤖 Alberto's candid, unresolved take on AI's role in the future of fitness and where human connection still wins 💪 Why Alberto believes fitness deserves more recognition as the "number one intervention" for public health 🤝 A call for more collaboration and advocacy among leaders across the fitness industry Whether you're building a fitness brand, running a gym, or just curious how a local dance class became a global phenomenon, this conversation is packed with lessons on scaling a brand the right way — through community, not shortcuts.   OUR SPONSORS: 🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en  🔗 EGYM: https://egym.com/int 

7/13/26 • 54:11

Before he built one of the biggest names in youth sports training, Will Bartholomew was a walk-on at the University of Tennessee trying to survive fall camp with a quarterback named Peyton Manning. In this episode, the D1 Training founder sits down with Eric Malzone to trace the whole arc — training athletes in an open field back in 2002, opening a patio-carpet-and-turf gym with racks he screwed together himself, and slowly turning that into a franchise system now closing in on 220 locations nationwide. Will gets honest about the messy middle: no point-of-sale system at location two, why D1 doesn't open on Sundays, selling off 27 real estate properties and a physical therapy business to go all-in on the gym he actually loved, and the advice from his father that changed everything — "never scale anything until you've scaled it yourself." He also digs into what makes a great youth strength coach today, how D1 uses radical transparency and scorecards to keep coaches bought in, why he thinks the $115 billion youth sports market is still in its first inning, and the balance every sports parent is chasing between competing hard and keeping the game fun. Whether you're a gym owner thinking about franchising, a coach trying to build a real career in strength and conditioning, or a parent navigating the youth sports world, this conversation is packed with hard-earned lessons from someone who's lived every side of it. 🎯 Key Takeaways 🏈 Will's path ran through a state wrestling title, a full ride to Tennessee, a national championship alongside Peyton Manning, and an NFL knee injury that redirected him straight into the weight room business 🌱 D1 Training started in 2002 in an open field before opening its first real location in spring 2003 — patio carpet, hand-built racks, and burned CDs for music 📈 32 corporate locations opened between 2003 and 2015, fueled partly by real estate deals and a young Peyton Manning as an early, hands-on business partner 🧭 A mentor's blunt question — "what are you actually the best at?" — pushed Will to sell off his real estate holdings and his physical therapy company to focus entirely on D1 🤝 D1 didn't start franchising until 2017-2018, after spending a full year rebuilding the business model around real footprint size, staffing, and consumer behavior 📊 Radical transparency drives coach retention — weekly scorecards, EOS-style meetings, and 90-day reviews so coaches always know exactly where they stand 💰 The addressable market for youth sports and strength training now sits around $115 billion, and Will believes the industry is still in its "first quarter" 📱 D1 is investing heavily in tech, including its own app, athlete testing verification, and partnerships with recruiting platforms like On3 and Rivals ⚖️ On competitive youth sports, Will's take is simple: keep it fun, because burnout comes fast when winning becomes the only point 🎙️ Will also hosts "The Turf," a show spotlighting coaches and athletes who've shaped the training world, from John Gruden to Tim Tebow 🚀 The mission driving everything: put inspiring, motivating strength coaching in every community in the country — not just another gym franchise   OUR SPONSORS: 🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en 🔗 EGYM: https://egym.com/

7/8/26 • 51:44

Can you actually train yourself to age like an athlete instead of just "aging well"? In this episode, Eric Malzone sits down with strength coach and Just Fly Sports founder Joel Smith — eight years coaching at UC Berkeley, five Olympians, nine medals, a world record, and four national track titles under his belt — to unpack what real athletic longevity looks like beyond the buzzwords flooding the fitness industry. They dig into why "meaningful movement" beats generic training programs, how play, seasonality, and community pickup games might matter more than your macros, and why coaches and gym owners need to help clients rediscover the athlete that's already inside them. If you've ever felt like your training has gotten stale, boring, or disconnected from actual joy, this conversation is the reset you didn't know you needed. Key Takeaways 🏃 Redefining "athlete" — why unofficial pickup soccer at the park might be more athletic than any structured gym program 🌱 Meaningful movement > mindless reps — how skill, culture, sunlight, and friendship shape movement that actually sticks 🧠 Inner vs. outer training — the difference between grinding through weights and the fluid, reactive nature of true athleticism 🎾 The power of "soften" — a mindset shift for breaking through frustration and unlocking better movement quality 🗣️ Coaching through nostalgia — how asking clients "what sport did you play as a kid?" unlocks confidence and motivation 🍂 Training in seasons — borrowing from Chinese medicine and elite coaches to cycle bodybuilding, powerlifting, Olympic lifting, and sprinting throughout the year 🤼 Bring back play — tug of war, pool noodle games, and field days as legitimate tools for building athleticism at any age 👨‍👩‍👧 Longevity is human, not algorithmic — why AI can't replace the art of coaching someone toward their own physical richness 🎯 Individual expression matters — helping clients find the specific movement patterns where they shine, instead of one-size-fits-all programming OUR SPONSORS: 🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en  

7/3/26 • 45:21

Eric Malzone sits down with Eric Bormel, Managing Director at Solomon Partners, for a deep dive into mergers and acquisitions in the fitness and wellness industry — breaking down exactly what it takes for a fitness brand, gym, or health tech company to get acquired, what drives valuation beyond revenue, and how founders can pick the right buyer instead of just the highest bidder. Using the recent Rouvy-to-Zwift acquisition as a real-world case study, Bormel pulls back the curtain on the M&A process from first meeting to closing the deal, explains why connected fitness companies like Peloton are finally stabilizing after the post-pandemic crash, and shares why consumer subscription brands like Strava and Zwift — along with wearables like Whoop and Oura — are currently the hottest categories for investors in the fitness tech space. The conversation also tackles AI's growing role in personalized health, wearables, and gym operations, plus the widening gap between CEO confidence and consumer sentiment in today's economy. Whether you're a gym owner, fitness entrepreneur, or just curious about fitness industry trends and investment activity, this episode is a crash course in fitness M&A, business valuation, and where smart money is heading next in health and wellness. Episode Takeaways: 💰 M&A 101 — the difference between intrinsic value (cash flow) and extrinsic value (revenue/EBITDA multiples) when valuing a fitness business 🤝 Picking the Right Buyer — why trust matters more than the highest offer, and how to find a buyer aligned with your goals 📈 Inside the Ruby-Zwift Deal — a real case study breaking down how a major fitness tech acquisition actually comes together ⏳ The M&A Timeline — why a typical deal takes 6 months (and sometimes years of relationship-building beforehand) 🚴 Connected Fitness Comeback — how Peloton and the connected fitness category clawed back to profitability after the post-COVID crash ⌚ Wearables on the Rise — why Whoop and Oura are pulling in serious capital and customers in the health tech space 🏋️ What Buyers Want Now — why consumer subscription brands with strong data and loyal users are winning over enterprise SaaS 🤖 AI in Fitness and Wellness — how AI is reshaping personalization, wearables, virtual care, and the member experience (without replacing the workout itself) 📊 CEO Confidence vs. Consumer Sentiment — the surprising economic disconnect happening right now and what it means for fitness businesses 🚀 Founder Advice — how to know when your business is actually ready to sell, and what really drives a successful exit OUR SPONSORS: 🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en 🔗 EGYM: https://egym.com/int 

6/28/26 • 45:27

In this episode of Future of Fitness, host Eric Malzone sits down with Dr. Tania Elliott—board-certified physician, three-time Chief Medical Officer, and a leading voice in healthcare innovation—to break down the collision course between the fitness industry and the future of preventative health. Dr. Elliott doesn't hold back: she calls out the fitness world for being too intense or too dainty, challenges the gatekeeping role of primary care, and paints a vivid picture of what the health club of the future should really look like. From the over-reliance on protocols and biohacking to the untapped power of community, nutrition, and strength training for women, this conversation is a bold, no-BS look at how fitness can evolve from a destination into a way of life. If you're ready to rethink everything you know about health, wellness, and the role of gyms in healthcare, this one's for you. 📌 Key Takeaways: 🏋️‍♀️ Fitness as the Top of the Healthcare Funnel – Gyms and wellness communities are the ideal entry point for prevention, engagement, and longevity—not traditional primary care. 🩺 Primary Care is Broken – It's a gatekeeping loss leader. The future is direct-to-consumer labs, telehealth, and real-time biomarker feedback without the waiting room. 🧠 Doctors as Advocates, Not Gatekeepers – Health information is no longer locked behind MD degrees. Physicians need to meet patients where they are and embrace patient-led research. 🔬 Stop Over-Protocolizing Everything – Not every trend needs a study. Use common sense, evolutionary context, and ancient practices like Ayurveda to guide wellness decisions. 🍽️ Food is Fuel—But Not Just Protein Powder – Whole foods, seasonal eating, and regenerative farming matter more than supplements. The fitness industry should teach cooking, not just sell shakes. 💪 Women's Strength Training is Non-Negotiable – Women need hardcore strength work too—not just Pilates and pink dumbbells. Programs must account for female biomechanics and hormonal cycles. 🏠 Health Should Be a Way of Life, Not a Destination – From "fart walks" after meals to lawn mowing parties, movement should blend into everyday life with community and joy at the center. 📱 Social Media is the New Health Classroom – With 60M+ monthly views, Dr. Elliott proves that bite-sized, educational content is the most scalable way to drive real behavior change. 🤖 AI is Democratizing Health Information – 230M weekly ChatGPT health queries show people are hungry for answers. The opportunity: use AI responsibly, not as a replacement, but as a starting point. 🚀 Be Bold About the Future – The fitness industry should stop apologizing for not being "healthcare" and instead design the care model of tomorrow—with community, labs, referrals, and real connection points.

6/23/26 • 44:38

In this quarterly industry roundtable, Eric Malzone, Juliet Starrett, and Alex Alimanestianu dive deep into the fitness sector's biggest earnings reports and emerging trends. Lifetime Fitness continues its premium brand strategy with impressive revenue growth while strategically shedding lower-tier memberships, but Planet Fitness faces headwinds with declining membership growth and a paused price increase. The team dissects Xponential's mounting troubles as the company burns through cash amid a New York AG settlement, while Garmin's fitness segment absolutely crushes it with 42% revenue growth. CrossFit's future looks brighter with Bruce Edwards returning as CEO—an affiliate owner who actually understands the community. The conversation heats up around retatrutide's bariatric-level weight loss outcomes and what GLP-1s mean for the fitness industry's identity, plus Peter Attia's meta-analysis proving two weekly resistance training sessions deliver 77% of maximal gains. From Peloton's Pilates pivot to Aescape's robotic massage collapse, this episode covers the strategic shifts, financial realities, and cultural transformations reshaping fitness in 2026. 🎯 Key Takeaways: 📈 Lifetime Fitness – Premium strategy working: revenue up 12%, average revenue per member at $930. Shedding low-tier medical memberships while raising prices, but can they keep growing without membership expansion? 🔻 Planet Fitness – Rough quarter: membership growth down 30% YoY, full‑year guidance cut. January marketing missed the mark, and their $5 black card price hike got paused. Competition heating up in the South. 🔥 Xponential – Dumpster fire status: same‑store sales negative two quarters straight, $523M debt vs. $21.5M cash. New York AG settlement for misleading franchisees. Strategic review likely means selling Club Pilates. 📊 Garmin – Absolute powerhouse: fitness segment up 42% revenue, 103% operating income. Natural Cycles integration for female athletes. A GPS company dominating wearables with $4.3B cash on hand—IPO market take note. 🚴 Peloton – First revenue growth since 2024 ($663M, up 1%). Free cash flow positive at $151M. Acquired $8K Pilates reformer company Scope, but membership declines persist. Cost‑cutting worked—now can they grow? 🏋️ CrossFit – Bruce Edwards returns as CEO (former affiliate owner, COO 2013‑2019, Planet Fitness franchise operator). Sale to Berkshire Partners is off. Games strategy and HyROX relationship are key early questions. 💊 Retatrutide – The new weight loss king: 70‑pound average loss (30% body weight) in trials. Fitness industry must pivot from "weight loss" to "health and strength" positioning. GLP‑1s are here to stay. 💪 Peter Attia Meta‑Analysis – Two resistance sessions/week delivers 77% of max strength gains. Behavioral barriers > programmatic barriers. Simple, consistent training beats perfect programming every time. 🤖 Aescape – Robotic massage startup with $157M raised goes insolvent. First‑mover disadvantage. Product was good, execution was costly. AI wellness is coming but distribution matters. 📱 Strava + AI – Claude integration and AI workout summaries are early days but coming fast. Personalized recommendations and trend analytics will reshape how we engage with fitness data.

6/18/26 • 70:48

What does it actually take to build a thriving HYROX program inside your gym — and turn it into a serious revenue engine? In this episode of Future of Fitness, host Eric Malzone sits down with David Magida, Global Head of Training at HYROX, to unpack everything gym owners and operators need to know about getting into the fastest-growing fitness sport in the world. David shares how he went from running a boutique gym in DC — nearly losing it all during COVID — to overseeing a global affiliate network of nearly 16,000 gyms. From the electric energy of a 40,000-athlete HYROX event in London, to the step-by-step framework for launching a HYROX program (whether you're crawling, walking, or sprinting), David breaks down the real business case: premium add-on memberships, ads that outperform at 3-to-1, 50% of gym revenue tied to HYROX, and a community so tight your members become your best salespeople. If you're a gym owner sitting on the fence about HYROX, this is the episode that will get you off it. 🏟️ HYROX events are exploding — from 40,000 athletes at the London EMEA Championships to 50,000 participants at the NYC event, the sport's growth shows zero signs of slowing 🏋️ Crawl, walk, run your way in — you don't need to drop $150K on equipment on day one; start with one class per week and build from there 🔥 Authenticity is everything — your coaches and head trainers need to actually race and train in HYROX; members will see right through a program with no real passion behind it 📐 Four class types to know — Foundational, Engine, Power, and Complete make up the full HYROX training methodology, each targeting a different fitness pillar 💰 The money is very real — David's HYROX program now accounts for ~50% of his gym's total revenue, and coaches he's mentored have hit $100K in six months 📣 HYROX ads convert at 3x — paid ads for HYROX programming dramatically outperform other gym program ads because people are actively searching for race training 🤝 Community = retention — HYROX athletes form tight-knit cohorts, plan group runs, share race results, and become your most powerful referral source 🛠️ Equipment investment pays off — Center's free gym layout and floor plan design service (developed in partnership with HYROX) removes a major barrier and replaces what used to cost $40K in architect fees 📈 Nearly 16,000 global affiliates and climbing — the affiliate program has scaled from basic PDF workouts to a full tech-enabled training ecosystem since David joined in late 2023 🎯 Every race keeps members locked in — once an athlete signs up for another race, you've secured them for another 6 months of consistent training and membership revenue OUR SPONSORS: 🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en  🔗 EGYM: https://egym.com/ 

6/13/26 • 50:11

In this episode of The Future of Fitness, host Eric Malzone sits down with Erik Jivmark, CEO of Sleep Cycle, to discuss how passive tracking technology is transforming the health and wellness industry. For 15 years, Sleep Cycle has been quietly analyzing a millennium of sleep every single night, leveraging audio and advanced machine learning algorithms to map sleep stages with the same precision as leading wearable hardware. Now, the company is democratizing this massive data layer by opening up its seamless Sleep SDK to developers, health apps, and IoT providers worldwide. Erik shares the brand's incredible origin story—from an iPhone taped to a bed to a global network tracking millions of nights—and pulls back the curtain on their upcoming FDA-regulated clinical validation study aimed at diagnosing sleep apnea risk with just a single night of phone-based audio tracking. Whether you are building an AI health coach, looking to scale passive monitoring, or eager to understand why sleep is the ultimate foundational layer of longevity, this conversation explores how the future of public health belongs to frictionless, hardware-free technology.   🎧 Episode Takeaways: 📱 Frictionless Tracking: Discover how Sleep Cycle bypasses data fatigue and heavy hardware costs by turning any smartphone into a highly precise, passive health sensor.   🫁 Revolutionizing Sleep Apnea Detection: A deep dive into their upcoming FDA submission for a software-only tool capable of screening sleep apnea risk in a single night.   🔓 The Open Sleep SDK: Learn how innovators, telemedicine providers, and even smart-home companies are integrating Sleep Cycle's 15 years of machine learning data into their own apps within weeks.   📊 Fueling the Future of AI Health: Why shallow AI coaching fails without long-term behavioral data, and how a live global network of breathing and coughing signals provides the ultimate context for clinical innovation.   🤝 The Collaborators-Win Mindset: Why Sleep Cycle is looking beyond its own consumer app to place its powerful diagnostics everywhere consumers already live, run, and track their fitness.   OUR SPONSORS: 🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en 🔗 EGYM: https://egym.com/

6/8/26 • 47:39

Eric Casaburi — founder of Serotonin Centers and former builder of Retro Fitness — is back to break down one of the most exciting business models emerging at the intersection of fitness and longevity medicine. In this episode, Eric walks us through the creation of SLIM Gym (Serotonin Light Impact Model), a turnkey longevity clinic concept that plugs directly into existing gym and fitness studio spaces (think 200–500 square feet of unused office or childcare rooms). It delivers hormone replacement therapy, medical weight loss, GLP-1 protocols, peptide therapy, IV therapy, and comprehensive lab work to gym members—without the gym owner ever touching a medical compliance headache. Eric shares the real data behind why active gym members on longevity protocols retain at dramatically higher rates, why GLP-1s may actually be a "gateway drug" into fitness culture, how Serotonin handles HIPAA compliance and nurse practitioner training through a robust internal LMS, and why he believes the next major wave in the fitness industry isn't a new piece of equipment — it's the full integration of preventative health and performance medicine on the gym floor. Key Takeaways:  🏋️ The SLIM Gym Model: Serotonin's new in-gym concept occupies 200–500 sq ft of dead space inside existing fitness facilities, bringing longevity medicine directly to gym members with zero medical liability for the gym operator. 💉 The Perfect Longevity Patient: Gym members already committed to health are more compliant with protocols, generate more referrals, and get better outcomes than the general population. 📉 Fixing the Gym Attrition Crisis: The average gym loses ~60% of its members annually. Putting members on hormone or weight loss protocols within their first few weeks dramatically improves retention by delivering fast, visible results. 🩺 Real Longevity Medicine vs. Trends: It's not just a cryo chair or cold plunge. True longevity medicine inside a gym means blood labs, InBody scans, HRT, GLP-1s, peptides, IV therapy, and NAD—all tied together through data and medical oversight. 🧬 GLP-1s as a Fitness Gateway: Weight loss medications can actually drive more people into gyms by removing the psychological barrier of body shame that keeps many would-be members from ever walking through the door. 🏦 The Business Case for Gym Owners: Serotonin pays the gym a use fee and invests in member marketing. However, the real ROI is the annualized retention impact, not just the monthly rent check. 🤝 A True Partnership Model: Unlike online-only telehealth affiliates, SLIM Gym staff are physically embedded in the gym, trained on fitness culture, and integrated seamlessly with trainers and sales teams. 👩‍⚕️ Building and Training Clinical Staff: Serotonin has developed a full LMS with 200+ courses, weekly recorded medical lunch-and-learns, and AI-assisted training tools, getting a new location operational in as little as 60 days. 💊 Playing Within the Bounds: Serotonin only works with FDA-cleared Category 1 peptides and keeps all HIPAA compliance, medical intake, and clinical oversight inside its own four walls—keeping the gym operator completely insulated. 🌐 Longevity Brands and M&A: Eric's parent company, Longevity Brands, is actively exploring acquisitions in the med spa and longevity space, positioning for the same consolidation wave that reshaped fitness 20 years ago.   OUR SPONSORS: 🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en 🔗 EGYM: https://egym.com/         

6/3/26 • 46:06

In this episode of The Future of Fitness, host Eric Malzone sits down with Karl Foster, Head of Artificial Intelligence at Sport Alliance, to bridge the massive gap between AI marketing hype and operational reality in the fitness sector. Drawing from his unique trajectory from personal trainer to CTO and global AI leader, Foster reveals how Sport Alliance's native CRM and ERP integrations—Perfect AI and Magic AI—are redefining the member journey. He outlines the critical distinction between passive chatbots and proactive, agentic AI ecosystems that capture time-sensitive data to drive engagement, boost sales conversions, and optimize retention. Foster also shares a comprehensive blueprint for gym operators on navigating the "build vs. buy" tech dilemma and mastering the critical 70% people-and-process shift needed to successfully cultivate a data-ready organization. Key Takeaways 👤 The Tech-Forward PT Journey: How Karl Foster transitioned from a hands-on personal trainer to leading cutting-edge, global artificial intelligence initiatives for over 12,000 gyms at Sport Alliance. 🤖 Reactive vs. Proactive AI: The shift from passive chat systems to proactive "agentic AI" ecosystems that autonomously trigger context-rich, time-sensitive member outreach. 📊 Data-Aware vs. Data-Ready: Why gym operators must move past fragmented "Frankenstein" tech stacks to centralize a single source of clean, actionable truth. 🎯 The Psychology of Engagement: Real-world case studies demonstrating how automated, personalized outreach to dormant gym members can successfully extend customer lifetime value. 🛠️ The Build vs. Buy Dilemma: Why 95% of fitness operators should license existing reputable vendor software rather than sinking massive overhead into building custom AI infrastructure from scratch. 👥 The 70/20/10 Rule for Scaling: Why 70% of AI deployment success hinges entirely on human culture, executive sponsorship, and staff adoption, rather than the underlying algorithm. 🔮 The Future of Gym Operations: A balanced vision for 2030 where AI completely automates back-end logistics while fiercely protecting and enhancing the social, human core of the fitness experience. OUR SPONSOR: 🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en 

5/29/26 • 47:28

In this episode, Eric Malzone catches up with Eric Cressey, high-performance sports specialist and Director of Player Health and Performance for the New York Yankees. The two take a deep dive into the evolving world of sports performance, touching on the ongoing crisis of youth sports specialization and what it takes to actually build sustainable velocity without blowing out young arms. Cressey shares how his team leverages advanced sports science and biometric data to drive precise interventions, while also keeping a critical eye on the over-saturation of the mental performance market and the over-hyped trends in recovery technology. Finally, he introduces his new video database app, CSP Amplify, built to deliver curated, high-quality movement mechanics directly to coaches and athletes without the typical internet fluff. ⚾ Episode Takeaways: 🛑 The Danger of Early Specialization: Why the rush to specialized youth sports is driving injury rates up and long-term athletic motivation down. 📊 Data-Driven Interventions: How to use advanced technology, like biomechanics labs and force plates, to evaluate movement efficiency rather than just testing metrics. 🧠 Navigating Mental Performance: Sifting through a saturated market to find authentic, impactful mental skills coaching. 🧘 Real Recovery vs. Hype: Evaluating the genuine benefits of saunas and sleep optimization against overused trends like daily cold plunges. 📱 CSP Amplify App: Streamlining athlete development by replacing messy spreadsheets with a highly curated, expert video database. OUR SPONSOR: 🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en 

5/27/26 • 54:07

Eddie Hertzman, founder of Athletech News and creator of the Athletech Innovation Summit, pulls no punches in this conversation about what's holding the fitness industry back — and what it's going to take to finally move it forward. From the frustrating silence of successful fitness executives who refuse to show up at industry events, to the critical gap between how this industry sees itself and how consumers and investors see it, Eddie breaks down why fitness still hasn't gotten its "got milk moment." He and Eric dig into the second year of the Athletech Innovation Summit, what makes it genuinely different from every other fitness conference, and why bringing in voices from hospitality, media, luxury brands, and Wall Street is the only way this industry levels up. Eddie also shares what's new at Athletech News — including a members-only executive circle and a renewed commitment to building content that actually helps operators run better businesses in the age of AI. What You'll Take Away: 🏆 Industry credibility starts at the top — Why the most successful fitness executives staying quiet is actively hurting the industry's reputation with investors and consumers 🪞 The perception gap is real — Consumers don't fully trust the fitness industry yet, and the first step to fixing it is being honest enough to admit it 🏨 Hospitality is the blueprint — What Michelin-star restaurants and luxury hotels know about customer service that most gyms are completely missing 🎤 Don't let someone else tell your story — Whether you're a boutique operator or a billion-dollar brand, staying invisible is a business strategy that will eventually cost you 🤝 Collaboration over competition — Why Eddie actively supports competing events and what the fitness industry can learn from how other sectors build associations and go to Washington together 🏙️ Why New York matters for fitness business — The Athletech Innovation Summit's case for bringing the industry east, where capital, real estate, and serious deal-making actually live 📊 ROI isn't always a click — The deeper case for brand-building, media presence, and industry events in a world where AI is now pulling from the content you did or didn't publish 🤖 AI is changing B2B media — Why the fitness media outlets that survive will be the ones with human intelligence, opinions, and access that no algorithm can replicate 🎯 Segmented content is the future — How Athletech News is building specific resources for boutique owners, franchise operators, personal trainers, and more — because not all fitness businesses have the same problems 🔑 The Executive Circle — Eddie's new invite-only networking community designed for off-the-record, high-level conversations between fitness industry leaders who are ready to actually collaborate OUR SPONSOR: 🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en   

5/19/26 • 54:15

Women over 60 are one of the most biologically dynamic — and most overlooked — populations in the fitness industry. In this closing episode of the Women's Health Series, host Eric Malzone sits down with Dr. Jennifer King, behavioral scientist, gerontology researcher, and nationally competitive physique athlete, to tackle one of the industry's biggest blind spots: the near-total dropout of research, diagnostics, and programming once women move past menopause. Dr. King unpacks why clinical guidance so rarely includes the very women it's meant to serve, how gym environments send the wrong signals through layout, tour routes, and equipment placement, and what intentional design actually looks like when a facility is built around accessibility, strength, and longevity — not assumptions. From the hidden bias in a first gym tour to the role of technology like eGym in removing intimidation, this conversation is a call to action for fitness professionals ready to stop leaving an entire generation of women behind. 🔬 The research gap is real — women over 60 are routinely excluded from clinical studies due to "too many variables," yet they're the population most in need of evidence-based guidance 🏋️ Menopause is a system-wide transition — it affects metabolic health, cardiovascular risk, and musculoskeletal function, not just hormones 🏟️ Most gyms were never designed with older women in mind — from equipment layout to cardio rooms tucked in corners, the physical environment quietly signals who belongs 🧭 The gym tour reveals unconscious bias — women are almost always shown the cardio section first, steering them away from the strength training that offers the greatest return on investment 💪 Older women are not fragile — and they're not to be ignored — the industry makes one of two mistakes: treating them as breakable or overlooking them entirely 🤝 Social connection is a fitness variable — for women 60+, the gym is often a key source of community, and belonging drives consistency 📱 Technology can break down intimidation — smart, easy-to-use equipment like eGym has shown older adult women are fast adopters when the barrier to entry is removed 🏗️ Dream facility design: accessible, strength-forward, and welcoming — concierge feel, community-focused culture, visible representation, and no one rushing you off a machine 📊 Strength and functional capacity are top predictors of longevity — but longevity without quality of life isn't the goal 💰 Investing in older women is investing in society — reducing downstream healthcare costs starts with keeping this generation active, independent, and engaged now LINK: https://groe.solutions/   

5/14/26 • 32:07

In this episode of Future of Fitness, host Eric Malzone sits down with Dr. Amy Bantham — public health researcher, fitness professional, and founder of Move to Live More — for a refreshingly real conversation on women's health across the full lifespan. Rather than carving women's health into isolated phases like pregnancy or menopause, Dr. Bantham makes the case for a whole-person, health-span approach that starts in childhood and never stops. They dig into why most women aren't lacking motivation — they're lacking time, community, and programming that actually meets them where they are. From the funding gaps in women's health research, to building genuine social connectedness inside fitness facilities, to why "self-care is not selfish," this episode is packed with practical insights for fitness professionals, gym operators, and anyone invested in helping women move better and live longer. 🔬 The Women's Health Research Gap — The vast majority of women's health funding is still focused on pregnancy, leaving every other stage of a woman's life severely underfunded and under-researched. 📅 Think Health Span, Not Life Stage — Segmenting women's health into phases (puberty, reproductive years, menopause) misses the bigger picture. Real impact comes from supporting women consistently across their entire lives. 🧠 Behavior Change Is the Real Product — Great programming means nothing without adherence. The unsexy fundamentals — sleep, recovery, stress management, nutrition, movement, and community — are what actually move the needle. 👩‍🏫 Representation Matters in Fitness — Women over 40 are one of the most underserved fitness demographics, yet many facilities staff 18-year-old male trainers. Matching coaches to clients in age, experience, and background drives retention. 🤝 Community Is the #1 Missing Ingredient — Women show up for each other. Fitness facilities that intentionally build social connectedness — icebreakers, partner workouts, group challenges — see stronger participation and long-term commitment. ⏰ Time Is the Biggest Barrier — Especially for the "sandwich generation" juggling kids, careers, and aging parents, time for self-care gets deprioritized. Operators and coaches need to actively design around this reality. 🏃‍♀️ Keep Girls Moving Early — Girls drop out of organized physical activity at a significantly earlier age than boys. Building positive movement habits in childhood is the foundation for active, healthy adulthood. 😂 Fun and Laughter Drive Fitness Longevity — Programs built on small wins, laughter, celebration, and joy outperform ones built on discipline alone. Find what you love, and you'll do it forever. 💬 Self-Care Is Not Selfish — A core message from Dr. Bantham's work: women taking care of themselves are better equipped to show up for everyone else in their lives. 🏅 The Best Exercise Is the One You'll Actually Do — Forget the optimization rabbit hole. Consistency over time with something you genuinely enjoy will always beat the "perfect" program you abandon in three weeks. LINK: https://groe.solutions/       

5/13/26 • 33:58

Women's health has been one of medicine's most overlooked frontiers — and the data gap is decades deep. In this episode, Eric Malzone sits down with Anaelle Oiknine, clinical development lead at Ultrahuman, to unpack why the majority of drugs, exercise prescriptions, and health metrics have historically been built around male physiology — and what that's cost women. From the thalidomide tragedy of the 1950s to the ongoing research mismatch around endometriosis, Anaelle breaks down the systemic failures that left half the population underserved, and why the tide is finally turning. She shares what continuous wearable data is revealing about the female body that annual OB-GYN visits never could — including how Ultrahuman's cycle and ovulation tracking has flagged PCOS and endometriosis before a physician's diagnosis. If you're a fitness professional, wellness practitioner, or just someone who wants to understand why cycle-based training is the next major evolution in personalized health, this conversation is where you start. Key Takeaways: 🔬 The Research Gap Is Real — Most medications, VO2 max benchmarks, and exercise prescriptions were developed using male physiology. Women weren't formally included in NIH clinical trials until 1989. 💊 The Thalidomide Tragedy — A sedative tested only on men was marketed to pregnant women for morning sickness in the 1950s, causing severe birth defects. A defining case of what happens when women are excluded from clinical research. 🩺 Endometriosis Is Still Underserved — Despite being one of the most prevalent and painful women's health conditions, research is stalled by a mismatch between FDA approval standards (pain relief) and available animal models. Organoids from menstrual blood are the promising next step. 💡 FemTech Is a Multi-Billion Dollar Opportunity — The McKinsey report projects FemTech will hit at least $50 billion by 2030. Women being underserved isn't just a health crisis — it's a massive market gap finally being addressed. 💍 Wearables Are Closing the Black Box — Ultrahuman's Ring Pro tracks continuous temperature data to detect progesterone patterns, flag irregular cycles, and confirm ovulation — data that a once-a-year OB-GYN visit simply can't capture. 🔄 Cycle-Based Training Is the Future — Generic weekly training splits don't work for women. Training should be structured around hormonal phases — a push week, a ramp week, a peak week, and a rest week with zero guilt. 📊 Data Needs to Reach the Doctor — Wearable health data is powerful, but it needs to move from the user's app into the hands of medical professionals to truly close the gap in women's healthcare. 🏋️ What Fitness Pros Need to Know — Gym owners and coaches are already asking how to integrate menstrual cycle data into training programming. Apps like FEMI are leading the way by adapting marathon training plans to cycle phases. 🚀 Consumer Health Is Moving Faster Than Regulation — With ChatGPT logging 230 million weekly health queries, people are self-educating and demanding solutions. The industry will meet them — with or without regulatory frameworks catching up. LINK: https://groe.solutions/         

5/12/26 • 33:43

Dave Appel, Chief Health & Wellness Officer at KORB Health and 35-year fitness industry veteran, joins Eric Malzone for a candid conversation on the collision of telehealth, GLP-1s, hormone replacement therapy, and the gym business model. Dave breaks down why the fitness industry can no longer afford to ignore the 80% of the population that doesn't identify as "fit," how GLP-1 medications like semaglutide are opening gym doors for people who never felt welcome in them, and what gym operators need to know right now before peptide deregulation reshapes the entire landscape. From KORB's partnerships with InShape Fitness and Fitness 19 to the future of pod-based, community-driven training environments, this episode is a masterclass in where preventative health and fitness are headed — and how smart operators can build a new revenue stream by getting ahead of it. What You'll Learn: 💊 Why GLP-1s like semaglutide and Ozempic aren't the enemy of fitness — they're the gateway drug to it 🏋️ How gym operators can add a zero-capital-expenditure revenue stream through telehealth partnerships 🌊 What the incoming peptide deregulation tsunami means for fitness businesses (and why ignoring it is dangerous) 🤝 How InShape Fitness and Fitness 19 are integrating GLP-1 programs into their member experience 🧠 The psychology behind why GLP-1 patients feel unwelcome in traditional gyms — and how to fix your messaging 📱 Why telehealth is the future of medicine and how KORB's care-first model keeps patients retained for 8–10 months 🏥 The difference between a "prescribe then educate" vs. "educate then prescribe" model — and why it matters 👥 Dave's vision for the gym of 2030: pod training, matchmaking-style community groups, and no more "pain caves" 💰 How the KORB rev share model works for fitness operators and why email open rates are surging with health content 🎯 Why personal trainers who niche into GLP-1 coaching have a massive untapped opportunity right now   OUR SPONSORS: 🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en  🔗 eGym: https://egym.com/int   

5/7/26 • 58:04

Jane Wang brings a rare cross-disciplinary lens to one of fitness's oldest problems: member retention. With a background in clinical research, mortality risk, and 12+ years in corporate wellness, Jane shares why the industry's approach to churn is fundamentally flawed — and what a data-driven, human-centered model looks like. What We Cover: Jane's background — From HIV research and ovarian cancer trials to building tech for 7M+ members at Opt Why retention is broken — The industry measures daily/weekly/monthly activity but ignores the full lifecycle of a member Life stages & churn — Having a baby, moving cities, changing jobs: why no text message can fix structural churn The "no" that means "not right now" — Treating lapsed members like a long-term sales relationship Life events in insurance vs. fitness — How life insurers market around milestones and why gyms should too Joyful nudges vs. aggressive ones — Why over-messaging kills retention and joy-driven UX wins The female fitness opportunity — Women are 60–90% of class-based gym users, but most products are built by and for men Cyclical health design — Why female biology demands a different measurement framework Candy Crush vs. Call of Duty — The massive underserved female market and what light gamification unlocks Social connectedness as a magic metric — Facebook's early retention lesson applied to gyms; women average 8–9 challenge buddies vs. men's 1–2 Fidgital — Physical + digital experiences that create lasting loyalty (Apple as the model) The data stack — Subscription data → usage/check-ins → wearables → zip codes → behavioral triangulation How Opt's challenges work — 1-day to 2-week gamified events that surface persona, personality, and device data with no tech lift for partners EGM Genius AI — A real-world fidgital example from the gym floor What Jane needs — Partners with 100K+ member footprints to help scale from 7M to 100M members OUR SPONSORS: 🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en  🔗 eGym: https://egym.com/int   

5/2/26 • 47:38

Host Eric Malzone sits down with Marco Benitez, CEO and Co-founder of ROOK — and former TaeKwondo champion turned biomedical engineer — to get real about where the fitness and wellness industry stands in the age of AI and wearable data. Marco pulls from his background at Roche and Novartis to explain why clean, unified data is the foundation everything else is built on, and why most operators are sitting on gold they don't know how to mine. From pharma clinical trials using Oura rings to track narcolepsy patients, to longevity brands leveraging sleep data to drive upsells, to the looming reality of AI agents reshaping how we interact with health professionals — this conversation doesn't sugarcoat anything. Eric and Marco also dig into the "dead internet" theory, AI hallucinations, self-driving cars, and why soft skills might be the most valuable thing you can develop right now. If you're in fitness, healthcare, or anywhere near the wellness space and you're not thinking seriously about your data strategy, this episode is your wake-up call. Key Takeaways: 📊 Data is the gold — but most operators don't have the pickaxe. Having wearable data means nothing if it's not clean, normalized, and structured for actual decision-making. 🔗 Unified wearable data is the missing link. ROOK harmonizes data from 300+ devices so fitness, healthcare, and insurance companies can finally make sense of it all in one place. 💤 Sleep and stress data are the highest-value metrics in health right now — and smart brands are already using them to drive engagement, behavior change, and upsells. 🏋️ The real retention problem is habit formation. AI and data can help fitness clubs understand their members better, but the deeper challenge is turning inconsistent behavior into lasting habits. 🩺 The fitness-to-healthcare bridge is being built right now. Wearable data is increasingly showing up in real-world evidence trials, remote patient monitoring, and chronic disease management programs. 🩸 CGMs, glucose, and blood pressure are the next frontier. Non-invasive continuous glucose monitoring is coming, and it could change how the entire industry approaches metabolic health. 🤖 AI is impartial — and that might be exactly what healthcare needs. The healthcare system is fragmented by competing interests; AI could cut through the noise to support better, unbiased clinical decisions. 🧠 AI psychologists and agents are already here. Tools like Grok are offering therapeutic-style conversations — raising big questions about who (or what) will win the mental health tech space. 🌐 The "dead internet" theory is closer than you think. When AI is creating content for AI to consume, human connection online starts to erode — and the fitness industry isn't immune. 🥋 Soft skills are the new superpower. As AI handles more technical execution, the ability to communicate, lead, and think creatively becomes your biggest competitive edge. OUR SPONSORS: 🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en  🔗 eGym: https://egym.com/int 

4/27/26 • 51:59

In this episode of Future of Fitness, host Eric Malzone sits down with Dr. Anna Emmanuel—a double board-certified physician in family and integrative medicine—to unpack the evolution of modern healthcare, from reactive "sick care" to proactive, data-driven longevity medicine. Dr. Emmanuel introduces the Next Health framework of Medicine 4.0, a model that blends lifestyle, prevention, functional medicine, and advanced therapies like peptides, GLP-1s, and stem cells. She reveals why 80% of health outcomes are within our control, how to use GLP-1s responsibly without muscle loss, and why gut health and grip strength are underrated longevity markers. If you're ready to stop DIY-ing your health with TikTok and ChatGPT and start becoming the CEO of your own biology, this conversation is your playbook. Key Takeaways  🧬 Medicine 4.0 explained – It's not just prevention (3.0). It adds functional medicine + advanced longevity tools like peptides, exosomes, and ozone therapy. 🧠 You are the CEO of your health – Genetics only account for 15–25% of outcomes; daily choices drive the rest. 💉 GLP-1s done right – Microdosing and slow titration prevent muscle loss, fatigue, and nutrient deficiencies. Sustainable weight loss = 1–2 lbs/week. 🔬 Peptides are powerful but risky – BPC-157, Tesamorelin, and growth hormone analogs work wonders—but only if sourced safely and used individually. 🦠 Gut health is immune health – 70% of your immune system lives in the gut. Microbiome testing + AI are game-changers for bloating, fatigue, and nutrient absorption. 💪 Grip strength = longevity signal – It's not just about big muscles. Grip strength correlates with fall prevention, upper body function, and overall vitality. 🧘 Fitness balance matters – Don't ditch cardio for just weights. VO2 max, mobility, and strength all predict long-term health. 📈 Healthspan is the new lifespan – Dr. Emmanuel predicts today's 20-somethings could live robustly past 100, with 70s and 80s looking radically different. OUR SPONSORS: 🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en  🔗 eGym: https://egym.com/int 

4/22/26 • 52:35

After 30+ years of bootstrapping Alloy Franchise to over 135 locations, founder Rick Mayo finally decided to bring in a private equity partner—but not for the reasons you might think. In this candid conversation with Eric Malzone, Rick opens up about why he chose Capital Spring, how he avoided the "gunslinging" PE horror stories, and why pulling some chips off the table actually gave him more clarity, not less. He breaks down the deceptively simple model behind Alloy's 91% retention rate, explains why saying "no" to flashy trends (GLP-1s, saunas, meal delivery) has been the secret to scaling, and reveals how he thinks about integrating adjacent services without muddying the core business. If you're a franchise operator, founder considering outside capital, or just someone who wants to know what actually works after three decades in the trenches, this one's for you. Key Takeaways: 🏋️ The Simple Model Wins – One coach, six clients, 130–150 members per location. 91% retention. Average unit volume ~$387k. Complexity is the enemy of scale. 🤝 Why Partner With PE After 30 Years? – Not because they had to. Because they wanted resources, strategic finance, and a partner who'd already scaled 100+ brands—without losing control. 🧠 Founder-Friendly PE Exists – Capital Spring is slow, steady, and voted most founder-friendly. They don't want your job. They want to help you keep it. 🚫 The Power of Saying No – No GLP-1 integration. No saunas. No meal delivery. Yet. Rick explains why chasing every "squirrel" dilutes a simple, working model. 🚲 The Bicycle Wheel Strategy – Alloy is the hub (trusted strength training). Everything else—blood work, peptides, recovery—are spokes. Let the hub stay strong; integrate spokes centrally, not at each gym. 🧩 Franchisees Don't Need More Complexity – Most franchisees are learning to run their first business. Adding supplements, meal plans, and hormone therapy to their plate fails. Better to run those plays centrally and rev-share. 🎯 The 800-Goal Isn't Arbitrary – 800 awarded = ~500 open. That's 100 new licenses/year. Runway is 1,500–2,000 total. They're pacing exactly where they want to be. 👴 The Avatar Sells Itself – Most franchise buyers are 40–60 years old... the same age as Alloy's ideal client. They "get" the model because they wish it existed in their own town. ❤️ Rick's Favorite Phase? The Single Gym – Before scaling, before franchising, just training clients, cracking jokes, and going home. "It didn't even feel like a job." 🔍 What He Needs Now – Adjacent partners for the "spokes" (recovery, HRV, concierge blood work, peptides). Reach out via alloyfranchise.com. OUR SPONSORS: 🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en 🔗 eGym: https://egym.com/int

4/14/26 • 51:43

Eric Malzone sits down live with Doug Gremmen, Chief Growth Officer at HYROX, at the Connected Health and Fitness Summit in Beverly Hills. They dive into how HYROX went from just 600 finishers back in 2018 to a projected 1.8 million in 2026 — basically a rocket ship in the fitness world. Doug shares how they built the brand from the ground up by knocking on gym doors, the massive role community and user-generated content played, and why the super consistent race format makes it so easy to scale everywhere from LA to China and beyond. They talk gym affiliates (now at 14,000 worldwide), what the $130/month program actually gives gym owners, how HYROX is turning regular members into loyal athletes who stick around, and why big players like F45, Orange Theory, and even big box gyms are all jumping on board. Plus, they touch on US expansion, revenue streams, the challenges of growing crazy fast, and HYROX's long-term dream of hitting the Olympics. If you own a gym, train for races, or just want to understand where fitness is headed, this one's loaded with real talk and actionable insight. Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro and chatting at the Connected Health and Fitness Summit 2:10 – The insane growth numbers: 600 finishers in 2018 → 1.8 million projected in 2026 5:45 – Building from the ground up and creating a full fitness ecosystem 9:30 – Community power and billions of Instagram impressions from athletes 13:20 – Why a fixed, repeatable race format is a game-changer for scaling globally 18:15 – Turning gym members into athletes who actually stay longer 22:40 – Breaking down the gym affiliate program: $130/month and what you really get 28:50 – The Performance Hub, programming tools, and how any gym can make it work 35:10 – Early traction in CrossFit boxes, then boutiques, now big enterprise gyms 41:25 – Revenue levers and running a massive turnkey event business 47:00 – Why CrossFit, Spartan, and others feel more like partners than competitors 53:40 – Olympic dreams and the goal to touch 100 million lives 58:15 – Growth challenges, quality control, and staying scalable in 112 countries 1:03:30 – Final thoughts and how to get involved with HYROX Key Takeaways: 🔥 HYROX's crazy growth trajectory and what's coming in 2026 🌍 How one consistent format is powering expansion into China, India, Brazil, and beyond 🏋️ The insane power of athlete-generated content and word-of-mouth 💰 Real details on the $130/month gym affiliate model and its value 🏟 How HYROX helps gyms keep members longer and turn them into dedicated athletes 🤝 Why competing brands like F45 and Orange Theory are happy partners 📈 Smart revenue plays and the business side of running global fitness events 🏅 Long-term vision: Olympic aspirations and becoming a massive participation sport 🛠 Low barriers for gyms plus flexible tools that actually fit different gym types 🚀 Creating "goosebump moments" that keep athletes coming back and bringing friends  

4/10/26 • 47:54

In this conversation, 24 Hour Fitness CEO Karl Sanft opens up about steering the iconic brand through a once‑in‑a‑generation pandemic, bankruptcy, and a full operational turnaround—only to welcome back founder Mark Mastrov as executive chair. Karl shares why shifting from an "access" to a "usage" model during COVID became a defining moment, how private equity sharpened his leadership edge, and why doubling down on the middle‑market (great strength floors at a $30–$50 price point) is the winning strategy. He also reveals their three‑phase capital plan: remodel 50 clubs a year, leverage the platform for M&A, then build new clubs. If you care about fitness industry trends, post‑bankruptcy turnarounds, or how AI is changing gym operations, this episode is packed with real‑world lessons from a 30‑year member turned CEO. Key Takeaways 💪 Pandemic Pivot – Moving from an "access" to a "usage" model with outdoor tents kept members engaged and signaled the brand was fighting to survive. 🔄 Founder Reconnection – Karl reached out to Mark Mastrov early on; their relationship grew naturally, and now Mark's return has created a "seismic wave" of energy and talent. 🏢 Remodel First, Then Grow – Phase 1: renovate 50 clubs/year. Phase 2: leverage the platform with M&A. Phase 3: build new clubs (12‑18 month pipeline). 📊 Middle‑Market Wins – 24 Hour Fitness owns the $30‑$50/month sweet spot, competing on strength floors and amenities, not luxury cafes or rock‑bottom pricing. 🧠 Private Equity Education – PE taught Karl speed, precision, and data discipline: "What took a year in public takes three months in PE; what took three months takes a week." 🤖 Smart AI Use – Use ChatGPT for rough drafts, but always personalize. Karl warns against sloppy, identical outreach that "makes it stop." 👥 Human Interaction Still Matters – Gyms remain one of the few places you can't outsource the workout. Karl's rule: "Email if it's interesting, text if you want me, call if you need me." OUR SPONSORS: 🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en 🔗 eGym: https://egym.com/int  

4/6/26 • 49:37

In this episode, Eric Malzone hangs out with Jim LaValle—a legend in metabolic health who's been deep in this world for over 40 years—for a real conversation about GLP-1s, peptides, and what it actually takes to build a healthier, longer life. Jim gets honest about why these drugs can be a game-changer but also why so many people use them wrong, the sketchy side of the "research only" peptide market, and which peptides he's actually excited about for gut health, hormones, and fixing your sleep. They also talk about why the fitness industry hasn't quite cracked the longevity code yet, and how the whole landscape is shifting thanks to consumer demand, post-COVID wake-up calls, and even AI. It's a no-BS chat that'll make you rethink quick fixes and appreciate the basics again. Key Takeaways 🧬 GLP-1s are a powerful tool, but treat them like a lifeline, not a free pass—if you ignore protein, training, and the basics, you'll just lose muscle and gain it all back. 💉 Dosing matters way more than most people realize. Slow and steady (a couple pounds a week) beats maxing out and getting stuck on the highest dose. ⚠️ The "research only" peptide world is the Wild West—impurities, wrong doses, and sketchy syringes are real risks. If you're injecting it, you want the safety stuff to be legit. 🌙 Peptides go way beyond weight loss: epitalon for circadian rhythm, kisspeptin for hormones, KPV and larazotide for gut healing—Jim's got a whole toolkit for different jobs. 📈 Why now? COVID scared people straight, and when their regular doctors didn't have answers, they went looking—and found peptides, biohacking, and a whole new way to take control. 🏋️ For all the cool new tech, exercise, sleep, and solid nutrition are still the foundation. Gyms give you the structure and community that no peptide can replace. OUR SPONSORS: 🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en  🔗 eGym: https://egym.com/int     

4/1/26 • 57:33

In this episode of The Future of Fitness, host Eric Malzone sits down with Sarah Luna, CEO of Pilates Addiction, to explore the brand's rapid rise and what she calls "Pilates 3.0." With a background as a professional dancer, certified Pilates instructor, and franchise owner, Sarah brings a unique blend of hands-on experience and business acumen to the forefront. She breaks down how Pilates Addiction combines the best of traditional studio Pilates and modern high-intensity reformer workouts into a 50-minute, full-body experience designed for maximum efficiency. From the patented gold "Oram" machine to a member-centric business model built for franchisee success, Sarah shares insights on scaling the brand to 200 locations in 2026, the importance of multi-unit operators, and what it takes to win in today's boutique fitness landscape. Key Takeaways 🧘‍♀️ Pilates 3.0 Explained – A hybrid approach blending traditional Pilates principles with high-intensity, full-body efficiency using a patented machine that combines four apparatuses into one. 🏢 Franchise Growth – Over 240 licenses sold with plans to open 200 locations in 2026, targeting multi-unit operators with strong business backgrounds. 💰 Lean & Profitable Model – Studios require just 1,500–1,700 sq. ft. and break even with a few hundred members, making it an accessible investment for qualified franchisees. 🎓 Educator Academy – A proprietary 30- to 45-day certification program that trains new instructors, ensuring a steady pipeline of talent for scaling locations. 🎯 Target Demographic – Primarily women aged 25–45, with growing interest from men and an intentional studio design (gold machines, dark lighting) to broaden appeal. 📈 CEO Strategy for Scale – Focus on hiring leaders with scaled experience, using technology for real-time financial planning, and helping franchisees fund multiple units from the start. 🌍 International Ambitions – Aiming for 1,000 locations by 2030 with expansion into Canada, Asia-Pacific, and other global markets. OUR SPONSORS: 🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en  🔗 eGym: https://egym.com/int   

3/26/26 • 41:32

In this episode, Eric Malzone, Juliet Starrett, and Alex find themselves at the intersection of a shifting fitness economy, dissecting a massive Q1 2026 that has left the industry bifurcated between high-end luxury and high-volume value . The team breaks down the "K-shaped" recovery where premium powerhouses like Lifetime are flex-pricing their way to record margins while mid-market players and franchise models like Xponential Fitness face mounting regulatory and internal pressure . From the blockbuster $7.5 billion Mindbody-EGYM merger to Strava's surprise IPO filing, this deep dive explores whether the future of fitness lies in high-tech hardware, social networks, or the growing convergence of medicine and movement . Episode Highlights 📈 The K-Shaped Gym Economy: Why Lifetime is winning on "yield per head" ($3,531 average revenue per member) while Planet Fitness continues to battle for the price-sensitive consumer . 🤝 The $7.5B Merger: A "head-scratcher" look at the Playlist (Mindbody/ClassPass) and EGYM deal and what it means for the future of connected gym hardware ⌚ Garmin's Dominance: How the fitness segment is crushing its competitors with 33% growth, effectively eating the lunch of Fitbit and Google 🚲 Peloton's Profitability Pivot: The narrowing losses and declining employee count as the brand tries to transition from a "melting ice cube" into a sustainable wellness entity 🔔 Strava Goes Public: Insights into the confidential S-1 filing and whether Wall Street will value the 180-million-member platform as a social network or a fitness tool 🤸 Peak Pilates?: Discussion on Xponential Fitness's legal exposure and whether the boutique modality market has finally reached a saturation point 🏋️ CrossFit's Crossroads: Following the departure of CEO Don Faul, the team discusses the difficulty of monetizing the "beautiful chaos" of the affiliate model . 🏥 Medical Convergence: The emerging trend of bringing HSA/FSA dollars and clinical services directly under the gym roof .    

3/21/26 • 92:45

In this episode, we sit down with John Ford, Chief Product Officer at eGym, to explore the massive shift currently happening at the intersection of fitness and healthcare. From his early days founding Virtual Active and licensing cinematic workout content to industry giants like Peloton, to his current role leading product strategy at a global fitness unicorn, John offers a masterclass in behavioral science and hardware integration. We dive deep into the launch of Genius AI, discussing how it removes the "intimidation barrier" for gym beginners and provides the objective data—like one-rep max and body composition—necessary to prove fitness outcomes to the medical community. Whether you're interested in the impact of GLP-1 medications on strength training or how AI is actually driving more personal training sales, this conversation provides a roadmap for the future of longevity and health prevention in the club environment. Episode Takeaways 🚀 The Evolution of Fitness Tech: John traces his 20-year journey from filming "Virtual Active" trails with a 40lb steady cam to leading the eGym C-suite. 🤖 Genius AI & Precision Prescription: How eGym's new AI engine uses real-time hardware data to automate personalized workouts in 30 seconds, replacing the manual 15-minute trainer process. 🏥 Bridging the Healthcare Gap: Discussing the multi-million dollar clinical trials eGym is conducting to prove the efficacy of strength training for chronic conditions and longevity. 💪 The Beginner Solution: Why "integrated hardware-software" is the key to activating the 80% of the population who are intimidated by traditional weight rooms. 💉 The GLP-1 Opportunity: Exploring how the rise of weight-loss medications is creating a massive new demand for supervised, accessible strength training to preserve muscle mass 📈 AI as a Sales Tool: Data shows that AI-driven onboarding actually increases personal training (PT) sales by building member confidence and providing trainers with better "bites at the apple." ⚽ The Dark Side of Youth Sports: A candid look at the "over-optimization" and "pay-to-play" culture in modern club sports and its impact on lifelong fitness 🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en  🔗 eGym: https://egym.com/int   

3/16/26 • 45:35

What happens when a lifelong friendship meets a shared frustration with broken systems? Mike Ranfone and Dr. Marko Lujic did something most people only talk about — they actually built the gym-medical hybrid model that the health and fitness industry has been circling around for years. In this episode, Dr. Lujic opens up about the moment he realized he wasn't practicing healthcare — he was practicing sick care — and how that wake-up call led him and Mike to launch RTS Health in Hampton, Connecticut. Together, they walk us through their full client experience: from DEXA scans and comprehensive biomarker labs to concierge medicine, personalized training, and registered dietitian support — all under one roof for around $1,000/month. They also get real about why collaboration beats territorialism, why most people are "majoring in the minors" when it comes to longevity, and what it actually takes to build a business model at the intersection of fitness and functional medicine. If you've ever felt like the fitness and medical worlds should be talking to each other but aren't — this episode is for you. Episode Takeaways: 🤝 Lifelong friendships can become your greatest business asset — Mike and Dr. Lujic's 35-year friendship gave them the trust and communication that most business partnerships take years to build (and some never do) 🏥 Sick care vs. healthcare — Dr. Lujic's pivot away from hospital medicine came from recognizing he was only treating disease after the fact, not preventing it in the first place 📊 Data drives everything at RTS — DEXA scans, comprehensive biomarker labs, VO2 max testing, resting metabolic rate assessments, and brain scans create a full picture no 12-minute PCP visit ever could 💊 Stop majoring in the minors — Before anyone gets peptides or hormone optimization, they need to earn it by nailing the fundamentals: sleep, nutrition, movement, and stress management 🔗 The siloed fitness-medical model is broken — When your trainer and your doctor never talk, nobody wins; true health outcomes require a closed feedback loop between all providers 💰 ~$1,000/month for a full health team — Labs, DEXA, hormone replacement, supplementation, personal training, nutrition coaching, and concierge medical access — all included 🧠 Proactive health means managing the gray zone — The space between "feeling fine" and "something's broken" is where chronic disease starts, and it's where RTS does their best work 🌍 The vision is bigger than one gym — Mike and Dr. Lujic want to consult, affiliate, and educate other practitioners to scale this model nationally, not protect their turf 🚫 They're not trying to sell you on your own health — If you're not invested in yourself, they're not the right fit — and they'll tell you that upfront Checkout our sponsors ✨ 🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en 🔗 eGym: https://egym.com/int

3/12/26 • 50:44

Andrew Sugerman of Centr returns to the Future of Fitness to break down how the brand has completely transformed since their last conversation in 2023 — moving from a broad wellness platform to becoming the performance infrastructure behind one of the fastest-growing fitness movements in the world. Andrew pulls back the curtain on Centr's official partnership with Hyrox, including how they engineered custom competition equipment from the ground up (yes, even the kettlebells got a redesign), why fitness-as-sport is the most powerful retention tool gym operators aren't fully using yet, and what the coming wave of industry consolidation, GLP-1s, and AI means for every fitness business in 2026. Whether you're a gym owner looking to tap into the Hyrox affiliate opportunity or just trying to understand where the fitness industry is headed, this one is packed. Episode Takeaways: 🏋️ Fitness as a sport is no longer a trend — it's the business model. Hyrox proved that everyday gym-goers want to compete, and smart operators are already building around it. 🔩 Purpose-built equipment changes the game. Centr redesigned kettlebells, sleds, turf, and more using real competition data — small changes that shave seconds off race times and reduce injury. 🏟️ Gym operators have a massive opportunity right now. Becoming a Hyrox Training Centr (HTC) drives member acquisition, retention, and community in ways traditional gym programming simply can't. 📱 The app is a tool, not the product. Centr is building a full ecosystem — digital coaching, community, equipment, and environment — not just another fitness app. 🤝 Strategic partnerships are the new growth engine. The Centr x Hyrox x Red Bull flywheel shows how brands can align to create shared value at every level of the athlete journey. 💊 GLP-1s and peptides are exploding as a category — and reduced regulatory guardrails in 2026 could open this market even further for wellness-forward fitness brands. 🤖 AI will reshape fitness operations, but human connection sets the ceiling. Consumers will push back if tech replaces the real-life, in-person experience they actually show up for. 📈 Industry consolidation is accelerating. Expect more major mergers and acquisitions through 2026–2027 as big players compete for market share and mind share. 🌍 Hyrox is going mainstream — fast. With 1.5–1.8 million athletes expected to touch Centr-built equipment at competitions this year, brand exposure for partners is only growing. 🎯 New gear dropping at HFA & FIBO — including a dual-action air bike, rower, skier, and motorized treadmill built for Hyrox training environments. Checkout our sponsors ✨ 🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en  🔗 eGym: https://egym.com/int   

3/7/26 • 47:32

In this episode of the Future of Fitness Podcast, host Eric Malzone sits down with Chris Mirabile, founder of NOVOS, to unpack the science and business of longevity. Chris shares how surviving a brain tumor as a teenager reshaped his perspective on health and pushed him to study aging at a biological level. The conversation dives into what longevity actually means beyond buzzwords—how it differs from simply living a healthy lifestyle, why healthspan matters just as much as lifespan, and the science behind targeting the biological "hallmarks of aging." Chris also explains why some popular trends like hormone optimization and peptides are more complex than they seem, and how NOVOS approaches longevity by addressing the root cellular mechanisms that drive aging, disease risk, and long-term performance. Key Takeaways: 🧬 Longevity vs. Just Being Healthy – True longevity means extending healthspan or lifespan beyond what normal healthy living would achieve. 🧠 A Life-Changing Health Scare – Chris's teenage brain tumor experience sparked his lifelong pursuit of preventing disease and understanding aging. 📚 The "Hallmarks of Aging" Framework – Scientists have identified biological mechanisms that drive aging, and targeting them may slow the process. 🧪 Natural Compounds vs. Pharmaceuticals – Longevity interventions don't always require drugs; certain natural molecules may influence aging pathways. ⚖️ The Nuance of Hormone Optimization – Hormone therapy may benefit some groups but could shorten lifespan when misused. 💉 Peptides and Longevity Debates – Many popular peptide therapies lack long-term evidence and require caution. 🧑‍🔬 Science-Driven Longevity Products – NOVOS focuses on addressing multiple aging mechanisms simultaneously instead of targeting a single pathway. ⚡ Short-Term Benefits Matter Too – Improving cellular health can lead to better sleep, energy, mood, and recovery today—not just decades later. 🏥 Aging as the Root Risk Factor – Aging itself is the biggest risk factor for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, and cardiovascular disease. 🚀 The Future of Longevity – The field is evolving from hype toward a more evidence-based approach to extending both lifespan and healthspan.  

3/6/26 • 46:02