The Fitness Industry Podcast

Exercise scientist Dr Morwenna Kirwan is passionate about helping people live healthier lives through motivation and behavioural health psychology. Here, she chats with The Fitness Industry Podcast’s Oliver Kitchingman about short term and long-term mindsets, setting boundaries around use of technology, strengthening self-control through small daily acts rather than grand gestures, and why PTs should take an afternoon nap...

Mark Capelin runs a highly successful club in which more than half of the 800 members also participate in personal training. Here, he talks to The Fitness Industry Podcast’s Oliver Kitchingman about the power of good systems combined with good leadership, consistently achieving an 80% prospect-to-member conversion rate, using paid challenges as a revenue stream and retention tool, and facilitating and rewarding healthy competition among staff.

Marin Lazic is a TRX Master Instructor and former professional water polo player. Here, he chats with The Fitness Industry Podcast’s Oliver Kitchingman about the revelation of suspension training, how new training modalities can challenge even the super-fit, using technology to monitor anomalies in body temperature and predict sickness, and reaching out to people you admire in the industry to benefit from their experience.

From actor to accidental entrepreneur, Mark Fisher’s journey has been as unconventional as his New York fitness club brand. Here, he chats with The Fitness Industry Podcast’s Oliver Kitchingman about interview hacks for effective hiring; the tension between autonomy and management; not tolerating bad meetings; and how real leadership means doing the right thing, as opposed to doing things right.

Group fitness instructor and educator Maria-Teresa Stone was instrumental in the successful launch of Zumba in Australia and NZ. Here, she chats with The Fitness Industry Podcast’s Katrina Cochrane about passionately stumbling into a career in fitness; trying things that are out of your comfort zone; the inclusivity of group and water fitness; and aspiring to goals while enjoying the here and now.

Kate Allott, the Head of Fitness for Anytime Fitness Australia, oversees the recruitment of hundreds of PTs nationwide. Here, she chats with The Fitness Industry Podcast’s Oliver Kitchingman about casting a narrow net when recruiting trainers, setting role expectations with new trainers, measuring metrics and stemming PT attrition rates.

Dietitian and sports nutritionist Brian St Pierre has worked with hundreds of athletes and everyday clients. Here, he chats with The Fitness Industry Podcast’s Oliver Kitchingman about the client problems that ‘poor’ food choices solve, the power of consistency over novelty, and adapting human behaviours without actively taking things away.

Leading group fitness instructor and educator Kirsty Nield is unerringly passionate about teaching classes, as well as mentoring and educating fitness professionals. Here, she chats with The Fitness Industry Podcast’s Bel Fong about the early days of group exercise, getting to know each instructor as an individual, understanding demographics and timetabling, and the importance of consistency among instructors when it comes to format and technique.

Paul Taylor is one of Australia’s leading exercise physiologists, nutritionists, and neuroscientists. Here, he chats with The Fitness Industry Podcast’s Oliver Kitchingman about practical strategies to immediately improve thinking; cold showers, stress response and immunity; creating positive avatars for ourselves; and digital sunsets and honouring our circadian cycles.

Paul Brown, aka ‘Mr Retention’, has been at the forefront of member retention research and practical solutions since 1995. Here he chats with The Fitness Industry Podcast’s Oliver Kitchingman about making members want – not just need – exercise, keeping services in-house for the good of your brand, and helping clients switch their focus from how exercise makes them look to how it makes them feel.

The CEO’s of Les Mills International and Les Mills Asia Pacific, Clive Ormerod and Ryan Hogan, chat with The Fitness Industry Podcast’s Oliver Kitchingman about staying relevant by continually adapting to new customer expectations; growth markets and regional program preferences, and the intense demand for high quality new group fitness instructors.

Counsellor and movement coach Kylianne Turton is the founder of the Move For Mental Health initiative. Here, she talks with The Fitness Industry Podcast’s Bel Fong about changing the language and stigmas around mental health; combining physical challenges and nature to improve mental wellbeing; how clients with mental health care plans can get free training sessions, and how touch and breathing can calm the sympathetic nervous system.

Head of PT for Goodlife Health Clubs, Pete Gleeson, know what PTs need to do in their early days in order to build a long and successful career. In this conversation with The Fitness Industry Podcast's Oliver Kitchingman he expounds on the importance of leading by example, focusing on the golden prospects on the gym floor before you spend a cent online, and using ‘champion networks’ to build your reputation for you.

Fitness business and marketing leader Justin Tamsett has his finger on the pulse of the world’s leading fitness clubs and brands. Here, he chats with The Fitness Industry Podcast’s Oliver Kitchingman about building the relationship before asking for the sale, different social media marketing approaches for younger and older markets, the resurgence of email and even older-school marketing, and a wealth of ideas to give your club or PT business the edge.

Turia Pitt’s experience with a devastating bushfire could not crush her remarkable spirit. Here, the mindset coach, athlete and author chats with The Fitness Industry Podcast’s Bel Fong about unearthing compelling reasons in clients (and owning it when your reason isn’t real or strong enough); self-image in kids and teens; and the importance of taking time to celebrate and savour achievements before shifting focus to the next goal.