Brendo McCormack Podcast

Many people struggle with their diets, not necessarily because they lack tools, but because they do not have support. With so much information out there, it is hard to know what to take on board, so having someone to guide you undoubtedly makes all the difference. This customer-centric, personal approach underpins Avatar Nutrition’s purpose-driven mission.  We welcome back the platform’s co-founders, Katie Coles and Mark Springer, to hear about what has happened since we last spoke to them. We kick off with a quick recap of what the platform does and how it makes flexible dieting as accessible as possible. As with all startups, getting things off the ground was far from easy. Katie and Mark shed light on some of the obstacles they faced, including their lack of tech knowledge, manually running the platform, and creating the database off of Mark’s laptop! While these things posed challenges at the time, there is no doubt that this slow, iterative process has contributed to the platform Avatar is today. We also hear about their decision to migrate from a web app to a native one and how they incorporate client feedback into their product. Katie and Mark are incredible entrepreneurs who are a great example of what can happen when you are willing to take lessons out of failures and just keep going. Be sure to tune in today!   Key Points From This Episode:   •   Hear about what Avatar Nutrition is and the impetus for starting the platform. •   A significant client transformation Mark saw when he was working as a personal trainer. •   How Mark and Katie came together and the winding road they took to start the platform. •   Transitioning from a web to native app and what that process has been like. •   How the slow, iterative process of building Avatar contributed to its great database. •   The power of having a person, rather than a computer respond to customer queries. •   How Avatar on-boarded their first 1500 customers through word-of-mouth advertising. •   Avatar’s purpose-driven mission: How this has kept the needle moving. •   Discovering flexible dieting changed Katie’s life and helped her overcome her eating disorder. •   Unexpected obstacles and tragedies Mark and Katie have faced building Avatar. •   The journey of understanding tech better and what Mark and Katie have learned. •   Some of the reasons for moving from a web to a native app. •   What’s on the horizon for Avatar now that they have launched the native app.

This turbulent year has affected businesses across the board, and CrossFit is no exception. Joining us to talk about shepherding CrossFit Oceania through these trying times is an OG of the sport in Australia, Ed Morrison. We hear about the many hats Ed has worn, from coach and trainer to his position at the HQ.  As a box owner himself, Ed understands the CrossFit ecosystem inside and out, and we chat about the way the community has banded together to try to get everyone through to the other side. 

Our guest on the podcast, Katie B, a Perth based (Canadian born) Nutritionist. Katie B helps her clients find a balance in life whilst reaching sustainable fitness results. During the episode, we find out that Katie is a Type 1 diabetic and learn how she manages her diabetes whilst living an active lifestyle. Katie B works out of RBT Gym Canning Vale.

Xavier Wills is an IFBB Pro League Men's Physique athlete from Perth. Last year he placed second at the Arnold Sports Festival Australia, narrowly missing out on a Pro Card. In this interview, we talk about his comeback to the stage after suffering from severe Glandular Fever. He is about to attempt to win his IFBB Pro Card at the 2020 Arnold Sports Festival Australia.

On March 5-8th, three men from Perth will be competing at the Australian Crossfit Championship on the Gold Coast. The Aus Crossfit Champs is one of the biggest competitions in the country. Our athlete's headed over are Jonathan Dunlop, Cal Foster and John Champion.

Daniel England, the owner of Team Ecto, is one of the leading Nutrition Coaches in Perth.

Every year, on the 26th of January we celebrate Australia Day with BBQ's, beaches and of course, the Triple J Hottest 100. Being a White Australian growing up, this was the day Australia was born. So what is Invasion Day? Shouldn't we be proud of the country we live in now? How does what happened 200 years ago effect us in 2020? Shouldn't we all celebrate Australia together? These are honestly the questions I asked myself when I first heard of "Invasion Day". And because of this, one thing that I knew, was that I didn't understand the meaning of Australia Day to Indigenous people. This podcast was my chance to speak with my friend, Shain Stephens, who is from the Iwaidja people. Shain grew up with his people in the Northern Territory and in this interview, shares with us insights into 'What Australia Day means to Aboriginal people'. If you are like me, a White Australian brought up in European Australian culture, I highly recommend. 

Ngarimu Ahipene is a father of three from Perth. He is also a World Record Holder for the Axel Bar Clean and Jerk. The winner of Australia's Strongest Man under 90kg. And the winner of the World's Strongest Man 2019. In this podcast, we chat about his journey from New Zealand to Australia. His transition from being a Crossfit Games athlete to Strongman. And the quest to being crowned the World's Strongest Man under 90kg.

The Perth Fitfam Podcast is Back! 2019 was a massive year for Perth Fitfam, and for no one as much as my wife, Chelle McCormack. She left the comfort of her full-time job, got married (to me obviously), and this podcast was her first time in front of the camera on the Perth Fitfam Podcast to share her journey into Entrepreneurship, the challenges, struggles, successes and more. If you're looking to chase a dream and go after something big in 2020 then this is a great listen from someone who took the jump.

AJ Smith is a former Rugby Player, Exercise Physiologist and Strength & Conditioning Coach. He has a Masters in Strength and Conditioning and somehow became the owner of a gym, Smith's Fitness in Port Kennedy. AJ competes is many different sports and fitness including Powerlifting, CrossFit, Obstacle Course Racing and finished his first Ultramarathon earlier this year. He is a massive fan of the shaka, going "deep-end" and leads by the front.

Kym Monteath (Monty) started Personal training just over 9 years ago for a little extra work and fell in love with the industry. As a previous WAFL East Fremantle football player, he wanted to bring a certain energy into his Personal Training with motivation, teamwork, enthusiasm and stacks fun. Monty loves to see the improvements in his clients and the fact that he gets to wake up early and get moving every morning with them is the best way to start a day and wouldn’t have it any other way.  Monty has always been super passionate about health and fitness and he certainly lives and breathes exercise. Monty refers to himself as a ‘Yes Man’ when it comes to exercise, he is willing to give anything a go and take on any stupid challenge thrown his way. Monty now plays Country football and more recently has started testing myself at endurance running, trail running and Obstacle Course Racing. He loves to compete in ‘out of the comfort zone’ events such as the True Grit 24 Hour Enduro race (which is where we met) that he completed in June this year. Monty will be competing in True Grit in WA in October and then will be planning something big for next year to have a crack at. Always chasing the next obstacle!!! Monty is also a Proud True Grit Ambassador, Lululemon Ambassador and a Livin Legend for LIVIN WA.

Fighting Monkey is an applied practice for human development through movement. Fighting Monkey practice treats each and every person as a unique universe interconnected with the environment and within its own structure. Since 2002 Linda and Jozef have been developing the Fighting Monkey Practice through a deep study on cross-motion analysis and with the aim to understand the principles of the human movement, communication and the ageing process. Jozef has been studying under the guidance of Master Ming Wong C.Y., also a doctor of Chinese Medicine, the internal principles of movement and their relation to health and ageing. Jozef got his ArtD degree on Voice and Movement in 2002 under the supervision of Ludmila Machatsova, who is considered as one of the most influential communication trainers.

From flexible dieting to start-up struggles with Avatar Nutrition Co-Founders, Mark Springer and Katie Coles.

Hear the mythical tale of the 125kg Mack Truck dubbed as Fat Thor, who over the past few years has climbed the ladder on the Australian Weightlifting scene to become one of the strongest Aussie Heavyweights today. Our good friend Ant is the owner of Australian's premier Olympic Weightlifting facility, Rev Barbell Club. The culture they are growing around WA Weightlifting is massive (pardon the pun), and the team is about to take on the rest of the country at the upcoming Nationals.

Lord Kim Barrett (literally Lord... find out in the episode), is the GOAT of Marketing in Perth and is a speaker on the World stage working alongside big names such as Gary Vee, Jordan Belfort and many more. Kim is also CEO of Perth's most renowned social media marketing agency and educators, Your Social Voice. A must listen to all fitness business owners... get yourself some gems in this episode.