Inside the minds of fitness industry influencers.
On this week’s episode of the Escape Your Limits Podcast, we welcome back Kali Muscle, a powerhouse in the fitness world, entrepreneur and a motivational force.
Hailing from Oakland, California, Kali overcame a turbulent past, including prison time, to carve out a path of resilience and success. From bodybuilding champion to social media phenomenon, Kali’s journey is one of sheer determination, reinvention and grit.
After surviving a life-threatening heart attack, Kali took on new challenges, delving into extreme health practices like fasting, rediscovering his purpose and transforming the lives of countless others through his coaching and mentorship. Known for his “money and muscle” philosophy, he’s inspired millions to build not just physical strength, but financial stability and mental toughness.
In this compelling episode, Kali shares candid stories of his transformation, from battling demons to becoming a family man and role model. He opens up about the challenges of fame, navigating financial hurdles and the lessons learned from embracing a fruitarian lifestyle, entrepreneurship and fatherhood.
Packed with powerful insights, hard-hitting truths, and motivational moments, this conversation is one you don’t want to miss.
In this podcast, Kali discusses:
To learn more about Kali Muscle, click here:
https://www.instagram.com/kalimuscle/p/DBr97N7N0_K/
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0:00 Intro
0:30 Watermelon fasting and health insights
14:50 Financial challenges and business setbacks
19:35 Growing health and wealth, muscle and money
25:21 Personal growth and mentorship
28:49 Turning points and personal transformation
32:46 Transforming a destructive headspace
34:37 Balancing personal and professional life
56:15 Crypto coin ventures and lessons learned
1:03:03 The importance of financial literacy
1:05:30 Family and future goals
1:15:45 Reflecting on personal limits and achievements
Welcome to the latest episode of L.I.F.T.S – your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories.
Today, hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks, are joined by Kinsey Livingston, VP of Sales at Mindbody and ClassPass.
This LIFTS episode covers:
To view the report, click here:
https://classpass.com/blog/2024-classpass-look-back-report/
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Support fitness industry news by sponsoring future LIFTS episodes.
Contact us at [email protected] for advertising opportunities.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published: https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness
Shop gym equipment: https://escapefitness.com/shop
View our full catalog: https://escapefitness.com/support/catalog (US) https://escapefitness.com/support/catalogue (UK)
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0:00 Intro
02:04 ClassPass and Mindbody Merger
03:51 Overview of the ClassPass Report
05:46 Growth of Pilates and Low Impact Training
08:20 Influence of social media and Lifestyle Shifts
11:42 Popularity of Weekdays and Weekends
15:52 Body Scans and Personalized Data
18:25 Community-Centered Activities and Future Trends
Welcome to this episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories.
Today, hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks, are joined by Lauren Shroyer, VP of Product Development and Innovation at ACE (American Council on Exercise), the leading non-profit organisation certifying health coaches and exercise professionals which seeks to get people moving worldwide.
This episode focuses on the huge impact that AI is going to have on the fitness industry, and in particular, the frontline fitness professionals.
This LIFTS episode covers:
To learn more about ACE, click here:
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Support fitness industry news by sponsoring future LIFTS episodes.
Contact us at [email protected] for advertising opportunities.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published: https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness
Shop gym equipment: https://escapefitness.com/shop
View our full catalog: https://escapefitness.com/support/catalog (US) https://escapefitness.com/support/catalogue (UK)
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0:00 Intro
2:43 Impact of AI on Fitness Professionals
10:18 Challenges and opportunities for Trainers post-pandemic
15:35 Embracing AI and technology within fitness
17:10 The three core things that AI cannot do
24:45 The role of AI in personalized fitness programs
29:29 The future of AI in fitness and ACE’s role
29:58 The potential of pure, AI-based fitness models
34:03 Final thoughts and future directions
Welcome to this extended episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories.
Today, hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks, are joined by Anthony Vennare, the founder of pioneering news aggregator Fitt Insider and Wellworthy to reflect on how predictions made about 2024 played out and to look ahead at the trends and innovations driving the future direction of the fitness and wellness industries.
This LIFTS episode covers:
To learn more about Anthony Vennare, click here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vennare/
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Support fitness industry news by sponsoring future LIFTS episodes.
Contact us at [email protected] for advertising opportunities.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published: https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness
Shop gym equipment: https://escapefitness.com/shop
View our full catalog: https://escapefitness.com/support/catalog (US) https://escapefitness.com/support/catalogue (UK)
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/escapefitness/
0:00 Intro
1:40 Reflection on 2024's predictions for big companies and big tech (Oura, Apple, Levels)
9:40 Reflections and Predictions: Small to Medium-Sized Fitness Businesses Predictions – Flexes And Fails
17:00 Trends Predications (GLP-1s, strength training, mixing modalities, Pilates)
25:08 Big Company and Tech 2025 Predications (connecting health clubs with healthcare, growth of peptide use, make America Healthy
36:03 Small To Medium Company and Tech Predictions (AI, women’s health, environmental awareness, reimagining the gym floor, vending)
46:20 General Trend Predictions (mental fitness to combat addictions and illness, evidencing health outcomes, consumers making incremental changes to improve health and longevity, attracting new investment
53:29 Final Thoughts and Personal Goals
Welcome to the last episode of LIFTS in 2024, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. Today, hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks, are joined by Giles Denning, Head of Marketing, PerformX.
Matthew and Mo are on the advisory board of PerformX Live, an event that is the business of fitness, a powerhouse environment and is taking place at the NEC, Birmingham on 26th & 27th February 2025.
The conversation in this episode introduces listeners to the themes that will be discussed on the main stage at the event. Bringing in thought leaders from around the globe that will discuss digitalization, premiumization, AI, recovery and more.
In this LIFTS podcast, we discuss:
To learn more about PerformX Live, click here:
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Support fitness industry news by sponsoring future LIFTS episodes.
Contact us at [email protected] for advertising opportunities.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published: https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness
Shop gym equipment: https://escapefitness.com/shop
View our full catalog: https://escapefitness.com/support/catalog (US) https://escapefitness.com/support/catalogue (UK)
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escapefitness
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/escapefitness/
0:00 Intro
4.37 Theme One - Digitalization
8.28 Theme Two - Premiumisation
13.22 Theme Three – AI
18.53 Theme Four – Future of Recovery on the Gym Floor
21.57 Theme Five – Longevity and Bio-Hacking
25.56 The Fitness Industry’s Role in WellCare
32.58 Biggest Trends of 2024 and the Predictions for 2025
36.21 Brands to watch out for
In this special mid-week podcast, brought to you by Escape Fitness, we delve into the strategies that amplify a gym's digital presence and drive real business results with today’s guest, Dennis Yu, one of the world’s foremost authorities on leveraging digital marketing for success.
Here, Dennis shares his decades of expertise, delivering actionable insights on how gyms can build stronger community connections by collecting, curating, and sharing hyper-localized digital content. Whether you’re a gym owner or operator, this conversation is packed with invaluable advice to attract more members and deepen engagement with local populations.
Dennis Yu is the Chief Technology Officer at BlitzMetrics and co-author of the best-selling book The Definitive Guide to TikTok Ads. A seasoned international speaker, Dennis has presented in over 20 countries and worked with iconic brands like Nike, Red Bull, and the Golden State Warriors. His insights have been featured in CNN, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NPR, and The Los Angeles Times. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Southern Methodist University and a degree in Economics from the London School of Economics.
In this Episode, we discuss:
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Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published:
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Shop gym equipment:
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0:00 Intro
0:29 The ‘hidden’ data-value that led to the multi-billion dollar sale of Visio to Walmart
1:12 Using hardware as the gateway to data collection
2:21 Explaining the ‘dollar a day’ marketing strategy
7:10 Google and YouTube as social media networks
8:15 How influential are posted reviews and recommendations?
10:55 Hacks that encourage members to post reviews
13:06 Setting up Google Pages for success
18:06 Signals Google loves - localization and personalization
19:09 Organizing online information for optimal effect
25:17 How to organize content across multiple social media platforms
27:27 Engagement and content strategy
33:29 Traditional marketing vs. digital marketing – which works best?
34:49 The power of micro podcasts
On this week’s episode of the Escape Your Limits Podcast, we are joined by Rick Valente, a legendary figure in the bodybuilding and fitness industry, best known as the co-host of ESPN's BodyShaping.
Born and raised in Connecticut, Rick discovered his passion for fitness early on, driven by a love for sports, martial arts and a determination to build a bodybuilder’s physique. Leaving behind a challenging upbringing surrounded by drugs, he made the life-changing decision to move to California in the early 1980s and train at the iconic Gold’s Gym.
His dedication led him to win Mr. Los Angeles and place second in Mr. California. However, a significant injury in 1987—tearing a pectoral muscle while lifting 500 pounds—marked a turning point, shifting his focus to coaching and personal training.
In this inspiring episode, Rick shares his journey from troubled beginnings to becoming a bodybuilding icon and TV personality. He offers timeless fitness wisdom, actionable advice for personal growth and stories of training alongside legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gregory Hines. This is a conversation packed with lessons on resilience, passion, and transformation.
In this podcast, Rick discusses:
To learn more about Rick Valente, click here:
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Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published:
https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness
Shop gym equipment:
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View our full catalog:
https://escapefitness.com/support/catalog (US)
https://escapefitness.com/support/catalogue (UK)
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escapefitness
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/escapefitness/
0:00 Intro
3:06 Influences in early life
5:47 Move to Florida and career beginnings
11:47 Gold’s Gym and celebrity encounters
20:13 Training techniques and workout memories
27:14 Bodybuilding competitions
32:11 “Body Shaping” and fame
42:08 Transition to writing and photography
43:36 Coping with boredom and personal growth
47:08 Advice for younger generations
Welcome to the latest episode of L.I.F.T.S – your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories.
This special episode was recorded live at Beyond Activ Australia APAC, where host Mohammed Iqbal attended to explore the cutting edge of fitness innovation.
Hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mohammed Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks, are joined by Aleksander Dahlberg- founder of Sahha, Aaron Verasammy- Vice President Sales - North America at ABC Fitness Solutions, and Emmett Williams- MD at Myzone (APAC).
In this episode, topics discussed include:
To learn more about Beyond Activ, click here:
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Support fitness industry news by sponsoring future LIFTS episodes.
Contact us at [email protected] for advertising opportunities.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published: https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness
Shop gym equipment: https://escapefitness.com/shop
View our full catalog: https://escapefitness.com/support/catalog (US) https://escapefitness.com/support/catalogue (UK)
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/escapefitness/
0:00 Intro
12:04 Aleksander Dahlberg
22:32 Aaron Verasammy
35:05 Emmett Williams
Welcome to this week’s episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. Today, hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks, are joined by Kevin Yates, CEO Lift Brands EMEA.
With more that 20 years-experience working in the fitness industry there are few individuals on the planet with more experience than Kevin Yates when it comes to building and operating boutique fitness brands. Currently heading up Lift Brands EMEA, which includes icon brands Snap Fitness and 9Round, Kevin also played a huge hand in the growth and success of European boutique brand, Trib3 and before that, the trailblazing UK boutique brand, 1Rebel.
In this LIFTS podcast, we discuss:
To learn more about Lift Brands, click here:
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Support fitness industry news by sponsoring future LIFTS episodes.
Contact us at [email protected] for advertising opportunities.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published: https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness
Shop gym equipment: https://escapefitness.com/shop
View our full catalog: https://escapefitness.com/support/catalog (US) https://escapefitness.com/support/catalogue (UK)
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escapefitness
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/escapefitness/
0:00 Intro
0:25 RFK’s as Health and Human Services Secretary in the US. Good news or bad news?
2:50 Intro to Kevin Yates
5:06 The evolution of boutique fitness
9:43 The pivot to offering multiple modalities within a boutique offer
11:25 Adaptions HVLP fitness brands need to make to be able to charge more to cover rising costs
21:03 What component parts make a successful boutique fitness brand
25:17 The evolution from HVLP 1.0 to HVLP 2.0 and the brands leading the charge
33:00 What do boutiques have to do to maintain relevance in today’s market?
36:12 Trend predictions for the fitness sector
Welcome to this week’s episode of LIFTS, a quick snapshot into the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. Today, hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks, get together to discuss recent health and biohacking trends, nutrition and supplements, strength training insights, tech and wellness integrations and emerging fitness trends including the latest from industry innovators Oura, F45, Samsung and Vasa Fitness.
In this LIFTS podcast, topics include:
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Support fitness industry news by sponsoring future LIFTS episodes.
Contact us at [email protected] for advertising opportunities.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published: https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness
Shop gym equipment: https://escapefitness.com/shop
View our full catalog:https://escapefitness.com/support/catalog (US) https://escapefitness.com/support/catalogue (UK)
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escapefitness
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/escapefitness/
0:00 Intro
0:54 Viral sleep trend of ‘hostage taping’
3:44 Exploring supplements and nutrition
10:00 The minefield that consumers face choosing nutritional products
13:27 The evolution of tracking apps
17:46 F45 introducing Pilates offering
19:33 F45 partner with Samsung to deliver Samsung TV workouts
21:23 Exercise snacking and strength training
27:44 Vasa Fitness adds boutique strength class to HVLP offering
30:53 Gym etiquette and social media impact
36:02 Final thoughts
Welcome to this week’s episode of LIFTS, your bite-size dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. Today, hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks, are joined by Yves Preissler, CEO of YP Fitness Consulting, an expert in turnkey and modular gym design solutions across global fitness, sport, wellness and recovery industries.
With 40+ combined years’ experience, Yves and his team of professional consultants have a wealth of global expertise creating high end finishes to create tailor-made concepts that deliver results for investors, developers and business owners.
This podcast episode explores the future of gym design, covering trending topics such as sustainability, AI technology and customer-centric experiences.
In this LIFTS podcast, topics include:
To learn more about Yves Preissler, click here:
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Support fitness industry news by sponsoring future LIFTS episodes.
Contact us at [email protected] for advertising opportunities.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published: https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness
Shop gym equipment: https://escapefitness.com/shop
View our full catalog: https://escapefitness.com/support/catalog (US) https://escapefitness.com/support/catalogue (UK)
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escapefitness
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/escapefitness
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/escapefitness/
0:00 Intro
0:30 Resetting the body while travelling
3:03 Alcohol and travel habits
4:19 Customer-centric design philosophy
7:03 How wellness and luxury are transforming training
9:25 Sustainability within the fitness industry
19:30 Technology integration into fitness
21:30 Fred Fitness: the first truly AI-powered gym
22:33 The evolution of group fitness and personalised fitness
31:41 Balancing technology and human interaction
31:59 Solving meaningful problems in fitness
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