LIFTS Episode 114 - The Future of Personal Training, AI & Human Intelligence | at Connected Health & Fitness 2026
Release Date: 03/08/2026
Escape Your Limits & LIFTS
Welcome to the latest episode of L.I.F.T.S, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. In this special episode recorded live from HFA 2026 in San Diego, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal sit down with three of the most influential leaders in the global fitness industry to break down where the space is heading next. Featuring insights from Mark S. Mastrov (24 Hour Fitness), Adam Sedlack (UFC Gyms), and Bill Davis (ABC Fitness), this episode dives into the rapid evolution of fitness business models, technology, member behavior, and the growing intersection...
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Welcome to the latest episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. In this special episode recorded live at PerformX, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal explore one of the most significant and rapidly evolving topics in health and fitness today: the rise of GLP-1 medications and what they mean for the fitness industry. Joined by Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi, GP, personal trainer, health coach, and one of the UKβs leading educators on obesity management and lifestyle medicine, the conversation explores how these medications are reshaping the health...
info_outlineEscape Your Limits & LIFTS
Welcome to the latest episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. In this special episode recorded live at PerformX, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal explore one of the most important shifts happening in the fitness industry today: the evolution of the gym into a health hub. Joined by Jaclyn Hughes (Ultimate Training Solutions), Tim Gray (Health Optimisation Summit & The Biohacker), and Rez Barad (House of Fitness), the panel examines how fitness, longevity, biohacking, and preventative healthcare are beginning to converge. As...
info_outlineEscape Your Limits & LIFTS
Welcome to the latest episode of L.I.F.T.S, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. Recorded live at Connected Health & Fitness Summit 2026, Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal sit down with three industry leaders to unpack the convergence of fitness, technology, wellness, and human intelligence. Guests include: David Van Daff (NASM): A 30-year fitness industry veteran representing the National Academy of Sports Medicine, discussing certification evolution, AI in training, and the expanding expectations placed on personal trainers. Jeff Yasuda (Feed...
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Welcome to the latest episode of L.I.F.T.S, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. In this special live episode from the Connected Health & Fitness Summit 2026 in Los Angeles, Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal sit down with four leaders shaping the future of performance, longevity, franchising, and workforce training. Guests include: Douglas Gremmen (HYROX): On building one of the fastest growing competitive fitness brands in the world and why purpose-driven training is the ultimate disruptor. Dean Kelly (Extension Health): On physician-led...
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Welcome to the latest episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal are joined by Troy Taylor from Tonal to explore one of the most important shifts happening in fitness today: strength as the foundation of longevity. Drawing on connected strength data from thousands of members, this conversation examines a surprising insight β in many cases, 60-year-olds are matching or outperforming 30-year-olds in relative strength gains. The difference isnβt age. Itβs consistency, progressive...
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Welcome to the latest episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal are joined by Sean Turner, CEO of Les Mills US, to explore one of the most persistent and misunderstood challenges in fitness today: member retention. Drawing on decades of experience as both a club operator and global brand leader, this conversation examines why retention is not a content problem, but a human one. Sean shares how confidence, belonging, and experience design play a far greater role in long-term engagement...
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Welcome to the latest episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal are joined by industry veteran, longevity advocate, and former Life Time executive Jeff Zweifel to explore one of the most overlooked and urgent topics in fitness today: menβs health and aging. Drawing on decades of leadership experience in the fitness industry, as well as firsthand exposure to emerging longevity and performance technologies, this conversation examines what actually drives long-term health outcomes and...
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Welcome to the latest episode of L.I.F.T.S, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. Recorded live at the Los Angeles Pilates Journal Expo 2026, Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal sit down with leading voices shaping the future of Pilates. Guests include: Pilates experts Sean Bergara and Tracey Mallett, along with Reform RX founders Neal and Yvette McGaffin. In this episode, we explore: β’ How Pilates is evolving to meet modern strength and athletic demands. β’ Why men are increasingly embracing Pilates for longevity and performance. β’ The rise of fusion...
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Welcome to the latest episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal are joined by industry strategist and returning guest Debra Strougo, Founder of Row House and CEO of Fitizens to explore how the wellness consumer is everywhere and what that means for the future of fitness. Drawing on insights from CES in Las Vegas, global industry conversations, and real-world operator experience, this episode discusses AI, Pilates, and large-scale operators like 24 Hour Fitness. As wellness becomes a...
info_outlineWelcome to the latest episode of L.I.F.T.S, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories.
Recorded live at Connected Health & Fitness Summit 2026, Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal sit down with three industry leaders to unpack the convergence of fitness, technology, wellness, and human intelligence.
Guests include:
- David Van Daff (NASM): A 30-year fitness industry veteran representing the National Academy of Sports Medicine, discussing certification evolution, AI in training, and the expanding expectations placed on personal trainers.
- Jeff Yasuda (Feed Media Group): Co-founder of Feed FM, sharing insights on music, AI vs HI, ecosystem trends, and how human curation still powers engagement.
- Julian Barnes (BFS): Co-founder of BFS and co-chair of Connected Health & Fitness 2026, offering data-driven insights on studio growth, mindset, and the role of people in an increasingly automated world.
Key Topics include:
- How personal training evolved pre and post pandemic.
- Why AI will not replace trainers, but trainers using AI may dominate.
- The rise of ecosystem thinking in connected fitness.
- AI vs HI: why human intelligence still matters.
- The mindset separating scalable studio operators from everyone else.
- Why tech must serve frontline staff, not overwhelm them.
- The demographic challenge facing gyms and studios.
- How coaches and trainers remain the most powerful influencers in fitness.
π To learn more about the Connected Health & Fitness Summit, click here:
https://connectedhealthandfitness.com/events/connected-health-fitness-summit-2026
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00:00 β Intro & Personal Training Evolution
05:00 β AI and the Future of Trainers
11:30 β Career Pathways in Fitness
19:41 β Jeff Yasuda on Music & Ecosystems
25:55 β AI vs HI Debate
36:52 β Julian Barnes on Growth & Mindset
45:38 β Do Not Forget the People
53:43 β Technology, Labor & The Future