Escape Your Limits & LIFTS
In this special LIFTS recap episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal are joined by fitness futurist Emma Barry to reflect on their shared experience at the Athletech News Innovation Summit in New York. From immersive biohacks to political debates, the conversation gets real, raw, and reveals what’s next for the fitness industry. This episode covers: Firsthand reviews of NAD+ infusions, ShiftWave, and the Immortal experience. Debates around GLP-1 drugs, longevity trends, and influencer-led wellness. Insights on turning fitness from a trend into front-line healthcare. What...
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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. This week, Matthew and Mohammed are joined by product strategy expert Ben Foster, former Chief Product Officer at Whoop. Together, they unpack the latest controversies in wearable tech, including Whoop 5.0’s backlash, fitness subscription models, and what it really means to build customer-centric products in the AI era. They also touch on celebrity-brand partnerships, data overload in fitness apps, and what the future of health optimization looks like. A must-listen for...
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. This week, Matthew and Mohammed are joined by Debra Strougo (co-founder of Row House) to explore the cutting edge of wellness. From biohacking breakthroughs at the Dave Asprey conference to magnesium for sleep, AI coaches with empathy, and a viral $150 Pilates reformer from Aldi—this episode covers it all. Debra brings insights on stem cells, Airbnb's bold move into wellness, and how marketing voice defines success in high-ticket fitness. A must-listen for anyone interested...
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. This week, Matthew and Mo dive deep into the evolving landscape of fitness tech. From the exploding smart ring market and wearables like Oura, Ultrahuman, and Bond, to the rise of sleep-focused products like AGZ and Athletic Greens, we examine what's real, what's hype, and how to stay ahead. We also cover EOS Fitness's billion-dollar acquisition and what it means for the future of budget-friendly premium gyms. Don't miss this engaging breakdown of what's next in fitness, tech,...
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. Today, hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks, are joined by Julian Barnes, Co-founder and CEO of BFS. Julian unpacks critical trends shaping boutique fitness—like the explosive growth of Pilates studios, the impact of tariffs on equipment pricing, and the secrets behind the most profitable studios. If you're a studio owner, investor, or just passionate about the business of fitness, this is an essential listen...
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. Today, hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks, are joined by Dr. Jonathan Leary, Founder and CEO of Remedy Place, to explore some of the most talked-about and most unconventional wellness trends shaping the future of health and fitness. This LIFTS episode covers: Unconventional wellness practices like mouth taping and jawline exercises. Benefits and proper approach to cold therapy. The concept behind Remedy Place,...
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. Host Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness attended FIBO in Cologne, Germany, joined by guest co-host Grace McNamara, Partnerships Director EMEA at Elfie. In part 2 of this episode, Matthew and Grace are joined by: Igor Krezić, Founder & CEO of Rolla. Riccardo Turri, CEO of Starpool. Marco Stefano Guiducci, VP International Sales at EGym. This episode covers: Redefining longevity as quality of life rather than just extended lifespan....
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. Hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mohammed Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks attended FIBO in Cologne, Germany. (correct location?) In part 1 of this episode, Matthew and Mohammed are joined by: Gregory Gird, Marketing Manager of Octiv Grace McNamara, Partnerships Direcetor EMEA at Elfie Klaus Mueller, CEO at Wictory.ai This episode covers: Importance of data quality for effective AI implementation. Evidence-based AI development and...
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. Hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks attended PerformX 2025. In this LIFTS episode, Matthew and Mo are joined by Tim Gray, Founder & CEO of The Health Optimisation Summit. This episode covers: Biohacking industry growth. Balancing extreme practices with health fundamentals. Tim's personal biohacking journey. Limitations of traditional healthcare. Importance of data-driven health decisions. Potential...
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. Hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks attended EHFF 2025 in Cologne, Germany. In part 2 of this episode, Matthew and Mo are joined by: Michelle Dand, Head of Fitness Product and Programming of David Lloyd. Benjamin Roth, Co-Founder and CEO of Urban Sports Club. Jim Pisani, CEO and Board Member of Life Fitness Hammer Strength. David Stalker, Ambassador for EuropeActive. This episode covers: ...
info_outlineOn 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:
- Watermelon and water fasting and a fruitarian diet.
- Diet and lifestyle changes that occurred when recovering from a heart attack.
- The impact of health on business.
- Entrepreneurial lessons and the importance of financial literacy.
- Overcoming adversity to build focus from prison to a life purpose.
- The role of a coach, trainer and mentor.
- Dealing with social media negativity and online haters.
- Legacy building to support his family, now and for the future.
- Faith and focus giving him the courage to change.
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