LIFTS Episode 79 - Fitness Meets Healthcare: Where Are We Headed? | Athletech Innovation Summit 2025 with Emma Barry
Release Date: 06/29/2025
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...
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 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_outlineIn 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 Japan teaches us about childhood obesity – and why the U.S. is lagging.
- Emma Barry’s call to arms: Prepare for disruption, or be left behind.
- Big Pharma, Big Food, and the uphill battle for consumer health.
- Why AI’s future in fitness lies in context and personalization.
- The struggle to have real conversations when investors are watching.
- Is wellness finally mainstream – or still misunderstood?
- What made this summit different – and why it matters.
👉 Learn more about Emma Barry:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmabarryistrouble/
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00:00 – Intro + Innovation Summit Debrief
02:30 – Biohacking at the Summit (NAD+, ShiftWave, Immortal)
10:30 – Keynote Highlights & Industry Disruption
14:30 – Political Tensions & Healthcare Reform
25:00 – Mo's Shocking Healthcare Statistics
28:00 – The Japan Model: Early Intervention and Respect
33:00 – Addiction, GLP-1s, and the Challenge of Change
36:00 – Influencers vs. Institutions: Who’s Leading Wellness?
45:00 – Big Themes & Final Takeaways
50:00 – Outro + Thank You to Athletech Team