LIFTS Episode 88 - From Bond Trading to Fitness Tech: Lauren Foundos' Journey
Release Date: 08/31/2025
LIFTS Episode 109 - The Pilates Journal Expo 2026 | Los Angeles | Part 2
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. 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: • How Pilates is evolving to meet modern strength and athletic demands. • Why men are increasingly embracing Pilates for longevity and performance. • The rise of fusion...
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LIFTS Episode 108 - Moving from Analysis to Intervention with Debra Strougo
Escape Your Limits & LIFTS
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...
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LIFTS Episode 107 - Los Angeles Pilates Journal Expo 2026 Part 1 of 2: Inclusivity, Innovation & What Comes Next
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. Recorded live at the Los Angeles Pilates Journal Expo 2026, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal sit down with four of the most influential voices shaping the future of Pilates and boutique fitness. In this special multi-guest, in-person episode, we explore how Pilates is evolving, from inclusivity and accessibility to safety, innovation, equipment, and long-term industry growth. With Pilates experiencing a global boom, these leaders unpack what’s working, what’s broken,...
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LIFTS Episode 106 - How YouTube Is Reshaping the Fitness Industry with David Sherman-Presser
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 episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal sit down with David Sherman-Presser to unpack why the fitness industry is rapidly becoming a media business, and what that means for gym owners, operators, and brands trying to stay relevant in a creator-driven economy. They explore how attention, trust, and audience ownership are now just as important as equipment and square footage, why gyms are increasingly competing with creators rather than other gyms, and how...
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LIFTS Episode 105 - Why Humans Age: Telomeres, Longevity, and the Limits of Lifespan with Dr. Bill Andrews
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 episode of, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal sit down with Dr. Bill Andrews: molecular geneticist, inventor, and telomere pioneer to explore what actually causes human aging and whether it can be slowed, stopped, or even reversed. Key topics covered: What telomeres are and why they determine human lifespan. Why aging isn’t random, but biologically programmed. The real relationship between telomeres and cancer. How exercise, inflammation, and lifestyle impact...
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LIFTS Episode 104 - Fitness Predictions: Reviewing 2025 & Forecasting 2026 | with Anthony Vennare of Fitt Insider
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 annual predictions special, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal are joined by Anthony Vennare, co-founder of Fit Insider, to review how their 2025 fitness predictions performed and to forecast what’s coming in 2026. Key topics covered: Which 2025 fitness and wellness predictions actually came true. Why wearables and biometrics are becoming mainstream tools. The rise of GLP-1 drugs and their industry-wide impact. Why AI fitness apps may be heading toward a...
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LIFTS Episode 103 - The Battle for Your Sleep: Smart Rings, Patents, and the Future of Health Tech
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 episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal sit down with Mohit Kumar, Co‑Founder and CEO of Ultrahuman, to explore the explosive rise of smart rings and the future of wearable health technology. Topics covered include: Mohit’s unconventional founder journey and early days in metabolic health. Why smart rings are outperforming other wearables in growth. Ultrahuman’s approach to sleep, metabolism, and biomarkers. The high‑stakes patent battle with Oura...
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LIFTS Episode 102 - The Career Skill No One Trains For | Battle Tested Principles for the Corporate Athlete
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 episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal are joined by Dr. Nick Barringer, a former U.S. Army performance leader, tactical nutrition expert, and human performance consultant, to explore how tactical training principles translate to success in business, leadership, and everyday life. With over two decades of experience working with elite military units, high-performance athletes, and executive leaders, Nick breaks down what it really takes to perform under...
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LIFTS Episode 101 - How Myzone Is Redefining Wearable Engagement
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 episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal sit down with Jay Worthy, CEO of Myzone, and Vahid Zadeh, CTO of Myzone, to explore the real future of wearable fitness technology, human motivation, and behavioral science. With data fatigue growing across the fitness industry, this conversation reveals why more metrics don’t always lead to better results and what truly drives long-term engagement. Key Topics Covered: • Why most wearables lose users after...
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LIFTS Episode 100 - Will Brereton of SH1FT on the Future of Group X, Instructors, and Hybrid Fitness
Escape Your Limits & LIFTS
In this episode of LIFTS, Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal sit down with Will Brereton: longtime group fitness leader, Les Mills presenter, and founder of SH1FT Fitness. They dive deep into how group fitness has evolved over the decades, why hybrid community is the new frontier, and how instructors, technology, and member expectations have transformed. Will shares powerful insights from the front lines of group exercise across NZ, the UK, Europe, and the U.S. This episode is essential listening for club operators, instructors, boutique owners, and anyone passionate about the future of...
info_outlineIn this episode of the LIFTS podcast, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal sit down with Lauren Foundos, founder of Forte (recently acquired by Echelon Fitness).
Lauren shares her journey from Wall Street bond trading to becoming a pioneer in digital fitness, her lessons from building Forte, and her insights on the future of the fitness industry.
Highlights:
- How Lauren transitioned from Wall Street to fitness entrepreneurship.
- The early challenges of selling digital fitness before gyms were ready.
- Lessons learned from building and rebuilding fitness tech.
- How content drives engagement and performance in gyms.
- Why personal training is undervalued and how to fix it.
- The explosive growth of Pilates and low-impact workouts.
- How wearables and AI are reshaping fitness engagement.
- The power of intellectual property in fitness tech.
- Predictions for the future of gyms, training, and consumer behavior.
👉 Learn more about Lauren Foundos:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lfoundos/
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00:00 Intro & Welcome
02:17 Lauren’s Background & Wall Street to Fitness
05:00 Building Forte and the Digital Fitness Shift
09:54 The Role of Content in Gym Success
15:00 Personalization, AI & Gym Programming
24:13 The Future of Personal Training
30:58 Pilates Boom & Low-Impact Training
35:00 Trends, Timing & Market Cycles
36:15 Oura vs. Ultrahuman – The Ring Wars
42:35 Pricing Digital Fitness & Business Models
45:19 US Fitness Habits & Data Insights
47:35 Final Takeaways & Closing