Fitness + Technology
Welcome to the Fitness + Technology Podcast for club owners, operators, and fitness professionals! This show is your #1 trusted resource for the accelerating world of fitness technology. We regularly bring you an expert interview with a global influencer at the crossroads of fitness and technology. You’ll get the insights, tools, and inspiration you need to stay connected to the pulse of what matters most for your fitness business in the age of exponential technologies. This podcast is brought to you by the Fitness Industry Technology Council, who is mobilizing resources to drive the fitness industry forward, and representing leading companies and organizations to success through collaboration. This show is supported by Bryan O'Rourke and his family of companies including Vedere Ventures, a boutique investment and advisory firm helping early mature and late stage enterprises, moon mission media a digital marketing firm dedicated to the fitness space, and Integerus Advisors. To learn more visit bryankorourke.com
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The Sales Funnel & Consumer Behaviors: Challenges & Opportunities With Sarah Harris & Hilary McGuckin
05/07/2025
The Sales Funnel & Consumer Behaviors: Challenges & Opportunities With Sarah Harris & Hilary McGuckin
In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O’Rourke shares his webinar with Hilary McGuckin and Sarah Harris from Keepme.ai as they explore how the modern fitness sales funnel is evolving—and what that means for fitness operators, marketers, and tech providers alike. In their conversations, they unpack: The biggest challenges fitness businesses face today with consumer acquisition and retention. Surprising insights from Keepme’s latest research on changing consumer behaviors. How AI, personalization, and automation can reshape the funnel. Real-world success stories and future-proof strategies you can apply now. Whether you’re a gym owner, supplier, or fit tech innovator, this discussion is packed with insights to help you stay ahead in a fast-changing landscape. To view the slideshow, visit: One Powerful Quote: 6:56: “Humanize and futurize simultaneously.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 4:21: Bryan opens the webinar with Hilary and Sarah discussing the landscape. 7:38: Sarah and Hilary discuss the key challenges, opportunities, and pain points a part of the modern sales journey. 11:28: Sarah and Hilary share their findings on changing consumer behaviors. 16:09: Sarah and Hilary speak on the top of the sales funnel as a result of changing consumer behaviors. 19:47: Sarah and Hilary speak on technology and automation for successful future-proof strategy. Bryan gives his feedback. 25:23: Sarah and Hilary talk about real-world success stories. 28:05: Bryan inquires with Sarah and Hilary on the gap in adoption between competitors. 30:39: Bryan asks Sarah and Hilary on their future predictions. 38:01: Sarah and Hilary respond to the key friction point to operations adopting these tools. 40:35: Sarah and Hilary respond to first engagement with a new client. 42:56: The three answer a question on community based and hyper-localized marketing assets for individual locations. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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Successfully Augmenting Fitness Facility Products & Services With Garrett Marshall
04/28/2025
Successfully Augmenting Fitness Facility Products & Services With Garrett Marshall
In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes back Garrett Marshall, a distinguished leader with over 22 years of experience driving growth in the wellness industry. Garrett’s expertise spans strategy and innovation, executive leadership, business development, strategic partnerships, and technological product development. He has notably served as CEO of Fitness On Demand and President of Xponential Fitness. Today, he is the Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Wellbuilt Ventures, helping clients scale revenue through data-driven strategies, and serves as an advisor to Vi, assisting leading health organizations in maximizing member health outcomes and financial returns. In this conversation, Garrett shares insights from his career, discusses his latest business ventures, and offers his perspective on emerging trends shaping the future of fitness and wellness. One Powerful Quote: 30:01: “If you want to continue to be able to deliver as a best in class provider of fitness, you need to be able to at least have exposure to these other things that are hyper relevant to their overall health.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:48: Bryan and Garrett talk about discerning great ideas and execution with technology. 12:41: Bryan and Garrett discuss how to successfully augment business product with a service. 25:24: Bryan asks Garrett about the most appealing wellness categories. 31:56: Garrett shares his pearls of wisdom to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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Next Gen-Fitness: Innovation, Insights, & Industry Disruption With Bryan O'Rourke
04/21/2025
Next Gen-Fitness: Innovation, Insights, & Industry Disruption With Bryan O'Rourke
In this episode of the Fitness + Technology podcast, Bryan O’Rourke joins an exclusive panel live from FIBO to explore the future of the fitness industry through the lens of technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Featuring global industry leaders: Bryan K. O'Rourke – President, Fitness Industry Technology Council | Chairman, Vedere Ventures | CEO, Core Health & Fitness Hugo Braam – CEO & Co-Founder, Virtuagym Magdalena Szwed – Product Director, Benefit Systems Oddział Fitness Henrik Gockel – Founder, Prime Time Fitness GmbH Moderated by Hans Muench, FITC International Ambassador, this dynamic discussion dives into the trends and technologies shaping the next generation of fitness—from AI-powered personalization and connected ecosystems to evolving business models and digital wellness strategies. One Powerful Quote: 34:03: “When you do, even though you don’t understand, it forces you to understand and learn.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 2:09: Hugo speaks on the evolving demands of an increasingly tech-driven fitness landscape. 6:18: Henrik speaks on high quality, member-centric fitness experiences and how technology enhances gym operations without losing the premium, personal touch. 10:08: Bryan speaks on AI-driven platforms collecting vast amounts of user data and how the industry will manage innovation with ethical considerations and data privacy concerns. 15:14: Magdalena speaks on traditional gym operators adapting to the rise of hybrid fitness models. 18:30: Hugo speaks on how AI-driven insights and predictive analytics can help gyms improve member retention and experience. 24:41: The panel speaks on operators balancing automation and human interaction to retain their brand identity. 31:21: Bryan speaks on coming together to create a stronger, more inclusive industry. 35:11: Magdalena speaks on call to action challenges fitness and wellness leaders need to embrace with technology and innovation. 36:52: Henrik and Bryan speak on the industry working together to create a more connected and seamless user experience. 41:59: Hugo speaks on AI and fitness tech better serving corporate wellness initiatives to boost employee health and productivity. 45:13: Henrik, Bryan, and Magdalena address an audience question on tackling the motivation challenges faced by gym members, emphasizing the strategic role of technology in driving engagement and consistency. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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ROOK: Data Integration & Its Utility In Our Industry With Marco Benitez
04/15/2025
ROOK: Data Integration & Its Utility In Our Industry With Marco Benitez
This week on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Marco Benitez to the show. Marco is the CEO & Founder of ROOK, a wearable API that transforms health data and empowers apps and software with actionable insights. ROOK easily processes and embeds data from hundreds of wearables with single integration and shares access to deeper understanding and more actionable insights that allows users to make more informed decisions, find better solutions, and drive innovation. Today, Marco joins Bryan to talk about his business, data usage, and the implications on our industry. One Powerful Quote: 15:36: “The alignment between healthcare and fitness is the new name of wellness. Wellness is prevention.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 2:50: Bryan asks Marco about his background and his business, ROOK. 10:34: Bryan inquires with Marco about unifying data standards as the biggest opportunity and challenge for health. 13:46: Bryan and Marco talk about the delivery system of healthcare and benefitting from data collection. 19:58: Bryan and Marco talk about ROOK. 22:25: Marco shares his pearls of wisdom to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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Elevating Lead Gen. Marketing, Tech, & Data With Mike Arce
03/25/2025
Elevating Lead Gen. Marketing, Tech, & Data With Mike Arce
This week on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Mike Arce to the show. Mike is the CEO & Founder of Loud Rumor, which helps fitness studios dramatically increase membership by improving their marketing strategies through consulting. Today, Mike joins Bryan to talk about his business, lead generation marketing, implemented technology, and other implications around fitness operations. One Powerful Quote: 34:57: “If you gamble, you’re just playing off feeling, but if you play the game, you do the right moves, and you live with the results.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:11: Bryan opens the show with Mike talking about his work experience. 7:31: Bryan and Mike talk about technology tools, changes in business development, and defining successful marketing. 30:37: Mike shares his thoughts on understanding contextual data for your business. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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Upcoming Industry Events & Other Insights With Hans Muench
03/06/2025
Upcoming Industry Events & Other Insights With Hans Muench
This week on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes back Hans Muench to the show. As the Director of International Development at FIT-C, he leads the council's efforts to grow the fitness industry, improve fitness user experience, and mature the collection of real-time wellness data through the creation of interoperability standards for technology-based fitness devices. With over 35 years of experience in the health and fitness sector, Hans has a deep understanding of the global trends, challenges, and opportunities in this dynamic and evolving industry. Today, Hans joins Bryan to talk about the industry’s upcoming events, European fitness trends, and using AI tools for presenting truthful information. One Powerful Quote: 14:36: “Truth is much more difficult to present than fact and information in general because so much of it is junk.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:00: Bryan and Hans talk about upcoming industry events happening. 6:48: Hans shares his observations on European fitness trends. Bryan comments on the top operators marrying technology integration with super talent. 9:00: Hans shares an example on tech integration best serving customers, and Bryan gives his thoughts. 11:33: Bryan inquires with Hans about Google’s NotebookLM and other AI tools. 14:25: Bryan and Hans talk about using information networks to discern truth. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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Keepme: Misconceptions About AI Tech Adoption With Ian Mullane
03/04/2025
Keepme: Misconceptions About AI Tech Adoption With Ian Mullane
This week on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Ian Mullane to the show. Ian is the Founder & CEO of Keepme, an AI-powered sales and marketing CRM platform for the fitness industry. Launched in April 2019, Keepme has customers globally and assists hundreds of clubs with member acquisition and retention. Today, Ian joins Bryan to discuss AI tech adoption, his business, and operational insights across the industry. One Powerful Quote: 26:43: “Every unique idea only becomes executed because of the team that surrounds you.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:00: Bryan and Ian talk about tech adoption barriers across the industry. 8:21: Ian highlights key misunderstandings about AI. 15:52: Bryan inquires about Keepme’s integration with their customers. 18:18: Bryan asks Ian about Keepme’s unique value proposition. 21:54: Ian further talks about Keepme’s interface and communication for potential prospects. 26:26: Ian shares his pearls of wisdom to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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Virtual Road Show: Perspectives On The European Fitness Market With Doug Miller
02/25/2025
Virtual Road Show: Perspectives On The European Fitness Market With Doug Miller
This week on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Doug Miller to the show. With extensive experience as an industry advisor, including his role with IHRSA’s European Council, Doug brings valuable insights into the evolving fitness landscape. As the owner of Virtual Road Show, an innovative app providing transformational education to fitness professionals worldwide, he shares his perspective on industry trends and the future of fitness. Today, Doug joins Bryan to discuss his business, industry developments, and the impact of technology on fitness education. One Powerful Quote: 27:38: "I think we run a chance of relying a little bit too much on everything artificial, and we lose the humanity of being a club.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 4:20: Bryan opens the show by asking Doug about the early days of IHRSA and the European fitness industry. 18:12: Bryan and Doug discuss the competition in the European fitness market. 24:47: Doug shares his perspectives on how technology has changed in the European fitness market. 29:39: Doug talks about his business, Virtual Road Show. 39:18: Doug imparts his final pearls of wisdom to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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NovoFit: Recognizing Global Trends & Stoic Leadership With Barry McDonald
01/27/2025
NovoFit: Recognizing Global Trends & Stoic Leadership With Barry McDonald
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Barry McDonald to the show. Barry is the CEO of NovoFit, an Australian owned and operated fitness equipment distribution company representing some of the top brands in the industry. With 20 years in the health and fitness industry, Barry has extensive experience and insight into the evolving potential of health, fitness, and wellness experiences from leading large-scale health club operations nationally to designing and developing premium fitness facilities across Australia and New Zealand. Today, he joins Bryan in a conversation on key global fitness trends, stoic leadership concepts, and other pearls of wisdom. One Powerful Quote: 30:25: “Never take yourself too seriously and be willing to take on things that are uncomfortable.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 4:29: Bryan opens the show by asking Barry about fitness trends happening in the market. 13:17: Barry shares his experience from his previous roles and at NovoFit. 16:41: Bryan inquires with Barry about challenges faced by operators. 21:36: Barry gives his thoughts and experience on the new age of work today. 30:11: Barry imparts his pearls of wisdom to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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Future of Fitness: Navigating Global Trends & Emerging Opportunities With Bryan O’Rourke
12/13/2024
Future of Fitness: Navigating Global Trends & Emerging Opportunities With Bryan O’Rourke
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, Bryan O’Rourke shares his recording of his recent SIBEC webinar on 12 key trends for 2025 in the global fitness industry. This presentation covers trends for suppliers, gym and health club operators, and others in the global fitness industry. From M&A and finance, to digital fitness, GLP1's, Micro and Macro trends, Bryan covers a wide range of subjects about the future of fitness across every spectrum in the industry. One Powerful Quote: “Ideas are great, but execution and prioritization is the secret stuff that actually results in outcomes given a set of ideas.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 2:17: Bryan begins by talking about the landscape and understanding near-term and long-term trends. 9:01: Bryan talks about emerging programming and strength training. 11:04: Bryan talks about GLP1 longevity and health. 12:57: Bryan talks about authentic experiences or anti-badtech. 14:55: Bryan talks about human capital struggles. 16:27: Bryan talks about digital fitness for actively practicing self-care. 19:39: Bryan talks about finance and M&A. 21:13: Bryan talks about AI myths and inflated expectations. 23:25: Bryan talks about personalization at scale. 24:07: Bryan talks about self service solutions. 25:19: Bryan talks about cost of hesitations. 26:07: Bryan talks about the impatience economy. 26:58: Bryan talks about marketing success. 28:57: Bryan speaks on the micro convergence of five key trends in 2025. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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IDEA Health & World Active: The Future of Fitness Professionals With Amy Boone Thompson
11/21/2024
IDEA Health & World Active: The Future of Fitness Professionals With Amy Boone Thompson
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Amy Boone Thompson to the show. Amy is the Owner & CEO of IDEA Health & Fitness Association, the world's leading organization of fitness and wellness professionals and has been for more than 40 years. She is also Chairman for World Active, a global initiative meant to set up an open and transparent platform for the fitness and physical activity sector to get “more people, more active, more often”. Today, Amy joins Bryan to talk about her organizations, the future role of fitness professionals, and other interesting insights. One Powerful Quote: 15:54: “Be authentically you always." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:02: Bryan opens the show by asking why Amy acquired IDEA and her envisioned future for the organization. 6:44: Amy highlights what’s happening at World Active and the challenges with her role. 10:45: Amy shares her views on technology and its influence on fitness professionals. 15:47: Bryan wraps up the show with Amy imparting her final pearls of wisdom to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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Navigating The European & Global Fitness Industry With Herman Rutgers
11/14/2024
Navigating The European & Global Fitness Industry With Herman Rutgers
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Herman Rutgers to the show. As an expert in setting up and expanding international brands in durable consumer goods with a specialization in sports, health & fitness, Herman is the International Ambassador for EuropeActive, the leading non-profit organization representing the European fitness and physical activity sector, and Board Member to Basic-Fit, the largest fitness chain in Europe. Today, Herman joins Bryan to talk about an array of topics including industry acquisitions, different operational styles, globalism, and EuropeActive’s European Health & Fitness Forum. One Powerful Quote: 32:04: “The 4 P’s of marketing are place, product, promotion, and price. I would add two other P’s, people and profit.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 2:29: Bryan opens the show by highlighting Herman’s background and EuropeActive’s Deloitte Research Report. 11:11: Bryan asks Herman how he juxtaposes US to European operators. 16:32: Bryan inquires with Herman about geopolitical events impacting the industry. 26:13: Herman shares his thoughts on technology and its impact on the industry. 31:58: Bryan wraps up the show with Herman imparting his pearls of wisdom to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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Aging Gracefully: Mastering Health and Wealth Preservation With Dr. Cedrick Bryant
10/16/2024
Aging Gracefully: Mastering Health and Wealth Preservation With Dr. Cedrick Bryant
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Dr. Cedric Bryant to the show. As Chief Executive Officer & President, Dr. Cedric Bryant leads ACE with a focus on science-backed education to support health and exercise professionals, utilizing emerging fitness technology, championing inclusivity and diversity, and sharing quality information to help all people develop long-term healthy habits and keep people moving. Today, Dr. Cedrick joins Bryan to talk about his background, his views on the changes in professional education and training, and what he envisions happening in the future. One Powerful Quote: 14:43: “What gets measured is what gets the attention.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 2:15: Bryan opens the interview by highlighting Cedrick’s background and his upbringing into the industry. 8:27: Cedrick shares his views on the change in professional education and training. 13:06: Cedrick extrapolates on the friction in these systematic changes. 15:33: Bryan asks Cedrick what ACE is doing organizationally to address these changes. 17:26: Bryan and Cedrick talk about health and wealth preservation. 21:14: Bryan inquires with Cedrick about what he envisions happening in the industry. 23:45: Dr. Cedrick imparts his pearls of wisdom to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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Exploring Fitness Entrepreneurship & Industry Trends With Dave Wright
09/29/2024
Exploring Fitness Entrepreneurship & Industry Trends With Dave Wright
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Dave Wright to the show. Dave is the Founder of MYZONE, a cloud based and wearable technology fitness tracker that consists of a heart rate monitor chest strap and monitoring system that displays real time heart rate, calories, MEPs, and EFFORT to a watch, tv, or monitor whilst simultaneously creating an online logbook of all physical activity that can be viewed from anywhere in the world. He is also the owner of Creative Fitness Marketing (CFM), a global company with offices in the UK, Australia, and North America that has served the international fitness community for over 30 years and a member of the board for ukactive. Today, Bryan visits with Dave to discuss some interesting observations about ukactive, trends in the industry/direct to consumer fitness, and his advice as a serial entrepreneur. One Powerful Quote: 29:39: “Whose providing these new trends?” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:18: Bryan opens the show highlighting Dave’s background and asks about his observations and learnings as a founder. 8:59: Bryan asks Dave about ukactive. 11:14: Dave shares his thoughts on what’s happening in the commercial fitness market. 14:43: Dave shares his thoughts on the hospitality vertical of the industry. 16:35: Dave talks about the direct to consumer segment. 22:23: Bryan inquires with Dave on overlooked trends happening in the space. 31:36: Dave gives his sentiments about cross global competition. 34:22: Dave imparts his pearls of wisdom to the listeners on being a fitness entrepreneur. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information: [email protected]
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Franchise Growth & Innovation: LIVE From Beyond Activ With Bryan O'Rourke
09/23/2024
Franchise Growth & Innovation: LIVE From Beyond Activ With Bryan O'Rourke
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, Bryan O’Rourke shares his presentation live from Beyond Activ in New York. Beyond Activ is a leadership, investment, and business development event for owners, managers, and investors of health, wellness, fitness, and hospitality brands. Bryan was invited to present and host a panel on franchise innovation and growth with Emily Seaman, Head of Marketing from Momence, Bradford Smith, Chief Development Officer from PureGym, Eric Keller, VP of Support at Self Esteem Brands, and Justin Vartanian, Senior VP of International Division at Planet Fitness. You can access Bryan's presentation deck here: Recap of presentation is as follows: Key Drivers of Future Growth and Innovation (GII): Globalism, Demographics, Values, Technologies, and Economics are identified as the five mega-trend drivers of GII. Customer Spending and Attitudes: Younger generations (Gen Z and Millennials) are spending more on health and wellness than older generations. U.S. consumers consider going to the gym a core part of their fitness routine. Five Trends Impacting Businesses: Declining customer satisfaction due to cuts in customer service. Generative AI is shifting the internet experience from transactional to personal. Lack of differentiation and creativity in app and brand design. People feel overwhelmed by technology and desire more control and human connection. Traditional life paths and values are shifting, leading to uncertainty and a search for trust. 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer: Innovation and technology offer promise but also risk exacerbating trust issues and societal instability. CEOs are expected to address societal changes and lead on issues like job skills, technology ethics, and automation. Franchising and Competition: The International Franchise Association (IFA) tracks 9,000 brands in the U.S. alone, indicating high competition. There's also increasing cross-border competition for brands globally. Key Opportunities for Businesses: Prioritize the customer experience and personalization at scale. Differentiate through authentic branding and humanized technology. Embrace long-term thinking, adaptability, and a focus on human values and trust. CEOs should address societal impacts of innovation and lead on key issues. Overall, the presentation emphasizes the need for businesses to adapt to evolving consumer trends, technological advancements, and societal changes to drive future growth and innovation. please send podcast link asap ty One Powerful Quote: 9:45: “What this leads to inevitably for all firms and franchising is the balancing of humanizing their brands while futurizing their organizations.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 2:42: Bryan kicks off his presentation with the five leading trends influencing the industry. 12:04: Bryan asks the panel regarding growth strategy for franchising. 16:14: Bryan asks the panel about growth focus by geography, demographics, franchisees, or mergers/acquisitions. 19:35: Bryan asks the panel about leveraging technology to enhance franchise operations. 27:00: Bryan asks the panel about the challenge in executing innovation. 28:33: Bryan asks the panel about brand consistency and localization challenges for international brands. 32:59: Bryan asks the panel about low performing franchisees. 38:15: Bryan asks the panel about franchise saturation in the marketplace. 42:36: Bryan asks the panel about their personal slogans to business and life. 44:31: Bryan and the panel answer questions from the audience. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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Real Time Feedback: Resimplifying & Managing The Customer Experience With Adam Alfia
09/10/2024
Real Time Feedback: Resimplifying & Managing The Customer Experience With Adam Alfia
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Adam Alfia to the show. Adam is the Founder of Real Time Feedback, which is a customer engagement platform that allows customers to directly interact with businesses in real time. Customers submit discreet feedbacks that are sent in real time to a businesses owners and managers. The business can respond using the in-app 2 way chat feature to work with the customer to resolve any complaints. Once the issue has been resolved, the business can send the customer a link to give a positive review of the business. Today, Adam joins Bryan to talk about his business and his insights in managing the customer experience. One Powerful Quote: 17:04: “Build it as if you are talking to a 3 year old.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:08: Bryan opens the show by asking Adam how customers have changed in a more digital world. 10:54: Adam speaks on the barriers in adopting customer engagement platforms. 16:18: Bryan & Adam talk about simplicity as a key differentiator. 17:48: Adam shares his advice for operators to resimplify their processes to be more customer friendly. 21:55: Adam imparts his savvy business advice to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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Recapping CanFitPro, FISA, & Latest Trends In The Industry With Sal Pellegrino
08/30/2024
Recapping CanFitPro, FISA, & Latest Trends In The Industry With Sal Pellegrino
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, Bryan O’Rourke welcomes back the infamous Sal Pellegrino to the show. Sal has worked in the fitness and wellness industry in a variety of roles, from club owner to equipment sales professional, to industry trend spotter and advisor in leading organizations. He is currently the Executive Director for FISA, which provides valuable research and unique events for the commercial and not-for-profit fitness industry. Today, Sal joins Bryan to recap his experience at CanFitPro, FISA, and latest trends in the industry. One Powerful Quote: 14:13: “We have to continue to share our collective wisdom.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 2:11: Bryan opens the show with Sal sharing his experience at CanFitPro. 4:53: Sal talks about FISA. 8:20: Sal shares his insights on the top trends happening in the industry. 12:49: Bryan asks Sal how operators can benefit from these trends. 14:44: Bryan inquires with Sal about the resistance in operators adopting technology solutions. 16:25: Bryan wraps up the show with Sal sharing the next FISA event and his contact information. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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The Download On Digital: LIVE From 2024 IDEA World With Bryan O'Rourke
07/15/2024
The Download On Digital: LIVE From 2024 IDEA World With Bryan O'Rourke
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, Bryan O’Rourke shares his panel discussion, The Download On Digital, from 2024 IDEA World live from Los Angeles. He is joined by fitness technology gurus Garrett Marshall, Eric Posner, Jeffrey Scott, Mike G. Hansen, and Deb/Debbie/Deborah Praver (Eble) as they take a deep dive into the latest trends, innovations, and how technology is revolutionizing the fitness industry. The panel also answers questions from the audience highlighting key topics in digitization, retention, hybrid experiences, strategies, content creation, and AI. One Powerful Quote: 37:18: “You’re not gonna get what you don’t ask for." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:12: Bryan opens the panel discussion with Garrett Marshall and Jeffrey Scott discussing wearable technologies and fitness apps reshaping the role of group fitness/trainers and the opportunities/challenges presented for these experiences. 11:03: Garrett Marshall speaks on the impact of virtual reality on the industry, how he sees it evolving, and how group fitness/trainers can incorporate it. 13:41: Bryan asks Deborah to speak on the proliferation of online fitness content and its impact for digital participants. Jeffrey and Mike add their insights. 19:25: Bryan asks Jeffrey whether digitization has improved or hindered accountability/adherence and how professionals can strike a balance to maintain client relationships. 21:54: Bryan asks Mike how AI is reshaping the role of fitness professionals and what skills they should have to stay relevant and competitive. 25:22: Bryan answers a question on monitoring clients and the depth of personalization. 29:36: Jeffrey asks Mike how to speak to AI and ask the right questions/prompts. Garrett and Bryan add their thoughts. 32:55: The panel answers a question on creating valuable fitness content. 36:14: The panel answers a question on building your online community base. 38:38: The panel answers a question on noncompete concerns. 41:57: The panel answers a question on synchronizing group fitness teams and trainers with digital platforms. 47:13: The panel answers a question on conducting digital transformation. 51:23: The panel answers a question on niche vertical integration. 52:18: The panel answers a question on preferred style of training. 56:10: The panel answers a question on scaling an online business. 1:00:50: The panel answers a question on balancing in-training and online training rates. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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Lumin Fitness: Leveraging Your Business & Key Trends In The Space With Brandon Bean
07/01/2024
Lumin Fitness: Leveraging Your Business & Key Trends In The Space With Brandon Bean
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Brandon Bean to the show. Brandon is the Co-Founder of Lumin Fitness, a smart movement platform with a cutting-edge operating system design to leverage the latest advances in computer vision, digital displays, and machine learning to deliver personalized, interactive fitness experiences. Today, Brandon joins Bryan to talk about his business and key trends happening in the space. One Powerful Quote: 15:55: “Data is dopamine.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:33: Bryan asks Brandon’s opinion on the latest trends in machine learning, personalization, and technology. 5:52: Brandon talks about his business, Lumin Fitness. 9:40: Brandon articulates how he conceptualized Lumin’s business model. 17:01: Bryan inquires with Brandon on pricing strategy. 18:26: Bryan and Brandon discuss globalization of the major fitness brands and the implications on their business strategy. 23:01: Bryan wraps up the show by asking Brandon to impart his final advice to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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TriCore: Defining Wellness Today & Key Trends In The Space With Chris Edwards
06/24/2024
TriCore: Defining Wellness Today & Key Trends In The Space With Chris Edwards
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Chris Edwards to the show. Chris is the Founder & CEO of TriCore Wellness which focuses on the integration of technology, health data, and professional coaching. TriCore Wellness seeks to develop and provide comprehensive wellness solutions for individuals, employees, and businesses. Today, Chris joins Bryan to talk about his business and truly define what wellness means. One Powerful Quote: 2:53: “Wellness is essentially living optimally without limitations.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 2:46: Bryan opens the show by asking Chris how he defines the term wellness. 4:12: Chris highlights the key trends in the wellness industry space. 5:49: Bryan inquires with Chris about how to deploy these solutions. 6:54: Chris talks about the repercussions in some of the recent medical interventions happening today in wellness. 8:07: Bryan and Chris talk about the implications in integrative care and health preservation for the aging population in the United States. 9:50: Chris shares his story about TriCore Wellness. 13:04: Chris elaborates on the strategic and growth perspective for TriCore Wellness. 14:54: Bryan wraps up the show with Chris imparting his final pearls of wisdom to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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GroeFit: Automated Engagement As Table-Stakes With Alan Thompson
06/07/2024
GroeFit: Automated Engagement As Table-Stakes With Alan Thompson
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Alan Thompson to the show. Alan is the founder and CEO of GroeFit, a gym member management software powered by computer vision technology. GroeFit leverages cutting-edge AI to provide gym staff with real-time insights, transforming big box gyms into supportive communities that recognize and nurture every member’s fitness journey. Today, Alan joins Bryan to talk about GroeFit and why automated engagement is table-stakes for organizations. One Powerful Quote: 13:38: “Get good at marketing, really good at marketing.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 2:10: Bryan opens the show with Alan sharing his journey to launching GroeFit. 5:17: Alan talks about personalization and how GroeFit delivers personalized experiences. 8:28: Alan explains why automated engagement and personalization are table-stakes for large organizations. 11:50: Alan shares his insights and pearls of wisdom to the listeners. 15:20: Bryan and Alan talk about some of the tech at GroeFit. 21:35: Bryan wraps up the show with Alan. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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Asensei: Reality of Developing Digital Fitness Training With Steven Webster
06/04/2024
Asensei: Reality of Developing Digital Fitness Training With Steven Webster
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Steven Webster to the show. Steven is the CEO of ASENSEI which captures sports apparel and knowledge into software so that fitness equipment, training apps, and connected fitness products can coach and correct customer's movement in real-time. ASENSEI aims to strengthen engagement by turning solo practice into instructional learning, locks in brand loyalty by connecting coaching to clothing, and increase retention by showing customers measurable progress along a learning path. Today, he joins Bryan to talk about his business and the digital landscape of personalized training. One Powerful Quote: 8:51: “Challenges are just hooks for opportunities.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:03: Bryan opens the show by asking Steven about the digital landscape in digital wellness. 6:40: Steven shares his views on the innovator’s dilemma. 9:24: Steven comments on the risk reward dynamic in business valuations. 11:12: Bryan inquires with Steven about his business, ASENSEI. 14:13: Steven talks about his journey and what he has learned. 17:41: Bryan wraps up the show by asking Steven to impart his final advice to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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Ataraxy: Reality of Developing Digital Fitness Products With Federico Imparatta
04/22/2024
Ataraxy: Reality of Developing Digital Fitness Products With Federico Imparatta
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Federico Imparatta to the show. Federico is the founder of Ataraxy, a digital product agency, which helps lead strategic development and execution of digital solutions that drive business growth. His team's technical expertise is in software & hardware development, product development, and design to deliver high-quality digital products with the overarching goal of empowering entrepreneurs to thrive in the digital era. Today, he joins Bryan to talk about his business and the reality of developing digital fitness products. One Powerful Quote: 35:07: “Don’t ever fall in love with the idea.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:18: Bryan opens the show by asking Federico about developing digital fitness products. 7:44: Federico talks about the managing expectations when crafting digital solutions. 11:38: Bryan and Federico discuss how today's business thinking is influencing the development of approaches to crafting business processes. 19:55: Bryan inquires with Federico about data driven decision making and why that can be challenging. 23:37: Federico reveals his secret on how to keep a team/organization open minded to data driven decision making. 30:30: Federico shares his beliefs about the next trends in digital products and fitness. 35:06: Federico imparts his final pearls of wisdom to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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Pipeline Solutions: Go Digital To Go Human With Tessa Thomas
04/01/2024
Pipeline Solutions: Go Digital To Go Human With Tessa Thomas
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Tessa Thomas to the show. Tessa is the Co-Founder of Pipeline Solutions, a purpose-built automation and analytics platform for boutique fitness studio owners and operators. Today, she joins Bryan to talk about her business, automation and coding, and keeping the human touch in a digitized world. One Powerful Quote: 21:51: “It’s really still about people.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 2:40: Bryan opens the show by asking Tessa about her background. 5:30: Tessa shares her observations about the startup world. 9:01: Tessa tells the story of what led to starting Pipeline Solutions and its benefits for operators. 15:16: Bryan and Tessa talk about coding and automation. 21:42: Bryan wraps up the show with Tessa imparting her pearls of wisdom to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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Vi: Supercharging AI Solutions With Spencer Honeyman
03/26/2024
Vi: Supercharging AI Solutions With Spencer Honeyman
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Spencer Honeyman to the show. Spencer is an entrepreneurial business executive with a proven track record of successfully bringing innovative technology to market. He is the Chief Commercial Officer for Vi, an enterprise AI SaaS solution for health industry leaders to supercharge engagement and retention. Today, Spencer joins Bryan to talk about Vi enterprise and the various use case applications of their tools. One Powerful Quote: 25:37: “Resilience, what happens when you get punched in the mouth?” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:31: Bryan opens the show by asking Spencer to share his story. 5:53: Bryan asks Spencer what Vi does and how they execute on their principles. 12:05: Bryan and Spencer talk about the marketing funnel and understanding how to make better business decisions. 15:38: Bryan and Spencer discuss their general thoughts on AI, predictive analytics, machine learning, and automation. 23:49: Bryan wraps up the show with Spencer imparting his final pearls of wisdom to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information: [email protected]
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Trends In Tech, Marketing, & Boutique Fitness With Dan Uyemura
03/13/2024
Trends In Tech, Marketing, & Boutique Fitness With Dan Uyemura
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Dan Uyemura to the show. Dan currently is a partner and coach at Torrance CrossFit and CEO of PushPress, a business management and billing platform for boutique gyms. With almost 20 years of seasoned web application development fused with a lifetime of entrepreneurial efforts, he has worked on a number of projects in software, technology, and the fitness space. Today, Dan joins Bryan to talk about his story, how operators should use tech, local marketing and boutique gym trends, and overall advice to entrepreneurs. One Powerful Quote: 24:05: “Ideas are cheap, and execution means everything.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:19: Bryan opens the show by asking Dan about his background. 6:58: Dan talks about the challenges of appropriate technology adoption in the industry space. 9:02: Dan shares the value proposition of PushPress. 11:23: Bryan and Dan discuss implementing technology in marketing. 14:18: Bryan inquires with Dan about PushPress and their offerings to small and medium sized businesses. 16:57: Bryan and Dan talk about trends in boutique fitness and personalized AI. 23:58: Bryan wraps up the show with Dan imparting his final advice to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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Barre Fusions: Trends In Group Fitness Programming With Erika Levy
02/17/2024
Barre Fusions: Trends In Group Fitness Programming With Erika Levy
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Erika Levy to the show. Erika is the founder of The Barre Fusions Method that teaches fitness instructors how to create classes that fuse ballet barre with other formats and streamline class design. She is certified in numerous yoga and active aging certifications and currently teaches Barre Fusions at Gold’s Gym in Camas, Washington and West Coast Fitness in Portland, Oregon. Today, Erika joins Bryan to talk about her business and trends in group fitness programming. One Powerful Quote: 19:38: “I think there’s a lot of opportunity to monetize your content and to create online experiences that are an extension of the in-person experience.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 2:38: Bryan opens the show by asking Erika about her background in the fitness space. 4:20: Erika talks about launching her Barre Fusions concept. 8:16: Erika explains how Barre Fusions aligns with distributing group fitness programming. 12:45: Erika shares her thoughts on technology trends in group fitness. 15:51: Erika extrapolates on the common themes around member management and technology for club automation. 19:16: Bryan wraps up the show by asking Erika to impart her final advice to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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Recovery Trends & Evolutionary Fitness With Edward Navan
01/23/2024
Recovery Trends & Evolutionary Fitness With Edward Navan
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Edward Navan to the show. Ed is the Co-Founder of REGYMEN Fitness and founded The Covery Wellness Spa. He has spent his career in every capacity in the industry from personal trainer, vendor rep, national account buyer, and now company owner. While he loves fitness, Edward sees the the biggest opportunity in the growing recovery and wellness sector where he believes the next decade will see a merging of the fitness and spa worlds. Today, Ed joins Bryan to share his thoughts on the fitness industry and the yet to be defined recovery and optimization space. One Powerful Quote: 19:45: “No man is an island.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 2:40: Bryan opens the show by asking what interested Edward in getting involved in recovery wellness. 5:41: Edward shares some of his favorite therapies in recovery wellness. 9:02: Bryan inquires with Edward how the fitness market has integrated with recovery wellness. 13:29: Bryan and Edward talk about semaglutides and its impact on the fitness space. 16:29: Edward shares his opinion on recovery wellness integrating with preventative sick care. 19:10: Edward imparts his finals pearls of wisdom to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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Trends On The Latest Wearable Technologies With Angela Moscaritolo
10/10/2023
Trends On The Latest Wearable Technologies With Angela Moscaritolo
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Angela Moscaritolo to the show. Angela is the Senior Analyst for Fitness and Smart Home at PCMag. She has been with PCMag for over ten years and has written over 6,000 articles and reviews. She spent eight years as a reporter covering consumer tech news before becoming an analyst in 2020. Before joining PCMag, Angela was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. She earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University and started her career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Angela is also a yoga teacher and has been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. Today, Angela joins Bryan to discuss her impressions on what’s happening with the latest wearable technology. One Powerful Quote: 34:51: “It’s not about you. Really, it’s about your client and their needs.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:24: Bryan opens the show by asking Angela about her background. 6:43: Angela shares some of her observations on the Series 9 and Ultra 2 technology at Apple’s Wanderlust Event. 16:49: Angela talks about her impressions on FitBit and the launch of other, newer wearable technologies. 25:28: Bryan inquires with Angela about the partnerships of home fitness solutions and what that means. 34:46: Bryan wraps up the show with Angela giving final her thoughts and advice to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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Trends In Commercial Fitness Equipment With Jeff Dilts
09/01/2023
Trends In Commercial Fitness Equipment With Jeff Dilts
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Jeff Dilts to the show. Jeff is the VP of Global Marketing & Product Innovation at Core Health & Fitness. With a highly respect background in product development, Jeff joins Bryan to share his insights on the trends in commercial fitness equipment. If you’re interested in learning more about VertiMax’s 2023 Summit, please visit: One Powerful Quote: 32:01: “From an operator’s standpoint, you have to constantly being listening.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 4:10: Jeff shares his insights on the commercial fitness space. 6:18: Bryan and Jeff talk about technology integration with indoor cycling. 11:43: Jeff further articulates on technology integration with other cardio equipment. 15:13: Bryan and Jeff recognize the history of StairMaster and what’s trending in cardio equipment. 20:07: Jeff explains the rise in strength training. 27:22: Jeff gives his views on omnichannel content as a component of the member’s journey. 31:59: Jeff impart his pearls of wisdom to the listeners regarding operations and staying at the forefront of the future. Bullet List of Resources: Guest Contact Information:
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