“People think the workout is going to fix their lives… The workout is the vehicle to something greater."

Why is it so difficult to build a reliable, predictable team of fitness instructors? In this episode, Laura sits down with industry veteran Shay Kostabi, co-founder of Fitcarma, to dismantle the myth that boutique fitness has an unfixable "people problem."

Shay shares her fascinating, non-linear path into fitness, rooted in a family of master artists and musicians. She opens up about the profound personal loss, her early days navigating the hyper-competitive New York City boutique boom at Flywheel and SoulCycle, and the lessons she learned from fitness icons.

Listeners will discover why workplace friction and unpredictable classes are almost always leadership and systems issues rather than employee issues. Shay explains why certifications are only designed to keep clients safe—not to teach your brand voice—and makes a compelling case for why every studio must implement rigorous, in-house training. She breaks down how to align your team under a singular vision, prevent high client churn, and remember that the workout is simply the vehicle for a much deeper human transformation. ​