Built Bigger Podcast

What does it take to turn a passion for fitness into a career, and eventually into owning your own gym?

In Episode 3 of the Built Bigger Podcast, Connor Martin and Kenny Grenert sit down with Nate Bran, owner of Illuminate Fitness, to explore his journey through the fitness industry, from personal training and competitive bodybuilding to entrepreneurship and gym ownership.

Nate shares the experiences, relationships, and influences that shaped his career. We explore how his time as a personal trainer helped develop his understanding of the industry, the lessons he learned along the way, and the people and opportunities that ultimately inspired him to take the leap into gym ownership.

This conversation is about more than opening a gym. It’s about the evolution of a career in fitness, the impact of mentorship and personal experiences, and how years spent working directly with people can shape a much bigger vision.

In this episode, we explore:

• Nate’s introduction to fitness and his journey into personal training.
• His experiences competing as a professional bodybuilder.
• The mentors, relationships, and influences that helped shape his career.
• How his experiences as a personal trainer influenced his approach to gym ownership.
• The journey from working in the fitness industry to building his own business.
• The story behind Illuminate Fitness and the vision that brought it to life.

Whether you’re a personal trainer looking to take the next step, an aspiring gym owner, or someone who loves the stories behind the people shaping our industry, this episode offers a look at how careers evolve and how passion, experience, and opportunity can come together to build something bigger.

About Built Bigger

Hosted by Connor Martin and Kenny Grenert, Built Bigger explores the people, businesses, and ideas shaping the fitness industry. We sit down with gym owners, entrepreneurs, athletes, and industry leaders to uncover the experiences, challenges, and decisions behind their success.

Because behind every great gym, brand, and business is a story worth telling.

Subscribe for more conversations with the people building the future of fitness.

#BuiltBiggerPodcast #IlluminateFitness #NateBran #PersonalTraining #GymOwnership #FitnessEntrepreneur #GymBusiness #FitnessIndustry

What does it take to build a gym business that lasts?

In Episode 2 of the Built Bigger Podcast, we sit down with Jared Williams, owner of Dynamic Fitness, a three-location Houston gym brand that has been evolving since 2009.

Over nearly two decades, Jared has experienced just about every version of the fitness industry, changing consumer expectations, new competitors, equipment trends, economic shifts, and the constant challenge of figuring out what actually keeps members coming back.

We dig into the evolution of Dynamic Fitness, the lessons Jared has learned along the way, decisions that shaped the business, and how his perspective on owning and operating gyms has changed over the years.

This is a conversation about longevity, adaptation, and what it really takes to build a gym business with staying power.

If you own a gym, work in the fitness industry, or are thinking about opening a facility of your own, there’s a lot to take away from Jared’s experience.

🎙️ Built Bigger Podcast | Episode 2
Jared Williams — Owner, Dynamic Fitness

In this Episode Alex takes us through the story of Reign and how they built it into the powerhouse it is today