Derek Durkin started with eight clients in the basement of a gym—and now runs Train Full Send, a high-impact group fitness business with two thriving locations. In this episode, he shares how he went from structural engineer to Barry’s trainer, to launching his own virtual platform during COVID, and eventually building out his dream space in Needham Heights! 

We talk about what it takes to scale a second location, the systems he swears by, and how to lead a team in a seasonal town like Mashpee. Derek gets honest about what worked, what didn’t, and what he wishes he’d done differently. If you’re a coach or trainer dreaming of starting your own thing, this one’s packed with practical advice and hard-earned lessons.

You can follow us on Instagram @businessmusclepodcast, @elisecaira and @dr.ariel.dpt. 

Get your FREE Business Starter Checklist: https://www.businessmusclepodcast.com/freechecklist

FIXXED: https://www.fixxedstudios.com/

Sweat Fixx: https://www.sweatfixx.com/

Starting a small business is no joke, and the stats prove it: most don’t make it past five years! But what’s behind that number isn’t just bad luck. In this episode, we’re breaking down the real reasons small businesses fail—and more importantly, how you can avoid falling into the same traps. From unclear target markets to poor cash flow management, we walk through the most common issues that sink businesses.

You’ll also hear practical tips for building smarter systems, creating visibility through simple marketing, and making intentional hiring decisions. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure whether you're "doing it right," this episode will help you feel less alone—and way more equipped. The good news? Most of the things that lead to failure are totally within your control. Let’s make sure your business is built to beat the odds.

Work with us here: https://www.businessmusclepodcast.com/

You can follow us on Instagram @businessmusclepodcast, @elisecaira and @dr.ariel.dpt. 

Get your FREE Business Starter Checklist: https://www.businessmusclepodcast.com/freechecklist

FIXXED: https://www.fixxedstudios.com/

Sweat Fixx: https://www.sweatfixx.com/

Courtney Little was helping people heal long before wellness became trendy. A Clinical Nutritionist and founder of Courtney Little Wellness, she’s been guiding clients through personalized, root-cause healing since 2007. In this episode, Courtney shares how she built her business before the industry really existed—and how her own personal health journey has shaped everything she offers today.

We talk about her early days launching CLW, what it was like to grow a wellness brand when few people were talking about functional health, and how she’s evolved her approach to serve the needs of clients today. She explains what most people misunderstand about nutrition, the labs she recommends for every woman, and why so many people struggle to lose weight—no matter how hard they try.

Courtney also opens up about her new CLW Membership, a platform designed to make healing more accessible without sacrificing quality care. She talks about what it means to scale without burning out, and how digital business has shifted her impact. Don’t miss our rapid-fire questions on her favorite wellness trends (and the ones she could do without) and the supplements she swears by! Enjoy! 

Courtney Little Wellness: https://www.courtneylittlewellness.com/

Work with us here: https://www.businessmusclepodcast.com/

You can follow us on Instagram @businessmusclepodcast, @elisecaira and @dr.ariel.dpt. 

Get your FREE Business Starter Checklist: https://www.businessmusclepodcast.com/freechecklist

FIXXED: https://www.fixxedstudios.com/

Sweat Fixx: https://www.sweatfixx.com/

You can have the best service, product, or offer in the world—but if no one knows about it, it doesn’t matter. In this episode, we’re digging into why marketing often falls to the bottom of the list for small business owners and what to do about it. Visibility isn’t optional, and you don’t need to be everywhere—you just need to show up where it counts!

We’ll walk you through simple, effective marketing strategies you can start today—like updating your Google Business Profile, collecting reviews, creating low-effort videos, and building an email list (even a tiny one). Plus, we’ll show you how to ditch the overwhelm and build a plan that actually fits your life and bandwidth. If you’ve been stuck in marketing paralysis or don’t know where to start, this one’s for you.

Work with us here: https://www.businessmusclepodcast.com/

You can follow us on Instagram @businessmusclepodcast, @elisecaira and @dr.ariel.dpt. 

Get your FREE Business Starter Checklist: https://www.businessmusclepodcast.com/freechecklist

FIXXED: https://www.fixxedstudios.com/

Sweat Fixx: https://www.sweatfixx.com/

Today we’re joined by Jessica Dion, founder of Zest—a coworking space made for wellness entrepreneurs. What started as a scribbled idea during a Business Muscle session is now a fully launched space, built with heart, grit, and a whole lot of self-belief. Jessica takes us behind the scenes of building something from scratch, including what surprised her, what scared her, and what she had to unlearn.

From marketing a totally new concept to navigating financial risk and isolation as a founder, Jessica brings honesty and insight to every step of the journey. If you’ve got a big idea and feel stuck by fear, perfectionism, or the myth that “if you build it, they’ll come,” this episode is your sign to start anyway.

Zest: https://www.zestthecollective.com/

Work with us here: https://www.businessmusclepodcast.com/

You can follow us on Instagram @businessmusclepodcast, @elisecaira and @dr.ariel.dpt. 

Get your FREE Business Starter Checklist: https://www.businessmusclepodcast.com/freechecklist

FIXXED: https://www.fixxedstudios.com/

Sweat Fixx: https://www.sweatfixx.com/

If you’ve ever second-guessed a choice, delayed a decision, or felt overwhelmed by too many options—you’re not alone. Decision-making is one of the most overlooked yet crucial business skills. In this episode, we unpack how to treat decision-making like a muscle, and give you tools to start making smarter, faster, and more confident choices.

We break down types of decisions you face daily (strategic, tactical, and emotional), share practical frameworks like the 70% rule, and offer simple reflection tools to help you get unstuck. You’ll walk away knowing that you’re not bad at making decisions—you’re just under-practiced. And if you’re ready to trust yourself more, build clarity, and keep your business moving forward, this episode is for you!

Work with us here: https://www.businessmusclepodcast.com/

You can follow us on Instagram @businessmusclepodcast, @elisecaira and @dr.ariel.dpt. 

Get your FREE Business Starter Checklist: https://www.businessmusclepodcast.com/freechecklist

FIXXED: https://www.fixxedstudios.com/

Sweat Fixx: https://www.sweatfixx.com/

On today’s episode, we chat with Christine Myers and Kristen Palladino, co-founders of Locals Social Club—a kids’ apparel brand born from a casual idea on a girls' weekend that turned into a nationwide, grassroots success. With no background in retail, they taught themselves everything from design to sales—all while working full-time jobs and raising kids.

We talk about what it really looks like to bootstrap a product-based business, how they stayed scrappy (and sane) while scaling, and the power of leaning into community, not perfection. From micro-influencers to wholesale dreams, this conversation is full of tactical tips and honest reflections from two women redefining what "building a brand" looks like on your own terms. Enjoy!

Locals social club: https://www.localssocialclub.com

*Use code MUSCLE gets them 15% off your order!

Work with us here: https://www.businessmusclepodcast.com/

You can follow us on Instagram @businessmusclepodcast, @elisecaira and @dr.ariel.dpt. 

Get your FREE Business Starter Checklist: https://www.businessmusclepodcast.com/freechecklist

FIXXED: https://www.fixxedstudios.com/

Sweat Fixx: https://www.sweatfixx.com/

We’re pulling back the curtain on four hard-earned lessons from our own business journey—the things we’ll never do again. From over-discounting and neglecting our email list to scaling too quickly and saying yes to everything, we’re breaking down what went wrong and how we’ve shifted since. These mistakes cost us time, money, and sanity—so we’re sharing them so you don’t have to learn the hard way!

Whether you’re in your first year or scaling up, this episode is packed with action steps and mindset shifts that will help you build with intention. If you’ve ever felt stretched too thin, unsure what to say yes to, or stuck offering deals that don’t really serve your growth—this conversation will hit home. And if you’re ready for support structuring your offers, building systems, or creating a clear marketing plan, that’s what we’re here for.

Work with us here: https://www.businessmusclepodcast.com/

You can follow us on Instagram @businessmusclepodcast, @elisecaira and @dr.ariel.dpt. 

Get your FREE Business Starter Checklist: https://www.businessmusclepodcast.com/freechecklist

FIXXED: https://www.fixxedstudios.com/

Sweat Fixx: https://www.sweatfixx.com/

On this episode, we're hanging out with Casey White, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Jaju Pierogi, to hear how she turned a niche Polish dumpling into a nationally known brand. From selling out at farmers markets to landing in over 2,500 grocery stores like Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Costco, Casey shares the behind-the-scenes highs and lows of growing a bootstrapped business. She opens up about early doubts, what made her double down on such a specific product, and how she and her team stayed scrappy while scaling.

We also get into the real talk—like what it’s actually like to survive in the tough world of grocery retail, why some big risks paid off (and some didn’t), and how Shark Tank taught her more than she expected. Casey doesn’t hold back when it comes to the hard stuff, from shelf space battles to founder burnout—and she shares what she’d do differently if she could start all over again. If you're building a brand, thinking about going national, this one’s for you!

JAJU PIEROGI: https://www.jajupierogi.com/

Work with us here: https://www.businessmusclepodcast.com/

You can follow us on Instagram @businessmusclepodcast, @elisecaira and @dr.ariel.dpt. 

Get your FREE Business Starter Checklist: https://www.businessmusclepodcast.com/freechecklist

FIXXED: https://www.fixxedstudios.com/

Sweat Fixx: https://www.sweatfixx.com/

In this episode, we’re joined by Jenalee and Alie, the best friend duo behind Creating Connections—a pediatric occupational therapy practice that’s redefining what it means to support kids and families. We dive into how they went from traditional OT roles to building a thriving, heart-centered business from scratch! They share the real, behind-the-scenes journey of starting out, navigating growing pains, and staying grounded in their mission through it all. We also chat about what makes their approach to pediatric OT so unique and why community and connection are at the core of everything they do.

This episode is extra special because (spoiler alert!) we’re now proud business partners with Jenalee and Alie as they continue to grow Creating Connections. We talk about how they knew it was time to bring on partners, what’s changed since then, and what the future holds as we scale this dream together. Plus, you’ll hear their favorite moments with kids, their biggest lessons in leadership, and what they hope people feel when they hear the name “Creating Connections.” Enjoy! 

Creating Connections OT: https://creatingconnectionsot.com/

Work with us here: https://www.businessmusclepodcast.com/

You can follow us on Instagram @businessmusclepodcast, @elisecaira and @dr.ariel.dpt. 

Get your FREE Business Starter Checklist: https://www.businessmusclepodcast.com/freechecklist

FIXXED: https://www.fixxedstudios.com/

Sweat Fixx: https://www.sweatfixx.com/