SOURCED - by The PFCA & Gym Owner Network

Rachel McDougall’s story is a masterclass in backing yourself when everything around you says “don’t.” In this episode of Sourced, Rachel shares how COVID sparked her leap from events work into coaching, how she returned to Scotland after losing her dad, and how she built Tribe in tiny Kirkcudbright from scrappy community-hall classes, bootcamps, and hauling equipment in a trailer into a real facility—only to find herself trapped in a “busy but broken” model: low prices, endless classes, inconsistent delivery, burnout, and barely paying herself. She opens up about the moment she realised she couldn’t keep serving everyone at the expense of her own life, and the fear of changing in a small town where rumours spread fast and everyone has an opinion. This one’s for any gym owner who feels stuck, overworked, and secretly knows: it’s time to raise the standard.

In this episode, we sit down with David Steele, owner of Project Strength & Fitness in Edinburgh and a long-standing member of the Gym Owner Network. 

David opens up about the realities of extreme weight loss, the mindset shifts required to change his life, and the early insecurities he faced entering the fitness industry without the “typical” trainer physique. He walks us through the highs and lows of opening a gym during the COVID pandemic, navigating the chaos of the wrong business model, freelancer challenges, burnout, and personal hardship.

The conversation dives deep into what truly drives sustainable success: ownership, vulnerability, consistency, and behaviour change. David reflects on how joining the Gym Owner Network gave him clarity, direction, and accountability—helping him move from survival-mode revenues to a structured, scalable business and a more balanced life.

This episode is an honest, raw, and inspiring story about resilience, leadership, and what’s possible when you commit to showing up fully—for yourself, your team, and your community.

In this year-end reflection, Mass and Jenzo sit down to share some of the biggest lessons they've learned from 2025 — both personally and professionally. From leaning into fear, to holding the line on standards, to what truly makes a business meaningful… this episode is a mirror for any coach or gym owner doing the work. Honest, unscripted, and full of grounded insight.

If you're serious about a future as a Professional Coach, this episode isn't just interesting, it's essential. Mass unpacks the data behind where the industry is headed, what’s going to be removed or replaced, and what’s rising in its place. More than a forecast, this is a call to action; and a reason to feel deeply optimistic about what’s next for those willing to Coach, for real.

In this solo episode, Mass reflects on the recent Summit — not with a recap, but with a deeper lens. This is a meditation on connection, culture, and what happens when coaches do the slow, unsexy, meaningful work behind the scenes. If you’re building something that matters, this one’s for you.

After almost a decade of steady growth as a gym owner, Abi Durrant steps into a new role within The Gym Owners Network: Performance Coach and mentor to others on the same path. In this honest conversation, we explore the real behind-the-scenes journey — growth, doubt, leadership, and the quiet power of doing things well over time.

In this behind-the-scenes conversation, Mass and Jenz unpack what’s changing inside the Gym Owners Network, and why it matters. From the evolution of leadership, to the real-life struggles of gym owners, this episode blends insight with honesty and as usual, a good ol' dose of soul.

In this conversation, Mass sits down with Liam Carmichael — Head Coach at MARCHON Stratford — to explore the pace of life at the sharp end of the coaching profession, the role of reflection, and what it really means to stay present in a performance-driven world. Liam delivers a humble masterclass in coaching with care.

Jade Henderson doesn’t make noise — she creates impact. In this grounded conversation, we explore her quiet rise through coaching, the lessons learned on the gym floor, in leading MARCHON’s women’s program, and the power of growing without ego.

A reflective conversation between Mass and Jenzo on coaching, identity, and the space between performance and presence. From burnout to self-worth, they explore what can easily get lost in the doing — and how we might return to what really matters.