This episode of Start Before You’re Ready features Sara Kooperman, founder and CEO of SCW Fitness Education, who has spent over 40 years shaping the fitness industry through her MANIA® conventions, certifications, and continuing education. We talk about how SCW grew from a single workshop to six national MANIA® conferences, why live and hybrid education still matters in an online world, and how Sara continues to create affordable, accessible learning for group fitness instructors, personal trainers, and studio owners through events, livestream summits, and free monthly webinars.

Sara shares her unlikely journey from dancer to lawyer to fitness entrepreneur, including opening (and closing) her first Chicago studio, taking big risks on credit cards to launch new cities, and what those failures taught her about leadership, money, and resilience. We also dig into the current state of the fitness industry, why in-person certifications and connection are so powerful, her perspective on GLP-1 medications and active agers, and her best advice for aspiring fit pros: ask for help, take risks, expect to fail, and keep going.

SCW Fitness Education: https://scwfit.com

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After more than three decades in fitness, Bobby Kelly has learned that real transformation goes far beyond the gym floor. In this episode, Bobby—founder of Results Only Fitness in Phoenix and author of The Next Chapter Starts Now joins Kelly to talk about reinvention, purpose, and what it really means to start again in the messy middle of life. From his beginnings as a step instructor in D.C. to mentoring midlife changemakers in Arizona, Bobby shares how fitness became his vehicle for coaching life’s biggest pivots.   

You’ll hear the story behind his new book, what it takes to truly own your disconnect, and why chasing desire isn’t selfish—it’s data. We talk about simple, intentional steps to start your next chapter right where you are, how to listen when your life is trying to get your attention, and the courage it takes to reset your standards in midlife.

If you’re feeling stuck, restless, or ready for what’s next but don’t want to burn everything down to find it, this conversation will give you language, tools, and a whole lot of permission to begin again.  

Learn more about Bobby and grab your copy of The Next Chapter Starts Now at thenextchapterstartsnow.com

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IG: @kellys_bootcamp
My website: https://kellysbootcamp.net/

In this episode of Start Before You’re Ready, Kelly sits down with Brian McGee — longtime coach and owner of Fit360 in Washington, DC. Brian shares how a personal heartbreak launched his 24-year fitness career, how his grandfather’s active lifestyle and his father’s MS diagnosis shaped his purpose, and how he built one of DC’s most respected coaching gyms from a former laundromat.

They explore what it really takes to grow a brick-and-mortar fitness business, navigate risk, and stay rooted in the identity of being a coach first, owner second. This one’s full of hard-earned wisdom for anyone who loves fitness, coaching, and the idea of starting before you feel ready.

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IG: @kellys_bootcamp
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In this episode of Start Before You’re Ready, Kelly Young talks with coach, author, and mindset expert Sarah Stack, host of the Her Time podcast. Sarah is devoted to helping teen and tween female athletes stay confident, healthy, and in sport longer, and she shares why so many girls leave sports around ages 14–15—and what coaches and parents can do to keep them connected to the game and themselves.

Sarah breaks down her MENTOR Model (Mindset, Nutrition, Training, and Recovery) and how it helps young athletes build sustainable routines around fueling, rest, and confidence. She also shares her journey from stay-at-home mom to strength coach and member of Todd Durkin’s Mastermind, and how she supports families through big decisions like taking time off or stepping away from competition.

Kelly and Sarah dive into burnout, identity beyond sports, and why adults, too, need recovery and purpose outside work or fitness. Whether you’re a parent, coach, or midlife athlete, this conversation will encourage you to trust your gut and start before you’re ready. 

Listen to Sarah’s show Her Time here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/her-time/id1777931345?i=1000745867708

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IG: @kellys_bootcamp
My website: https://kellysbootcamp.net/

In this inspiring episode of Start Before You’re Ready, host Kelly Young welcomes Heather Comerford, a longtime KBC community member whose journey from self-doubt to leadership will leave you feeling motivated to take action—no matter where you’re starting from. Heather opens up about finding her strength through community, navigating personal loss, and the life-changing lessons she’s learned about consistency, connection, and courage.  

Together, Kelly and Heather explore the emotional side of transformation—the moments that stretch us, the people who lift us, and the small steps that create big change. You’ll hear Heather’s refreshing take on nutrition and how movement became her therapy. This episode is a love letter to community, growth, and the reminder that progress begins the moment you decide to start before you’re ready.  

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IG: @kellys_bootcamp
My website: https://kellysbootcamp.net/

In this episode of Start Before You're Ready, host Kelly Young engages with Dr. Todd Miller, an exercise physiologist and public health researcher, to discuss the paradox of declining health despite advancements in nutrition. Todd shares insights from his extensive experience in metabolic health, emphasizing the importance of personalized dietary interventions based on individual metabolism and muscle mass. He explains how technologies like DEXA scans can help tailor diet programs, removing guesswork and leading to better health outcomes. The conversation also touches on the societal shift towards inactivity and its implications for chronic diseases, particularly in adolescents, and the need for a cultural change to reintroduce physical activity into daily life.

Throughout the discussion, Todd highlights the significance of resistance training for metabolic health and bone density, debunking myths around weightlifting, especially for women. He advocates for a balanced approach to nutrition, stressing the importance of protein intake while allowing flexibility with fats and carbohydrates. The episode concludes with Todd's insights on the systemic issues contributing to obesity and chronic disease, including the role of GLP-1 medications and the need for a holistic view of health that prioritizes activity alongside diet.

For listeners who want to go deeper into the science of metabolism, movement, and modern health, follow Dr. Miller’s writing on Substack at The Flux Files: https://toddmiller67.substack.com/

Learn more about his clinical and testing work at LiveLean RX, a national chain of body composition and metabolism testing centers: https://www.liveleanrx.com 

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IG: @kellys_bootcamp
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If you’ve ever stood in front of your fridge wondering what to eat, this episode is your reset. Kelly breaks down her real-world system for eating better without spending more — starting with how to take inventory, shop smarter, and fill your kitchen with real, satisfying food that fuels you.

She’ll walk you through her go-to fridge setup, quick meal tricks, and the fiber-rich foods that keep you full and energized. It’s practical, no-pressure advice that proves healthy food doesn’t have to be complicated — it just needs a plan.

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IG: @kellys_bootcamp
My website: https://kellysbootcamp.net/

Kicking off 2026, Kelly sits down solo to unpack what really happened  this past year—from year-long InBody check-ins and and accountability that actually got people to follow through when motivation dipped. She shares the honest truth about projects that took way longer than planned, why finishing hard (and sometimes annoying) things matters, and what she noticed about the people who stayed consistent versus the ones who quietly fell off.

This episode is also a nudge to pick a word for your year that actually means something in your real life, not just on a vision board, and to build in the accountability you know you need instead of pretending you’ll “just be more disciplined.” Kelly talks about choosing “audacious” for herself, how saying yes changed things for members and coaches, and why she’s doubling down on real conversations, coaching, and community inside the studio and on this podcast in 2026.

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IG: @kellys_bootcamp
My website: https://kellysbootcamp.net/

Bob Wells is one of our most iconic KBC members and the perfect example of “start before you’re ready.” At 54, he took over his wife’s membership, showed up to a brutally hot August class, moaned his way through the warm‑up, and had other students quietly convinced he’d never return. But he did. Again and again. Now, more than a decade later, Bob is in his mid‑60s, running 5Ks whenever he wants, lifting heavier than ever, and holding onto muscle that most people his age would love to have.   

In this episode, Bob and Kelly walk through how one Saturday class turned into a full routine, how a single Winter Challenge and a nutrition workshop with Amy Beyer changed everything, and how tracking his food daily (for nearly 10 years!) helps him enjoy travel, lobster rolls, and pizza without losing control of his goals. They talk about family history, longevity, MyZone, steps, and why the real magic isn’t in extremes—it’s in layers, community, and showing up when you’re not quite ready yet. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s “too late” to start, this story will shut that down in the best possible way.  

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IG: @kellys_bootcamp
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This week on Start Before You’re Ready, Kelly sits down with her longtime friend and original boot camper, Christine Varanelli—a mom of four, lifelong learner, marathon runner, and one of the most quietly powerful women you’ll ever meet. From the early boot camp days to crossing finish lines across the country and chasing new degrees and dreams in her fifties, Christine’s story is a masterclass in perseverance.

She opens up about life’s twists—the hard seasons, the evolving identity of motherhood, and the courage it takes to keep reinventing yourself no matter what’s happening around you. If you’ve ever wondered how to keep moving forward when life feels heavy or you’re unsure where to start, Christine’s story will remind you what’s possible when you refuse to give up on yourself.

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Let’s connect!
IG: @kellys_bootcamp
My website: https://kellysbootcamp.net/