The Show Up Fitness Podcast

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!

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What if your most valuable product isn’t another hour-long session, but a community that people can’t wait to join? Today we sit down with a former PE teacher who turned a neighbor’s question into a thriving training business, then pushed beyond the ceiling of in-person hours to build scalable income without sacrificing family time. From the first $90 session to confidently charging premium rates in an affluent market, we get into the real math: exact client counts, monthly revenue targets, and the systems that make sessions repeatable, effective, and worth every dollar.

We dig into pricing strategy the way clients actually experience it—clear value, annual increases, retainers that stabilize cash flow, and the honest post-mortem when someone says no. We challenge the myth of overnight online riches and offer a grounded path: LinkedIn for lead gen, Trainerize for delivery, and coaching that sells outcomes, not app access. The heart of the episode is the Parlay Club, a clever blend of step goals, workouts, and point-doubling sports picks that turns accountability into a game. It’s sticky, social, and scalable—especially once it moves to a searchable Facebook group, adds tiers, rewards referrals, and features guest experts to deepen engagement.

Parent-trainers will feel seen. We talk about seasons of ambition, designing a perfect week before you sell it, and using the 11–2 midday window to build leverage instead of filling it with low-yield sessions. For coaches working with youth athletes, we map a route to clinics, partnerships, and grant-funded programs, and explain how a credential like the CSCS opens doors with athletic directors. The throughline is focus: avoid the octopus problem of too many projects and choose one lane to push hard for a defined period, supported by precise KPIs and a community that keeps you honest.

If you’re ready to raise your rates, protect your time, and build something that grows while you’re with your kids, this conversation hands you a playbook you can start using today. Subscribe, share this with a trainer who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest goal for the next 90 days—we’ll shout out our favorites on the show.

Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!

Want to ask us a question?  Email [email protected] with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!

Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/
Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA
NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!

Most trainers don’t miss six figures because the market is saturated; they miss it because they rely on a textbook, skip the team, and avoid hands-on learning. We pull back the curtain on what actually drives a durable, high-earning training career: real competence, strategic partnerships, and pricing that reflects value.

We start by dismantling survivorship bias in certification advice and explain why multiple-choice exams don’t prepare you for a people-first, problem-solving job. Then we map a practical path from C-level certs to true capability: build a team with a physical therapist for pain cases and a registered dietitian for nutrition scope. You’ll hear how to approach clinicians with respect, speak their language without overstepping, and structure paid consults that lead to mutual referrals and better client results.

From there, we break down a simple revenue model that stacks without burnout: premium in-person training, a clear month-two nutrition add-on under RD oversight, and streamlined online programming. We share concrete screens for shoulder function you can use within scope, when to refer out, and why quarterly hands-on seminars beat another PDF. Real-world case studies highlight trainers who leveraged seminars and networking to land roles at top gyms, grow into management, or expand into corporate wellness—showing exactly how layered income can reach and surpass $100K.

If you’re ready to trade generic certs for real skills, build a professional ecosystem, and create a career that pays and lasts, this conversation lays out the steps. Subscribe, share this with a trainer who needs it, and leave a review telling us which action you’ll take first.

Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!

Want to ask us a question?  Email [email protected] with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!

Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/
Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA
NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!

Ever feel the ground shift under a job you once loved? We sit down with a K–12 principal who built his identity around coaching kids, weathered the Paradise fire, and still found his purpose dissolving under politics, ego, and endless pushback. What follows is a candid look at walking away from a steady six-figure paycheck to pursue fitness, craft, and a life that feels honest again.

We trace the throughline from early days lifting in Chico to leading schools where every decision meets resistance, and then to the spark of a new path: training, education reform from the outside, and programs that make movement central to learning. We talk openly about comfort as a trap, the fear of starting at zero, and the mindset shift that turns practice into momentum. If you’re wrestling with a pivot, you’ll hear a practical playbook: shadow great coaches, study daily, build a routine that stacks mobility, lifting, and focused learning, and have one meaningful industry conversation every day. It’s career capital by design, not hope.

There’s a strong case for bridging education and fitness. PE gets sidelined, yet aerobic work boosts BDNF, sharpens attention, and primes the brain for class. With the right partnerships, schools can implement zero-period training, teacher wellness, and skill-based PE that kids actually believe in. This isn’t about quick wins; it’s about craft, clarity, and owning your trajectory. If you’re choosing between safe and alive, this conversation will nudge you toward the path that compounds.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with someone stuck in a comfort loop, and leave a review with the bold move you’re planning next. Keep showing up.

Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!

Want to ask us a question?  Email [email protected] with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!

Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/
Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA
NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!

Alepotini_ifbbpro IG

What happens when the life everyone admires isn’t the life you want? We sit down with a Milan-based attorney and IFBB pro who’s trading billables for barbells, unpacking the inner voice that won’t quiet down, the pressure of prestige, and the daily signals of burnout that finally force a choice. Her path runs from military academy to Berkeley Law to a top international firm—and yet the gym became the place where she felt most herself. That contrast sets the stage for a candid, high-clarity conversation about meaning, mental health, and the courage to start over.

We dig into why strength training can be a sanctuary, how good coaches translate fear into progress, and what it takes to guide beginners without intimidation. She breaks down the realities of working as a personal trainer in Italy—independent contractor setups, slow client acquisition, and lingering stigma about the profession—while making the case for evidence-based coaching that helps older adults protect muscle and young women embrace lifting without the “bulky” myth. Along the way, we talk programming, recovery, and the quiet discipline that keeps you moving when motivation fades.

Then we open the black box of immigration: why moving to the United States to coach or compete isn’t simple, what “exceptional ability” really means for visas, and how to build a credible, compounding profile through certifications, results, publishing, and community. We contrast social media highlights with the unglamorous grind—6 a.m. training, 12-hour office days, and small wins across time zones—that actually create change. If you’re balancing a celebrated career against a calling that won’t let go, this story will help you map the next step, not just the dream.

Subscribe for more stories that blend career pivots, coaching craft, and real-world tactics. If this episode moved you, share it with a friend who needs the nudge, and leave a review to help others find the show.

Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!

Want to ask us a question?  Email [email protected] with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!

Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/
Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA
NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!

Checkout Cody on IG: CodyMayFit

Want to see how one trainer turned a free session into a $200K plan and a corporate wellness blueprint that wins boardrooms? We walk through the exact steps: earn trust with results, capture the data that matters, and translate those outcomes into clear ROI that executives can’t ignore. Sick days down, blood pressure down, low back injuries down—when the metrics move, pricing power follows.

Cody breaks down the shift from coach to operator: how referrals compounded into a book of business, why he attends seminars to sharpen skills, and what changed when he started hiring in his own name. We get specific about standards. Resumes stacked with acronyms are easy; applying anatomy, progressing programs, and defending your choices under pressure is what counts. You’ll hear how a practical interview works with a real client, what professionalism looks like on the phone and on the floor, and why protecting the brand requires a high bar for every coach who touches a client.

We also map the scalable play: launch a corporate wellness pilot with a tight intake—vitals, grip strength, movement, injury history, and strength benchmarks—then deliver a year of consistent coaching and report the outcomes in dollars saved. That proof of concept unlocks enterprise contracts and fuels a one-stop model that brings trainers, physical therapists, registered dietitians, and concierge MDs under one roof. Community grows, care improves, and the business becomes repeatable across locations.

If you’re serious about leveling up, this conversation is your checklist: set standards, document outcomes, build a team, and package your wins so decision makers can say yes. Enjoy the episode, share it with someone who needs a push, and if it helped you, subscribe and leave a quick review—it makes a real difference.

Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!

Want to ask us a question?  Email [email protected] with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!

Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/
Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA
NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!

Ready to stop spinning your wheels and start training like your results matter? We take a classic bro split from a young lifter who wants bigger arms and less fat, then rebuild it into a focused, tension-first plan that actually moves the needle. The fix isn’t more fluff—it’s better sequencing, smarter volume, and a weekly structure that balances heavy work with strategic accessories.

We start by clearing the biggest bottleneck: too much isolation too early. Compounds go first to drive strength and mechanical tension; isolation slides to the end where it belongs. Using a simple CCA pattern—compound, compound, accessory—we stack pressing and rowing for output and then add targeted raises, curls, and triceps work that won’t blunt your main lifts. Along the way, we address common pitfalls like fragile low backs during bent-over rows, shoulder irritation on fixed-path incline pressing, and calf training that never progresses beyond 3x10.

Progression gets an upgrade with daily undulating periodization. One day leans heavy in the 5–8 rep zone, the next expands to 8–12 or 10–15 for volume and skill. We outline weekly set targets, show how to nudge volume 10–20 percent without tipping into junk fatigue, and explain why tension is the north star while stress and damage remain useful indicators. You’ll also hear how to use short, brutal finishers—push-ups, pull-ups, walking lunges—to add conditioning, and how interval runs beat endless steady-state when the goal is fat loss with muscle retention.

By the end, you’ll know how to structure a chest-forward day, a back-dominant day, and an optional leg or accessory day that respects recovery and keeps elbows and shoulders happy. You’ll leave with a plan to grow faster, get stronger, and ditch random workouts for training with a purpose. If this helps, follow the show, share it with a training partner, and drop a review telling us which lift you’re prioritizing this month.

Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!

Want to ask us a question?  Email [email protected] with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!

Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/
Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA
NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!

Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!

Want to ask us a question?  Email [email protected] with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!

Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/
Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA
NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!

Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!

Want to ask us a question?  Email [email protected] with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!

Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/
Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA
NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!

The most honest look you’ll hear at what separates a textbook-certified trainer from a trusted professional. We sit down with Derek, a rising manager at Lifetime, to unpack how he evaluates candidates, coaches a veteran team, and keeps standards high in a premium training environment where members expect safety, clarity, and results. From real-time prospecting on a busy gym floor to programming under pressure, Derek explains why 80% of applicants fail the practical and what the top performers do differently.

We walk through his three-stage hiring process, the exact screening questions he wants to hear before a single rep, and the coaching behaviors that build instant credibility: precise cues, smart regressions, and simple anatomy language. Then we dig into pricing and value—why $120–$150 per hour makes sense for general population clients, how to handle “that’s expensive” without flinching, and the mindset shift that happens when you invest in your own development through mentors, seminars, and bodywork. If you’ve ever wondered how to charge more while training fewer sessions, this conversation gives you the playbook.

Derek also shares what it’s like to lead as a younger manager among seasoned trainers, including fostering a culture of accountability without ego. We talk mentorship as the shortcut to competence, retention as the true metric, and why soft tissue work and recovery sessions drive client loyalty. You’ll leave with practical steps to pass a tough practical, communicate your value, and build a six-figure path at a high-standard gym or as a smart freelancer.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a trainer who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review so more coaches can find it. Your support helps us raise the standard—one qualified trainer at a time.

Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!

Want to ask us a question?  Email [email protected] with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!

Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/
Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA
NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!

What if the crowded gym, the taken rack, and the sore client were your advantage? We sit down with John, a 64-year-old coach who turned a lifetime of athletics and a career in finance into a service-first approach that seniors and everyday clients trust. The through-line is confidence: not bravado, but the quiet certainty that comes from knowing the why behind every exercise and being able to pivot in seconds without losing momentum.

We unpack how mentorship and workshops transformed imposter syndrome into a repeatable system. John breaks down programming by patterns instead of equipment—push, pull, squat, hinge, carry, rotate—so he can swap a bench press for any push variation or move from back squats to goblets with wedges when racks are full. That shift keeps sessions seamless and clients calm. You’ll hear practical details on warm-ups that prepare tissues, loaded carries and toes-up drills for resilient feet and ankles, and modular templates that make full-body training simple, scalable, and effective.

The heart of the conversation is longevity. John trains clients in their 50s, 60s, and 70s with complex histories—heart issues, surgeries, autoimmune conditions—and shows how smart loading, mobility work, and balance training restore independence for daily tasks like carrying groceries, getting in and out of a car, and picking up grandkids. We also talk about community as a performance multiplier: learning from rooms full of veteran coaches, debriefing to normalize struggles, and adopting cues and progressions that instantly improve outcomes.

If you’re a coach, aspiring trainer, or lifter who cares about real results for real people, you’ll leave with tools to own the session, speak clearly about the why, and serve clients with steady confidence. Subscribe, share this with a coach who needs it, and leave a review to help more trainers find practical, human-centered coaching.

Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!

Want to ask us a question?  Email [email protected] with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!

Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/
Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA
NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com