YOUR PT POD

How do you build a fitness community people keep coming back to?

Gemma Pugh left a career in teaching to create Fiercely Fit, a women’s fitness community in Swansea with around 250 members—and connections that extend well beyond exercise classes.

Joining James Lorey, she shares how she helps women who feel uncomfortable in gyms find confidence, enjoy movement and build friendships.

They discuss consistency without perfection, making new members feel welcome, developing a client into a coach and growing without losing the personal touch.

An honest conversation about changing careers, building a business and understanding what people really need from their coach.

Podcast Credits 

Host & Coordinator: James Lorey 

Sound Engineer & Editor: Jacob Daniel-Davies 

Marketing & Production: Iva Boneva

Get involved with YOUR PT 

Join YOUR PT: ⁠https://www.yourpersonaltraininguk.co.uk/⁠ 

Free PT resources: ⁠https://www.yourpt-hub.co.uk/⁠ 

YOUR Academy: ⁠https://www.youracademyuk.co.uk/

In this episode of the YOUR PT POD, James is joined by Humphrey Maddan, founder of Remaker, as we officially announce a new partnership between YOUR PT and Remaker.

Remaker is a strength-training technology designed to help personal trainers measure performance, assess progress and deliver more personalised coaching through real-time data.

Humphrey shares how his seven years in the military shaped his approach to leadership, resilience and entrepreneurship, before explaining the journey behind developing Remaker and bringing it into the fitness industry.

James and Humphrey discuss:

• Why strength-training data has historically been overlooked
• How PTs can better assess and demonstrate client progress
• Using real-time feedback to manage fatigue and reduce overtraining
• The risks of relying on generic AI-generated programmes
• How technology can create new conversations on the gym floor
• The role of strength and power in long-term health
• Why technology should support—not replace—personal trainers
• How Remaker is being used across rehabilitation, elite sport and everyday training

They also explore what the new partnership means for YOUR PT personal trainers and how Remaker can help coaches educate clients, differentiate their services and deliver better results.

The future of personal training may become increasingly data-driven, but the human connection between a trainer and their client remains irreplaceable.

Listen now to hear the full partnership announcement and discover what the future of strength coaching could look like.

Find out more about Remaker:
https://remaker.co.uk/

Podcast Credits
Host & Coordinator: James Lorey
Sound Engineer & Editor: Jacob Daniel-Davies
Marketing & Production: Iva Boneva

Get involved with YOUR PT
Join YOUR PT: https://www.yourpersonaltraininguk.co.uk/
Free PT resources: https://www.yourpt-hub.co.uk/
YOUR Academy: https://www.youracademyuk.co.uk/

Great coaching isn't just about transforming bodies - it's about transforming people.

In this episode of the YOUR PT Pod, James sits down with wellbeing coach and YOUR PT trainer Federica Gianni to explore what it really means to be a modern personal trainer.

With a career spanning professional dance, leisure management, fitness leadership, and personal training, Federica shares how her coaching philosophy has evolved beyond sets, reps, and weight loss. Together, they discuss why the best coaches focus on the whole person - helping clients build confidence, resilience, healthier lifestyles, and lasting change.

Throughout the conversation, Federica opens up about her journey from managing some of the UK's largest fitness facilities to building a thriving personal training business, the importance of team culture, personal branding, mentorship, and why wellbeing coaching is becoming an essential part of the fitness industry's future.

They also discuss:

• The transition from employed fitness roles to self-employed personal training
• Building a successful PT business through relationships and reputation
• Why great coaches prioritise people over programmes
• The growing role of longevity, recovery, and wellbeing coaching
• Balancing business success with family life and avoiding burnout
• The traits and habits of high-performing personal trainers
• Why lifelong learning is essential in today's fitness industry

Whether you're an established coach, a new PT, or simply passionate about health and wellbeing, this episode is packed with practical insights and valuable lessons from one of the industry's most respected professionals.

🎧 Listen now to discover why great coaches transform people, not just bodies.

Podcast Credits

Host & Coordinator: James Lorey

Sound Engineer & Editor: Jacob Daniel-Davies

Marketing & Production: Iva Boneva

Get involved with YOUR PT

Join YOUR PT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.yourpersonaltraininguk.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Free PT resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.yourpt-hub.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠

YOUR Academy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youracademyuk.co.uk/

What does real coaching actually look like?

In this episode, Faye Chapman joins the YOUR PT Pod to discuss why sustainable results come from understanding the person behind the goal—not just the programme they're following.

We explore women's health, hormones, stress management, strength training, behaviour change, and the coaching strategies that help clients achieve lasting success.

Faye also shares her thoughts on GLP-1 medications, intermittent fasting, supplements, and the future of coaching in an increasingly complex fitness industry.

A must-listen for personal trainers, coaches, and anyone interested in achieving better long-term health outcomes.

🎙️ Featuring: Faye Chapman, Founder of This Is Coaching

Podcast Credits

Host & Coordinator: James Lorey

Sound Engineer & Editor: Jacob Daniel-Davies

Marketing & Production: Iva Boneva

Get involved with YOUR PT

Join YOUR PT: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.yourpersonaltraininguk.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠

Free PT resources: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.yourpt-hub.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠

YOUR Academy: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youracademyuk.co.uk/

In Episode 22 of the YOUR PT Pod, James sits down with Phil Calvert, founder of Shifting Diabetes, educator and coach, to discuss his personal journey with Type 2 diabetes and challenge some of the biggest misconceptions around the condition.

Phil shares how his own diagnosis sparked a mission to educate fitness professionals and help improve health outcomes through better awareness and coaching.

For personal trainers, this episode highlights why understanding health conditions like diabetes is becoming increasingly important. As the industry shifts further towards health-focused coaching, having the confidence to support clients beyond aesthetics and performance can help coaches create a bigger impact and open up new opportunities within their business.

In this episode, we cover:

• Phil’s personal journey with Type 2 diabetes
• The growing diabetes challenge facing the fitness industry
• How PTs can confidently support diabetic clients
• The mission behind Shifting Diabetes
• Why education and health-focused coaching matter

Podcast Credits

Host & Coordinator: James Lorey

Sound Engineer & Editor: Jacob Daniel-Davies

Marketing & Production: Iva Boneva

Get involved with YOUR PT

Join YOUR PT: ⁠⁠https://www.yourpersonaltraininguk.co.uk/⁠⁠

Free PT resources: ⁠⁠https://www.yourpt-hub.co.uk/⁠⁠

YOUR Academy: ⁠⁠https://www.youracademyuk.co.uk/

In Episode 21 of the YOUR Personal Training Podcast, we’re joined by sports scientist, lecturer, CrossFit gym owner and women’s health educator Dr Athalie Redwood-Mills.

This is one of the most important conversations we’ve had on the podcast to date.

Athalie shares her journey through academia, entrepreneurship and elite coaching, before diving deep into the realities of training women properly — from hormonal fluctuations and menstrual cycles through to perimenopause, menopause and long-term health.

We discuss why the fitness industry hasn’t traditionally been built for women, why strength training becomes increasingly important as we age, and how personal trainers can better support female clients through every stage of life.

The episode also explores resilience, discomfort, confidence, communication skills, and Athalie’s personal experience navigating breast cancer while remaining a powerful advocate for health and fitness.

Whether you’re a PT, coach, gym owner or someone passionate about longevity and performance, this episode is packed with practical insight and perspective.

Topics covered:

• Women’s health & training considerations
• Menstrual cycle awareness for coaches
• Perimenopause & menopause
• Strength training for longevity
• Osteoporosis & muscle mass
• Building resilience through fitness
• The future of personal training
• CrossFit & entrepreneurship
• Cancer recovery & exercise
• Communication & coaching skills

Podcast Credits

Host & Coordinator: James Lorey

Sound Engineer & Editor: Jacob Daniel-Davies

Marketing & Production: Iva Boneva

Get involved with YOUR PT

Join YOUR PT: ⁠https://www.yourpersonaltraininguk.co.uk/⁠

Free PT resources: ⁠https://www.yourpt-hub.co.uk/⁠

YOUR Academy: ⁠https://www.youracademyuk.co.uk/

In this episode, we sit down with Freddie Holford — a personal trainer who took an unconventional route into the industry.

From following a corporate career path to stepping away and building his own PT business, Freddie shares the reality of starting from zero and navigating the early stages of self-employment.

This conversation is packed with practical insight for new and aspiring personal trainers — covering everything from client acquisition and marketing, to mindset, discipline, and long-term growth.

In this episode, we cover:

• Building a PT business from scratch
• The transition from corporate to coaching
• Client acquisition and local marketing strategies
• The importance of visibility and consistency
• Systems, structure, and managing workload

Podcast Credits

Host & Coordinator: James Lorey

Sound Engineer & Editor: Jacob Daniel-Davies

Marketing & Production: Iva Boneva

Get involved with YOUR PT

Join YOUR PT: https://www.yourpersonaltraininguk.co.uk/

Free PT resources: https://www.yourpt-hub.co.uk/

YOUR Academy: https://www.youracademyuk.co.uk/

In this Season 2 opener of the YOUR PT Podcast, we sit down with Dr Kyle Collins — a medically qualified doctor who made the bold transition into personal training.

This is a powerful conversation that explores the disconnect between the NHS and the fitness industry, and why personal trainers are uniquely positioned to play a major role in preventative healthcare.

Kyle shares his journey from working in high-pressure hospital environments to stepping onto the gym floor, revealing the moment he fell out of love with medicine — and how that led him to rethink what it truly means to help people.

In this episode, we cover:

• NHS vs preventative health
• GLP-1 weight loss & long-term results
• Coaching clients with real health conditions
• The future of fitness in healthcare

Podcast Credits:

Host & Coordinator: James Lorey

Sound Engineer & Editor: Jacob Daniel-Davies

Marketing & Production: Iva Boneva

Get involved with YOUR PT:

Join YOUR PT today: https://www.yourpersonaltraininguk.co.uk/

Get FREE PT resources here: ⁠⁠https://www.yourpt-hub.co.uk/

Qualify or Up-skill with YOUR Academy: ⁠⁠https://www.youracademyuk.co.uk/

What keeps clients coming back isn’t just programming - it’s how you make them feel.

In this workshop, Keith Smith breaks down what the “client experience” really means in a personal training context and why it has become one of the biggest differentiators in a crowded fitness industry.

You’ll explore how experiences are shaped through small, intentional touchpoints and how PTs can influence those moments to build stronger relationships, trust, and long-term retention.

This session focuses on:

• What defines the client experience in personal training
• The difference between delivering a service and influencing an experience
• How content (exercise choice, intensity, structure) and context (delivery, communication, environment) shape client perceptions
• Why connection and emotion matter more than knowledge alone

This workshop will help you think beyond exercises and sets, and focus on creating meaningful, memorable sessions clients genuinely value.

For more insight into coaching standards and professional development, listen to Keith Smith on the YOUR PT POD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS9v5jsQymk&t=5s

You can also access additional tools and resources to support your sessions inside the YOUR PT Hub: https://www.yourpt-hub.co.uk/account/login/create

Small talk isn’t filler — it’s a skill.

In this workshop, Keith Smith explains why small talk plays a crucial role in building rapport, reducing anxiety, and helping potential clients feel comfortable enough to take the next step with you as a Personal Trainer.

You’ll discover:

• What small talk really is (and what it isn’t)
• Why non-controversial, everyday conversation builds trust faster than sales talk
• How small talk supports client confidence, comfort, and connection
• When small talk matters more than programming or training plans
• How small talk often bridges the gap between acknowledgement and meaningful coaching conversations

Whether you’re on the gym floor, in the café, or during early consultations, this session will help you communicate more effectively and create an environment where clients feel understood and supported.

Access the FREE guide to Your First 10 Clients plus additional practical tools inside the YOUR PT Hub to help you turn everyday conversations into real opportunities: https://www.yourpt-hub.co.uk/resources