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Fitness + Technology

Welcome to the Fitness + Technology Podcast for club owners, operators, and fitness professionals! This show is your #1 trusted resource for the accelerating world of fitness technology. We regularly bring you an expert interview with a global influencer at the crossroads of fitness and technology. You’ll get the insights, tools, and inspiration you need to stay connected to the pulse of what matters most for your fitness business in the age of exponential technologies. This podcast is brought to you by the Fitness Industry Technology Council, who is mobilizing resources to drive the fitness industry forward, and representing leading companies and organizations to success through collaboration. This show is supported by Bryan O'Rourke and his family of companies including Vedere Ventures, a boutique investment and advisory firm helping early mature and late stage enterprises, moon mission media a digital marketing firm dedicated to the fitness space, and Integerus Advisors. To learn more visit bryankorourke.com
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Now displaying: 2019
Dec 30, 2019

This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes friend and long-time supporter, Chris Stevenson. Chris has lead key roles in the space such as serving as an IHRSA Board Member, owner of Stevenson Fitness, and as the founder of Stevenson Consulting. As an international speaker and strategic business advisor, Chris is considered one of the leading thinkers in all aspects of the health club industry. Listeners will enjoy Chris’s view on the future as he and Bryan discuss the value of automation, the relevance in adopting technology, and keeping the human experience core to any operation. 

One Powerful Quote: 

16:23: “If at each point, each touch point in the customer journey, you’re able to create an awesome human element and a seamless technology element, you’re going to be successful. You’re going to make people happy.”  

4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:32: Chris shares his thoughts on the latest adoption trends in the health club space and the value of automation. He says these insights can be impactful for both physical and digital aspects in order to focus on delivering frictionless experiences for customers. 

8:40: Bryan asks Chris his opinion on the challenges in finding what is relevant in adopting technology. Chris agrees that this is the single biggest problem facing adopters, and the answer will be to integrate all of the applications into one solution.  

12:23: Chris and Bryan discuss the human experience as the most important fundamental in any operation. Chris advises implementing technology in simple adoptions and to commit to its full usage. Bryan and Chris both agree that this integration will benefit both consumers and businesses. 

21:24: Chris expresses his thoughts on the bifurcation of the industry. He suggest owners need to be aware of their position in the market and adjust accordingly based on their innovations, pricing, and customer expectations. 

Bullet List of Resources:

https://stevensonempowers.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisstevensonfitness/

Guest Contact Information:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisstevensonfitness/

https://www.facebook.com/chris.stevenson.1232

https://twitter.com/StevensonStrong

Nov 4, 2019

This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes friend and advocate, Emma Barry. Emma has lead key senior roles including Director of Group Fitness for Equinox and as a founder for group fitness exercise for Les Mills International. As an author, speaker, and advisor, Emma is considered one of the leading thinkers in the personal betterment sector. Listeners will enjoy Emma’s views on the space as she and Bryan discuss implementation, user experience, and the business model behind boutique studios. 

If you are interested in Emma Barry’s article publication “Customer Engagement in Boutique Studios” featured in EuropeActive’s Retention Report, you can purchase it here: 

https://blackboxpublishers.com/en/publications/customer-engagement-in-boutique-studios/

One Powerful Quote: 

4:31: “I think the surge definitely is going to continue and increase because we are living in times of convenience with technology and able to take experiences with us… some of these experiences aren’t the same in person, and it doesn’t matter.”

4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:00: Emma shares her insights on the boutique studio phenomenon and the impact use of technology. She says these facilities have an advantage in marrying technology with their customers because it delivers high touch, personalized experiences.

6:26: Bryan asks Emma her opinion on the augmentation of at home streaming from boutique facilities. Emma agrees that this is a great option for those who want convenience in their lives, but there still may be those who attend in person events for unparalleled experiences.

9:21: Emma discusses the gap in understanding the millennial generation and the boutique craze phenomenon. She says that operators should adjust their offerings accordingly to the market, particularly for boomers who may participate in small group activities. She and Bryan also discuss how this is a competitive advantage and the opportunity it gives owners for scalability and value to their customers.

11:58: Emma and Bryan discuss innovation and noticeable trends in the space. Emma mentions the proliferation of offerings in the boutique sector including “hybrid” clubs and how their options have changed into a more specialized service. 

15:00: Emma offers some pearls of wisdom and advises listeners to know their “why” and purpose for wanting to be in the boutique fitness space. She mentions that new owners should due their due diligence and understand all of the factors before committing to enter into the market.

Bullet List of Resources:

http://emmabarry.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-barry-51ba6a3/

 

Guest Contact Information:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-barry-51ba6a3/

https://www.facebook.com/emma.barry.33

https://twitter.com/emzboobarry

 

Oct 17, 2019

This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes friend and colleague Hans Muench, principal of Muench Solutions Consulting, live from Amsterdam. Hans has served in a variety of executive roles including the Director of Europe for IHRSA, Chief Development Officer for Elixia Clubs, and currently serves as an advisor for VirtuaGym and Urban Sport Clubs. He is an ambassador for Gym Factory and acts as a consultant for suppliers and club operators. As one of the leading, trusted advisors in the European health club market, listeners will enjoy Hans’s advice as he and Bryan discuss the overall shape of the marketplace and recap VirtuaGym’s FitNation 2019.

One Powerful Quote: 

4:31: “There is much of a danger [technology] to be too early as too late…You can only really effectively do as much innovation as you can integrate and implement in your organization.”

4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:26: Hans shares his perspective on the European marketplace and the misconception of “one size fits all” approach.  He mentions how innovators are adapting in countries with low penetration rates and understanding the implications of political events such as BreExit in the UK. 

6:26: Bryan asks Hans his opinion on the budget model in Europe and the focus on high volume, low cost sector of the industry. Hans says this strategy may succeed if clubs raise prices and build their presence to be dominant in the market. 

9:21: Hans discusses how innovation and technology must be integrated into an organization at the right time. He warns, though, that there is a limit to how that can be implemented. He and Bryan also discuss how this is a competitive advantage and the opportunity it gives owners for scalability and value to their customers.

11:58: Bryan asks Hans about the idea behind VirtuaGym’s FitNation 2019 Conference and the importance to its attendees showcasing keynote speakers, location, and topics discussed.

15:00: Hans encourages listeners to visit Europe to learn and understand from savvy operators and their innovation adoptions compared to the U.S. 

Bullet List of Resources:

https://www.hans-muench.com

https://fitnation.co

Guest Contact Information:

https://www.hans-muench.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hans-muench-653346a/

https://twitter.com/Lazarusmunich

https://www.facebook.com/hans.muench1

 

Sep 9, 2019

This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes friend and colleague Sean Maguire, MD and founder of Legend Club Management Systems. As one of the leading technologists in the fitness facility industry, Sean founded Legend in 2002 as a software solution provider for fitness club operators in the UK. Legend now provides leisure management software and outsourced services to hundreds of fitness facility operators in the public, private, and educational sectors. Listeners will appreciate Sean’s advice as he and Bryan discuss the future of technology and consumer trends in the market along with business philosophies and insights.

Legend will be hosting its annual conference October 10th in Birmingham, UK. To learn more, click here. Bryan O’Rourke will keynote the event. 

One Powerful Quote: 

4:50: The consumer has somehow overtaken us, but certainly, has stepped off our path, and we’re trying to understand where that consumer is going to be.

4-10 Bullet Points (w/timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:58: Sean shares his perspective on the highly competitive marketplace of the UK from the consumer of today to the challenges of continuously developing and innovating Legend.

9:14: Sticking with theme of consumer power, Bryan asks Sean the importance of having a leading, enterprise platform system for servicing the consumer. Sean says owners must align the “how” and “why” of supplying technology for operations without sacrificing the future.  

12:54: Sean discusses the differing outcomes in the public and private sector of lifestyle modification in the healthcare system. He and Bryan also discuss the importance of integrating customer support and frictionless service for the user experience. 

20:10: Bryan asks Sean about the 2019 Legends Conference and the importance to its customers showcasing latest software, plans for the future, and the opportunity to meet with fellow operators.

23:12: Sean offers some pearls of wisdom for his listeners including the importance of listening to customers and stakeholders.

33:23: Bryan and Sean address the outreach and monetization opportunity for the inactive, mass population as the biggest problem of the public health sector. 


Bullet List of Resources:

https://www.legendware.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/LegendWare/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-RWLcqGHnk

Guest Contact information:

https://www.legendware.co.uk/our-people

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-maguire-88b0511/

 

Jul 23, 2019

This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes longtime friend Rick Mayo, founder and CEO of Alloy Personal Training Center. Initially started in 1992, Rick created Alloy in 2010, a consulting and licensing company as a platform for the Alloy personal training systems, with over 1000 clubs licensed worldwide. Rick shares his thoughts on how to effectively implement technology in the fitness realm, as well as the launch of Alloy's new franchise model. Listeners will appreciate Rick's whip-smart sense of humor and he and Bryan's rapport as they discuss the state of the industry today. 

One Powerful Quote: 

6:00 In this day and age, you can't ignore [tech]. It's the big disruptor for everyone. You can say what you want about it, but if you talk negatively about it, it's just because you're scared of it. 

4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:10: Rick shares his journey, from working as a personal trainer to pay his way through college, to growth in the 90s to his current status as an icon in the fitness industry. 

5:59: Rick shares how he has used tech to grow and advance his business over the years and how tech can be a vehicle to enhance human-centric activities like coaching. 

8:50: Sticking with the theme of tech, Bryan asks Rick why some people seem to get lost when it comes to technology implementation, and how do to so effectively. Rick says most people see it as a way to leverage time and effort, but stresses how it can't be used as a way to replace human beings but a way to scale or enhance services, not an end in and of itself. 

17:15: Rick discusses his company's plans to launch as a franchise, how he came to that decision and how it will benefit both the brand and consumers.  

19:15 Rick offers some pearls of wisdom for his listeners from his 30+ years in the industry, including the importance of trust. 


Bullet List of Resources:

http://www.alloypersonaltrainingcenter.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AlloyPersonalTrainingCenter/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj2LnSyAUT8F9GPoXrCB8Pg

Guest Contact information:

http://rickmayo.com/#!/home

https://twitter.com/CoachRMayo

 

Jul 2, 2019

This week, on the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Matt Wright, vice president of personal training and programming at City Fitness in Philadelphia, PA. Matt is a well-known trainer and at the cutting edge of programming, training and technology. 

Powerful Quote:

 23:03 “I think it’s important that every single member we can direct them towards what’s going to be most accessible to them to build an exercise and healthy lifestyle as a behavior and habits and who they are as a person.”

 Key topics discussed:

6:29 Bryan asks Matt’s perspective on what technology brings to the table in terms of the relationship between clubs and trainers, and Matt defines service vs. experience and the role they play in that relationship.

11:22 Brian asks Matt if he sees fitness club orientation shifting from sales to hospitality, and Matt asks Brian how he has viewed fitness club orientation in terms of what fitness professionals are doing from an experience standpoint.

15:00 Matt comments on how he sees the fitness industry beginning to focus more on peoples behaviors and using technology integration to enhance members experiences with their instructors.

18:55 Matt discusses the importance of mastering a few technologies rather than being mediocre at many and shares the three focus points that his organization concentrates on.

23:40 Matt harps on the significance of getting people outside of their comfort zone and his belief in following the SEE method.

25:14 Matt shares a valuable piece of advice for fitness professionals and entrepreneurs on what they should focus on and remember throughout their career.

Bullet List of Resources:

https://www.cityfitnessphilly.com/

https://www.facebook.com/cityfitnessphilly/

 

Jun 25, 2019

This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, Bryan welcomes Craig Miller, Chief Digital & Information Officer for Planet Fitness, the largest health club chain in the world, with 13 million members across 1800 clubs. Miller came to Planet Fitness via Sonic Drive-In, and he shares with F+T listeners his wealth of experience in the digital sphere and how data can be used to provide a competitive advantage in the fitness field.

One Powerful Quote:

8:00 What I found is that probably 70, 75% of a digital strategy is really very consistent [across industry]. It isn't until the go-to-market or consumer-facing aspect of your business is when it really begins to change.

OR

12:35: The foundation of all digital strategies is data.

4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

2:45 Guest Craig Miller talks about his first 18 months at Planet Fitness and how he ended up working at the world's largest health club chain.

4:40 Bryan asks Craig to talk about the Planet Fitness brand and its incredible growth and trajectory, which he attributes to strong fundamentals as well as a deliberate marketing campaign to recruit not the 20% of Americans who regularly go to the gym, but the 80% who do not.

7:40 Craig talks about what he sees as digital trends in the fitness industry, and how his experience working in other industries helps to inform and shape that view.

10:50: Craig shares the five objectives Planet Fitness uses to leverage the benefits of technology.

12:30: Bryan asks Craig to share his thoughts on the role data plays in Planet Fitness's digital strategy and how to use this volume of information in a meaningful way.

16:50 Craig shares his view of the at-home market, whether it is poised for continued growth, and what is holding this market back.

20:40 Craig reiterates to listeners the importance of staying true to a company's core values, and at 22:45, shares how thoughts on this year's IHRSA conference.   

Bullet List of Resources:

https://www.planetfitness.com/

Guest Contact information:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigj91

 

Jun 4, 2019

On this week's Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes, from beautiful Copenhagen, Denmark, Kenn Gudbergsen, co-founder of TrainAway. TrainAway is a mobile app that provides users, especially travelers, access to gyms directly on their phone. Recently, TrainAway partnered with IHRSA to offer a passport program that provides IHRSA member with a 25% discount and participating clubs while they travel. Listen in as Kenn and Bryan discuss industry trends including the upswing in travelers, especially millennials, who still work out while they travel.

One Powerful Quote:

22:22: “It's all about learning. We need to learn from our users, and we need to learn from the gyms. It's the fundamental feedback loop we need to succeed at...being able to learn from your users is so important.”

4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:05: Kenn gives us a quick rundown of his business philosophy, as fully articulated in a recent article published in LinkedIn, and how this serves as the basis for TrainAway.

6:25: Bryan asks about the notion of convenience. How big is the marketplace for young, itinerant people like the ones TrainAway attracts? Kenn believes that the growth of people who describe themselves as fit and active is a huge factor.

8:35: Kenn shares the three main value propositions he hears from club owners who work with TrainAway to attract travelers.

11:25: Kenn talks about the partnership between IHRSA and TrainAway, which includes a passport program that provides IHRSA members with discounted access to clubs when they travel.

19:50: Bryan asks Kenn what inspired him to start Trainaway.

18:40: Kenn talks about what it's like to be an entrepreneur in the nordic region.

21:20: Kenn shares a few pieces of important information he has learned along the path of being an entrepreneur, including the importance of finishing work.

Bullet List of Resources:

https://www.trainaway.fit/

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-fitness-industry-loses-out-potential-revenue-world-gudbergsen

https://www.ihrsa.org/

https://www.ihrsa.org/improve-your-club/programs-for-members/passport/

Guest Contact information:

https://twitter.com/kegu10ab?lang=en

https://dk.linkedin.com/in/kenn-hougaard-gudbergsen-5b66a044

 

May 28, 2019

On this week's Fitness + Technology podcast, Bryan joins us direct from the 2019 IHRSA Conference for a member roundtable entitled “Club Technology: Trends, Opportunities & Threats.”  IHRSA is a global community of health and fitness professionals representing 8,000 member clubs in over 70 countries, whose goal is to grow, protect, and promote the health and fitness industry. This year, IHRSA members flocked to San Diego to learn from and network with the best and brightest in the industry, and Bryan, after a brief presentation, takes questions from club owners and operators in the audience, while other participants and audience members chime in with their own experience as club owners and operators.

Apr 11, 2019

This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, Host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Cory Brightwell, co-founder and CEO of Chuze Fitness, a low cost – high value business model that started in California and has expanded into multiple states. Cory has been in the company for over a decade, and he talks with us about hospitality and the challenges of technology adoption.

Mar 30, 2019

This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, Host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Dean Giamundo, the national director of sales at Jonas Fitness, Inc., which recently joined the Fitness Industry Technology Council. Dean has a background in the technology industry and at Jonas Fitness he helps teach management and facility owners how to apply technology to the industry.

Mar 21, 2019

Host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes the Retention Guru, Dr. Paul Bedford, to the Fitness + Technology Podcast. Dr. Bedford is the leading expert on retention in the world, and they waste no time delving right into Paul's area of expertise. How do gyms and health clubs regard their members, how can they use technology and analytics to customize and enhance member experience, and how can they retain members while maximizing their bottom line? Paul, who is based in London, travels the world sharing his passion and keeping up with breaking industry trends, and we're glad for the opportunity to welcome his wisdom.

Mar 12, 2019

On this week's Fitness + Technology Podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke shares a webinar he presented to the International Council on Active Aging: “What are the future trends and current possibilities in technology.” Regular listeners will remember a recent podcast with Colin Milner, founder and CEO of the ICAA. Bryan spends time discussing technological breakthroughs in robotics and artificial intelligence and describes not only how technology is more relevant and beneficial to active agers than most people might realize, but also how these technological developments will provide further business opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Feb 19, 2019

This week, on the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes David Minton, founder and director of The Leisure Database Company, purveyors of customer profiles, market data and site analysis for the fitness industry . The pair speak to us from the Grand Majestic Hotel in Bologna, Italy, where they have just spoken on a panel at ForumClub entitled “New consumers, new tools, new businesses” with other industry leaders, and they share their key takeaways from this star-studded panel.

Feb 5, 2019

On this week's Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan discusses the Fitness Industry Technology Council's 2019 Tech Trend Report. Established in 2008 as a nonprofit membership organization, FIT-C's mission is to promote the responsible and effective adoption of technology in order to enhance user experience and improve business models for operators. Their annual trend report is a great way to keep an eye on the trends that will impact the market for years to come.

Jan 21, 2019

On this week's Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan welcomes veteran Australian fit-tech entrepreneur Deborah Goldberg to the podcast. Deborah came into the fitness industry ten years ago, with a focus of bringing Zumba to Australia, a nation with one of the world's worst obesity levels. Today, she works with AirFitness, designing tech products specifically for the fitness industry. She also launched Sub A Class, a free app that connects fitness instructors with one another to fill in or cover other instructor absences, as well as Morfis, an app that promotes business for fitness professionals.

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