Info

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
RSS Feed Subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Fitness + Technology
2024
March
February
January


2023
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February


2022
December
November
October
September
June
May
April
February
January


2021
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2020
December
November
August
July
June
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
October
September
August
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2016
December
November


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: April, 2020
Apr 27, 2020

This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes long time friend and colleague Dana Milkie to the show. Dana is a key executive leader well known and respected throughout the industry including his positions as Senior VP of ABC Financial, President & CEO of InTouch Technology, and now VP of North America at eGym. As an expert in growth, resources, and profitability strategies, listeners will hear Dana’s insights from his new position and how he is changing the direction at eGym as a result of the crisis in business shutdown and uncertain consumer behavior.

Also FIT-C's upcoming webinar "Conquering the Crisis. How Tech Will Help Gyms Pivot" will be on Tuesday May 12th at 2PM Eastern. You can register for FREE now here: https://egym.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oYZTN6fBQ46tgqIsv5DfLA.


We hope these conversations continue to be of value and interest to you as the situation continues. If there is anything we can do for you, again please reach out @bryankorourke or at bryankorourke@gmail.com

One Powerful Quote: 
15:48: “We are all in this together. We’re trying to figure out how to change the industry, affect what the clubs are doing in the middle of a crisis like we’ve never seen before anywhere. So if we work together…we want to help everybody in the industry come out the other side if not stronger, at least with a strategy going forward that reflects what happening in the world and allows them to be positioned well for what clubs are going to look like.”


Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:
5:35: Bryan asks Dana on the long term implications around trends in the fitness industry. Dana says the challenge will be how operators shift demand to a more convenient and omnipresent option for consumers.


8:57: Bryan agrees with Dana and shares his thoughts on how this accustomed behavior will be essential to all industries as customers expect a digital connection. Dana notes this will be a hard pressed conversation and an opportunity to stress the importance of health.


11:55: Dana shares why he joined eGym and how the organization wants to help leverage their technology as a solution to help the marketplace.


13:38: Bryan inquires with Dana about eGym’s free digital member app. If you interested in learning more, click here: https://egym.com/en/apps/.


15:40: Dana shares his final thoughts and encourages listeners that the community of the fitness industry will survive and flourish once again. He reminders the audience that eGym is available to help everyone with a strategy going forward that will reflect a good position for the future.


Bullet List of Resources:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-milkie-38ab47/

Guest Contact Information:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-milkie-38ab47/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000732609828

https://www.bryankorourke.com/

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

http://www.fittechcouncil.org/

https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163

 

Apr 9, 2020

This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes long time friend and business partner Robert Dyer to the show. Robert is a health club and fitness industry executive, leader, and entrepreneur with over thirty years of experience operating a variety of health club business models including consulting and advising fitness facility owners and global suppliers. His most notable position was CEO of Fitmarc, where he nurtured a team of fitness professionals into the largest distributor of Les Mills group exercise and business solutions in the U.S. He currently is an investor in Vedere Ventures, whose portfolio includes VertiMax, Motosumo, 24 Seven Fitness, and Moon Mission Media. Listeners will hear Robert’s advice on continuing to operate businesses and how to move forward together during these unprecedented times. We hope these conversations continue to be of value and interest to you as the situation continues. If there is anything we can do for you, again please reach out @bryankorourke or at bryankorourke@gmail.com

If you are interested in purchasing Bryan and Robert’s book, 9 Partnership Principles: A Story of Life Lessons & Working Together, you can do so here: https://www.amazon.com/Partnership-Principles-Lessons-Working-Together/dp/148346315X


One Powerful Quote: 
5:19: “Eventually, you have to have a strategy in understanding of how to do things. We need to do things differently and how to do those based on that, as we move forward, we are in a new normal. That new normal is undetermined, undefined right now. And I think that has to make us rethink in all areas what we are doing in our industry.”


Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:
3:50: Bryan asks Robert his impression on the world as it is for club owners and gym operators. Robert mentions his reasoning why these challenging times are opportunities for change and explains the new normal that will impact our industry.


6:03: Bryan and Robert openly discuss the structure around controllable/uncontrollable factors already identified in operations.


8:04: Bryan inquires with Robert about the reluctance to adopt technology. Robert agrees that this is a reality and a necessity as a result of the industry needing to grow for the better. Bryan and Robert recollect their business partnership and the process they underwent to change their business operations for success.


17:11: Robert gives listeners his final thoughts and suggests that the fitness industry needs a continuity plan in place as a roadmap in times like this. He also advises the industry should have an open communication strategy in place for conversations that lead to collaboration, understanding, and respect.


Bullet List of Resources:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rjdyer/

Guest Contact Information:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rjdyer/

https://www.facebook.com/RobertJDyer

https://www.bryankorourke.com/

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

http://www.fittechcouncil.org/

https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163

 

Apr 2, 2020

This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes esteemed colleague Blair McHaney to the show. Blair is currently the President and CEO of MXMetrics, the customer experience system developed by Medallia exclusively for fitness centers. As an educator, practitioner, and student of customer experience management, listeners will hear Blair’s practical thinking on the current state of the industry as it continues to grapple with the effects of COVID-19. We hope these conversations continue to be of value and interest to you as the situation continues. If there is anything we can do for you, again please reach out @bryankorourke or at bryankorourke@gmail.com.


If you interested in learning more about MXM and their free access to the Membership Shutdown Survey, visit https://mxmetrics.com/fitness-industry-shutdown-survey/ to sign up.


If you would like to learn more about MXM’s Idea Generation System, Crowdicity, register at https://mxmetrics.com/crowdicity/.


One Powerful Quote: 
34:30: “In a crisis, the starkness becomes more clear between the really good companies and the mediocre. It’s going to become crystal clear coming out of this.”


Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:
3:57: Bryan asks Blair what he has learned from this ordeal, including the decision to reduce subscription fees and the value in gaining more insight into club operations from membership shutdown.


7:20: Blair explains MXM’s Membership Survey as a structured tool designed to capture feedback in understanding member’s attitudes, fears, and what they care about most.


18:53: Blair highlights MXM’s Idea Management Platform, Crowdicity, and its application for communication and support for employees.


23:10: Bryan and Blair discuss what will happen to the future state of the industry and how operators will have to change their business model.


35:28: Blair offers his final thoughts and advises listeners to optimize the necessary tools needed to survive while preparing a plan to excel out of their situation.


Bullet List of Resources:
https://mxmetrics.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/blair-mchaney-1b086a2a/

Guest Contact Information:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/blair-mchaney-1b086a2a/

https://www.facebook.com/blair.mchaney

https://twitter.com/BlairMcHaney

https://www.bryankorourke.com/

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

http://www.fittechcouncil.org/

https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163

1