Episodes
Pat Rigsby - Franchising Reality Check: B2B Acquisition, Broker Dependency, and Loss of Control
From franchising fitness empires to developing the next generation of athletes — Pat Rigsby has seen it all, and he's not done yet. In this episode, Pat joins Eric to break down what's actually shifting in the fitness and sports performance industry in 2025, why the gap between "trainer who pays ren...
Mark Mastrov - The 24 Hour Fitness Acquisition: Mark Mastrov Returns with Long Range Capital
Mark Mastrov, founder of 24 Hour Fitness, sat down with Eric Malzone to reflect on decades of industry experience and where fitness is headed next. The conversation covered how consumer behavior has shifted dramatically post-pandemic, with younger generations leaning into fitness more than ever, and...
Anthony Geisler's Sequel Brands: Five Boutique Brands, Zero Debt, 100% Control
In this episode, Eric sits down with serial fitness entrepreneur Anthony Geisler to unpack his new venture, Sequel, why he’s doubling down on longevity, and how he sees the future of fitness shifting toward healthspan, tech-enabled training, and democratized wellness for the masses. ✨ Key takeaways...
Garrett Salpeter - The NeuFit Framework: Nervous System First, Tissue Second
In this episode, Eric Malzone sits down with Garrett Salpeter, founder of NeuFit and creator of the NEUBIE direct current device, to unpack how targeting the nervous system can dramatically speed up recovery, reduce chronic pain, and unlock higher levels of performance across rehab, fitness, and eve...
Mark Fisher - The Gym Owner's AI Stack: A Framework for 2026
In this episode, Eric Malzone sits down with Mark Fisher to dig into the messy, exciting reality of AI for brick-and-mortar gym owners, from overhyped agents and AI bubbles to very real, practical use cases that actually move the needle for local fitness businesses. TAKEAWAYS 🔥 How AI is both wild...
Daniel Wischer & Erwin Korst - Why Most AI Initiatives Fail: Sport Alliance on Being Data Ready vs. Data Aware
In this episode of The Future of Fitness, Daniel from Sport Alliance (tech whiz behind their cloud platform) and Erwin (sales powerhouse with 30 years in fitness) break down why fitness operators are scrambling—or should be—with AI hype exploding but data chaos holding everyone back. From Boston's n...
Paul Byrne - The Consumer Health Revolution: Why GLP-1s, Biometrics, and AI Are Finally Converging
In this episode, Eric Malzone sits down with industry veteran and Harrison Co. partner Paul Byrne to unpack the “consumer health revolution” transforming fitness, healthcare, and longevity—from GLP‑1s and peptides to wearables, AI “robo docs,” and accessible longevity clinics. ✨ Key takeaways 💊 GL...
Verdine Baker - From StretchLab to iFLEX, Sequel Brands' Twist on Dynamic Stretching
In this episode, Eric Malzone chats with Verdine Baker, who shares his inspiring journey from being a professional athlete 🏅 to leading StretchLab and now iFlex. They dive into how the wellness industry is evolving 🌿, the remarkable success of StretchLab 💪, and why consumer education is key to la...
Amber Burke - The Quiet Scale: Burn Bootcamp's Massive Growth Without the Noise
In this episode, Eric Malzone sits down with Amber Burke, COO of Burn Bootcamp, for a deep, candid conversation on what it really takes to scale a boutique fitness franchise without losing its soul. Amber shares her journey from Division I athlete and strength coach to C-suite leader, offering a rar...