Fitness + Technology

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke welcomes David Stalker, co-founder of Looking Glass Partners, a firm that brings together experience across health, fitness, wellness, investment, operations, technology, and strategy to help owners, operators, and investors navigate the opportunities and challenges facing the industry. David has more than 35 years of experience i...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke welcomes Steve Barrett, an educator, product developer, and specialist in fitness experience design. Drawing on three decades of global experience, Steve helps the fitness industry understand the science of exercise, the psychology of behavior, and the future of fitness. His practical insights challenge conventional thinking and h...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke welcomes Alan Leach, CEO and Director of Sales and Marketing at West Wood Club in Ireland. Alan has spent 35 years in the fitness industry, with deep expertise in sales management, sales training, digital marketing, direct marketing, and business growth. Alan is a former Chair and Director of the Health & Fitness Association (HFA)...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke shares his presentation, "The Human Revolution: Fitness, Purpose, & The World We Choose to Build" live from Fitness Brasil Expo 2026 in São Paulo. Technology is rewriting what it means to be human. Bryan makes the case for the fitness industry's role in that moment and why it matters more than we think. An overview of Bryan's talk...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke shares his keynote, "Chaos To Connection: Rethinking Fitness For A World That Needs Us," recorded live at Fitness Brasil Expo 2026 in São Paulo. Bryan lays out a practical case for how operators and innovators can build businesses that meet people where they actually are. With technology rewriting what it means to be human, he arg...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke welcomes Frank van de Ven to the show. Frank recently retired as Chief Commercial and Chief Marketing Officer of Life Fitness, closing out a nearly three-decade run with the company that took him from EMEA Marketing Director to General Manager of Life Fitness Benelux, Managing Director for Continental Europe, the Middle East and A...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke welcomes back Dave Wright to the show. Dave is the Founder and Owner of MYZONE, a wearable technology and social platform that rewards effort in physical activity. MYZONE is ideal for boosting member retention in health clubs, building communities across networks, and aggregating data for an employer, sports team, school, or gym....

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke welcomes JJ Creegan to the show. JJ is the Principal at Creegan Co., a firm that helps founders, operators, and investors scale multi-unit consumer brands. Over the past two decades, JJ has partnered with founder-led and private equity-backed businesses to take concepts from launch through institutional scale — growing brands to 1...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke welcomes Chris Smith, President & CEO of Fitness World Canada. Over the past several years, Fitness World has experienced significant growth across British Columbia and is now entering its next phase with a $50 million national expansion strategy. The plan includes new corporate-owned locations and the launch of the company's firs...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke welcomes Jeremy Hirsch, Head of Franchise & Multi-Unit Services at Houlihan Lokey, a leading global investment bank. Houlihan Lokey is recognized for providing independent strategic and financial advice to corporations, financial sponsors, and governments, with expertise spanning mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, financ...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke welcomes back Chris Stevenson to the show. Chris is the Founder of The Empower Group , a consulting firm that helps health clubs, studios, parks and recreation departments, and fitness professionals reach their goals through speaking, workshops, and customized services. In this conversation, Bryan and Chris share observations from...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke joins Vincenzo Lardinelli live from Beyond Activ Europe in Madrid. Vincenzo is the founder and CEO of FLITFIT, a live and on-demand fitness platform built to help clubs extend their offering online, and serves as the Italian Ambassador for the Fitness Industry Technology Council. A frequent voice on AI, longevity, and the future o...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke welcomes Yves Preissler to the show. Yves is the Founder and CEO of YP Business Consulting, a globally active, privately owned advisory firm specializing in final-decision advisory and concept architecture for the fitness, wellness, recovery, sport, and hospitality industries. With over 20 years of international experience and mor...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke shares his panel discussion from FIBO's Future Forum, "A Respectful Disagreement on AI & Its Hype Cycle." Moderated by Hans Muench, Bryan is joined by Pablo Viñaspre of FitnessKPI and Marcin Obel of Qodeca for an honest conversation about what's working in AI, what's falling short, and what fitness operators should actually be pay...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke sits down with Tracey Spain Estes, Senior Account Manager at LG Electronics. Tracey brings more than 20 years of experience in the health, wellness, and fitness industry, with a proven track record in strategic account leadership and sales performance. Her background includes leadership roles with Life Fitness and the YMCA, where...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke sits down with Florian Brauer, Senior Global Brand Manager for FIBO—the world's largest exhibition platform for health, fitness, and wellness. Florian oversees FIBO's global brand strategy, shaping its international identity and managing a growing portfolio of regional events, including FIBO Arabia. He also cultivates partnerships...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast , Bryan O'Rourke sits down with Chris Sullivan , recently CIO of Self Esteem Brands and now Lead Principal Advisor at Brillect . Together, they explore the realities of scaling technology in complex, franchise-driven environments. Drawing on his background in retail and digital innovation, Chris shares insights on navigating growth, overcoming op...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke presents "Gamification That Pays: Inside the Referral + Loyalty Tactics Fueling Growth," a panel discussion recorded live at the HFA Show in San Diego. Bryan is joined by Heather Malstaff, Director of Sales & Operations at Extraordinary Brands; Martin Johns, Owner and General Manager of Raintree Athletic Club; and Amie Boring, Tec...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast , host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes Jim Paro, Founder of Operate Fit, to the show. Operate Fit is a platform designed to help community-focused organizations modernize how they manage their operations. By replacing paper forms, scattered spreadsheets, and manual processes with centralized digital workflows, the platform helps facilities save time, red...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes Sunil Saha back to the show. Sunil is the Co-Founder and CEO of Perkville, a customer rewards and referral platform that integrates with e-commerce, point-of-sale, membership, and scheduling systems to deliver a seamless experience that drives engagement, referrals, and long-term loyalty. In this conversation, Sunil...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes Melissa Rodriguez, a market research leader in the fitness industry. Melissa has worked with organizations including HFA and Mindbody and has conducted numerous independent research initiatives. She recently founded her own firm, Datagonist, where she combines practitioner experience with research leadership to deliv...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke presents his webinar, " Adopting Proven AI Management Tools in Your Gym Operation ," alongside Pablo Viñaspre of FitnessKPI. This in-depth session explores how fitness operators can implement practical AI solutions to streamline staff workflows, personalize member experiences, optimize marketing and sales performance, and imp...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast , host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes Steffie Bryant to the show. Steffie brings a strong background in gym operations, sales, and currently serves as President of Keepme.ai, an AI-powered sales and marketing CRM platform designed specifically for the fitness industry. Since its launch in April 2019, Keepme.ai has expanded globally, supporting hundreds...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast , host Bryan O'Rourke shares his recent webinar, "Strategies For Implementing Data Solutions For Gym Chains," presented alongside Pablo Viñaspre, Founder and CEO of FitnessKPI. This in-depth session examines proven strategies for successfully implementing data solutions across multi-site gym operations. Bryan and Pablo discuss how operators can a...

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes back strategic advisor Pete Moore, Managing Partner at Integrity Square. Pete and his firm specialize in supporting passionate entrepreneurs, high-growth companies, and experienced executives by connecting them with the right sources of capital. At Integrity Square, Pete leads efforts in the health, active lifestyle,...