Behind Gym Doors | A Fitness Business Podcast

Mike Arce sits down with Adam Kifer, CEO of Relentless Media and author of "The Relentless Marketer," to unpack why most gym owners fail at paid ads and how to fix it by leading better, thinking bigger, and leveling up your team. This episode is a deep dive into the real reasons your leads don't convert, your ads stop working, and your team underperforms. From coaching culture to marketing psychol...

Mike Arce sits down with Megan and Scott Hanson, the founders of High Ride Cycle, to reveal how they've built a cult-like studio brand through next-level marketing automation, three iconic promotions a year, and an unforgettable in-studio culture. They've grown to 800+ members across three locations while keeping their ops lean, their campaigns personal, and their customer journey fully mapped out...

Smart gyms don't scale through hard working individuals, they scale through hard working systems. Grace Giles, the powerhouse behind one of the world's highest-performing F45 studios, reveals how she turned burnout into balance, scaling to $141K/month while traveling and stepping away from daily operations. Grace shares how she leverages virtual assistants, tools like Loom and Canva, and detailed...

Smart studios don't just market, they engineer member behavior. In this episode of Behind Gym Doors (formerly the GSD Show), fitness business expert Mike Arce is joined by Dave and Kimberly from Blended Athletics, a high-performing gym in Nova Scotia, Canada. They break down the exact referral campaigns, email strategies, and retention formulas that drive over 90% conversion rates. This combinatio...

🔗 Ready to GROW your studio? Schedule a free call to learn how we can help: https://loudrumor.com/discover If you think more ads are the key to scaling your studio, think again. In this episode, Loud Rumor CEO, Mike Arce, sits down with Allison Moreno, founder of a massage studio brand on track to hit $20 million in revenue, to reveal what actually fuels sustainable growth: leadership, systems, a...

If there's someone on your team you know isn't a fit, but you're still holding on, this episode is the wake-up call you've been avoiding. In this episode, Loud Rumor CEO Mike Arce delivers an honest message every leader needs to hear about what it really means to let someone go… and why NOT doing it might be the most selfish move of all. You'll walk away with a new framework that: Ends the emotion...

If your studio is struggling with retention, reviews, referrals, or upgrades, this episode flips the script.  Inspired by an unforgettable act of hospitality, Loud Rumor CEO, Mike Arce, dives into how studios can create standout member experiences that drive lasting loyalty. You'll hear how one F45 owner built a 700+ five-star review reputation and how Loud Rumor members are using similar strategi...

🔗 Ready to GROW your GYM? Schedule a free call to learn how we can help: https://loudrumor.com/discover If you've ever thought more leads were the answer to your gym's growth, think again. In this episode of The GSD Show, Mike Arce is joined by Rich and Jade from Crowned Boxing to unpack how they slashed their gym's attrition rate from 20% to just 4% and why retention was the real growth lever. F...

If you've ever blamed your marketing agency for poor results, this episode will challenge everything you think you know about paid ads, lead generation, and agency relationships.  Adam Kifer joins Mike Arce to reveal why most gym and martial arts studio owners fail with ads—and what separates the top performers from the frustrated ones. From community-driven lead strategies like "business baskets"...

Mike Arce sits down with Lindsay Greenlee, a former PhD professor who walked away from academia to launch one of the top 5 Pure Barre franchises in the country. She didn't just build a studio—she built a movement that's helped over 1,000 women reclaim their health and confidence. Lindsay shares exactly how she turned her lack of fitness industry experience into a superpower—leveraging storytelling...

"You shouldn't work in your business—only on it." It's a phrase we've all heard. Maybe even lived by. But in this episode of the GSD Show, Loud Rumor CEO Mike Arce challenges that long-standing business mantra and unpacks a powerful asterisk we've all been missing. After a candid fireside chat with high-performing entrepreneurs (including one with a $500M valuation), Mike shares why sometimes gett...

In this new episode of The GSD Show Podcast, Mike opens up about a personal battle with burnout that stretched across nearly half a year—and the surprising realization that pulled him out of it. What if burnout isn't really about being overworked? What if it's about lack of progress ? Mike shares the internal dialogue, tough questions, and game-changing mindset shift that helped him rediscover mot...

What if you could grow your gym to full capacity—without spending a dollar on ads? Laurel Roach reveals the strategy that helped her do exactly that. In this episode of The GSD Show with Mike Arce, fitness entrepreneur and Alloy franchise partner Laurel Roach breaks down the referral and relationship marketing system that's fueling explosive growth at her North Scottsdale location and how you can...

You're Sitting on a Goldmine: Unlocking the Power of Email in Your CRM In this episode, Mike Arce, CEO of Loud Rumor, reveals why most fitness studios are sitting on a goldmine—and wasting it. With over 4,000 gyms served across 11 countries, Mike breaks down the real difference between sending emails and doing email marketing . Learn why your CRM is your most underutilized asset, how to think abou...

What if social media could consistently bring new members to your gym without spending a fortune on ads? Felicia Romero shares her game-changing strategies that every gym owner needs to know! In this episode of The GSD Show with Mike Arce, powerhouse entrepreneur, fitness expert, and media personality Felicia Romero reveals the strategies behind her rapid gym growth. As a franchise partner with Oh...

There's a new rule that could flip your entire business model upside down—especially if you rely on memberships, subscriptions, or recurring payments.   Most business owners have never heard of it. Even fewer are ready for what's coming. And the price of not knowing? Let's just say... it's not cheap. In this episode, Mike breaks down the rule, the risk, and the smarter way to move forward.    If y...

How This Studio Owner 3X'd Revenue and Built a Team That Scales Hosted by Mike Arce, CEO of Loud Rumor In this episode, Mike Arce sits down with Caitlin Bovée, a studio owner in Ontario who scaled her business from $40K/month to over $160K/month—and opened a new location along the way. They break down the mindset shifts, operational systems, and leadership habits that transformed her business, wit...

Description: How To Lead from Any Seat on the Team — Managing Up for a Stronger Studio Culture Hosted by Mike Arce, CEO of Loud Rumor Whether you're the owner of a gym, a front desk manager, or part of the coaching team, this episode is for you—and it's one your entire team should hear. Mike Arce breaks down one of the most overlooked leadership skills in business today: managing up . You'll learn...

🎧 How to Maximize the ROI from Your Coaching or Mastermind Program Hosted by Mike Arce, CEO of Loud Rumor If you're a gym owner investing in a mastermind or coaching program—or thinking about it—this episode is a must-listen. With over 15 years of experience in high-level coaching circles, Mike Arce breaks down the real keys to getting the most out of these programs. You'll learn: Why the best in...

In this episode, Mike Arce, CEO of Loud Rumor, breaks down the key differences between managers and leaders and why understanding this distinction is crucial for business success. He shares an insightful exercise from a recent event, demonstrating how managers keep operations on track while leaders focus on judgment and growth. Mike also introduces the "131" problem-solving method and emphasizes h...

In this episode of The GSD Show, the leading fitness business podcast, we break down what it takes to be a successful employee in the gym space.   If you're working in a boutique fitness studio—whether it's HIIT, Pilates, yoga, kickboxing, spin, or any specialized training facility—this episode is packed with game-changing insights to help you thrive in your role. Mike Arce, CEO of Loud Rumor, sha...

In this episode of The GSD Show, the leading fitness business podcast, we break down why most gym owners are stuck in a cycle of low profits and high attrition, but not Jeff Binek. Jeff has turned his gym into a $2.3M real estate empire, built a 7-figure fitness business, and maintains industry-best retention rates—all while working toward removing himself from daily operations. If you're tired of...

In this episode of The GSD Show, the leading fitness business podcast, we break down one of the biggest challenges gym owners face—retention. He explains why most fitness studios struggle to keep members long-term and how shifting from a tactical to a strategic mindset can make all the difference. Listeners will discover: ✅ The most common mistake fitness business owners make when trying to impro...

In this episode of The GSD Show, the leading fitness business podcast, we break down why most fitness business owners are focused on the wrong things regarding retention—and how simple adjustments in tracking, engagement, and results can dramatically reduce attrition.  While most gyms struggle to achieve sub-12 % attrition, Dave and Kimberley from Blended Athletics have cracked the code; keeping t...

In this episode of The GSD Show, the leading fitness business podcast, we break down how storytelling impacts sales, leadership, and business growth. The greatest CEOs and visionaries share one key skill: the ability to tell powerful stories.  Mike Arce, CEO of Loud Rumor shares a real-life coaching session with a fitness business owner struggling to maintain top sales and retention. The missing p...