IDEAfit Pro Show

In Episode 10 of Season 8 of the IDEAfit Pro Show, host Amy Boone Thompson welcomes fitness pioneer, author, television personality, and healthy aging advocate Elaine LaLanne—affectionately known around the world as the “First Lady of Fitness.” As part of the Inspire the World to Fitness® author series, Elaine reflects on her extraordinary life and legacy alongside fitness icon Jack LaLanne, shari...

In Episode 9 of Season 8 of the IDEAfit Pro Show, host Amy Boone Thompson welcomes one of the most influential educators in fitness history—Dr. Len Kravitz, exercise scientist, researcher, author, educator, and the 1987 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year. As part of the Meet the Authors series celebrating the book Inspire the World to Fitness® , Dr. Kravitz shares the inspiring journey behind his...

In Episode 8 of Season 8 of the IDEAfit Pro Show, host Amy Boone Thompson welcomes Desi Bartlett, the 2025 IDEA Fitness Leader of the Year, wellness expert, author, speaker, and creator of the BodyMind Workout® system. As part of the Meet the Authors series highlighting contributors to Inspire the World to Fitness® , Desi shares her deeply personal journey through movement, mindfulness, healing, a...

Season 8 of the IDEAfit Pro Show continues the Meet the Authors series with legendary fitness leader, educator, entrepreneur, and two-time IDEA Award recipient Sherri McMillan . Host Amy Boone Thompson sits down with Sherri for an inspiring conversation about leadership, purpose, service, business growth, and how fitness professionals can intentionally design a life—and career—they truly love. Dra...

Season 8 of the IDEAfit Pro Show continues the Meet the Authors series with Ruben P. Thickstun , fitness educator, active aging advocate, and the 2024 IDEA Emerging Trailblazer of the Year. Host Amy Boone Thompson welcomes Ruben back to the show for an emotional and inspiring conversation centered around his chapter in Inspire the World to Fitness® : Promise, Purpose, and Practice: A Son’s Career...

Season 8 of the IDEAfit Pro Show continues the Meet the Authors series with Leslee Bender , 2020 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year, internationally recognized educator, innovator, presenter, and creator of the Bender Ball® and The Pilates Coach®. Host Amy Boone Thompson welcomes Leslee back to the IDEAfit Pro Show for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about resilience, reinvention, movem...

Season 8 of the IDEAfit Pro Show continues the Meet the Authors series with an inspiring conversation featuring Dr. Carla Sottovia , 2005 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year, 2014 IDEA Program Director of the Year, educator, researcher, endurance athlete, and longtime leader at the Cooper Aerobics Center. Host Amy Boone Thompson welcomes Carla for her very first appearance on the IDEAfit Pro Show, w...

Season 8 of the IDEAfit Pro Show continues the Meet the Authors series with one of the fitness industry’s most dynamic educators and advocates for inclusion— Rick Richey , 2022 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year, educator, entrepreneur, podcast host, and founder of Independent Training Spot. Host Amy Boone Thompson sits down with Rick for a candid and inspiring conversation about building opportuni...

On this episode of Season 8 of the IDEAfit Pro Show, host Amy Boone Thompson welcomes Ingrid Knight-Cohee , the 2024 IDEA Fitness Leader of the Year and author of Chapter 7 in Inspire the World to Fitness® . Ingrid is a fitness leader, educator, program creator, and changemaker whose work centers on confidence, resilience, health equity, and community through movement. Her chapter, “Inner Voice an...

IDEAfit Pro Show — Season 8, Episode 1 Season 8 of the IDEAfit Pro Show kicks off with a powerful new series— Meet the Authors —spotlighting the voices behind the book Inspire the World to Fitness . Host Amy Boone-Thompson welcomes Ellen De Werd , 2026 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year, global educator, program creator, and founder of the Warrior Instructor Academy. In this deeply personal and i...

Episode Summary Season 8 of the IDEAfit Pro Show begins with a special kickoff episode introducing the new Meet the Authors series, built around IDEA’s book, Inspire the World to Fitness . Host Amy Boone Thompson , CEO of IDEA Health & Fitness Association, shares the purpose behind this season: connecting listeners to the stories, lessons, and leaders featured in the book. This season highligh...

Episode Summary On this special bonus episode of Season 7 of the IDEAfit Pro Show, host Amy Boone-Thompson welcomes Dr. Judi Brown Clarke —Olympian, educator, national leader, and the 2026 IDEA Jack & Elaine LaLanne Award recipient . A silver medalist in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1984 Olympic Games , Dr. Brown Clarke has built a remarkable career beyond sport. She currently serves as Vice P...

Episode Summary On this episode of Season 7 of the IDEAfit Pro Show, host Amy Boone-Thompson welcomes Greg Johnson , the 2025 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year , owner and head trainer of VeraMax Fitness Personal Training Studio and the FitGolf Performance Center in Sacramento, California. With more than 20 years in the fitness industry and more than a decade as a successful studio owner, Greg has...

Episode Title: Episode Summary On this episode of Season 7 of the IDEAfit Pro Show, host Amy Boone-Thompson welcomes Dane Robinson , one of IDEA’s top-rated presenters and a dynamic leader in the fitness industry. A former professional athlete turned coach, presenter, host, and keynote speaker, Dane is known for helping fitness professionals transform workouts into immersive, high-energy experienc...

Episode Summary On this episode of Season 7 of the IDEAfit Pro Show, host Amy Boone-Thompson welcomes Brian Richey , an internationally recognized expert in post-rehab and corrective exercise. Brian is an author, educator, personal trainer, and industry leader in medical exercise. He is also the owner and CEO of Fit for Life DC , a medical exercise facility in Washington, D.C., where he helps clie...

Episode Summary On this episode of Season 7 of the IDEAfit Pro Show, host Amy Boone-Thompson welcomes Gini Grimsley, Executive Director of Programming for Pain-Free Performance and a leader whose career spans athletics, performance coaching, personal training, group programming, and fitness operations. A former Division I and professional basketball player, Gini has built a career around helping p...

IDEAfit Pro Show — Season 7, Episode 4 Episode Title: The Multi-Dimensional Fit Pro: Mobility, Pilates Integrity & Making Work Fair with Siri Chilazi Episode Summary On this episode of Season 7 of the IDEAfit Pro Show, host Amy Boone-Thompson is joined by Siri Chilazi—nearly 20-year veteran presenter, educator, and group fitness instructor, and the 2023 IDEA Emerging Trailblazer of the Year. S...

IDEAfit Pro Show — Season 7, Episode 3 Episode Title: Building Future Fit Pros & Mastering Small Group Training with Jade Rogers Episode Summary On this episode of Season 7 of the IDEAfit Pro Show, host Amy Boone-Thompson welcomes Jade Rogers — lecturer in the Department of Kinesiology at California State University, Long Beach; certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor; and co-f...

IDEAfit Pro Show — Season 7, Episode 2 Episode Title: Burnout or Boredom? Future-Proofing Your Fitness Career with Jessica Maurer Episode Summary On this episode of Season 7 of the IDEAfit Pro Show, host Amy Boone-Thompson welcomes Jessica Maurer, nationally recognized wellness business consultant, strategist, keynote speaker, and Director of Education for the Mental Well-Being Association. Jessic...

IDEAfit Pro Show — Season 7, Episode 1 Episode Title: Inside the 2026 NIRSA + IDEA World Conference & Expo: A Historic Industry Collaboration Episode Summary On the premiere episode of Season 7 of the IDEAfit Pro Show , host Amy Boone-Thompson kicks off the season by spotlighting one of the most significant moments in IDEA’s history: the first-ever collaboration between IDEA Health & Fitne...

As we close out Season 6 of the IDEAfit Pro Show, Amy Boone Thompson reflects on an unforgettable season packed with wisdom, connection, and purpose. From inspiring stories to actionable strategies, every episode has prepared us for the ultimate gathering of fitness professionals: IDEA World 2025. In this finale, Amy shares highlights from the season, how they align with IDEA World’s pillars of kn...

With over four decades of empowering millions to move, Denise Austin has redefined what it means to make fitness fun, accessible, and sustainable. In this special episode, Amy Boone Thompson talks with the iconic fitness expert and 2025 recipient of IDEA’s Jack and Elaine LaLanne Award. Denise reflects on her groundbreaking career, shares stories of her mentors Jack and Elaine LaLanne, and reveals...

What does it take to create a thriving, sustainable career in fitness? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Darien Parker and Dr. Erin Nitschke—two powerhouse educators and co-creators of IDEA’s Mentor Network Program. Together, they share their career journeys, the evolution of mentorship in fitness, and how the Mentor Network is shaping the next generation of professionals. Whether you’re a sea...

Midlife can be a challenging season for many women—but with the right knowledge and support, it’s also a time for empowerment and transformation. In this episode, Dr. Kathleen Jordan, Chief Medical Officer at MIDI Health, shares how fitness professionals can better understand perimenopause and menopause to support their clients holistically. From hormones to lifestyle changes and collaborative car...

At nearly 100 years old, Elaine LaLanne—affectionately known as “Lala”—continues to inspire generations with her energy, wisdom, and heart. In this special episode, the First Lady of Fitness shares unforgettable stories from her life with fitness pioneer Jack LaLanne, her own journey into wellness, and why staying active, having a project, and someone to love is the true secret to longevity. What...