Matthew Januszek

Escape Your Limits & LIFTS

Health EN ↓ 479 episodes

LIFTS:Every week, our intrepid hosts Matthew Januszek of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal of SweatWorks will discuss the breaking fitness industry news, providing their own perspective on the headlines whilst provoking thoughts and conversations. All delivered in a quick-fix, approximately 30-minute podcast. ESCAPE YOUR LIMITS:Inside the minds of fitness industry influencers. Find out what drives, fuels and motivates the leaders in health and fitness. Each episode of Escape Your Limits reveals the mental, physical and emotional ingredients involved in standing out above everybody else. Discover why...

Author

Matthew Januszek

Episodes

LIFTS Episode 131 – Inside Athletech New York: The Biggest Ideas Shaping Fitness LIFTS LIVE in New York 05.07.2026 1:25:29

Welcome to a special edition of LIFTS x Athletech, where we explore the future of fitness, wellness and human performance. Recorded live at Athletech in New York, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal are joined by five industry leaders to discuss the trends already transforming the fitness industry and what operators need to do to stay ahead. As fitness, healthcare, AI, wearable technology, r...

LIFTS Episode 130 – The CEOs Rebuilding Fitness | Leadership Lessons from the Industry's Biggest Transformations 28.06.2026 37:54

Welcome to a special edition of LIFTS x Connected Health & Fitness, brought to you by Cascadia, where we explore the future of fitness, wellness, and human performance. Recorded live during an exclusive CEO Leadership Dinner at the Connected Health & Fitness Summit in New York, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal are joined by three industry leaders to discuss what it takes to lead through t...

LIFTS Episode 129 - Wall Street's Fitness Investment Playbook: What Builds Value & What Kills Deals | with Aarti Kapoor 21.06.2026 50:59

Welcome to LIFTS, where we explore the future of fitness, wellness, and human performance. In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal are joined by Aarti Kapoor, investment banker, fitness industry advisor, and one of the leading voices at the intersection of fitness, capital markets, and business growth. This conversation explores how investors evaluate fitness businesses, what se...

LIFTS Episode 128 - One PhD. 5.5M Members | Retention Science That Could Change the Industry | with Dr. Paul Bedford 14.06.2026 54:51

Welcome to LIFTS, where we explore the future of fitness, wellness, and human performance. In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal are joined by Dr. Paul Bedford, founder of The Retention Guru and one of the fitness industry's leading authorities on member retention, customer experience, and consumer behaviour. After analysing more than 5.5 million gym member records worldwide,...

LIFTS Episode 127 - The HYROX Effect | Will Every Gym Need a Strategy to Survive? 08.06.2026 47:23

Welcome to LIFTS, where we explore the future of fitness, wellness, and human performance. In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal are joined by Mark Hartnett-Morgan (ATHX Games), Nicolas Denby (GymSync), Emily Leroux (DEKA International), and George Crook (HYROX Training Zones) to explore one of the most significant trends reshaping the fitness industry today: the rise of compe...

LIFTS Episode 126 - Why the Fastest-Growing Workout Category in America Is Also the Most Misunderstood | with Dr. Brent Anderson 31.05.2026 58:28

Welcome to LIFTS, where we explore the future of fitness, wellness, and human performance. In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal are joined by Dr. Brent Anderson, founder of Polestar Pilates, physical therapist, educator, and one of the most respected voices in the global Pilates industry. Pilates has become one of the fastest-growing categories in fitness. Participation conti...

LIFTS Episode 125 - Is the Fitness Industry Ready for the Performance Medicine Era? | with Dr. Nestor Rodriguez 24.05.2026 36:24

Welcome to LIFTS, where we explore the future of fitness, wellness, and human performance. In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal are joined by Dr. Nestor Rodriguez for a deep dive into one of the biggest shifts happening across healthcare, fitness, and longevity: the move from reactive "sick care" to proactive performance medicine. For decades, healthcare systems have largely...

LIFTS Episode 124 – The $128 Million Recovery Tech Collapse: What Really Happened at Aescape | with Frank Britt 17.05.2026 42:02

Welcome to the latest episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the latest fitness industry trends and stories. In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal are joined by Frank Britt, CEO of Aescape, for a deep dive into one of the most talked-about stories in wellness technology this year. After reports emerged that Aescape entered insolvency proceedings following a reported $157 mi...

LIFTS Episode 123 – Fitness Technology Is No Longer Software. It's Infrastructure | with Al Noshirvani 10.05.2026 50:16

Welcome to the latest episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the latest fitness industry trends and stories. In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal explore one of the most important shifts in the fitness industry today: technology is no longer just a support function, it's a core driver of growth. Joined by Al Noshirvani, Executive Chairman of Alta Technology Group, the conv...

LIFTS Episode 122 – Your Gym Isn't Growing… Because Your Members Don't Show Up | with JJ Creegan 03.05.2026 44:30

Welcome to the latest episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the latest fitness industry trends and stories. In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal explore one of the most overlooked drivers of growth in the fitness industry: member frequency. Joined by JJ Creegan, Principal at Creegan Co., the conversation dives into why many gyms plateau despite strong demand and continued...

LIFTS Episode 121 – If Aging Is a Disease… Can We Cure It? | with Dr. Jonathann Kuo 26.04.2026 51:46

Welcome to the latest episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the latest industry fitness trends and stories. In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal explore one of the most provocative ideas in modern health and wellness: what if aging itself is a disease? Joined by Dr. Jonathann Kuo, founder of Extension Health, the conversation dives into the rapid rise of longevity medicin...

LIFTS Episode 120 – The Molecule Matters: How NAD Actually Works in the Body | with Rachele Pojednic 19.04.2026 55:11

Welcome to the latest episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal explore one of the most talked-about topics in modern wellness: NAD and the rapid rise of longevity therapies. Joined by Rachele Pojednic, Chief Science Officer at Restore Hyper Wellness, the conversation breaks down what NAD act...

LIFTS Episode 119 - The Golden Era of Fitness? Longevity, Mental Fitness & Human Performance | PerformX Special (Part 3 of 3) | with Giles Denning & Phil Learney 12.04.2026 28:45

Welcome to the latest episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. In this special episode recorded live at PerformX, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal explore why many believe the fitness industry is entering a golden era of fitness and wellbeing. Joined by Giles Denning and Phil Learney, the conversation explores how fitness, wellness, longevi...

LIFTS Episode 118 - Fitness Leaders Unfiltered at Coach360 After HFA Party 05.04.2026 1:05:53

Welcome to the latest episode of L.I.F.T.S, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. In this special episode recorded live at the Coach360 After Party during HFA 2026 in San Diego, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal sit down with four influential leaders from across the fitness industry for an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes conversation on where the industry is...

LIFTS Episode 117 - Mark Mastrov, UFC Gyms & ABC Fitness on the Future of the Industry | LIVE at HFA 2026 29.03.2026 58:20

Welcome to the latest episode of L.I.F.T.S, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. In this special episode recorded live from HFA 2026 in San Diego, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal sit down with three of the most influential leaders in the global fitness industry to break down where the space is heading next. Featuring insights from Mark S. Mastrov (24 Ho...

LIFTS Episode 116 - GLP-1s Are Changing Fitness: What Gym Operators Need to Know | PerformX Special (Part 2 of 3) | with Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi 22.03.2026 44:50

Welcome to the latest episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. In this special episode recorded live at PerformX, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal explore one of the most significant and rapidly evolving topics in health and fitness today: the rise of GLP-1 medications and what they mean for the fitness industry. Joined by Dr Hussain Al-Zub...

LIFTS Episode 115 - From Gyms to Health Hubs: The Next Era of Fitness | PerformX Special (Part 1 of 3) | with Jaclyn Hughes, Tim Gray & Rez Barad 15.03.2026 47:28

Welcome to the latest episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. In this special episode recorded live at PerformX, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal explore one of the most important shifts happening in the fitness industry today: the evolution of the gym into a health hub. Joined by Jaclyn Hughes (Ultimate Training Solutions), Tim Gray (Heal...

LIFTS Episode 114 - The Future of Personal Training, AI & Human Intelligence | at Connected Health & Fitness 2026 08.03.2026 56:07

Welcome to the latest episode of L.I.F.T.S, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. Recorded live at Connected Health & Fitness Summit 2026, Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal sit down with three industry leaders to unpack the convergence of fitness, technology, wellness, and human intelligence. Guests include: David Van Daff (NASM): A 30-year fitness industry vete...

LIFTS Episode 113 - From HYROX to Longevity Clinics: The Future of Fitness is Human | Connected Health & Fitness Summit 01.03.2026 55:56

Welcome to the latest episode of L.I.F.T.S, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. In this special live episode from the Connected Health & Fitness Summit 2026 in Los Angeles, Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal sit down with four leaders shaping the future of performance, longevity, franchising, and workforce training. Guests include: Douglas Gremmen (HYROX): On...

LIFTS Episode 112 – Why 60-Year-Olds Are Stronger Than 30-Year-Olds (Data Shocked Us) | Strength, Longevity & The Future of Fitness | with Troy Taylor 22.02.2026 51:10

Welcome to the latest episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal are joined by Troy Taylor from Tonal to explore one of the most important shifts happening in fitness today: strength as the foundation of longevity. Drawing on connected strength data from thousands of members, this conversation...

LIFTS Episode 111 - Strength, Pilates & Wellness Are Booming, But Something Isn't Adding Up? | Inside the Les Mills 2026 Global Fitness Report | with Sean Turner 15.02.2026 59:52

Welcome to the latest episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal are joined by Sean Turner, CEO of Les Mills US, to explore one of the most persistent and misunderstood challenges in fitness today: member retention. Drawing on decades of experience as both a club operator and global brand lead...

LIFTS Episode 110 - Strength, Sleep, and Longevity: What Most Men Get Wrong About Aging Well with Jeff Zweifel 08.02.2026 59:45

Welcome to the latest episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal are joined by industry veteran, longevity advocate, and former Life Time executive Jeff Zweifel to explore one of the most overlooked and urgent topics in fitness today: men's health and aging. Drawing on decades of leadership ex...

LIFTS Episode 109 - The Pilates Journal Expo 2026 | Los Angeles | Part 2 01.02.2026 52:51

Welcome to the latest episode of L.I.F.T.S, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. Recorded live at the Los Angeles Pilates Journal Expo 2026, Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal sit down with leading voices shaping the future of Pilates. Guests include: Pilates experts Sean Bergara and Tracey Mallett, along with Reform RX founders Neal and Yvette McGaffin. In this...

LIFTS Episode 108 - Moving from Analysis to Intervention with Debra Strougo 25.01.2026 46:55

Welcome to the latest episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal are joined by industry strategist and returning guest Debra Strougo, Founder of Row House and CEO of Fitizens to explore how the wellness consumer is everywhere and what that means for the future of fitness. Drawing on insights f...

LIFTS Episode 107 - Los Angeles Pilates Journal Expo 2026 Part 1 of 2: Inclusivity, Innovation & What Comes Next 18.01.2026 1:16:32

Welcome to the latest episode of L.I.F.T.S, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. Recorded live at the Los Angeles Pilates Journal Expo 2026, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal sit down with four of the most influential voices shaping the future of Pilates and boutique fitness. In this special multi-guest, in-person episode, we explore how Pilates is evolvi...