Escape Your Limits & LIFTS

This week on the Escape Your Limits podcast, we're bringing you a special midweek episode. We took the podcast to Fit Expo in Los Angeles, California, where we connected with industry leaders and explored cutting-edge ideas shaping the future of fitness. During our time at the show, we interviewed some of the leading experts and athletes including: Guy Cisternino Jr., 7x IFBB Pro Champ  @GuyCister...

Welcome to the latest episode of L.I.F.T.S – your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. Join hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness, and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks, as they dive into the world of AI, technology, health, wellness, and more. This LIFTS episode covers: Technology's Impact on Health and Fitness: The growing intersection of tech inn...

On this week's episode of the Escape Your Limits Podcast, we welcome back Kali Muscle, a powerhouse in the fitness world, entrepreneur and a motivational force. Hailing from Oakland, California, Kali overcame a turbulent past, including prison time, to carve out a path of resilience and success. From bodybuilding champion to social media phenomenon, Kali's journey is one of sheer determination, re...

Welcome to the latest episode of L.I.F.T.S – your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories.   Today, hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks, are joined by Kinsey Livingston, VP of Sales at Mindbody and ClassPass. This LIFTS episode covers: Overview of the ClassPass annual report and its importance in understanding fit...

Welcome to this episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories.  Today, hosts Matthew Januszek , Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal , Founder & CEO of SweatWorks , are joined by Lauren Shroyer, VP of Product Development and Innovation at ACE (American Council on Exercise), the leading non-profit organisation certifying health coaches and exercise pr...

Welcome to this extended episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories.  Today, hosts Matthew Januszek , Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal , Founder & CEO of SweatWorks , are joined by Anthony Vennare, the founder of pioneering news aggregator Fitt Insider and Wellworthy to reflect on how predictions made about 2024 played out and to look ahead at...

Welcome to the last episode of LIFTS in 2024, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. Today, hosts Matthew Januszek , Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal , Founder & CEO of SweatWorks , are joined by Giles Denning, Head of Marketing, PerformX.  Matthew and Mo are on the advisory board of PerformX Live, an event that is the business of fitness, a powerhouse env...

In this special mid-week podcast, brought to you by Escape Fitness, we delve into the strategies that amplify a gym's digital presence and drive real business results with today's guest, Dennis Yu, one of the world's foremost authorities on leveraging digital marketing for success. Here, Dennis shares his decades of expertise, delivering actionable insights on how gyms can build stronger community...

On this week's episode of the Escape Your Limits Podcast, we are joined by Rick Valente, a legendary figure in the bodybuilding and fitness industry, best known as the co-host of ESPN's BodyShaping. Born and raised in Connecticut, Rick discovered his passion for fitness early on, driven by a love for sports, martial arts and a determination to build a bodybuilder's physique. Leaving behind a chall...

Welcome to the latest episode of L.I.F.T.S – your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories.   This special episode was recorded live at Beyond Activ Australia APAC, where host Mohammed Iqbal attended to explore the cutting edge of fitness innovation.   Hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mohammed Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks, are joined by Aleksa...

Welcome to this week's episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. Today, hosts Matthew Januszek , Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal , Founder & CEO of SweatWorks , are joined by Kevin Yates , CEO Lift Brands EMEA.  With more that 20 years-experience working in the fitness industry there are few individuals on the planet with more experience th...

Welcome to this week's episode of LIFTS, a quick snapshot into the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. Today, hosts Matthew Januszek , Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal , Founder & CEO of SweatWorks , get together to discuss recent health and biohacking trends, nutrition and supplements, strength training insights, tech and wellness integrations and emerging fitness trends includin...

Welcome to this week's episode of LIFTS, your bite-size dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. Today, hosts Matthew Januszek , Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal , Founder & CEO of SweatWorks , are joined by Yves Preissler, CEO of YP Fitness Consulting, an expert in turnkey and modular gym design solutions across global fitness, sport, wellness and recovery industries.  Wit...

Welcome to this week's episode of LIFTS, your snack-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. Today, hosts Matthew Januszek , Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal , Founder & CEO of SweatWorks , are joined by Edward Hertzman, Founder & CEO of Athletech News. On this week's episode, recorded on November 5th, just ahead of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election, we talk to one...

On this week's episode of the Escape Your Limits podcast , we are joined by Dr. Jim Stoppani, a renowned expert in exercise science, sports nutrition, and supplementation, with over 15 years of experience helping millions transform their lives through science-backed training and nutrition plans. He earned his PhD in exercise physiology and a minor in biochemistry from the University of Connecticut...

Welcome to this week's episode of LIFTS, your bite-size dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. Today, hosts Matthew Januszek , Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal , Founder & CEO of SweatWorks , are joined by Dr. Ted Vickey, a fitness technology strategist, who is CEO of disruptive health technology company, FitWell and the author of a new, groundbreaking book: ' 'The Fitnes...

Welcome back to L.I.F.T.S, your bite-size dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories hitting the headlines. On this week's episode, hosts Matthew Januszek , Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal , Founder & CEO of SweatWorks , lift the lid on some of the stories driving the fitness, health and wellbeing newsfeeds. In this episode, headlines discussed include: Josh Harris's Acquisti...

On this LIFTS podcast, Escape Fitness CEO, Matthew Januszek and Mo Iqbal , Founder & CEO of SweatWorks are joined by guest, Alex Alimanestianu, a seasoned executive and Angel Investor with significant experience in the fitness and wellness industry. He served for a long time as CEO of T alent S ports International, and in addition to his leadership there , Alex has been an active investor in the f...

Welcome to the latest episode of L.I.F.T.S. This episode is the final instalment of a three-part series recorded live at Beyond Activ, New York City – a fitness focused leadership, investment and business development event held in September 2024. In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek , Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal , Founder & CEO of Sweatworks get under the skin of the industry to e...

Welcome to the latest episode of L.I.F.T.S. This episode is part-two of a three-part podcast series recorded live at Beyond Activ, a leadership, investment and business development event in September 2024. In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek , Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal , Founder & CEO of Sweatworks , talk to four guests from both sides of the fence - the operator and suppliers...

On this LIFTS podcast, Escape Fitness CEO, Matthew Januszek and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks are joined by Jack Thomas, Co-Founder of The Fit Guide, the only global, independent rating system for premium fitness clubs and studios. This episode discusses The Fit Guides comprehensive report on fitness industry standards, evaluating global clubs across various modalities. This episode delves...

On this week's episode of the Escape Your Limits podcast , we are joined by legend, John Brown, a trailblazing American bodybuilder who rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s. Despite facing racism and discrimination in the sport, Brown achieved incredible success, winning the Amateur Mr. Universe title in 1981 and 1982, as well as the Mr. World title three times. John went on to raise three boys, al...

On this LIFTS podcast, Escape Fitness CEO, Matthew Januszek and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks are joined by special guest , Anna Gudmundson , CEO of stress management technology company, Sensate.  This episode digs into the value of stress management and tuning into the Vagus Nerve tone in order to take a more holistic approach to mental and physical health. It dives into the emerging tech...

On this LIFTS podcast, Escape Fitness CEO, Matthew Januszek and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks are joined by special guest , Huw Edwards CEO of ukactive. This episode explores the opportunities for ukactive to collaborate with the newly appointed Labour government in the UK, positioning the physical activity sector as a key player in addressing public health challenges. The discussion focus...

On this LIFTS podcast, Escape Fitness CEO, Matthew Januszek and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks are joined by guest , Ross Campbell, Founder & CEO of Beyond Activ, one of the largest and most influential global networks for health, fitness, wellness, sports, hospitality and leisure businesses. This episode discusses the evolution of fitness and healthcare conferences, with a focus on the rec...