HALO Talks: Elevating Wellness

Dan Schreiber is a dedicated fitness enthusiast and a former athlete who enjoys the simplicity and effectiveness of outdoor exercises. With a philosophy rooted in maximizing training efficiency, Dan appreciates workouts that integrate both strength and conditioning without the confines of traditional gym settings. Embracing the freedom of outdoor activities, he often engages in HIIT (High-Intensit...

Sandra Statz is a seasoned veteran in the beauty industry and the inspiration behind the innovative beauty brand, AP Chem. With a focus on the often overlooked Gen X market, Sandra brings a wealth of experience from her days at major beauty conglomerates. In this episode we'll dive into the origins of AP Chem, discussing the unique approach Sandra and her Co-Founder are taking to create science-fo...

We're excited to have Blake Rose and Brian Price from OLA Beach Tennis on the episode. These childhood friends-turned-entrepreneurs share their journey of bringing the vibrant and accessible sport of beach tennis from Rio's shores to the sands of Southern California. Learn how they transformed a fun discovery abroad into a flourishing community-building sport that mixes play, wellness, and social...

Nick Allen is the visionary Founder behind Sunnyside, a pioneering health and wellness app designed for individuals who consume alcohol regularly and are looking to moderate their habits without committing to complete sobriety. Motivated by the lack of middle-ground solutions in the alcohol health space, Nick identified a substantial demographic of people who drink more than what might be consider...

Delaine Fowler is an innovative physical therapist with over 20 years experience. Early in her career, she noted a recurring pattern; numerous workers from the same company were suffering identical injuries. Driven by curiosity and a proactive mindset, she started reaching out to these companies, offering to tour their facilities to attempt to understand the underlying causes of these injuries. Sh...

Alexa Newkirk has always seen wellness and fitness as her sanctuary—a vital outlet from the everyday challenges of adolescence and an effective tool in her battle against anxiety and depression during high school. Recognizing the profound impact that holistic health—encompassing physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being—had on her life, Alexa was inspired to dedicate herself to guiding yo...

Henry Penix is an innovative entrepreneur in the holistic health industry who embarked on a transformative journey about eight years ago when he co-founded a unique clinic. This space was a melting pot of traditional and alternative medicines, featuring professionals ranging from MD's and DO's to chiropractors, offering a diverse array of healing modalities. Amidst these varied treatments, Penix a...

Radz Zalewski, an astute entrepreneur with a passion for fitness and branding, is all about transforming how gyms create and maintain their connections with members. Recognizing the pivotal role that supplements and apparel play in establishing a gym's identity, he holds a firm belief that every individual wearing a gym's shirt not only promotes the brand but also strengthens the communal bond. Hi...

Lauren Brenner is the innovative mind behind the groundbreaking fitness concept, Powerbox 360—a fusion of an immersive nightlife energy vibe with a killer workout. Brenner's concept transports participants into a 360 degree panorama of pulsating visuals and heart-pounding beats reminiscent of an electrifying club environment.  Her vision extends beyond "just" the workout though. She aspires to tra...

Matt Slowinski, a college junior when the pandemic struck, found himself at a crossroads along with his friend Aaron Reznik. With their academic lives interrupted and traditional internships inaccessible, Matt turned to his long-standing passion for tennis as a way to fill his time. For years, he and Aaron had coached private tennis lessons during the summer break. As they sought to shape their un...

Maxine Carrington is the Chief People Officer at Northwell Health. She's a highly recognized, dedicated, and forward-thinking professional who works closely with a team led by CEO Michael Dowling. Reflecting her company's expansive vision of health, she takes her role far beyond the traditional confines of her industry. Maxine is not one to simply wait for illness to manifest in her 85,000+ commun...

Chris Craytor's journey with IHRSA, now formally known as the Health and Fitness Association, is a story of transformation and strategic development. When Craytor first joined the board, he was immediately faced with the challenge of fundraising for advocacy—a task that was met with more rejections than approvals. Despite the difficulty in securing even modest contributions, his determination did...

Monica Marder, a dynamic entrepreneur with a penchant for wellness innovation, embarked on a transformative journey in 2018 when she founded her first fitness studio. Struggling to find a workout regimen that was both low impact and incorporated functional strength training, but distinctly different from traditional Pilates, Monica envisioned an alternative that combined intensity with a result-dr...

Ethan Blauner's story begins in the tumultuous period of the pandemic when the doors of the (unfortunately now defunct) Switch Playground--like many big box and boutique gyms across the globe--shuttered and left trainers wandering in an uncertain fitness landscape. As routines crumbled, Ethan faced the challenge that rattled the entire industry . . . the abrupt transition from physical spaces to a...

Sid Raman is a structural engineer with over three decades of experience in the construction and building sector. His expertise took an innovative turn roughly seven years ago, as he delved into the niche of construction automation and robotics. Sid discovered a new-found excitement in the application of motors and controllers, and the fascinating overlap between the principles governing both cons...

Matthew Schober is the Co-Founder of Concierge Health (previously known as Gym Farm), a company that provides services to fitness facilities. Host Pete Moore and Matt discuss ancillary revenues, establishing new revenue streams for clubs, and the complex challenges and opportunities in the insurance and corporate markets. Matthew elaborates on how Concierge Health's platform--Connections--integrat...

Will Coker emerged as an innovative thinker in the realm of club operations, a field where he's spent 24 years honing his expertise. His journey into entrepreneurship began when the seeds of an idea took root along with his Co-Founders, who held influential positions on advisory councils and boards across various other HALO-sector companies. Coker's role as an operations savant and an informal sta...

Jim Ludwig, an enthusiastic former tennis player, has been the linchpin for the pickleball community in Naples since 2010. His journey with the sport began at a small country club where he recognized the game's potential for growth, particularly among the senior demographic. Sensing the need for more space, Jim's vision led him to a nearby park, where he observed underutilized tennis courts. Takin...

Rina Raphael is a highly regarded, well-established writer and journalist who has covered a wide range of topics in the HALO sector from fitness and nutrition to biohacking and even strology startups! She currently has a highly regarded newsletter on substack called Well to Do, and in 2016 she authored the Gospel of Wellness which deep-dives into the changes she witnessed in the industry, highligh...

In this episode, host Pete Moore sits down with long-time friend and former classmate Brian Paris to discuss a wide range of topics related to coaching, wellness, and personal development. Brian shares insights into his approach to coaching, emphasizing the importance of a holistic lifestyle, positive psychology, and the impact of habits and mindset. The conversation also delves a bit into the fin...

Christine Howe has dedicated her entire career to staffing and recruiting in the HALO (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) industry for over 12 years. She recently ventured out on her own and started Fit Pro Finders, a staffing service catering specifically to the HALO space. She and her team work with a wide range of companies, from small to mid-sized independents, to franchise-owned and corporat...

Dr. Kenneth Cooper (often referred to as the "Father of Aerobics") has been one of the seminal pioneers in the field of preventive medicine for over five decades. Despite tremendous skepticism from the medical community at large initially, he founded the Cooper Clinic in Dallas in December, 1970 with the belief that taking care of healthy individuals was just as important as treating the sick. Ove...

Prime Hall served in the Marines from 2005 to 2017, with his initial deployment being in the infantry for the first four years. He later transitioned to becoming a water survival instructor, where he drew on principles of military water survival for the basis of his programming. Hall relays the story of an individual who survived for 20 hours in the Gulf of Mexico after falling off a Carnival crui...

Dave Cantor is a 20+ industry veteran in the natural food space. His journey began in the Midwest, where he developed a passion for food, sustainability, and gardening during his college years. After honing his cooking skills and pursuing his interests in farming, Dave eventually ended up running his own organic farm in New Mexico. He later furthered his education by obtaining a Master's degree in...

Lee is an entrepreneur originally from Michigan who, at 24, made a bold move to Costa Mesa, California in 2010 where he headed up the development of perhaps the first infrared studio in the country. He transformed the fledgling studio, implementing a membership model, and elevating the experience for customers. This marked the beginning of Perspire Sauna Studios, which has since expanded into a bu...