IDEAfit Pro Show

What if lowering cholesterol was as simple as changing your breakfast? Cardiologist and Step One Foods founder Dr. Elizabeth Klodas joins the show to discuss how clinically proven, nutrient-rich foods can dramatically improve heart health—without relying solely on medication. Drawing from decades of medical experience and a passion for prevention, Dr. Klodas shares the science, strategy, and inspi...

What happens when a fitness professional becomes a millionaire mentor? Meet Loral Langemeier—money expert, best-selling author, and founder of Live Out Loud, Inc.—who started her career in exercise science and built a global financial empire. In this episode, Loral shares her journey from fitness entrepreneur to wealth-building powerhouse and reveals how fitness professionals can take control of t...

What if the key to movement longevity and athletic performance isn’t in your muscles—but in your feet? Dr. Emily Splichal is here to revolutionize how you think about movement, balance, and injury prevention from the ground up. With over 24 years of experience as a functional podiatrist and human movement specialist, Dr. Emily Splichal brings a powerful message to fitness professionals: the feet a...

Get an insider’s guide to the most anticipated fitness conference of the year! Matt Taylor, IDEA’s Director of Events, and Steffi Habermann, Event Coordinator, step out from behind the scenes to walk you through every detail of IDEA World 2025. Whether it’s your first time or your 15th, you’ll walk away with fresh tips on how to plan your sessions, pack like a pro, navigate the expo, and connect w...

What if your next level wasn’t about doing more—but leading better? In this powerhouse episode, fitness icons Rob Glick and David Freeman share how purpose, innovation, and servant leadership are transforming the way Life Time empowers coaches, members, and the fitness industry at large. With a combined 55+ years in the industry, Rob Glick and David Freeman are two of Life Time’s most influential...

What does it mean to truly trailblaze in fitness? For Ruben Pereyra, it means breaking barriers, building community, and creating inclusive programs that bring movement to every stage of life. In this episode, the 2024 IDEA World Trailblazer of the Year shares how he’s changing the way we serve aging populations—and why fitness is about heart as much as health. With 17+ years in the fitness indust...

What if the secret to longevity in the fitness industry isn't just science, but soft skills? In this episode, Tyler Valencia shares how trust, adaptability, and mentorship are shaping the next generation of professionals—and why now is the time to elevate education for real-world success. Tyler Valencia, Ph. D.(c), has been on the front lines of fitness education for nearly two decades. As Preside...

What do you do when your format disappears overnight? If you're Ellen de Werd, you build your own. In this vulnerable and motivating episode, Ellen shares how she turned a pivotal career moment into a thriving global fitness brand—and why authenticity, grit, and representation are at the core of her mission. With more than 25 years of experience, Ellen de Werd has worn nearly every hat in group fi...

What happens when a fitness icon and a professional athlete join forces—onstage and off? In this heartwarming and high-impact conversation, Carolyn Erickson and her daughter Juliann Faucette reveal the power of multigenerational mentorship, mindset mastery, and motherhood in motion. This special Mother's Day episode celebrates the powerful bond between a trailblazing mom and her elite athlete daug...

What does it take to stay inspired, impactful, and relevant for over three decades in fitness? Jeff McMullen shares the real story behind his longevity—and why service, self-awareness, and joy are the keys to lasting success. With over 35 years of experience in fitness leadership, education, and performance, Jeff McMullen has done it all—from high-level club management to starring in workout video...

In this episode, host Amy Boone Thompson welcomes Whitney Houlin—Director of Fitness at WeGym, content creator, and first-time IDEA World presenter—to share her refreshingly realistic approach to fitness. Whitney opens up about her unexpected journey from elementary school teacher to leading voice in the wellness space and how she's redefining what success looks like in fitness. She dives into the...

This week on the IDEAfit Pro Show, host Amy Boone Thompson is joined by international presenter and personal trainer Alessandro Pisanu. Known for his high-energy, music-driven approach to fitness, Alessandro brings his signature style to IDEA World 2025 with three dynamic sessions: Step Fusion, Functional Step, and Functional Bodyweight. In this episode, Amy and Alessandro discuss the importance o...

Get ready for an insightful and inspiring conversation as host Amy Boone Thompson welcomes Dr. Jonathan Mike to the show. In this episode, we explore Dr. Mike’s approach to smarter strength coaching, progressive overload, and the science of eccentric training—all with a preview of what’s coming to his must-attend sessions at IDEA World 2025 . As a professor, coach, speaker, and researcher, Dr. Mik...

Welcome to the IDEAfit Pro Show Season 6! In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jan Schroeder. Jan is the event programmer for the 2025 IDEA World Fitness Convention and a professor of Kinesiology at Long Beach State University. Get an exclusive look at what’s in store for this year’s event, including top presenters, session categories, special features, and what makes IDEA World an unforgettable...

Welcome to Season 6 of the IDEAfit Pro Show! Host Amy Boone Thompson, CEO of IDEA Health and Fitness Association, shares some groundbreaking initiatives set to shape the future of the fitness industry. From the highly anticipated IDEA World 2025 in Sacramento to the launch of the IDEA Mentorship Network, which connects emerging fitness professionals with industry veterans, this season is full of o...

Host Amy Boone Thompson welcomes special guest Kia Williams to the IDEAfit Pro Show to discuss everything you can expect at the 2025 IDEA & ACSM Health & Fitness Summit, taking place March 6-9 in Denver, Colorado. Kia, an integral part of this event’s programming, shared insights on what makes this summit unique, the exciting lineup of presenters, networking opportunities, and the hybrid i...

Join Host Amy Thompson for this episode of the IDEAfit Pro Show featuring Dr. Darian Parker, an IDEA Award Recipient and Program Administrator for IDEA’s Fitness Mentor Network. Find out how mentorship is transforming the fitness industry and why IDEA has created a structured mentorship program to help professionals grow, connect, and thrive. Dr. Parker shares how the 12-month program, 8-week deep...

Join Host Madeleine McCormick for the IDEAfit Pro Show #3! Catch the full podcast episode featuring IDEA’s Content & Education Manager, Vivian Griggs, and the Owner of Ageless Training Academy and Bender Ball, Leslee Bender. Find out how IDEA provides science-backed educational programs to cultivate educated, experienced, and empathetic coaches. Hear from Vivian Griggs about IDEA’s mentorship...

Co-hosts Amy Boone Thompson and Madeleine McCormick hosted the IDEAfit Pro Show LIVE #2! The full livestream is available on Instagram, YouTube , or Facebook and features IDEA's Mentorship Program Administrators Debbie Bellenger and Dr. Erin Nitschke, IDEA's VP of Operations Phil Malavenda, and IDEA's Director of Events Matt Taylor, who revealed the dates and location for 2025 IDEA® World. The liv...

Join IDEA CEO/Owner Amy Boone Thompson and the team for the IDEAfit Pro Show LIVE – back and better than ever! The full livestream is available on Instagram, YouTube , LinkedIn , and Facebook , featuring fitness industry leaders and exclusive insights from our partners: CoverMe Fitness , VAULT Strategies , and Lockton Professional Liability Insurance . We announced fresh career resources and oppor...

Today on the guest mic, we have the multi-talented Kia Williams--the 2022 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year--hosting Cary Williams. Cary is the founder and CEO of Boxing & Barbells, which is a boxing education company offering her B&B Method certifications to trainers and licensing opportunities to gyms. She certifies trainers around the globe to teach the B&B Method.  Her entre...

Today on the guest mic, we have the multi-talented Kia Williams, the 2022 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year, hosting Kimberly Spreen-Glick. Kimberly has been a fitness industry leader for over 30 years, presenting workshops on fitness, yoga, wellness, leadership, and personal growth at conferences around the world.   She was the group fitness director for LifeTime for over 10 years and...

Today, IDEA's CEO Amy Boone Thompson and IDEA’s Event Programming Director Ryan Halvorson will be sharing news about some exciting 2023 planning we’re doing here at the mother ship in San Diego, and we’ll get an overview of our first 2023 event, IDEA Personal Trainer Institute upcoming March 9-12 in Alexandria, Virginia.     For more information about the event, please go to: www.ideafit.com/...

Guest hosting the show once again, the passionate and talented Kia Williams, the 2022 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year, interviews her long-time friend, colleague and fellow dance aficionado Ashley Carter. Hailing from the great state of Texas, Lady Carter is a dancer, dance instructor, model, coach and creator of CweensGuard Step and Dance, a dance business that specializes in step, heels and...

Today on the guest mic, we have the fabulous Kia Williams, the 2022 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year, hosting Tanci Maree, CEO and Founder of Turn Up DaFitness, a program designed to motivate people to get active and dance their way to fitness.   As Tanci describes it, the program mixes athleticism, dance, performance and—of course—fun! Tanci is the first to admit that it took her a w...