Optimal Aging

Feeling overwhelmed by supplement choices after 50? You're not alone. On today's episode, Nikki Raymond, holistic nutritionist and IFBB Pro Bodybuilder, joins Jay Croft to cut through the noise. Nikki shares her journey from personal trainer to functional nutrition expert, emphasizing the critical role personalized bloodwork and supplements play in healthy aging. In this empowering conve...

In this powerful episode from the Functional Aging Summit, Jay Croft—founder of Prime Fit Content—reveals how fitness professionals can use client storytelling to attract, engage, and retain more clients over 50. You’ll learn how to frame your clients as the heroes of their own fitness journeys (not you), why that subtle shift builds trust and credibility, and how to avoid the most common marketin...

In this episode of The Optimal Aging Podcast, Jay Croft sits down with Alex McBrairty , a fitness coach whose personal transformation—losing nearly 100 pounds as a teen—launched a lifelong journey into behavior change, motivation, and the psychology of fitness. Alex shares how his struggle with self-esteem and identity led him to pursue a degree in psychology, which now underpins his coaching phil...

The Functional Aging Summit, held online June 13–14, is an incredible opportunity to learn from industry leaders about how to train people over 50 and grow your business with this large, lucrative, and underserved population. Go here to learn more:  https://functionalagingsummit.com In this episode of the Optimal Aging Podcast, host Jay Croft talks with Dr. Dan Ritchie, co-founder of the Functiona...

In this episode of The Optimal Aging Podcast, host Jay Croft sits down with Rick Streb—fitness industry veteran, marketing strategist, and bestselling author—to explore how publishing a book can supercharge your fitness business. Whether you're a gym owner, trainer, or health coach, Rick explains why having your own book is more than just a vanity project—it’s a strategic marketing asset. You...

Can walking your neighborhood really help grow your fitness or physical therapy business? For Shayna Gross, the answer is a resounding yes. In this episode of the Optimal Aging Podcast, Jay Croft of Prime Fit Content talks with Shayna, a veteran physical therapist and the owner of Physiovation in Atlanta. After moving to a larger location in the eclectic Little Five Points neighborhood, Shayna exp...

Is Alzheimer’s disease just something we have to wait and worry about as we age? Amy Lang doesn’t think so. In this episode of The Optimal Aging Podcast , Jay Croft talks with Amy Lang, a brain health coach and former gym owner whose personal experience with Alzheimer’s — both her mother and grandmother were diagnosed — set her on a mission to educate others. Amy shares how lifestyle factors like...

Want to inspire your 50+ clients to stay active, connected, and confident? In this episode, I talk with Road Scholar’s PR Director, Kelsey Knoedler Perri, about how fitness and travel work hand-in-hand to promote healthy aging. We explore survey data from Road Scholar’s “Age Adventurously” campaign and how fitness pros can use these insights to motivate clients, boost retention, and create content...

Let’s bust some outdated assumptions. In this solo episode, I share exactly how to market your gym or studio to today’s 50+ clients — who are active, discerning, and ready to invest in their health. You’ll learn communication strategies that build trust and help your content actually land with this high-value audience. 📌 Actionable for: gym owners, studio managers, and fitpros over 40 What you’ll...

Meet three gym owners who are thriving by combining smart content with meaningful connection. In this episode, I talk with Micah Morgan, Jake Trione, and Lisa Grace Wright — all of whom have built powerful brands and loyal communities by speaking directly to the needs of active agers. 📣 Designed for fitness business owners and marketers Takeaways: How to use member stories for high-converting con...

Want to market your fitness business to the 50+ demographic more effectively? In this special episode of the Optimal Aging Podcast I share my top 7 content marketing do’s and don’ts for connecting with people over 50. 💬 Discover why storytelling, email marketing, and consistent messaging are key to attracting and retaining clients over 50. Learn what mistakes to avoid and how to build real engage...

How do your clients and prospects want to receive communications from you? Do you know? And are you meeting them where they are -- or expecting them to come to you? On this week's Optimal Aging, I'm sharing a lesson I've learned about my business, and how I communicate with people I want to be in my audience.  I started recording my podcast on video and posting the episodes on YouTu...

What do you do after founding a global fitness brand like Club Pilates? For Allison Beardsley, the next move is all about longevity, wellness, and the booming demand from adults over 50. In this episode of The Optimal Aging Podcast, Allison joins Jay Croft to talk about her new venture — The Red Light Method — a boutique red light therapy franchise focused on healthy aging and recovery. She shares...

Still on the fence about sending regular emails? In this conversation with Lara Gallert from Alloy Personal Training, we dig into how simple email newsletters drive engagement, boost retention, and make your fitness brand stand out with older adults. Plus, Lara shares her own studio’s wins and how we turned one email into serious ROI. 🧠 Best for: gym owners, franchisees, and coaches building comm...

How do you market your gym and services to a specific audience? How do you get prospects into the gym for a sales talks – and then how do you turn them into members? Well, Sherman Merricks and I get into it on this episode – who do you want, how do you talk to them, and why you need to sometimes stop talking and get comfortable with pauses in a conversation! Sherman’s the co-founder of Lasso Frame...

Trainers often ask me for advice about taking their businesses mobile, how they can bring their fitness equipment and coaching to clients over 50 in the clients’ homes. Well, on this episode, I’m talking to a trainer who has figured it out and sharing all his tips. Benjamin Villalon has been training people at home for a while with Benefitnessnow in Houston. And just last year, he and his wife, Cl...

In this week's episode of the Optimal Aging Podcast, I’m joined by veteran fitness trainers Shebah Carfagna and Nate Wilkins, who are finding new ways to help more people live fit, healthy lives.  Shebah, 67, and Nate, 71, share their fitness journeys, personal health challenges, and news about a couple of new partnerships, including their selection as two of five sponsored AARP athletes nati...

About a year ago, I had Nick Garrity on the podcast for the first time. Back then, I had just started helping him with his newsletters and other content marketing, and he had 2 Alloy studios up and running here in Atlanta, with a third on the way. Now, a year later, all three of Nick’s studios are doing great. In fact, on the day we did this second interview you’re about to hear, Nick and his team...

The biggest social media channels in the world have been in the news a lot lately. And it has renewed my belief in the power of email for marketing your small business and exercising the greatest control over your communications. Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t use Facebook or any of the others — they’re still powerful tools, of course. And I’m not getting into the controversies around any of it...

Why is there still a stigma around Botox and other simple cosmetic procedures? And what role does skin health play in healthy aging? These are topics I discuss on this episode with Atlanta dermatologist Dr. Mary Alice Mina. You know, it’s funny. We don’t think anything about working out and looking better… but we raise a skeptical glance at the possibility of Botox, fillers, or peels. What’s the d...

It’s an exciting time for the fitness industry, with broad trends coalescing around topics like longevity, wellness, preventive care and others that are particularly resonant for fitness over 50. So what does the new year hold for all of this? Well, I’m lucky today to share a conversation about all of this with one of the people behind the Connected Health & Fitness Summit, which is planned fo...

What role does fitness play in preventive healthcare after 50? I believe it's a big one, as does my guest this week on the Optimal Aging podcast, the show all about getting more mature adults to live healthier lives. New York urologist Dr. David Shusterman says more mature adults are understanding the relationship between exercise and healthy living -- and they want to make the most of their...

Curious about how small group personal training can revolutionize your fitness business and attract clients over 40? Join us as Vince Gabriele, an acclaimed gym owner, Fit Biz coach, and marketing expert, shares his transformative insights from his latest book, "The Ultimate Guide to Small Group Personal Training." Vince reveals why small group training is a win-win for trainers and clie...

Imagine if your job was to review restaurants, test recipes, and hobnob with the foodiest of the foodies in a major American city. Well, my friend Jill Silva has had that job for decades. She was the Food editor of the Kansas City Star for more than 20 years and now has a PR business focusing on food and dining. Now, at 60, Jill has a new passion: Powerlifting. Jill’s is the kind of story you need...

I was at a little dinner party the other night and the conversation turned to fitness for people over 50. All four of us at the table are in the demo and we’re all healthy and active. My partner and I are in the fitness industry and I quickly realized that we were discussing things on a different level than our friends, more familiar, in shorthand. It reminded me that the messages about fitness ov...