The Training Project | Fitness Podcast

In this episode of the Training Project Podcast, Joe Drake sits down with Mike Fantigrassi, Head of Product at NASM, for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of personal training, fitness education, and long-term career success. Mike shares his journey from trainer to industry leader and breaks down the biggest changes shaping the fitness world right now. From client acquisition and busine...

Dr. Ashley Dwyer, PharmD, joins Joe Drake to discuss why traditional dieting and cardio-heavy training stop working for women after 30. They cover protein intake, strength training, gut health, perimenopause, GLP-1 medications, and what women actually need to feel strong, lean, and healthy long term. A must-listen for trainers and women navigating hormonal changes.

In this episode, Joe Drake and Gini Grimsley (PPSC, Unbreakable App) break down what smart, sustainable training actually looks like for women in their 30s, 40s, and beyond. They cover the biggest mistakes people make when restarting their fitness journey, why body-part splits often fail real humans, and how to train for power, strength, and longevity without burning out. Perfect for personal trai...

Joe sits down with Dr. Eric Otero of Pinnacle Movement & Performance to break down what really causes most hip and low back pain — and why stretching isn’t always the answer. They dig into the difference between traditional PT and performance-based care, how to spot when pain is a strength issue vs. a mobility issue, and the simple exercises that build truly resilient hips and spinal stability...

In this week’s episode of The Training Project Podcast , Joe reconnects with London-based trainer and OYM Studio founder Alex Marks — more than a decade after they first met working at a boys’ sports camp. Alex has built an incredible career spanning TV, entrepreneurship, and personal training, and his philosophy flips the script on what fitness really means. They dive deep into why “fat loss isn’...

What does it really mean to train for life ? In this episode of The Training Project Podcast , Joe Drake sits down with Clif Harski — fitness educator, movement coach, and Director of Education for the Pain-Free Performance Training System (PPSC) — to break down what it takes to stay strong, athletic, and pain-free for decades. With over 15 years of experience teaching certifications around the wo...

From world champion martial artist to award-winning fitness innovator, Pete Holman has transformed how we train. In this episode of The Training Project Podcast , Joe Drake sits down with Pete Holman — Physical Therapist, Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, published author, former U.S. National TaeKwon-Do champion & team captain, and 2022 IDEA Fitness Leader of the Year. Pete ha...

In this enlightening episode, Joe Drake sits down with Dr. John Rusin, a leading expert in the fitness industry, to explore the journey from high performance to longevity. Dr. Rusin shares his insights on building an unbreakable body, emphasizing the importance of a health-first fitness approach. Discover how his Pain-Free Performance Training System has revolutionized the way we think about train...

In this episode of the Training Project Podcast I dive into the recent FTC ruling that non-compete clauses are no longer enforceable in the fitness industry. Join us as we explore how this landmark decision is impacting personal trainers and gym owners across the country.

Brendan has established himself as a fitness expert, trainer, and entrepreneur utilizing platforms like YouTube and Instagram to educate and inspire individuals on how to lead healthier lives through proper exercise and nutrition. With a substantial following, Brendan has successfully garnered over 420,000 followers on Instagram and a significant audience on YouTube, making him a leading voice in...

Welcome to the Training Project Fitness Podcast, where we bring you the latest insights and strategies for optimizing all things fitness and performance related! In this episode, we had the honor of hosting Dr. Jon Mike, a distinguished expert with a PhD in Exercise and Sport Science, renowned sports performance coach, esteemed professor, and accomplished author. Dr. Jon Mike has garnered a vast f...

Pete McCall, MS, CSCS, is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and long-time player in the fitness industry. He has been featured as an expert in the Washington Post , The New York Times , Los Angeles Times , Runner's World and Self . He holds a master's degree in exercise science and health promotion, and several advanced certifications and specializations with NSCA and NASM. Pete is the host of the...

Jarod Cogswell is the Founder of Enterprise Athlete fitness consulting and GM at Life Time in Beaverton, OR. . He is a professional speaker, author of "WORK like an Athlete" and Platinum Level Business Coach for Todd Durkin Mastermind. Not to mention a lifelong athlete and mountaineer. Was thankful to catch up with him and get to chat about everything from his take on the value of coaching to wher...

No matter what you do there will be challenges as you are getting started as a personal trainer, so do yourself a favor and don’t do these six things to give yourself a better chance of not just getting, but maintaining clients as you build your business.

Josh Gangaware is a South Florida-based personal trainer, online fitness coach, and fitness educator who now focuses primarily on working with high-performing men who want to regain their energy and drive through fitness. Throughout his career in the fitness industry, Josh has worked in almost every role a trainer can work in and with nearly every possible demographic, which gave him the experienc...

It’s easy to “veer” out of your lane as clients see you as far more than a personal trainer - but becoming someone’s GURU can be a sticky trap. This episode was inspired by a recent conversation with one of my clients and I think is an important one for all new and growing trainers to hear.

With all you are looking to accomplish in a strategy/intro session with a prospective client, these questions are probably the 5 most important ones you could ask to help move them towards saying yes and training with you.

What are the most important things to put time and energy into early on as a personal trainer trying to grow your business is the methods and consistency of communication. This is one of the simplest strategies and approaches towards DAILY communication with clients and eating potential clients that I have found over the last decade, I hope it helps.

You would never guess after taking a class or training with Rick that he wasn't always in the fitness industry. After finding massive success in sales and building sales teams with companies like T-mobile and Apple, Rick decided to go all in on his love for fitness and training. Since then he's acquired more certifications and experience than I can even write down, branched out into content creati...

This episode was inspired by recent podcast interview with well-known Miami, personal trainer, and Educator, Rick Chavez. I dive into the three major benefits for any new fitness professional of not only getting into personal training, but also getting some experience teaching group classes at the same time.

In this solo episode, I dive deep into the compelling reasons why charging more for your personal training sessions benefits not only you as the trainer but also your clients. 💪 As a fitness professional, increasing your rates over time can lead to a multitude of advantages, including a higher level of commitment, improved quality of service, and the ability to invest in ongoing education and equ...

This episode is the first of a regular monthly series where my good friend and  @Axiomfitnessacademy  Master Trainer Kevin Mullins joins me to talk about current events in the industry, what it takes to become a world class personal trainer, and the challenges of building a life around the fitness industry. Connect with Kevin: https://www.kevinmullinsfitness.com/ https://www.instagram.com/kevinmul...

Got you spend some time connecting with the Senior Director of Training for all of  @YouFitGyms  which includes more than 60 locations and 300+ trainers and instructors. Raphael Konforti has a wealth of experience in the industry working for major organizations like  @ptaglobal2208  R.I.P., contributing to major fitness publications, and helping to revamp and grow the training business inside of t...

Accreditation of personal training certifications in the fitness industry has been a hot topic for a number of years. Some feel we need more regulation - which accreditation is meant to serve, but one of the biggest players in the industry has just rolled out a new certification option that looks to be going in the opposite direction.

Robert Linkul is widely considered to be one of the top training experts in the world when it comes to fighting the battle against sarcopenia and training the older adult. He's a sought after speaker and consultant in the industry and the owner of the Bunker and of TrainingTheOlderAdult.com. He brings 20+ years of experience, a masters degree in personal training, two NSCA certifications (NSCA*D a...