Escape Your Limits

Today, we’re speaking with an author, psychologist, and educator who is passionate about helping you understand the mind-body connection. Her TED Talk titled “How to Make Stress Your Friend,” has amassed a staggering 25 million views. In her latest book, The Joy of Movement, she explores how just 20-minutes of physical exercise can be a powerful antidote to the afflictions of depression, anxiety, and loneliness. The key takeaways from our conversation include why physical activity during the pandemic is absolutely essential and how it is strongly linked to mental health, the importance of collective joy, distinguishing dependence from harmful addiction, how movement and music fuel you for everything else that matters in your life, and the vital role of “hope molecules” in improving our levels of resilience Please welcome the mind-body visionary, Kelly McGonigal, to the Escape Your Limits podcast. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video – https://youtu.be/-MzvWIX_q0s   Kelly McGonig

“Anything that comes at the cost of your peace, is too great an expense.”  As a speaker, author, consultant, coach, and mentor, Herman Siu helps both individuals and businesses find positive growth. As a 6th generation Shaolin Temple Descendent, Herman shares his ancient wisdom and practices to help better every facet of a person’s life. His mission is simply ‘to inspire you to live an abundant life full of simple solutions’ motivated by the belief that in order to change the world, we must change ourselves.  In this episode, Herman discusses how rebelling and playing sport helped him learn leadership skills, the importance of being a producer not just a consumer, how we all need to process at an elite level in order to also perform to our potential and the steps we can all take to embrace the hurdles in life and find greater peace.  For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video – https://youtu.be/yd8YJzdF5O4   Herman Siu is a 6th generation Shaolin Temple Descendent who shares his ancien

What has Covid-19 taught us and how will its influence the industry moving forwards? In our first interview with Martin, back in June 2020, Martin was based in the UK, overseeing LifeFit Group's six brands, including Fitness First, Barry's Bootcamp, elbgym, Smile X, The Gym Society and New Moove. He talked about leading from the front in a crisis and the challenges of reopening facilities after lockdown 1.0. Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Martin Seibold Today, as the world continues to deal with the effects of a global pandemic, Martin has moved back to his native Germany. In this episode, he talks very candidly about the challenges Covid has presented and its impact on business, plus how this current crisis will impact the industry moving forwards For more information on the Escape Your Limits podcast visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video version – https://youtu.be/LtJFPGiWLeI Martin was destined to map out a career in the fitness industry. He grew up in Germany, where, at a young age, he

How to optimize training outcomes through heart rate training Jesse N. Thomas MS CSCS, a self-confessed science geek, is one of the industry’s leading heart rate training experts. Jesse has dedicated his life to helping athletes train for success. He has spent decades applying the vast array of knowledge gained from years of studying for multiple degrees in kinesiology and exercise physiology to helping coaches, instructors and athletes optimize training outcomes through the delivery of insight and education. In this episode, Jesse discusses the merits of heart rate training and the important role of the coach in teasing out optimal performance from individuals training in a group setting. He also explores how heart rate monitoring can flag negative training outcomes and the necessity of applying training strategies that drive a specific outcome. This is an episode not to miss for anyone looking to get the most out of their heart rate training  For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Vide

Long before Conor McGregor, today's guest was responsible for bringing mixed martial arts to the masses, inspiring an iconic era of growth for the UFC. Fighting in the first MMA event to break one million pay per views, he also coached the first ever series of the Ultimate Fighter show and has been inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. Today you can see him on TV and the big screen in guest appearances and acting roles around the world, or most recently breaking up fights and de-escalating tension during Huntingdon Beach riots. Please welcome former UFC lightweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer, Chuck Liddell to the Escape Your Limits podcast. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video Version – https://youtu.be/x8blHv2w3fU Chuck ‘Iceman’ Liddell  is a retired American mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion instantly recognised by his trademark Mohawk. He has an extensive striking background in Kenpo, Karate, and Kickboxing, as well as a grappling background in c

An insight into the power of the mind to create positive, lasting change. Crystal Dwyer Hansen Dwyer Hansen is a Transformational Life Coach with a belief that all people have unlimited potential for greatness if they only understand how to tap into their own inner resources. Through her years coaching, and as a Wellness/Nutrition Expert, she has seen people experience profound and lasting transformations in relationships, careers, health and wellness. In this episode, Crystal discusses the importance of mindset in creating lasting change, loving the foods which love you back and the launch of her new book ASK! The Bridge from Your Dreams to Your Destiny. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video version – https://youtu.be/dG5Hd_S2HZQ Crystal Dwyer Hansen started her career in real estate and modelling, obsessed with helping people improve their lives and to be their best through whatever means she could. Wanting to better understand what it took to transform lives and improve both

Lessons from a business leader with a reputation as a disruptor. This week's guest on the Escape Your Limits podcast is a graduate from the University of Cambridge; he's held several roles in a number of top corporate institutions, most recently spearheading growth from 84 gyms to over 200 after overseeing a £600m company sale in his current role. We hope you enjoy this passionate, professional and honest interview with the CEO of PureGym, Humphrey Cobbold. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video Version – hthttps://youtu.be/uYbjk5PckCs   Humphrey Cobbold is CEO of PureGym and a serial disruptor in business, responsible for a dramatic shift in pricing structure and offering members more flexibility. He's an IRONMAN triathlete with a passion for both performance and recovery in and out of business. From building his breadth of experience in consultancy and other roles out of the fitness industry, he transitioned into a very different type of role as CEO of Wiggle where he took sales

Forget what you think you know about protein and muscle. Dr Gabrielle Lyon is a medical doctor with a revolutionary approach to health, wellness and longevity called muscle-centric medicine. In this episode we break the stereotypes surrounding building muscle; we discuss good and bad protein choices, and we explore how to deal with obesity as a nation. This is a lesson in what we can all do to improve the long term health of ourselves and our community. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast   Dr Gabrielle Lyon studied nutritional science for seven years and has a doctorate in osteopathic medicine. She specialises in helping patients and clients take control of their body and mind, through an innovative approach called muscle-centric medicine. This shifts the focus from fat loss to muscle gain, for better metabolism, reduced risk of disease and better long-term health. Her knowledge and insight has helped everyone from entrepreneur Bedros Keuilian to elite military operators such as Navy

Understand the science and specificity to outspend the competition and win. On this week's Escape Your Limits podcast, CEO of Alloy Personal Training Rick Mayo talks about what it takes to build a global franchise and target a demographic that holds 70% of the nation's disposable income. A pioneer of personal training and former trainer for Madonna, he's internationally recognised as an expert in systems and scaling, helping millions of members around the world through a mantra of assessment, accountability and actualisation. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video Version - https://youtu.be/1d3YbuCIjhc Rick Mayo started out training people in their homes to pay his way through college, doing something he loved to do. He opened one of the first facilities dedicated to training, all one-on-one, and soon growing the business to a million dollars of PT a year. Through circumstances such as staff leaving to set up their own studios, Rick's income went from $83k a month down to $12k a mo

This is why fitness needs an experience upgrade at every level. On this episode of the Escape Your Limits podcast we meet Rob Barker, president of Precor. As well as heading up of one of the world's largest fitness equipment companies, Rob is also an exec board member of Amer Sports, the £3b global leader in sporting goods. Rob's sharing real-time advice and information about driving the development of personalised health and fitness experiences that help people live the lives they desire. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video Version – https://youtu.be/hW6g8zcDKhw Venturing into fitness as a career, Rob began in operations, running the equipment of YMCAs in the UK. He fell in love with the industry, wanting to make people healthier and happier. He progressed and started in the supply sector in 1995, as a London sales rep for Precor. In his own words, he's been trying to be the best version of himself ever since, rising through the ranks of the business until he became president.

Hard hitting home truths that will improve your life and expand your potential. David Meltzer is co-founder of Sports 1 Marketing, an agency he co-founded with the NFL Hall of Fame quarterback, Warren Moon. As an executive producer and main judge on Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch, David provides insights for thousands of businesses each year to help them focus on their company growth. Host of The Playbook podcast, David also depicts the key principles to expanding your own potential in both business and life. This episode will have your head spinning with simple and practical advice. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast   Video version – https://youtu.be/aHP_0_UGy0g   In his early 20s, David Meltzer quickly rose to the top of his game in the business world, becoming a millionaire. David lectured around the globe and saw rapid success in every business project he touched. But something was missing, and in his 30s as a multimillionaire, he went on a rapid downward spiral that ended in bankr

Everyone needs honesty, and everyone needs recovery. Eric Leija is one of the fastest rising fitness influencers online with almost a million Instagram followers, his own online coaching business and a workout programme branded by Men's Health. In this episode, the celebrity fitness trainer who specialises in unconventional training talks about what it took to develop and launch a successful fitness app, Primal Fitness, in the middle of a pandemic, and how COVID put him out of action for weeks, even as an elite athlete. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video version – https://youtu.be/_X3-BfV2TgQ Eric Leija used to work in the ONNIT warehouse, packing supplements and shipping equipment off to customers. As the company started selling more kettlebells, steel maces and unconventional training equipment, they needed someone to show potential customers how to use it. Eric got certified and became one of the first coaches in the ONNIT gym. He soon became a head coach for kettlebell trai

Attract clients. Perfect your pricing. Retain members. Profit and prosper. This episode is a lesson in how to bring more clients into your business and keep them longer, all while improving profitability. It's an art form that our guest has developed into a science. With tips time-served by a client base of over 2000 thriving businesses, this strategy session can bring some impressive results. CEO of GymLaunch, Alex Hormozi, is making gym owners evolve their business to be better for their bottom line and members. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video version – https://youtu.be/8_qL5oB3BR4   Formerly a competing power lifter, Alex Hormozi didn't like the effect that the volume was having on his joints. He transitioned to more of a bodybuilding approach without feeling the need to get stage lean. Professionally, Alex has gone from sleeping on the floor of his gym to discovering financial freedom, teaching other gym owners his success secrets and transforming over 1500 gyms on four

Stress, recovery, repeat. This week on the Escape Your Limits podcast we discuss a very different vision for the future of the fitness industry. Today's guest has consulted with some of the biggest brands in fitness, sharing his passion for movement with audiences from the likes of Equinox, Microsoft and Nike. This conversation with Michol Dalcourt, CEO of the Institute of Motion, will challenge your thinking and open your mind to many of the great opportunities that still exist within the fitness space. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video version – https://youtu.be/zsboE_hhkxw   As CEO of the Institute of Motion, inventor of the ViPR PRO, and co-founder of PTA Global, Michol Dalcourt has spoken at hundreds of conferences on becoming unbreakable. He is a fitness visionary and shares his insight on the future of fitness for both bodies and business in his second appearance on the Escape Your Limits podcast. The Institute of Motion is an applied health and human performance compan

How to build a community and keep it. This week's Escape Your Limits podcast guest started out from humble beginnings in a family that depended on welfare and food stamps. Today he's earning millions of dollars, following a core belief system of mind, body and action. Starting as a personal trainer in fitness, Dean Aguilar is now the founder of two real estate companies selling over $300m in real estate, as well as being the CEO of Digital Muse, an award-winning marketing agency. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video version - https://youtu.be/ceqDJAoBOm4   Dean’s family immigrated to the US from Argentina (mother) and Pakistan (father) in 1972. From the age of 13, he began bagging groceries for $3/hr. At the age of 15 he fell in love with fitness and began sharpening his sales skills by selling personal training to clients at a local gym. Dean excelled so quickly, by age 21 he was running an entire fitness facility with 61 employees. Today, whether heading up his real estate agen

How to ask the right questions for success. This week's Escape Your Limits podcast is a lesson from positivity power couple Mark Victor Hansen, co-author of best-seller Chicken Soup for the Soul, and his wife Crystal Dwyer Hansen. Together they're sharing important messages from their new book: Ask! The Bridge From Your Dreams To Your Destiny. Through understanding how to pivot and perform when faced with any challenge, these are the questions to ask to wake up opportunity during adversity. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video - https://youtu.be/8W35XFkzbSs  Inspirational speakers, authors and motivational specialists, Mark Hansen and Crystal Dwyer Hansen are passionate about positivity. Co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Mark Victor Hansen has sold over 500 million copies and also holds the Guinness World Record for having the most books in the New York Times best selling list at the same time. Crystal Dwyer Hansen is an international speaker, researcher, corporate consulta

How to make strategic decisions when dealing with uncertainty. Chris Clawson is passionate about fitness being seen by the world to help with longevity and wellbeing, long after the pandemic passes. In this Escape Your Limits interview, he explains why the fitness industry needs better representation for public perception change, how to thrive in a climate of adversity, and why he rejoined Life Fitness as CEO shortly after parting ways with the company. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video Version – https://youtu.be/g7vjKusw5UI  

Behind the scenes with leadership lessons from a pioneer of fitness in Asia. Sincere and reflective, this Escape Your Limits podcast interview with Simon Flint is the kind of honesty that we need in fitness today. Simon is the CEO of Evolution Wellness, a six-brand total port folio making $300m in revenue across 175 sites in six countries. He's leading his 7000 employees with compassion, communication and a camaraderie that will see the companies gyms and studios coming back stronger than ever. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video Version – https://youtu.be/-EbxHtqhulU   Simon Flint was born in the UK to hard working parents that instilled a mindset in him of continual growth and progress. He moved to south east Asia in 1994 and has put the hours in that's led to his 26-year veteran career, leading Asia's health and fitness industry. Today as the CEO of Evolution Wellness, created from a $500m merger by the Fitness First Asia and Celebrity Fitness brands, his six-brand total port

Post-pandemic plans and predictions from a CEO who's seen success all around the world. An experienced and successful multi-brand professional at a global level, Ty Menzies has spent over 15 years forging growth in the fitness industry and founding multiple companies of his own. Today as CEO of Lift Brands, Ty oversees a port folio of five operations: Snap Fitness 24/7, 9Round Kickboxing, YogaFit Studios, Steele Fitness and FitnessOnDemand.   For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video version – https://youtu.be/fYP63YmI_6k   Lift Brands is a collection of fitness-minded businesses that share a similar goal: creating comfortable, welcoming services that foster good health and wellness. From individual personalised workouts to group fitness training, each company has its own unique specialty. For both users and owners, Snap Fitness 24/7, 9Round Kickboxing, YogaFit Studios, Steele Fitness and FitnessOnDemand serve as the foundations for a better life.     Episode highlights - • Why lots

Authenticity is key to long term success. A DJ, TV presenter and radio host who found fame on the BAFTA award-winning Made In Chelsea, Ashley James is a regular face in the British media. An articulate social commentator, activist and empowerment coach, she's using her platform for good, campaigning for body positivity, mental health and honesty on social media. This is a lesson in how to stay true to yourself, no matter what others think. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video version – https://youtu.be/n-PdgfT-bz8   Ashley James always wanted to be a presenter but didn't realise it was an option for years. Her first mini break can after hustling for a radio job, doing teas and coffees for her local station when she was 16. She went to university and did a graduate scheme with Abercrombie and Fitch. After moving to London and working various jobs, Ashley struggled with money but got her break with her first reality TV appearance on Made In Chelsea in 2012. She also appeared on Cel