Gym Business Coach Podcast

Eleven Madison Park spent seven years going from a good restaurant to #1 in the world. Jennifer Burgess was on that team, and she sat down with Tim Lyons and Randy Angsten at the Iron Circle Experience in Austin to break down what made it work and how gym owners can use it.

Jennifer spent eight years with Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group, helped open the original Shake Shack, and now leads workshops with the Unreas...

The holiday slowdown doesn't have to hurt your gym's profitability. In fact, it might be your best opportunity to prepare for a stronger year.

In this episode of the Built to Grow Podcast, Randy Angsten and Zach Columbia break down what gym owners should focus on during November and December to protect member retention, improve operations, and prepare for the New Year rush. From holiday accountability challenges and member check-ins...

Gym leads are getting harder and more expensive to generate, and waiting for Meta ads or referrals to save you isn’t a strategy.

In this episode, Tim Lyons Jr. and Randy Angsten break down the daily sales and marketing moves gym owners need to make in 2026 to stay ahead of churn. Learn why you need multiple lead-generation channels, how to work your existing prospect list, generate referrals intentionally, track churn and Delt...

Q4 can quietly destroy the retention you spent the first nine months of the year building.

In this episode, Tim Lyons and Randy Angsten break down how gym owners can reduce holiday cancellations and keep members training through Q4 with simple accountability challenges. From the “Holiday Hold ’Em” concept to a visual attendance sticker board, they explain how to make consistency fun, identify members who are slippi...

In this episode, Tim Lyons and Randy Angsten break down the Q4 marketing strategy gym owners should be using now to win Q1 2027. Learn how to build retargeting audiences from website visitors, video viewers, and leads who didn’t convert, create valuable touchpoints before the January ad rush, and turn those warmed-up prospects into members when they’re ready to buy. Instead of fighting competitors for expensive attentio...

Most gym owners don’t have a lack-of-effort problem, they’re focused on the wrong problems. In this episode, we break down a smarter SWOT framework using “Know What vs. Know How” to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and blind spots in your gym business. They also explain why tracking Delta, recurring revenue, ROAS, acquisition costs, conversion rates, and lifetime value helps you know exactly wh...

Most gym owners rush to pitch the solution before the prospect fully understands their own problem.

In this episode, we break down Recognition, one of the most important stages of the PROFIT Closing Method. Learn how to move beyond surface-level goals like “lose 15 pounds,” uncover the real reason someone needs to change, create urgency without manipulation, and make prospects feel understood before you ever present your...

Stop blaming retention, Facebook, your sales team, or the market. If something in your gym isn’t working, your job as the owner is to figure out why.

In this episode, we break down how gym owners can take responsibility for member retention, marketing, and sales by finding the root problem instead of accepting poor results as normal. Learn how to reduce client churn, prevent members from drifting, improve check-ins, troublesho...

Most gym owners think they have a marketing problem, a staffing problem, or a retention problem.

We argue those are usually just symptoms of a bad product. In this episode, they break down how programming, coaching delivery, cleanliness, equipment, schedule, and pricing all shape whether clients stay, refer, and pay premium rates. They also explain The Fourth Model, a more personalized, differentiated training experience designed to...

Most gym owners are building for this month. The smart ones are building for the day they want out.

In this episode, we break down what actually makes a gym sellable, scalable, and owner-independent. They explain why documented systems, clear roles, premium margins, consistent delivery, strong retention, and a unique offer matter more than simply growing revenue. If your gym still depends on you to coach, sell, solve problems, and k...

Hiring better coaches starts long before the interview.

In this episode, We explain why gym owners need to stop hiring from desperation and start building a gym that A-player coaches actually want to work for. They break down how branding, job posts, core values, clear expectations, and a stronger onboarding process help attract better candidates, reduce turnover, and improve staff retention. If you want a stronger team without comp...

Who should actually make the decisions in your gym, the owner or the coaches?

Randy Angsten and Zach Columbia break down why gym owners need to lead major business decisions while still creating team buy-in. From implementing semi-private training and programming systems to handling employee turnover, learn how to delegate without losing control, communicate the bigger vision, and build a gym that doesn't depend on one coach to surv...

Random workouts aren't a premium product.

In this episode, Tim Lyons and Randy Angsten explain why the traditional Workout of the Day (WOD) model falls short for clients with different goals, injuries, and abilities. They break down the Fourth Mode, combining the personalization of one-on-one coaching with the scalability of semi-private training. Learn how individualized programming can improve client results, increase retention, j...

Your Facebook ads might be working, even when your ROAS says they aren't.

In this episode, we discuss why turning off Facebook ads can cause total gym leads to drop across Google, website traffic, calls, and walk-ins. They break down omnipresence marketing, attribution problems, changing consumer behavior, and why gym owners may need to stop judging every marketing channel in isolation. The goal isn't perfect attribution, it's under...

What if the fitness industry has been measuring value all wrong?

In this episode, Tim Lyons and Randy Angsten explain why personalization—not coach-to-client ratio—is what clients actually pay for. Learn why one-on-one, small group, and semi-private training can all fail without individualized programming, and how the Fourth Model helps gyms deliver better results, improve retention, and justify premium pricing through s...

Think you still need a marketing agency?

In this episode, We explain how gym owners can use AI and the Claude Chrome Extension to automate marketing, reporting, dashboards, CRM tasks, and business operations. Learn how AI can save hours every week, improve ad tracking and ROAS, eliminate repetitive work, and help you scale your gym without adding more staff. If you're a gym owner looking to use AI to grow your business, this episode...

Are your gym trainers really 1099 contractors—or should they be W-2 employees?

In this episode, we explain the biggest differences between 1099 vs. W-2 for gym owners, why trainer misclassification can trigger costly IRS penalties and back taxes, and how to determine if your coaches are classified correctly. If you own a gym or fitness business, this is a mistake you can't afford to make.

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