On this episode of The ATFW Podcast, Brandon Cullen, Co-Founder and Chief Concept Officer of MADabolic, joins host Krissy Vann to break down the business philosophy behind his strength-driven interval training franchise.

Brandon shares how his professional hockey background shaped MADabolic’s structured, performance-first approach—and why the brand was built to serve people beyond their sport, with a disciplined system that can carry them into their 40s, 50s, and beyond.

This conversation explores:

• The gap MADabolic fills between performance and mainstream fitness
• Why the brand intentionally avoids trends and “fitness as sport”
• How franchisees are scaling with consistency and discipline
• The challenges and opportunities in targeting the other 80% of the addressable market

Whether you're an operator, investor, or franchisor, this episode offers insight into building a brand that prioritizes strength, structure, and long-term strategy.

Welcome to This Week in Fitness by ATFW, where Krissy Vann crunches the latest fitness business headlines in under 5 minutes.

Here’s what’s making news:

🔹 Airbnb Launches Wellness Services
Airbnb expands into fitness and wellness with its new Airbnb Services feature, now available in 260 cities. Users can book yoga, HIIT, massage, and personal training—whether or not they’re staying in an Airbnb.

🔹 iFIT Acquires Reform RX
iFIT enters the Pilates space through the acquisition of connected equipment brand Reform RX, expanding offerings for home and studio markets.

🔹 Planet Fitness Revives Teen Summer Pass
Teens aged 14 to 19 can work out for free all summer long. With more than $300M in waived dues since 2019, Planet Fitness continues its push to engage youth in structured fitness.

🔹 Xponential Fitness CEO to Retire
Mark King announces plans to retire due to health reasons. The company will hold its Analyst & Investor Day at the NYSE on May 29 to outline next steps and growth strategy.

🔹 Anthony Geisler Launches Sequel Brands
The former Xponential CEO returns with a new multi-brand fitness franchise company, including Pilates Addiction, iFlex Stretch Studios, Beem Light Sauna, and BODY20.

🔹 Apple Music & UMG Introduce Sound Therapy
Apple Music and Universal Music Group partner on a sound wellness collection, featuring brainwave-based adaptations of popular songs from artists like Imagine Dragons and Katy Perry.

Stay fit, stay informed, and keep your fitness business in shape.

In this episode of All Things Fitness and Wellness, host Krissy Vann sits down with Mike Goscinski, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Health & Fitness Association, to break down what really happened during the recent Advocacy Fly-In on Capitol Hill.

Over 100 fitness industry leaders met with lawmakers to advocate for the inclusion of the PHIT Act (Personal Health Investment Today Act) in upcoming legislation. The PHIT Act aims to allow Americans to use pre-tax dollars from HSAs and FSAs on gym memberships, youth sports, and fitness equipment.

We cover:

• What was discussed in D.C.
• Where the PHIT Act stands now
• How fitness is being positioned in the healthcare conversation
• What club operators and professionals should know
• What comes next for fitness industry advocacy

Get an insider perspective on how policy and fitness are intersecting in 2025—and why it matters more than ever for industry professionals to stay informed.

🎧 Subscribe for more insights into the business of fitness, wellness trends, and interviews with industry leaders.
#FitnessIndustry #PHITAct #HealthPolicy #MikeGoscinski #FitnessBusiness #AllThingsFitnessAndWellness #CapitolHill #HFA #GymMemberships #WellnessPolicy #IndustryAdvocacy #KrissyVann

Welcome to This Week in Fitness, where host Krissy Vann crunches the latest fitness business headlines in under five minutes. From acquisitions and earnings to wearable tech and brand campaigns, here’s what’s making news across the industry:

EōS Fitness Acquired
EōS Fitness enters a new growth phase with fresh private equity backing. According to The Wall Street Journal, the deal values the company at $1.5 billion including debt.

UFC GYM Heats Up with Habit Burger
UFC GYM teams up with Habit Burger for a playful lifestyle campaign featuring the Hot Dads of Habit x UFC GYM Calendar, spotlighting a fresh way to frame healthy eating.

Planet Fitness Q1 Earnings
Planet Fitness reports revenue growth and membership gains but keeps an eye on tariff exposure. Same-club sales rose 6.1%, and membership surpassed 20 million.

Xponential Fitness Quarterly Results
Xponential sees strong system-wide sales but faces a revenue and profit dip. 2025 is being called a stabilization year as the company focuses on operational efficiencies.

WHOOP Launches New ECG Wearables
WHOOP introduces its 5.0 and MG devices, offering 14-day battery life, heart health tracking, and physiological age features in a redesigned platform.

Life Time Reports Strong Financials
Life Time’s revenue and profit surged in Q1, with updated guidance projecting up to $2.98 billion in revenue for 2025. Membership growth and new club plans are on track.

WeightWatchers Files for Chapter 11
WW International initiates a financial restructuring to eliminate $1.15 billion in debt and shift focus toward clinical weight loss support amid rising GLP-1 competition.

Stay fit, stay informed, and keep your fitness business in shape.

#fitnessbusiness #fitnessindustry #fitnessnews

In this powerful Mental Health Month episode on The ATFW Podcast, host Krissy Vann sits down with Anne Marie Chaker—former Wall Street Journal reporter, competitive bodybuilder, and author of the upcoming book LIFT: How Women Can Reclaim Their Physical Power and Transform Their Lives.

Many in the fitness industry may recognize Anne Marie from her impactful keynote at the Women’s Leadership Summit during the March Health & Fitness Association Show, where she urged attendees to empower women and girls to take up space—in life, in their bodies, and in their ambitions. In this episode, she expands on those themes, sharing her deeply personal story of addiction recovery, rediscovery through strength training, and how building muscle became a catalyst for reclaiming agency over her own life.

Anne Marie opens up about the stigma around addiction, the complexities of grief, and the internalized expectations many women carry that prevent them from prioritizing their health. Her journey is a testament to the transformative potential of fitness—not just for aesthetic change, but for healing, confidence, and purpose.

For those working in the fitness business, this conversation is a reminder of the industry’s true potential: to be a vehicle for empowerment, resilience, and holistic well-being.

📘 LIFT publishes June 17, 2025. Preorder now: Amazon

#fitnessbusiness #fitnessindustry #mentalhealthmonth

This Week in Fitness is where host Krissy Vann crunches the latest fitness business headlines—in under 5 minutes.

From GLP-1 breakthroughs and recovery investments to strategic board moves and lifestyle-driven brand plays, we break down what’s actually moving the needle in fitness this week:

-NASM announces the formation of a new Strategic Advisory Board led by Mark Mastrov and Neal Spruce
-24 Hour Fitness rolls out Recovery24 and Premium Fit24 to elevate the in-club experience
-Novo Nordisk partners with Hims & Hers, LifeMD, and Ro to expand Wegovy® access via telehealth
-Aon releases GLP-1 impact study showing a 44% reduction in cardiovascular hospitalizations and improved cost trends
-Life Time names FitVine Wine the official sponsor of Life Time Pickleball
-Strava and Wellness Pet Company launch the Minutes That Matter Challenge to promote movement with pets during Mental Health Awareness Month

Stay fit, stay informed, and keep your fitness business in shape.

00:00- Intro
00:14- NASM announces the formation of a new Strategic Advisory Board
00:40- 24 Hour Fitness rolls out Recovery24 and Premium Fit24
01:05- Novo Nordisk expands Telehealth access to Wegovy
01:37- Aon releases GLP-1 impact study
02:19- Life Time partners with FitVine Wine
02:44- Strava Partners with Wellness Pet Company l

#fitnessbusiness #fitnessindustry #fitnessnews

In this raw and inspiring episode of All Things Fitness and Wellness, we dive into mental health with Derek Gallup, an industry veteran with over 20 years of experience in the fitness world. Derek opens up about how fitness became his anchor through some of the toughest personal challenges, including the struggles of supporting a partner through mental health crises.

Derek’s career includes leadership roles at UFC Gym, 24 Hour Fitness, and New Evolution Ventures, but in this episode, he shares his personal journey—moving beyond the boardroom to address the real mental health battles we face in our personal and professional lives. As we recognize Mental Health Month, Derek highlights how we, as an industry, often focus on physical strength but too often overlook mental health.

Key Topics:

Derek’s career evolution and leadership roles at top fitness companies
Navigating personal grief and mental health struggles
The power of fitness in healing and supporting loved ones
Creating a meaningful, purpose-driven life through fitness
How Derek’s experiences led him to support SPARKLE Foundation, dedicated to mental health advocacy
The influence of Spartan’s DEKA on building community and resilience
The importance of mental health conversations in fitness culture
We also explore Derek’s thoughts on the intersection of fitness and mental health, why the industry must do more to create space for these important discussions, and how he’s using his platform to support others going through similar struggles.

In addition to hearing Derek’s powerful insights, Krissy also shares parts of her own journey and how fitness played a key role in her emotional healing.

Tune in for an episode that’s much more than just fitness talk—it's about the emotional strength that helps us face life’s toughest battles.

00:00- Intro
03:15- The SPARKLE and Spartan Connection
08:13- Krissy Vann shares her story of supporting a partner with end of life ideation
20:50- Derek Gallup shares his story of supporting partner with depression
33:50- Supporting someone dealing with mental illness
37:10- The future of SPARKLE Carla Gallup Foundation

Connect with SPARKLE: https://www.sparklecgf.org
#fitnessbusiness #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters

This is This Week in Fitness by All Things Fitness and Wellness, hosted by Krissy Vann. This is where we crunch the latest fitness business headlines in under 5 minutes. Here is what's making news:

• Crunch Fitness Majority Acquisition: Leonard Green & Partners acquires controlling stake as Crunch expands past 500 locations.
• Pvolve and Jennifer Aniston Launch Sculpt Anywhere: New portable workout bundle and hybrid fitness campaign unveiled.
• Nourish Raises $70M to Expand Virtual Nutrition Care: AI-powered platform scales Registered Dietitian-led services nationwide.
• Studio Pilates Expansion Continues: Brand reaches 114 global studios with strong client growth and system-wide sales increases.
• Late-Night HIIT Impacts Sleep, Study Finds: Monash University research links evening workouts to disrupted recovery.
• 24 Hour Fitness Partners with Action for Healthy Kids: New initiative drives family wellness programs through gym and school outreach.
• HYROX Opens Bidding for World Championships: Cities worldwide invited to host 2026 and 2027 HYROX World Championship events.

Stay fit, stay informed, and keep your fitness business in shape.