It's fair that America's health culture is more complex that what one single gym can represent, but the gym that represents America, the number one gym in the country, is Planet Fitness.

With nearly 3,000 locations and over 20 million members, Planet Fitness isn't just a gym it’s the primary source of how many Americans experience exercise.

But is their "Judgment Free" philosophy truly about inclusion, or is it a calculated marketing strategy designed to keep the masses paying for a service they rarely use?

In this episode, we peel back the purple curtain to explore:

Planet Fitness publicly claims their members visit 6 to 7 times a month and at a bill of about $10/ month, even if unused, it's not going to break the bank.

Their competitor is not the glitzy gym down the street or even the couch, it's the person unwilling to just walk in the door. That's why Planet Fitness claims they serve controversial choices like pizza and bagels - to be approachable to those who find comfort in that invitation.

Planet Fitness' use of these "low-stakes fitness" to eliminate "gymtimidation" works. It has built them a $6 billion empire.

Is Planet Fitness the hero that made fitness accessible to the 80% of Americans who hate the gym? Or is it a brilliant subscription trap that thrives on our best intentions and our most frequent absences?

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