The MS Gym Podcast: "The Brains Behind the Business"

Hosts: Brooke Slick & Jodi Feltham
Guest: Ken Allen (CEO and Co-owner, The MS Gym)
Date: June 3, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Brooke Slick and Jodi Feltham sit down with Ken Allen, CEO and business mastermind of The MS Gym, to delve into the story, evolution, and future of the organization. Ken shares his entrepreneurial background, the philosophy underpinning The MS Gym, and how his and Trevor’s vision has built a global community for people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and neurological challenges. The conversation provides a candid look at why The MS Gym remains authentic, trusted, and focused on exercise-based solutions, and what’s coming next for members and the broader MS community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Ken Allen’s Background & Connection to The MS Gym

• Career Path

  • Ken describes himself as a “career chameleon,” running everything from a nonprofit for autistic kids to a tennis academy (01:58).
  • His pivot to online business stemmed from witnessing the shift in technology and necessity during the Covid era (03:10), leading him to consult on helping practitioners take their expertise online.

• Origin Story with Trevor

  • Trevor became one of Ken’s online business clients. The connection deepened as Ken’s father has Parkinson’s, making Trevor’s broader neuro-specialist programs personally relevant (05:10).
  • “We had to have a global presence and impact more lives... that was his vision to go online.” (06:30)

The Philosophy Behind The MS Gym

• Living by Design, Not Diagnosis
  • The MS Gym stands out for offering hope and rejecting limiting beliefs about MS progression.

    "They don't give up on you... it's a breath of fresh air having Trevor saying, ‘let's do what we can to make you stronger, for sure.’” – Jodi (07:52)

  • Community and mindset are as important as exercise:

    "You could still change your outlook and have a good life. It may look different than your old life." – Ken (10:30)

The Power of Community

• Building a Supportive Network
  • The MS Gym’s early success is attributed to a “lucky” initial group that set a positive, hopeful tone.

    “What made it work the best and continues to make it work the best is the community… People have formed amazing real friendships.” — Ken (19:42)

  • The difference between MS Gym's group and other Facebook groups:

    “It was just like, there was no reaction... and yet [in ours] everyone was like, ‘Thank you for this. I needed this.’ It was like two different worlds.” – Ken (25:05)

Business Model & Evolution

• Membership-Driven with Free Resources

  • From the outset, The MS Gym was built as a recurring membership rather than relying on one-off product sales, providing stability and ongoing access for members (12:57).
  • A “ton of free resources” are offered to the broader community, only possible because of core member support:

    “If we didn’t have the stability of the membership, Trevor could not do all this free content… That was a big piece for us.” – Ken (14:00)

  • “Our membership program to this day is our main flagship program and nothing’s going to change as far as it being the flagship.” – Ken (13:40)

• Adapting Over Time

  • Now serving 80,000+ people across platforms (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, email list).
  • The program lineup has expanded to include lower-priced “mini-memberships,” one-off products, and evolving offerings in response to feedback and needs (15:30).

The MS Gym’s Uncompromising Focus

• Why Not Broaden to Other Products?

  • Ken emphasizes integrity and a “purist” approach, resisting temptations to affiliate with or sell unrelated products:

    “If we’re ever going to recommend something to someone, it has to truly be in 100% the best interests of the community.” – Ken (29:35) “I never wanted to push other products and services. That never felt great for me.” (33:30)

• Occasional Recommendations

  • Only products with clear, unprompted member success (like Psionic) are promoted, and never with commissions as the motive.

The Evolving Landscape & Future Plans

• Upcoming Improvements & New Directions

  • The core membership will be revamped (“2.5” version) over two years for better video, audio, app experience, and more adaptive programming based on extensive member data (35:09).

    “We’re designing a program based on what we’ve seen that we think will just really enhance people’s results.” – Ken (36:50)

  • Trevor’s focus on building leg strength and enhanced member pathways will be a “game changer.”
  • Expansion into more workshops, standalone products, and continued free content.

• Return to In-Person Events

  • A renewed desire for summits and local MS Gym meetups, deferred during COVID, is now back on the agenda:

    “I’d love to get in-person stuff going again… Some official MS Gym meetups throughout the world.” – Ken (38:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Community and Mindset:

  “Living with MS or another chronic illness… it’s like a breath of fresh air having Trevor saying, no, I’m not okay with that statement.” – Jodi (07:52)

• On the Power of Hope:

  “I think a really important part... you can still change your outlook and have a good life. It may look different than your old life.” – Ken (10:30)

• On Membership Model Rationale:

  “If we didn’t have the stability of the membership, Trevor could not do all this free content… They go hand in hand.” – Ken (14:00)

• On Trust and Ethics:

  “We want people to trust us and buy our products and services… My mission is not to try to make an extra buck off other products and services.” – Ken (32:40)

• On the Future:

  “We’re going to release things little by little over the next two years… the new programs are going to be a game changer.” – Ken (35:35)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Ken’s Entrepreneurial Background: 01:58 – 05:10
• Why Ken & Trevor Took The MS Gym Online: 05:10 – 07:20
• The MS Gym’s Philosophy of Hope: 07:52 – 10:30
• Evolution of the Business Model: 12:57 – 16:57
• Community as Key to Longevity: 19:42 – 22:45
• Who the MS Gym Is (and Isn’t) For: 22:52 – 26:09
• Most Engaged Social Platforms: 26:09 – 28:07
• “Purist” Approach to Exercise-Only Model: 28:44 – 33:30
• Future Plans: Membership 2.5 and In-Person Events: 35:09 – 39:30

Conclusion

Ken Allen offers a rare behind-the-scenes look into what makes The MS Gym unique, trusted, and successful seven years on. The episode underscores the organization’s commitment to hope, empowerment, community, and ethical business—while previewing major upgrades and a return to in-person connection for the global MS community.

Find The MS Gym on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and at theMSGym.com.