Podcast
The Show Up Fitness Podcast
Hosted by Chris Hitchko, CEO Show Up Fitness · EN
Join Chris Hitchko, author of 'How to Become A Successful Personal Trainer' VOL 2 and CEO of Show Up Fitness as he guides personal trainers towards success.
90% of personal trainers quit within 12-months in the USA, 18-months in the UK, Show Up Fitness is helping change those statistics. The Show Up Fitness CPT is one of the fastest growing PT certifications in the world with partnerships with over 500-gyms including Life Time Fitness, Equinox, Genesis, EoS, and numerous other elite partnerships.
This podcast focuses on refining trade, business, and people skills to help trainers excel in the fitness industry. Discover effective client programming, revenue generation, medical professional networking, and elite assessment strategies.
Learn how to become a successful Show Up Fitness CPT at www.showupfitness.com. Send your questions to Chris on Instagram @showupfitness or via email at info@showupfitness.com."
44episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How to train a client w/ a stroke w/ Poojan
2w ago00:20:16Tap to summarizeSend us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!A client leaves a voicemail that would make most trainers panic: “I’m 79 years old, I had a hemorrhagic stroke, and I need someone to train me at home.” We’re joined by Poojan from Shaw Athletics to walk through what happens next, step by step, and how a qualified coach thinks about safety, scope, and real progress with a stroke survivor who still wants to feel strong and capable.We start with what took Poojan from “textbook cert” to real coach: getting in rooms where serious education and serious people show up. He shares what he learned at the Real Coaches Summit, why networking with doctors, DPTs, OTs, and dietitians changes the results your clients get, and how those connections keep you from guessing when the stakes are high. Then we zoom into the case study: movement screens, medical clearance, collecting contraindications from physical therapists, and using a gait belt to protect the client and build confidence while walking and training.You’ll also hear the business side that too many trainers ignore. Poojan explains how his Google Business Profile drives consistent personal training leads, why five-star reviews matter for “personal trainer near me” searches, and how “provide real value” becomes a repeatable marketing system. If you care about senior fitness, stroke recovery training, strength training for longevity, and ethical coaching that works with medical professionals instead of competing with them, this one is packed.Subscribe, share this with a trainer who needs it, and leave a review if the episode helps you coach with more confidence and care.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com
Transcribe →Should you ICE an injury? Think about MEAT w/ Dr. TeBos
2w ago00:33:01Tap to summarizeSend us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!IG: dr_tebos Physical Therapist in Kentucky. Most people treat an ankle sprain like a simple checklist: rest, ice, wait, repeat. That advice can feel comforting and still be wrong for your recovery timeline.We sit down with physical therapist Dr. TeBos to unpack what ice actually does in the body, why inflammation is a normal part of tissue healing, and how pain relief can sometimes compete with the adaptations you want. We get specific about when icing makes sense (especially in the first 24 to 48 hours for pain modulation) and when “icing it just to ice it” can slow the process by limiting blood flow and the cleanup work your body needs to do.From there we move to a more useful model: MEAT (movement, exercise, analgesics, treatment). We talk about how to keep an injured area safely moving without overloading it, how compression and elevation can help when swelling blocks joint range of motion, and why post-surgery swelling can shut down muscle firing through arthrogenic inhibition. We also tackle the hot topics people argue about online: contrast therapy, ice baths after lifting, and the tradeoffs if hypertrophy is your goal.Finally, we dig into why ankle sprains are often a proprioception and nerve problem, not just “loose ligaments,” and why boots can backfire by creating fast weakness and dulling the feedback you need to return to sport. We close with real talk on how trainers and physical therapists can collaborate better, and what a good referral relationship looks like.Subscribe, share this with a training partner who still swears by RICE, and leave a review with your biggest recovery question.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com
Transcribe →How to Add $30K Revenue as a Trainer with Nutrition Coaching & an RD
2w ago00:22:15Tap to summarizeSend us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Become a nutrition coach w/ SUF NC working alongside RD's to build you team and streams of revenue.Torey Berry, SUF instructor talks about her success with having an RD on her team.Most personal trainers talk about nutrition all day and still leave money and results on the table. We want the opposite: clear boundaries, better outcomes, and a real nutrition coaching offer that clients happily pay for. That starts by putting a Registered Dietitian on your team so you can stay in your scope of practice while delivering higher-level support.We dig into how this looks with real clients, including a PCOS and prediabetes scenario where insulin resistance and blood sugar response matter. You’ll hear why the goal is not “no carbs,” but smarter carbs with more fiber, better structure, and the right context. When an RD drives the nutrition strategy, clients get safer guidance, trainers stop guessing, and the coaching conversation becomes more credible and more effective.From there, we lay out the business model: how we introduce the RD, when we bring nutrition into the coaching timeline, and how we price tiered packages that include consults, weekly logs, and optional meal plans. We also talk systems for scaling without burnout, plus creative add-ons like bringing in a private chef to teach cooking and prep so clients can actually execute.Finally, we get tactical about networking: what to say when you email or DM a dietitian, how to interview for fit, how bartering can work, and how to loop in medical weight loss doctors to build a referral network that benefits everyone. If you want to separate yourself in a crowded personal training market with a professional team approach, press play, then subscribe, share this with a trainer friend, and leave a review.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com
Transcribe →How to train a ROWER | SUF Personal Training CHALLENGE
2w ago00:08:29Tap to summarizeSend us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Rowing exposes your weak links fast: sloppy wrists, rushed recovery, too much layback, and suddenly your “cardio day” turns into cranky elbows, tight hip flexors, or a low-back flare-up. We want trainers and everyday lifters to use the rower as a real conditioning tool, not a pain generator, so we walk through the exact cues we coach for a clean, powerful stroke and how to fix the most common errors.We start with a simple form breakdown you can apply immediately: hands on the outside of the handle, wrists flat, elbows out and back, and a consistent finish with the handle coming in just below the chest. Then we dial in the layback target (think 11 o’clock or 1 o’clock) so you stay braced and efficient without overleaning. The recovery gets special attention too, because sequencing is everything: push the handle down and away with straight arms, lean forward, and keep the handle traveling over your knees before your legs bend.From there, we zoom out into a trainer-friendly needs analysis: the muscles and joints doing the work, the planes of motion involved, and the overuse injuries that show up when tissue capacity can’t match volume. You’ll also hear practical accessory work ideas, including isometric elbow strengthening, hip flexor work with dorsiflexion, and frontal plane stability drills to keep your hips resilient. We wrap with rowing bioenergetics and nutrition coaching basics, including carb guidance and when glucose gels make sense for longer efforts, plus details on our monthly rowing challenge, leaderboard, and the $500 prize.Subscribe, share this with a trainer friend, and leave a review so more coaches can stop guessing and start coaching better. What’s your meter goal for the month?Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com
Transcribe →How to make 100k as a Personal Trainer STREAMS OF REVENUE 60-30-10
2w ago00:09:16Tap to summarizeSend us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!One canceled client should not be able to wreck your entire month. We’re laying out a clean, numbers-first blueprint for personal trainers who want a sustainable six-figure personal training business without grinding 50 sessions a week. The framework is a 60/30/10 revenue split that adds up to $100,000 per year: a strong core of in-person training, a second stream that can cover real life bills, and a third stream that grows your income without more floor hours.We walk through the real math behind stream one, including why you should book more sessions than you “need” because clients cancel, and how gym commission splits can quietly cap your income. Then we get into the biggest missed opportunity we see in the fitness industry: trainers giving nutrition guidance away for free. We explain how to set professional boundaries, introduce nutrition coaching after a consistent first month, and communicate pricing in a way that feels clear instead of pushy. We also talk about building a team with registered dietitians and physical therapists so you can serve clients better and stand out as a qualified coach.Finally, we break down a simple online coaching plan and social media marketing approach that works even with a small audience. If you’ve ever said “I only have 300 followers,” we challenge that mindset and show how to turn engagement into real conversations with sincere messages that cut through AI automation. Subscribe, share this with a trainer friend, and leave a review so more coaches can keep showing up.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com
Transcribe →Ep. 350 How to program for personal trainers 8 Core Movement Patterns & CCA
3w ago00:13:48Tap to summarizeSend us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Struggling with programming for your personal training clients? Enter the 8 core movement patterns and the CCA within the SUF CPT.Most training plans fall apart for one simple reason: they’re built on random exercises instead of a clear movement system. We walk through the eight core movement patterns we use to coach real people and to get consistent results, whether you’re training general population clients, athletes, or yourself. You’ll hear how we think about vertical push and vertical pull, horizontal push and horizontal pull, unilateral work, squats, hinges, and transitional patterns so every exercise has a job and every progression is earned.We get specific on the “why” behind common lifts: which muscles drive each pattern, what joint actions matter, and where coaches usually go wrong. We talk shoulder-friendly pressing choices like the landmine press when overhead range is limited, why eccentrics are a cheat code for building pull-ups, and how too much fixed-scapula pressing can sneakily beat up shoulder health. On the lower-body side, we lay out practical progressions for step-ups, lunges, squats, and hinge work, plus the mistakes that turn a hinge into a quad-dominant pattern.We also hit two topics that every trainer needs in their toolbox: breathing mechanics and pain myths. If someone can’t run well, sprinting volume has to match tissue capacity. And “deadlifts are bad for your back” misses the real issue: mechanics, progression, and exposure over time.To tie it all together, we share a simple CCA programming template that’s plug-and-play for full-body training with a push emphasis or lower-body emphasis, plus how we use accessories to keep sessions fun without compromising force production. Subscribe, share this with a trainer friend, and leave a review. What movement pattern do you need to coach better next?Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com
Transcribe →Get Clients at a Big Box Gym | Equinox Life Time Fitness Crunch
3w ago00:12:34Tap to summarizeSend us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Meet SAM & Paul. SUF-CPTs who are discussing ways to get clients at big box gyms. Sam already has 3 clients at Equinox and she was hired within 4-weeks with her SUF-CPT.The fastest way to get personal training clients at a big box gym is not a clever pitch. It is being the trainer people actually see, trust, and remember. We’re joined by Sam, a brand-new Equinox trainer who’s already built momentum in her first month, and her story turns “getting clients” from a vague hope into a repeatable plan.We talk through the real-world tactics that work at high-end gyms like Equinox and Lifetime, and also translate perfectly to Crunch, LA Fitness, and EOS. Sam explains her gym-floor outreach script, why a clipboard helps, and how she offers a complimentary assessment that feels helpful instead of pushy. We also dig into guided tours that convert by delivering an “Equinox experience” with a modified movement screen, a full-body session, and smart finishing touches that make prospects feel taken care of.Then we lay out three core strategies for personal trainer marketing inside a gym: be present when members train, run simple workshops that generate leads, and always be training someone so your coaching is visible. You’ll hear practical workshop ideas like a grip strength leaderboard and a blood pressure check, plus how to follow up ethically, educate members on what their numbers mean, and build credibility by networking with medical professionals when appropriate. If you’re serious about filling your schedule, growing your fitness business, and standing out in a crowded personal training industry, this is your playbook.Subscribe for more trainer tactics, share this with a coach who needs clients, and leave a review with the one strategy you’ll try on your next floor shift.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com
Transcribe →Pass The NASM CPT Fast 2026 OPT Quiz Questions
3w ago00:09:50Tap to summarizeSend us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!You can spend weeks “learning” the NASM CPT textbook and still walk into the exam feeling blind sided. We take the opposite approach: study to pass, fast. If you’re stuck on the OPT model, acute variables, tempos, and rest periods, this conversation turns the chaos into a simple set of rules you can memorize and apply under pressure.We walk through the kinds of NASM practice questions that cause panic, like identifying which OPT phase uses stable to unstable supersets, what 4-2-1-1 and 2-0-2-0 tempos actually mean, and why “maximal power” style wording can be a trick. Then we zoom out and show you the map of the OPT model: stabilization, strength focused phases, hypertrophy or muscular development, maximal strength, and power with post-activation potentiation. Along the way we give you a straight method for thinking through exercises like bench press to push-up, heavy lifts paired with throws or jumps, and what the test expects you to recall about sets, reps, and intensity.We also get honest about the part nobody tells you: passing the personal trainer certification doesn’t make you good at coaching. Clients don’t pay for textbook terms, they pay for results, confidence, and problem solving. That’s why our north star is simple: pass the NASM CPT exam efficiently, then build the real skills that keep trainers in the game beyond year one.Subscribe for more practical CPT exam prep, share this with a friend who’s cramming right now, and leave a review with the one topic you want us to break down next.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com
Transcribe →How to Price Your Personal Training Rates (LEARN HOW TO SELL $100+ PER HOUR)
4w ago00:14:07Tap to summarizeSend us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Anyone can get certified. Very few know how to charge.Most trainers underprice because they lack confidence, experience, and a real system. So they default to $40 to $60 sessions… and wonder why they burn out.In this episode, we break down how to actually set your personal training rates based on value, not fear.You’ll learn: Why cheap trainers struggle to survive How to justify $100 to $300 per session The biggest pricing mistakes trainers make How to increase your rates without losing clients Why confidence, assessments, and results drive income If you want to become a successful trainer, you can’t think like the average trainer.Pass fast. Get real experience. Charge based on value.KEEP SHOWING UP.Comment SUF CPT if you want help becoming a successful trainer.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com
Transcribe →Fix Knee Pain w/ Dr. Farnsworth TKE .4 FREE CEU's for Personal Trainers
Apr 1700:48:01Tap to summarizeSend us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Your knee pain might not be a “weak glute” problem or a fancy gadget problem. It might be one missing piece of motion: full knee extension. When the knee can’t straighten, the quad stays inhibited, your gait gets weird, and every step becomes practice at not using the muscle that’s supposed to protect the joint. That’s why we brought on Dr. Justin Farnsworth, physical therapist and founder of Rebuilt Strength Method and Pro App, to give coaches and lifters a clear plan they can actually run on the gym floor. We dig into a simple terminal knee extension screen you can do in minutes, why a low load long duration stretch can be the test and the fix, and how to decide whether you should refer out. Then we shift into anterior knee pain and patellofemoral pain syndrome, why soft tissue work can turn down symptoms briefly, and why the real long-term answer is building tissue capacity with smart loading. Dr. Farnsworth breaks down his go-to isometrics for knee pain relief, including the Spanish squat isometric and how to adjust depth so sensitive knees can still train. We also talk progressions back to squats, split squats, step ups, and step downs, plus a straightforward routine to keep extension once you get it. If you coach clients with knee discomfort, want better knee rehab outcomes, or you just want stronger quads without fear, this one is packed with tools. If this helped, subscribe, share it with a coach who trains people in pain, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find the show.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com
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