Industry Education Episodes

Monica Marder, a dynamic entrepreneur with a penchant for wellness innovation, embarked on a transformative journey in 2018 when she founded her first fitness studio. Struggling to find a workout regimen that was both low impact and incorporated functional strength training, but distinctly different from traditional Pilates, Monica envisioned an alternative that combined intensity with a result-driven atmosphere. Her previous corporate job required extensive travel, allowing her to scout fitnes...

Ethan Blauner's story begins in the tumultuous period of the pandemic when the doors of the (unfortunately now defunct) Switch Playground--like many big box and boutique gyms across the globe--shuttered and left trainers wandering in an uncertain fitness landscape. As routines crumbled, Ethan faced the challenge that rattled the entire industry . . . the abrupt transition from physical spaces to a virtual existence where the workout mat was to become the new gym floor. It was during this time o...

Sid Raman is a structural engineer with over three decades of experience in the construction and building sector. His expertise took an innovative turn roughly seven years ago, as he delved into the niche of construction automation and robotics. Sid discovered a new-found excitement in the application of motors and controllers, and the fascinating overlap between the principles governing both construction machinery and robotic systems. Host Pete Moore and Sid sit down to discuss the ground brea...

Matthew Schober is the Co-Founder of Concierge Health (previously known as Gym Farm), a company that provides services to fitness facilities. Host Pete Moore and Matt discuss ancillary revenues, establishing new revenue streams for clubs, and the complex challenges and opportunities in the insurance and corporate markets. Matthew elaborates on how Concierge Health's platform--Connections--integrates AI coaching, nutrition, and employee well-being, offering an engaging experience for individuals ...

Will Coker emerged as an innovative thinker in the realm of club operations, a field where he's spent 24 years honing his expertise. His journey into entrepreneurship began when the seeds of an idea took root along with his Co-Founders, who held influential positions on advisory councils and boards across various other HALO-sector companies. Coker's role as an operations savant and an informal staffing consultant made him the go-to person for his business-savvy cofounders. These discussions, co...

Rina Raphael is a highly regarded, well-established writer and journalist who has covered a wide range of topics in the HALO sector from fitness and nutrition to biohacking and even strology startups! She currently has a highly regarded newsletter on substack called Well to Do, and in 2016 she authored the Gospel of Wellness which deep-dives into the changes she witnessed in the industry, highlighting both hopeful and troubling developments. Currently, she writes for prestigious outlets such as ...

In this episode, host Pete Moore sits down with long-time friend and former classmate Brian Paris to discuss a wide range of topics related to coaching, wellness, and personal development. Brian shares insights into his approach to coaching, emphasizing the importance of a holistic lifestyle, positive psychology, and the impact of habits and mindset. The conversation also delves a bit into the financial aspects of hiring a coach, the need for recovery and not glorifying burnout. Brian is known ...

Dr. Kenneth Cooper (often referred to as the "Father of Aerobics") has been one of the seminal pioneers in the field of preventive medicine for over five decades. Despite tremendous skepticism from the medical community at large initially, he founded the Cooper Clinic in Dallas in December, 1970 with the belief that taking care of healthy individuals was just as important as treating the sick. Over the years, he has worked to change the perception of preventive medicine and has become a leading ...

Prime Hall served in the Marines from 2005 to 2017, with his initial deployment being in the infantry for the first four years. He later transitioned to becoming a water survival instructor, where he drew on principles of military water survival for the basis of his programming. Hall relays the story of an individual who survived for 20 hours in the Gulf of Mexico after falling off a Carnival cruise ship, which exemplifies the incredible efficacy of military water survival. Prime also discusses...

Dave Cantor is a 20+ industry veteran in the natural food space. His journey began in the Midwest, where he developed a passion for food, sustainability, and gardening during his college years. After honing his cooking skills and pursuing his interests in farming, Dave eventually ended up running his own organic farm in New Mexico. He later furthered his education by obtaining a Master's degree in nutrition with a focus on food and agriculture policy. Dave discusses the inspiration behind his n...

Former currency trader Dom D'Alexander found himself unexpectedly drawn to a passion project that would substantially alter his career trajectory. Selling currencies to hedge funds was intellectually stimulating but something he lacked any real passion for. His hobbies were always focused on his own well-being, leading him to delve into something combining his love for personal development and self-care. This eventually became Somble, a platform focused on empowering independent coaches in the H...

Zvi Goffer is a former finance executive and father who was inspired to take action when planting the seeds of college education in the minds of his two kids. His idea for Campus VR took root when he brought his kids to his alma mater, a state school in New York . . . which unfortunately didn't do a good job representing themselves on their website. Wanting to do more than just show pictures, he decided to take action and figured there had to be a better way to engage kids in the modern era vers...

In this episode of HALO Talks, host Pete Moore is joined by Director of Education, Jeremy Strom, from Reaxing International. Jeremy shares insights into the Reaxing system, a game-changing, neuroscience-based program designed to train for unpredictability and enhance overall movement and response time. He discusses the company's innovative products, such as the Reax Run treadmill and Reax Board, and their impact on various industries, from health clubs to helping with Parkinson's treatments. Jer...

Host Pete Moore welcomes Josh Forkner, a prominent figure in the CBD space. Josh shares insights into his company's operations, including their innovative approach to product development, strategic partnerships, and the challenges they've faced in the market. Pete and Josh dive into the unique selling points of CBD products, the potential for growth in the industry, and the transformative impact of CBD on customers' lives. From athlete endorsements to navigating legal restrictions, this conversa...

Jack Thomas, originally from Australia, has been living and working in Thailand for the past few years. In this episode, host Pete Moore and Jack discuss everything from the burgeoning boutique fitness industry in Asia, to the evolving trends and growth opportunities in the U.S. fitness market. He is excited about the emerging markets in other Asian countries, such as Manila and Indonesia, and sees great potential for growth in the region. Jack also shares his new concept, The Fit Guide, a pion...

Dane McCarthy is a former rugby player who pursued a career in finance before joining salesforce.com. After several years in financial services, he was transferred to New York. During the pandemic, he quickly realized the different workout culture in the US compared to Australia, where people often train in groups. That eventually led him to start Village Athletic . . . which helped unite people in their fitness journeys and filling the absence of the social training element that he missed back ...

Gary Kleinman is a seasoned marketer and former attorney who has always believed in the power of storytelling. After realizing the similarities between the marketing world and being a litigator, he decided to venture into a career that combined his skills in both fields. For years, Gary successfully ran an experiential marketing agency that specialized in organizing mobile tours for renowned organizations such as MLB, NFL, and Warner Brothers. Everything changed though after he stumbled upon an...

Bill Parisi is a former athlete who began his career over 30 years ago. As a Division 1 all American athlete in college, he quickly realized the lack of appropriate training for young athletes in field and court sports. In 1990, he began his entrepreneurial journey with a small 3,000 square foot facility, which quickly grew to multiple locations. With guidance from industry expert Tom Plummer, Bill focused on helping young athletes aged 7 to 18. Pete and Bill dive deep into the world of youth s...

Steven Puri, along with his friend Ulf, embarked on a mission to address the growing problem of stress and overwhelm in today's (extremely) fast-paced world. Both experienced moments where they felt stressed out and unable to fully enjoy life, due to an almost overwhelming number of tasks to complete. (Sound familiar?) Determined to find a solution, they decided to harness the wisdom of experts who had written about stress management and turn it into a user-friendly app. Their app not only incl...

Maura Vella started her journey in the corporate world, quickly climbing the ladder and achieving financial success by the age of 24 in tech sales. However, she realized that despite the impressive paycheck, she lacked a sense of purpose and excitement. This led her to embark on a different path, one centered around her newfound passion for yoga. She eagerly attended classes every day, and it became the focal point of her daily routine. Fueled by this passion, she made the rather large decision...

Amy Bantham began her career in the late nineties as a group exercise instructor, a role she quickly fell in love with. While working in management consulting, she realized that it was teaching group exercise during her lunch hour that truly brought her joy and drive. This eventually led her to begin working with the main industry trade group, IHRSA (International Health, Racquet & Sports Association) for over a decade where she focused on advocacy, health promotion, and health policy. During h...

Bill Davis is an extremely dedicated individual who has witnessed the tremendous transformation and maturity of the HALO (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) space over the past few years. Despite the anxiety and uncertainty brought about by the pandemic, Bill has been impressed by the sustained growth and expansion of both membership and brands within the industry. With a keen understanding that fitness and wellness are top priorities for many, he recognizes the critical importance the brick an...

Jane Curth is a passionate individual who has made a significant impact in the field of education and personal training. With a background as a professor in kinesiology, she specialized in online education and was recognized as a finalist for a state award for excellence in online teaching. It was during her teaching career that she identified a pain point in the industry and decided to take action. Jane's idea was to create a personal training course at the college level, allowing students to ...

Udaiyan Jatar, born and raised in India, had a unique upbringing due to his father's career as a fighter pilot. He attended 13 different schools across 6 states and became proficient in 4 or 5 languages. Coming from a family with a strong military background, this played a significant role in shaping his life. After completing his education, Jatar started his career in door-to-door sales. He later pursued an MBA and joined Procter and Gamble, a major company in India during the time of the count...