Technology Episodes

Welcome to another episode of HALO Talks! Today, Pete Moore is joined by Dr. Joel Seedman and Sal LoDuca for a discussion on advanced human performance and an innovative strength training methodology known as offset loading. Sal shares the origins of their company and his quest to enhance the nervous system of athletes through contralateral training and randomized exercise, which led him to discover and collaborate with Dr. Seedman, often referred to as "The father of offset loading." Togethe...

Today, host Pete Moore sits down with Michael Pesta, a veteran in the HALO space whose career has bridged the fitness, entertainment, and tech industries. Michael shares his journey from his beginnings at AFAA—where he played a key role in pioneering fitness education and telemarketing globally—to an unexpected pivot into film and music production. Mike's story started in the mid-1980s, when, as a struggling actor, he agreed to help move boxes at an organization he hadn't heard of—never suspe...

On this episode, host Pete Moore dives into the cutting-edge world of regenerative medicine and longevity with guests Howard Leonhardt, founder of Leonhardt Ventures and Lionheart Health, and Scott Hoots, an expert in health and wellness franchising. Leonhardt is an innovative medical entrepreneur whose journey started in 1982 with the founding of Leonhardt Ventures, the parent of Lionheart Health and Lionheart Longevity and Wellness. Over the decades, Leonhardt has pioneered groundbreaking m...

In this episode we're pleased to host Jeremy Kelstrom from Alaris, a company that continues to make waves in the B2B SaaS space by addressing the needs of youth sports, camps, and club check-in experiences. With a really cool origin story that dates back to their initially winning a business plan competition sponsored by Rolls Royce, Jeremy dives into how Alaris pivoted away from its core signature recognition technology origins to eventually becoming a key player in club management software. ...

In this episode, we've reconnected with Andrew Menter (episode #135) as we dive into what they've been doing recently over at Physmodo. Pete and Andrew chat about the advancements the company has made since inception, focusing a lot on their consumer app designed for self-assessment in movement screening. Andrew shares the journey of adapting the business from its initial push into fitness spaces to expanding into markets like sports orthopedic medicine. They also touch on the application of th...

Steven Webster has carved out a rather unique career path combining sports, technology, and coaching. Originally from the UK and now in California, Steven boasts an impressive martial arts background. His expertise extends beyond the dojo, selling his first company to Adobe and working with customers including NASA, Nike, and the NFL. Also a Microsoft alumnus, he's made significant contributions to athletic coaching, leading British University sports teams to ten national championships. His m...

In today's episode, we dive into (a relatively new field in the US) the fascinating world of 'healthy/performance lighting' with Kyle Harris. Join host Pete Moore as they explore Brainlit technology, a Swedish company that creates healthier indoor environments by mimicking the natural spectrum of sunlight through advanced LED modulation. Kyle and Pete discuss expanding partnerships with major sports teams like the Sacramento Kings, tackling market challenges, and the impressive patent portfolio ...

Ania Wysocka experienced her first panic attack during university which subsequently set off a spiral of fear and negative changes in her life. Initially not understanding what was happening made the situation extremely challenging. This frustration fueled her determination to find a solution. After learning about some tools to help heal and manage her panic attacks, she realized the need for a much more accessible resource. Recognizing that she, like most, always have her phone with her, she de...

Neal Valera's passion for golf began in college, where he competed at the collegiate level. Aspiring to turn pro, he realized he wasn't quite at that level. Unwilling to settle for a "traditional desk job," he began personal training in 2007. His entreprenurial spirit led him to collaborate with his business partner, Dennis Dunphy, in 2015. Together, they attended a course with Dr. Arthur Faygenholtz who specialized in stick stretching. Inspired by their mentor, Neal and Dennis developed an inno...

Wade Norris is a former researcher at Google AI, where he had the fortune of transitioning into the AI space just as it was gaining momentum. His expertise lies specifically in helping computers understand photos, videos, and the surrounding world. Wade had an amazing journey there, starting with a team of only 10 and witnessing its rapid growth to 140 researchers. During his tenure, he contributed to the development of several impressive products. Eventually, he seized the opportunity to explor...

Dr. Bechara Saab is a classically trained chemist with a passion for understanding the intricacies of the human mind. After completing his Ph.D in neuroscience at Mount Sinai in Toronto, Dr. Saab pursued a career as a principal investigator at the University of Zurich, where he opened his own laboratory. Through his work, he made a groundbreaking discovery - a strong correlation between the lack of exploratory drive in individuals with mental illness and their symptoms. This revelation prompted ...

On today's episode we chat with Alex Peacock from Leisure Labs. He joins us from the UK to discuss the future of technology in the fitness industry, and how to prioritize your tech investments for maximum impact in 2023. With over 20 years of experience, he has witnessed the industry's shift toward embracing new technologies, but there's still work to be done, and Alex shares his insights on where we currently stand and what lies ahead. Pete and Alex dive deep into the top three technology prior...

Eziah Syed is a former athlete with a background in fitness and health. He played basketball at a national level in Canada and also had some experience in the tech space. His life took a turn when his mother was diagnosed with cancer and his brother suffered a serious fall, resulting in multiple injuries. These personal experiences made Eziah reflect on the healthcare system and the care received. He noticed gaps and questioned why his own injuries were taking longer to heal than expected. This ...

Live from the floor of the March 2023 IHRSA Trade Show in San Diego, host Pete Moore welcomes back (for the third time!) the team of Austin Cohen and Justin Turetsky. FlexIt's mission is to empower everyone with flexible Interconnected Health experiences, including Virtual Personal Training, Virtual Nutrition, and Virtual Physical Therapy – Wherever, Whenever®. The platform is the ultimate tool for motivation and accountability, helping users reach their health and wellness goals through live,...

Live from the floor of the March 2023 IHRSA Trade Show in San Diego, host Pete Moore welcomes back Andrew Menter, CEO and Founder of Physmodo. (If you missed his first show, check it out here.) Physmodo uses computer vision to deliver a quick, objective, automated and easily repeatable movement assessment to quantify how your body moves. It's a must-have for any fitness facility that offers personal training! Andrew and Pete chat about the latest advancements in software and how it can impact...

Garret Marshall has been in the fitness industry for 20 years, starting way back (kind of "falling into it") in 2003. His first job was teaching swimming lessons to kids at Lifetime Fitness where he stayed for five and a half years. Prior to that, he was heavily involved in athletics growing up and playing hockey after school. Over the years he had "every job you can think of" in the health club world. Garrett's currently President of Fitness Streaming for Xponential Fitness. He and Pete discus...

When Jason Moore, an entrepreneur with a background in data, software, and fitness decided to apply his expertise to the body, he quickly discovers a powerful, but ironic truth: The most valuable piece of equipment in the world is his own. He has developed a technology platform called Spren which uses device agnostic and camera sensing technology to deliver science-backed insights about the body. He states, "You have this high dollar, incredibly expensive equipment where if it fails, it can lite...

Joseph C. Maroon, M.D., is a Neurosurgeon and Vice Chairman and Professor of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He's regarded as a premiere specialist in the surgical treatment of injuries and diseases of the brain and spine and considered an authority in sports medicine and concussion management. He's been the team Neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Medical Director of World Wrestling Association, as well as authored over 300 peer-re...

Struct Club brings structure to music-inspired fitness instruction. By providing software for gyms, studios, and their instructors, Struct Club's simple app & unrivaled programming database streamline the entire process of delivering impeccable group exercise classes. In 2018, Amira incorporated Struct Club out of Harvard Business School, where she both got her MBA and began teaching indoor cycling classes at their gym. Coming from a prior career in enterprise software, she found that instructo...

Robbie Bent is the CEO and Co-Founder of Othership. As one of the first employees with Ethereum, Robbie is extremely well versed in community building and galvanizing people around a particular cause. When it came to what is now Othership (with a brick and mortar location in Canada and a highly successful app,) he built this community initially in his backyard which grew to 400 people (and then a few thousand) with ~$20,000 a month in revenue. His initial entre to breathwork was, "As a way to c...

Mohammed Iqbal is the Founder & CEO of SweatWorks . . . the company quietly behind the tech of a lot of larger companies you're no doubt familiar with--CrossFit, Spartan Race, and many more. They are, "The leading digital agency in fitness design and technology to create meaningful wellness journeys for everyone." Iqbal spent 7 years at Sharp and, while there, worked on the iPhone with Apple's team which strongly impacted him in many ways. Originally from Dubai, he moved to NJ in 1991. "I dove ...

Many in the HALO sector already know Lee Hillman. What they may not know however is that prior to entering the space, he was a partner in one of the Big 4 accounting firms. He left in 1991 to serve at Bally's as the CFO, even before it was solely a health club business. He worked with Bally's until 2002, helping grow it to nearly a billion dollar company and is now and an Owner/Partner in Power Plate. Lee has also been a director for public and private companies and is a self-professed "tu...

Jared Hanley is the CEO and Founder of NatureQuant, a company that "quantifies" nature in a sense. In a nutshell, their tech assesses and promotes nature exposure. Hanley's background was in finance using big data, analytics, and machine learning . . . but he's always been passionate about the outdoors. "I wondered why do we feel so good when we get outside? I wanted to apply my skill set in that area. Nature never had any real data attached to it, it never had any kind of measurement, and I ...

In his second appearance on HALO Talks, 38 year industry veteran Frank Ancharski discusses his current role as COO of leading RaaS ("rewards as a service") gift card provider, Promotion Vault. "People really still don't get that 'free' and 'discounted' dues don't work. It erodes your revenue stream and EBITDA. We're on a Mission to let people know there are far better options than discounting memberships and dues . . . this isn't a gimmicky thing or tchotchke, we're a real life behavioral chang...