AI in gyms: what you need to know in 2026

The AI Playbook For Gym Owners - https://go.businessforunicorns.com/gym-owners-and-ai🌎 This week, Mateo sits down with Mark Fisher of Business For Unicorns to break down AI for gym owners. AI is moving fast, but most gyms are either ignoring it or using it the wrong way. Mark shares how to use AI in 2026 to save time, improve content, and run smarter operations while keeping the human connection members value most.P.S. If you like the show, then you'll love the Gym World newsletter. Every Friday, John Franklin breaks down the possibilities of making money in the fitness industry. Subscribe here (https://usekilo.com/gym-world/) so you don't miss out.📱 Socials:Business For Unicorns - (https://www.instagram.com/businessforunicorns/)Prevail Strength and Fitness (Website) - https://businessforunicorns.com📺 Watch On:https://www.youtube.com/@GymWorldWorldwide🔥 Show Notes:(0:00) Mark Fisher’s introduction(3:56) Mark’s free webinar for gym owners and why AI matters in 2026(7:51) How gym owners are using AI well(9:13) The limits of AI(31:07) Run a successful gym with Kilo (visit https://usekilo.com/)(32:04) Using AI for data and operations(35:02) Claude vs ChatGPT(46:25) Websites and AI search(52:06) The real ROI of AI for gym owners(53:55) Final wrap and goodbye

🌎 In this episode, Mateo chats with Sean Shearon about how he built Prevail Strength and Fitness with intention instead of reacting as it grew. We dig into how clear systems, expectations, and boundaries made scaling feel calm instead of overwhelming. It’s a practical conversation for gym owners who want to grow without losing control of their business or their time.P.S. If you like the show, then you'll love the Gym World newsletter. Every Friday, John Franklin breaks down the possibilities of making money in the fitness industry. Subscribe here (https://usekilo.com/gym-world/) so you don't miss out.📱 Socials:Prevail Strength and Fitness - (https://www.instagram.com/prevail_strength_)Prevail Strength and Fitness (Website) - https://prevailstrengthandfitness.com📺 Watch On:https://www.youtube.com/@GymWorldWorldwide🔥 Show Notes:(0:00) Sean Sharon's Journey and Philosophy(4:21) Challenges of Structured Training(9:02) Systems and Scaling(11:44) Retention and Community Building(15:02) Run a successful gym with Kilo (visit https://usekilo.com/)(20:34) Technology and Infrastructure(22:15) Impact and Future Plans(26:42) Marketing and Sales Strategies(34:52) Final Thoughts and Advice

🌎 Mateo Lopez sits down with Wayne Li to talk through how he built a gym from the ground up with limited capital and no prior business experience. Wayne shares lessons on starting lean, earning trust through presence, and adding structure over time without sacrificing culture.P.S. If you like the show, then you'll love the Gym World newsletter. Every Friday, John Franklin breaks down the possibilities of making money in the fitness industry. Subscribe here (https://usekilo.com/gym-world/) so you don't miss out.📱 Socials:Training Day Gyms - (https://www.instagram.com/trainingdaygym/)Training Day Gyms (Website) - https://www.trainingdayhc.com.au📺 Watch On:https://www.youtube.com/@GymWorldWorldwide🔥 Show Notes:(0:00) Wayne Lee's Journey and Business Background(2:14) Early Challenges and Initial Investments(4:49) Transformation and Reinvestment Strategies(6:27) Balancing Frugality and Growth(8:14) Building a Community and Staffing(11:43) Customer Service and Process Improvement(16:37) Run a successful gym with Kilo (visit https://usekilo.com/)(19:34) Marketing and Brand Building(24:44) Expansion and Financial Management(29:58) Balancing Ambition and Personal Well-being(35:47) Final Thoughts and Contact Information

🌎 Mateo sits down with Dave Appel, Chief Health & Fitness Officer at KORB Health Group, to unpack how medical wellness is starting to show up inside gyms. They talk through GLP-1s, hormone therapy, and telehealth—and why these tools don’t replace coaching, but can help members who’ve been stuck despite doing everything right. A practical conversation for gym owners trying to support better results without losing what makes their community work.P.S. If you like the show, then you'll love the Gym World newsletter. Every Friday, John Franklin breaks down the possibilities of making money in the fitness industry. Subscribe here (https://usekilo.com/gym-world/) so you don't miss out.📱 Socials:KORB Health Group - (https://www.linkedin.com/company/korb-health-group/)KORB Health Group (Website) - korbhealth.com📺 Watch On:https://www.youtube.com/@GymWorldWorldwide🔥 Show Notes:(0:00) Dave Apple's Journey from PE Teacher to Chief Health and Fitness Officer(2:55) Influence of Heart Rate Monitors on Data and Behavior Change(7:02) Transition to Gym Ownership and Impact of COVID-19(11:45) Integration of Medical Wellness and Fitness(15:15) Partnerships with Gyms and Telehealth Services(22:17) Run a successful gym with Kilo (visit https://usekilo.com/)(25:40) Challenges and Opportunities in the Fitness Industry(33:36) Preparing Gyms for the Future of Health and Wellness(48:03) Final Thoughts and Contact Information

🌎 John sits down with Cale Owen to unpack what he’s learned from scaling hundreds of gyms, leading Gym Launch as CEO, and now stepping back toward ownership with W.O.L.F. Gyms.P.S. If you like the show, then you'll love the Gym World newsletter. Every Friday, John Franklin breaks down the possibilities of making money in the fitness industry. Subscribe here (https://usekilo.com/gym-world/) so you don't miss out.📱 Socials:W.O.L.F Gyms - (https://www.instagram.com/wolf_gyms/)W.O.L.F Gyms (Website) - https://wolffitnessgyms.com📺 Watch On: https://www.youtube.com/@GymWorldWorldwide🔥 Show Notes:(0:00) Wolf Gyms' Unique Approach(2:23) Why Cale Owen Left Gym Launch(4:21) Wolf Gyms' Business Model and Philosophy(7:33) Why Wolf Avoids Tiered Memberships(8:55) Run a successful gym with Kilo (visit https://usekilo.com/)(9:39) Why Access Gyms Win in Tough Economies(13:09) What It Costs to Open a Wolf Gym(19:24) The Ideal Franchisee(20:39) Marketing, Sales Funnels, and Filling Gyms(31:59) Staffing a Wolf Gym(33:27) Content Strategy for Gym Growth(39:04) The Future of Group Training Gyms

🌎 In this week’s episode, John sits down with Nick Palladino-King of Tribe Fitness in San Francisco to unpack how his gyms maintain 95% monthly retention in one of the most competitive markets in the country. We break down the systems behind it: clear retention ownership, weekly attendance reviews, staff incentives, and the small daily actions that spot drop-offs before members cancel.P.S. If you like the show, then you'll love the Gym World newsletter. Every Friday, John Franklin breaks down the possibilities of making money in the fitness industry. Subscribe here (https://usekilo.com/gym-world/) so you don't miss out.📱 Socials:Tribe Fitness - (https://www.instagram.com/tribefitsf/)Tribe Fitness (Website) - https://tribefitsf.com/🎙️ Listen On:YouTube: https://youtu.be/31rfMYE1WsA🔥 Show Notes:(0:00) Nick Palladino-King's Untraditional Path to Owning a Gym(3:53) Tribe Fitness' Training Programs and Pricing(7:26) Member Retention Strategies and KPIs(12:48) Run a successful gym with Kilo (visit https://usekilo.com/)(18:16) Lead Nurture and Marketing Efforts(29:51) Building a Community-Focused Gym(36:04) Future Plans and Expansion(37:42) Final Thoughts and Resources

🌎 Mateo sits down with Mike Doehla for his third appearance on the podcast to talk about the boring work that actually drives gym growth. They dig into follow-up, empathy, and simple systems—and why consistency with the basics is often the difference between gyms that struggle and gyms that last.P.S. If you like the show, then you'll love the Gym World newsletter. Every Friday, John Franklin breaks down the possibilities of making money in the fitness industry. Subscribe here (https://usekilo.com/gym-world/) so you don't miss out.📱 Socials:Mike Doehla - (https://www.instagram.com/mikedoehla)Website - https://mikedoehla.com🎙️ Listen On:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GymWorldWorldwide🔥 Show Notes:(0:00) Mike Doehla’s Journey from Side Gig to Global Coaching Phenomenon(4:38) Building a Business While Maintaining a Job(6:14) The Importance of Empathy and Understanding Clients(10:55) Run a successful gym with Kilo (visit https://usekilo.com/)(26:50) Scaling a Business and Letting Go(30:38) The Role of Repetition and Enjoying the Fundamentals(32:41) The Decision to Sell and Retire(36:01) Advice for Gym Owners Feeling Stuck(37:48) Future Plans and Final Thoughts

🌎 This week, John sits down with Ben Lucas of Flow Athletic, who built one of Australia’s top boutique gyms, scaled it to seven figures, and eventually sold it. Ben breaks down how he designed a hyper-efficient 3,000 sq ft space, entered the market at the start of a trend, and built a community that fueled word-of-mouth growth. A behind-the-scenes look at the decisions, timing, and strategy behind building—and exiting—one of Australia’s most successful studios.P.S. If you like the show, then you'll love the Gym World newsletter. Every Friday, John Franklin breaks down the possibilities of making money in the fitness industry. Subscribe here (https://usekilo.com/gym-world/) so you don't miss out.📱 Socials:Flow Athletic - (https://www.instagram.com/flowathletic/)Flow Athletic (website) - https://flowathletic.com.au🎙️ Listen On:Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/gym-world-worldwide/id1659702465 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GymWorldWorldwide🔥 Show Notes:(0:00) Flow Athletic's Journey and Success(3:06) Innovation and Market Differentiation(4:25) Decision to Sell Flow Athletic(8:18) Run a successful gym with Kilo (visit https://usekilo.com/)(8:51) Any regrets on selling?(10:00) Pricing and Space Usage(13:45) Staff Retention and Leadership Style(16:55) Marketing and Community Building(19:39) Transition to Head Coach of Sydney Marathon(24:09) Advice for Gym Owners Considering a Sale(25:33) Final Thoughts and Contact Information

🌎 On today’s episode, Mateo Lopez chats with Andy McCloy of BCI Sports Performance & Fitness. Andy shares what it takes to keep a gym thriving for 25+ years: focusing on coaching as the core product, hiring slow, and developing real leaders. He also breaks down how to build a brand that outlives the owner and create long-term wealth through smart plays like owning your gym’s real estate.P.S. If you like the show, then you'll love the Gym World newsletter. Every Friday, John Franklin breaks down the possibilities of making money in the fitness industry. Subscribe here (https://usekilo.com/gym-world/) so you don't miss out.📱 Socials:BCI Sports Performance & Fitness - https://www.instagram.com/bci__sports__performance/ BCI Sports Performance & Fitness (website) - https://bodycreationsinc.com/🎙️ Watch On:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GymWorldWorldwide🔥 Show Notes:(0:00) Andy McCloy's Journey and Philosophy on Entrepreneurship(3:54) Building a Respected Coaching Brand(5:39) Transitioning from Trainer to Business Owner(6:24) The Importance of Business Coaching and Mentorship(7:30) Run a successful gym with Kilo (visit https://usekilo.com/)(9:49) Building a Strong Team and Leadership(12:40) Retention and Client Loyalty(14:24) Hiring and Culture Fit(17:50) Building a Lasting Brand and Legacy(23:11) Focusing on Significance Over Success(25:29) Future Plans and Expansion

🌎 In this episode, John Franklin chats with Ben Bergeron about the big question gym owners keep asking: Should you still affiliate with CrossFit? Ben breaks down how his values evolved, why he ultimately stepped away, and the key questions every owner should ask to decide whether affiliation truly supports the culture and member experience they want to build.P.S. If you like the show, then you'll love the Gym World newsletter. Every Friday, John Franklin breaks down the possibilities of making money in the fitness industry. Subscribe here (https://usekilo.com/gym-world/) so you don't miss out.📱 Socials:CompTrain - https://www.instagram.com/comptrain.co/CompTrain (website) - https://www.comptrain.com🎙️ Listen On:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GymWorldWorldwide🔥 Show Notes:(0:00) Ben Bergeron's Journey and the Evolution of CompTrain(3:10) Longevity and Success in the Fitness Industry(5:47) Challenges and Decision to Leave CrossFit(11:25) Ben's Initial Attraction to CrossFit(14:30) CrossFit's Brand and Future Direction(21:20) Ben's Vision for CompTrain(24:10) Run a successful gym with Kilo (visit https://usekilo.com/)(24:42) Trends and Future Focus(35:57) Impact and Community Building(42:11) Final Thoughts and Contact Information