Shows / The Training Table
The Training Table
Welcome to "The Training Table" with Nick & Chris! Dive into the functional fitness world with us, exploring top-notch coaching techniques, gym ownership hacks, and the latest in the box world. We're here to elevate your skills in functional fitness coaching and business, sharing our insights and the latest trends to help you succeed in the fitness industry. Whether you're a coach, gym owner, or fitness enthusiast, join us to stay informed, inspired, and ready to build stronger businesses and…
Episodes
- The Training Table
70. Tactics When Starting a New Gym in 2026
In this episode, Nick and Chris discuss the tactical aspects of starting a gym in 2026, covering everything from financial planning and marketing strategies to…
- The Training Table
69. Ryan McStockard - Four Kids, Two Businesses, and Mentoring Gym Owners
In this episode, Ryan McStockard shares his approach to balancing family, business, and personal growth. He discusses time management, building strong teams…
- The Training Table
68. Gym Referrals
In this episode, Chris and Nick explore the power of referrals in growing a gym business. They discuss strategies, misconceptions, and practical tips to…
- The Training Table
67. Welcoming and Onboarding New Members
In this episode, Nick and Chris discuss effective gym onboarding strategies, emphasizing personalized touches, community building, and practical tips to make…
- The Training Table
66. Don't Do This in Sales
In this episode, Chris and Nick explore ethical sales tactics, the importance of building trust, and how to effectively guide potential clients without being…
- The Training Table
65. How Nick Bought a Building for His Gym
In this episode, Nick shares his experience with purchasing a commercial building for his gym, discussing the financial considerations, process, and strategic…
- The Training Table
64. Buying, Starting, and Selling a Gym
Summary In this episode, Chris and Nick explore the ins and outs of buying and selling gyms, including startup costs, valuation, owner financing, and the…
- The Training Table
63. Free Trials, Free Intros, and Low Barrier Offers (LBOs)
How do you let someone try your services initially? In this episode, Nick and Chris explore the nuances of onboarding and trial offers in fitness gyms…
- The Training Table
62. How to Handle Cancellations
Cancellations are no fun, but they're part of running a gym. In this episode, we explore effective systems and mindset strategies for managing gym…
- The Training Table
61. Does the CrossFit Games Affect Your Local Gym?
Summary In this episode, Chris and Nick explore the relevance of elite fitness competitions like the CrossFit Games for the average gym-goer and discuss how…
- The Training Table
60. The Art of Coaching and Reading the Room
In this episode, Chris and Nick explore the art of coaching, emphasizing the importance of preparation, reading the room, and adapting to different class…
- The Training Table
59. The Evolution of Nutrition Offerings in Gyms
Summary In this episode, Chris and Nick discuss the evolution of nutrition offerings in gyms, sharing insights from their experiences with group challenges…
- The Training Table
58. Marketing Your Gym
Summary In this episode, Nick and Chris explore practical marketing strategies for small businesses, especially gyms. They discuss resource allocation, digital…
- The Training Table
57. Going from Coach to Gym Owner
In this episode, Nick and Chris explore the evolution of leadership roles in gym management, emphasizing the importance of systems, delegation, and building a…
- The Training Table
56. Going from Member to Coach at a Gym
This episode of The Training Table has Nick and Chris talking about going from a member to a coach and what it might take to get there. (hint: it's more than…
- The Training Table
55. Coaching and Client Motivation
Summary This episode explores the common challenges coaches face when clients don't act on their advice, the importance of understanding client motivation, and…
- The Training Table
54. Hyrox and Hyrox Specialty Classes
In this episode, Nick and Chris explore the rising popularity of Hyrox, a competitive fitness event originating from Europe. They discuss its structure…
- The Training Table
53. Damon Vincent: Empowering Adaptive Athletes at Train Unique
Summary In this conversation, Damon Vincent, founder of Train Unique, discusses the importance of adaptive fitness for individuals with special needs and…
- The Training Table
52. Annual Planning
Summary In this conversation, Chris and Nick discuss the importance of planning and organization in gym management, particularly focusing on annual planning…
- The Training Table
51. Specialists vs. Generalists
Summary How do coaches take specialties like olympic weightlifting and apply those ideas to gen pop? This conversation with Nick and Chris dives into that…
- The Training Table
50. Coaches Congress and Sales
Summary In this conversation, Chris and Nick discuss their recent travels, particularly focusing on Nick's experiences at Coaches Congress in Europe. They…
- The Training Table
49. Embracing Non-Traditional Schedules in the Fitness Industry
Summary In this conversation, Chris and Nick discuss the unique challenges and experiences of working in the fitness industry, particularly focusing on the…
- The Training Table
48. Nick Buying a Building and Launching Just Move Gymnastics
Summary In this episode, Nick and Chris discuss the journey of launching a new gym space, the challenges faced during the purchase process, and the logistics…
- The Training Table
47. The One All About Coaching
Summary In this conversation, Chris and Nick explore the multifaceted nature of coaching in the functional fitness world. They discuss the various roles a…
- The Training Table
46. Entrepreneurship - Not a Multiple Choice Quiz
Description: In this episode, Nick and Chris explore the essential qualities of resilience and the lessons learned from failure in the world of…
- The Training Table
45. Nick's Speeches at Two-Brain Business Summit
In this episode Nick and Chris talk about the Two-Brain Business Summit in Chicago, IL and go over Nick's two speeches about Sales (to the coaches) and Getting…
- The Training Table
44. Specialty Programs - Youth/Kids Classes, Postpartum, Disabilities, and More
Summary In this conversation, Chris and Nick explore the concept of specialty programs within fitness facilities, discussing their definitions, examples, and…
- The Training Table
43. The Evolution of Members and Competitions in the Gym
Summary In this conversation, Chris and Nick explore the dynamics of gym culture, focusing on member retention, the importance of trust, and the evolution of…
- The Training Table
42. "If You're Over 50, You Shouldn't Do CrossFit"
Summary In this conversation, Chris and Nick discuss the importance of fitness as we age, debunking myths surrounding CrossFit and injury rates, and the role…
- The Training Table
41. Coaching Red Flags
Summary In this conversation, Chris and Nick explore various aspects of fitness coaching, including the importance of understanding workout modifications and…
- The Training Table
40. Are Certifications Valuable?
Summary In this conversation, Chris and Nick explore the evolving landscape of fitness certifications, discussing the balance between traditional education and…
- The Training Table
39. Best and Worst Buys for the Gym
Summary Chris and Nick explore the best and worst purchases for gym equipment, sharing personal anecdotes and insights on various fitness tools. They discuss…
- The Training Table
38. Books for Small Business Owners
Summary In this conversation, Chris and Nick discuss the evolution of reading habits, particularly in the context of running a small business. They explore how…
- The Training Table
37. Jeff and Harmony Hilderbrand of CrossFit Ampersand
Summary Nick and Chris catch up with Jeff and Harmony Hildrebrand, co-owners of CrossFit Ambersand, who share their journey of opening and running a successful…
- The Training Table
36. Changing Your Mindset about Selling
Summary In this conversation, Nick discusses his recent travels, particularly his experiences at Coaches Congress in Berlin. They delve into the challenges gym…
- The Training Table
35. Evolution of CrossFit/Intramural Open in Gyms
Summary In this conversation, Nick and Chris discuss their experiences and insights regarding the CrossFit Open, emphasizing its role as a community-building…
- The Training Table
34. Captain of the Ship, Protector of the Culture
Summary In this conversation, Chris and Nick discuss the importance of gym culture, community, and the challenges faced by gym owners in maintaining a…
- The Training Table
33. Alessandra Bisalti and Joe Venuti: CrossFit to Individualized Design and Financial Literacy for Gym Owners
Summary In this conversation, Nick interviews Joe and AB from Mass Strength and Conditioning, discussing their journey from a traditional CrossFit gym to a…
- The Training Table
32. Kieran O'Dwyer: Changing Business Models
Summary In this engaging conversation, Nick, Chris, and Kieran O'Dwyer discuss Kieran's journey as a gym owner, the challenges he faced, and the strategies he…
- The Training Table
31. Colm O'Reilly: Marketing and Mental Health
Summary In this conversation, Colm O'Reilly shares his journey in the fitness industry, particularly focusing on the rise of CrossFit in Ireland. The…
- The Training Table
30. Productive Gym Owners: Social Media
In this conversation, Nick and Chris explore commonalities among productive gym owners, the challenges they face in engaging with their audience, and effective…
- The Training Table
29. Dan Purington: From Medicine to Muscle
Summary In this conversation, Dan Purington of CrossFit Woodslawn (Portland, OR) shares his journey from a medical professional to a gym owner, discussing the…
- The Training Table
28. Misogis and End-of-Year Events for Gyms
Summary In this conversation, Chris and Nick discuss the challenges and motivations behind endurance running, particularly focusing on Chris's recent…
- The Training Table
27. Carlin Vandendriessche: Jumping into CrossFit Ownership Blind
Summary In this conversation, Carlin Von Dendriche shares his unique journey of founding Route 18 CrossFit in Medina, Ohio. He discusses the challenges of…
- The Training Table
26. Navigating Parenthood and Business
Summary In this episode, Chris and Nick discuss the challenges and changes that come with parenthood, particularly in relation to business ownership and gym…
- The Training Table
25. Marriage Hacks and Life Changes
Summary In this episode, Chris and Nick kick off Season Two of their podcast after a brief hiatus. They discuss the importance of planning in both personal and…
- The Training Table
24. Kenny Markwardt - Quitting Corporate Job, Opening a Gym, Hunting, and Impact
Summary In this conversation, Kenny Markwardt shares his journey of leaving a corporate job and opening a gym in Sandpoint, Idaho. He discusses the challenges…
- The Training Table
23. TBB Summit Recap, Being Authentic, and Self-Evaluation
Summary Nick and Chris discuss their experience speaking at the Two Brain Business Summit and the importance of genuine communication in sales. They emphasize…
- The Training Table
22. Coaches Who Don't Train the Thing They Coach
Summary In this conversation, Nick and Chris discuss their training backgrounds and how they got into CrossFit. They talk about the different training styles…
- The Training Table
21. Kourtney Brownlow - Buying and Selling a Gym, Raising 4 Kids, Public Speaking
Summary Kourtney Brownlow, a gym owner and mother of four, shares her journey of becoming a business owner and the challenges she faced. She started as a…
- The Training Table
20. Running Local Competitions
Summary Nick and Chris discuss the different types of competitions they run at their gyms and the reasons behind them. They talk about the importance of having…
- The Training Table
19. Storm Strout - Opening a CrossFit Gym at 19 and Working with a Spouse
Summary Storm Strout shares his journey of opening a CrossFit gym at the age of 19 and the challenges he faced along the way. He talks about his early…
- The Training Table
18. Dr. Brian Strump - Buying a 2nd Gym, Buying a Building, Managing Staff
Summary Dr. Brian Strump, the owner of CrossFit Steel Creek and a chiropractor, shares his journey of balancing his chiropractic practice and gym ownership. He…
- The Training Table
17. Derek Batman - Taking Action and Relinquishing Control
Summary Derek Batman, a gym owner and marketing agency owner, shares his journey and insights in the fitness industry. He started as a step class instructor…
- The Training Table
16. Speaking Engagements, Two-Brain Business Summit
Summary In this conversation, Nick and Chris discuss their experiences with speaking engagements and the topic of non-slimy sales. Nick shares his experience…
- The Training Table
15. Tommy Alfinito - 3 Gyms to 1, Selling, Opening a Distillery
Summary Tommy Alfinito shares his journey from opening a gym to selling it and starting a distillery (Wildfether Distilling). He discusses the challenges of…
- The Training Table
14. Vacations, Systems, and Communicating Your Vision
Summary In this episode, Nick and Chris discuss the challenges of leaving the business as a gym owner and the importance of building systems and processes to…
- The Training Table
13. Tres Kennedy - Gym Culture and Keeping Fitness Fun
Summary In this episode, Nick interviews Tres Kennedy about his transformation journey and the process of starting and building a gym. Tres shares how he lost…
- The Training Table
12. Karen Hazelton - Math Teacher to Gym Owner, Working with Your Spouse, and Value of a Mentor
Summary Karen Hazelton, owner of Telos Strength and Conditioning, shares her journey from being a math teacher to a business owner and mentor. She discusses…
- The Training Table
11. Clark Hibbs: The Evolution of Gym Culture and Focus on Health vs. Competition
Our conversation with Clark Hibbs (www.instagram.com/clarkhibbs) explores the evolution of CrossFit and the shift towards a more holistic approach to fitness…