Empire Hour

Empire Training Academy
  • 5.0 (3)
  • FITNESS

Empire Hour is the official podcast of Empire Training Academy in Raleigh, where training, mindset, and real talk come together. Hosted by the crew behind the gym, this show dives into everything from fitness and recovery to motivation and life outside the weight room. Whether you’re an athlete, a coach, or just trying to level up, you’ll get unfiltered conversations, stories from inside the gym, and practical takeaways to keep you moving forward.

Episodes

  1. 11/12/2025

    The Athlete Mindset with Dylan Scott

    Sammy interviews elite HYROX athlete Dylan Scott, who grew up in Ninety Six, South Carolina, fell in love with running after a rough first practice, overcame a long back injury, and discovered HYROX during 2020 virtual competitions before racing worlds in Germany. He shares how he balances three-a-day training, stays grounded amid expectations, and once did a “push-up marathon” by running a trail marathon while stopping every 200 seconds for 42 push-ups. Scott recently left his full-time job to coach and compete full time with sponsor support and a growing coaching business, and he offers patient training advice, sample weekly structure, and gratitude for the Empire community.

    31 min

  2. 11/03/2025

    Coach Stephen Talks Hyrox

    Sammy sits down with Coach Stephen Pelkofer to talk HYROX, the Empire Training Academy community, and what great coaching looks like in a group fitness setting. They dig into how competition can bring people together, the keys to running high-energy classes that still feel personal, and why community is the real secret to long-term progress. #EmpireHour #StephenPelkofer #HYROX #EmpireTrainingAcademy #CommunityStrong #GroupFitness #CoachLife #RaleighFitness #FitnessPodcast #TrainTogether

    28 min

  3. 09/02/2025

    Branding the Empire ft. Daniel Pan

    This episode flips the lens on the team behind the visuals. Sammy sits down with Daniel Pan, founder of Anomaly Creative, to talk about the creative process behind the Empire brand—from the iconic logo to the tone, colors, and storytelling that built the gym’s identity. They dive into what it’s like running a creative agency in your 20s, the mindset behind branding a business you believe in, and the lessons learned along the way. #EmpireHour #AnomalyCreative #BrandingEmpire #YoungEntrepreneurs #CreativeAgencyLife #RaleighBusiness #EmpireTrainingAcademy #PodcastEpisode #BehindTheBrand #DesignTalk

    30 min

  4. 08/20/2025

    Coach Jensen

    In this episode, Sammy sits down with Coach Jensen to talk about what it really takes to build strength—not just in the gym, but in life. From leading by example to showing up when it’s hard, Jensen shares insights from years of coaching and how discipline shapes everything from training programs to personal growth. This one’s for the athlete, the coach, and anyone who wants to raise their standard. #EmpireHour #EmpireTrainingAcademy #CoachTalk #RaleighFitness #LeadershipInTraining #StrengthCulture #DisciplineWins #MindsetMatters #PodcastClip #FitnessPodcast

    22 min
  5. The Story of Empire

    07/16/2025

    The Story of Empire

    Before the coaching. Before the gym. Before the name. It started with a vision and a set of non-negotiables. In this solo episode, Sam Siegel tells the story of how Empire Training Academy began. He speaks directly and honestly about the early days, the mindset that shaped our foundation, and the standard we hold to this day. If you're part of this community, or thinking about stepping into it, this is where it all began.

    38 min
  6. Coach Joey

    07/02/2025

    Coach Joey

    Hosted by Sam Siegel, owner of Empire Training Academy in Raleigh, North Carolina, this podcast offers long-form, unscripted conversations with coaches, athletes, and industry professionals who live and breathe performance training. Each episode explores topics in strength and conditioning, group fitness methodology, gym culture, and the evolving landscape of personal training. Listeners can expect candid dialogue, professional insight, and practical discussion drawn from real-world experience—not recycled theory. Whether you're a fitness coach, weekend athlete, or just serious about your health, this podcast invites you into the daily realities of running a training facility built on discipline, consistency, and results. In the inaugural episode, Sam sits down with Coach Joey to examine the mindset behind leading group classes, the challenges of scaling intensity across skill levels, and what it takes to foster genuine community inside a competitive gym environment. #groupfitness #strengthtraining #coachlife #fitnesstraining #trainingphilosophy #functionaltraining #gymownership #personaltrainer #raleighfitness #empiretrainingacademy

    18 min
  • 6 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Empire Hour is the official podcast of Empire Training Academy in Raleigh, where training, mindset, and real talk come together. Hosted by the crew behind the gym, this show dives into everything from fitness and recovery to motivation and life outside the weight room. Whether you’re an athlete, a coach, or just trying to level up, you’ll get unfiltered conversations, stories from inside the gym, and practical takeaways to keep you moving forward.

Information

  • Creator
    Empire Training Academy
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Empire Training Academy