The Show Up Fitness Podcast

Chris Hitchko, CEO Show Up Fitness
  • 5.0 (256)
  • FITNESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Join Chris Hitchko, author of 'How to Become A Successful Personal Trainer' VOL 2 and CEO of Show Up Fitness as he guides personal trainers towards success. 90% of personal trainers quit within 12-months in the USA, 18-months in the UK, Show Up Fitness is helping change those statistics. The Show Up Fitness CPT is one of the fastest growing PT certifications in the world with partnerships with over 500-gyms including Life Time Fitness, Equinox, Genesis, EoS, and numerous other elite partnerships.This podcast focuses on refining trade, business, and people skills to help trainers excel in the fitness industry. Discover effective client programming, revenue generation, medical professional networking, and elite assessment strategies. Learn how to become a successful Show Up Fitness CPT at www.showupfitness.com.  Send your questions to Chris on Instagram @showupfitness or via email at info@showupfitness.com."

  1. 1D AGO

    Ep. 325 How to Pass the ISSA CPT Exam Fast (6000 Trainers Passed With This Strategy)

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! If you already purchased the ISSA certification and realized the refund window is only seven days, you’re not alone. Thousands of aspiring trainers find themselves stuck with a massive textbook and no clear strategy for passing the exam. In this episode, we break down exactly how the ISSA CPT exam works and the fastest way to pass it. We explain how the certification is structured, why Tailwind Nutrition owns ISSA, and what you actually need to study to pass the exam without wasting months reading material that won’t appear on the test. Over the last decade, Show Up Fitness has helped more than 6,000 trainers pass personal training certification exams using a simplified study strategy that focuses only on what matters. Inside this episode you’ll learn: • How the ISSA CPT exam is structured  • The most important topics you must understand  • What most people waste time studying  • The fastest way to prepare and pass  • How to move from “certified” to actually becoming a successful personal trainer If you’re currently studying for ISSA or realized you missed the refund window, this episode will save you weeks of frustration and help you pass the exam with confidence. Leave a review and we’ll send you the ISSA CPT Cheat Sheet and Study Guide that has helped over 6,000 trainers pass their certification exams. How to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer w/ SUF-CPT - the fastest growing personal training certification in 2025. Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/ Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

    29 min

  2. 1D AGO

    Sciatica Explained: What Trainers Need to Know

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! Sciatica is one of the most misunderstood diagnoses in fitness and rehab. Many clients hear the word and immediately think they have a “slipped disc” or that surgery is inevitable. In reality, sciatica simply describes irritation of the sciatic nerve and the cause can vary widely. In this episode we break down what sciatica actually is, why so many MRIs create unnecessary fear, and how trainers can confidently work with clients who have low back or radiating leg pain. You’ll learn the anatomy of the sciatic nerve, the most common causes of symptoms, and how to think through assessments involving the lumbar spine, hips, and movement patterns. We also discuss how the biopsychosocial model of pain plays a major role in recovery and why movement, education, and proper programming can often be more powerful than rest or passive treatments. If you’re a personal trainer, coach, or fitness professional who wants to better understand back pain and help clients move with confidence again, this episode will give you a practical framework to approach sciatica without fear. Become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer w/ SUF - CPT the fastest growing personal training certification in fitness.  sciatica, sciatica explained, sciatic nerve pain, sciatica exercises, low back pain, lumbar radiculopathy, nerve pain leg, personal trainer education, fitness education, biomechanics, movement assessment, back pain training, pain science, biopsychosocial model of pain, lumbar spine anatomy, exercise science, physical therapy concepts, strength training with back pain, injury prevention, trainer certification, show up fitness, SUF CPT, personal training podcast, coaching clients in pain, anatomy for trainers Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/ Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

    9 min

  3. 5D AGO

    What Great Coaches Do Differently (Luka Hocevar – Vigor Ground)

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! Most trainers think coaching is about sets, reps and programs. It’s not. Great coaching is communication, leadership and grit. In this episode we sit down with Luka Hocevar, founder of Vigor Ground Fitness and host of the Vigor Life Podcast. Luka has spent decades developing coaches and building one of the most respected training communities in the industry. We dive into the skills most trainers never learn from textbooks: • How to communicate so clients actually trust you • Why grit matters more than the “perfect program” • What separates average trainers from elite coaches • How great gyms develop great coaches • The mindset required to build a long-term career in fitness If you’re a personal trainer who wants to build confidence, coach at a higher level and create real impact with clients, this episode is packed with lessons from two coaches who have spent decades in the trenches. Follow Luka Hocevar: IG: @lukahocevar IG: @vigorgroundfitness Podcast: Vigor Life Podcast Want to become a successful personal trainer? Show Up Fitness teaches trainers how to master assessments, programming, sales and communication so they can get hired at the best gyms and build long-term careers. Learn more at: www.showupfitness.com Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/ Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

    1h 14m

  4. 5D AGO

    How a YMCA trainer built a Full Client Roster | How to become a trainer at YMCA

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! Most personal trainers working at the YMCA struggle to build a consistent client roster. Many get stuck around a handful of sessions per week and eventually burn out or leave the industry. In this episode we sit down with trainer Von Porter from Martha’s Vineyard to talk about how he built momentum inside the gym and started growing his client base after implementing the Show Up Fitness systems. We discuss: • Why most trainers struggle to get clients • The confidence gap new trainers face • How assessments build instant trust with clients • The difference between being certified and actually being qualified • The systems that helped Von grow his schedule If you’re a personal trainer trying to grow your client base, build confidence, and turn training into a real career, this episode will give you a clear roadmap. Follow Von on IG: @von_training For trainers looking to pass NASM faster or level up their coaching skills, check out Show Up Fitness resources and weekly live calls. KEEP SHOWING UP. 💪 Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/ Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

    22 min

  5. 5D AGO

    How this trainer doubled his PT sessions using the SUF system: How to get hired at Movati w/ Emilio

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! Most personal trainers get stuck around 10–15 sessions per week and can’t figure out how to grow their schedule. Many assume it’s the gym, the location, or the economy. In this episode we sit down with a trainer from MOVATI Athletic who broke through that ceiling. After implementing systems from Show Up Fitness, he went from 10–15 sessions per week to 25 sessions per week, dramatically increasing both his income and confidence as a coach. We discuss: • Why most trainers struggle to grow their client base • The biggest mistakes trainers make early in their careers • How assessments instantly increase client trust • The difference between textbook knowledge and real-world coaching • The systems that helped him double his sessions If you’re a personal trainer trying to get more clients, build confidence, and turn coaching into a real career, this episode breaks down what actually works. Follow the trainer on IG: @emi_robledo2911 For trainers studying for NASM or looking to level up their coaching skills, check out the Show Up Fitness resources and weekly live calls. KEEP SHOWING UP. 💪 Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/ Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

    21 min

  6. FEB 27

    Shoulder Surgery or not? How Personal Trainers can properly assess shoulder pain

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! A client came to me after being told she needed shoulder surgery. MRI showed a slight supraspinatus tear. No physical therapy was recommended. No movement assessment was performed. Just “you’ll need surgery.” Instead of jumping to conclusions, we performed a full movement screen looking at the GH joint, scapula, thoracic spine and LPHC. No red flags were present. Several exercises were completely pain free. Others were only uncomfortable based on fear and guarding after being told she was “fragile.” This is where the biopsychosocial model of pain becomes critical for personal trainers. Pain is not always tissue damage. Language matters. Assessments matter. Understanding anatomy and movement matters. After helping her better understand what the MRI actually meant, how her shoulder moves, and which patterns felt safe to load, she avoided surgery and returned to training without pain. Knowing your scope as a personal trainer is important. But so is knowing when to assess, when to refer, and how to confidently work with clients who are in pain without making them feel broken. Textbook certifications like NASM ACE ISSA don’t prepare you for real world scenarios like this. That’s why we created the SUF-CPT and SUF-STM certifications. If you want to:  • Assess clients in pain  • Program on the fly  • Partner with DPTs  • Charge $150+ per session  • Build confidence with real people You have to SHOW UP. Learn more about our seminars and certifications here:  [Insert Website] #PersonalTraining #Biopsychosocial #ShoulderPain #NASM #CPT #MovementAssessment #PainScience #ShowUpFitness Become a personal trainer, SUF CPT the fastest growing personal training certification for personal trainers Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/ Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

    41 min

  7. FEB 27

    Anatomical Orientation Made Easy for Personal Trainers, Kinesiology & Nursing Students)

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! Before you memorize muscles, origins, insertions and actions… you need to understand anatomical orientation. In this episode, we break down the fundamentals of anatomical position, directional terms and planes of motion so students in kinesiology, nursing, exercise science and personal training can better understand how the human body moves in space. If you’re currently studying for exams in: • Kinesiology • Nursing school • NASM • ACE • ISSA • NSCA • ACSM or the SUF-CPT This is the foundation that makes everything else in anatomy make sense. We cover: • Anatomical position • Anterior vs posterior • Medial vs lateral • Superior vs inferior • Proximal vs distal • Contralateral vs ipsilateral • Sagittal plane • Frontal plane • Transverse plane Whether you're learning movement for clinical practice, rehab, strength training or preparing for your CPT exam, mastering anatomical orientation is essential for understanding assessments, biomechanics and exercise programming. At Show Up Fitness, we teach future personal trainers how to apply anatomy in real world scenarios with actual clients through movement assessments and hands on learning. Learn more about our certifications and hands on seminars: [Insert Website] #Kinesiology #NursingSchool #Anatomy #NASM #ACE #ISSA #NSCA #ExerciseScience #PersonalTraining #Biomechanics #ShowUpFitness Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/ Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

    14 min

  8. FEB 26

    A Day in the Life of a $200K Personal Trainer w/ Joe Sullivan

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! Most personal trainers struggle to break $40-60K per year. Less than 1% of personal trainers clear 200k. So how did Coach Joe? Listen to how many personal training seminars he has gone to. Not once did he metion nasm, ace, issa or any textbook certification. So what does it actually take to make $200,000 as a personal trainer? In this episode, we follow Coach Joe Sully (IG: @Coach_Joe_Sully) through a real day in the life of a 6-figure trainer to see exactly how elite coaches operate. From assessments…  To programming on the fly…  To working with clients who are in pain…  To building a network with DPTs and RDs…  To confidently charging $100-$150+ per session… There is a massive difference between trainers who read a textbook and pass a multiple choice exam (NASM ACE ISSA)… and trainers who build a real career. Joe breaks down:  • His daily schedule  • How he assesses new clients  • Why networking is everything  • How he handles clients with shoulder, low back and knee discomfort  • The systems he uses to retain clients  • And what separates $25/session trainers from $200K/year coaches If 90% of trainers quit within the first 12 months, maybe it’s time we stop telling people to “just get certified” and instead focus on hands on learning, movement competency and building a professional team. This is what we teach inside the SUF-CPT & SUF-STM at Show Up Fitness in partnership with Life Time Fitness. Want to:  • Become confident around clients in pain  • Charge 25-50% more per hour  • Partner with physical therapists  • And build a sustainable career in personal training You have to SHOW UP. Learn more about our seminars and certifications:  [Insert Website] Follow Joe:  IG: @Coach_Joe_Sully #PersonalTraining #DayInTheLife #SixFigureTrainer #NASM #ShowUpFitness #CPT #LifeTimeFitness Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/ Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

    53 min
See All (325)

5
out of 5
256 Ratings

About

Join Chris Hitchko, author of 'How to Become A Successful Personal Trainer' VOL 2 and CEO of Show Up Fitness as he guides personal trainers towards success. 90% of personal trainers quit within 12-months in the USA, 18-months in the UK, Show Up Fitness is helping change those statistics. The Show Up Fitness CPT is one of the fastest growing PT certifications in the world with partnerships with over 500-gyms including Life Time Fitness, Equinox, Genesis, EoS, and numerous other elite partnerships.This podcast focuses on refining trade, business, and people skills to help trainers excel in the fitness industry. Discover effective client programming, revenue generation, medical professional networking, and elite assessment strategies. Learn how to become a successful Show Up Fitness CPT at www.showupfitness.com.  Send your questions to Chris on Instagram @showupfitness or via email at info@showupfitness.com."

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Hitchko, CEO Show Up Fitness
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    325
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Show Up Fitness Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Show Up Fitness Podcast

You Might Also Like