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. 4D AGO

    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

  2. 4D AGO

    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

  3. 5D AGO

    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

  4. FEB 24

    Planes of Motion Made Simple for Personal Trainers (Sagittal, Frontal, Transverse)

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! Struggling to understand the planes of motion for personal training? In this episode of the Show Up Fitness Podcast, we break down the three planes of motion — sagittal, frontal and transverse — in a simple way so personal trainers can confidently assess movement and improve workout programming. Understanding planes of motion is essential for: • Exercise selection  • Movement assessments  • Injury prevention  • Training clients with pain  • Programming full body workouts Whether you're studying for the NASM CPT exam or want to improve your programming skills as a personal trainer, this episode will help you apply movement science to real world coaching. Topics covered: • Sagittal plane exercises  • Frontal plane exercises  • Transverse plane exercises  • Functional movement patterns  • Programming for general population  • Assessing clients with shoulder, hip and knee pain Subscribe for weekly episodes on assessments, programming and becoming an elite personal trainer. How to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer VOL 2 on amazon to become an elite qualified personal trainer: planes of motion personal training  sagittal frontal transverse  planes of motion exercises  functional movement training  exercise science for trainers  how to assess movement  personal trainer education  movement assessment  exercise programming  biomechanics personal training 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

    10 min

  5. FEB 24

    How to PASS NASM CPT in 30-days 2026 Part 2 | How to become a personal trainer

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! Trying to pass the NASM CPT exam in 2026? This is Part 2 of our 5-Part NASM in 30-Days Series designed to help aspiring personal trainers pass the NASM Certified Personal Trainer exam fast without wasting months reading the textbook. Over 6,000 trainers have used the Show Up Fitness NASM Study Guide to pass the NASM CPT exam. In this episode we break down the exact 30-day NASM study plan, how to prepare for the NASM exam efficiently, and how to avoid the most common mistakes that cause 90% of new trainers to quit within 12 months. Leave a 5-Star Review to get the NASM Cheat Sheet used by thousands of trainers to pass. Need more help? Our NASM Study Guide ($99) has helped over 6,000 trainers pass. Want to guarantee you pass? Join the SUF-CPT Internship ($799).  If you fail the NASM CPT exam, we pay for your retest. You will also get: • Hands on training workshop  • Programming confidence  • Assessments for clients in pain  • Networking with DPTs and RDs  • Job placement support  • Access to a SUF Seminar at Life Time Fitness within 12 months Subscribe for weekly episodes on passing NASM, assessments, programming and becoming an elite personal trainer. how to pass nasm cpt  nasm cpt 2026  nasm study guide  nasm cpt study plan  personal trainer exam prep  how to become a personal trainer  pass nasm fast  nasm exam tips  nasm cheat sheet  nasm practice test  certified personal trainer exam 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

  6. FEB 24

    How to Train a 67 Year Old Pickleball Player With Frozen Shoulder and Tennis Elbow

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! Pickleball is the fastest growing sport among adults over 60, but injuries like frozen shoulder and tennis elbow can sideline even the most competitive players.In this episode of the Show Up Fitness Podcast, we break down how to safely and effectively design a strength training program for a 67 year old pickleball athlete dealing with shoulder stiffness and lateral elbow pain.Learn how personal trainers can assess movement, train around pain, improve performance, and help older clients stay competitive without surgery.Topics covered:• Frozen shoulder exercises for older adults:  • Tennis elbow strength training  • Pickleball injury prevention  • Programming for clients over 60  • Biopsychosocial model of pain  • Training around shoulder and elbow pain  • Full body programming for general populationIf you're a personal trainer working with aging athletes, this episode will help you confidently program for clients with pain while improving retention and results.Subscribe for weekly episodes on assessments, programming, and becoming an elite personal trainer. • How to network with pickleball professionals and pickleball gyms to offer your services to bring in more clients so you can charge more and make over $100,000 as a qualified personal trainer. If you want to become a personal trainer, SUF-CPT is the fastest growing personal training certification which helps you understand programming so you can design workouts for clients who play pickleball and all general population clients, especially when it comes to programming around pain.  pickleball training for seniors  strength training over 60  frozen shoulder exercises  tennis elbow rehab  personal trainer programming for older adults  training clients with shoulder pain  training clients with elbow pain  pickleball injury prevention  workouts for seniors with injuries  how to train older athletes #pickleballtraining  #frozenshoulder  #tenniselbow  #seniorfitness  #over60fitness  #personaltrainer  #showupfitness  #shoulderpain  #elbowpain  #strengthtrainingforseniors 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

    19 min

  7. FEB 17

    Become a QUALIFIED PT in UK w/ Jewade Graham

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! PT IG: Jewadegrahamcoach Want a real blueprint for becoming a high-level personal trainer, not just another fast-tracked certificate holder? We sit down with UK coach Graham to unpack what separates “certified” from truly “qualified,” breaking down how short courses can be the starting line—but never the finish—of a serious coaching career. From navigating UK awarding bodies like Active IQ and YMCA to understanding rent-versus-shifts models at PureGym and The Gym Group, we dig into the practical choices that shape your development and earning power. The heart of the conversation is coaching craft. Graham explains why the first 28 days with a client set the trajectory for long-term success, and how a clear onboarding process—assessment, communication, expectations, and feedback loops—builds confidence on both sides. We talk about translating anatomy into human language, ditching Latin for cues clients can use, and designing programs that progress or regress to match real lives and crowded gyms. You’ll hear how to start natural conversations on the gym floor, stop opening with “Want PT?”, and instead lead with help that builds trust and makes selling unnecessary. We also address the allure and risk of business mentorships. Graham shares how to vet programs, avoid the shiny scams, and prioritize mentors who teach assessments, communication, and systems. The path he recommends is honest and demanding: one to three years of apprenticeship or mentorship inside an elite environment, building a portfolio of transformations, strength PRs, and rehab wins. That proof makes content easier to create and clients easier to retain. By the time you pivot to independent or online coaching, you’re not guessing—you’re scaling what already works. If you’re serious about coaching excellence, this episode is your roadmap: develop soft skills, master onboarding, build undeniable proof, and only then go big. Subscribe, share with a trainer friend who needs this reality check, and leave a review with the one skill you’re committed to leveling up next. 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

    30 min

  8. FEB 17

    How to Bench 225 w/ Show Up Fitness

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! Want a stronger bench without the burnout cycle of “max out Mondays”? We dive into the real drivers of pressing strength—scapular mechanics, intelligent frequency, and targeted accessories—then map them onto five influential programs lifters actually use: Sheiko, Smolov Jr, Westside Conjugate, Wendler’s 5/3/1, and the Bulgarian-style daily max approach. Along the way, we explain how to spot and fix sticking points at the chest, midrange, and lockout, and why bar path, elbow angle, foot pressure, and a controlled thoracic arch can add pounds fast without beating up your shoulders. I walk through a practical hybrid template I use with clients chasing 225, 275, or 315: straight-set specificity for bench, CCA blocks to round out pressing angles and back strength, and a weekly wave of heavy work, volume, and speed. We cover warm-up that actually potentiates—foam roller push-ups, cuff activation, med-ball slams—plus reps in reserve, rest intervals that respect the ATP-PC system, and how to use heavy eccentrics, pauses, boards, and pins to train your nervous system above goal weight. You’ll hear clear cues for breathing and bracing, how to line up on the bench, and why a slight arch is a tool, not a sin. This conversation is built for coaches and serious lifters who want outcomes, not fluff. You’ll get actionable progression ideas, a retesting timeline that protects momentum, and a simple method to choose accessories by reviewing video and training the exact range where your lift slows. We also talk shop about creating a PR culture in your gym—monthly focus lifts, leaderboards, and community Saturdays—so clients stay engaged and keep showing up. If this helped you plan your next training block, tap follow, share it with a training partner, and leave a quick review. Ready to build a smarter bench? Subscribe and tell us your current max and your next goal. 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

    48 min
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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
    320
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Show Up Fitness Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Show Up Fitness Podcast

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