The Show Up Fitness Podcast

Chris Hitchko, CEO Show Up Fitness
  • 5.0 (267)
  • 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. 3d ago

    How to Ace Your First Personal Training Interview (And Actually Get Hired)

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! Most new trainers think the first job interview is a quiz on anatomy. It usually isn’t. What hiring managers really watch is whether you show up early, communicate like a pro, and can connect with everyday members who want results, not gym jargon. We walk through how to prepare for a personal trainer interview when you are still finishing a NASM certification, and how to make a strong first impression without pretending you know everything.  We also zoom out and talk about gym tiers. High-volume chain gyms often hire fast, pay less, and may not test much beyond basic competence and reliability. Higher-end clubs like Lifetime or Equinox tend to run a more formal hiring process, sometimes with phone screens, practical coaching tests, and role play that reveals how you think under pressure. We share the research steps that help you stand out: learn the gym’s mission statement and core values, understand how their personal training department works, and tailor your story to the members you will actually train.  The biggest shift is turning the interview into a two-way filter. We give you high-value questions to ask managers about mentorship, continuing education, onboarding, getting clients, and support with programming and sales. We also cover presence and confidence: a tight elevator pitch, strong posture, fewer filler words, and simple ways to handle sales conversations without sounding pushy.  If you want to get hired at a gym, grow your confidence fast, and build a long-term career in personal training, listen through and take notes. Subscribe, share this with a trainer friend, and leave a review with the one interview question you’re going to use 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

    21 min

  2. 3d ago

    How to study for NASM 2026 | Pass in 30 days GUARANTEED

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! The fastest way to fail the NASM CPT exam is to study like you’re trying to become a walking textbook. We’re personal trainers, and most of us learn by doing. So we break down how to pass the NASM CPT without drowning in chapters you’ll never use, and why a focused plan can realistically get you across the finish line in less than 30 days. We map out the handful of areas that keep showing up: the human movement system, behavior change coaching, the assessment process (yes, overhead squat assessment concepts like compensations and overactive vs underactive muscles), the OPT model and its phases, acute variables, energy systems, basic nutrition, and the key terms you must be able to recognize on sight. The point isn’t to “know everything” it’s to know what the exam rewards and to build a study routine you can actually stick to. Then we get honest about the mental side. NASM-style practice questions can read like they were written to mess with you, and that confusion often triggers automatic negative thoughts and wasted study time. We share how to “put the NASM hat on,” focus on the words that matter, and stop letting tricky phrasing shake your confidence. Passing the certification is step one. Coaching real clients is where your career is made, so we also talk internships, supervised reps, learning from physical therapists and experienced coaches, and why relying on random internet advice can leave you stuck when a real human shows up with pain, limitations, or complex needs. If this helped, subscribe, share it with a future trainer, and leave a review. What part of the NASM CPT is stressing you out most right now? 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

    7 min

  3. Jun 7

    How to get clients at Life Time Fitness w/ PTL1 Mike in Canada

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! Improve your soft skills as a trainer and you will get more clients. PTL1 Mike from Toronto Canada, talks about how Show Up Fitness helps trainers level up their business and technical skills. How to improve your people skills? That's what we discussed today. Your schedule isn’t empty because you “need a better certification.” It’s empty because you’re avoiding the one skill that makes personal training a real career: connecting with members on the gym floor. Chris sits down with Mike, a Toronto-based PT leader, to get painfully practical about how great trainers get hired, get noticed, and get clients without acting like a pushy salesperson.  We dig into what Mike looks for in interviews, including a hands-on practical where trainers must show progressions and regressions and prove they can coach movement patterns safely. From there, we zoom out to the business side of personal training: why floor engagement has faded over the last decade, why app-booked consults often no-show, and how a quick “wow factor” interaction can make someone 10x more likely to show up and buy. Mike shares easy, low-pressure ways to start conversations, from offering a towel to giving a simple form cue in the machine area, plus how to exit gracefully when someone isn’t interested.  If you’re more introverted, this conversation still hits hard. Mike explains how to build confidence through reps, start with easy wins, and adopt a mindset of service: you’re not “selling,” you’re helping people avoid injury, train with purpose, and finally see progress. We also get into consult questions that uncover the real why behind a goal, plus how to “paint the picture” with long-term programming and realistic timelines so clients stay for months, not weeks.  If you want more clients and better retention, press play, take notes, and try one floor interaction today. Subscribe, share this with a trainer friend, and leave a review with the one tip you’re going to use first. 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

    23 min

  4. Jun 2

    How to become a nutrition coach MACRO CALCULATIONS

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! Your clients say they are eating “1,200 calories,” but the photos tell a very different story. We walk through a clean, practical way to do macro calculations that you can explain to real humans, then zoom out to the bigger issue: macro targets only work when they are built on honest intake data and consistent habits. We start with a simple baseline calorie estimate (bodyweight times 10) and show exactly how to convert calories into grams of carbohydrates, protein, and fat using the rules that never change: carbs are 4 calories per gram, protein is 4 calories per gram, and fat is 9 calories per gram. Using average examples, we reveal how quickly protein can end up shockingly low, why high-carb days can quietly dominate someone’s intake, and how a 3,500-calorie “normal day” turns into massive numbers on paper. Along the way, we call out the common coaching trap of giving generic advice like “eat a gram of protein per pound” without adjusting the rest of the diet. From there, we lay out a three-phase nutrition coaching framework: build awareness with food logs and meal photos, drive behavior change with sleep and stress inputs, and move toward longevity with more individualized support, often alongside a registered dietitian and lab work insights. If you are a personal trainer who wants better client results and a more professional nutrition coaching service, this is the roadmap. Subscribe, share this with a coach who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest calorie-tracking blind spot. 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

    13 min

  5. Jun 2

    The 3 Traits of Personal Trainers Making $125K+ Per Year

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! How to Become A Successful Personal Trainer vol. 2 interviews coaches and trainers who have lead a successful personal training career. HINT HINT, they don't praise textbook certifications, they focus on hands on learning and building teams. If you want to make real money as a personal trainer, “getting certified” is not the finish line, it’s the starting line. We’re pulling back the curtain on what we see from the one percenters in the industry: the coaches clearing $125,000+ a year while everyone else wonders why their calendar is empty and their confidence is shaky.  We walk through three traits that keep showing up among high performers. First, they chase hands-on learning, not just books and bundles. They do seminars, internships, mentorships, and supervised reps in the trenches, because that’s where you learn to handle knee pain, shoulder issues, and real-world client chaos without freezing. Second, they build a serious network, especially physical therapists (DPTs) and registered dietitians (RDs) they can actually talk to, not just follow online. That support raises your competence, your results, and your ability to charge premium rates with integrity.  Then we tackle the taboo topic: looking the part. Not extremes, not unrealistic influencer standards, but a clear signal that you practice what you preach and you fit your market. We also share practical ways to “level up” fast, from picking the right mentors to running a SWOT analysis on your business and physique. If you’re done with the quick-fix mindset and ready to build a sustainable personal training career, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a trainer friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. 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

    12 min

  6. Jun 2

    Pass NASM at 59 | How to Become a Personal Trainer | NASM CPT Success Story

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! Thinking about becoming a personal trainer after 50? SUF has helped over 10,000 people pass NASM CPT.  In this episode, we sit down with Shiv, who passed her NASM exam at age 59 using the Show Up Fitness Study Guide and is proving it’s never too late to start a second career in fitness. We discuss:  • Becoming a personal trainer later in life  • Overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome  • How she passed NASM  • What the fitness industry is really like  • Advice for aspiring trainers over 50  • Why experience and people skills matter more than age • Hands on learning with SUF CPT in Santa Monica 📚 Pass NASM Faster:  https://www.showupfitness.com/collections/guides/products/nasam-7th-edition-basic-guide-only-pro-guide-comes-with-subscription-zoom-calls 💬 Join our FREE NASM/ACE/ISSA Study Group:  https://m.facebook.com/groups/1127380175044704/?ref=share&mibextid=wwXIfr 🏆 Want to become a qualified personal trainer, not just pass a test?  Learn more about the SUF-CPT:  https://www.showupfitness.com 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

    29 min

  7. May 30

    How to get personal training clients CHIROPRACTORS

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! How to become a successful personal trainer vol 2 has an entire chapter on getting clients - 10 R's of getting clients. If you want to become a successful personal trainer, start by reading the book, not an 800 page textbook. You can be an amazing trainer and still struggle to get clients if your marketing is built on hope instead of systems. I’m sharing a simple referral strategy that consistently brings in high-quality leads: build real partnerships with chiropractors (and other allied pros), then make it easy and profitable for them to send people your way. It’s not about begging for referrals. It’s about showing up like a business professional and creating a clean, repeatable process that benefits the client, the chiropractor, and your coaching.  We get tactical with what to say, how to say it, and where most trainers lose the deal. I walk through two approaches: paying for an initial chiropractic assessment to build trust fast, or starting lean with Instagram DMs and multiple follow-ups. You’ll hear why directness matters, how to offer a complimentary workout without sounding passive, and how to set the precedent that your relationship is long-term and collaborative.  Then we do the numbers. If you spend a few hundred dollars on an assessment and a lunch but land one 72-session package, the ROI can dwarf what you’d ever see from random ads. I also explain a smart package structure where the chiropractor keeps a premium for referring, why “go for no” follow-up wins, and how to position yourself as more than the stereotype of a trainer with selfies and weak anatomy knowledge.  If you want more personal training clients, better client referrals, and a stronger network in your local fitness market, listen through and take notes. Subscribe, share this with a trainer friend who needs leads, and leave a review with the outreach step you’re committing to this week. 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

    12 min

  8. May 30

    Why FAT LOSS is so confusing PART 2 MACROS | How to Become A Nutrition Coach

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! If you want to become a nutrition coach and make over 30k EXTRA dollars as a personal trainer, SUF-NC teaches you the fundamentals of nutritional science, teaches you how to scale a new stream of revenue and you get to work alongside of a registered dietitian. showupfitness.com Two tacos should be an easy entry in a food tracker, right? We start with a simple photo test that exposes a brutal truth about weight loss: most of us are not “bad at dieting,” we are bad at estimating what we eat, especially when food is made for us. That one skill gap can turn an intended deficit into a hidden surplus, and it is why clients can feel stuck, inflamed, and defeated while their log still looks “pretty good.”  From there, we take a hard turn into the internet’s favorite fuel: fear. We break down the viral strawberry scare, the language of “toxins” and “detox,” and why confident influencers with shaky credentials can out-share careful scientific explanations. We are not here to dunk on people; we are here to show how to evaluate claims, follow incentives, and keep nutrition education grounded in dose, context, and real-world behavior, especially for families trying to shop on a budget.  Then we rebuild the fundamentals of nutrition coaching: the six essential nutrients, macros vs micros, and the fuel factors that make macro math simple (4 calories per gram for carbs and protein, 9 for fat, 7 for alcohol). We connect that math to digestion and metabolism, including how carbs relate to glycogen and water weight, why protein has a higher thermic effect of food, and how “all calories are equal” can be both true and incomplete. The deeper point is sustainability: vegan, carnivore, keto, or mixed diets can all work if they fit the person and produce a consistent, livable calorie deficit.  If you want a smarter way to think about calories, macros, and misinformation without losing your mind, listen through and share it with someone who is tired of nutrition fearmongering. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what food do you most often underestimate? 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

    42 min
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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
    372
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Show Up Fitness Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Show Up Fitness Podcast

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