The Show Up Fitness Podcast

Chris Hitchko, CEO Show Up Fitness
  • 5.0 (254)
  • 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. 19H AGO

    What's the BEST corrective exercise certification NASM CES ISSA SUF STM

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! Article mentioned in the podcast: https://www.painscience.com/blog/corrective-exercise-trap.html Next SUF weekend seminars: DUMBO NYC 2-20/21, Houston 13/14, Oakland 27/28. Q2 schedule will be released soon! What happens when a client shoves a scary MRI report in front of you and waits for your take? We turn that tense moment into a masterclass on scope, language, and movement by breaking down C6–C7 findings, clarifying true red flags, and showing how a quick consult with a physical therapist can transform fear into a clear plan. Instead of hiding behind corrective exercise acronyms, we lay out a practical path to real credibility: anatomy fluency, precise coaching, and a trusted referral network. We walk through how to read common cervical terms without stepping outside your scope, why peripheral symptoms like numbness or burning change the plan, and how to use the biopsychosocial model to reduce threat and improve outcomes. You’ll hear a simple, effective session flow—brief targeted correctives followed by progressive overload with squats, step-ups, rows, planks, and face pulls—designed to build capacity without provoking symptoms. The emphasis is on clarity over complexity: coach scapular protraction and retraction, cue depression instead of shrugging, and modify load and positions based on feedback, not fear. Along the way, we question the corrective exercise trap, the posture hype cycle, and the industry’s obsession with letters over leadership. Real leverage comes from hands-on education and an active network of DPTs and specialists who answer the phone, share nuance, and send referrals. If you want clients to see you as the professional who brings calm, clarity, and results, start by mastering anatomy, speaking hope, programming for strength, and knowing exactly when to refer. Subscribe, share this with a coach who needs it, and leave a review telling us the one skill you’re doubling down on this month. 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

  2. JAN 27

    Oakland SUF Seminar w/ Coach Camilo | From Burnout To Building A Gym in Oakland

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! 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

    51 min

  3. JAN 26

    How to increase your personal training rates in 2026 w/ SUF

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! Charging more isn’t about swagger, it’s about proof. We break down exactly how to move from low-fee burnout to a premium, sustainable training business by pairing market research with real value: a sharp assessment process, a professional environment, and a team that supports client outcomes. From calling competitors and mapping local price anchors to choosing the right setting—boutique studio, in-home, or park—we show how place and positioning shape what clients expect to pay. We get tactical with scripts and packaging that cut friction. Instead of a messy menu, present two options and ask, “How would you like to pay?” Learn how to communicate price increases without drama by sharing your current income, your education plan, and the date your new rate starts. We talk sponsorships, one-time stock-up offers, and how to tie raises to skills that matter—soft tissue work, pain navigation, and assessment-driven programming that clients can feel on day one. Mentorship and community change your ceiling. You’ll hear how a mentor forced a 300 dollar quote that reset confidence, how high-end venues amplify perceived value, and why partnerships with physical therapists and dietitians lead to premium referrals. We also cover charity events that build goodwill and pipeline, plus simple six-month price ladders that keep your rates aligned with your growth. The result is a clear, repeatable system: research, deliver proof, package cleanly, ask confidently, and raise steadily. Ready to stop guessing and start charging what your work deserves? Follow the show, share this episode with a trainer who needs the nudge, and leave a quick review telling us your next price milestone. 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

    24 min

  4. JAN 21

    How to close better w/ Aaron ATL Life Time Fitness DPT

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! 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

  5. JAN 17

    Real Coaches Summit w/ Coach Aram

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! Aram ig: 4weeks2thebeach Tickets to April Seminar: https://realcoachessummit.com/tickets/p/presale-ticket?fbclid=PAVERFWAPYjK1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAafjv2BNCBPnJJ3D9ceS2w-zGHPXsepZjXlelCytEsxnN-vw3piPbXSvFFCQdA_aem_S7fs_0X71OSfA7u01Joigg If you’ve ever felt torn between doing real coaching and chasing the next shiny promise, this conversation will feel like a deep breath. We unpack the journey from a high-paying finance gig to the gym floor and into building a no-fluff education event designed for the most neglected crowd in fitness: coaches with a few years of experience who want practical solutions, not sales scripts. Along the way, we get brutally honest about risk, debt, burnout, and the grind it takes to stick around long enough to get good at this work.    We break down the myths that keep clients stuck and trainers spinning. Fat loss isn’t driven by lifting alone; nutrition and intentional cardio move the needle while strength training protects muscle and confidence. Compliance is the science, so the plan has to fit the person’s bandwidth, not the other way around. You’ll hear simple, effective ways to teach intensity, set expectations, and offer clear choices that give clients autonomy—drop calories, add cardio, or both—while cutting out the jargon that loses people. We also get into sensitive, high-interest topics the right way: how to talk about GLP-1s and peptides within scope, coach women through menopause and PCOS, and program around pain without pretending to diagnose.    We also spotlight the Real Coaches Summit in Las Vegas, a two-and-a-half-day, CEU-eligible event built around applied talks you can use the next morning: hypertrophy programming, client compliance, deadlift mechanics, lab literacy, emotional eating strategies, and more. It’s education you can trust, plus the networking that only happens face to face—new peers, new podcasts, and the validation that you’re not doing this alone.    If you’re ready to trade optimization noise for outcomes, tap play, share this with a coach who needs it, and join us in Vegas. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us the one skill you’re committed to simplifying for your clients this month. 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

    45 min

  6. JAN 14

    Becoming a Trainer in India: Inside the Mind of Coach Sanjay Duseja

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! Coach Sanjay IG: yourfitnesscoach.in Tired of hearing “the gym keeps 70%, trainers get 30%” and wondering how to break the cycle? We sat down with Sanjay Duseja, who went from a small town in Madhya Pradesh to training 2,000+ clients across 40 countries, to map a smarter path through India’s fitness industry. His story shows you don’t need a big city to win—you need competence built on four pillars: education, experience, communication, and living what you teach. We dig into why low entry barriers and a lack of regulation depress pay and quality, and how owners and trainers often talk past each other. Sanjay explains how he funded early certifications while working in IT, moved online during lockdowns, and built trust with credentials, case studies, and simple, effective assessments. You’ll hear why a goal-first approach beats cookie-cutter routines: athletes can chase intensity and frequency because performance is their job, while general clients need sustainable programming that fits around work, family, and recovery. Assess movement, strength, and cardio, then tailor exercise selection, volume, and frequency to what the client actually wants—like playing with their grandchild for an hour without gasping. Sanjay’s “Year of Growth” experiment adds rare empathy. By deliberately gaining significant weight and then reversing course, he experienced breathlessness, back pain, poor sleep, and mental strain firsthand, and translated those lessons into coaching that meets clients where they are. We close with career design: escape the trap of 10–12 sessions a day by building rare skills, specializing intelligently, and capturing proof of outcomes so your hours go down and your income goes up. In a market with low barriers, top 1 percent competency stands out quickly—if you commit to learning and apply it with integrity. If this conversation sparked an idea, subscribe, share with a trainer friend, and leave a quick review. Tell us: which pillar are you doubling down on next—education, experience, communication, or walking the talk? 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

    43 min

  7. JAN 2

    Pass NASM in 2026 7th Edition 6,000 have passed NASM CPT w/ SUF

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! SUF-CPT guarantees trainers to pass within 30-days and become a qualified CPT w/ SUF Stop drowning in 800 pages and start studying what gyms and the NASM exam actually test. We map the shortest path to a pass—then show how to turn that pass into a paying career with confident programming, clear communication, and real-world coaching skills. We start with the keystones: the OPT model’s five phases, the acute variables you must know cold, and how to spot supersets, tempos, and intensities at a glance. Then we make it practical. You’ll hear how to connect planes of motion to real exercises, identify agonists and stabilizers on the fly, and use a simple corrective flow for common patterns like knee valgus or heels lifting. We also clarify assessments and tests—from the overhead squat to Rockport, VT1/VT2, push-up endurance, and the LEFT—plus the must-know vital sign basics and what counts as subjective vs objective data. Nutrition stays simple and test-relevant: calories per gram, AMDR ranges, and hydration targets. More importantly, we critique fluffy warm-ups and long cooldowns and replace them with a plug-and-play full-body structure that sells: push, pull, accessory; repeat with intent; finish strong. If the bench is taken at 5 pm, you’ll know exactly how to pivot without losing flow or confidence. That’s what hiring managers want to see on a crowded floor. Along the way, we share a success story that moves from passing to getting hired, explain why textbook-only learning stalls new trainers, and outline a smarter route: study guides, live coaching, and hands-on practice with oversight. We also talk about building a professional team with a physical therapist and a registered dietitian so you can stay in scope, refer out wisely, and charge like a pro. Ready to pass NASM fast and coach with confidence? Follow the show, share this with a trainer friend who needs a win, and leave a review telling us the topic you want next. Your career can start in 30 days—let’s get you there. 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

    45 min

  8. 12/31/2025

    Cash Vs. Insurance PT Explained w/ Dr. Kurt Kessler

    Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why! Dr. Kurt IG: higherpowersportpt  What if getting “cleared” isn’t even close to ready? We sit down with sports physical therapist Dr. Kessler to break down the real differences between insurance-based clinics and cash-based care—and why that gap can decide whether you return to sport strong or stuck at 70 percent. Instead of chasing codes and cramming notes, we dig into longer one-on-one sessions, meaningful assessments, and exercise dosing that actually moves the needle. Dr. Kessler takes us behind the curtain of residency training, board exams, and the daily reality of high-volume clinics where documentation dictates decisions. We compare insurance goals—basic independence and ADLs—to athletic goals like sprinting, cutting, and lifting heavy. You’ll hear how test item clusters beat one-off special tests, why movement is medicine only when dosed right, and how to build capacity by targeting the real “why” behind pain. Hip pain in front? We talk posterior capsule, loading strategy, and the difference between protocols and problem-solving. We also get practical about collaboration. Trainers who speak anatomy and program progressive overload can carry clients from pain-free to peak performance, while PTs who respect performance training build stronger, safer handoffs. Together, that ecosystem prevents re-injury and measures what matters: side-to-side strength, rate of force development, and readiness to play. We close with honest talk on sales, marketing, and education gaps that hold both fields back—and the simple fixes that raise the bar for everyone. If you’re serious about better outcomes, stronger returns to sport, and a smarter PT–trainer alliance, this conversation will give you the playbook. Subscribe, share with a coach or clinician you trust, and leave a review to help more people find the show. 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

    44 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
    309
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Show Up Fitness Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Show Up Fitness Podcast