Mate, Spot Me

NovoFit
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Monthly

This is a podcast developed within the fitness industry, designed to support those shaping it. Whether you’re on the gym floor, behind the desk, or somewhere inbetween, we dig into the real stories, challenges, and shifts shaping the world of fitness. Hosted by Barry McDonald and Jerram Newton at NovoFit, each episode features honest conversations with industry leaders, where we dig into what’s working (and what’s not) in the sector. Expect a few gems of knowledge you can take back to your business, and maybe a few you didn’t even know you needed. Produced by Henry Crowter for NovoFit.

  1. Sep 24

    #15 - The Vehicle for Anyone with Aroha Leigh

    Sometimes people assume that franchising is a rich person's game: buy the rights, follow the manual, hope for the best. Aroha Leigh has spent her career proving that's not how it actually works.She's the Director of Global Product for Lift Brands, the group behind Snap Fitness,, Fitness On Demand and Fitstop, running fitness concepts in 18 countries. Her job is to study what makes a franchise work for the person running it day to day, not just for head office. In this episode she gets into the balancing act of keeping a global brand consistent while still leaving room for individual clubs to make their own mark, what actually separates franchisees who scale from the ones who stall, and how the Australian network's habit of piloting new ideas fast ends up shaping what other regions do too. We cover: • The "positive tension" between franchisor and franchisee, and why the strongest networks lean into it instead of avoiding it • What actually separates franchisees who scale from the ones who stall• The biggest misconception people have when they buy into a franchise for the first time • The unexpected friend Aroha found waiting at reception in one of the European clubs Links Aroha's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aroha-leigh-cfe-023b86108/ Lift Brands: https://www.liftbrands.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/mate-spot-me/id1825744433 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7bPjITT99fBLQ0DbyxhheV Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matespotme/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mate-spot-me/ #Fitness #FitnessPodcast #FitnessIndustry #MateSpotMe #NovoFit

  2. Sep 9

    #14 - Chase Impact Not Dollars with Bart Walsh

    By the time you finish this episode, you'll probably feel a bit guilty about skipping your last training session. That's the effect Bart Walsh tends to have. Eighteen months ago, Bart sat down with us for our very episode of the pod. This week he's back, and he's brought a different life with him. Since then he's walked away from his job as Head of Fitness at Jetts to bet everything on himself as a full-time motivational speaker, touring boardrooms, factory floors and conference stages across the country. This episode is a moving conversation about grief, gratitude and building a life around serving others. We cover: - Turning grief and hardship into a mission bigger than yourself - Taking risks to chase bigger and better things- Gratitude as the thing that actually makes you push harder, not just feel nice - The 30-second video that hit 2.7 million views and had strangers around the world running in Bart's honour - Where our industry is heading next: hyper-personalisation, wearable data and community driven fitness Links Bart's Website: https://bartwalsh.com.au/ Bart's Viral Post: https://www.instagram.com/p/Db2kkYaB2-X/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/mate-spot-me/id1825744433 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MateSpotMe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matespotme/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mate-spot-me/ #Fitness #FitnessPodcast #FitnessIndustry #MateSpotMe #NovoFit

  3. Aug 24

    #13 - Euro Fitness Technology with Nikki Van Hees

    In this week's episode, we sit down with Nikki Van Hees, a multi-site gym owner from the Netherlands, to talk about how her family's gym, Piazza Sports, fought off a budget franchise that opened across the road - not by cutting price, but by going all out on technology.Nikki walks us through building a member journey around EGYM, why data changed how they train and retain people, and what it took to get members on board with a completely new training experience. We also get into why she opened one of the first Pilates reformer studios in the Netherlands, and what Europe and Australia can each learn from the other.We cover:- Competing with a budget gym without racing to the bottom on price- Building a tech-driven member journey with EGYM- Getting buy-in from staff and members- How Europe and Australia are learning from each other on wellness, recovery and boutique fitnessCatch ya on the next one mates.Nikki's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-van-hees-5191aa226/Piazza Sports: https://www.piazzasports.nl/en/Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/mate-spot-me/id1825744433Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7bPjITT99fBLQ0DbyxhheVInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/matespotme/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mate-spot-me/#Podcast #FitnessPodcast #FitnessIndustry #Podcast #Australia

  4. Aug 4

    #12 - Beyond the Brands with Adam Lewit

    In this week's episode, we sit down with Adam Lewit, founder of NovoFit, to hear how a $80,000 loan and a lot of nerve turned into one of Australia's leading commercial fitness distributors. Adam takes us back to the early days of Summit Fitness, the leap into commercial distribution through Sports Art, and the high-stakes bet on Precor that nearly broke the business before it made it. It's a conversation about risk, relationships and what it actually takes to earn the trust of global manufacturers. We cover: - The jump from home fitness retail to commercial distribution - What global brands actually look for when choosing a distributor - Building trust through relationships, not just contracts - Where the fitness industry is heading, from AI to the shift toward wellness Whether you're building a brand, managing supplier relationships or just want to hear what it takes to bring the world's best fitness equipment into the Australian market, Adam brings two decades of hard-earned lessons and a few good stories along the way. See you next time spotters. Adam's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-lewit-28319316/ NovoFit: https://novofit.com.au/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/mate-spot-me/id1825744433 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7bPjITT99fBLQ0DbyxhheV YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MateSpotMe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matespotme/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mate-spot-me/ #Podcast #FitnessPodcast #FitnessIndustry #Podcast #Australia

  5. Jul 20

    #11 - The Fitness Revo-lution with Kalen Coughlan

    In this episode of Mate, Spot Me, we sit down with Kalen Coughlan, Head of Fitness Operations at Revo Fitness, to unpack what it takes to build and scale one of Australia's fastest-growing gym brands. We dive into how Revo has stayed ahead of changing member expectations, why getting the basics right still wins, and how constant evolution has helped them grow to more than 70 clubs nationwide. We cover: - How Revo uses member feedback to shape every club - Why getting the fundamentals right beats chasing every trend - Lessons from opening clubs at an incredible pace across Australia - Building a strong team culture while scaling rapidly - The role branding, community and partnerships play in long-term growth Whether you're opening your first facility, expanding your network, or simply interested in what makes a high-performing gym business tick, Kalen hits us with plenty of practical insights from someone who's helped shape one of Australia's biggest gym success stories. See you next time mates. Kalen's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalen-coughlan-a0a626177/ Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/mate-spot-me/id1825744433 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MateSpotMe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matespotme/ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/mate-spot-me/

  6. May 14

    #10 - The Future of Wellbeing with Anna Davies

    In our 10th episode of the pod, we sit down with Anna Davies, Founder of Refined Wellness, to unpack how wellness is shifting from a premium add-on to an expected part of the fitness experience.We get into what it actually takes to commercialise wellness inside a gym environment, from understanding your member to building an offering that fits.We also explore how different markets are approaching wellness, why Australia is still finding its feet, and what operators can learn from global leaders across Europe, the US, and the Middle East.We cover: Why member demographic should drive every wellness decisionThe shift from one-off sessions to integrated membership tiersHow flow and layout impact the entire user experienceThe difference between recovery, longevity, and performance-led offeringsWhy perceived value in wellness is outpacing traditional gym modelsGlobal trends shaping the future of fitness and wellnessIf you’re trying to work out where wellness fits in your facility, this is a practical look at what’s working, what’s not, and where things are heading.Catch ya on the next one.Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast...YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MateSpotMe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/110233219 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matespotme/

  7. Apr 1

    #09 - The Crossfit Evolution with Ed Morrison

    In this episode, we sit down with Ed Morrison, Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand at CrossFit, to unpack what continues to make CrossFit relevant in an increasingly competitive fitness landscape. We explore the affiliate model, the balance between methodology and flexibility, and the realities of running a CrossFit business today. We also get into the evolution of CrossFit globally and locally, how the brand has matured over time, and the ongoing challenge of separating the sport from the everyday gym experience. We cover: Why service quality outweighs marketing and brandingThe role of methodology in building successful affiliatesRetention, community, and long-term member valueNavigating trends without losing your core offeringThe difference between CrossFit as a sport vs a training modelCatch you next time mates. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/mate-spot-me/id1825744433Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7bPjITT99fBLQ0DbyxhheVLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mate-spot-me/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matespotme/

  8. Feb 19

    #08 - Mates & Mindsets with Baz and Jez

    In this episode, we're bringing the pod back in-house with a chat between our esteemed hosts Barry and Jerram. They’re in the hot seat for this one, answering the questions and reflecting on their years running gyms, coaching, and building fitness businesses, unpacking the lessons that shaped how they think about the industry today. We also get into the trends that are front of mind for 2026 - how community‑based events and competition are taking off, the role of wellness and recovery in gym spaces, how strength‑focused training is sticking around, and what tech and innovation might actually look like in Aussie gyms this year. We cover: - Personal stories from starting out in gyms, PT, and club management - Lessons learned from transitioning from operators to industry leaders - How to stay grounded while growing a business and team - Reflections on trends, training philosophies, and fitness education - Insights on balancing life, fitness, and the high-pressure world of leadership That’s it from us, see you on the next episode. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/mate-spot-me/id1825744433 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7bPjITT99fBLQ0DbyxhheV LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mate-spot-me/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matespotme/

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About

This is a podcast developed within the fitness industry, designed to support those shaping it. Whether you’re on the gym floor, behind the desk, or somewhere inbetween, we dig into the real stories, challenges, and shifts shaping the world of fitness. Hosted by Barry McDonald and Jerram Newton at NovoFit, each episode features honest conversations with industry leaders, where we dig into what’s working (and what’s not) in the sector. Expect a few gems of knowledge you can take back to your business, and maybe a few you didn’t even know you needed. Produced by Henry Crowter for NovoFit.

Information

  • Creator
    NovoFit
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © NovoFit
  • Show Website
    Mate, Spot Me