PT Launch Lab — The UK Personal Trainer Podcast

Callum Brown and Ryan Robinson | PT Launch Lab
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  • FITNESS

The UK's podcast for aspiring and working personal trainers. Ryan Robinson and guests on becoming a personal trainer, NCFE Level 3 PT qualifications and building a PT business in the UK. Hosted by Callum Brown and Ryan Robinson (founder of Ultimate Shred Academy and PT Launch Lab), each episode features real career-change stories, business advice from gym owners and coaches, and honest answers about NCFE Level 3 qualifications, building a PT business, and surviving the fitness industry. Whether you're thinking about becoming a personal trainer, just qualified, or scaling an existing PT business — this podcast is for you. Take the PT career quiz: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/quiz Book a call: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/book-call

  1. MAY 4

    Ridge Holland: From WWE to Online Personal Trainer

    Ridge Holland (real name Luke Menzies) sits down with Miles to tell his honest story — from being a Yorkshire rugby league prop forward to becoming a WWE Superstar, surviving career-threatening injuries, the controversial Big E incident, and life after his WWE release in November 2025. Now based near Orlando, Florida, and coaching online clients, Luke shares hard-won wisdom on training in your late 30s, recovering from major surgery, and what the fitness industry needs to stop doing. ――――――――――――――― ⏱ CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome Luke Menzies 01:10 Yorkshire to WWE 04:43 Released and Reinventing 06:12 WWE Tryout Mindset 08:08 Inside Performance Center 09:04 Finding Ridge Holland 11:32 Heel Character Challenges 12:44 Match Psychology Secrets 14:21 Planning TV Matches 16:26 Big Names and Austin 17:51 Training Week Breakdown 20:01 Look Standards and Safety 22:36 Life on the Road 24:03 Injuries and Comebacks 26:39 Career Derailed by Accident 27:53 Rebuilding Confidence in NXT 28:46 TNA Match Foot Injury 29:29 Neck Surgery and Recovery 30:15 Training Philosophy at 38 33:01 Biggest Training Mistakes 35:00 Programming for Longevity 39:32 Client Tracking and Coaching 42:12 Fitness Industry Grifters 46:00 Advice for New Coaches 48:38 Life Now and Future Plans 50:40 Where to Find Luke 51:29 Final Reflections and Goodbye ――――――――――――――― 🎯 Thinking about becoming a personal trainer? Take the free PT career quiz: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/quiz 📞 Ready to start? Book a call: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/book-call 🎓 NCFE Level 3 Personal Trainer Course: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/courses ――――――――――――――― About the guest: Luke Menzies (born 29 May 1988, Liversedge, West Yorkshire) wrestled professionally as Ridge Holland for WWE from 2018 to November 2025. A former British Rugby League prop forward who played for Batley Bulldogs, Salford Red Devils, Toronto Wolfpack and others (150 matches, 13 tries), he transitioned to wrestling after being released from Salford. In WWE he was part of the Brawling Brutes faction with Sheamus and Butch (Pete Dunne), and won the NXT Tag Team Championship with Andre Chase in August 2024. ――――――――――――――― Follow PT Launch Lab: Instagram: @ptlaunchlab TikTok: @pt.launch.lab YouTube: @ptlaunchlab Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUaye0j8p34 #RidgeHolland #LukeMenzies #WWE #RugbyLeague #PersonalTrainer #PTLaunchLab #YorkshireWrestler #BigE #WWERelease #PersonalTrainerUK #FitnessBusiness #NCFELevel3 🎯 Thinking about becoming a personal trainer? Take the free PT career quiz: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/quiz   📞 Ready to start? Book a call: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/book-call   🎓 NCFE Level 3 Personal Trainer Course: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/courses Follow PT Launch Lab: Instagram: https://instagram.com/ptlaunchlab TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@pt.launch.lab   YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ptlaunchlab   #PTLaunchLab #PersonalTrainer #BoxingCoach #AddictionRecovery #FitnessUK

    53 min

  2. MAY 4

    From Addiction to Full-Time Boxing Coach (Pembo's Story)

    In this video, Ryan is joined by Pembo – a full-time boxing coach, community motivator, and founder of Pembo’s Boxing & Fitness. In this raw and powerful conversation, Pembo shares his transformation story: from the army and addiction, through rock bottom moments, to finding purpose through coaching, sobriety, and building a supportive fitness community. This episode dives into his time at Golden Team, his energy at Burns Bootcamp, and the creation of his own app to support others going sober. Find out how fitness became the anchor for change and how Pembo’s mission now is to help others shift from an average to a savage mindset.   ――――――――――――――― 🎯 Thinking about becoming a personal trainer? Take the free PT career quiz: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/quiz   📞 Ready to start? Book a call: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/book-call   🎓 NCFE Level 3 Personal Trainer Course: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/courses ――――――――――――――― Follow PT Launch Lab: Instagram: @ptlaunchlab | TikTok: @pt.launch.lab | YouTube: @ptlaunchlab   Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpESntFMy0w 🎯 Thinking about becoming a personal trainer? Take the free PT career quiz: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/quiz   📞 Ready to start? Book a call: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/book-call   🎓 NCFE Level 3 Personal Trainer Course: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/courses Follow PT Launch Lab: Instagram: https://instagram.com/ptlaunchlab TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@pt.launch.lab   YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ptlaunchlab   #PTLaunchLab #PersonalTrainer #BoxingCoach #AddictionRecovery #FitnessUK

    33 min

  3. APR 30

    Why In-Person Personal Training Will Be AI-Proof (Sohail Rashid)

    In this video, The hosts interview Sohail, founder and CEO of Brawn, about his journey from property law and PropTech (including building an early Facebook property marketplace and later View My Chain) into competitive powerlifting and then fitness tech. He explains how powerlifting shaped his identity and taught transferable lessons for business—planning, patience, handling setbacks, and especially resilience. Brawn started as a social platform for strength athletes, then pivoted during COVID into a virtual events platform used by major federations and brands, before shifting post‑COVID toward making strength training more inclusive by improving gym onboarding and access to coaching. Sohail argues in‑person personal training is “AI‑proof,” driven by growing demand for strength training, and outlines Braun’s AI onboarding and sales tools that match new members to PTs and book sessions. He also discusses GLP‑1s, peptides, TRT, and connecting users to gyms and coaches.   ――――――――――――――― 🎯 Thinking about becoming a personal trainer? Take the free PT career quiz: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/quiz   📞 Ready to start? Book a call: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/book-call   🎓 NCFE Level 3 Personal Trainer Course: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/courses ――――――――――――――― Follow PT Launch Lab: Instagram: @ptlaunchlab | TikTok: @pt.launch.lab | YouTube: @ptlaunchlab   Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZHxWBvBYrw 🎯 Thinking about becoming a personal trainer? Take the free PT career quiz: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/quiz   📞 Ready to start? Book a call: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/book-call   🎓 NCFE Level 3 Personal Trainer Course: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/courses Follow PT Launch Lab: Instagram: https://instagram.com/ptlaunchlab TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@pt.launch.lab   YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ptlaunchlab   #PTLaunchLab #PersonalTrainer #BoxingCoach #AddictionRecovery #FitnessUK

    1h 18m

  4. APR 16

    Royal Marines & Afghanistan to Personal Trainer (Industry Truth)

    Jerome Scherrer spent his teenage years and most of his 20s in the Royal Marines. When he left, he spent four years working for the American government in Afghanistan. Then he became a personal trainer. In this episode, Jerome breaks down the philosophy he's built over years of coaching — and pulls no punches on what's wrong with the fitness industry, why most PTs are still winging it, and what it actually takes to build a coaching career worth having.   ――――――――――――――― 🎯 Thinking about becoming a personal trainer? Take the free PT career quiz: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/quiz   📞 Ready to start? Book a call: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/book-call   🎓 NCFE Level 3 Personal Trainer Course: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/courses ――――――――――――――― Follow PT Launch Lab: Instagram: @ptlaunchlab | TikTok: @pt.launch.lab | YouTube: @ptlaunchlab   Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5SsHmySSEs 🎯 Thinking about becoming a personal trainer? Take the free PT career quiz: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/quiz   📞 Ready to start? Book a call: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/book-call   🎓 NCFE Level 3 Personal Trainer Course: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/courses Follow PT Launch Lab: Instagram: https://instagram.com/ptlaunchlab TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@pt.launch.lab   YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ptlaunchlab   #PTLaunchLab #PersonalTrainer #BoxingCoach #AddictionRecovery #FitnessUK

    48 min

  5. APR 14

    Council Estate to Dizzee Rascal Stage — Now a Personal Trainer

    What do you do when you've achieved everything you set out to — and it still doesn't feel like enough? Kav grew up on a Leeds council estate, chased a football career, joined the Army with no qualifications, built a music career from TikTok freestyles up to performing in front of thousands alongside Dizzee Rascal — and then found himself going nowhere fast.   ――――――――――――――― 🎯 Thinking about becoming a personal trainer? Take the free PT career quiz: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/quiz   📞 Ready to start? Book a call: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/book-call   🎓 NCFE Level 3 Personal Trainer Course: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/courses ――――――――――――――― Follow PT Launch Lab: Instagram: @ptlaunchlab | TikTok: @pt.launch.lab | YouTube: @ptlaunchlab   Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnsAYYOpshg 🎯 Thinking about becoming a personal trainer? Take the free PT career quiz: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/quiz   📞 Ready to start? Book a call: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/book-call   🎓 NCFE Level 3 Personal Trainer Course: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/courses Follow PT Launch Lab: Instagram: https://instagram.com/ptlaunchlab TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@pt.launch.lab   YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ptlaunchlab   #PTLaunchLab #PersonalTrainer #BoxingCoach #AddictionRecovery #FitnessUK

    40 min

  6. APR 13

    What 90% of Blood Tests Reveal (What Personal Trainers Should Know)

    Private blood testing is changing what personal trainers and gym-goers can know about their own health — and the results might surprise you. In this episode, Callum sits down with James, paramedic and co-founder of MyMedic Healthcare, to talk about why private health screening matters, what blood tests actually flag up, and why feeling good doesn't mean everything's fine internally.   ――――――――――――――― 🎯 Thinking about becoming a personal trainer? Take the free PT career quiz: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/quiz   📞 Ready to start? Book a call: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/book-call   🎓 NCFE Level 3 Personal Trainer Course: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/courses ――――――――――――――― Follow PT Launch Lab: Instagram: @ptlaunchlab | TikTok: @pt.launch.lab | YouTube: @ptlaunchlab   Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4h2p1eE_Qw 🎯 Thinking about becoming a personal trainer? Take the free PT career quiz: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/quiz   📞 Ready to start? Book a call: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/book-call   🎓 NCFE Level 3 Personal Trainer Course: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/courses Follow PT Launch Lab: Instagram: https://instagram.com/ptlaunchlab TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@pt.launch.lab   YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ptlaunchlab   #PTLaunchLab #PersonalTrainer #BoxingCoach #AddictionRecovery #FitnessUK

    44 min

  7. JAN 31

    Building a Martial Arts Gym Business from Scratch (Ty Harrison)

    In this video, Callum and Ryan sit down with Ty Harrison – founder of Sengoku Martial Arts, lifelong martial artist, and one of the most respected names in the Yorkshire fight scene. From his early days training under his dad to launching his own martial arts academy, Ty shares the story behind the Sengoku brand, how he grew a thriving kids and adults programme, and his mission to create a family-first martial arts culture. The trio explore the realities of coaching vs competing, creating a syllabus for combat sports, why ego-free training matters, and how martial arts can build confidence in kids and adults alike. Ty also talks openly about his plans to expand Sengoku across Yorkshire and the mindset behind long-term business sustainability in martial arts.   ――――――――――――――― 🎯 Thinking about becoming a personal trainer? Take the free PT career quiz: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/quiz   📞 Ready to start? Book a call: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/book-call   🎓 NCFE Level 3 Personal Trainer Course: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/courses ――――――――――――――― Follow PT Launch Lab: Instagram: @ptlaunchlab | TikTok: @pt.launch.lab | YouTube: @ptlaunchlab   Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgDP_hoObwM 🎯 Thinking about becoming a personal trainer? Take the free PT career quiz: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/quiz   📞 Ready to start? Book a call: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/book-call   🎓 NCFE Level 3 Personal Trainer Course: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/courses Follow PT Launch Lab: Instagram: https://instagram.com/ptlaunchlab TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@pt.launch.lab   YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ptlaunchlab   #PTLaunchLab #PersonalTrainer #BoxingCoach #AddictionRecovery #FitnessUK

    45 min

  8. JAN 27

    World-Class Dancer to Yoga Studio Owner: Laura's Fitness Career

    In this video, Ryan sits down with Laura, founder of Vibe Yoga in Pontefract, to explore her inspiring transition from world-class dancer to passionate yoga teacher and wellness advocate. Laura opens up about her competitive dance career, the injury that changed her path, and how that journey led her to launch a unique, dynamic yoga studio above Glossy Salon in the heart of town. They talk business plans, community building, hybrid yoga formats, wellness retreats, and how movement became her method of healing — physically and mentally. Whether you’re a PT, yoga lover, or someone on the edge of a life pivot, this conversation is filled with raw truth, laughter, and insight into the power of purpose-driven business.   ――――――――――――――― 🎯 Thinking about becoming a personal trainer? Take the free PT career quiz: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/quiz   📞 Ready to start? Book a call: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/book-call   🎓 NCFE Level 3 Personal Trainer Course: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/courses ――――――――――――――― Follow PT Launch Lab: Instagram: @ptlaunchlab | TikTok: @pt.launch.lab | YouTube: @ptlaunchlab   Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8t9nC2HxOM 🎯 Thinking about becoming a personal trainer? Take the free PT career quiz: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/quiz   📞 Ready to start? Book a call: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/book-call   🎓 NCFE Level 3 Personal Trainer Course: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/courses Follow PT Launch Lab: Instagram: https://instagram.com/ptlaunchlab TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@pt.launch.lab   YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ptlaunchlab   #PTLaunchLab #PersonalTrainer #BoxingCoach #AddictionRecovery #FitnessUK

    43 min
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About

The UK's podcast for aspiring and working personal trainers. Ryan Robinson and guests on becoming a personal trainer, NCFE Level 3 PT qualifications and building a PT business in the UK. Hosted by Callum Brown and Ryan Robinson (founder of Ultimate Shred Academy and PT Launch Lab), each episode features real career-change stories, business advice from gym owners and coaches, and honest answers about NCFE Level 3 qualifications, building a PT business, and surviving the fitness industry. Whether you're thinking about becoming a personal trainer, just qualified, or scaling an existing PT business — this podcast is for you. Take the PT career quiz: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/quiz Book a call: https://ptlaunchlab.co.uk/book-call

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