Fitness + Technology

Bryan O'Rourke: Fitness Industry Technology Council
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Welcome to the Fitness + Technology Podcast for club owners, operators, and fitness professionals! This show is your #1 trusted resource for the accelerating world of fitness technology. Each week, we bring you an expert interview with a global influencer at the crossroads of fitness and technology. You'll get the insights, tools, and inspiration you need to stay connected to the pulse of what matters most for your fitness business in the age of exponential technologies. This podcast is brought to you by the Fitness Industry Technology Council, who is mobilizing resources to drive the fitness industry forward, and representing leading companies and organizations to success through collaboration. This show is supported by Vedere Ventures, a boutique investment and advisory firm helping early mature and late stage enterprises succeed in a new era.

  1. 1d ago

    Winning Sales & Marketing Strategies With Alan Leach

    In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke welcomes Alan Leach, CEO and Director of Sales and Marketing at West Wood Club in Ireland. Alan has spent 35 years in the fitness industry, with deep expertise in sales management, sales training, digital marketing, direct marketing, and business growth. Alan is a former Chair and Director of the Health & Fitness Association (HFA). He was only the second non-U.S. chair in the organization's 50-year history, and he is a member of the Global Health and Fitness Alliance (GHFA). With a background in marketing, he has a proven record of delivering high-impact sales training and marketing strategies that consistently produce strong profits. As a sought-after international speaker and trainer, he has helped fitness clubs around the world improve their sales performance, marketing, and management. He has won multiple marketing awards competing against Ireland's top agencies, including an FIA award for fitness business marketing. His work in digital marketing, SEO, and copywriting has been featured in leading industry publications. Today, Alan joins Bryan to discuss the technology and business trends shaping the global fitness industry. Check out Beyond Activ Americas: https://beyondactiv.com/events/americas/ Check out FIT-C's 2026 Digital Pulse Report: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GTV2QT18 One Powerful Quote: 25:00: "The biggest threat to any fitness business is not your competition. The biggest threat to any fitness business is you." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:38: Bryan opens the interview by inviting Alan to share his background and career journey. 7:59: Alan shares his insights on current sales and marketing trends. 15:40: Bryan and Alan discuss how technology has shaped his business. 24:54: Alan offers his best advice to listeners. Bullet List of Resources: https://westwood.ie/ https://www.healthandfitness.org/ Guest Contact Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanleachmarketing/ https://x.com/SellFitness https://www.bryankorourke.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankorourke/ http://www.fittechcouncil.org/ https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163

  2. Sep 7

    The Human Revolution: Fitness, Purpose, & The World We Choose To Build With Bryan O'Rourke LIVE From Fitness Brasil

    In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke shares his presentation, "The Human Revolution: Fitness, Purpose, & The World We Choose to Build" live from Fitness Brasil Expo 2026 in São Paulo. Technology is rewriting what it means to be human. Bryan makes the case for the fitness industry's role in that moment and why it matters more than we think. An overview of Bryan's talk on The Human Revolution: https://bit.ly/HumanRevolution2026 Check out FIT-C's 2026 Digital Pulse Report: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GTV2QT18 One Powerful Quote: 49:26: "We cannot sacrifice our future at the altar of unrestricted technology." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 2:10: Bryan opens with the key drivers of modern human chaos. 7:48: Bryan addresses the opportunities and challenges facing the industry in the next 5 years. 15:47: Bryan lists how humanity's paleolithic emotions must evolve if we're going to build a better world together. 20:06: Bryan speaks on the progress and price necessary in finding our sense of direction. 28:15: Bryan highlights the interconnection of the UN Sustainable Development Goals connect to the fitness and wellness industry. 34:49: Bryan elaborates on trust and why humanity is held hostage by our paleolithic emotions.  42:40: Bryan highlights his concern for how humans are becoming more machine-like. 44:46: Bryan talks about shifting business models toward a sustainable economy.  49:13: Bryan explains the new era of leadership needed to inspire humanity and use technology to earn trust again. 56:04: Bryan recaps his presentation. Bullet List of Resources: https://www.fitnessbrasil.com.br/fitness-brasil-expo-2026/ https://bit.ly/HumanRevolution2026 Guest Contact Information: https://www.bryankorourke.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankorourke/ http://www.fittechcouncil.org/ https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163

  3. Sep 7

    Chaos To Connection: Rethinking Fitness For A World That Needs Us With Bryan O'Rourke LIVE From Fitness Brasil

    In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke shares his keynote, "Chaos To Connection: Rethinking Fitness For A World That Needs Us," recorded live at Fitness Brasil Expo 2026 in São Paulo. Bryan lays out a practical case for how operators and innovators can build businesses that meet people where they actually are. With technology rewriting what it means to be human, he argues that the fitness industry has a larger role to play in this moment than most of us realize — and explains why it matters. An overview of Bryan's talk on Chaos To Connection: https://bit.ly/ChaosConnection2026 Check out FIT-C's 2026 Digital Pulse Report: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GTV2QT18 One Powerful Quote: 44:35: "Chaos is just patterns that we don't understand yet, and it's our job as leaders to figure out what that means." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 2:40: Bryan opens by defining chaos and connection in an era of rapid change. 9:10: Bryan highlights the key drivers and opportunities of modern human chaos.  14:37: Bryan examines finance: capital becoming available in new ways and a maturing marketplace consolidating. 18:36: Bryan turns to experiences: shifting labor pools, automation, and redefined economics. 29:34: Bryan reframes technology: embracing change and using it as a tool for both experience and execution. 38:37: Bryan closes on people: working together with purpose to earn trust and collaborate humanly. 44:27: Bryan recaps his presentation.  Bullet List of Resources: https://www.fitnessbrasil.com.br/fitness-brasil-expo-2026/ https://bit.ly/ChaosConnection2026 Guest Contact Information: https://www.bryankorourke.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankorourke/ http://www.fittechcouncil.org/ https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163

  4. Aug 24

    Trends, Technology, & The Long View With Frank van de Ven

    In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke welcomes Frank van de Ven to the show. Frank recently retired as Chief Commercial and Chief Marketing Officer of Life Fitness, closing out a nearly three-decade run with the company that took him from EMEA Marketing Director to General Manager of Life Fitness Benelux, Managing Director for Continental Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and ultimately Vice President International, with responsibility for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Born in the Netherlands and a veteran of Philips and GE Plastics before entering the fitness industry, Frank spent the early 1990s as Commercial Director of High Five Health Promotion, where he built the franchise model that carried the brand into the commercial club market. He has served multiple terms on the board of EHFA (now EuropeActive), written columns for two trade publications, and presented at conventions across Europe. Today he advises a portfolio of companies —including HUR, One Beyond Success, Recharge Yourself, and Fold Reformer — and mentors emerging leaders across the sector. In this wide-ranging conversation, Bryan and Frank trade questions on trends, technology, and where the industry is heading. Check out FIT-C's 2026 Digital Pulse Report: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GTV2QT18 Learn more about Fitness Brazil 2026: https://www.fitnessbrasil.com.br/fitness-brasil-expo-2026/ Learn more about HFA's European Congress: https://hub.healthandfitness.org/european-congress One Powerful Quote: 18:46: "If you do what you get, you get what you got." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:34: Bryan opens the show, and Frank walks through his path into the fitness industry and the work he's focused on now. 10:42: Frank identifies the key trends shaping the market, and the ones the industry is overlooking. 18:40: Bryan asks how the competitive landscape is shifting as new ideas and products enter the space. 21:03: Frank shares his perspective on technology and the impact it's having across the industry. 23:59: Frank closes with the lessons he's taken from his career. Bullet List of Resources: https://foldreformer.com/ Guest Contact Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-van-de-ven-48b5974/ https://www.bryankorourke.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankorourke/ http://www.fittechcouncil.org/ https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163

  5. Aug 18

    The Truth About AI, Data, & Your Business With Dave Wright

    In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke welcomes back Dave Wright to the show. Dave is the Founder and Owner of MYZONE, a wearable technology and social platform that rewards effort in physical activity. MYZONE is ideal for boosting member retention in health clubs, building communities across networks, and aggregating data for an employer, sports team, school, or gym. Dave's background spans being a multi-club health club owner and the owner of Creative Fitness Marketing (CFM), a global company with offices in the UK, Australia, and North America that has served the international fitness community since 1990, helping people become more active and stay that way. In this wide-ranging, impromptu conversation, Bryan and Dave trade questions on the pros and cons of technology and artificial intelligence. Check out FIT-C's 2026 Digital Pulse Report: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GTV2QT18 Learn more about Fitness Brazil 2026: https://www.fitnessbrasil.com.br/fitness-brasil-expo-2026/ Learn more about HFA's European Congress: https://hub.healthandfitness.org/european-congress One Powerful Quote: 6:54: "If it's free, someone's making money out of your data." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 4:44: Bryan asks Dave to set the context for his latest thinking on AI and technology. 14:54: Bryan and Dave discuss a cautionary tale for companies that overlook the fundamentals. 23:26: Bryan and Dave share advice on the context and understanding needed to implement AI tools, from a real-world operator's perspective. 28:44: Dave shares the latest developments at MYZONE. Bullet List of Resources: https://www.myzone.org/ Guest Contact Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-wright-bbaa6110/ Dave@myzone.org https://www.bryankorourke.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankorourke/ http://www.fittechcouncil.org/ https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163

  6. Aug 11

    Simplify The Work & Amplify The Impact With JJ Creegan

    In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke welcomes JJ Creegan to the show. JJ is the Principal at Creegan Co., a firm that helps founders, operators, and investors scale multi-unit consumer brands. Over the past two decades, JJ has partnered with founder-led and private equity-backed businesses to take concepts from launch through institutional scale — growing brands to 100+ locations and leading global networks of 1,500+ sites that generate more than $1 billion in annual revenue. His focus is on value creation through revenue growth, retention, and customer experience, supported by disciplined operating models, franchise development, and high-performing leadership teams. JJ works closely with ownership groups and boards as a fractional or interim executive, advisor, or board member across the wellness, hospitality, leisure, and consumer services sectors. In this conversation, Bryan and JJ explore how technology and human connection can work together to drive growth in consumer brands. They discuss the trends reshaping the industry, the role of digital apps and wearables in elevating the member experience, and how delivery models are evolving to become more comprehensive. JJ also shares practical advice for aligning technology with in-person service and offers key takeaways for industry leaders looking to scale with discipline and purpose. Check out FIT-C's 2026 Digital Pulse Report: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GTV2QT18 Learn more about Fitness Brazil 2026: https://www.fitnessbrasil.com.br/fitness-brasil-expo-2026/ One Powerful Quote: 10:17: "Leveraging technology to simplify the work that needs to happen in person, and then amplifying the impact of it, is a really big opportunity for most brands today." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:20: JJ shares his career journey and his work as a fractional advisor. 7:30: JJ offers his observations on emerging trends across the industry. 9:48: JJ and Bryan discuss how business success depends on aligning technology with human integration. 13:42: JJ and Bryan examine the impact of technology through digital apps, wearables, and the member experience. 16:20: JJ and Bryan explore how delivery models are evolving to become more comprehensive. 20:16: JJ closes with his advice and key takeaways for industry leaders. Bullet List of Resources: https://www.jjcreegan.com/ Guest Contact Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjcreegan/ https://x.com/jjcreegan https://www.bryankorourke.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankorourke/ http://www.fittechcouncil.org/ https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163

  7. Aug 4

    Scaling Fitness Through People, Technology, & Leadership With Chris Smith

    In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke welcomes Chris Smith, President & CEO of Fitness World Canada. Over the past several years, Fitness World has experienced significant growth across British Columbia and is now entering its next phase with a $50 million national expansion strategy. The plan includes new corporate-owned locations and the launch of the company's first franchise program—an important milestone that reflects both the brand's momentum and the continued evolution of the fitness industry. Chris has spent more than 25 years in the fitness industry, witnessing its transformation from a niche offering into an essential part of how people live, work, and prioritize their health. Throughout his career, he has focused on building accessible, high-quality fitness experiences, developing strong teams, and creating scalable business models designed for long-term success. In addition to leading Fitness World, Chris has founded and scaled several complementary businesses, including the Personal Training Institute of BC and TRAIN by FW, the company's boutique fitness concept. He also serves as CEO of All Things Fitness & Wellness (ATFW), where he is known as the "Mayor of Smittyville"—a video-first podcast and content platform exploring the real conversations fitness professionals have about leadership, careers, and life inside the gym. In this conversation, Bryan and Chris discuss Fitness World's growth strategy, technology adoption, the importance of human capital, and the leadership principles shaping the future of the fitness industry. Check out FIT-C's 2026 Digital Pulse Report: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GTV2QT18 Learn more about Fitness Brazil 2026: https://www.fitnessbrasil.com.br/fitness-brasil-expo-2026/ One Powerful Quote: 8:49: "Don't under appreciate human capital." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 4:09: Chris shares his career journey and the growth story behind Fitness World Canada. 8:10: Bryan asks Chris which industry trends are currently being underestimated. 12:17: Chris discusses how technology has influenced both his leadership approach and business strategy. 15:03: Chris explains the most common mistakes organizations make when adopting new technology. 17:53: Chris concludes with his advice and key takeaways for fitness industry leaders. Bullet List of Resources: https://fitnessworld.ca/ https://www.atfw.ca/ Guest Contact Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-smith-1874138/ https://www.bryankorourke.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankorourke/ http://www.fittechcouncil.org/ https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163

  8. Jul 20

    Private Equity Trends Shaping The Fitness Industry With Jeremy Hirsch

    In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke welcomes Jeremy Hirsch, Head of Franchise & Multi-Unit Services at Houlihan Lokey, a leading global investment bank. Houlihan Lokey is recognized for providing independent strategic and financial advice to corporations, financial sponsors, and governments, with expertise spanning mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, financial restructuring, and valuation advisory services. In this conversation, Bryan and Jeremy explore the latest trends shaping private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic business decision-making across the fitness, wellness, and franchise industries. Check out FIT-C's 2026 Digital Pulse Report: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GTV2QT18 Learn more about Fitness Brazil 2026: https://www.fitnessbrasil.com.br/fitness-brasil-expo-2026/ One Powerful Quote: 21:08: "Data is the key to unlocking value." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:48: Jeremy shares his background in investment banking and the fitness industry. 7:40: Jeremy discusses the key trends driving mergers and acquisitions. 9:20: The conversation explores the industry's shift toward premium-value business models. 11:36: Jeremy explains how strength training, pilates, and other wellness modalities are influencing investment activity and deal flow. 16:17: Jeremy discusses how evolving consumer fitness habits are shaping broader business decisions. 18:13: Jeremy explains how technology stacks are evolving and how operators are rethinking customer relationship management (CRM) systems. 21:03: Jeremy closes by sharing his advice and key takeaways for industry leaders. Bullet List of Resources: https://hl.com/ Guest Contact Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-hirsch-b739b113/ https://www.bryankorourke.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankorourke/ http://www.fittechcouncil.org/ https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163

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About

Welcome to the Fitness + Technology Podcast for club owners, operators, and fitness professionals! This show is your #1 trusted resource for the accelerating world of fitness technology. Each week, we bring you an expert interview with a global influencer at the crossroads of fitness and technology. You'll get the insights, tools, and inspiration you need to stay connected to the pulse of what matters most for your fitness business in the age of exponential technologies. This podcast is brought to you by the Fitness Industry Technology Council, who is mobilizing resources to drive the fitness industry forward, and representing leading companies and organizations to success through collaboration. This show is supported by Vedere Ventures, a boutique investment and advisory firm helping early mature and late stage enterprises succeed in a new era.

Information

  • Creator
    Bryan O'Rourke: Fitness Industry Technology Council
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    220
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © FIT-C
  • Show Website
    Fitness + Technology

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