The Personal Trainer Mentor Academy Podcast

Nik And Ant - PTMA Podcast

Welcome to the Nik and Ant - PTMA Podcast. All things fitness, business, personal training, etc.

  1. Stop Expecting Clients Without Having Conversations

    5D AGO

    Stop Expecting Clients Without Having Conversations

    Ant and Nik are back for episode 292 — Skye's off in the trenches with clients (which is kind of the point). This one's a proper Q&A session covering the real stuff coaches deal with day to day. They get into how to handle negative client feedback without taking it personally, what's actually distracting coaches from growing their business (hint: it's your phone, and your lack of a proper schedule), and how to move existing online clients to a higher price point without torching the relationship. From there it's price objection handling done properly — no scripts, just curiosity — followed on into waitlist strategy, how to get your head back into marketing after a holiday, and the single most frustrating mistake coaches make when launching a front end offer: not talking about it enough, on enough platforms, for long enough. 🎟️ Client Conversion System — Live Virtual Event 15th & 16th April, 11am–12:30pm Covering the two things most coaches miss when it comes to acquiring clients — building an offer that actually stands out, and taking someone from cold to committed. Link here to book your free spot 📋 PTMA Accelerator — Next Intake On sale 13th April. If you want to be first in line, get your name down now. Link to register your interest here

    25 min
  2. Nobody Told You You'd Have to Run a Business Too!

    MAR 23

    Nobody Told You You'd Have to Run a Business Too!

    A wide-ranging Q&A episode covering the realities of building a coaching business from the practical (online technique checks, warming a waitlist, home vs commercial kit) to the deeply personal (the emotional grind of going self-employed, tying self-worth to income, and what it actually takes to succeed in a mentorship). Time Stamps 00:02 Intro & banter Ant takes over intro duties. Nik's book-corner background, Skye's eternal signal issues, and the inevitable chaos before the first question. 01:38 Checking online client technique All three agree: video is non-negotiable. Skye's process — record, cue, re-record. Ant makes the case for coaches leading on this rather than leaving it to client preference. Apps mentioned: Coach's Eye, Onform. 04:19 Warming a waitlist between launches Nik's framework: communicate regularly via email, WhatsApp or Facebook group; share high-value content; run a short challenge; use personal check-ins on a diary schedule. Volume + personal touch. 05:56 Home vs commercial equipment Quick answer: it's about expected usage volume, not just warranty. Kit built for home use isn't designed for gym-level wear. Insurance implications worth considering. 07:01 Qualities of coaches who succeed in mentorship Skye: resilience — the ability to try things, not get the return you expected, and try again rather than internalising it as personal failure. Nik: a genuine desire to run a business, not just coach — willingness to give something up (time, energy, comfort). Ant: the mindset shift from coach to business owner. Operational accountability, strategic thinking, treating your working week like a business. 12:48 Going self-employed — the real transition Ant: chopped 50% of revenue overnight with a young family. Hardest part was managing expectations while rebuilding. Skye: the graft is real but so is the excitement — worst-case scenario thinking as a coping tool. Both agree: the more operationally tight you get early, the faster it gets easier. 19:24 Is Instagram becoming redundant for selling? Nik: Instagram is a window, not a sales floor. Long-form content (YouTube, email) and personality are the real trust-builders now. People know when they're being sold to — the solution is to be genuinely visible and relatable, not louder. Instagram for awareness; everything else for depth. 21:45 Hardest part of the job Skye: managing yourself — the absence of a manager above you who tells you where to focus. Ant: the sheer cognitive load of holding the detail of every coach's business, personality and strategy simultaneously. Going from one person's completely different world to the next, hour after hour. 25:46 Podcast vs YouTube for long-form content Nik: podcast first — lower barrier, less friction, easier to get personality across. YouTube still worth it long-term but requires more investment in thumbnails, titles and editing to make it worthwhile. 27:01 If you had to replace your laugh with an animal noise... Nik goes chimpanzee. Skye lands on pig (owns the snort). Ant deliberates between horse and cow. Skye's verdict: if we can't tell if you're laughing or in pain, it doesn't count. 29:25 Relocating gyms — growing online coaching Ant: don't just rely on Instagram and email. Use the gym itself — workshops, events, local Facebook community groups. If footfall drops, your digital marketing has to diversify. The answer is more mediums, not more of the same one. 31:44 Limiting beliefs & tying self-worth to income Nik: don't try to remove the emotion — balance it with facts, actions and evidence that you're doing the right things. Skye: how you feel in the business matters as much as the numbers. Ant: patience with the process if the process is being followed — but if four weeks of consistent effort isn't moving the needle, something has to change.

    29 min
  3. The Podcast Episode Where We Actually Got Deep

    MAR 16

    The Podcast Episode Where We Actually Got Deep

    This week's roundtable gets real. Nik, Ant, and Skye dig into the questions coming in from coaches inside the Academy — covering podcasting, email strategy, YouTube, lead magnets, group coaching upsells, and one of the most honest conversations they've had about mental fatigue and managing life when everything hits at once. There's also some genuinely vulnerable career stories in the middle that are well worth a listen. Topics covered: Why podcasting is one of the best tools for getting your personality across — and what most people get wrong with itThe email frequency sweet spot (and why chasing five a week could actually hurt your launches)Raw, honest career low points from all three hosts — sponsorship falling through in Australia, opening a gym with the wrong partners, and building a business with no system and no safety netYouTube: why weekly is the right rhythm and what you need to think about beyond just uploadingThe fastest, most reusable lead magnet to drive people into a front-end offerHow to build a small group PT model inside a large group gym — and how to justify the price differenceManaging mental fatigue when a house move, business demands, and life are all happening at once TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Intro & episode overview00:47 — Podcast takeaways: getting personality across, shorter is better, commit to the CTA07:18 — How many emails per week? Quality over volume, 1–2 as a base, increase for launches09:21 — Toughest career moments: no systems, no safety net, losing sponsorship in Australia, gym partnerships going wrong19:01 — YouTube cadence: why weekly works and what actually makes it worth your while20:43 — Lead magnet ideas: linking it directly to your front-end offer (10-week challenge example)22:30 — Large group → small group coaching: how to build it, market it, and justify the higher price28:38 — Managing mental fatigue: strip back to non-negotiables, minimum effective dose, and when to just talk it out35:13 — Final thoughts & sign off

    33 min
  4. Your Clients Are Leaving Because of You — Not Your Programme.

    MAR 12

    Your Clients Are Leaving Because of You — Not Your Programme.

    Host Nik delivers a practical, self-reflective episode recorded from the gym. This episode challenges coaches to audit their own blind spots using a 10-question diagnostic, introduces the concept of coaching as a learnable skill requiring ongoing assessment, and previews a client re-engagement intervention method to be covered in depth in Episode 3. High performing coach Scorecard 00:02 Welcome & Context Nik introduces Episode 2, notes the gym setting, and flags this episode will be interactive — asking listeners to participate while they listen. 00:40 Self-Awareness as a Coach Core theme introduced: the importance of being self-aware as a coach. Nik teases a diagnostic tool linked in the description for a deeper blind spot assessment. 01:30 Coaching as a Skill Coaching reframed as an acquired skill, not an innate ability. Skill acquisition requires practice, feedback, and a continuous improvement loop. 02:00 Lack of Assessment in the Industry Challenges coaches to ask: 'Have I ever genuinely been assessed as a coach?' Argues that Level 3 qualifications test instruction, not coaching. 02:28 Defining Coaching Coaching defined as creating an environment where clients can make conscious decisions on their actions, behaviours, and goals. Coaches facilitate; they don't dictate. 03:30 The Cost of No Feedback Outlines the cascade effect of never being assessed: missed development → poorer client results → lower retention → less income and confidence. 04:40 The 10-Question Self-Assessment Nik introduces the scoring system (1 = Strongly Disagree, 5 = Strongly Agree, max score 50) and walks through all 10 questions. 10:00 Score Interpretation Breaks down what your score means: 40–50 rare depth, 30–39 strong but inconsistent, below 30 is a retention risk. 10:40 Free Diagnostic Tool Nik directs listeners to a free full diagnostic (link in description) — generates an immediate report with blind spots and actionable development areas. 12:00 Early Signs of Disengagement Bridges to the broader series theme: recognising when clients are starting to disengage, regress in adherence, or drift in the relationship. 12:50 Preview: Intervention Method Teases an intervention method used within the Connected Coach programme. Full verbal case study will be covered in Episode 3 with a question bank. Questions for the self assessment Statement What It Reveals 1 I can clearly articulate why a client is training beyond aesthetics and gym-based goals. Tests your ability to uncover the emotional 'why' behind surface-level goals. 2 I regularly check that a client's goals haven't subtly changed. Goals shift over time. Coaches who don't realign lose relevance and trust. 3 I regularly gather critical, unbiased feedback from clients. Testimonials aren't feedback. Are you proactively seeking honest critique? 4 A client could articulate the journey phases and milestones for the next 12 months. Measures whether clients feel a sense of direction and co-ownership of the plan. 5 I help clients see progress beyond scale weight, photos, and surface-level goals. Resilience in adherence depends on recognising non-aesthetic progress. 6 My clients understand why we do what we do. Understanding builds autonomy and reduces dependency on you to stay motivated. 7 I coach habits and behaviours — not just sessions and tick-box to-do lists. The difference between a trainer and a coach lives here. 8 Clients can describe how they've changed as a person since starting. Identity-level change is the strongest predictor of long-term adherence. 9 I adjust my coaching style to the individual, not my preferences. Everyone says yes — but without personality or communication assessments, how do you actually know? 10 I'm confident I'm not projecting my training values onto clients. Your relationship with fitness is not your client's. Projection erodes trust.

    16 min
  5. 4 Non-Negotiables Every PT Needs for Sales & Marketing (That Most Are Ignoring)

    MAR 9

    4 Non-Negotiables Every PT Needs for Sales & Marketing (That Most Are Ignoring)

    In this week's Q&A, Ant, Nik and Sky tackle some of the most pressing questions from personal trainers and online coaches — from front-end offer strategy and client consistency struggles, to the marketing non-negotiables for 2026 and the emerging myostatin inhibitor conversation. Packed with practical advice, honest takes and the usual banter, this one's essential listening for any coach serious about building a sustainable business. [00:05]  Cold open — dog provides the intro (accidentally) [00:41]  Welcome & housekeeping — Nik did his own solo pod last week and didn't invite anyone [01:07]  Q1: Front-end offer alternatives to a shred/short-term fat loss program [06:14]  Q2: How to handle clients who blame work and can't stay consistent [07:52]  Q3: Long-term client wants a break for financial reasons — how much should you flex your pause policy? [10:36]  Q4: Best advice for someone starting a business in this industry [13:00]  Q5: Do story viewers limit new signups — or is the message just not good enough? [16:03]  Q6: The three most important character traits of a great coach [17:54]  Q7: What area do coaches struggle with most — time management, sales, marketing, admin, delivery? [21:11]  Off-topic gold: Only foods starting with one letter of the alphabet for life — P, C or T? [24:09]  Q8: Non-negotiables for PT sales & marketing in 2026 [28:39]  Q9: Myostatin inhibitor injections — what are they, and how will they affect the fitness industry? [33:13]  Wrap-up Enjoyed this episode? Drop a question for next week's Q&A in the community. And if this helped you, share it with a coach who needs to hear it.

    26 min
  6. When Reality Doesn’t Meet Expectations: The Hidden Retention Killer

    FEB 28

    When Reality Doesn’t Meet Expectations: The Hidden Retention Killer

    Sunday 1st March at 7pm - JOIN THE LIVE RETENTION AND ADHERENCE EVENT HERE JOIN THE CONNECTED COACH HERE Retention doesn’t collapse overnight — it cracks quietly. In this solo episode, Nik breaks down why clients disengage, why adherence slips, and why churn is rarely about the program itself. He explores: Why reality not meeting expectations is the real retention killer The subtle early warning signs most coaches miss How confirmation bias and defensive coaching quietly sabotage results Why over-personalising and lack of future pacing creates uncertainty The difference between knowing behaviour change and being skilled at it If you’re repeating yourself, nagging clients, or watching check-ins shrink from paragraphs to one-word answers — this is for you. This episode is about fixing retention by fixing the coach first. Timestamps 00:00 – Why This Matters NowAdherence, coaching focus, and why retention cracks after Jan/Feb. 02:26 – Experience & Evidence (But Not Being Bound By It)70,000+ hours of coaching and the difference between theory and real-world application. 04:30 – What Coaching Actually Is (Our Definition)The Connected Coach definition: awareness, ownership, behaviour alignment, identity evolution. 07:14 – Why Adherence BreaksWhen reality doesn’t meet expectations. 09:43 – Early Signals of DisengagementShrinking check-ins, shifting energy, subtle churn signs. 11:24 – When Goals Start to ShiftRepeating yourself, nagging, over-directing. 13:20 – Onboarding MistakesSurface-level consultations and missing the emotional anchor. 15:42 – Hidden Causes of Retention ProblemsConfirmation bias, defensive coaching, lack of confidence. 18:29 – Over-Personalising & Poor Future PacingWhy clients need a clear journey and phased structure. 21:00 – What To Fix FirstOnboarding depth, client journey clarity, self-audit as a coach. 24:30 – The Connected Coach OverviewSix-month deep coaching development programme.

    27 min
  7. The Hard Truth About Growing a Coaching Business

    FEB 24

    The Hard Truth About Growing a Coaching Business

    This week’s episode moves between practical business advice and bigger industry conversations. The discussion covers managing lead flow properly (and why most coaches struggle with nurturing, not generating leads), how to create consistent conversations through structured outreach, and why simply “doing more posts” isn’t always the answer during a launch. There’s a deeper conversation around why the PT industry isn’t centralised or properly regulated — and why that’s unlikely to change due to low entry barriers and revenue-driven systems. The conclusion? Responsibility sits with the individual coach to raise their own standards. The episode also explores when to outsource (and why most coaches try to outsource too early), whether buying other coaches’ programmes is a smart move, and what actually counts as long-term achievement in business. It finishes with details on the upcoming Connected Coach intake a six-month coaching development programme focused purely on improving coaching ability, confidence, retention, and delivery. 00:39 – Academy capacity & what happens when it’s full 02:11 – Managing a high volume of leads properly 07:10 – Why the PT industry isn’t regulated 11:43 – Biggest achievement so far 14:28 – How to generate more conversations (KPIs & outreach) 18:56 – Quarterly events: who they’re for 19:32 – Is 5 emails + 5 posts enough for a launch? 22:02 – When to outsource (and when not to) 26:37 – Should you buy other coaches’ programmes? 29:48 – The Connected Coach intake (what it is & who it’s for)

    27 min
  8. The Last 2 Weeks of Sales: Daily Actions That Actually Move Sign-Ups

    FEB 18

    The Last 2 Weeks of Sales: Daily Actions That Actually Move Sign-Ups

    Ant and Sky rip through a stack of proper coach questions — the ones that actually hit when you’re running a PT business and your brain won’t switch off. It starts with a laugh (and Sky oversharing about combat sports hygiene), then gets into the real stuff: how to stop living in “next week”, the simple system for onboarding online clients, what to measure instead of more money, how to protect your income when you’re ill or having surgery, and why every coach should start a podcast yesterday. Second half turns into a coaching masterclass: the real difference between trainer vs mentor vs coach, when adherence strategies stop working (and how to have the hard conversation), how to maximise the last 2 weeks of a sales period, what to do when gym rent feels heavy, fastest ways to add £1k, books worth reading, and how to handle the guilt of wanting time off while being self-employed. 00:00 – 02:12 | “No Nik. No filter. Let’s go.” Banter + setting the tone (and why it’s just Ant & Sky today). 02:12 – 07:34 | “You’re not behind… you’re just not reviewing.” How to enjoy the present when you’re buried in planning + why reviews stop the endless chase. 07:34 – 09:09 | “Important business question: Chinese vs Indian.” Light reset + personality. 09:09 – 11:17 | “The simplest system to manage online clients (without the chaos).” Pre-screen → book → consult → payment → onboarding flow. 11:17 – 14:12 | “Stop chasing more money. Measure this instead.” Retention, length of stay, lifestyle metrics (weekends/evenings), plus: never stop lead flow. 14:12 – 18:42 | “If you get ill (or need surgery): here’s how you don’t lose everyone.” Setting expectations, stepping clients down, moving in-person online, and adapting delivery. 18:42 – 20:47 | “Start the podcast. You won’t regret it.” Serve your audience, make it you, and use it as the content engine. 20:47 – 27:18 | “Trainer vs Coach: the line everyone argues about.” Trainer = tell/instruct, mentor = advise/suggest, coach = guide/self-awareness/autonomy. 27:31 – 31:05 | “When adherence strategies stop working… what now?” The ‘evidence + difficult convo’ framework and recognising when it’s just not the right time. 31:05 – 35:36 | “Last 2 weeks of a sales period: do this daily.” Daily posts, stories + email frequency, objections, “borrowed questions”, DMs, activations. 35:36 – 36:52 | “Gym rent: there’s no magic percentage.” It’s ROI. What do you get back for what you pay? 36:52 – 40:50 | “Need £1k this month? Lowest hanging fruit.” Product/service options: front-end offer, resources, short courses, or one high-touch premium client. 40:53 – 42:53 | “Books for coaches (and why fitness books aren’t enough).” MI, The Conscious Coach, Change Maker + learn psychology/behaviour change. 42:53 – 47:38 | “Guilt, time off, and the self-employed trap.” Work blocks, clarity of goals, consequences, and why anxiety often = missed actions.

    41 min
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Welcome to the Nik and Ant - PTMA Podcast. All things fitness, business, personal training, etc.

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