Future of Fitness

Verdine Baker - From StretchLab to iFLEX, Sequel Brands' Twist on Dynamic Stretching

In this episode, Eric Malzone chats with Verdine Baker, who shares his inspiring journey from being a professional athlete 🏅 to leading StretchLab and now iFlex. They dive into how the wellness industry is evolving 🌿, the remarkable success of StretchLab 💪, and why consumer education is key to lasting health and wellness awareness 📚. Verdine highlights the importance of innovation, technology integration, and franchisee support in meeting the growing demand for high-quality wellness services ⚙️. The conversation also explores the challenges brought by COVID-19 😷 and how the future of stretching is becoming a vital part of everyday health practices 🧘‍♂️. 💡 Key Takeaways 🌍 The wellness industry is experiencing a major shift in consumer mindset. 💪 StretchLab's success comes from its strong and unique market position. ⚡ COVID-19 accelerated the demand for wellness and recovery services. 🤝 Franchisee experience remains essential for sustainable growth. 💻 Technology integration enhances service quality and accessibility. 🧠 Consumer education fuels health and wellness awareness. 🧘 Stretching is becoming a necessity across all demographics. 👶 The average age of wellness consumers is getting younger. 🚀 Innovative approaches are key to keeping members engaged. 🌈 The future of wellness embraces a holistic view of health. https://connectedhealthandfitness.com/events/connected-health-fitness-summit-2026 https://www.perfectgym.com/en

Amber Burke - The Quiet Scale: Burn Bootcamp's Massive Growth Without the Noise

In this episode, Eric Malzone sits down with Amber Burke, COO of Burn Bootcamp, for a deep, candid conversation on what it really takes to scale a boutique fitness franchise without losing its soul. Amber shares her journey from Division I athlete and strength coach to C-suite leader, offering a rare operator's perspective on franchise growth, leadership, technology discipline, and community-driven fitness. They unpack Burn Bootcamp's steady rise from 250 to nearly 400 locations, why the brand has avoided outside capital, and how product integrity, people, and culture fuel long-term success. The conversation also explores the current state of boutique fitness, the balance between technology and human connection, and why strength training, accountability, and community remain timeless drivers of results. We discussed: 🔥 Scaling a boutique fitness brand from 250 to 400+ locations without outside capital 💪 Why product excellence and consistency matter more than hype in fitness franchising 🏋️ Personal training in a group setting as Burn Bootcamp's core differentiator 👩‍👧 How free child watch drives retention, accountability, and community 📈 Franchise growth challenges: finance, technology, and franchise development 🧠 Leadership lessons from transitioning coach mentality into executive leadership 🤖 Technology discipline: choosing tools that improve efficiency and profitability 🌍 Expansion strategy across suburban markets and future global growth 🔄 The real state of boutique fitness and why some concepts lose long-term value ⚡ Strength training's resurgence and why fundamentals never go out of style   LINKS: https://connectedhealthandfitness.com/events/connected-health-fitness-summit-2026  https://www.perfectgym.com/en  https://egym.com/int 

Brian Le Gette - Ammortal & The Future of "Human Vibrancy"

In this episode of the Future of Fitness, host Eric Malzone welcomes Brian Le Gette, co-founder of Ammortal. They dive deep into the inspiration, technology, and mission behind Ammortal's revolutionary wellness chamber—a futuristic device designed to enhance human vibrancy by synergistically working on the mind and body. Brian shares his entrepreneurial journey, the science behind stacking multiple bio-energetic modalities, and how Ammortal is transforming recovery and performance for professional athletes, high-net-worth individuals, clinics, and luxury hotels. The conversation also explores the evolving language of the wellness industry and Brian's vision for rebranding it around the concept of "human vibrancy." 🔋 Combines multiple bio-energetic modalities – light, PEMF, vibration, hydrogen gas, and guided audio – to reduce inflammation, open cell walls, and reduce oxidative stress. 🧠 Focuses on calming the nervous system first – because mental state is "upstream" from physical recovery and performance. ⚡ Delivers a time-efficient, immersive experience – all modalities run in parallel in a 25–30 minute session tailored to individual outcomes (sleep, energy, recovery, etc.). 🏟 Serving diverse verticals – from NFL and MLB teams to luxury hotels, med spas, and private homes. 💡 Built around "unconditional love for the customer" – a design and business philosophy aimed at creating products that feel personal, effective, and joyful to use. 🌍 Advocating for "human vibrancy" – a new industry-wide framing to move beyond terms like biohacking, longevity, or wellness toward a more holistic, aspirational vision. 🤝 Open to collaboration – Brian invites feedback, partnerships, and conversations with innovators, funders, and other mission-aligned brands.   https://connectedhealthandfitness.com/events/connected-health-fitness-summit-2026  https://www.perfectgym.com/en 

Robb Wolf - Why Market-Based Healthcare Is Fitness's Next Big Opportunity

In this episode, Robb Wolf returns to discuss the rapid advancements in AI, the state of the longevity and health industries, the impact of GLP-1 medications, and the systemic challenges within modern healthcare. He shares personal insights on using AI for language learning and health diagnostics, critiques the "majoring in the minors" in the longevity space, and explores how AI could democratize access to high-quality health information. Robb also delves into the potential of market-based reforms to address the healthcare crisis and gives an update on his company, LMNT. 🔹 **AI as a Personal Health & Learning Tool** – Robb uses Grok to learn Italian and as a preliminary health advisor, noting its potential to lower costs and democratize advanced medical insight. 🧠 **Longevity = Fundamentals First** – True longevity comes from strength training, Zone 2 cardio, sleep, sunlight, and community—not just chasing telomere length or exotic supplements. ⚕️ **GLP-1s: Net Positive with Caveats** – These drugs show strong appetite control benefits but can cause muscle wasting; combining them with protein and resistance training is key. 🏥 **Healthcare System Is Broken** – Robb argues for a return to catastrophic insurance paired with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and transparent, market-based pricing to incentivize health. 🩺 **Diagnostic Starter Kit for AI Health** – Start with genetic data (23andMe), basic metabolic panel, hormone profile, and optionally a DUTCH test—all under $300—to give an AI a baseline. 🌞 **Sunlight as Powerful Medicine** – Adequate sun exposure may reduce all-cause mortality as significantly as not smoking a pack a day. 🤖 **AI Could Replace "Meat-Bot" Doctors** – AI's pattern recognition and infinite memory may soon outperform human doctors in diagnostics, making functional medicine insights widely accessible. 💧 **LMNT & Electrolyte Research** – Robb's company is funding metabolic health research, including an upcoming ketogenic diet study for bipolar and schizophrenia at an Ivy League institution. 🔬 **Hidden Gut Issues Missed by Standard Tests** – Robb shares his own struggle with parasites and candida overgrowth that routine labs missed, highlighting the need for specialized testing.   LINKS:   https://connectedhealthandfitness.com/events/connected-health-fitness-summit-2026  https://www.perfectgym.com/en  https://egym.com/int 

Dr. Nestor Rodriguez - From Academic Medicine to Telehealth Scale: Carbon World Health's Medical-Fitness Integration Model

In this episode, Dr. Nestor Rodriguez joins Eric Malzone to unpack what the future of health, fitness, and medicine really looks like—and why the traditional healthcare model is falling short. Dr. Rodriguez shares the origin story of Carbon World Health, a fully integrated model that blends medical care, fitness, recovery, hormones, aesthetics, and longevity under one roof. Drawing from his background in emergency medicine, work with professional athletes, and experience inside broken hospital systems, he explains why we've normalized suboptimal health—and how data-driven, personalized care can change that. The conversation dives into hormones, labs, VO₂ max, recovery, peptides, telehealth, and why accountability matters more than any tool. They also explore the growing role of AI, the rise of longevity culture, and what true collaboration between the medical and fitness industries should look like moving forward. 🔥 Optimizing health instead of accepting "normal" is the real goal 🧠 Data matters more than trends—labs, body composition, VO₂ max, and recovery tell the real story 🏋️ Fitness works best when integrated with medical insight, not treated as an afterthought ⏱️ Consistency and accountability beat motivation every time 💉 Hormones and longevity tools only work when the foundation is right 🤝 The future of health depends on real collaboration between doctors and fitness professionals 📊 AI is a tool, not a replacement—context and expertise still matter 🗓️ Your calendar and habits reveal what you truly prioritize about your health   https://connectedhealthandfitness.com/events/connected-health-fitness-summit-2026 https://www.perfectgym.com/en https://egym.com/int