Trainer HQ

Hosted by Trainer HQ

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Episodes

192

Latest episode

Nov 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

If you would like to rapidly increase profitability and learn what it takes to run a successful fitness business, then you’re in great hands. Trainer HQ provides a step-by-step proven system for building six and seven-figure fitness businesses.

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60 recent

November 5, 2026Episode 1901 hr 2 min

Stop Wasting Money on Meta Ads! Here's What Actually Works for PTs #190

Thinking about running Meta Ads to grow your personal training or online coaching business, but not sure where to start? In this episode of the Trainer HQ Podcast, Brad Sheppard sits down with Revel 'Rev' Loughlin , the Meta Ads strategist behind Trainer HQ's advertising campaigns, to unpack what it really takes to launch your first successful paid advertising campaign. With advertising costs rising and competition increasing, understanding what works has never been more important. Rev shares his practical approach to getting started, including why he recommends a $30 daily budget, how to test your ads every four days, and why your first month should be focused on learning what works for your business. In this episode, we cover: How to know whether your fitness business is ready for Meta Ads. Why $30 per day is Rev's recommended starting budget. The four-day testing strategy for finding winning ads. Why Talking Head videos are a great starting point for beginners. Meta lead forms vs landing pages, which should you use? Why generating cheap leads doesn't necessarily mean profitable advertising. The importance of following up with leads within five minutes. How to track the numbers that actually matter. Why educating your audience builds trust and improves conversions. How Rev's free AI assistant, RevyBot, can help you get started. Whether you're a gym-based PT, studio owner or online coach, this episode will help you understand how to approach Meta Ads with greater confidence and a clear strategy. BONUS: Try RevyBot Rev has created a free AI advertising assistant to help you plan campaigns, create ad scripts and troubleshoot your advertising. 👉 https://revelloughlin.com/rev-bot Want to build a more profitable fitness business? Discover how Trainer HQ helps personal trainers, studio owners and online coaches grow sustainable, successful businesses. 👉 https://lp.trainer-hq.com/business-blueprint-intro

October 22, 2026Episode 18948 min

From $2,600 to $6,000 a Week: The Gym Owner Who Had to Change FIRST! #189

What does it really take to more than double your gym business in just 18 months? For Jacob Weatherburn, owner of Apex Strength, the answer wasn't simply more marketing, more leads or longer hours. It started with changing the way he thought, operated and led his business. In this episode of the Trainer HQ Podcast, Brad Sheppard is joined by Trainer HQ Master Coach Ben Dulhunty for an inspiring conversation with Jacob about his journey from a self-confessed old-school PT to a confident, successful gym owner. With Ben coaching him throughout the journey, Jacob has grown Apex Strength from 55 to almost 120 members, increased weekly revenue from approximately $2,600 to as much as $6,000, and built a thriving family-focused fitness community. But the biggest transformation? Jacob himself. In this episode, we unpack: How Jacob's mum helped him get started with a $100,000 investment. Why personal growth came before business growth. The marketing mistakes that were holding him back. How he more than doubled his gym membership. Why retention and community are his biggest competitive advantages. The shift from being a busy PT to becoming a confident business owner. The sacrifices behind building a business while raising a young family. What's next for Apex Strength. If you're a personal trainer, gym owner or fitness entrepreneur who wants to build a better business without losing sight of what matters most, this is an episode worth hearing. Want to build a stronger, more profitable fitness business? Discover how Trainer HQ helps fitness professionals grow their businesses with expert coaching, systems and support. Visit https://lp.trainer-hq.com/gym-revenue-ceiling

October 15, 2026Episode 18859 min

Why Most Gym-Based PTs Struggle to Get Clients (And How to Fix It) #188

You're surrounded by hundreds of gym members, yet you're struggling to build your PT client base. Sound familiar? The problem might not be the number of opportunities you've got. It might be what you're doing with them. In this episode, Brad and Jason unpack the biggest mistakes gym-based personal trainers make when starting and growing their businesses inside commercial gyms. From relying too heavily on gym-generated leads and avoiding the gym floor, to poor follow-up, weak sales skills and not knowing their numbers, they reveal why some trainers struggle while others build thriving businesses in the exact same environment. They also explore how 30 potential opportunities could result in just 4 new clients, or as many as 18, depending on how effectively you manage and convert them. If you're a rent-based PT who wants more clients, better conversions and a business that doesn't rely entirely on the gym feeding you leads, this episode is packed with practical takeaways.

October 4, 2026Episode 18746 min

From $0 to $3K/Week in 10 Months: The Pure Shift Story #187

Braden and Cassie didn't start Pure Shift PT with a big client base, an established brand or years of online coaching experience. They started from zero. After launching in February, the early growth was slow. Around six months in, they had approximately nine clients. Then things started to click. By December, roughly 10 months after launching, Pure Shift had grown to 40 clients and $3,080 in weekly revenue . In this episode, Brad sits down with Braden and Cassie to unpack the real story behind that growth. They share the early doubts, their initial fear around sales, the challenge of building systems from scratch, learning to work together as husband and wife, raising two young daughters and building a business while Braden continued working 7-on/7-off in the mining industry. You'll also hear how Trainer HQ helped them establish the foundations, avoid costly mistakes and set goals that initially seemed almost impossible. Today, Pure Shift is a predominantly online coaching business helping busy mums lose weight, rebuild their confidence and create sustainable change. And their next goal is even more personal: continue growing the business so Braden can leave the mining industry and be home full-time with his family. A fantastic conversation about business, family, persistence and what can happen when you trust the process and keep putting in the reps.

September 4, 2026Episode 18652 min

The 5 Biggest Growth Bottlenecks for Gym & Studio Owners #186

Are you running a business, or have you just bought yourself a job? This is one of the biggest traps Brad & Jason see with gym and PT studio owners. You start as the coach. Then you become the salesperson, marketer, receptionist, cleaner, manager and everything else the business needs. And suddenly, the business can't grow unless you do more. In this episode, they break down 5 growth ceilings that can stop a gym or studio from moving to the next level: Being the business instead of building one Chasing memberships instead of chasing profit Unpredictable lead generation relying on referrals, walk-ins and hope The wrong team or trying to find another version of yourself Not knowing your numbers and making decisions without the data They also unpack sales, retention, systems, automation and what it really takes to move from being the person doing everything to becoming the person leading the business. If you're a gym or studio owner who's working harder but still feels stuck, there's a good chance one of these ceilings is holding you back. Success leaves clues. The question is, are you paying attention? Listen in.

August 30, 2026Episode 18541 min

From Leukemia to World Championships & a Thriving PT Business! #185

Yani is a two time Junior World Champion, Australian powerlifting champion and Australian bench press record holder. She has also built a hybrid coaching business reaching $19,500 per month , while still prioritising training, family, travel and lifestyle. Her journey includes being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at just 21, going through months of chemotherapy, rebuilding her strength and returning to elite competition. In this episode, Brad and Yani talk business growth, online coaching, sales, lifestyle design and the impact Trainer HQ has had on her journey. A great listen for any PT who wants to build a strong business without being consumed by it.

July 31, 2026Episode 18641 min

It's Not Your Strategy. It's Your Identity! #184

Most fitness business owners we know aren't short on strategy. They've done the courses, hired the coaches, built the plans. And yet the results plateau, the patterns repeat, and the breakthrough keeps feeling just out of reach. In this episode, Jason and Brad unpack what they've been building and testing through IGNITE Trainer HQ's flagship transformation event and the one shift that changes everything: identity. Not habits. Not tactics. Not another 90-day plan. Identity. They break down why behaviour change almost always fails without an identity shift underneath it, what "identity drag" actually looks like in a fitness business owner's day-to-day, and why pressure is the real test of whether anything has actually changed. They also open up about what they saw in the room at IGNITE Bali; the patterns, the breakthroughs, and what keeps showing up across every room they've ever run. And yes. they talk about what's coming next. IGNITE Queenstown 2028. Twenty years of Trainer HQ. And why this one is going to be different. If you've ever set a goal you didn't hit, or hit a goal and still felt like something was off, this one's for you.

July 17, 2026Episode 1831 hr 6 min

Why Some PT’s Grow..and Others Stay Stuck #183

After 16 months leading business growth at Trainer HQ, Peter Lucid has spoken with hundreds of fitness business owners through discovery calls and sales conversations. In this episode, he shares the biggest lessons he's learned about sales, leadership, human behaviour and what consistently separates high performers from everyone else. If you want to improve your ability to attract clients, have better conversations and grow your fitness business with confidence, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

July 1, 2026Episode 1821 hr 16 min

The $60 Million Exit: What Every Business Owner Needs To Know #182

Philip Di Bella built one of Australia's most recognised coffee brands before achieving a $60 million exit. In this conversation with Brad and Jason, he shares the lessons learned from decades in business, his philosophy on marketing and brand building, the incredible health transformation that saw him lose over 80kg, and his perspective on where Australia's economy is heading. If you're looking to grow your business with smarter strategy, not just more hustle then this episode is packed with practical insights every entrepreneur can apply. Looking for more insights from Philip Di Bella? Don't miss his previous Trainer HQ Podcast episode, where he shares more of the mindset, strategies, and experiences that have shaped his journey in business and leadership. 🎧 Listen next: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6KQ5xnc2jA272qRrDyZxeQ?si=dHzuwvHfQt2eWxJ_XP6fQA

June 24, 2026Episode 1811 hr 15 min

Sales Exposes Everything About You #181

What does it really take to become elite at sales? In this episode, Brad Sheppard, Jason Urbanowicz and Brad D unpack the habits, mindset, and lessons that separate top performers from everyone else. From mastering the fundamentals and embracing relentless practice to handling rejection, pressure, and self-doubt, this conversation explores what it really takes to perform at a high level in sales, business, and life. Brad D shares his journey from learning the craft of sales to leading teams and coaching hundreds of sales professionals, revealing the biggest mistakes beginners make, the traits of elite performers, and why your results should never define your identity. In this episode: • What separates elite salespeople from everyone else• Why practice is the foundation of mastery • The difference between influence and manipulation • How to handle rejection without losing confidence • Why sales exposes your strengths and weaknesses• The dangers of tying self-worth to your results • Understanding how people make decisions • The mindset required for long-term success Whether you're a coach, personal trainer, business owner, or sales professional, this episode is packed with practical insights and powerful mindset shifts that can help you perform at your best.