HALO Talks

In this episode, host Pete Moore sits down with Marco Ferdinandi, a fitness industry expert with a rich career spanning New Jersey to Hong Kong. Marco discusses his journey from being a strength and conditioning coach to founding AQ Strong, a brand focused on athletic wellness in Hong Kong. The conversation also dives into his experience with flywheel training and its benefits, including its roots in NASA research. Marco shares insights on the challenges and rewards of starting a business abroad, his vision for the future of fitness, thoughts on price-to-value in the industry, and his ambitions to make flywheel training a standard in fitness facilities. On starting slowly and building from the ground up, Marco states, "We had an angel investor that contributed the bulk of what we needed to get started. But we started small. We just started with education for the first six months. Once we had a critical mass of people interested, then we went and took the leap into a full fledged facility, which was 10,000 squ

Today we're excited to bring back Brian Anderson, a seasoned executive and entrepreneur who has worked in all parts of the HALO sector. Brian shares his unique journey from running successful companies to becoming a fractional CEO, mentor, board member, and advisor across industries including fitness, wellness, female sexual health, and even the THC-infused beverage space. Brian provides insights into his approach to transforming businesses, focusing on shareholder value, and shares stories of his roles with companies like Pvolve and Your Reformer.  Known for his ability to transform and enhance business value, he consistently led companies valued between $50 million and $150 million. Brian specialized in working with private equity firms, successfully navigating these companies through growth phases and lucrative exits. His career has been defined by long-term commitments, where he devoted four to five years to each project, driving significant growth and benefiting shareholders. When it comes to the shift f

On today's episode, host Pete Moore welcomes Troy Taylor, Senior Director of Performance Innovation for Tonal. With a deep background in elite sports, Troy shares his journey from working with Olympic teams to transforming training methodologies at Tonal. We dive into discussions on the importance of both strength and cardio, the intricacies and challenges of training elite athletes, and how technological advancements in fitness are shaping the future. Whether you're a fitness enthusiast or a professional in the industry, this episode is packed with insights on optimizing performance and longevity. Taylor boasts an impressive 20-year career in the elite sports arena, contributing to the success of three different Olympic teams: Great Britain, Canada, and the USA. Over the course of seven Olympic Games, he has worked across approximately 10-11 different sports in roles including sports scientist, strength and conditioning coach, and physiologist. Taylor's pinnacle role was as the Performance Director for US Sk

Today, we're excited to welcome RJ Krone, President of Extraordinary Brands, to the show. RJ has an impressive background with nearly 20 years in franchising, including leading roles at Pvolve and others. Since joining the team, he's spearheaded the acquisition of three dynamic boutique fitness franchises: Eat the Frog, RowHouse, and Neighborhood Bar. In this episode, RJ shares his philosophy on criteria for awarding franchises, focusing on profitability, and the unique benefits of a diversified fitness portfolio. He also delves into the importance of maintaining the identity of each brand while ensuring seamless operational and marketing support.  Krone's journey into the fitness industry began serendipitously in 2019 when Julie Cartwright from Pvolve introduced him to their innovative online and on-demand fitness modality. He saw potential in transforming this digital concept into a brick-and-mortar franchise and, after several in-depth conversations, Krone embraced the opportunity and officially joined Pvo

Today, we’re diving into the pickleball world (perhaps you've heard of it?) ;) with David and Sam Ring. Join host Pete Moore as we talk about the Rings’ grassroots effort to open PickleballXpo, a state-of-the-art pickleball club in Oceanside, Long Island. David, a former consumer electronics executive, and his son Sam have turned a once-forgotten sports complex into a thriving pickleball venue, complete with professional court design, a smoothie bar, and more.  David recently transitioned out of a 46-year career into becoming a new business owner, spurred on by his wife (an enthusiastic player herself) who noticed his restlessness after retirement. Eight months ago, he seized on a great piece of real estate with ample parking and high ceilings and--recognizing a gap in the local market with only one distant competitor who lacks adequate parking--David made the jump.  Dave and Sam discuss self-funding the venture, the unique features of their facility, and the pivotal role of data analytics in their model. Fro

In this episode, host Pete Moore sits down with longtime friend and former investment banker, Patrick Sandone. Sandone has a diverse background in private equity, venture capital, and entrepreneurship. After earning his MBA from Columbia, he ventured into his family's automotive business, but quickly realized his true passion lay elsewhere. He eventually moved on to the firm DLJ, and eventually shifted into entrepreneurship to create the transformative GUIDE App. Designed to aid first responders, military personnel, veterans, and others in high-stress professions, GUIDE provides anonymous support, microlearning, community interaction, and wellness practices aimed at building resilience and promoting mental and emotional well-being. Listen not to learn how his own experiences and passion for personal development fueled the creation of GUIDE and the significant impact it’s already making. Regarding the critical importance of anonymity, Sandone states, "If you're in some of these professions that may have a real

Thanks for your interest in HALO Talks! You've found the best (and longest running!) podcast on the business-to-business ("B2B") side of the HALO sector. (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) Whether you work at a health club (in any capacity!) or you're covering it in the financial services sector as an Analyst to Managing Partner, you'll glean incredible value from each 30 minute episode.   Pete Moore is the host, Founder, Managing Partner, and Chief Dream Architect at Integrity Square ("ISQ"), a leading boutique financial advisory firm focused on the $6.2T HALO space.  Since founding ISQ in 2010, the firm has played an active advisory role in 100+ mergers & acquisitions, private placements and advisory assignments across North America. Pete Moore and his team have also invested in passionate entrepreneurs at HigherDOSE, XTEND, and Promotion Vault.  ISQ's media and "live education" properties include HALO Talks, Time To Win Again, and the HALO Academy, an Executive Education Bootcamp Series. Prior to ISQ

In this episode, host Pete Moore moderates a panel discussion with key leaders from CR Fitness Holdings, one of the largest franchisees in the Crunch Fitness chain. At the time of this recording, they were at 70 locations, "Planning to finish up the year around 75 locations if all falls into place, and next year looking at another 12 to 15", states COO Peter Constantino. He goes on to challenge traditional gym models and share insights on personalization in high-volume, low-price (HVLP) clubs. Alyssa D’Aquino, VP of Group Fitness emphasizes tailoring services to fit member needs, and Julian Torok, VP of Sales, drives home the importance of team member engagement which carries over into a positive member experience. Jaci Petrock, VP of New Club Openings reveals exciting new developments in Crunch's facilities, from hydromassage to cryoloungers and touches on their growth plans for 2025 and beyond. Finally Darrick Druce, VP of Personal Training highlights the need for adaptability and risk-taking in today’s fit

Lisa Semerly's professional journey began in pharmaceutical sales, where she excelled working for Merck, specializing in respiratory care for over a decade. Seeking a change, Lisa took a buyout and ventured into the wellness arena by opening her own medical spa, a move that allowed her to blend her pharmaceutical insights with a passion for natural health. After nearly five successful years managing her spa, Lisa crossed paths with Steve Spiro (CEO) and was immediately impressed with the company and numerous uses of salt therapy for enhanced respiratory and overall health. Starting as a consultant, she swiftly transitioned into a full-time sales role. Demonstrating exceptional leadership and sales acumen, Lisa ascended to the position of Chief Revenue Officer. She has since been a driving force at Halotherapy Solutions for a decade, contributing significantly to the company's growth and success. Lisa and Pete also chat about collaborations with leading fitness clubs and spas, revealing not only how they can b

Today's episode will be a movie one day! Siavash Fashi's extraordinary story of resilience, ambition, and success is truly remarkable. His journey from the war-torn streets of Iran to the vibrant fitness community of Culver City is incredible. He went from being a young lifter inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger to a determined refugee navigating the turbulent streets of England and eventually the challenging landscapes of America.  Fashi's passion for fitness and bodybuilding started as a teenager. At around 18, he often visited a wrestling gym and lifted weights with whatever resources he could find. (Bodybuilding was illegal in Iran back in his days!) Despite the challenges of lacking proper nutritional knowledge and language barriers, he remained all in. He trained his entire body daily, driven by inspiration from fitness images and the scant, often incorrect information he could access. With grit and unwavering determination, Siavash founded Six Pack Gym, a thriving hub in Culver City, CA where he's not on

In this episode, we're talking with Peter Webb, CEO of Nuforma. Although reliatively new to Pilates, Peter brings with him an extensive 25-year background in the HALO sector. We dive into the innovative world of Nuforma, which takes a groundbreaking approach to make Pilates more accessible to a wider audience.  We'll look at how Nuforma's unique reformer units, which come equipped with monitors and self-service functionalities, are transforming traditional Pilates classes. Peter shares insights into the company's journey, including the development of the equipment and its expansion strategy. Whether you're an operator looking to introduce Nuforma to your gym floor or simply interested in the burgeoning Pilates sector, this episode is a must-listen!  About the Nuforma, Webb states, "Obviously, this is a a much different type of unit than you would have versus a 'classical' reformer. It's made of steel. It's German engineered. It has the monitor, and so on. We've also added a new element-a weight plate system."

At 22 years old, Vince Gabriele attended his first Perform Better seminar as a newly minted personal trainer. When he saw long-time industry veteran, Tom Plummer speak, he was instantly inspired and became determined to be in his shoes one day. Today, Vince is a highly successful gym owner-turned consultant. He shares his journey from struggling with money management to mastering essential business metrics like EBITDA, cost per lead, and lifetime customer value. He discusses insights on prioritizing personal success, family time, and the satisfaction of helping others grow without financial gain. Vince emphasizes the importance of understanding and catering to your target market, the significance of community-building within gyms, and the traits that distinguish successful gym owners. He also reflects on the practical advice from marketing expert Seth Godin that shaped his career decisions. On learning from his past financial mistakes, Gabriele states, "I got really into some hot water because I wasn't doing

In this episode, we're excited to once again chat with fellow B2B HALO sector podcaster and industry veteran, Eric Malzone. Eric--known for his work in the Future Fitness and the Podcast Collective-- has conducted over 800 interviews and dives deep into the evolving landscape of the HALO space with host, Pete Moore. He shares his journey from selling his gyms to slowly becoming a leading voice in fitness podcasts, emphasizing the impact, reach, and direct feedback podcasts provide. Eric journey as a podcaster began with a simple realization: If he was going to create content, he might as well share it with others. This led him to start recording his discussions and sharing them with a broader audience. The impact of (any podcaster's!) work can be measured in two significant ways: The tangible metrics such as audience numbers, LinkedIn impressions, and social media interactions. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, is the direct feedback you receives from listeners about specific episodes or topics, which t

In this first-ever "HALO Talks Live" episode held at Sid's Gym in NYC on October 17 2024 to a packed house, we dove deep into everything from fitness innovation, building a brand from the ground up, deciding to 'break the mold' of the fitness space, guerilla marketing, and a ton more with legendary Crunch Fitness founder Doug Levine. Host Pete Moore and Doug explored Crunch's creative, unorthodox beginnings, from viral marketing campaigns to avant-garde classes like aerial yoga and others.  Sue Hitzmann, visionary creator of the world famous MELT Method (and also a Crunch veteran from the early days & HALO Talks alum!) started us off and discussed the importance of fascia health for true body wellness, emphasizing proactive self-care, how 'recovery' has changed over the years, the importance of proper trainer education, why facilities should strongly consider getting their instructors up to speed on the methodology, and more.  Levine was the driving force behind Crunch Fitness, and he transformed the fitn

Arman Eckelbarger began his career in consulting, experiencing initial success before pausing to prioritize family life. As his family grew, he eventually moved to a more stable 9-to-5 job in insurance and investments, a field he dedicated eight years to. That really do it for him, so he returned to consulting, embracing the always-evolving HALO space. Today, he focuses on enhancing health, muscle span, and lifespan, guiding individuals to enjoy the rewards of their financial success while maintaining overall well-being. His journey reflects adaptability and a commitment to both personal and professional growth. Arman dives deep into his systematic approach to health optimization including extensive lab work, customized nutrition and exercise plans, and the integration of DNA methylation tests. He discusses the importance of belief alignment with clients and the critical role of insulin in managing health. Listen now to hear Arman's insightful perspectives on achieving better health, and learn about the cutti

In this episode we welcome Meghann Butcher from RepSpark, a B2B e-commerce platform that's revolutionizing retail for boutique gyms, golf shops, and pro shops. Meghann shares her expertise on the challenges faced by studio operators in managing retail and how RepSpark can seamlessly bridge the gap, helping businesses maximize their retail potential. Butcher is a seasoned expert dedicated to simplifying operations for business owners and operators. She clearly understands that many of these professionals aren't trained buyers or merchandisers, despite their unique opportunity to serve a guaranteed daily clientele. Meghann focuses on making the entire processes easy and seamless, empowering owners to maximize potential profits without the hassle of managing a complex back end. Megan goes into depth about not only optimizing retail spaces, but also making them a profitable extension of your fitness studio. Whether you're running a small boutique gym or a larger operation, this episode is packed with valuable ins

Curtis Christopherson has been a pioneering force in the personal training industry in Canada for the past 25 years. At a time when personal training was predominantly reserved for the affluent, athletes, and celebrities, he launched Innovative Fitness with a single location. He successfully navigated the company through significant challenges such as the dot-com bubble, the financial crisis, and the pandemic. Today, Innovative Fitness is renowned for its high-end boutique model, specializing in one-on-one and one-on-two personalized fitness and training sessions within their 4,000 to 5,000 square foot facilities. His commitment to quality and innovation has firmly established the brand as a leader in the field. Curtis details the operational and strategic initiatives that have fueled their continued growth as well as discuss the importance of standardizing personal services in their franchise model, the benefits of brand partnerships, and the holistic approach to wellness that includes everything from moveme

Steven Webster has carved out a rather unique career path combining sports, technology, and coaching. Originally from the UK and now in California, Steven boasts an impressive martial arts background. His expertise extends beyond the dojo, selling his first company to Adobe and working with customers including NASA, Nike, and the NFL. Also a Microsoft alumnus, he's made significant contributions to athletic coaching, leading British University sports teams to ten national championships. His multifaceted knowledge spans movement recognition, coaching intelligence, artificial intelligence, and athletic intelligence. Webster and host Pete Moore explore his early passion for computers sparked initially by his Dad (an electrical engineer) to eventually founding ASENSEI, a company specializing in movement recognition technology for fitness and healthcare. We uncover Steve's insights on enhancing consumer engagement, solving real-world problems through AI, and the future of interactive training technology. This is a

In today's episode, host Pete Moore welcomes (for his second appearance on HALO Talks) Deekron Krikorian--formerly known as the Fitness DJ--and currently a new author, fitness professional specializing in those over 40, and a seasoned entrepreneur. He shares how his father's rugby background created a lifelong commitment to health and fitness. Transitioning from a corporate career to promoting customized, curated fitness music for professionals, Deekron's prior company "Motion Traxx" grabbed over 100,000+ listeners monthly, leading to powerful brand partnerships. He's since authored a new book focusing on the "9 shifts"—a holistic system addressing the Mind, Body, and Life challenges that many of us face, especially as we get older. Deekron and Pete delve into crucial topics including deception in 'healthy snacks' marketing, the significance of 'imperfect actions' for high achievers, and balancing data-driven fitness coaching with personal accountability. Deekron also discusses his coaching philosophy, emphas

In today's episode, we dive into (a relatively new field in the US) the fascinating world of 'healthy/performance lighting' with Kyle Harris. Join host Pete Moore as they explore Brainlit technology, a Swedish company that creates healthier indoor environments by mimicking the natural spectrum of sunlight through advanced LED modulation. Kyle and Pete discuss expanding partnerships with major sports teams like the Sacramento Kings, tackling market challenges, and the impressive patent portfolio that underpins Brainlit's revolutionary approach. We'll also touch on the technology's journey into various markets, the quantifiable benefits for athlete performance and overall wellness, and the future-proof nature of lighting solutions making waves in the US sports sector. Inspired by Tord Wengren, one of the team behind behind Bluetooth and a platform expert from companies like Samsung and Huawei, Brainlet aims to revolutionize indoor lighting. Under Kyle’s influence, the company focuses on modulating and controlli