Run a Profitable Gym

Episode 177: Handling Difficult Conversations With Per Mattsson

 Episode 177: Handling Difficult Conversations With Per Mattsson In this episode, Greg Strauch speaks with leader, entrepreneur and Two-Brain Business mentor Per Mattsson.  When it comes to leadership and entrepreneurship, Per has done it all. He spent more than a decade working in the education system—starting as a high-school teacher before advancing to vice principal and then principal—and has also served as a leadership consultant helping educators, administrators and politicians devel...

Episode 177: Handling Difficult Conversations With Per Mattsson

 Episode 177: Handling Difficult Conversations With Per Mattsson In this episode, Greg Strauch speaks with leader, entrepreneur and Two-Brain Business mentor Per Mattsson.  When it comes to leadership and entrepreneurship, Per has done it all. He spent more than a decade working in the education system—starting as a high-school teacher before advancing to vice principal and then principal—and has also served as a leadership consultant helping educators, administrators and politicians devel...

Two-Brain Radio With Sean Woodland, Episode 10: Scott Thornton

Two-Brain Radio With Sean Woodland, Episode 10: Scott Thornton On today’s episode, Sean speaks with former NHL player and current CrossFit coach Scott Thornton. Scott spent 18 years in the NHL after being drafted third overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1989 Entry Draft. He played nearly 1,000 regular-season games during his career, spending time with the Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks and the Los Angeles Kings. Scott talks about his caree...

Food For Thought Friday- Are Praising Enough?

Episode 176: Mike Flynn

Episode 176: Mike Flynn Today we are joined by Mike Flynn: entrepreneur, author, podcast host and all-around good human being. Mike and Chris met through their mutual publisher, Scribe, and soon discovered they shared a connection: Mike's CrossFit coach, Greg Amundson—aka one of CrossFit's "original firebreathers"—was the very first Two-Brain Radio guest. He also worked with Chris in Kenya for CrossFit For Hope. In this podcast, Mike shares the fundamental principles of his book, "Master ...

Episode 176: Mike Flynn

Episode 176: Mike Flynn Today we are joined by Mike Flynn: entrepreneur, author, podcast host and all-around good human being. Mike and Chris met through their mutual publisher, Scribe, and soon discovered they shared a connection: Mike's CrossFit coach, Greg Amundson—aka one of CrossFit's "original firebreathers"—was the very first Two-Brain Radio guest. He also worked with Chris in Kenya for CrossFit For Hope. In this podcast, Mike shares the fundamental principles of his book, "Master ...

Two-Brain Radio With Sean Woodland, Episode 9: Alexis Johnson

Two-Brain Radio With Sean Woodland, Episode 9: Alexis Johnson On today’s episode, Sean speaks with two-time CrossFit Games athlete Alexis Johnson. After competing as an individual at the 2016 and 2017 CrossFit Games, Alexis will return to Madison this year as a member of the Misfit team alongside Jen Smith, Travis Williams and Roy Gamboa. She also recently earned a Ph.D. in algebraic geometry from Rice University. She talks about battling an eating disorder before she found CrossFit, her ...

Two-Brain Marketing Episode 18: Ryan O'Shaughnessy

Two-Brain Marketing Episode 18: Ryan O'Shaughnessy Today we are joined by Ryan O'Shaughnessy, the former operator at Bowery CrossFit in New York City, one of the most competitive fitness markets in the world. In his nearly two years at Bowery CrossFit, Ryan honed and systematized the gym's lead nurture and sales strategies. Last year, he spent $10,000 on ads that resulted in a whopping 2,000 leads—and thanks to his systematic approach to lead nurturing, $70,000 in front-end sales. In this...

Food For Thought Friday- How Do You Have Long Distance Meetings?

Episode 175: The Green Light Program With Vaughn Vernon

Episode 175: The Green Light Program With Vaughn Vernon Today we are joined by Vaughn Vernon, owner and director of Affiliate Guard, an industry-specific company that provides insurance coverage for CrossFit affiliates. In this episode, Vaughn discusses the Green Light program, a new Affiliate Guard service designed to help gym owners ensure their businesses are compliant with the Safe Sport Act—written to protect young victims from sexual abuse—due to go into effect in 2020. To be in com...

Episode 175: The Green Light Program With Vaughn Vernon

Episode 175: The Green Light Program With Vaughn Vernon Today we are joined by Vaughn Vernon, owner and director of Affiliate Guard, an industry-specific company that provides insurance coverage for CrossFit affiliates. In this episode, Vaughn discusses the Green Light program, a new Affiliate Guard service designed to help gym owners ensure their businesses are compliant with the Safe Sport Act—written to protect young victims from sexual abuse—due to go into effect in 2020. To be in com...

Two-Brain Radio With Sean Woodland, Episode 8: Brian Chontosh

Two-Brain Radio With Sean Woodland, Episode 8: Brian Chontosh On today’s episode, Sean speaks with Brian Chontosh, retired U.S. Marine and founder of Crooked Butterfly. Brian—aka "Tosh"—served 21 years in the United States Marine Corps, where he rose to the rank of Major. He received two Bronze Stars and the Navy Cross for his actions in March of 2003 during the Iraq war. He is also the founder of Crooked Butterfly, which helps people from all walks of life develop leadership skills.   Br...

Two-Brain Marketing Episode 17: Dan Visentin

Two-Brain Marketing Episode 17: Dan Visentin Today we are joined by Dan Visentin, Two-Brain Business mentor and marketing team member and owner of CrossFit 416 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dan opened his gym eight years ago in a 1,200-square-foot space with just $25,000. Since then, the gym has moved twice and managed to not only survive, but thrive. But it wasn't easy. Dan takes us through the early days of his affiliate—when he was working too much, coaching too many classes and losin...

Food For Thought Friday- Who Gets The Sandwich?

Founder, Farmer, Thinker, Thief

Two-Brain Radio With Sean Woodland, Episode 7: Tim Paulson

Two-Brain Radio With Sean Woodland, Episode 7: Tim Paulson On today’s episode of Two-Brain Radio with Sean Woodland, Sean speaks with two-time CrossFit Games athlete and co-owner of CrossFit Pallas in Ithaca, New York, Tim Paulson. Paulson made his CrossFit Games debut in 2017, finishing 19th his rookie year. He returned in 2018 and will be competing again in Madison this year. He spoke with Sean about how he found CrossFit, CrossFit Pallas' early days in a dingy two-car garage, and why he...

Two-Brain Marketing Episode 16: Tyler Lee and Jonathan Gibbons

Two-Brain Marketing Episode 16: Tyler Lee and Jonathan Gibbons Tyler Lee and Jonathan Gibbons own CrossFit Resurrection in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. The pair bought the gym three years ago, navigating the sticky situation of raising membership prices and firing the previous owners after they began sowing discord. Neither Lee nor Gibbons had any prior business, sales or marketing experience and felt overwhelmed at the prospect of advertising and nurturing leads—until they joined the Two-Br...

Food For Thought Friday- Parkinson's Law

Episode 174 - Replay of Episode 135: How Excellence Makes You Money

How Excellence Makes You Money (Originally published on September 11, 2018) The Pursuit of Excellence is a CrossFit hallmark, but it is not unique to the fitness industry. From the start, we’ve written that excellence in coaching means great results for your clients. Excellence in business means great results for your family, your clients and your staff. Excellence in coaching does NOT make you excellent in business. They’re completely different skill sets. And if you own a gym, excellen...

Two-Brain Radio With Sean Woodland, Episode 6: Craig Howard

Two-Brain Radio With Sean Woodland, Episode 6: Craig Howard On today’s episode, Sean Woodland sits down with two-time CrossFit Games competitor and owner of Diablo CrossFit Craig Howard. Howard won the 50-54-year-old division at the CrossFit Games in 2013, and his affiliate in Pleasant Hill, California, is in its 13th year of operation. Sean talks with Craig about the keys to competing and training as a masters athlete, how he grew Diablo CrossFit from garage gym to the world-renowned aff...

Two-Brain Marketing Episode 15: Dr. Ashley Mak

Two-Brain Marketing Episode 15: Dr. Ashley Mak Today we are joined once again by Dr. Ashley Mak, physical therapist and owner of Hudson River Fitness in Hoboken, New Jersey. Through a detailed marketing and email nurture campaign, Ashley signed 50 paying clients in just the single month between when he signed the lease in December 2016 to when he opened the doors in January 2017. Since then, he's continued to streamline and develop his sales and marketing tactics, spending roughly $1,300...

Food For Thought Friday- Are You Helping Or Are You Selling?

Episode 173 - Replay of Episode 48: What To Do When It All Goes Wrong

Episode 173 - Replay of Episode 48: What To Do When It All Goes Wrong (Originally published on October 3, 2016) "Nobody wants our job. But everyone thinks they do." These are the words Two-Brain Mentor Jay Williams texted me on Friday night. After a rough week in which even my podcast interview didn't happen on schedule, I reflected on how well I handle stress NOW than I did five years ago. I recalled those dashboard-punching, angry-email-sending days, and thought, "I bet these lessons ca...

Two-Brain Radio With Sean Woodland, Episode 5: Kirsten Pedri

Episode 5: Kirsten Pedri On this episode of Two-Brain Radio with Sean Woodland, Sean talks with former CrossFit Games competitor and current owner of CrossFit Davis in California, Kirsten Pedri. Kirsten has competed at the CrossFit Games as an individual in 2017 and as a master in the 35-39-year-old division in 2018. She joined Sean on the phone to talk about her long road to the Games, what motivated her to become a gym owner, why she loves coaching everyday athletes, what it’s like to tr...

Two-Brain Marketing Episode 14: Jack Wheeler

Two-Brain Marketing Episode 14: Jack Wheeler Today we are joined by Jack Wheeler, founder and CEO of 360 Fitness, a high-end personal training and small-group training studio in Red Deer and Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada. In the last year, Jack spent $52,000 on Facebook ads and generated $400,000 in new-member revenue, and in this episode, he'll tell you how he did it. You'll learn how he markets to and funnels new clients in through evergreen 21-day and six-week challenges as well as h...

Food For Thought Friday- What Do You Love About My Business?

Episode 172: Gym-Management Software: Our Unbiased Review

 Episode 172: Gym-Management Software Today we are joined by the famous Jay Williams. Jay is the owner of CrossFit Hale in California and CrossFit Thames in London. He's also the Director of New Product Development at Two-Brain Business and has worked alongside Chris since the very beginning.  In this podcast, Jay shares the science behind his recent quest to find the top-ranking gym-management software systems. He discusses how he created an unbiased review system that ranked systems bas...

Episode 172: Gym-Management Software: Our Unbiased Review

 Episode 172: Gym-Management Software Today we are joined by the famous Jay Williams. Jay is the owner of CrossFit Hale in California and CrossFit Thames in London. He's also the Director of New Product Development at Two-Brain Business and has worked alongside Chris since the very beginning.  In this podcast, Jay shares the science behind his recent quest to find the top-ranking gym-management software systems. He discusses how he created an unbiased review system that ranked systems bas...

Two-Brain Radio With Sean Woodland, Episode 4: Zach Forrest

Episode 4: Zach Forrest On today’s episode, Sean Woodland talks with three-time CrossFit Games competitor, CrossFit Training Staff member, and owner of CrossFit Max Effort, Zach Forrest. Zach discusses why he had to close two of his locations in Las Vegas and the lessons he learned from the ordeal, his experience competing at the CrossFit Games and the time he lost his pants while coaching at a Level 1 Certificate Course.  Links: https://twobrainbusiness.com/ Timeline: 1:19 - Zoning r...

Two-Brain Marketing Episode 13: Jacqui Hamer

Two-Brain Marketing Episode 13: Jacqui Hamer Today we are joined by Jacqui Hamer of CrossFit Durst in Brantford, Ontario. Jacqui left her corporate career to open CrossFit Durst in 2014. Though the gym was relatively successful, in December 2018, she found herself wearing too many hats and struggling to keep the gym together after losing coaches and members to a new gym nearby. At the same time, she saw other gym owners thriving and living the life she wanted for herself—so she joined the ...

Two-Brain Marketing Episode 13: Jacqui Hamer

Two-Brain Marketing Episode 13: Jacqui Hamer Today we are joined by Jacqui Hamer of CrossFit Durst in Brantford, Ontario. Jacqui left her corporate career to open CrossFit Durst in 2014. Though the gym was relatively successful, in December 2018, she found herself wearing too many hats and struggling to keep the gym together after losing coaches and members to a new gym nearby. At the same time, she saw other gym owners thriving and living the life she wanted for herself—so she joined the ...

Food For Thought Friday- The CEO Role

Episode 171: Free Trials (and Tribulations) with Kyle Racki

 Episode 171: Free Trials (and Tribulations) with Kyle Racki  Today we are joined by Kyle Racki of Proposify, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Proposify is a company that helps thousands of companies improve their sales workflow and win new customers. Kyle has recently written a book, “Free Trials (and Tribulations),” and today we dive into his new book and learn more about Kyle’s experiences as an entrepreneur.  Kyle is a really amazing guy who not only runs Proposify but is also an...

Episode 171: Free Trials (and Tribulations) with Kyle Racki

 Episode 171: Free Trials (and Tribulations) with Kyle Racki  Today we are joined by Kyle Racki of Proposify, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Proposify is a company that helps thousands of companies improve their sales workflow and win new customers. Kyle has recently written a book, “Free Trials (and Tribulations),” and today we dive into his new book and learn more about Kyle’s experiences as an entrepreneur.  Kyle is a really amazing guy who not only runs Proposify but is also an...

Two-Brain Radio With Sean Woodland, Episode 3: Margaux Alvarez

Episode 3: Margaux Alvarez On today’s episode of Two-Brain Radio with Sean Woodland, Sean talks with six-time CrossFit Games athlete Margaux Alvarez. Her best finish was 9th in 2015, the year she won the Pedal to the Metal 1 event. She is also the founder and owner of The Vine Yard, a wine company in Las Vegas. She joins Sean on the phone to talk about her recent appearance at the 2019 Rogue Invitational, her decision to step away from individual competition and how her athletic career has...

Two-Brain Marketing Episode 12: Rob Olson

Two-Brain Marketing Episode 12: Rob Olson Today we are joined by Rob Olson of CrossFit Simsbury in Simsbury, Connecticut.  Originally from Simsbury, Rob was first introduced to CrossFit at BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training) in 2008. While serving in the military as a Navy SEAL, Rob served tours to Afghanistan, Africa, and Europe.  In this episode, Rob tells us how he made the leap from the military to full-time CrossFit affiliate ownership—and how he went from a struggling,...

Two-Brain Marketing Episode 12: Rob Olson

Two-Brain Marketing Episode 12: Rob Olson Today we are joined by Rob Olson of CrossFit Simsbury in Simsbury, Connecticut.  Originally from Simsbury, Rob was first introduced to CrossFit at BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training) in 2008. While serving in the military as a Navy SEAL, Rob served tours to Afghanistan, Africa, and Europe.  In this episode, Rob tells us how he made the leap from the military to full-time CrossFit affiliate ownership—and how he went from a struggling,...

Food For Thought Friday- What Is The Language In Your Handbook?

Episode 170: Buying Out a Partner with Ashley Mak

Episode 170: Buying Out a Partner with Ashley Mak Today we are joined by Dr. Ashley Mak of Hudson River Fitness. Ashley recently bought out his partner and transitioned to sole ownership of the gym. In this podcast, you'll learn how he navigated every step of the process from creating an exit strategy, negotiating a fair buying price, working with lawyers and absorbing his former partner's responsibilities. Don’t forget about the 2019 Two-Brain Summit, June 8-9 in Chicago! This year we ...

Episode 170: Buying Out a Partner with Ashley Mak

Episode 170: Buying Out a Partner with Ashley Mak Today we are joined by Dr. Ashley Mak of Hudson River Fitness. Ashley recently bought out his partner and transitioned to sole ownership of the gym. In this podcast, you'll learn how he navigated every step of the process from creating an exit strategy, negotiating a fair buying price, working with lawyers and absorbing his former partner's responsibilities. Don’t forget about the 2019 Two-Brain Summit, June 8-9 in Chicago! This year we ...

Two-Brain Radio With Sean Woodland, Episode 2: Bill Grundler

Episode 2: Bill Grundler On today’s episode of Two-Brain Radio with Sean Woodland, Sean talks with CrossFit Games broadcaster and masters athlete Bill Grundler. Bill has competed in the masters division at the Games twice, taking second in the 45-49-year-old division in 2015. He also owns and operates CrossFit Inferno, with locations in San Luis Obispo and Nipomo, California. Bill talks about how he found CrossFit nearly 20 years ago, his time as a competitor, and some of the struggles he’...

Two-Brain Marketing Episode 11: Jarrett Baston

On this edition of the Two-Brain Marketing podcast, Mateo Lopez speaks with Jarrett Baston of Triumph Strength and Conditioning. You're going to hear about how Jarrett and his business partner, Mark McCain, went from operating a gym out of a car wash to running a thriving business in the massive, multi-room fitness facility they're in today. (Mark actually had to leave the interview because they had a surprise walk-in No-Sweat Intro!) Jarrett talks about how investing in a business coach ...

Food For Thought Friday- Who Will You Empower And When?

Episode 169: Degrees Of Coaching

Josh Martin is a visionary who coaches fitness. You can hear his whole coaching story here, and his theory on building coaches to be your strategic advantage here. Josh is one of the most popular mentors on the Two-Brain team, and he leads the Coaching speakers' panel at the 2019 Summitin two weeks.  At the Summit, Josh will make a "big reveal": a new way to think about coach development in your gym, and some incredibly valuable tools to help build your system, develop your coaching staff...

Two-Brain Radio with Sean Woodland Episode 1: Annie Sakamoto

Episode 1: Annie Sakamoto   On today’s episode of Two-Brain Radio With Sean Woodland, Sean sits down with four-time CrossFit Games athlete Annie Sakamoto.  Annie is one of the original CrossFit “Nasty Girls” who helped put the methodology on the fitness map. Sakamoto has been to the CrossFit Games twice as an individual and twice as a master, and she's also an owner and coach at CrossFit Santa Cruz Central in California. Annie talks about her involvement with the early days of CrossFit, h...

Two-Brain Radio with Sean Woodland Episode 1: Annie Sakamoto

Episode 1: Annie Sakamoto   On today’s episode of Two-Brain Radio With Sean Woodland, Sean sits down with four-time CrossFit Games athlete Annie Sakamoto.  Annie is one of the original CrossFit “Nasty Girls” who helped put the methodology on the fitness map. Sakamoto has been to the CrossFit Games twice as an individual and twice as a master, and she's also an owner and coach at CrossFit Santa Cruz Central in California. Annie talks about her involvement with the early days of CrossFit, h...

Two Brain Marketing Episode 10: Cody Ringle

Two Brain Marketing Episode 10: Cody Ringle   Today we are joined by Cody of CrossFit Cold Water and CrossFit Angola. We hear about his first experiences with CrossFit and how he turned $250 dollars in ad spends and turned it into $5,000 worth of revenue. Cody was first introduced to CrossFit by his older brother in 2014. At the time, Cody was overweight and out of shape and he almost didn’t come back. When he did come back, it took only a couple of classes and he was hooked. Today Cody ow...

Food For Thought Friday- Focusing On Growth Or Goals?

Episode 168: Exercise Over Opioids

Episode 168: Exercise Over Opioids In the quest to change health care, there are many starting points. Today we are joined by André Riopel, a local physical therapist and entrepreneur from Canada helping chart the future of healthcare. Andre has a wealth of experience in the physiotherapy field treating all kinds of major injuries and learning what it takes to avoid them. We talk about the prevention of major injuries and how CrossFit gyms can help facilitate continued health into later yea...

Two Brain Marketing Episode 9: Kevin Rundlett of CrossFit Chi-Rho

 Two Brain Marketing Episode 9: Kevin Rundlett of CrossFit Chi-Rho   Today we are joined by Kevin Rundlett of CrossFit Chi Rho in Jackson Mississippi. In addition to running his CrossFit gym, Kevin works full time as a lawyer and is even the city prosecutor! Growing up lifting weights and training since he was 15, Kevin fell in love with CrossFit and after learning that the gym they attended was being sold, they jumped right in to keep it going. In August of 2017, Kevin and his wife purcha...

Two Brain Marketing Episode 9: Kevin Rundlett of CrossFit Chi-Rho

 Two Brain Marketing Episode 9: Kevin Rundlett of CrossFit Chi-Rho   Today we are joined by Kevin Rundlett of CrossFit Chi Rho in Jackson Mississippi. In addition to running his CrossFit gym, Kevin works full time as a lawyer and is even the city prosecutor! Growing up lifting weights and training since he was 15, Kevin fell in love with CrossFit and after learning that the gym they attended was being sold, they jumped right in to keep it going. In August of 2017, Kevin and his wife purcha...