The Show Up Fitness Podcast

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!
AI is turning everyday work into a shortcut button, and that’s exactly why we’re asking a risky question: is AI making us dumb, or is it exposing who never built real skill in the first place? We break this down through the Dunning-Kruger effect and a wild true story that shows what happens when confidence beats competence. The point isn’t to fear AI, it’s to stop using it like a mask for weak fundamentals. 

We get specific about what “sloppy AI” looks like in the fitness industry: ads with obviously broken images, impossible anatomy, and generic messaging that kills trust in seconds. If you’re a personal trainer, online coach, or gym owner, you already know how fast people scroll and how quickly they judge. We talk about the simple standards that protect your brand, from proofreading and human review to writing outreach that proves you did your homework and actually care who you’re talking to. 

Then we zoom out to the bigger career move: doubling down on foundations. Anatomy, programming, assessment, pain red flags, and knowing when to refer out aren’t optional if you want to be excellent and get paid like it. AI can help you study, organize, and execute, but it can’t replace reps in the trenches, mentorship, and the humility to keep learning. 

If you want AI to make you sharper instead of louder, listen through, then subscribe, share this with a trainer who needs it, and leave a quick review so more coaches find the long-game path. What’s one way you’re using AI responsibly right now?
Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!
Want to ask us a question?  Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!
Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/
Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA
NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!
Calf pain that hits one mile into a run feels like betrayal, but it’s often your body giving you useful data. We dig into what running really demands from your lower leg, why the soleus and gastrocnemius take such a beating, and how a sudden spike in volume, frequency, or intensity can push tissue past its current capacity. If you have ever blamed “tight calves” or “bad knees,” we offer a clearer lens: build the foundation first, then earn the mileage. 

We start with a simple, trainer-friendly screening process that works in the real world. You’ll learn the quick ankle dorsiflexion wall test (think 15 degrees minimum, 20 plus as a strong target), why the joint-by-joint approach matters, and how limited ankle range can ripple up to the knee, hip, and low back. We also talk soft tissue work you can apply within scope, then retest immediately so you know if you actually changed anything before the next run. 

From there we move into strength and performance. Running is unilateral and repetitive, so we want single-leg stability drills, lateral hip control, and a clear benchmark: can you hit 25 to 30 single-leg calf raises through full range? If not, we lay out a practical calf training plan with progressive overload, smart rep targets, and weekly prehab that includes frontal plane work and core strength. We also cover when a competent coach should refer out and why every trainer benefits from a team that includes a DPT and registered dietitian. 

If this helps, subscribe, share it with a runner or trainer, and leave a review so more people stop guessing and start training with a plan.
Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!
Want to ask us a question?  Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!
Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/
Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA
NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!
Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!
Want to ask us a question?  Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!
Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/
Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA
NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!
You’ve heard “eat more fiber,” but almost nobody explains it in a way clients actually remember or apply. We keep it simple and useful: soluble fiber acts like a sponge, and insoluble fiber works like a broom. That one shift makes nutrition coaching easier, whether you’re helping a client manage hunger, improve gut health, or make sense of cholesterol labs without getting lost in jargon.

We walk through what soluble fiber does best, including slowing digestion, blunting blood sugar spikes, and supporting healthier LDL cholesterol levels. Then we connect it to real foods people will eat: oats, apples (yes, the skin counts), berries, beans, carrots, flax, and chia. From there, we cover insoluble fiber and why it matters for fullness and regularity, with practical examples like whole wheat, brown rice, seeds, and leafy greens. We also talk about how most foods are a blend, so you don’t need a perfect list, you need a consistent pattern.

If you’ve been hearing loud takes about fruit being “bad” because of fructose, we address that fear head-on and explain why fiber-rich fruit can be a net positive for heart health and digestion. We finish with coaching strategy: fiber targets (roughly 38g for men and 25g for women), why jumping from low fiber to high fiber overnight backfires, and how to progress it like training. Subscribe, share this with a trainer friend, and leave a rating and review if it helps you coach nutrition with more confidence.
Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!
Want to ask us a question?  Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!
Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/
Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA
NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!
Three different ads. Three different certifications. All calling themselves the “gold standard.” That’s where we start, because if everyone can claim the top spot, the phrase stops being a standard and turns into a slogan. We break down what most entry-level personal training certifications actually require, and why “read a book, pass a multiple choice test” is a shaky foundation for coaching real humans safely.

We get specific about what the job demands in the real world: movement assessment, exercise selection by pattern, smart loading, regressions and progressions, and the people skills that drive retention. We also talk about scope of practice, including when a trainer should refer out and why having a trusted physical therapist or registered dietitian in your corner matters. Feeling “ready” is not the same as being ready, and we dig into why confidence surveys and quick-cert timelines can create a false sense of competence.

Then we widen the lens to accountability. We talk about the incentives in the certification business, how specialization bundles and marketing dollars shape what gets taught, and why gyms share blame when they skip true onboarding and mentorship. Finally, we lay out what we believe a real gold standard looks like: hands-on education, consistent feedback, updated exercise science, and the fundamentals of anatomy and programming that let trainers coach any body, not just their own.

If you care about the future of personal training, hit subscribe, share this with a trainer who needs to hear it, and leave a rating and review so more coaches find the higher standard.
Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!
Want to ask us a question?  Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!
Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/
Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqA
NASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com