Stories do what facts alone cannot. They make people feel, remember, trust, and act. In this special season finale takeover, master storyteller Danielle Krischik (podcast host and author of The Story Effect) flips the mic and interviews JT so you can hear the real reason behind the Fitness Business Podcast, REX Roundtables, and JT’s mission to get more people moving in quality facilities with qualified professionals.
Key highlights from the episode:
Why storytelling shifts your brand from what you sell to why you exist
How JT’s early life, sport, and career pivot shaped his leadership style
The role fitness facilities play in changing (and sometimes saving) lives
Host takeover! Curious about the guest host of Fitness Business Podcast? That's Zoe, the host JT's daughter.
Giveaway! Win a Copy of The Story Effect:
Zoe (Guest Host!) is giving away two copies of The Story Effect.
To enter: Go to fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/leaveusavoicemail
Click Start Recording
Leave a short voice testimonial (under 60 seconds)
Include your name and email
Your voice may also be featured on a future episode!
Take the Next Step:
- Become an FBP Insider (7 days FREE): https://patreon.com/FitnessBusinessPodcast
- Join our FREE live online events for fitness leaders: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/onlineevents
- Leave us a voicemail: fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/leaveusavoicemail
- Join our LinkedIn Community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9878228/
- Mystery Shopping for Fitness Businesses: https://mysteryshoppingforfitnessbusinesses.com.au/
Quotes:
“I have suffered and still do suffer imposter syndrome. I can be filled with self-doubt that I can actually help people or that I give value to people…” - JT
“I really think the perception of our industry is what we get wrong… we’re the most natural, healthy way to reduce the healthcare costs in every country, and yet governments still don't want to talk to us.” - JT
“If I can help save someone’s life, if I can help save a marriage, if I can help someone get off medication because they’re feeling better and more confident about themself through movement, then I’m happy.” - JT
Key Topics & Timestamps
(00:00) Why stories beat data for trust and action
(01:23) Join the FBP Insider on Patreon and the Story Effect giveaway
(02:38) Danielle takes over the mic and explains why JT’s story matters
(03:48) JT’s “shockers”: imposter syndrome, saying yes too often, and staying in fitness
(06:37) JT’s childhood in Sydney and how sport shaped his resilience
(08:55) The choice: friends, sport, or being smart (and what JT picked)
(11:11) Teaching in tough schools, the chair incident, and choosing fitness instead
(15:53) Fiona’s story and the moment JT understood fitness changes lives
(23:02) What the fitness industry gets wrong: perception and participation
(29:19) JT’s hardest season: ulcerative colitis, optimism, and the “whole movie” takeaway
Our Guest Interviewer:
Danielle Krischik, Partner, Chief Strategy Officer of The Knight Agency, and Author & Podcast Host of The Story Effect
- Podcast and Book: https://thestoryeffect.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellekrischik/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyeffectpodcast
- Knight Agency - https://knightagency.com/
Merch Sponsor:
Be a Merch Sponsor - https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/merch/
REX Roundtables:
Website: www.REXRoundtables.com
Email: Eddie@REXRoundtables.com
A heartfelt thank you to the partners who support The Fitness Business Podcast:
Solution One Partners: Provides marketing, loyalty, and CRM solutions for the fitness industry. https://solutiononepartners.com/
Arsenal Strength: Manufactures professional strength gym equipment and offers custom gym design. https://www.myarsenalstrength.com/
Power Systems: Sells a wide range of fitness, strength, and conditioning equipment. https://www.power-systems.com/
BlkBox Fitness: Designs and manufactures gym equipment and creates bespoke training facilities. https://www.blkboxfitness.com
Replify: Replify provides AI-driven receptionist and sales automation for fitness businesses. https://www.replify.ai/
“What we leave behind is not set in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.”
About Your Host: Justin "JT" Tamsett is a fitness industry veteran with over 30 years of experience who aims to reduce global healthcare costs by promoting physical activity. Through his company Active Management, he provides business coaching to fitness entrepreneurs, leads 8 REX Roundtables in the US and Australia, and has spoken at over 40 conferences across 23 countries. His ultimate goal is to create a world of opportunity for his daughter Zoe by helping more people move and stay healthy, while empowering gym owners to build successful businesses that contribute to a healthier society
Please note: We only recommend products we care about (affiliate links support our free content). Thank you for your support!
Burnout is not a badge of honor. For years, working 22-hour days and never taking holidays was worn as proof of resilience. But the reality is different. A 2025 study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine estimates burnout costs employers between $4,000 and $21,000 per employee per year in lost productivity, disengagement, and turnover. In this Wise Words episode, Justin Tamsett sits down with clinician, scientist, and founder of New Approach Health, Emahlea Wilcher, to unpack what burnout really is, how it impacts your body and brain, and what you can do right now to protect yourself and your team.
If you are a coach, club owner, fitness entrepreneur, or leader who feels constantly tired, irritable, foggy, or disconnected, this conversation is essential listening.
Key highlights from the episode:
What burnout actually is and how to recognize the early warning signs before you crash
How burnout impacts your body, brain, relationships, and income
Practical strategies to prevent burnout for yourself and your team
Curious about the future host of Fitness Business Podcast? That's Zoe, the host JT's daughter!
Take the Next Step:
✔ Become an FBP Insider (7 days FREE): https://patreon.com/FitnessBusinessPodcast
✔ Join our FREE live online events for fitness leaders: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/onlineevents
✔ Leave us a voicemail: fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/leaveusavoicemail
✔ Join our LinkedIn Community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9878228/
✔ Mystery Shopping for Fitness Businesses: https://mysteryshoppingforfitnessbusinesses.com.au/
Quotes:
“I think of burnout as the point where your brain and your body hit the emergency brake after too much stress for too long.”
“You have to lower the floor instead of trying to raise the ceiling.”
“Burnout doesn’t turn around because of a big dramatic change. It’s the little shifts that make the difference.”
Key Topics & Timestamps
(00:00) Why Burnout Is Not a Badge of Honor
(04:00) The WHO Definition and Signs of Burnout
(10:30) Physical and Mental Effects of Chronic Stress
(18:00) Why Hustle Culture Keeps Leaders in Denial
(25:00) The Minimum Viable Week Framework
(32:00) Nervous System Resets and Daily Recovery
(40:00) Preventing Burnout Across Your Team
(48:00) Scrolling, Stress, and Habit Formation
(57:00) One Boundary + One Nourishing Habit Challenge
Our Guest:
Emahlea Wilcher, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of New Approach Health
✔ Website: https://www.newapproach.health
✔ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emahlea/
✔ Instagram: instagram.com/newapproach.health
✔ Costa Rica Burnout Recovery Retreat August 2026: https://www.newapproach.health/retreat
Merch Sponsor:
Be a Merch Sponsor - https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/merch/
REX Roundtables:
Website: www.REXRoundtables.com
Email: Eddie@REXRoundtables.com
A heartfelt thank you to the partners who support The Fitness Business Podcast:
ABC Fitness Solutions: Simplifies operations, amplifies marketing and sales efforts, and enables a dynamic member experience. https://abcfitness.com/
Lionel University: Provides online degree and certificate programs in Exercise Science and fitness education. https://www.lionel.edu/
Atlantis Strength: Designs and manufactures professional strength equipment for gyms and athletes.https://atlantisstrength.com/
HireBob AI: Provides AI employees for fitness businesses for sales, support, and retention. https://hirebob.ai/
About Our Guest: Emahlea Wilcher, MPH, RD, LD, is a clinician, scientist, and founder of New Approach Health, a trauma-informed nutrition and burnout recovery practice. She helps high-achieving, stressed-out humans stop burning down their bodies to build their careers, using nervous-system–aware nutrition therapy and mind–body reconnection work. With dual master’s degrees in public health nutrition and epidemiology (and her own history of burnout) Emahlea blends data, depth, and real-world compassion to help people feel safe, powerful, and at home in their bodies again.
About Your Host: Justin "JT" Tamsett is a fitness industry veteran with over 30 years of experience who aims to reduce global healthcare costs by promoting physical activity. Through his company Active Management, he provides business coaching to fitness entrepreneurs, leads 8 REX Roundtables in the US and Australia, and has spoken at over 40 conferences across 23 countries. His ultimate goal is to create a world of opportunity for his daughter Zoe by helping more people move and stay healthy, while empowering gym owners to build successful businesses that contribute to a healthier society
Please note: We only recommend products we care about (affiliate links support our free content). Thank you for your support!