021 #IHRSA2017 LIVE: The Importance of APIs & Using Fitness Technology To Give
Fitness + Technology4 Huhti 2017

021 #IHRSA2017 LIVE: The Importance of APIs & Using Fitness Technology To Give

On episode 21 we're spotlighting a few exceptional conversations with some of the top influencers at the crossroads of fitness and technology, live after the FIT-C roundtable meeting during IHRSA 2017 in Los Angeles.

With the options and choices of club software systems on the rise, how do APIs and the ability for cross communication between platforms benefit the health club?

Be sure to stick around for our second half of the show with Josh Donovan from GIVE Fitness -->

In this first segment, were talking with fitness technology expert, Karl Etzel, about APIs (application program interfaces) and how they can help in both monetization and in serving the customer. For health club executives and owners, API functionality is an important topic to consider when purchasing technology systems.

Karl Etzel is a Transformation Catalyst, Strategic Decision-Maker, and Technical Expert in fitness technology known for his entrepreneurial drive in developing vision and setting strategic direction in the face of fast-changing technology and market dynamics through effectively aligning products/channels/end-users. With a deep background in health and fitness, cloud services / PaaS, online marketing, and SMB enablement, Karl brings a strong professional expertise to the industry space around program management and product management roles.

Karl is talking with us on the show about API's, or application program interfaces. Simply put, an application programming interface allows software systems to talk to one another. When you as a human being sit down to use a piece of software you use a user interface (UI), and when one piece of software wants to use another piece of software, they use an (API).

Listen To Episode 021 As Karl Uncovers
  • How the open API can increase revenue for clubs through smart data sharing
  • Why have APIs become so important in app and web service development
  • Who should know about APIs in the club and how does that relate to their fitness business
  • What are some common mistakes when planning APIs
  • The growing segments of APIs being used to create further developments of niche markets
  • Why "Agile Development" and live beta testing are now standard practices
  • How API's enable better business model innovation, which is one of the most powerful and sustainable competitive advantages
  • Why "owning the customer" looses in business vs. "serving the customer"
  • Security threats and issues to watch for with APIs
  • Using tethered CRM, POS, and ERP systems with APIs
  • Understanding the best types of data sets that are commonly used with an API in clubs
  • Karl's interest in the future of Cognitive Performance
Top 3 Takeaways From The Show
  • In the world of fitness tracking, we see many APIs, and there's now many different models emerging that will deliver even more value to the customer. The continued fracturing of the market and development of more niche models are exciting as the type of contextualized data that is being shared helps to monetize and serve customers in a progressive and powerful way.
  • As the market grows and as customers and consumers expect faster innovation that APIs will enable, one of the reasons people are resistant to opening APIs is because they don't want to "lose the customer they own" but the reality is that you don't own the customer, you serve the customer. The people who resist this idea of opening up is born out of a mentality of scarcity. What most people don't realize is how much revenue they can drive with an open API and a new mindset.
  • API's enable better business model innovation, which is one of the most powerful and sustainable competitive advantages in all industries. APIs make it really easy to innovate and build things quickly. The old-school engineering model of software development is gone and agile development, two week release cycles, live beta testing and rapid iteration are now the norm. For the club owner, karl believes that you don't necessarily want to share your data outward, but you do want to share it among your own systems until you get to a certain scale where population data could make things interesting. The real key with API integrations is to understand your segment in entirety and have a clear picture of what problem you're trying to solve. Power Quotes From Karl

"For the club operator, the question you want to ask is, does your solution vendor have an API that makes it easier for me to integrate my system with other solutions? If you are a technology company executive, you should be thinking about how APIs plug into your business at the strategy level. APIs are not just a technical detail that you can leave to engineering." - Karl Etzel on the Fitness + Technology Podcast

"APIs make it really easy to innovate and build things quickly. The old-school engineering model of software development is gone and agile development, two week release cycles, live beta testing and rapid iteration are now the norm. For the club owner, you don't necessarily want to share your data outward, but you do want to share it among your own systems until you get to a certain scale where population data could make things interesting. The real key with API integrations is to understand your segment in entirety and have a clear picture of what problem you're trying to solve." - Karl Etzel on the Fitness + Technology Podcast

Resources Mentioned From Karl Josh Donovan: Using Fitness Technology To Give

In this featured segment we're talking with the Owner of GIVE Fitness in Atascadero, CA Josh Donovan about technology focused member sales and engagement approaches that are changing the way for-profit and nonprofit businesses interact in health and fitness.

Josh is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and 13-year fitness industry professional who years ago was looking for a way to use his experience and understanding of the fitness industry to "create a different type of fitness product" with a focus on using technology. After meeting Matt Holguin, the founder of Working to Give (WTG), a for-profit company with a singular purpose-driven business model, together, Donovan and Holguin created WTG's Fitness Division and in 2013, launched GIVE Fitness.

With Working To Give, 50% of its profits are reinvested in the firm to sustain growth, and the other 50% is contributed to the local community. Since its opening, the GIVE Fitness club has acquired over 3,000 members and donated more than $50,000 to Atascadero-area initiatives. A member of the Fitness Industry Technology Council, Josh Donovan believes it's important for the industry to integrate technology into the prospect and member experience to truly connect with consumers to understand them at their deepest needs and desires.

Listen To Episode 021 As Josh Uncovers
  • What Josh has learned over the past three years when it comes to understanding what technologies help club operations the absolute most.
  • Why GIVE Fitness is a "cashless environment" with no membership staff or sales team and why all sales are integrated through the website.
  • How to use technology to change the way for-profit businesses and nonprofit businesses interact
  • How to sustain nonprofit efforts combined with profitable health clubs in the fitness industry
  • Why being fluid and flexible when creating a culture in your health club is paramount
  • Why using social media in real time is a powerful tool for transparency and trust ability
  • Understanding the GIVE Fitness mission: "To exceed member expectations at every opportunity with fitness facilities that are maintained, affordable, accessible and safe."
  • Why giving members something they truly can belong to will increase revenue and lower attrition
  • With the obesity epidemic in our country, why the GIVE Fitness ownership deemed it imperative to open up the market in order to make fitness more accessible and affordable to the community of Atascadero.
  • On a larger scale, why GIVE Fitness has established a vision to "Transform the fitness industry by becoming pillars in the communities in which we conduct business. We will do this by generously donating 50% of our profits to programs that strengthen personal character, create value in people and provide opportunities for personal growth."
Top 3 Takeaways From The Show
  • Josh believes that you don't use people to get things, you use the things to help people. It's important to understand what your members want and what your members need. The first step when selecting and in using any piece of technology is to have a grasp on who you're serving and why they want you to serve them.
  • Josh and his business partner Matt are demonstrating that it is possible and profitable to have both a non-profit and for-profit business model using technology to thrive in our ever-changing fitness space. By providing an accessible fitness center for real people to come in, and driving sales through a cashless environment, this outside the box thinking has produced great results for GIVE Fitness.
  • With transparency in business for both nonprofits and for profit companies, in working together they must have a focus on communicating to staff that with all the technology devices out there, how do they use them to really help members? Because this entire process, in the end, is all about the member experience.
Power Quotes From Josh

"The heart of our business at GIVE Fitness is giving. We give 50% of our profits back to the community where we do business, so in order for that to happen we have to be a profitable fitness center first. Hitting member expectations and exceeding them becomes paramount because that has to happen before we have any funds to give. The obesity epidemic is real and it's something that I'm really passionate about. This is why I want to provide an accessible fitness center for people to better their lives, add years to their lives, and truly participate." - Josh Donovan on the Fitness + Technology Podcast

"In using new technologies, we had the unique opportunity in starting from the ground up to be intentional around creating our culture and to have it be something very specific. We all live in a world that's real time, so if I post something on Facebook about the gym and then post something about my personal life, our members don't see any differentiation around that." - Josh Donovan on the Fitness + Technology Podcast

Resources Mentioned From Josh Support This Podcast Thanks To Our Outstanding Sponsors

  • Bryan O'Rourke and his family of companies including Vedere Ventures, Integerus Advisors, and many more. If you are looking for unmatched guidance, capital, insights or a great speaker or facilitator, Bryan and his partners are the go to resource for your organization. To learn more visit bryankorourke.com

  • The Fitness Industry Technology Council, your non-profit resource for reliable technology information supported by forward looking brands who are seeking to drive increased technology adoption in the fitness industry. Make a difference and join FIT-C at fittechcouncil.org today

  • Check out Bryan and his partner Robert Dyer's recent book "9 Partnership Principles: A Story of Life Lessons" which is available now on Amazon.com

021 #IHRSA2017 LIVE: The Importance of APIs, Using Fitness Technology To Give

Jaksot(191)

Today's New World Of Startups & Technologies With Pariskshit Dutt & Jackson Powell

Today's New World Of Startups & Technologies With Pariskshit Dutt & Jackson Powell

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke welcomes Pariskshit Dutt & Jackson Powell to the show. They are the founders of Fittest, a hardware-free heart rate tracking platform designed to help gyms boost member engagement, drive accountability, and increase retention. By seamlessly integrating with wearables, Fittest provides real-time in-studio and at-home tracking, gamification, and performance insights without the cost or hassle of additional hardware. Today, the two join Bryan to talk about their startup business and the challenges with data wearable technology. One Powerful Quote: 18:13: "The barriers to entry have never been lower." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 2:47: Bryan asks Pariskshit & Jackson their general thoughts on wearables. 7:36: Pariskshit & Jackson talk about creating better user experiences. 9:38: Bryan articulates on the innovator's dilemma; Pariskshit gives his feedback. 12:48: Pariskshit & Jackson speak on the idea behind fittestapp and its feature sets. 18:00: Pariskshit imparts his pearls of wisdom to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: https://www.fittestapp.co.uk/ https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/future-of-fitness-2025-bryan-k-o-rourke-pdf/273973112 Guest Contact Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pdutt111/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackson-powell-0b7362207/ pd@fittestapp.co.uk jackson@fittestapp.co.uk https://www.bryankorourke.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankorourke/ http://www.fittechcouncil.org/ https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163

31 Touko 24min

The Future of Fitness Presentation: LIVE From SIBEC With Bryan O'Rourke

The Future of Fitness Presentation: LIVE From SIBEC With Bryan O'Rourke

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke shares his presentation "The Future of Fitness" live from SIBEC. Bryan offers a bold and thought-provoking look at how industry leaders can thrive amid rapid transformation. From navigating global micro and macro trends to redefining leadership, marketing, and digital strategy, this talk explores what it takes to succeed in today's evolving fitness landscape. You'll hear his insights on the rise of recovery and luxury experiences, the shifting role of human capital, the obsolescence of traditional SAAS platforms, and the growing demand for personalization in an "impatience economy." To view the slideshow, visit: https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/future-of-fitness-2025-sibec-2025-talk/279416288 One Powerful Quote: 5:50: "The challenge is how do you see the future, execute the present, and migrate through that gap?" 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 1:50: Bryan opens his presentation with speaking on navigating global micro and macro trends. 8:13: Bryan articulates on why courage and leadership are the greatest elixirs for organizations. 9:43: Bryan covers why clarity is power to serving customer beliefs. 16:34: Bryan highlights the trends in experiences around recovery and luxury. 20:17: Bryan goes into human capital structures. 22:24: Bryan talks about digital fitness and the obsolescence of SAAS club management systems. 24:52: Bryan touches upon the consolidation of the industry and new technologies. 30:24: Bryan elaborates on personalization as it relates to the cost of hesitation and the impatience economy. 33:12: Bryan wraps up his presentation by sharing the new age of marketing. 35:27: Bryan recaps his presentation. Bullet List of Resources: https://www.sibecevents.com/ Guest Contact Information: https://www.bryankorourke.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankorourke/ http://www.fittechcouncil.org/ https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163

20 Touko 39min

The Sales Funnel & Consumer Behaviors: Challenges & Opportunities With Sarah Harris & Hilary McGuckin

The Sales Funnel & Consumer Behaviors: Challenges & Opportunities With Sarah Harris & Hilary McGuckin

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke shares his webinar with Hilary McGuckin and Sarah Harris from Keepme.ai as they explore how the modern fitness sales funnel is evolving—and what that means for fitness operators, marketers, and tech providers alike. In their conversations, they unpack: The biggest challenges fitness businesses face today with consumer acquisition and retention. Surprising insights from Keepme's latest research on changing consumer behaviors. How AI, personalization, and automation can reshape the funnel. Real-world success stories and future-proof strategies you can apply now. Whether you're a gym owner, supplier, or fit tech innovator, this discussion is packed with insights to help you stay ahead in a fast-changing landscape. To view the slideshow, visit: https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/the-sales-funnel-consumer-behaviors-challenges-opportunities/278835947 One Powerful Quote: 6:56: "Humanize and futurize simultaneously." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 4:21: Bryan opens the webinar with Hilary and Sarah discussing the landscape. 7:38: Sarah and Hilary discuss the key challenges, opportunities, and pain points a part of the modern sales journey. 11:28: Sarah and Hilary share their findings on changing consumer behaviors. 16:09: Sarah and Hilary speak on the top of the sales funnel as a result of changing consumer behaviors. 19:47: Sarah and Hilary speak on technology and automation for successful future-proof strategy. Bryan gives his feedback. 25:23: Sarah and Hilary talk about real-world success stories. 28:05: Bryan inquires with Sarah and Hilary on the gap in adoption between competitors. 30:39: Bryan asks Sarah and Hilary on their future predictions. 38:01: Sarah and Hilary respond to the key friction point to operations adopting these tools. 40:35: Sarah and Hilary respond to first engagement with a new client. 42:56: The three answer a question on community based and hyper-localized marketing assets for individual locations. Bullet List of Resources: https://www.keepme.ai/ Guest Contact Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hmcguckin/ https://x.com/McguckinHi67189 https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahharris33/ https://www.bryankorourke.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankorourke/ http://www.fittechcouncil.org/ https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163

7 Touko 46min

Successfully Augmenting Fitness Facility Products & Services With Garrett Marshall

Successfully Augmenting Fitness Facility Products & Services With Garrett Marshall

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes back Garrett Marshall, a distinguished leader with over 22 years of experience driving growth in the wellness industry. Garrett's expertise spans strategy and innovation, executive leadership, business development, strategic partnerships, and technological product development. He has notably served as CEO of Fitness On Demand and President of Xponential Fitness. Today, he is the Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Wellbuilt Ventures, helping clients scale revenue through data-driven strategies, and serves as an advisor to Vi, assisting leading health organizations in maximizing member health outcomes and financial returns. In this conversation, Garrett shares insights from his career, discusses his latest business ventures, and offers his perspective on emerging trends shaping the future of fitness and wellness. One Powerful Quote: 30:01: "If you want to continue to be able to deliver as a best in class provider of fitness, you need to be able to at least have exposure to these other things that are hyper relevant to their overall health." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:48: Bryan and Garrett talk about discerning great ideas and execution with technology. 12:41: Bryan and Garrett discuss how to successfully augment business product with a service. 25:24: Bryan asks Garrett about the most appealing wellness categories. 31:56: Garrett shares his pearls of wisdom to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: https://www.wellbuilt.ventures/ https://www.vi.co http://www.TheCompoundHQ.com https://www.xponential.com/ Guest Contact Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrettmarshall/ https://www.bryankorourke.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankorourke/ http://www.fittechcouncil.org/ https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163

28 Huhti 35min

Next Gen-Fitness: Innovation, Insights, & Industry Disruption With Bryan O'Rourke

Next Gen-Fitness: Innovation, Insights, & Industry Disruption With Bryan O'Rourke

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology podcast, Bryan O'Rourke joins an exclusive panel live from FIBO to explore the future of the fitness industry through the lens of technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Featuring global industry leaders: Bryan K. O'Rourke – President, Fitness Industry Technology Council | Chairman, Vedere Ventures | CEO, Core Health & Fitness Hugo Braam – CEO & Co-Founder, Virtuagym Magdalena Szwed – Product Director, Benefit Systems Oddział Fitness Henrik Gockel – Founder, Prime Time Fitness GmbH Moderated by Hans Muench, FITC International Ambassador, this dynamic discussion dives into the trends and technologies shaping the next generation of fitness—from AI-powered personalization and connected ecosystems to evolving business models and digital wellness strategies. One Powerful Quote: 34:03: "When you do, even though you don't understand, it forces you to understand and learn." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 2:09: Hugo speaks on the evolving demands of an increasingly tech-driven fitness landscape. 6:18: Henrik speaks on high quality, member-centric fitness experiences and how technology enhances gym operations without losing the premium, personal touch. 10:08: Bryan speaks on AI-driven platforms collecting vast amounts of user data and how the industry will manage innovation with ethical considerations and data privacy concerns. 15:14: Magdalena speaks on traditional gym operators adapting to the rise of hybrid fitness models. 18:30: Hugo speaks on how AI-driven insights and predictive analytics can help gyms improve member retention and experience. 24:41: The panel speaks on operators balancing automation and human interaction to retain their brand identity. 31:21: Bryan speaks on coming together to create a stronger, more inclusive industry. 35:11: Magdalena speaks on call to action challenges fitness and wellness leaders need to embrace with technology and innovation. 36:52: Henrik and Bryan speak on the industry working together to create a more connected and seamless user experience. 41:59: Hugo speaks on AI and fitness tech better serving corporate wellness initiatives to boost employee health and productivity. 45:13: Henrik, Bryan, and Magdalena address an audience question on tackling the motivation challenges faced by gym members, emphasizing the strategic role of technology in driving engagement and consistency. Bullet List of Resources: https://www.benefitsystems.pl/en https://primetime-fitness.de/ https://virtuagym.com/ https://www.fibo.com/ Guest Contact Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hans-muench-653346a/ https://x.com/Lazarusmunich https://www.hans-muench.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/magdalena-szwed-5504469a/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/henrik-gockel-6b234069/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugobraam/ https://x.com/hugobraam https://www.bryankorourke.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankorourke/ http://www.fittechcouncil.org/ https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163

21 Huhti 50min

ROOK: Data Integration & Its Utility In Our Industry With Marco Benitez

ROOK: Data Integration & Its Utility In Our Industry With Marco Benitez

This week on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes Marco Benitez to the show. Marco is the CEO & Founder of ROOK, a wearable API that transforms health data and empowers apps and software with actionable insights. ROOK easily processes and embeds data from hundreds of wearables with single integration and shares access to deeper understanding and more actionable insights that allows users to make more informed decisions, find better solutions, and drive innovation. Today, Marco joins Bryan to talk about his business, data usage, and the implications on our industry. One Powerful Quote: 15:36: "The alignment between healthcare and fitness is the new name of wellness. Wellness is prevention." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 2:50: Bryan asks Marco about his background and his business, ROOK. 10:34: Bryan inquires with Marco about unifying data standards as the biggest opportunity and challenge for health. 13:46: Bryan and Marco talk about the delivery system of healthcare and benefitting from data collection. 19:58: Bryan and Marco talk about ROOK. 22:25: Marco shares his pearls of wisdom to the listeners. Bullet List of Resources: https://www.tryrook.io/ https://beyondactiv.com/ Guest Contact Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcobzg/ https://www.bryankorourke.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankorourke/ http://www.fittechcouncil.org/ https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163

15 Huhti 25min

Elevating Lead Gen. Marketing, Tech, & Data With Mike Arce

Elevating Lead Gen. Marketing, Tech, & Data With Mike Arce

This week on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes Mike Arce to the show. Mike is the CEO & Founder of Loud Rumor, which helps fitness studios dramatically increase membership by improving their marketing strategies through consulting. Today, Mike joins Bryan to talk about his business, lead generation marketing, implemented technology, and other implications around fitness operations. One Powerful Quote: 34:57: "If you gamble, you're just playing off feeling, but if you play the game, you do the right moves, and you live with the results." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:11: Bryan opens the show with Mike talking about his work experience. 7:31: Bryan and Mike talk about technology tools, changes in business development, and defining successful marketing. 30:37: Mike shares his thoughts on understanding contextual data for your business. Bullet List of Resources: https://www.loudrumor.com/ Guest Contact Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikearcelive/ https://x.com/MikeArceLive https://www.bryankorourke.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankorourke/ http://www.fittechcouncil.org/ https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163

25 Maalis 40min

Upcoming Industry Events & Other Insights With Hans Muench

Upcoming Industry Events & Other Insights With Hans Muench

This week on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes back Hans Muench to the show. As the Director of International Development at FIT-C, he leads the council's efforts to grow the fitness industry, improve fitness user experience, and mature the collection of real-time wellness data through the creation of interoperability standards for technology-based fitness devices. With over 35 years of experience in the health and fitness sector, Hans has a deep understanding of the global trends, challenges, and opportunities in this dynamic and evolving industry. Today, Hans joins Bryan to talk about the industry's upcoming events, European fitness trends, and using AI tools for presenting truthful information. One Powerful Quote: 14:36: "Truth is much more difficult to present than fact and information in general because so much of it is junk." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:00: Bryan and Hans talk about upcoming industry events happening. 6:48: Hans shares his observations on European fitness trends. Bryan comments on the top operators marrying technology integration with super talent. 9:00: Hans shares an example on tech integration best serving customers, and Bryan gives his thoughts. 11:33: Bryan inquires with Hans about Google's NotebookLM and other AI tools. 14:25: Bryan and Hans talk about using information networks to discern truth. Bullet List of Resources: https://hub.healthandfitness.org/hfa-show https://www.fibo.com https://www.europeactive.eu/ehff https://fitchandfameetup.rsvpify.com https://notebooklm.google/ Guest Contact Information: https://www.hans-muench.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/hans-muench-653346a/ https://x.com/Lazarusmunich https://www.bryankorourke.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankorourke/ http://www.fittechcouncil.org/ https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163

6 Maalis 17min

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