Ali on the Run Show28 Helmi 2019

121. Anna Kaiser, Founder of AKT

"I've always been about working hard and going after things that you are excited about and passionate about and working your ass off. That's the only way to make it happen. No one else is going to make it happen for you." —Anna Kaiser

You may know Anna Kaiser as the creator, founder, and CEO of the dance cardio brand AKT. Maybe you've taken — and barely survived — her class, either in person or with AKT On Demand. Or maybe you recognize her from her professional dance days, performing on the Fame tour and dancing in the best movie ever, Enchanted. Or, let's be honest, maybe you know her as Kelly Ripa's workout BFF, or as the woman credited for keeping Shakira in shape.

On this episode, Anna talks about going from a wannabe opera singer in Zurich to an entrepreneur on the brink of opening 300 studios nationwide. She shares the mistakes, missteps, and challenges she's faced along the way, talks about why she wanted to improve upon the boutique fitness industry, and opens up about how becoming a mom two years ago changed her at home, in the studio, and beyond.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your wireless headphone endurance bundle!

What you'll get on this episode:

What were Young Anna's dreams for the future? (3:00)
Anna reflects on her college experience and explains why it wasn't everything she'd hoped it would be (8:15)
Why Anna decided to move on from the dance world (12:00)
How AKT was born, and how Anna stood out in the boutique fitness industry (15:00)
How Anna became fitness BFFs with Kelly Ripa (21:00)
How Anna has cultivated an empowering community (22:50)
Why Anna decided to franchise (25:45)
How Anna become business savvy, and the bad business decisions she's made along the way (31:25)
Anna's take on the state of the fitness industry, now and in the future (34:30)
Anna opens up about motherhood, including returning to work post-birth, having help, and "balance" (39:45)
Does Anna have any insecurities? Plus, what she says she's proudest of (46:30)

What we mention on this episode:

EDGE Performing Arts Center

AKT On Demand

Xponential Fitness

The Milling Room

Follow Anna:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(910)

907. Alana Levy, 2:34 Marathoner

"I think one of my biggest problems is I finish every race and think, 'I think I can go faster!'" If you follow the sport, you probably recognize Alana Levy. The New York City-based runner and member ...

29 Syys 1h 27min

906. Marathon Talk, Best Running Friends Edition

"Don't let anyone or anything make you feel like less of a runner." There's a chill in the air. It's officially fall. And that means it's officially fall marathon season. Whether you're gearing up for...

24 Syys 1h 20min

905. Arielle Chernin, Brookline Food Pantry Operations Manager & 3:02 Marathoner

"It's running friendship in true form. We would not otherwise be friends. We're different ages, our kids are different ages, we live completely different lifestyles. She's as organized and type A as i...

22 Syys 1h 9min

904. Cody Rigsby, Peloton Instructor

"But I'm really grateful. I had so much time to make mistakes, look stupid, look cringe, not know what I'm doing — so that when the opportunity arose, I was ready to go. I knew who I was, and I was re...

17 Syys 1h 13min

903. Caroline Moss Wants to Run a Marathon (?), Episode 4

"Sometimes you've gotta just get a little messy." Caroline Moss has long had a dream: to run the New York City Marathon. As a New Yorker, it's her favorite day of the year. The catch: Caroline has nev...

3 Syys 1h 36min

902. Tara Rincón, News 12 Long Island Senior Content Producer

"It's such a rewarding job because you're working on things that affect your actual community. Some of the big stories are down the road from my house." When Tara Rincón was in college, she needed an ...

27 Elo 1h 19min

901. No Stupid Questions: The TMI Episode, with Ashley Desanno

"Don't let bodily things make you not show up." Welcome to the fourth episode in a new series on the Ali on the Run Show called "No Stupid Questions." This is where experts come in to answer everythin...

20 Elo 1h 5min

900. My 2026 SeaWheeze Recap

"The days leading up to this race were rough, and the days after have been bright and full of sunshine." For the first time since 2019, lululemon's SeaWheeze half marathon and festival were so back! I...

18 Elo 1h 27min