Join host Jason Markowicz (CEO of Fitness Premier) and co-host Mike Orwig (Multi-Unit Franchisee) as they sit down with one of the youngest rockstars in the Fitness Premier system – Ricky Panfil.

Ricky is already a full-time personal trainer, group training leader, and rising leader inside his club. In this high-energy episode, Ricky opens up about:

• How he went from being a skinny high school kid to obsessing over fitness.
• How he got into Fitness Premier and tips on getting started.
• The moment he realized training people wasn’t just a job – it was his calling
• The client transformations that still give him chills (and sometimes make him tear up)
• His unapologetic mission to prove that age is just a number when you show up, work hard, and genuinely care
• Big goals for the future: from becoming a club manager to one day owning his own Fitness Premier locations

If you’re a young trainer wondering if you’re “too young” to make an impact, or if you just love stories of hungry, heart-driven people going all-in on what they love – this episode will fire you up.

Ricky Panfil is living proof that when passion meets work ethic, age doesn’t matter – results do.

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Keegan, Mike, and Jason's shout-outs to members and staff for the month of November!

In this inspiring episode of Beyond The Club, host Jason Markowicz (CEO of Fitness Premier) and co-host Mike Orwig (Multi-Unit Franchisee) sit down with Keegan Mraz, one of Fitness Premier’s standout franchise owners, club managers, and longtime fitness professional.

Keegan takes us back to where it all began: walking into a Fitness Premier club as a member years ago, falling in love with the community, the coaching, and the results-driven atmosphere. He shares the pivotal moments that turned a passionate member into a dedicated personal trainer, then club manager, and ultimately a franchise owner himself.

We dive deep into:

• Why training people lights him up more than anything else
• The mindset shift from "working a job" to building a business that changes lives
• The real-day-to-day rewards (and challenges) of owning and operating a Fitness Premier location
• How helping members hit their goals keeps him energized, even on the toughest days
• Advice to clients, members, and others looking to change their lives with fitness.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to turn your passion for fitness into a career and a business, this episode is for you. Keegan’s story is proof that the opportunities inside Fitness Premier go way beyond the club floor.

Subscribe to Beyond The Club wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode featuring the people who make Fitness Premier the fastest-growing fitness franchise in the Midwest!

Join Mike and Jason, fitness industry veterans, as they break down the secrets to thriving as a personal trainer and franchisee. From navigating gym culture to building a successful fitness business, this podcast delivers actionable insights, expert tips, and real-world strategies to dominate the fitness world.


Tune in for motivation, growth, and insider knowledge!

Kick off Beyond The Club with the episode that started it all. Hosts Jason Markowicz and Mike Orwig sit down—no guests, no filter—to unpack the raw blueprint of running a Fitness Premier location, the high-stakes leap into franchising, and the unlikely path that turned a school principal into a multi-unit fitness empire builder.

In this premiere episode, you’ll hear:

• The daily grind of a 24/7 club: Jason breaks down the systems that keep members coming back at 5 a.m. and 10 p.m.—from staff scheduling to the “wow” moments that turn visitors into lifers.
• Franchisee launch playbook: Step-by-step on site selection, build-out nightmares, grand-opening chaos, and the one metric that predicts long-term success.
• Mike’s pivot story: From ringing school bells to spotting benches—how a principal traded lesson plans for workout plans, became a top trainer, and scaled to multiple thriving clubs without losing the “why” that drives every rep.

This isn’t theory. It’s battle-tested truth from two leaders who’ve lived every role in the Fitness Premier ecosystem. Whether you’re eyeing your first franchise, optimizing an existing club, or just love a comeback story—Episode 1 is your foundation.

Available now. Hit play and let’s build something unstoppable.