What does it really take to become a great personal trainer?
According to Chris Smith, CEO of Fitness World, it starts with getting good at failure.

Before leading one of Canada’s largest gym companies, Chris was chasing a very different dream — becoming a professional football player. He trained three times a day. Ate nearly 12,000 calories. Met with scouts weekly. Hired an agent. Did the IQ testing, the physical testing, the blood, sweat and tears.
He did everything right.

And it still didn’t work out.

In this episode of Smittyville, we talk about what happens when the plan falls apart — and why that moment might be the most important turning point in your career.

If you’re a personal trainer trying to build a book of business, grow your income, or step into leadership, you’re going to face rejection. Missed sales. Clients who quit. Opportunities that don’t materialize.

That’s not a sign you’re failing. It’s part of the job.
If failure isn’t happening regularly, you’re probably not putting yourself out there enough.

This episode is about resilience, perspective, and why the trainers who last are the ones who learn to reframe setbacks and keep moving forward.
This is the stuff no one teaches you on the gym floor.

Welcome to Smittyville the smartest small town in fitness.
A podcast for personal trainers.

Hustle matters. There’s no way around it.

In this episode of Smittyville, we talk honestly about money and why effort, consistency, and hustle still play a major role in building a successful career as a personal trainer. This isn’t about grind culture or empty motivation — it’s about understanding how money works so your hard work actually leads somewhere.

Hosted by Chris Smith, CEO of Fitness World, and Krissy Vann, national television host and fitness journalist behind All Things Fitness and Wellness, this episode breaks down what it really takes for personal trainers to earn more, keep more, and use money as a tool for growth.

If you’re a personal trainer who loves what you do but wants your hustle to translate into stability, opportunity, and long-term success, this episode is for you.

Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming part of the fitness industry from workout programming to client communication and performance tracking. So where does that leave personal trainers?

In this episode of Smittyville, we break down what AI really means for the future of personal training — without the hype or fear. We talk about how technology is changing the role of the trainer, what AI can support, and what it can’t replace.

This episode is hosted by Chris Smith, CEO of Fitness World, who built his career from personal trainer to leading one of Canada’s largest fitness companies, and Krissy Vann, a national television host and fitness journalist behind All Things Fitness and Wellness. Together, they bring both operator-level insight and frontline training experience to the conversation.

You’ll also hear from a new voice in town — Bad Ass Betty, our audio AI co-host — offering AI’s perspective on how it fits into the personal training profession.

If you’re a personal trainer wondering whether AI is a threat, a tool, or an opportunity, this episode is for you.
🎙️ Trainer Tuesday
🏙️ Welcome to Smittyville — Population: trainers
#personaltrainers #personaltraining #gymlife