Season 8 of the IDEAfit Pro Show continues the Meet the Authors series with one of the fitness industry’s most dynamic educators and advocates for inclusion—Rick Richey, 2022 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year, educator, entrepreneur, podcast host, and founder of Independent Training Spot.
Host Amy Boone Thompson sits down with Rick for a candid and inspiring conversation about building opportunity in the fitness industry, creating spaces where everyone belongs, and redefining what success looks like as a fitness professional.
In this episode, Rick shares his unconventional path into fitness—from aspiring Power Ranger and stunt performer to internationally respected educator and business owner. Along the way, he reveals how injuries, curiosity, mentorship, and a willingness to take chances shaped his career and ultimately inspired his mission to make fitness more inclusive and accessible for all.
Rick’s chapter in Inspire the World to Fitness®, “Fitness Is for Every Body and Everybody,” explores why representation matters in fitness spaces and how professionals can create environments where more people feel seen, welcomed, and empowered to move.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn
• How Rick’s martial arts and performance background led him into fitness
• Why taking ownership of your career creates long-term opportunity
• The story behind Independent Training Spot and its innovative business model
• Why education and communication are essential leadership skills
• How IDEA and NASM helped shape Rick’s professional journey
• Why representation matters in gyms and fitness communities
• How inclusive hiring creates more welcoming environments
• Why movement—not weight loss alone—is critical for health outcomes
• The importance of helping clients feel safe, seen, and supported
• Advice for trainers considering entrepreneurship and gym ownership
Featured Guest
Rick Richey
2022 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year
Founder of Independent Training Spot
Co-Founder of Recover
Host of the NASM CPT Podcast
Educator, orthopedic massage therapist, and entrepreneur
Rick has spent more than two decades helping fitness professionals grow their careers while advocating for a more inclusive and accessible fitness industry.
From Power Ranger Dreams to Fitness Leadership
Rick opens the episode with one of the most memorable origin stories of the season.
As a teenager passionate about martial arts, gymnastics, and acrobatics, he dreamed of becoming a Power Ranger—or at least a stunt performer. After multiple injuries and surgeries shifted his path, he moved to New York City pursuing performance opportunities before unexpectedly discovering personal training.
That discovery changed everything.
What began as a way to combine movement, education, and connection eventually became a lifelong career that now includes:
• Fitness education and curriculum development
• Public speaking and global presentations
• Podcast hosting and media work
• Entrepreneurship and business ownership
• Mentorship and advocacy for fitness professionals
Creating Opportunity Through Ownership
One of the biggest themes in Rick’s chapter and this conversation is ownership.
Rick explains that career growth in fitness rarely “just happens.” Instead, professionals must actively seek opportunities, continue learning, and be willing to create solutions where gaps exist.
That mindset eventually led him to launch Independent Training Spot, a business model designed specifically for independent personal trainers.
Rather than opening a traditional gym with memberships, Rick created private training facilities where trainers can rent professional space while operating their own businesses independently.
The model allows trainers to:
• Build their own brands and client bases
• Avoid the massive overhead of owning a gym
• Access high-quality equipment and facilities
• Operate independently while reducing operational complexity
Today, Independent Training Spot has grown to six locations across New York City.
Key Takeaway for Entrepreneurs
Rick shares an important lesson for fitness professionals considering gym ownership:
Start independently before opening your own facility.
He explains that many trainers underestimate the financial, operational, and marketing demands of running a gym.
His advice:
Learn to build a business first—before taking on major overhead and facility expenses.
Why Representation Matters in Fitness
One of the most powerful moments in the episode centers on Rick’s chapter theme: representation.
Rick shares the story of a friend who became a group fitness instructor despite not fitting the stereotypical “fitness professional” image. Her classes attracted people who had previously felt uncomfortable or excluded from traditional fitness spaces.
That experience became transformational for Rick and shaped how he hires, mentors, and leads.
His message is clear:
People are more likely to participate in fitness when they see themselves represented in fitness spaces.
This includes representation across:
• Body size
• Age
• Race and ethnicity
• Gender identity
• Ability levels
• Backgrounds and lived experiences
Rick challenges fitness professionals and facility owners to think critically about who feels welcomed—and who may still feel excluded.
Movement Is Medicine
Another standout theme in the episode is Rick’s discussion around movement and health outcomes.
Drawing from his work studying sedentary behavior and diabetes education, Rick emphasizes that many health improvements occur independently of weight loss.
He explains that:
• Increased movement improves health markers
• Reducing sedentary time matters significantly
• Physical activity benefits people of all body sizes
• Movement itself is often the medicine—not just weight loss
This perspective reflects a broader shift happening throughout the fitness industry toward more inclusive, behavior-focused health models.
IDEA, Education & Community
Rick also reflects on how IDEA shaped his career journey.
From attending IDEA World for the first time to eventually becoming an IDEA award recipient and presenter, Rick describes IDEA as a place of inspiration, networking, mentorship, and connection.
He shares how the fitness industry thrives when professionals:
• Continue learning
• Share ideas openly
• Support one another’s growth
• Build community rather than competition
Advice for New Fitness Professionals
Rick offers practical guidance for trainers entering the industry:
• Don’t rush into gym ownership
• Focus on building your skills and business foundation first
• Learn how to market and network effectively
• Continue educating yourself
• Find opportunities to teach and communicate
• Build authentic relationships with clients and colleagues
• Remember that fitness should be accessible to everyone
Powerful Quotes
• “Fitness is for every body and everybody.”
• “Representation matters because it does matter.”
• “Movement is the medicine—not necessarily weight loss.”
• “Do what you can, not what you can’t.”
• “If you never change, you never change.”
About Inspire the World to Fitness®
Season 8 of the IDEAfit Pro Show accompanies the book Inspire the World to Fitness®, featuring stories from leaders who have shaped—and continue to shape—the global fitness industry.
The book highlights award-winning professionals sharing their journeys, leadership lessons, and insights for future generations of fitness professionals.
Learn more:
https://www.ideafit.com/inspire-the-world-to-fitness/
Listen & Connect
Explore IDEAfit Pro Show episodes:
https://www.ideafit.com/idea-podcasts/
Learn more about IDEA:
https://www.ideafit.com/
Connect with Rick Richey:
• Independent Training Spot
• NASM CPT Podcast
• NASM.org
• LinkedIn & Instagram: Rick Richey
Credits
IDEAfit PRO SHOW is hosted by Amy Boone Thompson, executive produced by Kent Lejarso, and engineered by Michael Hilding.
About IDEA® Health & Fitness Association
IDEA® Health & Fitness Association has served as the world’s leading organization of fitness and wellness professionals for more than 44 years. Through the award-winning IDEA Fitness Journal, global events, and hundreds of digital courses on ideafit.com, IDEA delivers world-class education to fitness professionals, business owners, and allied health professionals.
For more information:
www.ideafit.com
contact@ideafit.com
The IDEAfit PRO SHOW is part of the IDEA Podcast Network. Copyright 2026 by IDEAfit, Inc. All rights reserved.
