Show Up Fitness cover art
ActiveHealth & WellnessUnited States

Show Up Fitness

Hosted by Up Fitness

A blunt, business-focused podcast for personal trainers who want to skip the textbook and learn how to make money and get results.

The brief

This is a direct-to-camera monologue and marketing channel for Chris Hitchko's fitness education company. He uses a whiteboard and a confrontational style to deconstruct traditional certifications like NASM and sell his own system. The show's core philosophy is that hands-on experience, business acumen, and practical programming are more valuable than the theoretical knowledge tested by mainstream certifications.

Its primary distinction is its relentless, contrarian attack on the established fitness certification industry, particularly NASM. Unlike academic or interview-based shows, this is a highly opinionated, business-first playbook delivered with blunt force, focusing on revenue and client results over theoretical science.
— What makes it distinctive
§1 · The host

Who hosts this show

Chris Hitchko, a Kinesiology graduate and author, hosts this podcast as the marketing arm for his Show Up Fitness (SUF) certification. He aggressively critiques mainstream fitness education, advocating for a hands-on, business-oriented approach to personal training. The show focuses on practical skills for program design, client acquisition, and career longevity, arguing that 90% of trainers quit in the first year due to a lack of these skills.

AI-extracted bio · help us verify· Source: gemini-video-grounded

Credentials & credits

  • B.S. Kinesiology, California State University Chico
  • Author, 'How to Become A Successful Personal Trainer Vol. 2'
  • Founder, Show Up Fitness
  • Creator, SUF-CPT Certification
  • Internships in Cardiac Rehab and Physical Therapy

Other ventures

  • Show Up Fitness In-Person & Online Internships
  • SUF Nutrition Coach (SUF-NC) Course
  • SUF Soft Tissue Mobilization (SUF-STM) Course
  • Weekend Seminars with Life Time Fitness
  • Show Up Fitness Gyms (e.g., Santa Monica)
§2 · Classification

What kind of podcast

Region
usa
§3 · Cadence & catalog

When new episodes drop

§3b · Editor's picks

Notable episodes

AI-extracted picks + commentary · help us verify
  1. 01
    How to Train Small Groups & Semi Private Clients

    Provides a specific, actionable business model and programming template (the 'CCA' method) for trainers to increase their revenue.

  2. 02
    PASS NASM FAST 2026 w/ TUTORING

    This episode is a perfect encapsulation of the show's core thesis: attacking mainstream certifications and promoting a faster, 'smarter' alternative.

  3. 03
    How to make 125k as a Personal Trainer

    Clearly outlines the host's three-part philosophy for success: gaining hands-on experience, building an expert network, and 'looking the part'.

§4 · Signature

What you'll be asked on this show

AI-extracted from recent episodes · help us verify
How Up Fitness interviews

The format is typically a solo-cast with Hitchko teaching directly to the camera, often using a whiteboard to illustrate concepts like program design and business strategy. His delivery is fast, confident, and critical, using recurring templates like the "CCA" (Core, Core, Accessory) model. Episodes frequently end with his signature sign-off, "Big biceps are better than small ones. Keep showing up."

Questions Up Fitness keeps coming back to

  • Are you currently training people?
  • Are you in the best shape of your life? If not, why?
  • What are your current frustrations with studying for the NASM exam?
  • Are you charging what you're worth?
  • Do you have DPTs (Doctors of Physical Therapy) and RDs (Registered Dietitians) in your network?
  • How many pushups can you do?
  • What's your mile time?
  • What can you do to better your physique?
  • When a client asks about price, what can you afford?

Signature segments

  • · Closing catchphrase: "Big biceps are better than small ones. Keep showing up."
  • · The "CCA (Core, Core, Accessory)" programming template.
  • · Aggressive critiques of mainstream certifications like NASM.
  • · Emphasis on hands-on learning vs. textbook study.
  • · Using a whiteboard to teach concepts.

Topics covered repeatedly

Personal trainer business developmentCritiques of fitness certifications (NASM, ACE, ISSA)Small group and semi-private training modelsProgram design (CCA template, periodization)Passing certification exams (NASM, CSCS) quicklyThe importance of a trainer's physique ('looking the part')Nutrition coaching and fat loss principlesCore movement patterns and exercise selectionNetworking with medical professionalsClient assessment and sales strategies
§5 · Guests

Who gets booked here

AI-extracted guest list + profile · help us verify
Typical guest

While the show's description mentions expert guests, recent episodes are primarily solo lectures by Hitchko. When guests do appear, they are typically successful trainers, registered dietitians (RDs), and doctors of physical therapy (DPTs) who align with the host's hands-on philosophy.

Recent guests
  • Heather Gregory
    on PASS NASM FAST 2026 w/ TUTORING | SUF has helped 10,000 people pass who can't get a refund
§6 · Channels & links

Where to find this show

§7 · Stats

Audience & reach

YouTube · first-party
Subscribers
106K
106,000
Avg views / video
8.8K
Trailing window
Total views
3.9M
3,918,085
Videos published
1,754
Sponsor readEstimated

The podcast is entirely self-promotional and serves as a lead generation funnel for Show Up Fitness. Every episode promotes the SUF-CPT, Nutrition, or Soft Tissue courses, as well as Hitchko's book. He leverages partnerships with gyms like Life Time and Equinox as a key selling point, promising interview opportunities for his graduates.

AI-extracted sponsor read · help us verify

Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.

§8 · Contact

Pitch Up Fitness

Sign-in required
Verified contact
Host / booking email
i•••@•••.com

Free: limited reveals · Pro: unlimited reveals + CSV export
You’re only charged when we return a verified hit.

§9b · FAQ

People also ask

AI-extracted researched answers · help us verify
What is the host's real name?
The host and founder of Show Up Fitness is Chris Hitchko.
What is the Show Up Fitness podcast about?
It's a podcast for personal trainers that focuses on the business and practical skills needed for a successful career, often criticizing traditional textbook certifications.
Is the SUF-CPT certification accredited?
No, Show Up Fitness is not associated with major certifying bodies like NASM or ACE, and positions itself as a practical alternative to them. It provides study guides to help students pass those exams while teaching its own methodology.
What is the format of the show?
The show is primarily a solo-cast with Chris Hitchko speaking directly to the audience, often using a whiteboard. He occasionally features co-presenters or guests.
Where can I listen to the podcast?
The podcast is available as video on the Show Up Fitness YouTube channel.
Last updatedJun 29, 2026Not yet host-verified
Research depthDeep dossierHigh confidence · Jun 29, 2026 · gemini-2.5-pro

Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.

§9c · Methodology

Sources & how this page was built

This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence

  1. [01]About – Show Up Fitness LAshowupfitnessla.com
  2. [02]FAQs – Show Up Fitness LAshowupfitnessla.com
  3. [03]The Show Up Fitness Podcastpodcasts.apple.com
  4. [04]How to Become a Successful Personal Trainer Volume 2amazon.com
  5. [05]Meet Chris Hitchko of Show Up Fitness in Santa Monica - Voyage LA Magazinevoyagela.com
  6. [06]Show Up Fitness (Official Website)showupfitness.com
  7. [07]Who is Show Up Fitness SUF-CPT (YouTube)youtube.com
More to explore

Podcasts like Show Up Fitness

Shallu Nisha Podcast

Shallu Nisha

A long-form interview podcast exploring the careers and business of North Indian digital creators, artists, and entrepreneurs.

454K subs· Daily· India
Health & WellnessPolitics

Donovan Sharpe

Donovan Sharpe

A confrontational live-stream show focused on dating, masculinity, and current events from a "Red Pill" perspective.

172K subs· Daily· United States
FinanceHealth & WellnessRelationships

Supertalks by themovingship

Raghav Sharma

A long-form Indian podcast exploring spirituality, metaphysics, and personal growth through deep conversations with gurus, doctors, and thinkers.

1.7M subs· Daily· India
BusinessMarketingHealth & Wellness

Voice of Mogasala | Telugu Podcast

Siva Kalyan

A serious Telugu podcast where host Siva Kalyan Mogasala interviews medical and professional experts to explain and debunk myths about pressing health and societal issues.

159K subs· Daily· India
BusinessHealth & WellnessAutomotive

The Senior Health Podcast

A health show for seniors offering simple, actionable exercises and habit changes based on the philosophy of "Japan's Oldest Doctor."

222K subs· ~3/week· United States
BusinessTechnologyHealth & Wellness

Madam Speaker

Madam Speaker

A South African talk show where a social activist helps guests and callers navigate trauma, relationship crises, and the path to self-love.

195K subs· Daily· South Africa
BusinessTechnologyHealth & Wellness

Social Copyright By Shweta Jaya

Zee Media

A senior Indian journalist confronts controversial social, political, and religious topics through challenging, often confrontational, long-form interviews.

229K subs· ~6/week· India
Health & WellnessTrue CrimePolitics

Beyond Lifespan Podcast

Beyond Lifespan

Zwei deutsche Ärzte und Unternehmer erklären die Wissenschaft hinter Langlebigkeit, von Blutanalyse bis zu den molekularen Details von Nahrungsergänzungsmitteln.

7.1K subs· ~1.5/week· Germany
Health & Wellness