Dave Appel - A Tsunami Is Coming: What Gym Owners Need to Know About Peptide Deregulation

Dave Appel - A Tsunami Is Coming: What Gym Owners Need to Know About Peptide Deregulation

Author: Eric Malzone May 7, 2026 Duration: 58:04

Dave Appel, Chief Health & Wellness Officer at KORB Health and 35-year fitness industry veteran, joins Eric Malzone for a candid conversation on the collision of telehealth, GLP-1s, hormone replacement therapy, and the gym business model. Dave breaks down why the fitness industry can no longer afford to ignore the 80% of the population that doesn't identify as "fit," how GLP-1 medications like semaglutide are opening gym doors for people who never felt welcome in them, and what gym operators need to know right now before peptide deregulation reshapes the entire landscape. From KORB's partnerships with InShape Fitness and Fitness 19 to the future of pod-based, community-driven training environments, this episode is a masterclass in where preventative health and fitness are headed — and how smart operators can build a new revenue stream by getting ahead of it.


What You'll Learn:

  • 💊 Why GLP-1s like semaglutide and Ozempic aren't the enemy of fitness — they're the gateway drug to it
  • 🏋️ How gym operators can add a zero-capital-expenditure revenue stream through telehealth partnerships
  • 🌊 What the incoming peptide deregulation tsunami means for fitness businesses (and why ignoring it is dangerous)
  • 🤝 How InShape Fitness and Fitness 19 are integrating GLP-1 programs into their member experience
  • 🧠 The psychology behind why GLP-1 patients feel unwelcome in traditional gyms — and how to fix your messaging
  • 📱 Why telehealth is the future of medicine and how KORB's care-first model keeps patients retained for 8–10 months
  • 🏥 The difference between a "prescribe then educate" vs. "educate then prescribe" model — and why it matters
  • 👥 Dave's vision for the gym of 2030: pod training, matchmaking-style community groups, and no more "pain caves"
  • 💰 How the KORB rev share model works for fitness operators and why email open rates are surging with health content
  • 🎯 Why personal trainers who niche into GLP-1 coaching have a massive untapped opportunity right now

 

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Eric Malzone has spent over fourteen years working within the fitness world, and in his Future of Fitness podcast, he channels that experience into conversations that feel more like strategic planning sessions than simple interviews. Each episode connects you directly with the people actively reshaping what health and wellness mean today-founders launching disruptive tech, investors spotting the next big trend, and executives steering major brands through rapid change. The discussions move beyond workout tips to explore the real business of fitness, tackling how entrepreneurship intersects with wellbeing, what emerging technologies are actually viable, and where the industry might be headed next. This isn't about generic inspiration; it's a grounded look at the mechanics of moving an entire field forward. By listening, you gain access to unfiltered insights from those making decisions at the highest levels, all through the perspective of a host who is both a seasoned coach and a pragmatic business advisor. Tune in for a clear-eyed view of the innovation, challenges, and opportunities defining the modern fitness landscape.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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