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

 

OUR SPONSORS:

🔗 Perfect Gym: https://www.perfectgym.com/en 

🔗 eGym: https://egym.com/int 

 


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

Future of Fitness
Podcast Episodes
Dan Garner - Vitality Blueprint & The Business of Bloodwork [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:18
In this conversation, Eric Malzone and Dan Garner explore the evolving landscape of health and fitness, emphasizing the importance of Vitality over traditional metrics of health. Dan shares his extensive experience worki…
Kyle Jones - iCRYO & The Future of Longevity Franchising [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:48
In this conversation, Eric Malzone interviews Kyle W. Jones, CEO and co-founder of iCryo, discussing the evolution of the wellness and recovery industry, particularly focusing on cryotherapy and its expansion into a medi…
David Meltzer - Leveraging The Fitness Industry's Transformation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:26
In this engaging conversation, David Meltzer shares his mission to empower a billion people to be happy through community building and content creation. He discusses the evolution of the fitness industry, emphasizing the…
Emma Barry - Gen Z & Massive Systemic Change [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:32
In this conversation, Eric Malzone and Emma Barry explore the evolving landscape of the fitness and wellness industry, discussing the impact of technology, generational shifts, and the need for a rebranding of the indust…
Brad Kearns - Rethinking Longevity-based Fitness Programming [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:41
In this conversation, Eric Malzone and Brad Kearns discuss the evolution of fitness, the flaws in traditional endurance training, and the importance of a balanced approach to health and fitness. Brad shares his journey f…
Noosheen Hashemi  - January AI & Scalable Metabolic Health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:20
In this conversation, Nosheen Hashemi, CEO of January AI, discusses the revolutionary approach of integrating AI with metabolic health and nutrition. She shares her personal journey into the health tech space, the emerge…
Jenn Pishko - The CrossFit Medical Society [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:44
Eric Malzone and Jenn Pishko had a fascinating conversation about the connection between fitness and healthcare, particularly through the work of the CrossFit Medical Society. They talked about how healthcare has evolved…
Rick Richey - The State of Personal Training [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:13
In this engaging conversation, Eric Malzone and Rick Richey explore the evolving landscape of the fitness industry, focusing on personal training, gym ownership, and the challenges faced by independent trainers. Rick sha…
Andrew Menter - Physmodo - The New Movement in Movement [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:27
In this conversation, Eric Malzone interviews Andrew Menter, CEO and founder of Physmodo, discussing the evolution of movement assessment in fitness. Andrew shares his personal journey as an athlete and entrepreneur, hig…

«1...678910