Exploring Your Career Path in Behavior Change, Featuring Darian Parker, PhD

Exploring Your Career Path in Behavior Change, Featuring Darian Parker, PhD

Author: IDEA Health and Fitness Association September 29, 2022 Duration: 41:00

Today, guest host Kia Williams, 2022 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year, has the mic. She welcomes Dr. Darian Parker, an NSCA-certified personal trainer, who earned his doctorate in sports education leadership with an emphasis on behavior modification from the University of Nevada–Las Vegas.

In their conversation, Kia and Dr. D explore many topics important to contemporary fitness pros as viewed through his expert lens and leadership experience. If you’re interested in the multi-faceted world of behavior change science and how you might enhance your skills and offerings with it, tune into this chat.

Dr. Parker has worked in both the academic and private club sectors in roles such as director of education for a career college, a general manager of a high-end luxury residential fitness club, and a national director of fitness for a global leisure management company. Dr. Parker was well ahead of the virtual curve that transformed our industry during the pandemic. He started a live virtual personal training business several years ago, through which he provides real-time personal training, coaching and behavior modification services for many prominent business leaders across the United States.

He is also the host of Dr. D’s Social Network, a podcast devoted to genuine, open, and honest conversations with people from all over the world. 

 Connect with Dr. Darian Parker  


Connect with IDEA® Health & Fitness Association  


IDEA upcoming events:


Enjoying our content? Become an IDEAfit Plus member and receive our award-winning IDEA Fitness Journal, the gold-standard publication of the fitness industry. We have membership options to meet your needs. Visit IDEAfit for more information.

Benefits included (varies by plan):

  • Unlimited CECs
  • Discounted health and liability insurance
  • Digital publications that focus on current challenges, nutrition and behavior change, and the latest insider fitness trends
  • Ungated access to over 15,000 fact-based articles from our award-winning editorial team
  • Access to deals and discounts from IDEA’s trusted partners.
  • Client NewsletterNewsletter - Hand curated email delivered monthly to your imported client list
  • Discounted IDEA events
  • FitPost - Hand curated content delivered seamlessly to your social channels
  • Program Builder - Build and deliver custom workouts for clients
  • 50% OFF Music Licensing with Vibes

IDEAfit Inspired Service: 800-999-4332

IDEAfit PRO SHOW is hosted by Madeleine McCormick, Digital Marketing Manager, ideafit.com; executive produced by Allyssa Ertz; produced and engineered by Michael Hilding. Copyright 2024 by IDEA Health & Fitness Association. All rights reserved.  

IDEA Health & Fitness Association is the world’s leading organization of fitness and wellness professionals and has been for more than 42 years. We deliver world-class content and continuing education to fitness professionals, business owners and allied health professionals via our publications, including the award-winning Fitness Journal; our fitness, business and nutrition conferences; and hundreds of streaming videos and online courses available on ideafit.com. Additionally, with IDEA FitnessConnect, we host the largest national industry-wide directory, linking over 275,000 fitness professionals to more than 40 million consumers. Through IDEA professionals in over 80 countries, we Inspire the World to Fitness™!  


Tune into the IDEAfit Pro Show for a weekly dose of real talk from the front lines of health and fitness. Designed for working trainers, coaches, and anyone serious about building a life in this industry, this podcast feels like an ongoing conversation with the sharpest minds you know. Each episode brings a different voice to the table-seasoned thought leaders, innovative program designers, and business-savvy influencers-all sharing what they’ve learned the hard way. The discussion naturally flows through the practical details that matter: how to structure a session for better client results, the evolving science behind effective nutrition, and the often-overlooked strategies for building a sustainable career. You’ll find consistent, generous insight here, moving beyond theory into the actionable steps that can refine your skills and grow your business. Whether you’re looking to deepen your understanding of exercise science or need fresh perspectives on client engagement, this series serves as a reliable resource. It’s more than just a podcast; it’s a professional tool for anyone committed to moving forward in the dynamic worlds of fitness, health, and nutrition.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

IDEAfit Pro Show
Podcast Episodes
Invest in Your Future Self with Kia Williams and Tatiana Kolovou [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:14
In this episode guest host Kia Williams, MS, speaks with Tatiana Kolovou, MBA, a 3-time trustees teaching award Senior Lecturer at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. She is also a fitness studio owner and a…
IDEA Personal Trainer Institute is BACK In Person, Baby! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:27
Today on the IDEAfit Pro Show, we welcome listeners back to Season 3, Episode 1 of the IDEAfit PRO SHOW! Today’s episode launches us into 2022 by talking to Marissa Piper, IDEA’s Director of Events, and Ryan Halvorson, I…
The Wait Is Almost Over! New Episodes Are Coming Your Way Next Week! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:21
Hello to our dedicated family of fitness pros around the world! The wait for new episodes is almost over. Next Thursday, we will resume our regular cadence of one new episode each week. We’ll explore everything from exer…
Check out this Pro Tip from IDEA Health & Fitness Association [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:37
Hey there to our fit pro family around the world! We’re just two weeks out from resuming the great conversations we had in the first 40 episodes of this podcast last year. While our team is taking a short break from publ…
IDEAfit+ Membership: Pro Tip 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:07
Hello to our fitness pro family around the world and thanks for tuning in to another episode of the IDEAfit PRO SHOW. We hope the year is off to a spectacular start and that you have made good progress on whatever goals…
2021 in Review for IDEA & the Fitness Industry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:52
Today, the IDEAfit Pro Show catches up with Amy Boone Thompson, IDEA’s owner and ceo.They take a look in 2021’s rearview mirror to recap the many initiatives IDEA rolled out to serve pros during another challenging pande…
Integrative Wellness: The Whole Person Approach [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:50
Today host Sandy Webster digs into some deep and fascinating topics with Dr. Jessica Matthews, who has been at the forefront of integrative coaching and transformational behavior change from its very early days. Recently…
Living Unapologetically, Imperfections and All [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:04
Today, the IDEAfit Pro Show interviews Petra Kolber, a fitness professional and leader who has shined her luminous spirit on our industry and on fitness consumers from the day she started leading classes. Petra is an aut…
IDEA Is Grateful for You! Happy Thanksgiving! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:52
Hello to our fitness pro family around the world and thanks for tuning in to another episode of the IDEAfit PRO SHOW. The team at IDEA Health & Fitness Association would like to wish you and yours a very happy, peaceful…