JP chats to new Executive Director of FitPro, Teresa Wheatley

JP interviews international educator, coach and retreat facilitator, Bec Dilizia, all about her journey from exercise physiologist, to holistic wellness coach. Specifically, they plot the points of health challenges, motherhood, career and personal self image and how embracing non traditional methods, and unifying them with mainstream understanding, can be enormously powerful in achieving success. An engaging discussion follows around energy, energy medicine and meridians, and how they can be understood and used by anyone, complete with examples for you to try. If you have ever wondered the link between energy, health and movement, this will go a long way to increase you interest!
Bec qualified as an Exercise Physiologist in 1999. She served in several different roles including corporate health assessments, onsite exercise coordinator on mine sites, worker’s compensation program delivery, personal training and insurance case manager. Wellness business owner/coach followed.
In recent years as a Holistic Wellness Coach, Bec has pursued education and experience in various other aspects affecting humans such as; the fascial system, the lymphatic system, meditation, energy medicine, essential oils and energy healing. Bec is an International presenter, educator and retreat facilitator. With passions for loaded movement, animal flow, daily ocean swims, personal growth and clean home cooking, Bec is an advocate for optimising life force energy. Mum to two beautiful boys, with an extended Italian family around her in Perth, Bec leads a “full but fulfilling” existence with gratitude.

Energy, meridians, motion and beyond- the fascinating ingredients to high function with Bec Dilizia

Join JP and Dr Perry and discover a little about what makes the doc tick, how his personal journey has taken him into new fields as a practitioner and why he does what he does. Most of us have heard of global industry presence, Dr Perry and his brand, Stop Chasing Pain. In this conversation, JP and Dr Perry riff off each other throughout a riveting discussion on how all systems are connected, with examples and stories to bring it all to life. We can get very ‘stuck’ in our passion for movement. This episode will broaden your mind and leave you wondering about your own experiences, and those with clients, for some time afterwards.
Perry Nickelston, DC, NKT, FMS, SFMA, 
Perry Nickelston, DC is a Chiropractic Physician with a primary focus on treating chronic pain and inflammation via the lymphatic and vascular systems. Owner of Stop Chasing Pain, LLC. International Speaker and Educator of the self-care MOJO series. Lymphatic Mojo, Blood Flow Mojo, Tongue Mojo, Glymphatic Mojo, Visceral Mojo, Vagus Nerve Mojo, Primal Movement Mojo. 
Author of the upcoming book Stop Chasing Pain: A Vital Guide To Healing Your Body, Moving Well, And Gaining Control Of Your Life. Dr. Perry specializes in Performance Enhancement, Corrective Exercise, and Metabolic Fitness Nutrition and is trained by The American College of Addictionology and Compulsive Disorders. He is an expert in myofascial, orthopedic, medical, and trigger point soft tissue therapy. A member of the Board of Directors and Medical Staff Advisor for AIMLA (American Institute of Medical Laser Application). 

Dr. Perry uses high-power Class 4 Deep Tissue Laser Therapy to decrease inflammation and pain and accelerate the natural healing process of the body. 
He is an expert in movement assessment and diagnosis. Certified and trained as a Functional Movement Specialist (FMS) and Selective Functional Movement Assessment Specialist (SFMA). He uses programs designed to find sources of non-painful dysfunction, so your site of pain improves. 

Dr. Perry’s mission is to EDUCATE individuals on how to help themselves (and others) to live a life free of chronic pain. 

After healing from a severe back injury and autoimmune disease, he decided to dedicate himself to offering these self-care approaches to others. He has devoted himself to understanding the systems of the body and what it takes to improve the health and well-being of each system so they may work synergistically together for optimal health and performance. 

He’s compiled his many years of education, hands-on experience, and research into educational programs that are both easy to follow and easy to apply; for anyone from the average person to the skilled professional. Dr. Perry is the designer of the Body Ecosystem Hierarchy (made up of the Mojo series), which is a self-treatment program whose sole purpose is to empower you to regain control of your life from chronic pain. 

He is a 1997 graduate of Palmer Chiropractic University and a master fitness trainer with over 25 years of experience in the health industry.

Your body is under no obligation to make sense to you, with Dr Perry Nickelston

In this episode, JP explores something which has, or will, affect us all, with grief counsellor, speaker and personal trainer, JoDee Coulter. In a conversation both deep and absorbing, they explore primary grief, and secondary grief - its obvious sibling - which everyone overlooks. They discuss how grief can affect us, but more importantly what we can do about it. And above all, WHO we can be for our clients, friends and family in times of grief. This exchange is peppered with knowledge bombs and realisations that will have you sitting back and reflecting for some time afterwards.
 
A little bit about JoDee…
JoDee Coulter is a Bereavement Coordinator Certified in Thanatology with 25 years experience working in the hospice setting.  She began her healthcare career as a Licensed and Board-Certified Music Therapist working with diversified populations prior to transitioning to hospice.
 
She finds fulfillment in supporting the bereaved in their grief utilizing the creative arts, as well as designing and facilitating support groups that meet the needs of her community. She also enjoys educating through presentations on topics such as this one today. 
 
She learned firsthand the role of a caregiver when her husband was diagnosed with a rare adult-onset form of muscular dystrophy (Kennedy’s Disease) just three years into their marriage.  She understands grief on many levels and the vital importance of self-care while being a caregiver
 
JoDee became certified as a personal trainer in 2018 for personal and professional reasons. She now combines her passions for fitness, grief, and holistic wellness to support and encourage caregivers; moreover, she works to inspire individuals who want to take their health to a new level. She wants everyone to know how much better you can feel when you move your body, eat well, and have an opportunity for self-expression.

MOVING THROUGH GRIEF: Types of Bereavement and what every coach should know

In this episode JP talks to global speaker, author and consultant, Amanda Bracks, all about the different layers of sales. As always with JP, there are candid personal reflections and interesting rabbit holes explored. They cover the nature of sales and selling, how it’s evolved over time, the essence of good selling, marketing and branding, why some of us are uncomfortable with the whole topic of sales, what we need to know in the technological era about ‘putting ourselves out there’, as well as what we need to remember has never changed in the nature of connecting over a common goal. Also, how do you adapt with the times, from someone who has been doing so for 30 years. There are gems in this exchange for both the seasoned marketer and the novice. Enjoy!

A little bit about Amanda… 
Amanda is an international speaker, trainer and business consultant training thousands around the world in UK, USA, India, China, NZ and Asia on business, fitness sales and lead generation and has authored 2 sales and marketing books. She has 30 years of industry experience as national marketing manager, national sales specialist, owning a wellness studio, managing leisure centres and big box health clubs. She has personally sold over 22,000 memberships and 1,000 PT packages. Amanda has received many accolades including NSW fitness manager of the year, Australian Club of the Year, Australian Fitness Boutique Studio of the Year and inducted into the prestigious Australian Fitness Industry Roll of Honour. She owns an online sales and fitness business training platform Fitness Management Training

Sales, Growth and Longevity in an ever-changing market with Amanda Bracks

Join JP in this riveting interview with Lionel University Global VP, Dan Duran. Coming from a 22 year career with the California Police Dept, almost wrecking himself with over-exercise and moving into the fitness industry, Dan has some fascinating stories (with lessons) to share with us all, including his amusing connection with Forrest Gump!
 
As an ultra triathlete, Dan has some sobering and inspiring stories about always moving forward, enjoying hallucinations and picking the right support team. However, it’s the lessons around challenge, success, failure and growth that really get you thinking.
 
On top of this, JP also draws out some incredible nuggets from Dan’s career as a leader, global educator, keynote speaker and vice president of global exercise brands, which can teach all of us something about performing well and how to have a rewarding career, at all levels, in our industry.
 
This is an eclectic listen, but the pure drive behind the man that is Dan Duran, befits the title of the podcast. 

Dan is the Vice-President of Lionel University Global, a college specializing in exercise science for the fitness industry.  He is also the chairman of the REX Roundtables for Leaders Personal Training Leadership Roundtable. He has over 30 years’ experience in training and training management including being a VP for two different global education companies, a health club owner and the Fitness Director for two large multi-use health clubs where his teams grew revenue exponentially. He is an international presenter and has presented in over 11 countries, specializing in topics such as personal training, leadership and resilience.
 
Prior to working in the private fitness industry, he worked for the state of California for 22 years, primarily in law enforcement, where he ultimately managed statewide training for all law enforcement officers and 200 trainers, including being the director and an instructor at a state police academy and adjunct faculty at several colleges for topics including physical fitness. Dan is an ultra-triathlete, having completed numerous Ironman’s, two Double Ironman’s, a Triple Ironman, and a Quintuple Ironman.  He currently competes in mountain ultra-endurance runs.

Never. Give. Up – lessons from life, law enforcement, a global industry career and quintuple Ironman

Another industry giant, Peter Twist, is the guest in this interview with JP. As a global influencer before social media even existed, and still in 2025, JP explores Peter’s journey through our industry from athlete, to student, to coaching professional team sports, having training facilities across Canada, creating a physical product line, advising the Olympic training approach for both winter and summer programs for the Chinese team, writing books, courses and so much more. Alongside this, JP and Peter talk about how high performance is so much more than physical training – covering brain, beliefs, attitudes, environment and philosophy. If you love understanding what it is to be human, training movement not muscles, and creating health and happiness, then you’re in for a treat!

Sport scientist, author, CEO. Peter Twist coached 11 years in NHL, Operated 12 Training Centers in 4 countries, TWIST Conditioning developed 20,000 college & high school athletes, 2,000 pro & Olympic athletes, including 5 major league MVPs. He also led modernization of training for China Olympic Program. Peter shifted the fitness and sport industries’ training paradigms when he introduced the world's first 3 Functional Training certification courses. He has authored 22 certification courses, built TWIST education and a product business to 330 global distributors. He’s also Under Armour's selected Global Education Partner and brought IDEA World to Shanghai China.
 
Incredibly, he has delivered 1,500 lectures, authored 20 books, 44 DVDs, was the recipient NSCA President's Award, IDEA Programmer of Year & Inspiration Awards, China's Most Inspiring in Fitness Award, CFP Presenter of the Year Award. Peter is a stage 4 cancer & stroke thriver inspiring keynotes speeches on Champion Mindset. In his spare time he enjoys hiking & skiing the mountains & rainforest on the west coast of Canada.

Getting Twisted – stepping outside the mainstream for health, movement and happiness

In this episode, JP talks to Karen Mahar, one half of the dynamic global brand that is Animal Flow. His mission in this conversation was to get at what it takes as a person, and as a professional, to become known and significant in a crowded marketplace; the decisions that need to be made; the humility needed in a partnership; the drive and energy; and how we can leverage our personal experience and professional acumen to become a cutting edge, unique offering, established in 35 countries. This is an eye-opening interview, delving into a lot of ‘behind the scenes footage’ that is both deeply interesting and highly educational. Karen’s understanding and ability to communicate all the layers involved is a brilliant example of why most of us have heard of Animal Flow and many of us have sampled the modality. We can all take away something from this interview, whether we have a local, national or global brand.

Karen is the COO of Global Bodyweight Training and the Animal Flow brand, which she co-founded in 2010 and developed into an international fitness company with 20,000 instructors. She holds a PhD in Sociology, and prior to launching her fitness career was the director of the Institute of Homeless Studies in Miami, Florida. She's been a Board Member for numerous non-profit and quasi-governmental entities focused on issues of poverty and inequality, and is committed to making the world a better place in whatever she does.
After 30 years living in Miami, in 2016 she and her business partner embarked on a two year tour of moving to a new country every month as they developed the Animal Flow program around the world. Karen now lives in Denver Colorado, where she hikes, skis, and hangs out with her Bernese Mountain Dog.

Creating a global brand from a single idea – what it takes and where it comes from

Join JP and Maria Teresa as they discuss her journey from growing up in Mexico as the 10th child in a family of 11 children, and becoming an aerobics instructor at 15, through to being the driving force behind Zumba taking over as the leading dance fitness craze in Australia and New Zealand. As always, JP wants to know the guest’s journey and he draws out everything from how Latin names come to be (and are often so long!) through to why Maria Teresa had to graduate with a degree in marketing before she could follow her passion of dance and fitness. Then we learn the pathway that led to her international career spanning North America, Europe and Australia/NZ and for her to become the person who brought Zumba down under. They discuss the strength of the brand and why it’s so popular to this day, before moving on and discussing one of Maria Teresa’s other passions, Aqua fitness. With such a stellar and ongoing career across decades, the wisdom and nuggets of intellectual gold just keep coming in this episode. Enjoy this international story of success and what it can teach us all!
Maria Teresa Stone is a renowned fitness expert and entrepreneur with over 28 years of experience in the industry. Originally from Mexico, she began her journey in 1996, specializing in both group fitness and water-based fitness classes. Her career has taken her across the globe, leading master classes, training instructors, and presenting at international fitness conventions. In 2009, Maria Teresa was instrumental in the successful launch of Zumba® in New Zealand and Australia. Over the past 16 years, she has trained thousands of instructors throughout the Australasia Pacific region, earning widespread recognition for her leadership and impact. In 2016, her contributions were formally acknowledged when she was inducted into Fitness Australia's Roll of Honour. As co-founder of the online platform My Group Move, Maria Teresa provides essential training and ongoing support to group fitness instructors worldwide. A passionate advocate for holistic well-being, she is a certified health coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN). Based in New Zealand with her husband and two children, she continues to inspire women through Powerful YOU, her home workout program designed to empower and nurture both body and mind.
https://www.facebook.com/maria.t.stone

From 15yo aerobics instructor in Mexico to spearheading a global brand down under

This episode contains insights into a relatively new perspective on immune health that will really fascinate and engage you. JP and Dr Stewart discuss things we hear about in our profession on a daily basis – auto immune issues, allergies, food intolerance, symptoms that indicate deeper issues – and look into what actions are afoot in peoples immune systems that can lead to their problems. Are they dominant in a catabolic (TH1) pathway for example, and if so, where did it all start? It gets more interesting as they examine where initial ‘insults’ to immune health begin (mental, emotional and physical), where they lead if unchecked and just as importantly, what we can do about it through accessible changes in lifestyle. You’ll never look at stress, inflammation and the nervous system the same again!
Dr Stewart Gillespie is a functional medicine practitioner with over 20 years of clinical experience. 
Trained as an osteopath in London and a chiropractor in New York, Stewart has worked closely with Dr Eric Berg for 4 years – dealing with hormones and weight loss, as well as interpreting blood work & functional lab testing.
Stewart has also undertaken many training programs & mentorships, including learning from Charles Poliquin, Datis Kharrazian, Functional Medicine University & the Kalish Institute. 
Dr Stewart Gillespie is best-known for his expertise in the immune system & his quick, effective protocols based on the 7 different types of inflammation. He teaches this signature method to health professionals around the globe through live workshops and functional medicine mentorship programs.
Website: https://functionalmedicineservices.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/functionalmedicineservices/ and
IG Handle: @functionalmedicineservices & @drstewartgillespie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/functionalmedicineservices
 
How to learn more:
 
Functional Medicine Foundations Course (7 hours): https://functionalmedicineservices.com/course/foundations/
Inflammation Mastery Mentorship (10 Weeks): https://functionalmedicineservices.com/inflammation-mastery/
Functional Medicine Mentorship (6 months): https://functionalmedicineservices.com/mentorship/

The functional approach to immune health, inflammation and what it means for exercise professionals

As the driving force behind Women’s Fitness Education, Dani understands the effects of fitness and fitness culture on women as well as anyone. When JP discovered she had also competed in stage competitions in the past, he felt compelled to have the conversation no one seems to be having – are they good for you? Whilst this is a very much an ‘opinion piece’ and charts Dani’s journey into, and out of, competitions, and beyond, it does bring some important issues into the spotlight. And just as importantly, how can we support the mental and emotional ‘training’ required to get on stage, and handle the aftermath, alongside the incredible physical dedication of the sport.

Danielle Mondo is a passionate fitness professional with over 10 years of industry experience. Her journey began with a love of training that led her to compete in bodybuilding, earning the title of INBA Fitness Model Overall Winner in 2014. Inspired by her own transformation, Danielle became a personal trainer and spent a decade helping women build strength and confidence. Today, as the Student Success Manager and Educator at Women’s Fitness Education, she supports and empowers future female personal trainers through expert guidance, encouragement, and industry insight.

https://www.instagram.com/danielle_mondo?igsh=MTVvc3F0bzczNDQyNg==

Finding fitness, getting on stage and maintaining mental health in a culture of physical judgement

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Finding fitness, getting on stage and maintaining mental health in a culture of physical judgement

FitPro Podcast

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