The Live Fierce Podcast, where fitness, business, and community collide. This is the unfiltered story behind building a movement. The highs, the lows, and the hard lessons that shaped W.O.L.F. Gyms into more than just a gym.
Each episode dives into the process, from building a brand and facing setbacks to the discipline and mindset that fuel real growth inside and outside the gym walls. Guided by our four pillars. Honor, Integrity, Community, and Commitment, we talk about what it really means to lead, to belong, and to keep pushing forward when things get tough.
Whether you’re an athlete chasing your next goal or an entrepreneur building something from the ground up, this is your inside look at what it takes to earn it, every day.
Dave Bautista didn't need another business. He's an established actor with plenty of income streams already. So why did he get personally involved with W.O.L.F. Gyms as an owner? In this conversation with Cale Owen, Dave talks about finding W.O.L.F. Gyms by accident, what made him stay, and why the brand's four pillars, Honor, Integrity, Community, and Commitment, are what actually convinced him to put his name behind it.
If you're looking for a gym that feels like a community instead of a factory belt, find your nearest W.O.L.F. Gyms location
Interested in franchising with W.O.L.F. Gyms?
Website (https://wolffitnessgyms.com/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wolf_gyms?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wolffitnessbrigantine)
11 May 2026
From Handshake to Wolf Pack: Building Mullica Hill with Mike Becktel
Mike Becktel didn't come into Wolf Gyms looking for a franchise. He came in trying to buy the original location.
In this episode of the Live Fierce Podcast, Tony Saxby sits down with Mike — W.O.L.F. partner, Mullica Hill
owner, and now Area Developer for New Jersey and Pennsylvania — to talk about how a retired Wall Street
career, a chance gym membership in Brigantine, and a gut feeling turned into one of the most successful
locations in the Wolf system.
They get into:
• How Mike went from wanting to buy the original gym to becoming a franchise partner
• What it really took to renovate Mullica Hill while keeping the gym open
• Why community isn't a marketing word — it's the whole model
• The $43K water heater, the $70K HVAC, and every financial surprise in between
• What made becoming an Area Developer a no-brainer decision
• Where Wolf is headed in the next 2–5 years
If you're thinking about owning a gym, investing in a franchise, or you just want to understand what building
something real actually looks like — this one's for you.
Website (https://wolffitnessgyms.com/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wolf_gyms?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wolffitnessbrigantine)
18 Mar 2026
Women of W.O.L.F.: Strength Beyond the Gym
This episode of the Live Fierce Podcast highlights the women behind W.O.L.F., the leaders, builders, and voices shaping the culture from the inside out.
From rebuilding failing gyms to opening new locations under pressure, these women share what it really takes to lead, grow, and create something meaningful in an industry that hasn’t always made space for them.
This isn’t just about fitness.
It’s about resilience, ownership, community, and stepping into something bigger despite fear, setbacks, or doubt.
If you’ve ever questioned whether you could build something of your own, this conversation answers that.
Website (https://wolffitnessgyms.com/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wolf_gyms?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wolffitnessbrigantine)
13 Jan 2026
From Cell Phones to Full-Time Creators: The Visual Brothers Story
This episode isn’t about overnight success or going viral.
It’s about two guys who picked up cameras, kept showing up, and slowly turned something they loved into something that could actually support their lives.
We talk about where The Visual Brothers really started, shooting on phones, learning by failing, doubting themselves, and saying yes before they felt ready. We get into the uncomfortable parts: money stress, imposter syndrome, working multiple jobs, and what it feels like to finally make the jump to full-time creative work when there’s no safety net.
We also talk about why community matters more than clout, why physical prints mean something in a digital world, and what it’s like to build a creative career without pretending you have it all figured out.
No motivation talk. No “10 steps to success.”
Just an honest conversation about work, art, risk, and sticking with something long enough to see it change you.
Website (https://wolffitnessgyms.com/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wolf_gyms?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wolffitnessbrigantine)
5 Jan 2026
Rebuilding North Wales: Inside a W.O.L.F. Gym Turnaround | Dannyswole
In this episode of the Live Years Podcast, we sit down with Danny and Carm, owners of the North Wales, Pennsylvania W.O.L.F. Gym, to break down one of the most honest gym ownership journeys we’ve ever shared.
They didn’t inherit a thriving facility. They walked into a failed gym with zero members, broken systems, unpaid bills, angry locals, and equipment held together by hope. What followed was months of uncertainty, personal financial risk, sleepless nights, and a relentless commitment to doing things the right way, even when it hurt.
This conversation covers:
Taking over a failed gym and rebuilding trust from scratch
What it really costs — emotionally and financially — to bet on yourself
Why community matters more than equipment
How setbacks, stress, and fear shaped a stronger foundation
The moment it all started to click
What success actually looks like after year one
This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s a raw, behind-the-scenes look at leadership, resilience, and why building a gym is really about building people.
Website (https://wolffitnessgyms.com/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wolf_gyms?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wolffitnessbrigantine)
29 Dec 2025
From Losing a Gym to Building a Legacy | Joe LaCerra
In this episode of the Live Fierce Podcast, we sit down with Joe LaCerra for one of the most raw and meaningful conversations we’ve had.
Joe shares his journey from owning and ultimately losing his first gym, to navigating financial pressure, new fatherhood, and the uncertainty that comes when everything feels like it’s on the line. Instead of folding, he rebuilt, joining W.O.L.F. Gyms, leading multiple locations, and now preparing to open W.O.L.F. Mays Landing, bringing his story full circle.
We talk about:
The reality of shutting down a business
Leadership without ego and why titles don’t define impact
Fatherhood as a catalyst for discipline and clarity
Rebuilding trust—in yourself and in others
Natural bodybuilding, competitive drive, and longevity
Why community is the true foundation of success
This episode is about resilience, responsibility, and choosing growth when quitting feels justified. If you’re building something, rebuilding your life, or standing at a crossroads—this conversation is for you.
Website (https://wolffitnessgyms.com/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wolf_gyms?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wolffitnessbrigantine)
22 Dec 2025
From Member to Operator. Jason Tarantino
In this episode, we sit down with Jason Tarantino, Director of Operations at W.O.L.F. Gyms, to unpack what it really takes to build, scale, and sustain a gym franchise from the inside.
Jason shares his full journey—from being a member at the very first W.O.L.F. location, to working the front desk, walking away from a finance career, and ultimately becoming one of the key leaders behind franchise operations nationwide. We dive deep into what separates thriving locations from struggling ones, the traits of great general managers, and why work ethic, ownership mentality, and genuine care matter more than flashy strategies.
We also cover:
What franchise partners often underestimate
Why “going all in” is non-negotiable
How leadership, incentives, and accountability drive results
The realities of scaling a gym brand the right way
Lessons learned from building multiple locations from the ground up
Website (https://wolffitnessgyms.com/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wolf_gyms?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wolffitnessbrigantine)
15 Dec 2025
W.O.L.F. Gyms x Few Will Hunt
In this episode of the Live Fierce Podcast, we sit down with Joey Bowen of Few Will Hunt to talk about what it really means to build something that lasts.
From rejecting shortcuts to building community before profit, this conversation breaks down entrepreneurship, responsibility, leadership, and why values matter more than hype.
This episode explains why the W.O.L.F. Gyms × Few Will Hunt partnership isn’t transactional, it’s foundational.
Website (https://wolffitnessgyms.com/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wolf_gyms?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wolffitnessbrigantine)
8 Dec 2025
The W.O.L.F. Inner Circle
In this episode, we strip away the fluff and walk through how the W.O.L.F. leadership team was built, from day-one hires grinding in the early gyms to bringing on partners like Dave Bautista, top-tier operators, and world-class legal minds.
This isn’t a “business theory” episode. It’s the real story of trust earned over years, handshake deals that actually mean something, calling each other out when it matters, and knowing exactly who you want beside you when the stakes get high.
They break down:
• Why loyalty and integrity still matter more than talent
• How to hire people who challenge you instead of yes-men
• The role of values in scaling a brand without watering it down
• Dave Bautista’s unexpected entry into the W.O.L.F. Gyms
• Why the right leadership team becomes your biggest competitive advantage
If you’re building a business, leading people, or trying to scale without losing your soul, this conversation gives you the blueprint.
Website (https://wolffitnessgyms.com/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wolf_gyms?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wolffitnessbrigantine)
1 Dec 2025
The $1.2M Lesson.
Turned into a year long grind of delays, SBA stall outs, budget explosions, and nonstop problem-solving.
We cover how a $700K project ballooned to nearly $1.2M, why a supposedly “16-week” SBA process dragged on for nine months, and how contractor and landlord slowdowns created a domino effect that pushed our opening back again and again.
More importantly, we talk through the responsibility side: why we owned the delays, how we protected our franchise partners, and what we’re giving back to the community that stuck with us while nothing in the space was moving.
You’ll hear:
The real SBA loan process
How to negotiate with landlords when the math stops making sense
What to do when your project timeline collapses
Why honoring your community matters more than hitting a launch date
The financial strategy that keeps you alive during setbacks
If you’re thinking about opening a gym, franchising, or taking out an SBA loan, this is the episode that shows the part no one wants to talk about. It’s transparent, uncomfortable, and necessary and it’s exactly how this business actually works.
Website (https://wolffitnessgyms.com/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wolf_gyms?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wolffitnessbrigantine)
24 Nov 2025
Why Gym Equipment Makes or Breaks a Gym
You’re going to pay for equipment, the only question is if you’re paying once or paying twice.
Most gym owners obsess over marketing and overlook the one thing their members interact with more than anything: the equipment. In this episode, we break down why equipment isn’t just a purchase, it’s a philosophy, a safety decision, a brand differentiator, and the first impression that decides whether someone stays or leaves.
From 40-year-old restoration pieces to relationships with Arsenal, Bolt, and other top vendors, to the simple reality that people quit when they’re confused or embarrassed, they walk through the real framework behind curating a gym that people actually love training in.
If you’re building a gym, scaling a franchise, or even just curious how Wolf Gyms keep outperforming big corporate brands. . . this is the blueprint.
Website (https://wolffitnessgyms.com/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wolf_gyms?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wolffitnessbrigantine)
17 Nov 2025
How We Turned a Dying Gym Into a Movement
In this episode of the Live Fierce Podcast, we break down the unfiltered origin story of the very first W.O.L.F. Gym in Brigantine. A rundown, forgotten space with 14 paying members that became the foundation of a national brand.
This is everything most business podcasts avoid: the bad decisions, the lack of funding, the emotional buys, the zero marketing, the brutal cleanups, the miscalculations, and the moments where quitting would’ve been the easier option.
We walk through the real mistakes that almost buried the gym before it started and the mindset, grit, and partnership that kept it alive. From bootstrapping a house and a gym at the same time, to manually running cards because the merchant account wasn’t approved, to cleaning inches of dust off equipment, to rebuilding community trust one day at a time, this is what building a brand actually looks like behind the scenes.
If you’re thinking about opening your first gym, launching a franchise, or taking a risk you know could change your life, this episode gives you the roadmap and the warning signs.
This is where W.O.L.F. started. And none of it was perfect.
Website (https://wolffitnessgyms.com/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wolf_gyms?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wolffitnessbrigantine)
10 Nov 2025
Franchise vs. Independent Gym: The Truth No One Tells You
In this episode, we break down one of the biggest decisions in the fitness business:
Should you start your own independent gym or invest in a franchise?
Between personal experience, real numbers, and the behind-the-scenes realities of scaling, we cover the pros, cons, risks, and opportunities that most people never talk about openly.
You’ll learn:
• The real cost of going independent
• What franchising actually gives you.
• How to avoid the “ignorance tax”
• Why some gyms fail even with passion
• What separates a profitable model from a broken one
• The truth about scaling multiple locations
• When you SHOULD NOT franchise
• How to evaluate any franchise opportunity the smart way
Whether you’re a brand-new gym owner, thinking about opening your first location, or ready to scale, this conversation gives you the clarity you’re probably missing.
Website (https://wolffitnessgyms.com/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wolf_gyms?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wolffitnessbrigantine)
3 Nov 2025
What is W.O.L.F. Gyms?
It started with one rundown gym, a belief in community, and a vision to do fitness differently.
In this first episode, Tony opens up about the struggles, setbacks, and grit behind building W.O.L.F. Gyms from the ground up. This is the unfiltered story of how Work out Live Fierce became more than a motto, it became a movement.
Website (https://wolffitnessgyms.com/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wolf_gyms?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wolffitnessbrigantine)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
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