2025 Year in Review: Real Talk on Content Growth, Gym Ownership & What’s Next

Brandon Smitley of THIRST Gym recaps the 2025 year across YouTube, the THIRST More Podcast, Instagram, and online coaching, sharing real analytics, business challenges, and what is changing heading into 2026. From hitting YouTube monetization and growing to 6,000 subscribers to navigating a gym relocation due to eminent domain, this post covers the full story behind a year of growth and hard lessons for a working strength coach and small gym owner. If you are a strength athlete, powerlifter, wrestler, or coach looking for honest insights from someone in the trenches, this is the recap worth reading.

The Nutrition Fundamentals Every Trainer Needs to Master (But Probably Doesn’t)

Master nutrition fundamentals every personal trainer needs to effectively coach clients on energy balance, macronutrients, meal timing, and evidence-based supplementation. This comprehensive guide covers practical nutrition strategies for fitness professionals, from setting proper protein requirements and managing calorie deficits to communicating nutrition principles that create lasting behavior change and client adherence. Learn how to provide confident, science-backed nutrition guidance within your scope of practice while helping clients achieve sustainable fat loss, muscle gain, and optimal training performance.