In this episode of Paradigm Playbook, host Steve Cook sits down with Alivia Orvieto, a volleyball and fitness specialist who’s redefining what sports training can look like.

Alivia shares her journey from competing in indoor volleyball at a young age to launching a first-of-its-kind beach volleyball hybrid program in Pennsylvania. She opens up about the challenges and rewards of building a business without a brick-and-mortar facility, and how she blends personal training, nutrition coaching, and athletic development into a holistic experience for her athletes.

Together, Steve and Alivia dive into:

🏐 How she built Orvieto Athletics from the ground up
💪 The role of strength training during in-season and off-season cycles
🌱 How she uses technology to scale online training + nutrition services
✨ The power—and pressure—of growing a business rooted in personal brand
🚀 Her long-term vision for expanding opportunities for young athletes

Whether you're an aspiring coach, a sports entrepreneur, or someone passionate about athlete development, this episode offers a fresh look at what it takes to build a thriving sports business with heart.

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Host Steve Cook sits down with entrepreneur, consultant, and innovation strategist Curtis Michelson to discuss his unique journey from nonprofit activism and sales to software development, product leadership, and AI. Curtis shares how AI is reshaping product teams, innovation, and the way businesses solve problems.

They explore lessons from Innovation Leader Magazine, the rise of AI-powered hackathons, and how organizations can uncover new opportunities through collaboration and experimentation. Curtis also shares how ChatGPT disrupted his previous venture, Info DJ, and led to the creation of Jedi on the Fly, a platform designed to help leaders cut through the noise and ask better strategic questions.

A thought-provoking conversation on innovation, adaptability, and the future of AI in business.

Thanks for joining us!

Visit us at https://stephenjcook.com/
Visit Curtis at https://curtismichelson.com/

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Host Steve Cook sits down with Ross Gage, Chief Executive of Gymnastics Clubs Australia (GCA), to explore the vital role associations play in strengthening youth sports organizations around the world. Drawing from his experience as a swimming coach, swim school owner, founder of Swim Australia and the Australian Swim Schools Association, and leader within Gymnastics Clubs Australia and the International Association of Child Development Programs (IACDP), Ross shares lessons from decades of industry leadership.

Steve and Ross discuss some of the biggest challenges facing youth sports today, including rising participation costs, athlete dropout rates, early specialization pressures, staffing shortages, and the decline of physical education in schools. They also explore how clubs can partner with schools to create new opportunities for growth and impact.

Whether you're a gym owner, swim school operator, youth sports leader, or industry advocate, this episode offers valuable insights on collaboration, sustainability, and the future of child development programs worldwide.

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Host Steve Cook sits down with Tyler Wetzel, Customer Success Director at Ninja Zone, to break down how Ninja Zone evolved from a concept into a global program with 300+ clubs.

Tyler shares how the program blends gymnastics, parkour, martial arts, and ninja-style training into a progression-based system that builds skills and confidence. They dive into why it resonates with parents, how classes are structured for maximum engagement, and what makes it a profitable addition for gym owners.

If you’re looking to grow your gym, engage a new audience, or build a program that scales, this is a must-listen!

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Steve Cook sits down with Miren Oca, founder of Ocaquatics and Ripples of Impact, to talk about what it really takes to build a business rooted in ownership and purpose.

Miren shares how she started teaching swim lessons at 19 and grew it into a full aquatics company—learning business through books, mentors, and experience along the way. She breaks down the “OWN IT” culture behind Ocaquatics and why investing in your team is what actually drives retention and results.

The conversation dives into her decision to sell 100% of the company to employees through an Employee Ownership Trust—while staying on as CEO to protect the mission, culture, and long-term vision.

She also shares the story behind Ripples of Impact, a nonprofit focused on redefining ROI by turning speaking fees into swim scholarships and expanding access to water safety.

This episode is about building something bigger than yourself—and creating a business that lasts.

Visit Miren here:

https://www.mirenoca.com/

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Most gyms don’t struggle from lack of passion — they struggle from lack of structure. In this episode, Steve Cook sits down with Lena Urusova, founder and CEO of Plan Sport Pro, to unpack the system behind scalable, sustainable gym growth.

With over 20 years of experience as a gym owner, Lena saw the same problem over and over: inconsistent programming, overwhelmed coaches, and owners stuck in the day-to-day. So she built Plan Sport Pro — a fully systemized, plug-and-play curriculum designed to bring consistency across every class while reducing owner burnout.

They break down how biweekly themed lesson plans, built-in timers, and coach “cheat sheets” create a seamless experience across staff — regardless of skill level. Plus, how structured testing weeks, stronger onboarding, and clearer parent communication directly impact retention and long-term growth.

If your gym still relies on you to keep everything running — this episode will show you how to build systems that scale, simplify, and actually last.

Visit Lena Here:

https://info.plansportpro.com/

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Steve Cook and Christie Copeland unpack the business decisions that felt like great ideas at the time—but came with hard lessons. Christie shares her experience opening a second gymnastics facility, while Steve reflects on building an outdoor skate park that didn’t go as planned. They dive into the importance of exit strategies, understanding local competition, hiring for true fit, and avoiding costly mistakes like overexpanding and overinvesting. This is a candid conversation about learning the hard way—and building smarter because of it.

Listen now to learn the strategies that can help your business grow—and the pitfalls to avoid along the way.

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Disclaimer: This episode includes discussions of emotional abuse, trauma, and mental health. Listener discretion is advised, as some topics may be sensitive or triggering for certain audiences.

Steve Cook sits down with executive psychology coach and licensed counselor Mandy Morris to unpack how “small-t traumas” quietly shape behavior, performance, and self-worth. From fear-based coaching to overpraise, Mandy explains how different coaching styles can impact confidence, anxiety, and long-term development both on and off the field.

They dive into how unresolved past experiences show up in everyday reactions, why youth sports and attention spans are shifting, and how to recognize these patterns in athletes and leaders alike. Mandy also introduces her wellness app, SoFree, designed to reset your nervous system in under two minutes using science-backed stimulation techniques.

https://mandyemorris.com/

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