Host Steve Cook sits down with Ally Johnson, COO of The Lab (Learn.Adapt.Build) and CEO of Ninja Gym Academy, to break down the business behind building a successful ninja program.

With experience helping open more than 40 facilities, Ally shares the differences between standalone ninja gyms and bolt-on programs, including startup costs, space, curriculum, pricing, and long-term profitability. They also discuss why open play matters, how parkour fundamentals build safer athletes, and when gyms should introduce competitive teams.

Whether you’re considering adding ninja to an existing facility or building a standalone gym, this episode offers practical insights on creating a program that kids love and that makes sense for the business.

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Host Steve Cook sits down with Galen Broido, founder of Galenda Media Group, to talk about what truly makes a brand stand out in the youth sports and child activity industry.

Drawing from her background in marketing, web design, and the swim and gymnastics industries, Galen explains why your brand is much more than a logo or color palette—it’s the feeling customers take away from every interaction with your business.

Steve and Galen discuss how messaging, design, staff, social media, reviews, and the customer experience all work together to tell one consistent story. They also explore how businesses can identify what makes them different, use authentic storytelling to build trust, and leverage AI without losing the human element that makes a brand memorable.

For youth activity business owners looking to strengthen their identity and stand out in a crowded market, this episode is packed with practical branding insights.

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Host Steve Cook welcomes back Marcella Miciano of Vivid Motivation to explore how positive leadership can transform culture, strengthen teams, and create a competitive advantage in youth sports and child activity businesses.

Drawing on The Energy Bus and The Power of Positive Leadership, Marcella shares practical ways leaders can turn positivity into a daily practice through gratitude, intentional self-talk, recognition, and consistent habits. She also breaks down how culture shapes beliefs and expectations, which drive behaviors, create habits, and ultimately determine the future of an organization.

Steve and Marcella also preview her upcoming Power of Positive Leadership workshop at the Signature Business Workshop in Orlando and discuss why building a great culture starts with what leaders practice every day.

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Host Steve Cook sits down with sales expert, entrepreneur, and author John Asher to explore how understanding how people think can transform how entrepreneurs sell. Drawing on his unique background as a Navy submarine captain, Pentagon buyer and program manager, engineering firm founder, and sales advisor, John explains why selling is a skill every business owner needs.

John breaks down the neuroscience behind common cognitive biases that influence purchasing decisions and shares practical ways to apply them in everyday conversations. From using genuine compliments to build rapport, creating reciprocity by giving value first, and leveraging similarity to strengthen connections, to offering the right number of choices to avoid decision fatigue, he provides actionable strategies that help businesses build trust and close more sales.

Whether you're a swim school owner, youth program operator, or entrepreneur looking to improve your sales process, this episode delivers simple, science-backed techniques that can help you communicate more effectively, connect with customers, and grow your business.

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Host Steve Cook sits down with Kristin Mabrouk, Executive Director of the Hope Floats Foundation, to discuss how the organization is making lifesaving swim lessons accessible to more children across the country. By partnering with swim schools nationwide, Hope Floats helps create local scholarship programs that open the door for children from low-income families and those in foster care.

Kristin shares how the foundation supports swim schools through scholarship administration, fundraising resources, and initiatives like the Swim for Hope campaign. She also discusses the importance of water safety, the challenges families face in accessing swim lessons, and why collaboration is key to expanding opportunities for children.

Whether you're involved in youth programs, own a swim school, or simply believe every child should have the chance to learn to swim, this episode is an inspiring conversation about community, impact, and making a difference.

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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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