Building a Fitness Empire: Business Lessons, Zone 2 & Recovery Trends with Don Saladino — #403

Don Saladino is a New York-based coach and health entrepreneur who has trained A-list clients like Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and Blake Lively since founding Drive495 in 2005.

Don Saladino has spent nearly three decades training A-list stars like Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman — and in this episode, he shares the single business lesson he wishes he’d learned sooner. He and Dr. Mike also dig into why Don closed his $2M-overhead NYC gym, how tracking respiratory rate reshaped his approach to Zone 2 training, and the sobering personal loss that changed how he views performance enhancers.

Expect to learn why Don stopped over-certifying and started looking at what’s leaking in his business, how he built 17 years of trust with a client like Ryan Reynolds, the real financial toll of running a NYC gym (think $1M rent and $2M overhead), what tracking respiratory rate taught him about Zone 2 training volume, his honest take on performance enhancers at 49 (natural), and the personal loss that reshaped how he views unsupervised PED use, and much more.

Connect with Don:

• Website
• Instagram
• YouTube

Episodes you'll enjoy next:

• #402 — VO2 Max, Zone 2 Training & the Psychology of Human Performance — Ben Skutnik: Listen here
• #397 — How Elite Bodybuilders Think About Problem-Solving, Business and Nutrition with Coach Cliff Wilson: Listen here

Episode Timestamps:

• 2:26 — #1 Business Lesson: Stop Over-Certifying, Start Looking at What’s Leaking
• 5:43 — “Content Is King, Distribution Is the Kingdom”
• 8:35 — Take Risks Early: Betting on Yourself Before Responsibilities Pile Up
• 10:58 — Learning Business Over Breakfast: The NYC Advantage
• 12:01 — The Art of Adding Value Without an Agenda
• 13:32 — Working With Ryan Reynolds for 17 Years: Trust, Humility & Knowing You’re Replaceable
• 21:12 — What It Really Takes to Work With High-Profile Clients
• 26:26 — Actors vs. Athletes: Which Is Harder to Train?
• 28:39 — Performance Enhancers: Don’s Honest Take at 49, Natural
• 36:31 — Tracking Respiratory Rate & Rethinking Zone 2 Volume
• 38:37 — Closing the NYC Gym & Pivoting to Digital
• 43:35 — The Real Cost of Running a NYC Gym: $1M Rent, $2M Overhead
• 44:32 — Business Lessons You Can’t Learn at Harvard
• 46:09 — The “Integrated Wellness” Facility Trend: Is Anyone Actually Getting It Right?
• 1:05:26 — The Rise of Recovery Studios: New Happy Hour or Legit Wellness?
• 1:08:44 — A Personal Loss & a Stark Warning on Unsupervised PED Use
• 1:16:27 — Where to Find Don Saladino

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