Why We Shouldn’t Fitness Alone: The Power of Squads and Community
A Summary of Fitt Insider Podcast Episode 342 with Dane McCarthy, Founder of Club Athletic
Think about any major avenue of success in life. Fortune 5 companies aren’t run by lone wolves; they are driven by executive teams. Even solo Olympic athletes—like swimmers and gymnasts—train in a team environment. So why do we expect to tackle our personal fitness goals entirely on our own?
This is the glaring irony highlighted by Dane McCarthy, founder of Club Athletic, in his recent conversation with Joe Venneri on the Fitt Insider Podcast. McCarthy points out that individual fitness requires immense motivation, consistency, and profound behavior change. Yet, society has convinced us that we should just “go figure it out” by ourselves.
Enter the “Training Squad”
To solve this isolation problem, Club Athletic is completely reimagining the fitness experience by putting community front and center. Instead of the solitary gym grind, Club Athletic has built a team-based fitness concept built entirely around training squads.
These aren’t drop-in, randomized bootcamp classes with strangers. They are small, consistent groups of individuals who train together regularly under the guidance of a dedicated coach. By mirroring the team dynamic found in elite sports and successful businesses, these squads provide the built-in accountability, camaraderie, and support system necessary to make fitness habits actually stick.
Building a Community-Driven Future
Beyond the philosophy of team fitness, the episode dives into the exciting momentum behind Club Athletic. McCarthy discusses the company’s recent rebrand, their ongoing expansion beyond New York City into Chicago, and his ultimate, community-focused vision: reaching 2,000 active squads.
The Takeaway: If you’re struggling with fitness motivation, the answer might not be a better workout plan—it might be finding your team.
Listen to the full conversation on episode 342 of the Fitt Insider Podcast to learn more about how squads and community are shaping the future of fitness. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fitt-insider/id1481418164?i=1000771655092