# Ep197. How to Find a Good Personal Trainer or Online Coach.

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-forever-athletic-podcast-6472897/ep197-how-to-find-a-good-personal-trainer-or-online-coach
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-forever-athletic-podcast-6472897/ep197-how-to-find-a-good-personal-trainer-or-online-coach.md
Podcast: [The Forever Athletic Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-forever-athletic-podcast-6472897)
Published: 2026-06-08T06:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coachianwood/episodes/Ep197--How-to-Find-a-Good-Personal-Trainer-or-Online-Coach-e3kdu1m
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/e3d52b5c/podcast/play/121091574/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-5-6%2F425624229-44100-2-9a0b3b61e3b32.m4a
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-forever-athletic-podcast-6472897/episodes/ep197-how-to-find-a-good-personal-trainer-or-online-coach
Duration seconds: 1132

## Resource

How to Find a Good Personal Trainer (And Avoid Getting It Wrong) Apply for coaching 👉🏻 https://www.coachianwood.com/ The fitness industry has a problem — and it's costing people time, money, and sometimes their health. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on something most coaches won't talk about: how easy it is to fake credibility in an industry that is almost entirely unregulated. After 20 years as a PT, 12 years in strength and conditioning, and a Master's degree with a research thesis specifically on the effectiveness of online coaching, I've seen the full spectrum of good and bad. Here's what I've learned. What's covered in this episode: Why the fitness industry is largely unregulated — and what that means for you as a consumer The two types of coach you'll encounter, and why they can look identical on Instagram Why qualifications alone don't make a great coach (and what actually does) The five things that separate exceptional coaches from average ones: education, experience, coaching reps, mistakes, and empathy Five practical questions to ask any coach before you hire them The red flags that should make you walk away immediately Key takeaways: Anyone can legally call themselves a personal trainer or nutrition coach — there is no meaningful governing body with legal authority A coach who lost weight themselves is not automatically qualified to help you reach your goals Great coaches ask a lot of questions before prescribing anything — be wary of anyone who immediately tells you exactly what you need How a coach handles a question they can't answer tells you everything The right coach isn't the flashiest on social media — it's the one who understands where you are and has the knowledge and humanity to help you get there This episode is for you if: You're…

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## Transcript

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