In this episode of Business Is Hard, Trevor sits down with Ron Partlow, former pro bodybuilder, coach, gym owner, and co-founder of West Coast Iron. Ron shares his journey from accidentally launching a coaching business in the early 2000s to building one of BC’s most respected independent gyms.

They talk about what it really takes to grow a grassroots brand, how Ron leveraged authenticity over advertising, and the lessons learned from the early days at Mutant, where he helped shape a new model for fitness marketing.

Ron also opens up about the challenges of gym ownership during COVID, the decision not to over-expand, and why chasing happiness — not just growth — drives his business mindset today. It’s a conversation about loyalty, identity, risk, and self-awareness as a founder.

Whether you're in fitness, retail, or building from scratch, Ron's story is for you.

Find Ron:

https://bigronpartlow.com/

https://westcoastirononline.com/team/ron-partlow/

Trevor Koot hosted this episode. Alex Harris produced and edited the show.

Find Business is Fcking Hard on social media and our website: https://linktr.ee/businessisfckinghard

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What happens when a science teacher from Brooklyn ends up running a health tech startup in Vancouver? In this episode, Trevor sits down with Rex Farrand, co-founder and CEO of My HealthSpan—to talk about the wild, winding path from classroom to the corner office.

Rex shares what it’s like to lead a company in a world of AI-fueled hype, why he’s focused with building trust through data privacy, and how his team is using AI to turn complex health info into real, personalized action. He opens up about sleepless nights, financial pressure, and what it really means to carry a company’s future on your shoulders when the runway is short and the stakes are real.

If you’ve ever wondered what it actually feels like to be a startup founder in the middle of the storm—this one’s for you.

Find more about Rex’s comapny and his work here: https://www.myhealthspan.com/about-us

This episode was hosted by the increadible Trevor Koot. Production and editing by Alex Harris.

Find Business is Fcking Hard on social media and our website: https://linktr.ee/businessisfckinghard

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“Human well” is what Stephanie Ryan and Trevor came up with in this episode to describe positive leadership in the business world. Stephanie knows that people come to work wanting to put their best foot forward, and she explains how a leader fosters that spirit.

Stephanie talks about her journey, from ice cream scooping to running a leadership consulting firm. Through this conversation, she gets a chance to reflect on her business journey while sharing valuable insight on getting the most out of the people you work with.

More about Stephanie can be found here: https://thecoachingstudio.ca/team-members/stephanie-ryan/

The episode is hosted by Trevor Koot. Alex Harris produced and edited the show.

Find Business is Fcking Hard on social media and our website: https://linktr.ee/businessisfckinghard

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Thanks for listening! See you next time!