---
title: "Fireside Chat: SWTHZ’s Jamie Weeks on Disrupting Fitness & Wellness"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/739275a9-02d8-41e4-8c68-8c3f2d3c3db9
source: "Athletech News"
original_url: https://athletechnews.com/fireside-chat-swthz-jamie-weeks-disrupting-fitness-wellness-exclusive-interview/
author: "Athletech Studios"
category: "Gym & HVLP"
industry: "Fitness"
segment: "Gym & HVLP"
published: 2024-06-04T13:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T16:48:27.000Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1534438327276-14e5300c3a48?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# Fireside Chat: SWTHZ’s Jamie Weeks on Disrupting Fitness & Wellness

**TL;DR:** Jamie Weeks, founder of SWTHZ, discusses his views on franchising and the wellness industry in an interview with Athletech News founder and CEO Edward Hertzman. Weeks shares his experience building a large Orangetheory Fitness franchise portfolio and his vision for the future of the wellness industry.

*By Athletech Studios, originally published in Athletech News on 2024-06-04. [Read the original](https://athletechnews.com/fireside-chat-swthz-jamie-weeks-disrupting-fitness-wellness-exclusive-interview/).*

## Story

In this exclusive “Fireside Chat” interview, Jamie Weeks, founder of SWTHZ, an ambitious wellness franchise that offers saunas, cold plunges and Vitamin C showers, meets with Athletech News founder and CEO Edward Hertzman to share his views on franchising, real estate and more.

Weeks and Hertzman cover how SWTHZ is separating itself from the pack in the increasingly crowded wellness franchise space. Weeks, who built one of the world’s largest Orangetheory Fitness franchise portfolios before creating SWTHZ, also talks about how his upbringing led him to become a disruptor and gives his future outlook on the wellness industry. Watch the full interview for expert commentary on the following:

- Where and why fitness and wellness brands go wrong in the franchising game

- The importance of correct data application

- The line between healthcare and fitness/wellness

**Key Talking Points**:

- (0:00 – 1:21) Introductions

- (1:21 – 6:05) Jamie’s journey in launching SWTHZ

- (6:05 – 11:11) Boxes to check for a successful wellness franchise

- (11:11 – 14:59) How SWTHZ HQ forms close relationships with its franchisees

- (14:59 – 17:23) Expanding to LA or NY last rather than first

- (17:23 – 21:30) Data’s role in franchising decisions

- (21:30 – 25:47) Where wellness takes fitness as a whole in the future

- (25:47 – 28:53) Psychedelics in wellness

- (28:53 – 35:50) Does the fitness industry need more disruptors?

- (35:50 – 36:19) Wrap-up

## Entities

- Fitness (sector)
- franchising (topic)
- Athletech News (publication)
- fitness industry (topic)
- Orangetheory Fitness (company)
- Jamie Weeks (person)
- Edward Hertzman (person)
- wellness franchise (topic)
- SWTHZ (company)

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Originally reported by Athletech Studios, Athletech News (https://athletechnews.com/fireside-chat-swthz-jamie-weeks-disrupting-fitness-wellness-exclusive-interview/). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/739275a9-02d8-41e4-8c68-8c3f2d3c3db9).