Episodes

Episode 439 | Dealing With Difficult Students (and Getting Parents on Board) Podcast Description In Episode 439 of School Owner Talk, Duane Brumitt and Shihan Allie Alberigo get real about a problem every martial arts school owner faces sooner or later: the “difficult student” who can derail a class. They break down what “difficult” actually looks like (disruptive, defiant, unsafe, emotionally dysregulated, attention-seeking), why it’s rarely about a “bad kid,” and how consistency, structure, an...

438 | The 3 Touchpoints That Create Connection (Staff, Students, Parents) Podcast Description Running a martial arts school isn’t just about having a solid curriculum. If people are still drifting away, it’s usually not because they suddenly hate kicks—it’s because they don’t feel attached. In Episode 438 of School Owner Talk, Duane Brumitt and Allie Alberigo break down a simple, practical framework to create real connection (and better retention) through three touchpoints: staff, students, and ...

437 | Interview with John Geyston — Relationships, Retention, and Staying Fulfilled as a School Owner Podcast Description Episode 437 is a wide-ranging conversation with Master John Geyston—a longtime friend of Allie’s and a school owner who’s built and operated multiple locations over decades. Duane and Allie dig into what keeps John motivated at 63, what’s changed about leadership and mentorship in a distracted world, and the simple business fundamentals John believes every school owner has to...

Episode 436 | AI and Automation: What Should School Owners Actually Use? Podcast Description AI is everywhere right now—and for a lot of martial arts school owners, it’s either exciting—or overwhelming. In Episode 436, Duane Brumitt and Shihan Allie Alberigo cut through the hype and get practical about what AI and automation are actually good for inside a school. They talk about why tech won’t fix broken fundamentals, how to audit your numbers before you start building automations, and the real-...

435 | Building Your Bench Strength – Team Building for Martial Arts School Owners Podcast Description Duane and Allie get real about what it takes to build a strong team and lasting bench strength in your martial arts school. Sharing personal stories and hard-earned lessons, they break down how to create a leadership pipeline, handle sudden departures, and why systems matter for long-term success. With insights from Michael Gerber’s The E-Myth and John C. Maxwell’s 5 Levels of Leadership, this e...

Episode 434 | Your “One Thing” for 2026 – A Challenge for Martial Arts School Owners Podcast Description Kicking off 2026, Duane and Allie challenge school owners to focus on the “one thing” that will make everything else easier—or even unnecessary. Drawing inspiration from Gary Keller’s The ONE Thing, they get real about distractions, connection, and what it takes to move the needle in your school and life this year. Key Takeaways Focus beats multitasking: The myth of multitasking is alive and ...

Brighter Futures: Making 2026 Better Than 2025 Podcast Description In the final episode of 2025, Duane and Allie get real about what it takes to set yourself—and your martial arts school—up for a brighter, better new year. They reflect on big wins, tough lessons, and how to keep the fire burning after decades in the business. This is a candid, hopeful conversation about letting go of what doesn’t serve you, doubling down on what matters, and building a future that’s easy, lucrative, and fun (ELF...

Purposeful Connection: Why Engagement Is Harder (and More Important) Than Ever Podcast Description In this off-the-cuff episode, Duane Brumitt and Allie Alberigo dive into the real challenges of engaging students, parents, and staff as 2025 winds down. They get honest about the struggle to drive buy-in for events, the shifting nature of community, and why purposeful connection is more critical than ever for martial arts schools. Expect candid stories, practical strategies, and a reminder that yo...

2026 Planning: Setting Up Your School for a Strong New Year Podcast Description In this episode, Duane Brumitt and Allie Alberigo dig into how martial arts school owners can close out 2025 strong and set themselves up for a stellar 2026. They reflect on this past year’s unique challenges—from shifting parent and student behaviors to the realities of running a personality-driven business—and share real talk on what worked, what flopped, and what every school owner should focus on as the new year ...

430 | Interview with Matthew Brenner - Mastering Organic Marketing for Martial Arts Schools Podcast Description In this episode, Duane and Allie sit down with Matthew Brenner from Action Karate and Double Your Dojo to discuss organic marketing strategies that actually work for martial arts schools. Matthew shares his proven 3-domino system for getting into schools and daycares, creating programs that administrators love, and converting leads through mass enrollments—without discounts or trials. ...

Episode 429: The December Retention Crisis: Keeping Students Through the Holidays Podcast Description It's mid-November, and you can feel it coming. Families are getting busier. Attendance is starting to drop. Parents are distracted. And you know what's around the corner—the December retention crisis. Every year, it's the same story. December hits, families disappear, and then January rolls around and half of them don't come back. But it doesn't have to be that way. In this timely episode, Duane...

Episode 428: Holiday Sales Strategy: Turning November & December Into Your Best Months Podcast Description November and December can be your most profitable months of the year—if you plan ahead and execute the right strategies. In this timely episode, Duane and Allie break down exactly how to maximize holiday revenue in your martial arts school. From retail bundles and program upgrades to paid-in-full incentives and holiday events, they share actionable strategies you can implement right now to ...

427 | Are We Running the Hardest, Easiest Business There Is? Podcast Description Nearly three decades into owning martial arts schools, Duane and Allie keep coming back to the same paradox: Are we running the hardest business or the easiest business? In this raw and honest episode, they dive deep into both sides of this question. From the emotional weight of student quits and tragic incidents to the incredible fulfillment of watching shy kids become confident leaders, they explore why running a ...

426 | Why Martial Arts Still Matter in a World of Instant Gratification Podcast Description In Episode 426 of School Owner Talk, Duane Brumitt and Allie Alberigo tackle a critical question. Specifically, why do martial arts still matter in today's world? Moreover, they explore what true discipline really means when instant gratification dominates modern culture. The challenge is real. Two white belts start at the same age. However, one quits after 14 days. Meanwhile, the other earns their black ...

425 | Breaking Third Wall: How to Get Martial Arts Families Fully Committed Podcast Description In Episode 425 of School Owner Talk, Duane Brumitt and Allie Alberigo tackle one of the toughest challenges in the martial arts business: getting clients and families fully committed and dedicated to your program. They explore the concept of "breaking the third wall" - stepping beyond just teaching students to actively engaging parents and building a true martial arts community. From families who trea...

424 | Martial Arts School Culture: Motivating Students and Families to Engage Podcast Description In this episode of School Owner Talk, Duane Brumitt and Allie Alberigo tackle one of the biggest challenges facing martial arts school owners today: getting students and families to truly engage with your school culture rather than treating it as just another transaction. From parents who drop off their kids and disappear to families who resist participating in events, this conversation reveals why ...

423 | What I Wish I Knew Starting My Martial Arts School vs. What I Know After 30+ Years Podcast Description In this candid episode of School Owner Talk, Duane Brumitt and Allie Alberigo get real about the lessons they've learned running martial arts schools for over three decades. From the mental toll of business ownership to the evolution of student expectations, this conversation reveals the raw truth about what it takes to build a successful martial arts school. Whether you're a new school o...

Podcast Description In this episode of School Owner Talk, Duane Brumitt and Allie Alberigo sit down with Gus Lopez of Lead Hunter Media to uncover the three biggest pitfalls martial arts school owners make with their marketing—and how AI can help solve them. From struggling with poor lead quality to failing at consistent follow-up, this conversation highlights the gaps that prevent schools from growing—and introduces practical, AI-driven solutions that school owners can implement right away. Whe...

421 | The Attention Span Crisis – How Martial Arts Can Be the Cure (Part 2) Podcast Description In this follow-up to Episode 420, Duane Brumitt and Shihan Allie Alberigo dive deeper into the attention span crisis facing today’s children—and how martial arts can provide the solution. This episode focuses on the practical side: how to educate parents, how to use curriculum design to reinforce focus, and how to position focus training as a powerful selling point for martial arts schools. Packed wit...

Podcast Description In this episode of School Owner Talk, Duane Brumitt and Shihan Allie Alberigo dive into the growing attention span crisis among today’s youth and how martial arts schools can adapt. They compare childhood in the 70s, 80s, and 90s to today’s digitally distracted world, highlighting the challenges—and opportunities—for instructors. The discussion explores technology’s impact on focus, why traditional class structures no longer work, and how martial arts can uniquely rebuild a c...

Podcast Description The back-to-school season is one of the biggest growth opportunities for martial arts school owners. Parents are looking for activities that build discipline, confidence, and focus—and martial arts is at the top of that list. In this episode of School Owner Talk, Duane Brumitt and Allie Alberigo share how to capitalize on this season with targeted events, promotions, and community engagement strategies—while also tying in National Martial Arts Appreciation Month in September ...

Podcast Description In this powerful episode of School Owner Talk, Duane Brumitt and Allie Alberigo expose the “hidden leaks” that silently drain your martial arts school of students, energy, and income. From overlooked onboarding issues and poor follow-up to undertrained staff and outdated systems, these problems often go unnoticed—until it’s too late. But here’s the good news: every leak can be fixed with the right awareness and action. Tune in as Duane and Allie help you identify where your s...

Podcast Description In this raw and revealing episode of School Owner Talk, Allie Alberigo and Duane Brumitt have an honest conversation about what it’s like to run a martial arts school when things aren’t going well — and you still have to “stay positive.” They share their personal frustrations, reflect on recent events with low turnout and lack of engagement, and talk candidly about the pressure school owners feel to always be “on.” This episode is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever felt alon...

Podcast Description Summer should be a time to recharge — but for martial arts school owners, it often turns into a season of burnout and overwhelm. In this episode, Duane Brumitt and Allie Alberigo share real-world strategies to help you enjoy your summer while keeping your school healthy and profitable. They break down how to plan intentional time off, train your team to operate smoothly in your absence, and use systems and automations to keep your leads and students engaged — so you can step ...