Guest #67 | Steve Smith Hotworx CEO. Resilience.

He was on a cliff in Jamaica, rum in hand, when the idea hit. Now he’s built 800 infrared workout studios—and he’s just getting started.

Steve Smith isn’t another fitness bro with a gimmick. He’s an ex-bodybuilder, obsessive about performance, and a systems thinker to his core. In this episode, we go beyond the sweat. We talk mitochondria, franchising, fasted training, and what it really takes to scale a business that actually works.

🎙️ More Workout, Less Time | Steve Smith on Infrared Training, Scaling to 800+ Locations & Entrepreneurial Discipline.

Efficiency is the name of the game — and Steve Smith has built an empire around it. With 800+ HOTWORX studios open and 500 more on deck, this isn’t your average fitness trend. It’s a movement — built on sweat, strategy, and serious results. Whether you're here for the business playbook or the biohacking benefits of infrared workouts, Episode #376 delivers.

Episode Overview

In Episode #376, Ray Doustdar sits down with Steve Smith, founder and CEO of HOTWORX, to break down how a moment of inspiration in Jamaica turned into a boutique fitness franchise juggernaut. They dive into everything from the science behind infrared saunas to the discipline of daily push-ups, all while unpacking the mindset and tactics required to scale a fitness business past 800 locations. Steve shares his personal workout routine, insights on intermittent fasting, and hard-earned lessons on franchising with precision.

🎯 Key Takeaways

• Infrared workouts activate your mitochondria and burn fat more efficiently — at just 125°F
• Steve’s daily discipline starts with 50 push-ups every Monday — a personal strength benchmark
• HOTWORX leverages short, intense workouts (15–30 min) inside saunas for maximum efficiency
• Franchise success = product + people + process — Steve’s systemized everything down to paper clips
• Scaling a business? Document everything, adopt digital checklists, and obsess over KPIs

🧠 Summary

Steve Smith wasn’t looking to create another gym. He was looking to compress time, maximize output, and build a better fitness model for busy people. After discovering the physical and mental benefits of Bikram yoga and infrared saunas, Steve had a lightbulb moment — why not combine the two?

That moment led to HOTWORX, where workouts take place inside gorgeous infrared saunas. The result? A massive sweat in 30 minutes or less, enhanced calorie burn, and deep recovery — all in a semi-private setting that appeals especially to women (85% of HOTWORX members are female).

But this episode isn’t just about fitness. It’s a masterclass in scaling. Steve reveals why franchising was his model of choice, how he systematized operations with military precision, and why most of his franchisees were once just obsessed members. He drops gold on the importance of training while fasted, tracking calories over steps, and never missing Monday push-ups.

For anyone chasing both physical vitality and entrepreneurial freedom, this one hits hard.

🔎 Practical Tips

• Workout fasted in the morning to burn fat more efficiently
• Cross-train consistently with yoga, Pilates, HIIT, and weights — don't bounce around aimlessly
• Hydrate pre-, during-, and post-sauna with water + electrolytes + aminos
• Track calories burned, not just steps — it's a better performance metric
• Build a sleep cave — cool, dark, quiet, and optimized for deep recovery
• Use intermittent fasting (16:8 or 17:7) to simplify nutrition and support weight goals
• Want to scale a business? Checklist everything and lean into AI for data analysis

📚 Research Spotlight

Infrared saunas heat the body directly rather than the air, enabling sweat and detox at lower temperatures (around 125°F). Studies show infrared exposure can improve mitochondrial efficiency, metabolism, and cardiovascular health — making it ideal for active recovery and fat burn.

❓FAQ

What’s the main difference between an infrared sauna and a traditional dry sauna?
Infrared heats your body directly, allowing for intense sweat at lower, more tolerable temps (125°F vs 180°F+), while also penetrating deeper into the skin to activate mitochondria.

Can you actually work out inside a sauna?
Yes — and HOTWORX is built for it. The design, temperature, and workout styles (isometric, HIIT, yoga, etc.) are engineered specifically for safe, effective in-sauna training.

How do HOTWORX memberships work?
You can choose Sweat Basic (one location only) or Sweat Elite, which grants access to all locations and premium digital tools like nutrition tracking.

Why do most HOTWORX franchisees start as customers?
Because the product works. Most franchisees first fell in love with the experience, became obsessed, and then realized they could build a business around it.

⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps

00:00 – Ray’s sauna suit and intro to Steve Smith
02:00 – The aha moment in Jamaica: Yoga in a sauna
05:00 – Infrared vs dry sauna: Why it matters
07:30 – More workout, less time: HOTWORX formats
10:00 – Steve’s full weekly training routine
13:00 – Motivation, goals, and functional fitness
16:00 – Intermittent fasting + fasted workouts
20:00 – Why Steve never weighs himself
23:00 – Business side: Why franchise, not corporate
26:00 – Scaling to 800+ locations with systems
31:00 – Competing in the boutique fitness space
35:00 – Global expansion: Canada, Mexico & more
40:00 – Female-centric design & private sauna appeal
45:00 – Steve’s bodybuilding background
48:00 – Recovery, sleep, and hydration
51:00 – Entrepreneurship advice: Find the idea, then GO

🧭 Final Thought

Discipline builds freedom. Whether it’s 50 push-ups or 800 franchises — consistency, clarity, and process win every time.

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