EP#376 | GUEST | The Hotworx Revolution: Sweating with Steve Smith:
📄 Episode Overview
In Episode #376 of the Deep Shallow Dive podcast, Ray Doustdar sits down with Steve Smith, CEO and founder of HOTWORX, a rapidly growing fitness franchise with almost 800 locations and counting. This episode kicks off the inaugural "DSD Into a CEO" series, diving deep into the intersection of health, business, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship. Steve shares the inspiring origin story of Hotworx—a fitness concept that fuses infrared saunas with isometric and high-intensity interval training. The conversation touches on fitness discipline, biohacking, intermittent fasting, building scalable systems, and the power of sweating as a form of detox. Whether you're a health nut, a budding entrepreneur, or someone looking for inspiration to take control of your fitness journey, this episode delivers insights that are both practical and profound.
🌟 Key Takeaways
• Infrared saunas can elevate workout efficiency and metabolic health
• Cross-training and consistent form are key to long-term fitness success
• Franchising, when systemized correctly, can scale ideas into empires
🧠 Summary
Steve Smith is not your average CEO. With a background in athletics and fitness, he turned a lightbulb moment—"Why not do yoga in a sauna?"—into HOTWORX, a boutique fitness chain blending the detoxifying effects of infrared saunas with time-efficient, guided workouts. From his early days selling gym memberships to founding Planet Beach and now spearheading HOTWORX, Steve shares how clarity of vision and disciplined systems have helped him scale to nearly 800 locations, and counting.
The conversation dives into the health science behind infrared energy and how it differs from traditional dry saunas. Steve explains how infrared saunas heat the body directly, promoting a deeper sweat at lower temperatures, enhancing fat burning, and improving mitochondrial function. He breaks down the Hotworx workout catalog—everything from hot yoga and isometric Pilates to high-intensity rowing and stretching routines, all under 30 minutes. Ray recounts his own sweat-drenched experience, highlighting how the sessions combine fitness, recovery, and efficiency.
Beyond workouts, the episode explores Steve's personal regimen: weight training, fasted cardio, hydration strategies, and intermittent fasting. He also shares his approach to balance—training for events like mountain climbing or beach runs, which serve both aesthetic and functional fitness goals. On the business front, Steve unpacks the intricacies of franchising, the importance of documenting every operational detail, and how Hotworx plans to expand into Canada, Mexico, and beyond.
This episode is a masterclass in fusing passion with process. Whether you're sweating it out or scaling up, there's a gem here for you. Ask yourself: what would your life look like if you committed to more movement and more purpose?
🔎 Practical Tips
• Train fasted in the morning to maximize fat burning
• Balance every meal with smart macros: protein, carbs, and healthy fats
• Use consistent, form-focused movements to measure gains over time
📚 Research Spotlight
According to a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, infrared sauna therapy has been shown to improve cardiovascular function and aid in recovery: Source
❓ FAQ
Q: What is Hotworx and how is it different from traditional gyms?
A: Hotworx offers guided isometric and HIIT workouts inside infrared saunas, enabling deeper detox and more efficient training in less time.
Q: What are the benefits of using infrared instead of dry heat?
A: Infrared heats the body directly, promoting deeper sweat, improved metabolism, and better recovery at lower, more tolerable temperatures.
Q: How long are Hotworx sessions?
A: Sessions are either 15 or 30 minutes, designed for efficiency and optimal results.
Q: Can you join any Hotworx location with a membership?
A: Yes, with the Sweat Elite membership, you gain access to all Hotworx studios nationwide.
Q: Is Hotworx franchised and can anyone open one?
A: Yes, Hotworx operates under a franchise model. Many franchisees start as passionate members who fall in love with the brand.
⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps
• 00:00 – Opening & Welcome
• 01:00 – Steve Smith joins: What is Hotworx?
• 04:30 – The moment of inspiration in Jamaica
• 07:15 – Infrared vs traditional sauna: What you need to know
• 10:00 – Steve's weekly workout and training schedule
• 13:00 – Intermittent fasting and diet strategy
• 18:00 – Business beginnings and scaling Hotworx
• 28:30 – Franchising, branding, and operational efficiency
• 35:00 – Expansion into Canada, Mexico & beyond
• 41:00 – Understanding the Hotworx customer base
• 46:00 – Lessons from bodybuilding and recovery
• 51:00 – Final advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
• 54:30 – Wrap-up & where to try Hotworx
📍 Final Thought
Infrared fitness isn’t just a trend—it’s a time-efficient, metabolism-boosting revolution. Sweat smart, live better.
🌍 External Resources
• Hotworx Official Website : https://www.hotworx.net/
• Infrared Sauna Benefits - Cleveland Clinic
⚙️ SEO Settings
Meta Title: Infrared Fitness & Hotworx CEO Steve Smith | DSD EP376
Meta Description: Discover how Steve Smith scaled Hotworx, blending infrared saunas with efficient workouts. Health, fitness, and business collide in this DSD episode.
Suggested Tags & Keywords: infrared fitness, Hotworx, Steve Smith, sauna workouts, fitness franchising, HIIT yoga, intermittent fasting
📢 Social Sharing Snippet
"Infrared saunas + HIIT = maximum results in minimum time. Hotworx is redefining fitness. – Click to Tweet"
🔗 Social & Links
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deepshallowdive
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deepshallowdive
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deepshallowdive
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@raydoustdar
Follow us on X: https://x.com/deepshallowdive
Join us on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@deepshallowdive
Subscribe on Substack: https://deepshallowdive.substack.com/
