209. Katie Carter: Don't Build a Gym Without This One Key to Success
The Kris Gethin Podcast
Kris Gethin
4.9 • 598 Ratings
🗓️ 1 May 2025
⏱️ 49 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Most gyms out there are filled with cookie-cutter equipment, fancy marketing, and zero substance. Jungle Gym is not one of those. In today's episode, I'm joined by Katie Carter, one of the founders of Jungle Gym in Tulum, to talk about how they built a fitness empire from the ground up and why it's become the most Instagram-famous gym in the world.
We're diving deep into the story behind their journey from a small beachside gym to a globally recognized fitness destination, how they use natural, functional equipment to create a unique gym experience, and what it takes to run a business that actually delivers results.
Katie also shares how she went from competitive athlete to successful entrepreneur, the challenges of building a business in a saturated market, and the importance of creating a gym environment that truly motivates members to push their limits. Plus, we'll explore why Tulum has become the epicenter for wellness and fitness culture, and why more people are flocking there to focus on health and longevity.
Katie Carter is not just a fitness entrepreneur, she's a former athlete, a functional training expert, and a leader in the evolving gym space. In this episode, she gives us an inside look at how to create a fitness business that stands out, the value of functional equipment, and how to foster a community that values real results over fluff.
We Also Discuss:
(00:00) The Jungle Gym Transformation: Tulum's Fitness Revolution
(09:52) How Beach Gym Influencers Went from Zero to Hero
(14:52) The Genius Behind Jungle Gym's Unique Equipment
(25:56) Tulum's Exploding Health Trends You Need to Know
(36:14) My Personal Fitness Journey & Recovery in Paradise
(41:33) How to Reach Jungle Gym & Start Your Fitness Journey
Thank you to our sponsors:
NAD + Cell Shield from Biostack Labs https://biostacklabs.com/kris
BiOptimizers - code KRIS10 for 10% off https://bioptimizers.com/
Find more from Kris:
Website: https://www.krisgethin.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krisgethin/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/krisgethin
Find more from Katie:
Katie Carter: @katietrainsalot
Website Tulum Gym: https://www.tulumjunglegym.com
Instagram Tulum Gym: @tulumjunglegym
Katie Coaching Program: @kcfitness_team
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Chris Getten podcast where we dive deep into the science of building a stronger physique, |
| 0:11.9 | unlocking the secrets of anti-aging and optimizing your health through cutting edge biohacks, |
| 0:17.6 | fitness strategies and mental resilience. I've been a personal trainer for nearly 30 years now and voted the number one transformation |
| 0:25.2 | trainer by governing bodies such as PT Academy, bodybuilding.com and trainerize. |
| 0:31.9 | I am the co-founder of unmatched supplements, co-founder of the Chris Kathleenethyn Jims franchise, and co-founder of my |
| 0:39.6 | online coaching platform, Chris Kething Coaching, and author of several books. |
| 0:44.8 | I'm a hybrid athlete, a natural pro bodybuilder, and I've competed in events such as Ironman |
| 0:50.1 | Triathlon, Ultramarathon, Spartan, and many more. My goal with this podcast is to cut through |
| 0:56.7 | the noise of fitness myth, misconceptions, and deliver clear protocols, actual tips, and real |
| 1:04.1 | resilience and science to help you optimize your physique, elevate your physical and mental |
| 1:10.4 | health span, and, of course, enhance your |
| 1:13.5 | life. Today, I'm Sindan with a friend of mine who also happens to be Welsh, Katie Carter, one of the |
| 1:21.6 | masterminds behind the world's most famous gym, and you've probably seen it on Instagram, Jungle Gym. |
| 1:27.2 | Her husband, Ali, is also the probably seen it on Instagram, Jungle Gym. Her husband, |
| 1:28.0 | Ali, is also the co-owner and developer of the Jungle Gyms. Now, I was in Tulum recently, and I fell in |
| 1:35.1 | love with Toulom several years ago, and we bought a property there even, but we were there recently |
| 1:40.4 | hosting a retreat, and, you know, I sat down with Katie at that time and I wanted to |
| 1:46.5 | find out, you know, what does it take to build a fitness business like Jungle Gym and in a foreign |
| 1:52.9 | country and basically build it from the ground up? Now, we'll talk about how they went from a tiny |
| 1:57.8 | beach gym with just a few hand-held or handmade wooden dumbbells |
| 2:03.4 | to basically a viral sensation that attracts hundreds of thousands of influencers, athletes, |
| 2:10.2 | celebs and fitness enthusiasts from all over the world. |
... |
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