In the public relations space, some are built with a natural passion or skill-set for the work, much like you’d say someone is a natural “go-getter” or “people person.” Nicole Dunn, CEO of Dunn Pellier Media, is all of the above.

Dunn Pellier Media has worked with top brands such as F45 Training, Les Mills, Orangetheory Fitness, and Club Pilates, establishing itself as one of the top public relations firms in fitness. But while Dunn has always had the personal tools to build a top agency, getting to this point still took determination and savvy, especially in her early days coming from another industry.

Grinding to the Top

Before starting Dunn Pellier Media, Dunn spent 14 years working in television, at one point helping to produce a Dr. Phil spin-off series called “Decision House.” She led a 50+ member team, overseeing all aspects of production from talent and guest bookings to writing scripts.

“The demands were intense, often stretching into 16-hour workdays,” Dunn recalled. “Amidst the competitive landscape, particularly dominated by men, I started to question what I was doing and how hard I worked for someone else.”

That questioning eventually led her to create Dunn Pellier Media. After receiving guidance from a business coach and an all-female “mastermind” group in Los Angeles, she went on to launch the PR agency. 

“Initially, I was hesitant to leave television, but I realized that with the versatility of my skill set in producing television and the potential for crossover into public relations, that it would work,” she said. “Encouraged by my mastermind group and my husband’s collective wisdom, I leaped.”

Amid that leap, she had an inspiring and helpful partner beside her in Tony Horton. The P90X star became one of Dunn’s first clients and was instrumental in helping her interest in fitness blossom into a true passion. 

“Witnessing the profound personal transformations sparked by his workouts ignited a fire within me,” said Dunn. “In our early days, Tony challenged me to reevaluate my fitness regimen, bluntly dismissing that my ‘daily dog walks’ just didn’t make the fitness cut. His insistence and encouragement to create a workout routine was a pivotal moment that marked a profound shift in my lifestyle and my future career.”

As their partnership grew, potential clients started flocking to Dunn Pellier Media, hoping to replicate the success enjoyed by Horton. From there, a thriving business unfolded, eventually growing to expand its portfolio beyond personalities and feature a wider spectrum of health and wellness organizations. 

Separation from the Pack

Besides its impressive client list, Dunn Pellier Media also distinguished itself from multiple competitors in the public relations arena. Working to be a “dedicated health partner” rather than just manning the PR department for its clients, DPM crafts and molds wellness narratives with impactful storytelling. 

The agency’s extensive experience and notable relationships across the industry also make a difference. Along with industry giants like Orangetheory and Club Pilates, Dunn Pellier Media also works with Bulldog Yoga, MyNetDiary and Essentia Mattress. 

“We have deep-rooted relationships with both the media and the wellness marketplace,” said Dunn. “For 17 years we have attended almost all fitness, wellness, and biohacking conferences to meet our community and make ourselves a part of this community.”

Those relationship-building skills trickle down from the top. 

“One of my greatest strengths lies in my ability to connect with people — a trait that has been evident since childhood, as my father often noted my natural gift for conversation,” Dunn said. “I’ve always been genuinely intrigued by people, eager to find out what drives them while learning about their passions. This innate curiosity serves as a significant advantage for our company, as it enables me to forge meaningful connections and foster growth opportunities in the fitness and wellness space.”

Additionally, Dunn Pellier Media’s specific focus on public relations in the health and wellness sector helps differentiate it from the pack. Few, if any, other companies stand so equipped on both the fitness and PR front. 

“What sets us apart is our genuine integration within the wellness community, a distinction few firms can claim,” said Dunn. “We’ve cultivated deep-rooted relationships and solid expertise in promoting fitness, health, and wellness brands.”

The Future of DPM & More 

Dunn sees merging Dunn Pellier Media with a prominent PR firm in need of DPM’s distinct health and wellness expertise as something to strive for in the long term future. 

“By joining forces with a much larger firm, we aim to bring our unique perspective and specialized knowledge to a broader audience, further solidifying our position as leaders in wellness-focused public relations,” she said. “Together, we can amplify our impact and offer clients a comprehensive suite of services that seamlessly blend expertise, community, and authenticity.”

However, a more immediate goal involves combating gender discrimination in health and wellness. In the current calendar year, Dunn mentioned an intent to address the disparity in funding for research into women’s health. 

With help from the Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business Program, from which Dunn recently graduated, she plans to launch an online platform that will fill the gap in research and data for women aged 45 years and older. The project is still in its development phase, as Dunn noted she’s currently preparing a pitch deck to engage leading female funders invested in women’s health to have them help support the platform. 

“We can’t improve what we don’t measure, and this platform brings the data and research together for better health outcomes and reducing the cost of disease for women,” Dunn said. “We have been left out of critical health and wellness research studies and that needs to change!”

The post Nicole Dunn, Founder of Top Health & Wellness PR Firm, Wants a Better Future for Women appeared first on Athletech News.

P90X creator Tony Horton is giving his fans and fellow celebrities another chance to feel empowered, thanks to the personal trainer’s latest venture — “Power Up with Tony Horton.” The new web series features celebrity guests, including professional wrestling icon and DDPYoga creator Diamond Dallas Page, comedian Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, and professional stuntwoman Jessie Graff, getting fit with the “Bring It” author. Each episode of the YouTube series will not only feature Tony Horton and his guests powering up through explosive workouts, but also having insightful conversations. “Highest paid cheerleaders in the NFL everybody! At a whopping $80 a game,” exclaims Johnson-Reyes in the series trailer.

In a press release for his highly-anticipated new show, Horton says the web series will give fans the opportunity to see him in a different light following his over 30-year career as a fitness guru and motivational speaker.

“One thing I love about fitness is innovation, and having the chance to work out with people doing revolutionary things like Diamond Dallas Page with his DDPYoga has been mind blowing. It’s also been a privilege getting to see how [internet personality] Zach King makes one of his famous illusions and revisiting my stand-up comedy roots while meeting the hilarious Anjelah Johnson-Reyes,” says Horton. 

“I’m having a blast working out and exercising with my guests and I can’t wait to share the incredible journeys that these new friends have been on.” 

You can expect to see yoga, ax-throwing, some of Tony Horton’s famous workouts, and much more on “Power Up with Tony Horton.” The premiere episode debuts Wednesday, October 19, with new episodes to air every Wednesday on the Power Up with Tony Horton YouTube channel.

The post Get Ready to Power Up With Tony Horton on YouTube appeared first on Athletech News.

Fitness routines provide more than just toning. Having a workout routine can establish a lifetime of healthy habits, stress reduction, and improved relationships. A fitness regimen offers a time to take care of yourself, mentally and physically. Tony Horton, the fitness pro who created P90X, and Pete McCall, the podcast host of All About Fitness, know the benefits firsthand of working out and having a customized routine. 

Horton became a personal trainer in 1980 and quickly went from training in his garage to a clientele list that boasted names like Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Billy Idol, and Usher. In 2005. Horton launched P90X as a home-based fitness regimen. He quickly became a household name and a purveyor of wellness and fitness routines. 

While some opt to do their workout routines in the morning, others prefer the evening. Athletech News asked Horton when he opts to work out and what benefits he sees with his choice.

“I prefer working out in the early afternoon since this is when I feel fully awake and nourished,” Horton shares with Athletech News. “I’m at my strongest and, depending on how my sleep was the night prior, have the most energy to push myself to work hard.” 

Horton referred to exercise as being a positive feedback loop and spoke of the importance of sleep.

“If you’re not getting great sleep, your workout is going to reflect that and if you’re not working out to your full potential, you’re missing out on the best benefits of exercising,” Horton says. 

The fitness pro is a big believer in using sleep as a vehicle for proper recovery and provided his thoughts on when to wrap up a workout.

“To succeed with any goal, whether it’s physical, mental, or emotional, you must allow your body to recharge. Sleep allows your mind and body to wind down and recover, plus, it can help prevent injuries, burnout and induce healing. Ideally, because exercise is a very stimulating act, you want to plan for your workouts to end well before bedtime, being sure you have ample time to settle into a calm environment and prepare your mind for deep, optimal sleep,” Horton shares.

The P90X creator says that after a rigorous workout, he sees the best results.

“The benefits are palpable: I sleep better, have more mental clarity, and am generally less stressed,” says Horton.

Horton, who has devoted his life to health and fitness, has recently launched a brand new supplement line, Power Life. The supplement line helps people obtain the proper protein and nutrients without unnecessary added ingredients.  

When it comes to routines, Pete McCall, author, and host of the All About Fitness podcast and ACE Fitness and NASM Master Trainer told Athletech News that consistency is key. He also advocates for sleep fitness and says that you could pay the price if your fitness routine hits a snag and you change the time you workout. The podcast host advises sticking with a consistent routine when possible. McCall says that going from a morning workout to an evening workout can spike epinephrine and cortisol, which are energy-producing hormones.

“Staying consistent with workout times is one way to improve sleep hygiene as it relates to exercise,” McCall says. 

He advises that your body can adapt to an evening exercise routine, but taking some quiet moments before bed will help ease you into sleep.

“Taking 5-10 minutes to do some quiet meditation before bedtime could help improve sleep hygiene to achieve a higher quality of sleep,” McCall says.

In addition to the All About Fitness podcast, McCall has authored Smarter Workouts: The science of exercise made simple and Ageless Intensity: High-Intensity Workouts to Slow the Aging Process. 

The post Exclusive: Tony Horton Gives Personalized Fitness Plan to Try appeared first on Athletech News.

Tony Horton, the man behind the intensely popular, intensely marketed and just plain intense P90X fitness program, has become a coach with Tonal, the much-hyped at-home fitness brand whose $3,000 adjustable exercise bench comes outfitted with a video screen for classes.

Horton, the media-savvy personal trainer to the stars who sold his program on a slew of infomercials about 15 years ago, will teach live classes on a format appropriately called Live. The classes will then be banked for utilization at the leisure of Tonal members.

Thus far, Horton, or “Coach Tony” as he’s called on Tonal’s website, has planned diverse five work lessons. Four — “Fit Full Body, “Legit Legs & Chest,” “Legendary Legs & Core,” and “Action Arms” — incorporate cardio and strength training. A fifth “Yoga Flex Flow” is yoga-themed. More will follow, Tonal promises.

Tony Horton became a household name with the P90X system, introduced in 2004, that promised radical bodily transformation within 90 days through intense exercise and meal planning. At a cost of about $120, buyers received 12 workout DVDs, plus supplementary material, that guided them through brisk, high-intensity workout routines for which they dedicated 90 minutes a day six or seven days a week. The accompanying meal plan regulated protein and carb intake in synchronicity to the program.

Horton hawked the P90X plan on infomercials and sold more than 4 million units. Predictably, a series of tweaked plans (like the P90X2 and P90X3), spin-off products and books came afterwards. Also predictably, interest subsided after five years or so. However, Horton’s experience in media, branding and home-based workout plans make him a natural choice for Tonal, as it seeks to increase its visibility and user base among the fitness diehards working out from home amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tonal’s workout machines uses a fold-out bench, resistance bands and a flat-screen TV for instruction, making it an easy-to-store setup of workout essentials. The electromagnetic resistance engine can generate up to 200 pounds of resistance, according to the company, creating an alternative to a bulky set of weights. Professional athletes have bought the device and the San Francisco-based company is raising funds to increase its profile. In September, Tonal announced it had acquired $110 million in investor funding, from the likes of Amazon, golfer Michelle Wie and several basketball stars, including Steph Curry.

So what should we expect from Tony Horton, whose P90X embodied the concept of beast mode? In an interview that came with promotional material for his Tonal package, the 62-year-old personal trainer said he has become more holistic.

“In my 20s and early 30s, my only focus was the aesthetic transformation that exercise and my not-so-healthy diet provided,” he said. “Later, in my 40s, 50s, and now 60s, I care much more about how exercise improves the quality of my life, and my mental and emotional wellbeing versus aesthetics.”

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