The
Podcast

Surviving Strong: The building of my brand with Susan Holden

There’s more to living than not dying. 

That’s what Susan Holden told herself after being diagnosed with invasive cancer in 2004. 

The cancer had spread, the prognosis wasn’t good, and overnight, Susan’s life became an endless series of doctor’s appointments, chemotherapy and hospital visits, with just one key goal – to keep Susan from dying. 

Susan’s battle with cancer made her realize there had to be more to life than just avoiding death. She built Surviving Strong as a safe space for anyone who’s struggling –  to help them live life to the fullest and give them a community that will be there for them no matter what. 

Tune in to this week’s episode to learn about Susan’s mission, understand Surviving Strong’s unique philosophy and get a glimpse into what marketing looks like for mission-driven businesses like Susan’s. 

Here’s what we’ll cover in this episode:

  • Susan’s background, her experience with cancer, and how she found a need that was not being met in her area. 
  • Surviving Strong’s journey since 2009 and Susan’s resilience through personal setbacks and a global pandemic
  • The philosophy behind Surviving Strong & how it’s different from the mainstream idea of fitness

With grit and gratitude,

Lisé

LINKS:

https://survivingstrong.org/

https://studiogrow.co/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/

Recommended Episodes

  • The Anatomy of a High-Performing Studio Team

    Your studio’s brand isn’t your name, logo or aesthetics—it’s your people. That means if your team isn’t performing at its highest level, neither is your business. To fix what’s wrong, Alina Cooper and Matt Hanton break down Patrick Lencioni’s Five Dysfunctions of a Team in Episode 731: The Anatomy of a High-Performing Studio Team. You…

    Listen Now

  • When to Rebrand or Pivot Your Studio

    If your studio starts to feel out of sync with your market, members or your vision, something’s gotta change. Otherwise, you’re leaving revenue, retention and growth on the table. Get a candid, been-there roadmap from Heather Garrick and Caroline Plambeck in Episode 730: When to Rebrand or Pivot Your Studio—and find out if it’s time…

    Listen Now

  • Live from The HFA Show 2026: Lise Kuecker and Ashley Vasquez

    Boutique fitness is going global, but it’s not just a growth play. International expansion is a full-scale operational, cultural and strategic transformation with real opportunities and risks. Get the inside track from someone who’s actually built it at scale in Episode 729: Live from The HFA Show 2026: Lise Kuecker and Ashley Vasquez, VP of…

    Listen Now

  • When to Open a Second Fitness Studio Location

    Just because your first studio is crushing it doesn’t mean it’s time to open a second studio. Successful growth only happens when your foundation is truly ready. Industry veterans Alina Cooper and Lisa Taylor outline exactly what you need to assess before making a move in Episode 728: When to Open a Second Fitness Studio…

    Listen Now