Listen Online
Episode Summary
In this episode of the Connect Vegas Podcast, host Ben Laifsky sits down with James Richey, founder of JouleFit, a revolutionary fitness technology company based in Las Vegas. James shares his journey from mechanical engineering to entrepreneurship, and how he combined his lifelong passion for fitness, robotics, and data science to create a smarter, faster, and safer way to work out. Together, they discuss JouleFit’s mission to transform fitness through AI-driven, robotic equipment — and how their ambitious plan could influence health outcomes on a global scale.
If you’ve ever wished you could get a full-body workout in just 15 minutes (without even breaking a sweat), this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
Contact James Richey
James Richey
CEO/Founder of JouleFit
Episode Highlights
- What JouleFit Offers:
- A spa-like fitness studio with facial recognition
- Robotic machines that automatically adjust to each user’s body
- 15-minute, data-driven workouts requiring only two sessions a week
- The Science Behind It:
- Real-time force matching with robotic actuators (no weights)
- 50,000+ data points collected during each workout
- Gamified experience tracking your personal best performance
- James’s Background:
- Grew up in Indiana without TV, focused on outdoor activities and reading
- Mechanical engineering career combined with lifelong love of sports
- Inspiration from Body by Science by Dr. Doug McGuff
- Vision for JouleFit:
- Opening flagship locations in Las Vegas
- Building 10,000 locations over the next 10 years
- Collecting massive health and wellness data sets to optimize personal fitness and health outcomes
- JouleFit’s Unique Approach:
- Suitable for busy professionals, older adults, and athletes
- Eliminates intimidation of traditional gyms
- Focus on safe, injury-free training even for seniors
- Las Vegas Insights:
- Growth of the tech and biotech community in Las Vegas
- Favorite local spots like Red Rock Canyon and top networking groups like Fusion 42 and Tech Alley
Notable Quotes
“Two 15-minute sessions a week is all the body can physically handle with our system. We’re tracking everything to optimize your recovery and growth.”
“If you don’t make time to get healthy, you’ll have to make time for your illness.”
“Every time you read a book, you gain five to fifteen years of experience from that author. Imagine gaining 2,000 years of wisdom a year just by reading.”
“Muscle mass is the key to health and longevity — and you can build strength at any age, even into your 90s.”
“JouleFit is not just a gym — it’s a data company focused on changing the future of wellness and human performance.”
“We’ve designed an experience where you don’t need any prior knowledge to get the best workout of your life — just push or pull.”