Coach Maceo’s Story
Maceo grew up fascinated by the evolutionary adaptations of non-human animals. To him, they were like real-life superheroes - a cheetah’s ability to run at highway speeds, a chameleon’s camouflage, or a dog’s extraordinary sense of smell.
When he began university, however, he ran into an uncomfortable realization: his dietary and consumer choices didn’t align with his values. After listening to a philosophy podcast that made the contradiction pretty impossible to ignore, he made the decision to go vegan and pursue a career centered on animal welfare.
Maceo graduated with a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Philosophy, combining a scientific understanding of animals with the more ethical question of how humans should treat them.
At the same time, movement and training were always part of his life. What started as childhood soccer gradually expanded into cross-country running and eventually bodybuilding and strength training. While finishing his degree, he used elective credits to study sports science and nutrition because apparently, muscles and metabolism are just as fascinating as ecosystems. Oh, and birds. He also took an excellent class in ornithology.
Since graduating, Maceo has worked as a personal trainer with clients pursuing everything from marathon prep to simply wanting a body that doesn’t hurt all the time. His coaching focuses on helping people build stronger, more resilient bodies while creating training routines they can actually stick with. Just as importantly, he approaches fitness from a body-positive perspective, focusing on how people feel, move, and live in their bodies.
Outside the gym, Maceo spends as much time outdoors as possible hiking, camping, and playing sports (and birding!) He’s also a longtime jazz pianist, which is arguably the only activity that requires more patience than progressive overload.
