Meet Matt owner of Oak & Iron Fitness, headliner of Peak City Fitness Fest.
- Vianka Cotton
- Jul 20
- 5 min read
Last week, Jasmine and I got to meet Matt Gulliver, owner and founder of Oak and Iron Fitness of Raleigh! Before we dive into the interview, let me first introduce you to the coaches that will be teaching for Oak & Iron Fitness for the Peak City Fitness Fest:
Make sure to follow them on Instagram! Support your local folks in strength & wellness.
The Birth of Oak & Iron Fitness
Not often do we get the chance to meet someone in the gym industry who is as genuine as Matthew Gulliver.
During the interview process, we weren't there to talk barbells and cheat meals; we were there to discuss alignment, unity, and how movement is the goal for us all aka community.
It was crazy to meet a gym that embodied our mission of collaboration over competition!
We met later than our intended time, due to I-40 traffic (the absolute worst), but Matt already understood how time can slip away just like that.
When I arrived at Oak * Iron Fitness, the pressure of not being late was lifted. Matt, Jasmine, and I fell into a familiar rhythm. Talking about what we loved to do and how we loved to help others.
We interviewed while a workout session was happening; standing up, Matt near the front desk, Jasmine next to him with questions, and me behind the iPhone, making sure I could capture as much as possible. The gym was as cool, calm, and collected as Matt was.
Oak and Iron Fitness has been up and running since 2021. They are currently in the process of opening up their second location in Cary, NC at the Waverly Center where Whole Foods resides. Oak and Iron Fitness expects to open this August.
What makes this gym stand out is that they organize activities that allow members to give back, they are truly about community, a complete breath of fresh air.
There is a community library on-site, and memberships have no contracts.... right? That is insane.
Okay, now that I gave you the background, let's get down to the interview.
Keep Scrolling....
This interview will be a mixture of our in-person interview and our interview on the Google Forum.
Q: Matt, tell us about yourself and the birth of Oak & Iron Fitness
A: I grew up raised by a single mom, so sports became our first baby sister, sports grew the foundation and discipline that prepared me to be successful. I wrestled at NC State University and obtained a degree in Physical Education.
After I graduated, like many ex-athletes, I started at Enterprise Rent-A-Car (Sidenote: the former athlete to Enterprise Rent-A-Car pipeline is real).
I found success in software sales, but I was still unfulfilled. Something was missing. I started to teach group fitness on the side with an old college teammate of mine. Leading boot camp-style classes and other group fitness style classes led me to gravitate more and more to the gym.
Q: When did you take that leap to go into fitness full time:
A: At first, I was apprehensive.... My friend took over a gym where I was working and wanted me to quit my 9-5 and help manage the gym. I wasn't sure that this was enough to make a living on.
The best decision I ever made was to leave my old life behind and take that leap of faith mixed in with instincts. My friend and I formed an incredible team and went to turn Heat Studios in Downtown Raleigh into a staple fitness destination and premier boutique studio gym in the Triangle.
Remember when I said I made the best decision I ever made? I met my future wife and the mother of my children there. I took the community we made there seriously and formed a book club in the city to help lead workshops on mindfulness and diversity. Then COVID-19 happened.
Me: Ouch, COVID 19 wasn't kind to the fitness industry.
Matt: Right, the fitness world was hit hard. We moved to remote learning and outdoor workouts as the world continued to slow down. Oak and Iron Fitness was born while the harshness of COVID-19 devastated communities and took people's lives. My world was moving so fast before the pandemic, my life slowed completely, and I had a lot more time. I started journaling.
Something was missing.
Don't get me wrong, I loved working at Heat and working with my friends, but I wanted more.
After the birth of my wife's and my first child, I saw the world differently, and that, combined with COVID-19, the meaning of life for me completely changed.
I dug in deep. I used my network and wrote a business plan, and Oak & Iron Fitness was born.
Building something from the Ground up takes Grit.
Continuation from Matt's story:
Remember when I said I worked in sales?
I nod, listening.
I started calling banks, and just when I thought I couldn't hear another word, no, a bank finally expressed interest in reviewing my business plan, the rest is history. I was able to build a company with a mission rooted in strengthening our community one person at a time. Our environment is welcoming, inclusive, and aims to help others.
But it wasn't easy.
I was rejected from several banks that were not even willing to look at my business plans. Once I secured funding.... There were several months of construction delays related to COVID-19. I found balance while navigating these speed bumps in the road.
A common mantra that I regularly reiterate to my clients is "the journey is the way."
Each obstacle was put into our life for a reason, whether it's a lesson in overcoming or learning to deviate from your course -it serves a purpose.
Oak & Iron's Logo
The logo of our business represents an Iron Beam at the bottom with each limb of the tree representing the 7 dimensions of wellness:
Social Wellness
Emotional Wellness
Spiritual Wellness
Environmental Wellness
Occupational Wellness
Intellectual Wellness
Physical Wellness
Q: What does community mean to you guys
A: At Oak and Iron, community isn’t a buzzword—it’s our foundation. We believe that strength isn’t just built with barbells, but through belonging. From day one, we’ve set out to create more than just a gym.
Community means: Coaches know you by name. Members who cheer the loudest for the last one to the finish line. A space where high-fives and hard work go hand in hand. Event Partnerships and outreach that extend beyond the gym walls.
We don’t just lift weights—we lift each other.
(Okay, pause, like what? Now you see why we chose them to be the headliner! Imagine hearing and seeing this energy in person.
Q: What are you looking to most about Peak City Fitness Fest
A: Sharing with the community and helping others find joy in movement. Love being surrounded by people who are out and about in the community and who are pursuing bettering themselves and the place they live.
"I am simple...I like the basics-" Matt on working out and
Q: What is your favorite type of fitness training?
A: Strength 100%
Q: What's your favorite exercise equipment?
A: Just weights
Q: What is your favorite cheat meal?
A: Crickets
Q: What supplements are your favorite?
A: Crickets, but our gym does sell clean protein powder that I stand by.
Final Thoughts from Matt:
"Oftentimes, we let uncertainty and fear slow us down from making decisions and meeting our goals. For the most part, decisions are not finite. You can start over or redirect your path. It’s important to always have a great coach and stay in a state of willingness to learn. We can always learn more. While it’s important to take others’ perspectives into consideration, follow your instincts. Lastly and most importantly, always remember your 'why.' "
Thank you for reading this blog post, check out Matt and the Oak & Iron gang at the Peak City Fitness Fest.
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