We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sarah Mantin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sarah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
I went into nursing because I’ve always known I wanted to help people. But a few years into my career, I realized I craved a different kind of impact – one focused on prevention and empowerment rather than managing illness. Transitioning into travel nursing gave me the flexibility to explore other passions, and that’s when I became a certified personal trainer and launched Sweat with Sarah, blending my love for health, my drive to uplift others, and my passion for community.
Working at the bedside, I often felt emotionally drained caring for patients already grappling with chronic illness. It underscored for me the importance of supporting people before they reach that point. I wanted to work with individuals who were motivated to improve their well‑being and needed guidance, encouragement, and a plan. Coaching both in person and online allowed me to do just that—and I quickly fell in love with helping people show up for themselves in sustainable, compassionate ways.
I had dreams of opening a boutique fitness studio – and came close, with three potential locations – but the pandemic intervened. In hindsight, it was a blessing: that season taught me resilience and adaptability, and it revealed a new passion for storytelling and social media. In 2024 I founded Stay Social with Sarah, a media business that captures meaningful moments at events, business launches, and weddings. Now I’m still helping others – just in a different capacity, by telling their stories, building their brands, and supporting their growth.
I continue to practice as a registered nurse and personal trainer all while running my social media biz – which truly is the best of both worlds. But whether I’m helping someone grow their confidence, their health, or their brand, my mission remains the same:
To lead by example and remind people that progress isn’t about perfection – it’s about showing up for yourself with intention and compassion.
Because health – and life – aren’t one‑size‑fits‑all. I believe in giving people the tools, mindset, and encouragement to figure out what works for them.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m Sarah Mantin, a registered nurse, certified personal trainer, and content creator who thrives at the intersection of health, community, and storytelling. After graduating nursing school, I spent a few years in the hospital setting, where I loved caring for patients but quickly realized I wanted to focus upstream: on prevention, empowerment, and helping people build habits instead of treating crises. I transitioned into travel nursing to give myself the freedom to explore, and that’s when I launched Sweat with Sarah – my first business.
What I Do & the Services I Offer:
Sweat with Sarah: One‑on‑one and small‑group coaching (both in‑person and virtual) focused on functional strength, sustainable habits, and mindset work. I design workout plans that fit clients’ real lives – whether that’s a busy parent squeezing in a lunchtime session or a beginner who’s never lifted a weight before.
Stay Social with Sarah: Full‑service content and social media management for brands, events, and individuals. From on‑site photo and video content at product launches or weddings to creating strategic post calendars and engagement campaigns, I help clients tell their stories in an authentic, scroll‑stopping way.
This means I’m constantly honing my clinical assessment skills and empathy by helping people prioritize symptoms, coordinate care, and understand the root causes of their health challenges.
The Problems I Solve:
For fitness clients: overwhelm, lack of accountability, and one‑size‑fits‑all programs. I meet people where they are, build confidence one small win at a time, and hold space for the inevitable setbacks.
For brands & events: inconsistent or generic content that fails to capture their unique voice. I marry my nurse’s attention to detail with a trainer’s motivational energy to create assets that feel both polished and personal.
What Sets Me Apart:
Healthcare + Coaching: My nursing background gives me a deep understanding of anatomy, injury prevention, and compassionate communication.
Adaptability & Resilience: Three nearly‑opened studio locations and a global pandemic taught me to pivot, problem‑solve on the fly, and find silver linings – traits I bring to every client relationship.
Holistic Community Builder: I don’t just train or post a photo – I cultivate a supportive community (online and off), because sustainable change happens when people feel seen, supported, and celebrated.
What I’m Most Proud Of:
Launching two profitable businesses from scratch – Sweat with Sarah and Stay Social with Sarah – and watching both evolve into offerings that genuinely change lives.
Helping clients achieve their goals – whether that is to lose weight, gain weight or gain strength, overcome self‑doubt, hit business milestones, and grow loyal followings on social media.
Crafting a hybrid career that blends my clinical passion with creative freedom – so I get to help people, tell stories, and live life on my own terms.
What I Want You to Know:
Progress Over Perfection: Small, consistent steps compound into remarkable change.
You’re Not Alone: Whether you’re sweating through your first workout or launching your tenth event, I’m in your corner.
Health & Storytelling Are Universal: Everyone deserves a plan that fits their life and a story that feels authentically theirs – and that’s exactly what I’m here to provide.
How did you build your audience on social media?
I began Sweat with Sarah in 2018 by posting simple photos of workouts and client before‑and‑after results on Instagram and Facebook. Very quickly I noticed that what resonated most were the personal stories I shared, such as a busy mom finally mastering her first pull‑up or someone overcoming gym anxiety. When the pandemic arrived in 2020, I shifted to hosting daily live workouts and Q&A sessions. This kept my existing community engaged and attracted new followers who were hungry for free at‑home fitness guidance. I made it a point to reply to every comment, show behind‑the‑scenes glimpses of my travel‑nursing life, and highlight individual client victories. Those authentic moments built trust and encouraged word‑of‑mouth referrals. By 2022 I had grown to over three thousand followers who trusted my voice. When I launched Stay Social with Sarah in 2024, I invited my audience into my content‑creation process by sharing case studies from events and brand launches. That level of transparency deepened engagement and helped me reach more than twenty thousand followers across all platforms (IG, TikTok, Youtube).
Advice for those just starting to build their social media presence:
First, clarify why you are on social media and what value you offer. Knowing whether you are sharing workout tips, nutrition ideas, or behind‑the‑scenes stories will guide every post you create. Second, commit to a realistic posting schedule, for example two or three times per week, and stick with it. Consistency matters more than perfection. Third, focus on genuine stories. Sharing real client successes, daily struggles, and honest setbacks will resonate far more than polished marketing copy. Fourth, make community a priority by engaging first: comment on other people’s posts, respond to direct messages, and ask questions in your captions. Fifth, repurpose each idea across formats. A single tip can become a Reel, a carousel, a short video, and a newsletter snippet, maximizing reach without requiring extra brainstorms. Finally, pay attention to your analytics and lean into the formats and topics that earn the most saves, shares, and comments. Growth takes time, so celebrate every milestone, stay curious, and keep showing up.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
One of the most significant pivots in my journey came in early 2020, just as I was finalizing plans to open my first boutique fitness studio. I had scoped out different locations, negotiated leases, and even started ordering equipment. Then the pandemic hit, and it became clear that an in‑person studio launch was no longer viable or safe. Initially, I felt devastated – I had poured months of savings, energy, and heart into bringing a brick‑and‑mortar vision to life.
Almost immediately, I reminded myself of the core lesson I’ve carried from nursing and coaching: when circumstances change, you reassess, adapt, and keep moving forward. I shifted my focus entirely online. I repurposed studio equipment for at‑home workout videos, launched daily live classes on Instagram and Facebook, and began offering virtual one‑on‑one coaching sessions. That approach not only kept my fitness community engaged but actually helped it grow, as people everywhere were searching for ways to stay active at home.
As 2021 unfolded, I realized I was falling in love not only with coaching, but also with creating content and telling stories. My phone was full of behind‑the‑scenes clips, client progress montages, and short how‑to videos that had nothing to do with a physical studio space. It was then that I recognized a new opportunity to offer my storytelling and social‑media skills as a service.
In 2024, that realization led to the launch of Stay Social with Sarah, a media business capturing content at events, brand launches, and weddings. What began as a forced pivot away from my dream studio evolved into a dual‑career model that combines my clinical nursing work, fitness coaching, and content creation. That experience taught me that resilience is something you build by choosing action over despair, that your core mission remains the same even when how you fulfill it changes, and that opportunities often hide in disruptions – when one door closes, leaning into your strengths can open an even bigger one.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sweatwithsarah.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmantin
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-mantin-a03636229
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sarahmantin?si=jC5R5-2z2vKecDTR
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahmantin
https://www.staysocialwithsarah.com
Image Credits
Brooke Michelle Photography
Kellie Lynn Photography