The Luca Health Podcast

S2, E6: 80 Ultras in 80 Days, a Mother's Brain Injury, and the Power of Why

Sam Peters sits down with world record holder Sam King to talk about his extraordinary journey from being the bullied "big guy" at school, through teenage Call of Duty addiction as the world's number one player, into a hard-charging London consultancy career, and finally to running 80 ultramarathons in 80 consecutive days — a new Guinness World Record for a man. Sam opens up about hitting 19 stone in his late teens, the wake-up call of seeing himself in birthday photos, and how he went on to lose seven stone in six months and run a sub-3:30 London Marathon just two months after starting to run. He describes the moment his mum collapsed in his arms with a brain bleed, the decision to walk away from his career to take on Project 74 in her honour, and the brutal first three weeks of the challenge — night sweats, a swollen tendon that took him from a size 9 to an 11½, projectile vomiting, and the very real worry from those around him that he wouldn't make it. He talks through the routine that eventually clicked, the moment the challenge went viral with thirty days to go, and the perfect final day in Frinton, when his mum waited at the top of the church steps with her arms outstretched. Plus an unexpected late-night phone call from a local MP, the celebrity supporters who got behind the cause, and over £74,000 raised for Headway, the brain injury charity.

S2, E5: Richard Dixon on Toulouse, LPM, and the Joy of Movement

Sam Peters sits down with coach and teacher Richard Dixon to talk about his remarkable journey from playing at Oxford, France, and Japan to taking up a coaching role at Stade Toulousain, the most successful club in the history of rugby union. Richard explains the philosophy of La Pleasure du Mouvement (LPM) pioneered by Pierre Villepreux, the principles that have shaped Toulouse's DNA for more than 40 years, and why rugby at its best is an evasion game rather than a contest of collisions. Sam and Richard discuss why this approach remains largely unknown in the UK despite its success, the dangers and absurdities of the jackal, why so many great English coaches have come from the teaching profession, and the risks of independent schools recruiting former professionals as ready-made coaches. They also explore what school sport is actually for, the importance of letting young players make mistakes and keep moving, and why coach education has to be continuous rather than a one-off tickbox. Plus, details of LPM UK at Kingdom Hill at the end of July.

S2, E4: Steve Thompson: A World Cup Winner's Honest Conversation About Dementia and Rugby

Sam Peters sits down with England 2003 World Cup winner Steve Thompson at his home in the northwest of England for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about life six years on from his early-onset dementia diagnosis. Steve opens up about the daily reality of living with the condition, the routines and treatments that help him manage, and the impact on his family. He reflects on a playing career in which he was coached to use his head as a weapon, the culture of trust that left players unaware of the long-term risks, and why he believes some of those responsible have "blood on their hands." Sam and Steve also discuss the ongoing legal case involving more than a thousand former players, the troubling rise in serious injuries at amateur and schools level, mismatches in junior rugby, and what the sport needs to do to survive. Despite everything, Steve finds reasons for cautious optimism, from changing attitudes in schools to a new generation of players willing to stand down when something doesn't feel right.

S2, E3: Honest Conversations About Rugby in Schools

In S2, E3 of the Luca Health Podcast, Sam Peters travels to Mount Kelly School to speak with headmaster Guy Ayling about sport, education, player welfare, and the future of rugby in schools.Set against the backdrop of Dartmoor, this wide-ranging conversation explores how schools can balance the benefits of rugby with their responsibility to keep young people as safe as possible. Guy reflects on the importance of values such as kindness, empathy, and courage, and explains why those principles should shape not only education, but also the way sport is coached and experienced by pupils.Sam and Guy discuss the tension between the professional game and the school game, the pressure created by high-performance environments, the importance of honest communication with parents, and why school rugby should not simply try to replicate what happens at the elite level. They also explore what makes rugby so valuable for young people, from teamwork and discipline to the unique physical courage the sport demands.This is a thoughtful and encouraging conversation about leadership, duty of care, and how schools can help make rugby more sustainable for the next generation.

S2, E2: Alix Popham and Nick O’Leary on Brain Injury, Rugby, and Recovery

In Season 2, Episode 2 of the Luca Health Podcast, Sam Peters is joined by former Wales international Alix Popham and Nick O’Leary for a powerful conversation about brain injury, player welfare, and the future of rugby.Recorded at London Welsh as part of Head for Change’s Big Rugby Debate, this episode explores the real-life consequences of head injuries in sport through Nick’s deeply personal story, after a serious brain injury at 16 changed the course of his life. Alix reflects on his own experience in professional rugby, the pressures placed on players, and why the game must do more to protect athletes both on and off the pitch.Together, they discuss the culture of rugby, the hidden impact of brain injury, the importance of education for players, coaches, and parents, and why meaningful change is still urgently needed. It is an honest, emotional, and ultimately hopeful discussion about how rugby can better care for the people who play it without losing what makes the sport so special.