#45. Dr Sarah Court. Fear, Fitness & the Optimisation Trap

#48. Erin Eleu. We Stay Active When We Stay Connected

Movement is about far more than muscles, mobility or exercise programmes. At its best, it helps people build confidence, connection and a greater sense of belonging. In this returning conversation, Andrew sits down once again with Erin Eleu, founder of Agents of Movement, to explore how her thinking has evolved over the past 18 months. Together they discuss why movement leaders should think beyond sets and reps, why community may be one of our most powerful health interventions, and why the way we deliver movement experiences often matters just as much as the activities themselves. They also explore why traditional "fall prevention" messaging often misses the mark, and how reframing the conversation around confidence, capability and resilience could encourage far more people to stay active throughout later life. * Why movement is a vehicle for connection, not just exercise * The difference between what we teach and how we teach it * Building communities that people genuinely want to return to * The role of language in shaping confidence and self-belief * Why "suitable for all levels" is rarely helpful * The concept of social frailty and how isolation affects physical capability * Moving beyond fear-based approaches to fall prevention * Why learning to fall should be considered a lifelong movement skill * The importance of playful movement throughout adulthood * Helping people become more adaptable, confident movers * Why older adults should be viewed as creators and leaders, not just consumers * Creating movement experiences that foster belonging, curiosity and joy If you'd like to learn more about Erin's work, visit Agents of Movement and explore her podcast, webinars and learning community. Enjoyed this conversation? We also recommend Erin's previous appearance on the Playful Nature Podcast (See Episode 7), where we explored play, movement, ageing and creating richer movement experiences. Together, the two conversations provide a fascinating look at how Erin's thinking has developed over the past 18 months. Music from Me For Queen.

#47 Gill & Andrew. The Body Image Industry

It's one of the questions we're asked most often, especially around our strength courses. Will I lose weight? Will I tone up? Will this change my body? In this episode, Andrew and I go for a walk and talk through the many reasons why we deliberately avoid making those promises. We talk about growing up in the 90s and the era of Heat magazine, celebrity "circle of shame" features and the diet culture, before exploring how today's fitness industry continues to market health through insecurity, before-and-after photos and unrealistic body ideals. Drawing on Andrew's experience working in commercial gyms and then moving into public health, we discuss the difference between pain-point marketing and what the evidence tells us about lasting behaviour change.  We ramble around a few bit and touch on bodybuilding, social media, steroids, GLP-1 drugs, optimisation culture, AI-generated fitness content. Rather than asking "How can I change my body?", perhaps a better question is: "What do I want my body to help me do?" In this episode * Why WildStrong doesn't use before-and-after photos * Growing up with 1990s diet culture and celebrity magazines * How commercial gyms are taught to market through people's insecurities * Pain points versus opportunity: what behaviour change research actually says * The illusion of control in modern fitness culture * Orthorexia, optimisation and the "spreadsheetification" of health * Why today's physique standards are so different from previous generations * Steroids, bodybuilding and changing expectations * Hugh Jackman, Hollywood and social media physiques * GLP-1 drugs, AI influencers and the future of body image * What people really mean when they ask if a programme will "tone" them * Why capability may be a more meaningful goal than aesthetics Mentioned in this episode * Heat magazine's "Circle of Shame" * Kate Winslet and media coverage following Titanic * Joe Wicks * Eugene Sandow * Mr Universe and Mr Olympia * Hugh Jackman * GLP-1 medications (including Ozempic) * Orthorexia * COM-B behaviour change model * Social determinants of health * Kill All Normies by Angela Nagle If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love it if you subscribed, left a review or shared it with someone who might find it useful. Thank you!

#46. Dr Nikita Rowley. The Gap Between Knowing & Doing

Why do so many of us struggle to become more active when we already know exercise is good for us? In this episode, Andrew speaks with Dr Nikita Rowley, Chartered Psychologist and researcher at Coventry University, about the psychology of behaviour change, exercise referral schemes, physical activity pathways and which interventions help people move more. Drawing on her PhD research evaluating exercise referral schemes across England, Nikita shares surprising findings about who these programmes are reaching, why confidence may be one of the most important outcomes we can measure, and why a gym membership isn't necessarily the answer for everyone. The conversation explores the gap between intention and action, the importance of creating multiple pathways into movement, and how healthcare professionals, coaches and communities can better support people to become more active. Towards the end of the episode, Andrew and Nikita discuss GLP-1 medications, sustainable behaviour change and why meaningful activities often matter more than fitness metrics. If you’re a practitioner, this episode is a great listen. Resources that came up: * NICE PH54: Exercise Referral Schemes to Promote Physical Activity - NICE PH54 Exercise Referral Schemes Guidance [https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph54?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Physical Activity Guidelines - World Health Organization (WHO) Physical Activity Guidelines - WHO Physical Activity Guidelines [https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Susan Michie and the Behaviour Change Wheel - Nikita and Andrew discuss the challenge of turning intention into action. Behaviour Change Wheel [https://www.behaviourchangewheel.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) - One of the tools discussed in relation to measuring physical activity levels within exercise referral schemes. ⁠International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)⁠ [https://sites.google.com/view/ipaq?utm_source=chatgpt.com] If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone interested in movement, health, behaviour change or helping more people become active.

#45. Dr Sarah Court. Fear, Fitness & the Optimisation Trap

In this episode of the Playful Nature Podcast, Andrew is joined by Dr Sarah Court, physical therapist, co-founder of Movement Logic [https://themovementlogic.com/], and co-host of the Movement Logic podcast [https://themovementlogic.com/podcast/]. Together they explore the modern fitness and wellness landscape, particularly the abuse of scientific-sounding claims, ageing, strength, pain, and “optimisation”. They talk about fear-based marketing, the pressure to constantly improve ourselves, and the way social media amplifies insecurity in both fitness and health culture. The conversation touches on: * when doctors act as brands rather than professionals * menopause and the rise of the wellness industry * osteoporosis and strength training * fearmongering in fitness * the misuse of scientific research online * certifications and scope of practice * the pressure to be “optimal” * women’s strength and capability * and how evidence-based thinking requires the willingness to change your mind How do we help people feel stronger and more capable without making them afraid of their bodies first? Further reading mentioned in this episode: * Position Statement: Resistance Exercise for Osteoporosis [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28975661/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * WHO Physical Activity Guidelines [https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240015128?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Music: Exercise by Mary Erskine (Me for Queen)

#44. Graham Tuttle. Building capabilities over optimisation

In this episode of the Playful Nature Podcast, Andrew is joined by movement coach and author Graham Tuttle, aka The Barefoot Sprinter. [https://www.instagram.com/thebarefootsprinter] They discuss what it means to be capable and how we can reframe the idea of exercise and movement around real life abilities. The conversation moves through athleticism, capability, pain, fitness culture, meaning, modern society, and the difference between training for life versus training as an escape from it. Graham reflects on his own journey from chronic pain and rigid training systems towards a broader understanding of movement, one rooted in adaptability, resilience, play, and utility. They discuss: * why many people feel disconnected from their bodies * the limitations of hyper-quantified fitness culture, but not throwing the baby out with the bathwater * training for real life * the importance of real-world capability * community, usefulness, and feeling connected to something bigger than yourself This episode asks an important question: 👉 What if strength wasn’t measured just by numbers in the gym, but by how fully you can engage with life? Further Reading & References Mentioned * Anatomy Trains — Thomas Myers⁠https://www.anatomytrains.com⁠ [https://www.anatomytrains.com] * Green Gym programme (The Conservation Volunteers) ⁠https://www.tcv.org.uk/green-gym/⁠ [https://www.tcv.org.uk/green-gym/] * Born to Sprint — Graham Tuttlehttps://www.amazon.com/Born-Sprint-Graham-Tuttle/dp/B0D6XWQWQ8 [https://www.amazon.com/Born-Sprint-Graham-Tuttle/dp/B0D6XWQWQ8]