AGEnts of Movement

Ron Blehm is a longtime physical therapist who left clinical practice to found EEI Physical Wellness Institute and focus on something he believes is often missing from healthcare: whole-person functional assessment.Ron challenges the diagnosis-driven, reimbursement-focused model of care that can leave important pieces of the puzzle overlooked. Things like gait speed, balance, endurance, cognition, sleep, nutrition—and how all of these factors work together to influence how we move and function.He also shares his experience working in a falls specialty clinic, and explains why he believes we shouldn’t wait until someone is falling repeatedly to start paying attention.We talk about his 30-point FAST—Functional Assessment Screening Tool—and some of the “blind spots” it can reveal, including proprioception and rapid strength. And Ron challenges one of our most common assumptions: is age itself really the risk factor, or is it what happens to our function as we age?Most importantly, this conversation asks us to rethink prevention.What could we do differently if we started assessing and developing balance, mobility, strength, and movement capacity in midlife—long before a fall becomes the reason we pay attention?Links:EEI Physical Wellness InstituteConnect with Ron on LinkedInhttps://www.agentsofmovement.com/

I’m joined by coach and midlife transition expert, Dana Hilmer, who brings a deeply personal perspective to our conversation. Dana has experienced her own significant health setback—one that challenged her sense of identity and changed the way she thought about her future.We explore what it means to face a health setback and the emotional experience that comes when the person you thought you were—or the things you thought you could do—suddenly feel uncertain.We talk about the stories we tell ourselves during times of change, how we can hold space for grief while still making room for possibility, and what it looks like to build a new sense of identity when life doesn't go according to plan.This is a conversation about resilience, self-compassion, possibility, and learning to see yourself not only for where you are today, but for who you are becoming.Links for Dana:Substack: Living Never Gets OldWebsite: www.wiserandfree.comConnect with AGEnts of Movement:https://www.agentsofmovement.com/

Dr. Amy Bantham is founder of Move to Live More, an organization dedicated to building bridges between healthcare, the fitness industry, and community organizations to help more people live healthier, more active lives. Amy is the Past President of the Physical Activity Alliance, a certified health and wellness coach, personal trainer, and group fitness instructor, and holds a Doctor of Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.We explore how the language we use shapes beliefs about aging and movement, why phrases like "exercise keeps you young" can do more harm than good, and how we can shift the conversation from fear and decline to strength, confidence, and possibility.We also discuss what really keeps people coming back to movement programs. Spoiler alert: it's rarely the workout itself. It's the relationships, the laughter, and the sense of belonging. From simple ways to build social connection into your classes to rethinking how we talk about falls, strength, and confidence, this conversation provides practical ideas for movement leaders and anyone passionate about creating healthier communities.Links for Amy:https://www.movetolivemore.com/ LinkedInhttps://www.agentsofmovement.com/

Physical therapist, educator, and author Mike Studer joins the podcast to explore the powerful connection between mindset, movement, and healthy aging. Mike shares insights from his book The Brain That Chooses Itself, challenging us to rethink how autonomy, belief, and choice shape motivation, adherence, and long-term health.We talk about:Why generic advice often falls flatHow listening can be one of the most effective interventions we have Why the words we choose can either reinforce limitations or open the door to possibility. Mike also shares his own experience recovering from Bell's Palsy, offering a personal perspective on resilience and avoiding the mental traps that can slow recovery.This conversation will change the way you think about behavior change, confidence, and what it really takes to help someone move toward a longer, healthier life.

Matt Scheib, a judo practitioner, judo school owner, and professional stuntman, explains how Ukemi (falling techniques) translate into teaching people 55+ to reduce injury, fear, and stigma around falls, which he frames as a normal part of life. We discuss barriers created by fall-prevention-only language, the importance of changing the narrative around falling, making movement more fun and helping people gain confidence instead of avoiding risk altogether. Links for Matt:The Falling ClassLinkedInConnect with AGEnts of Movementwww.agentsofmovement.com

Interview with fitness veteran, Mindy Mylrea to discuss creating classes that meet older adults where they are. Mindy shares her decades-long fitness career and how she’s focused on active aging through her SASS program (Seated, Assisted, Standing for Seniors), designed to let participants with very different abilities train together in one class. We cover:How to structure a classHow to use simple equipment and body positioning for multiple options; and How to market and cue classes to avoid intimidation and ensure success for everyone. She identifies gaps in active aging programming, and how her and her husband built a non-profit based on Blue Zones research.Links for Mindy:https://themovementors.com/Instagram@mindymyrealfitnessConnect with AGEnts of Movementhttps://www.agentsofmovement.com/ Sign up for the newsletter:https://www.agentsofmovement.com/newsletter

Colin Milner, founder and CEO of the International Council on Active Aging, to discuss creating a true culture of active aging. Colin defines active aging as being actively engaged in life, grounded in a whole-person wellness model that goes beyond physical fitness to include mind, spirit, environment, purpose, and connection. We address persistent ageism in wellness and senior living, including “bubble-wrapping” older adults with overly cautious programming, and emphasize using research and education to change assumptions about capability and improvement even into late life. Colin describes what an age-friendly culture looks like—autonomy, agency, inclusion, empathy, and community access for all ages—and shares future-focused insights on personalization, precision, genetics, technology, and closing the 12.4-year gap between lifespan and healthspan, stressing that HI—human intelligence and interconnection—remains central.Links:https://www.icaa.cc/https://www.agentsofmovement.com/

I’m sharing the presentation I did for  day one of the Advancing Resilience of Falls Prevention Summit hosted by the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging and the Falls Free Wisconsin Coalition. I dive into a topic that often gets overlooked in fall prevention conversations: social disconnection. We explore how social frailty and isolation contributes to cognitive and physical decline, reduced confidence, fear of falling, and ultimately increased fall risk. I share research connecting social exclusion and loneliness to falls and discuss why movement professionals and community leaders need to think beyond physical assessments alone.Throughout the conversation, we explore how movement programs can become powerful social interventions by intentionally creating spaces of belonging, connection, encouragement, and shared experience. We discuss practical ways to build confidence, foster peer relationships, and help participants feel seen, supported, and valued within class environments.Links:⁠Falls Free Wisconsin⁠⁠Wisconsin Institute of Healthy Aging⁠AGEnts of Movement blog post ⁠Designing For Resilience: The Role of Social Connection in Movement Programs for Fall Prevention ⁠

Shared episode with the Modern Management of the Older Adult podcast.  This is a conversation with Dustin Jones from the Institute of Clinical Excellence. We discuss:Lessons learned teaching in cardiac rehab, senior living communities, and senior centersThe evolution and challenges of the SilverSneakers modelWhy language and programming matter in shaping the aging narrativeHow room setup, challenge, play, and choice influence confidence and engagementPractical ways instructors can foster connection and trust in movement spacesLinks:Programming for PossibilityBeyond SilverSneakers: Expanding the Future of Older Adult FitnessAbility, Not Age: Ending Ageist Assumptions in Physical Activity ProgrammingMMOA (Modern Management of the Older Adult)Sign up for the AGEnts of Movement Newsletter