Fitness and Thinking

Chris Jones and Rob Hemingway are the owners and avid users of Güs Wellness in Sheffield City Centre.From towel-wafting in a field in Brighton to guided meditation and workouts for your internal organs, this chat covers everything you’d want to know about sauna in 2026, as well as why Sheffield is a perfect place for it.Chris, Rob and I get into how many of minutes of sauna a week we should aim for, the necessity of disconnecting, contrast therapy, the “flossing” methodology, testicle packs, eustress and resilience, guided sauna and what people get wrong about wellness, particularly in the UK, among so much more.Linkshttps://www.guswellness.com/https://www.instagram.com/gus.wellness/If you enjoyed this episode, you might like:#8 Finding alignment with Maddie a life coach and yin yoga instructor at Güs#40 There’s more to wellness than working out with nutritionist Amy StephensFitness & ThinkingForget six packs – we look at six pillars of fitness: physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial. The newsletter goes out on Wednesday mornings and new episodes drop on YouTube on Wednesday evenings, and Spotify and Apple on Thursday mornings.Follow on IG: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/Want to help? I'm looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager. Get in touch: [email protected] to work with a lifestyle and fitness coach who thinks bigger than the gym? Email: [email protected]

Luke Bownes is a competitive bodybuilder and personal trainer based in Nottingham.In this week's episode, we talk about compliments — giving them, receiving them, and why one is so much harder than the other — money, debt and the point at which having enough tips into having too much, and the first moment of being truly seen by someone.We get into Luke's influence on me as a bodybuilder who doesn't take his clothes off, his surprisingly positive experience of competition and how his view on it has evolved over the years, as well as the sunken loss fallacy and life's propensity to fill in the gaps, whether we're most content when we're younger, gaslighting clients into success, choosing to feel shame and pride, hurt people hurting people, and what it feels like to be on-plan/living your best life.Luke's links:The gym!https://www.instagram.com/beyourselfbettercoaching/If you enjoyed this episode, you might like F&T with:Sid Islam (5)Naj Devgun (25)Emma Dearling (45) F&TForget six packs – we look at six pillars of fitness: physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial. The newsletter goes out on Wednesday mornings and new episodes drop on YouTube on Wednesday evenings, and Spotify and Apple on Thursday mornings.Follow on IG: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/Want to help? I'm looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager. Get in touch: [email protected] to work with a lifestyle and fitness coach who thinks bigger than the gym? Email: [email protected]

Emma Dearling is an Epilepsy Action advocate and Miss GB Surrey finalist who can be found on social media as The Epileptic Illustrator.In this week's episode, we discuss Emma's experience of being diagnosed with epilepsy as an adult, and how it changed her life and approach to it both in the short and long term.We chat which relationships broke down, which were found and which became stronger, as well as why this happened in each instance, the feeling of not being enough, and how being turned away from a PT position has since been alchemised as a full wellbeing event.From Emma's description of seizure types to ictal asystole, boundary setting to starting again, there's so much in this episode for anyone who aspires, who feels like they've grown up, out or away from family, friends and towns and/or is living with hidden disability.Emma’s links:https://byemmadearling.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/byemmadearling/If you enjoyed this episode, you might like F&T with:Ev Fowler (33)James Sidebottom (39)Fitness & ThinkingForget six packs – we look at six pillars of fitness: physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial. The newsletter goes out on Wednesday mornings, and the podcast lands on YouTube on Wednesday evenings and Spotify and Apple on Thursday mornings.Follow on IG: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/Want to help? I’m looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager. Get in touch: [email protected] to work with a lifestyle and fitness coach who thinks bigger than the gym? Email: [email protected]

Former commodities trader turned coach to CEOs and bestselling author Charley Law joins F&T ahead of a homecoming press and talks tour.What followed a high-octane life between Miami and South America, resplendent with glamour, money, and an alter ego, was a decade of obsessive investigation into what actually creates lasting change.The result is It's Not Just Mumbo Jumbo – Charley's bestselling book – part memoir, part framework, a 7-step roadmap built from lived experience rather than theory.We get into the reality of personal transformation and a very British resistance to it, the moment Charley saw his alter ego Carlos Ley in the reflection of a Whole Foods window and felt "like an idiot", and the evolution from pseudo-spiritual gangster to relentless wellness investigator.We talk about what actually unites the most successful people, how you know when you're on the right path, ikigai and the sweet spot, and why wealth is a pillar of fitness nobody really talks about.Find more from Charley:https://www.youtube.com/@UCAniQujolTP_DlUzMIeq0yw https://www.instagram.com/charley_law/https://www.charleylaw.com/Fitness & ThinkingForget six packs – we look at six pillars of fitness: physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial. The newsletter goes out on Wednesday mornings, episodes drop on YouTube on Wednesday evenings and Spotify and Apple on Thursday mornings.Follow on IG: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/Want to help?I'm looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager.Get in touch: [email protected] to work with a lifestyle and fitness coach who thinks bigger than the gym?Email: [email protected]

Beth Kirkbride is a journalist and founder of The Indiependent, as well as my best mate, ex, and current coaching client. Make of that what you will!Episode 43 goes somewhere many adult conversations don't – nevermind fitness and wellness chats – in part, because people never make it past the negative affect of breaking up.We recorded this in number 43, a house with history, talked about what it actually takes to move on – not just move out – and got into attachment styles, avoidant and anxious patterns, the tensions that come with a 9/10 connection, and why space is only useful if you know what to do with it.We also get into the ways high-stress and low-stress environments affect us, why admin shouldn't be a justification for not moving on or moving out, communicating in a way the other person can actually receive, and having multiple people in your life for the many things in your life.Plus: what Beth and I have taken from our relationship into our current ones – platonic, professional and romantic – our ideas on dream living spaces, the difference between weight loss first and where she is now, and why we almost never met because of a shirtless photo...Catch Beth on IG and Vinted @bettykirkersThis is the newsletter we co-wrote while travelling, which we both refer to:https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/p/what-are-you-afraid-ofFitness & ThinkingForget six packs – we look at six pillars of fitness: physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial.The newsletter goes out on Wednesday mornings, episodes drop on YouTube on Wednesday evenings and Spotify and Apple on Thursday mornings.Follow on IG: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/Want to help?I'm looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager.Get in touch – [email protected] to work with a lifestyle and fitness coach who thinks bigger than the gym?Email: [email protected]

Tom Mellors is a personal trainer and HYROX athlete based in Nottingham.Episode 42 might not be the answer to the universe but it goes much further than the gym. We get into the courage to be disliked, what it actually takes to build rapport when your peers are still figuring out how to talk to people, and the real differences between UK gym chains.Tom talks about his ideal client, knowing when it's time to leave a coaching relationship, and the lessons he's picked up outside the traditional fitness world.Then things get interesting. Ice hockey takes us somewhere most fitness conversations don't — what it means to genuinely put your body on the line, and how that changes your relationship with risk and resilience.From there: the psychological challenge of coming back to "normal" life after bodybuilding, whether sport is a cheat code or a mirror to meaningful relationships, and normalising mental health conversations in environments that haven't always made space for them.We also get into race mentality — the switch, the kick, and what it feels like when it clicks — a mindset Tom's seen that genuinely concerns him, the tension between creativity and fitness performance, and why the past has already happened, so now what.Tom's linksThe courage to be disliked, Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimihttps://www.instagram.com/tmellors.pt/Fitness & ThinkingForget six packs – we look at six pillars of fitness: physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial.The newsletter goes out on Wednesday mornings and I’m going to play around with when and where episodes go out.Let’s shoot for YouTube on Wednesday evenings, and Spotify and Apple on Thursday mornings.Follow on IG: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/Want to help? I’m looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager.Get in touch: [email protected] to work with a lifestyle and fitness coach who thinks bigger than the gym?Email: [email protected]

Episode 41 of F&T looks to tie together some of the lessons learned over the last 10 weeks of podcasts and newsletters.In my first Nottingham chapter, the following stands out for me:1. People will piss you off, the world will get you down, but what can you do regardless?Twenty years ago my dad told me about his chin-up campaign, itself something he consciously enacted twenty years before that – these things come in waves and they come in cycles – every day I have a reminder go off to ask me what I can do to make today (even) better.2. Not everyone sees the world as you do.
No matter how good your intentions are, or how much experience you might have – I’ve recently relearned this through traveling, flatmates, workmates and clients.3. Would you hang out with you? Why not?Not to be confused with fake it until you make it, this is a case of putting your best foot forward – fix up, look sharp and treat yourself like someone you respect and watch how the people around you notice.4. Can you spare 10-20 minutes a day to do nothing, and, maybe, even think nothing?Yes, yes you bloody well can. Look at your screen time and tell me you can’t.If you have a sauna at your gym, or a motorway commute, or a garden, or a chair in a room, just sitting without your phone, and ideally in silence, can be a terrific unlock for a sense of calm, boredom and, if you stick with it, peace and inspiration. Do it before you knock it!5. You might not [yet] have what you need for the outcomes you wantThis time last year, the gym that I now work in didn’t exist. I needed time to pass for the building I like, the team I enjoy, and the facilities I love to come into being. One year ago I would have loved what I have now. One year ago, I might not have been ready for it. There are a million what ifs, and I pulled the trigger on the what is that made the most sense to me and continues to get better with each passing day. It’s not that I couldn’t have known I’d feel like this a year ago – I felt that I could. It’s that the wheels to be put in motion hadn’t even been built this time last year.6. The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, but now will do tooThere’s never a good time to start but if you never do, you’ll never know. Compound interest exists across all the six pillars of fitness, but you might have to risk some physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial capital to find out exactly how. Or you can sit on it.7. AskAsk people who are older than you, who are younger than you, who are from different countries and cultures, or maybe possess different abilities to you and yours.Currently I’m playing the role of yoot to a number of elders, and I’m loving every minute.Which of these do you resonate with? What have you re/learned recently?Who do you know might benefit from thinking on fitness differently? Share this with them!You can be the reason someone struggles less, or not at all, or even gets a head start on living their best from the get go.And if you want structured lifestyle coaching that actually makes sense in and out of the gym, message me.__________________Fitness & ThinkingForget six packs – we look at six pillars of fitness: physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial.The newsletter goes out on Wednesday mornings.New episodes land on Apple Podcasts and Spotify on Wednesday evenings, and on YouTube on Thursday mornings.Subscribe / follow:Apple Podcasts (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/fitness-thinking/id1840384710Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kFI7JcGD6kSUfYa4RPPl5YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessandthinkingSubstack: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/Want to build F&T with me?I’m looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager.Get in touchEmail: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/

Amy Stephens is a registered dietitian who works with elite athletes and the general population, helping people understand that being constantly drained isn't normal – it's often a sign of chronic underfueling.In episode 40 of F&T, we talk about RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport) – what it is, who it affects, and how many people are walking around with it without knowing.We discuss how people can be overweight and still underfueled, why the all-or-nothing approach is holding us back, and why reducing a person's calories should require informed consent. We explore the difference between elite athletes and gen pop nutrition, how many days of underfueling can stop bones from recovering, and the connection between emotions and food.Plus: supplements that might actually be worth your time, how to afford three square meals, and why saying "don't eat that food" sets restrictive diets up to fail.So much in this, and I'm super conscious we only scratched the surface – leave a comment on which topic/s you'd like us to get deeper into in future episodes!Amy's linkshttps://www.instagram.com/amystephensnutrition/https://www.amystephensnutrition.com/Fitness & ThinkingForget six packs – we look at six pillars of fitness: physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial.The newsletter goes out on Wednesday mornings.New episodes land on Apple Podcasts and Spotify on Wednesday evenings, and on YouTube on Thursday mornings.Subscribe / follow:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/Substack: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/Want to help? I'm looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager.Get in touchEmail: [email protected] to work with a lifestyle and fitness coach who thinks bigger than the gym?Email: [email protected]

James Sidebottom is a hybrid athlete, rockstar coach and owner of Compound, a premium personal training facility in Sheffield.This week, we talk about his origin story, whether CrossFit feels like doing a PhD relative to Hyrox's A-level, and how he's learned to separate athletics from his personality.We discuss lifestyle creation to facilitate performance obsession, the pain kink (do you not want to be shown up, or do you actually enjoy suffering?), and why there's actually peace in the hours long solo sessions – you just have to do them enough times to find it.We explore ego in athletes – when it's helpful, when it's destructive – and the importance of confidence through competence. Plus: why randomness doesn't make you better, how "too much too soon" undermines what fitness should do, the responsibility of being a professional in the space, and why the win is the same whatever the distance.Key moment: "Imagine if something happened and I couldn't perform like I do now..." – a coach's perspective on training with mortality in mind.James' linkshttps://www.instagram.com/cmpndcoaching/https://www.instagram.com/js_performancetraining/Related episodesLucas Hynes, Helene Garnett, Rhys Morris on identity, injury, and ultra training; Alex Smith on Psychopathy in Elite SportsFitness & ThinkingForget six packs – we look at six pillars of fitness: physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial.The newsletter goes out on Wednesday mornings.New episodes land on Apple Podcasts and Spotify on Wednesday evenings, and on YouTube on Thursday mornings.Subscribe / followInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/Substack: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/Want to help? I'm looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager.Get in touchEmail: [email protected] to work with a lifestyle and fitness coach who thinks bigger than the gym?Email: [email protected]

This week's a solo episode. No guest. Just me talking about the courage to be disliked – or more accurately, the courage to be known.I've been reading "The Courage to Be Disliked" by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga – an Adlerian psychology book about why living for other people's approval makes you miserable. The core idea: you can't control whether people like you, so the courage to be disliked is actually freedom.But as many of you will have felt, it's not just scary to be disliked for who you are. It's also scary to be liked for who you are, because, well, bloody 'ell, they could be one of your people for life.And in answering one very specific question, I pull at thread of one of the biggest fears I face, as a friend, partner, son and, maybe, one day, father: trusting that being yourself is enough.Referenced in this episode:"The Courage to Be Disliked" by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake KogaEpisode 34 with Jon Xue Zhang on identity, bravery, and not trusting your emotions after 9pmRelated newsletter: "The Courage to be Known" featuring the willy photo story, the Adlerian frame, and whether trusting yourself to have a kid is the final proof you've made peace with who you are.Fitness & ThinkingForget six packs – we look at six pillars of fitness: physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial.The newsletter goes out on Wednesday mornings.New episodes land on Apple Podcasts and Spotify on Wednesday evenings, and on YouTube on Thursday mornings.Subscribe / follow:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/Substack: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/Want to help? I'm looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager.Get in touchEmail: [email protected] to work with a lifestyle and fitness coach who thinks bigger than the gym?Email: [email protected]

Ina Fischer is a DJ, radio host and co-founder of Lawaai Collective, empowering FLINTA artists in music.Using DJ-ing as a springboard, we dive into Ina's journey onto ever bigger billings with some of her heroes while working a day job and contending with some of the older folk in her life thinking it's all just a hobby...From engendering escape and collective euphoria, to ensuring equity in a male-dominated space, Ina lives and breathes breakbeats, following your bliss, and inclusion– often aiming to be the mentor she wished he had when she started out.And her points throughout but specifically on creativity and enjoying the silence will be music to the ears of anyone wanting to find their joy and keep it fun. This one's full of bangers and anthems.Ina's linksInstagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/inalaberlinaLawaai Collective: https://www.instagram.com/lawaai.collectiveSaffron Music: https://saffronmusic.co.uk/Related newsletter"Dancing Together Is Chemically Different From Dancing Alone" – exploring the science of pain relief, collective effervescence, and why Huxley's Solidarity Services were dystopian warnings that turned out to be dance floors.https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/p/dancing-together-is-chemically-differentFitness & ThinkingForget six packs – we look at six pillars of fitness: physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial.The newsletter goes out on Wednesday mornings.New episodes land on Apple Podcasts and Spotify on Wednesday evenings, and on YouTube on Thursday mornings.Subscribe / follow:Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/⁠Substack: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/Want to help? I'm looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager.Get in touchEmail: [email protected] to work with a lifestyle and fitness coach who thinks bigger than the gym?Email: [email protected]

Niell Jordan-Jinivon is a senior musculoskeletal specialist physiotherapist and calisthenics evangelist based in London who very recently sprained his ankle attempting a calisthenics trick – and diagnosed it, started rehab, and kept the camera rolling.This is our second conversation.Last time we talked about pain, identity, and becoming your diagnosis. This time, we're talking about what happens when the expert becomes the patient. Niell caught the entire injury on camera – the trick, the break, the moment he realised what had happened, and the immediate decision to start treatment. We discuss what was going through his head at the time, whether he was a good patient (spoiler: not always), why we're better at giving advice to others than ourselves – and why asking others to give us the advice we give ourselves is bizzarely effective among so much more.Niell's linkshttps://www.instagram.com/nielljjhttps://www.instagram.com/thecaliphysioPrevious episode with Niellhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/4Dg2e5SHlZfRY0pE0eawYQ?si=5684fd42f4ff4e38Fitness & ThinkingForget six packs – we look at six pillars of fitness: physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial.The newsletter goes out on Wednesday mornings.New episodes land on Apple Podcasts and Spotify on Wednesday evenings, and on YouTube on Thursday mornings.Subscribe / followApple Podcasts (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/fitness-thinking/id1840384710Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kFI7JcGD6kSUfYa4RPPl5YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessandthinkingSubstack: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/Want to help?I'm looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager.Get in touchEmail [email protected] https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/

Nicole Askwith Williams is a holistic life coach for women, women's health educator and trainer who left corporate finance after watching professional women struggle with symptoms nobody was addressing at the root.This week, we ask: are women actually weaker men from a medical, physical, or mental standpoint? Spoiler: no. But the healthcare system, fitness industry, and most workplaces still operate as if they are. We discuss Nicole's experience with the pill being prescribed as a band-aid rather than proper care, whether cycle syncing is actually a myth, and the uncomfortable question: is the pill unethical when it's given without informed consent?We explore equity vs equality (do we actually want equality if the system was built for men?), period poverty (2.8 million people in the UK can't afford sanitary products), the exploitation of women through pink products and marketing, why ADHD is chronically underdiagnosed in women (especially those drawn to endurance sports), and what you should actually do if your cycle hasn't returned after stopping the pill or hard training.DISCLAIMER: Neither Nicole nor I are doctors or medical professionals. What we discuss is sometimes hypothetical but still grounded in reading and experience. None of this is a prescription for your specific circumstance.More from Nicole:https://www.instagram.com/_nawilliamshttps://www.instagram.com/thewomenswellbeingclubRelated newsletter"This Is Not What a Feminist Looks Like" – exploring equity over equality, Fowler's Syndrome Awareness Month, and healthcare and fitness thinking centred on male bodies: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/p/this-is-not-what-a-feminist-looks-likeFitness & ThinkingForget six packs – we look at six pillars of fitness: physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial.The newsletter goes out on Wednesday mornings.New episodes land on Apple Podcasts and Spotify on Wednesday evenings, and on YouTube on Thursday mornings.Subscribe / follow:Apple Podcasts (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/fitness-thinking/id1840384710Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kFI7JcGD6kSUfYa4RPPl5YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessandthinkingSubstack: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/Want to help/get involved?I'm looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager.Get in touchEmail: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/

Jon Xue Zhang is an actor, stunt performer, martial artist, sports psychologist, and musician known for playing Blood Boots in Netflix series The Brothers Sun and Ram Man in the upcoming Masters of the Universe film.This week, we talk about the work that goes into landing acting jobs, why "not now doesn't mean not ever," and how visualising your future like remembering your past can shift how you show up.We discuss the difference between acting under pressure and being under pressure, why anxiety isn't always something to avoid, the tension between athletics and aesthetics, and what 33 years of martial arts has taught Jon about being the best version of yourself.Plus: fight choreography, thick skin on social media, sleeping 10 hours a night as a flex, and why you should never trust your emotions after 9pm.Catch more of JonIG: https://www.instagram.com/jonxuezhang/?hl=enWebsite: https://www.xue-zhang.com/Showreel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOBXSDIjY6MFitness & ThinkingForget six packs – we look at six pillars of fitness: physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial.The newsletter goes out on Wednesday mornings.New episodes land on Apple Podcasts and Spotify on Wednesday evenings, and on YouTube on Thursday mornings.Subscribe / follow:Apple Podcasts (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/fitness-thinking/id1840384710Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kFI7JcGD6kSUfYa4RPPl5YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessandthinkingSubstack: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/Want to build F&T with me?I’m looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager.Get in touchEmail: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/

Evan Francis is a digital PR agency owner, content creator, writer and advocate for living with Fowler’s syndrome.This week, we talk about what shifts when you can no longer move without negotiation, what doctors get wrong about life with a catheter, and why representation matters at every level – whether through self-advocacy, sharing your stories or finding communities online and in-person.Ahead of Fowler’s Syndrome Awareness Month, we discuss Ev’s diagnostic journey, why women's symptoms are still dismissed as stress or anxiety, and follow similar patterns of delay and disbelief. We also explore what fitness looks like when it's no longer about returning to who you were, but discovering who you are now – and what life looks like going into 2026.More from Evhttps://shortstuffcomms.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@shortstuffcommsReferenced conditions and context:Fowler’s syndrome: rare urological condition affecting urethral sphincter function, underdiagnosed in womenME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis): chronic fatigue conditionHistorical dismissal: from "hysteria" to modern-day gaslighting of women's painEDS, endometriosis, POTS: conditions predominantly affecting women, often take years to diagnose due to systemic bias.Fitness & ThinkingForget six packs – we look at six pillars of fitness: physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial.The newsletter goes out on Wednesday mornings.New episodes land on Apple Podcasts and Spotify on Wednesday evenings, and on YouTube on Thursday mornings.Subscribe / follow:Apple Podcasts (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/fitness-thinking/id1840384710Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kFI7JcGD6kSUfYa4RPPl5YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessandthinkingSubstack: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/Want to build F&T with me?I’m looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager.I send messages out to prospective guests Monday to Friday – if you have an idea for a show, want to be on it or know someone who you think would talk well around the six pillars, then I’d love to hear from you or them (or both!).Also open to applications for sponsorship from:An affordable German supermarketA high-end high street lotions and potions makerAn environmentally aware clothing brand.Get in touchEmail: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/

Jack Mann is a personal trainer and podcaster obsessed with helping people see things through.And in this episode [ends third person], I want to re/give you a meaningful secret to success.The thing is while you might know what it is, I don't believe you're consistent with it...If you enjoyed this episode, I think you'll also enjoy:#8 with Maddie#28 with Karl and Leah and#31 with yours truly.Fitness & ThinkingForget six packs – we look at six pillars of fitness: physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial.The newsletter goes out on Wednesday mornings.New episodes land on Apple Podcasts and Spotify on Wednesday evenings, and on YouTube on Thursday mornings.Subscribe / follow:Apple Podcasts (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/fitness-thinking/id1840384710Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kFI7JcGD6kSUfYa4RPPl5YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessandthinkingSubstack: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/Want to build F&T with me?I’m looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager.I send messages out to prospective guests Monday to Friday – if you have an idea for a show, want to be on it or know someone who you think would talk well around the six pillars, then I’d love to hear from you or them (or both!).Also open to applications for sponsorship from:An affordable German supermarketA high-end high street lotions and potions makerAn environmentally aware clothing brand.Get in touchEmail: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/

This week, I want to reflect with you on what I've learned from writing, hosting, filming and editing 30 episodes of Fitness & Thinking, including: the power of just starting, the importance of community, how pressure to enjoy things can drain the meaning from them, and why time doesn't equal purpose.We'll talk about being present in the in-between moments, reframing setbacks, acting as if the thing you're building towards has already happened, and why self-talk and the people around you shape outcomes more than you think.Plus: why 2025 felt like a constant kick in the 'nads, and why that might have been exactly what was needed.Fitness & ThinkingForget six packs – we look at six pillars of fitness: physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial.The newsletter goes out on Wednesday mornings.New episodes land on Apple Podcasts and Spotify on Wednesday evenings, and on YouTube on Thursday mornings.Subscribe / follow:Apple Podcasts (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/fitness-thinking/id1840384710Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kFI7JcGD6kSUfYa4RPPl5YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessandthinkingSubstack: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/Want to build F&T with me?I’m looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager.Get in touchEmail: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/

Imran Naeem is a nationally recognised boxing coach and co-founder of Natural Progression Boxing Academy in Stockton.In episode 30 of Fitness & Thinking we discuss what it means to be a leader of a club and in the community – from the accountability and standards to set and uphold to the feeling of shared success and being an elder of a family across generations and upbringings. We look into what stops people from becoming great and how, for some, the gold medal might just be plucking the courage to start.Stay up to date with Imran and his work in boxing:https://www.facebook.com/p/Natural-Progression-Boxing-Academy-Performance-Centre-100057378163541/ https://www.instagram.com/iboxcustomise/Fitness & ThinkingForget six packs – we look at six pillars of fitness: physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial.The newsletter goes out on Wednesday mornings.New episodes land on Apple Podcasts and Spotify on Wednesday evenings, and on YouTube on Thursday mornings.Subscribe / follow:Apple Podcasts (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/fitness-thinking/id1840384710Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kFI7JcGD6kSUfYa4RPPl5YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessandthinkingSubstack: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/Want to help? I’m looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager.Get in touchEmail: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/

Ciara Vizzard is a doctor working in geriatric medicine in the UK who is a passionate advocate for ageing well.In this episode, we talk about what actually shapes how we age long before we’re old: muscle mass, mobility, mindset, food, sleep, habits, and the quiet accumulation of lifestyle choices most people only start thinking about too late. We get into why muscle is protective (for bones, blood sugar, recovery and independence), what people misunderstand about weight, metabolism and ageing, and how fragility is often taught rather than inevitable.We also explore mindset – from recovery outcomes and placebo effects to why retirement can quietly harm people, how belief shapes health trajectories, and why gratitude, connection and purpose matter just as much as training plans. Along the way, we touch on women’s health, hormones, falls, rehab, mythology, video games, Dickens, Sardinia, and what ageing well actually looks like in practice rather than theory.This one’s for anyone thinking about longevity, quality of life, or how to build a body – and a mindset – that supports you later, not just now.Catch up with Ciara:[email protected] & ThinkingForget six packs – we look at six pillars of fitness: physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial.The newsletter goes out on Wednesday mornings; this week's is the perfect accompaniment to the pod: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/p/be-careful-what-you-ask-for-this-xmasNew episodes land on Apple Podcasts and Spotify on Wednesday evenings, and on YouTube on Thursday mornings.Subscribe / follow:Apple Podcasts (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/fitness-thinking/id1840384710Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kFI7JcGD6kSUfYa4RPPl5YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessandthinkingSubstack: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/Want to help? I’m looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager.Get in touchEmail: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/

Leah Brooks and Karl Finch are a PT power couple based in Sheffield.Ahead of the new year, I wanted to catch up with two of the busiest PTs in the Steel City to find out what people get wrong about their resolutions, the vibe difference Leah’s observed since working in a women’s only gym alongside her commercial work, how training for and competing in a recent Hyrox impacted their relationship, if there’s ever a right time to approach your gym crush given how they met, the frustrations we all have around avoidable body ignorance and so much more.This episode is packed to the rafters with insights, whether you’re looking for a gym-goer’s take, a woman-centric lens or insights from people who’ve seen people excel throughout the years and seasons, make sure to stick it in your kitbag or on your headphones ahead of your next session.Catch more of Karl and Leah:https://www.instagram.com/kfinchfitnesss/ https://www.instagram.com/leahb_fitness/https://www.instagram.com/enhancecoaching.sheffield/___________Fitness & ThinkingForget six packs, we’re looking at six pillars to gauge fitness: F&T is interested in the physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial aspects of being.What do you think about that?Never miss an episode!Subscribe onApple podcasts (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/fitness-thinking/id1840384710Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kFI7JcGD6kSUfYa4RPPl5and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessandthinkingand catch the newsletter on Substack:https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/F&TForget six packs as a measure of wellness, over this way, the Fitness & Thinking podcast centres on six pillars and you can now catch us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify on Wednesday evenings and on YouTube on Thursday mornings.What more? Check out the newsletter – typically weekly.Substack: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/Want to help? I'm looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager.Get in touchEmail: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/

Alanna Reid is a senior policy advisor to the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.In this wide-ranging discussion, Alanna and I get into the experience of finding your sport and finding yourself as an adult via Tom Rasmussen’s 2023 album ‘Bodybuilding’, the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, Frida Kahlo and Pablo Picasso all bookended by the moment Alanna unlocked their first chin-up with me in Sheffield City Centre.There are so many incredible lines and ideas that I think you’ll take from our chat, recorded in one of my favourite buildings in the world.Check the spoken word piece, “Glass”, out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-ICcoU2E8kAnd catch Alanna’s first chin-up from my perspective right here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cvo6TuOIw3z/Forget six packs, we’re looking at six pillars to gauge fitness: F&T is interested in the physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial aspects of being.What do you think about that?Never miss an episode!Subscribe onApple podcasts (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/fitness-thinking/id1840384710 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kFI7JcGD6kSUfYa4RPPl5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessandthinking and catch the newsletter on Substack:
https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/ F&TForget six packs as a measure of wellness, over this way, the Fitness & Thinking podcast centres on six pillars and you can now catch us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify on Wednesday evenings and on YouTube on Thursday mornings.What more? Check out the newsletter – typically weekly.Substack: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/Want to help? I'm looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager.Get in touchEmail: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/

Soph Ingram is a qualified personal trainer who designs and leads women’s wellbeing retreats.Trigger warning: in this episode she speaks candidly about her journey from her childhood and into the fitness industry and the realities that often go unspoken therein, namely the “silent crisis” of presenting as if healthy while actually experiencing disordered eating that she’s observed in women’s spaces and I’ve certainly seen in bodybuilding circles.We reflect on what it means to look like a PT as well as the idea that “we are all just doing our best,” and we talk about the differences between same-sex friendships and how they shape our ability to open up.The conversation also touches on fears around relationships, including the question, “Will I be alright if this person leaves me?”, and the misconception that looking healthy and being happy are the same thing. If you’re reading this and experiencing any form of “crazy” thought, chances are we’ve thought it too!Find more from Soph:https://www.instagram.com/revert_fitness/https://www.instagram.com/revert_retreats/https://www.revertfitness.com/upcoming-retreatsF&TForget six packs as a measure of wellness, over this way, the Fitness & Thinking podcast centres on six pillars and you can now catch us audio-only on Apple Podcasts on Wednesday evenings and in surround-sound technicolour on Spotify or YouTube on Thursday mornings and catch the newsletter on Substack: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/

Najinder Devgun is a financial advisor and money matters podcast host whose understanding of worth changed following a major life event.In episode 25, Naj explains the concept of "financial trauma" – what it is and where it comes from – and gives us easily actionable tips and real-life moments to implement and think on. After experiencing a health crisis himself, Naj understands what it's like to be flying and drowning and helps his clients to identify and then chip away at the very real and sometimes spiritual blockers that prevent all of us from returning on the time and money and emotion we put into our finances.Get more from NajLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/najinder-devgun/Website: https://www.2020fp.co.uk/Fitness & ThinkingForget six packs, we’re looking at six pillars to gauge fitness: F&T is interested in the physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial aspects of being. What do you think about that?Never miss an episode! Subscribe onApple podcasts (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/fitness-thinking/id1840384710 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kFI7JcGD6kSUfYa4RPPl5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessandthinking and catch the newsletter on Substack:
https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/ Get in touchEmail: [email protected]
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/PodcastForget six packs as a measure of wellness, over this way, the Fitness & Thinking podcast centres on six pillars and you can now catch us audio-only on Apple Podcasts on Wednesday evenings and in surround-sound technicolour on Spotify or YouTube on Thursday mornings.

Jack Mann is a level-4 certified coach with four years of experience, 18-months of those in PureGym in Sheffield.I’ve put trust, time and money into two of the people I mention in this video and treated the third with a healthy dose of scepticism. I now follow none of them based on their dogma, lack of science to support their “science-based” branding, and, in two cases that I’m aware of, frankly low-life behaviour when it comes to defending their circles.Science should be used to test, refute and support facts. When it’s instead crudely used to sell programmes and (so) “buy Lamborghinis” with dodgy studies, sample sizes of 1 and flashy visuals, it’s worth at least scrutinising if not completely jettisoning.“The stretch” isn’t where two of my former heroes have fallen down, it’s just one aspect of what they’ve pushed for so long that I feel we can get into together to demonstrate why common-sense is worth more than science-based, particularly in 2025.Each week, I write a newsletter to put into words some of these thoughts I have on fitness; this week's episode was based on an idea first teased in the F&T newsletter: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/p/jeff-nippard-mike-israetel-and-theScience-based is dead; long-live actual science.Fitness & ThinkingForget six packs, we’re looking at six pillars to gauge fitness: F&T is interested in the physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial aspects of being. What do you think about that?Never miss an episode! Subscribe onApple podcasts (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/fitness-thinking/id1840384710 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kFI7JcGD6kSUfYa4RPPl5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessandthinking and catch the newsletter on Substack: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/ Get in touchEmail: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/PodcastForget six packs as a measure of wellness, over this way, the Fitness & Thinking podcast centres on six pillars and you can now catch us audio-only on Apple Podcasts on Wednesday evenings and in surround-sound technicolour on Spotify or YouTube on Thursday mornings.

From quitting his corporate job to living in Guatemala for a few weeks with "Big Mama" and becoming immersed in Latin America – the travel, the music, the people – this episode with Peds is full of the stuff you can’t script, including the sounds of the most formal lost cat search party you might imagine...what did happen to Bonito?We chat leaving home and learning a new language to building a lifestyle brand that actually reflects how he wants to live; while Peds is flying and grounded, there’s vulnerability here too – about handling problems first and telling people later, content creation, identity, and running away versus running towards something – alongside some big questions, some of which Peds throws right back at me:Do you know what you want?What does community look like, and do your standards change when travelling?What does our generation get wrong about "being social"? and so much more.Recorded as we both were travelling around Mexico at the same time, for anyone thinking of booking the ticket, saying yes to the thing, or wondering if you’ve lost the plot and/or found yourself while abroad — this one’s for you.Stay up to date with Pedshttps://www.tiktok.com/@yosoypedsSpanish school in Guatemala:https://communityspanishschool.com/Jack's Ha Giang loop tour:https://honghaotravel.com/__________________If you enjoyed this episode, check out:#8 Maddie, Journey On#20 Rhys Morris_________________Fitness & ThinkingForget six packs, we’re looking at six pillars to gauge fitness: F&T is interested in the physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial aspects of being. What do you think about that?Never miss an episode! Subscribe onApple podcasts (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/fitness-thinking/id1840384710 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kFI7JcGD6kSUfYa4RPPl5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessandthinking and catch the newsletter on Substack: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/ Get in touchEmail: ⁠[email protected]⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/⁠

Sophie Godwin is a former BBC Good Food writer and food stylist and now a private chef and co-owner of multiple London-based businesses.In this episode, recorded just three weeks before Soph’s second son said hello to the world, we discussed the importance of making mistakes – both to prevent inaction and to engender learning – as well as what it’s like to run multiple food business with her husband, Adam.Soph talks us through cooking for herself versus for Adam and her family, where her love of cooking came from and exactly how she ensures that both she and Adam get time alone and as a couple to be better partners, parents and friends.Keep up to date with Soph and her projects:https://www.instagram.com/sophonaplate/https://www.instagram.com/scrambleldn/__________________Fitness & ThinkingForget six packs, we’re looking at six pillars to gauge fitness: F&T is interested in the physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial aspects of being. What do you think about that?Never miss an episode! Subscribe onApple podcasts (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/fitness-thinking/id1840384710 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kFI7JcGD6kSUfYa4RPPl5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessandthinking and catch the newsletter on Substack:https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/ Get in touchEmail: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/

Since episode one, I’ve spoken with 19 people, edited 22 episodes and posted this, the twenty-first, putting us now in a pool of 68,000 podcasts…rather than the daunting ocean of 6.8 million.Episode round-up: 12–20Lindsay Bowers kicked off the second run with a stoma and unbeatable mindset, talking us through her Guinness World Record attempt, which she of course went on to smash.Watch episode 12: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5OZye8W22c4IMEiyLXh2WPIn episode 13, Professor David Forrest – or Dave, as he prefers – took us on a journey of running towards and through things, describing beautifully how he came to study and contribute to the narrative of sport in fiction and film. When I was an undergrad, Dave was writing his PhD and convinced me – without ever preaching it – that academia could be a place for me and my sometimes mischievous energy.Watch episode 13: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6YgLzGdOfpvAkccWW8SUuNSeth Mullan-Feroze talks about films. A lot. But what you might not know is that he was an online coach – mine, in fact – before finding a platform for his passion for cinema. Whether you’re interested in coaching, the issues we’ve found with fitness tech, or why sports films underperform, you’ll take a lot from this: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0k83V0S5qoYTRfhowOvZHsEpisode 15 shook things up as I invited my client, Sayem, to describe his journey with me. Some see the podcast as separate from my coaching, but I see it as both complementary and a progression – and Sayem has plenty to say on that. Being part of journeys like his motivates me as a PT, mentor and friend. If you’ve ever wondered what coaching might look or feel like, this one’s for you:https://open.spotify.com/episode/7yLVhNKfDXXyBmvvdiQbJmSuper sweet 16 with Chef Marinie was some time in the making. We’ve known each other since 2019, trained together, I’ve coached her, and she’s supported me online. In 2025 we discussed how she stays sane as a creator with over half a million followers. Marina taps into the anxiety of starting out and gives practical tips to build on. We also talk about food, which, sadly for me, will never be the same as eating!https://open.spotify.com/episode/2DYzh6e0teSjOZckkqdHayNaomi Watson has over 1,000 hours of yoga teaching and tens of thousands of hours of practice. Now a qualified yoga therapist, she explains the differences between everyday yoga and yoga as therapy, her concerns with chatbots, and whether social media has harmed her field:https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Ihw3ANDt5OLrR8vZVAZ1zDr Logan Collignon is a self-confessed freak and mutant writing from the edges – first on a society that tore itself apart during the Cold War, then on the swarming micro and macro worlds of insects. Logan’s writing is visceral and academic, and her take on fitness and pop culture, in print and in person, is deeply accessible. If you’re into comic books, swimming or the end of the world, check this one out:https://open.spotify.com/episode/2g3x8Y6xmQl40jQSNFnYPDHeterogeneity is important to me, both out of intrigue and experience. From women in their 20s through to their 50s, Helene, on the eve of her 51st birthday, talks us through what fighting fit feels like and how it changes with age. There are so many moments where I’m just in awe of her ability to hit, get hit and keep moving forwards. This one’s not just for fight fans – if you’re wanting to (re)start, start here:https://open.spotify.com/episode/26Szb2hz7U08soNamsV4y6“Rhys Morris is built different,” is a sentence F&T’s 20th guest just won’t accept. He might think differently, but the only difference between him and those who say they couldn’t do what he does is that he simply does it – again and again. We discuss ultra events as a way for him to harness energy, manage anxiety and work through trauma, becoming better as a husband, father and son:https://open.spotify.com/episode/2g3x8Y6xmQl40jQSNFnYPD

From naughty kid to ultra athlete, Rhys Morris has a knack for tackling hard things every day.In this discussion, I’m convinced you’ll be convinced by Rhys to “book the damn race”; from his charity runs for Cameron’s Cause to how he kept on going after them, his love of numbers to find structure in chaos, what contentment might eventually look like (how do you top a 100-mile run…you do a 200-mile run!) and the difference between ultra athletes and the average joe (“built different” might be something you’re telling yourself). We touch on ideas of atypical upbringings, healing and creating relationships, resilience, naturally, and so much more.In his own words: "if you're going to talk about doing it, do it!"Keep up to date with Rhys’ endeavours: https://www.instagram.com/rhysjmorris_/____Fitness & ThinkingForget six packs, we’re looking at six pillars to gauge fitness: F&T is interested in the physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial aspects of being. What do you think about that?Never miss an episode! Subscribe onApple podcasts (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/fitness-thinking/id1840384710 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kFI7JcGD6kSUfYa4RPPl5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessandthinking and catch the newsletter on Substack:https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/ Get in touchEmail: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/

Helene Garnett is a former UK, European and 2x World champion Thai boxer.On the eve of her 51st birthday, Helene and I discussed what it means to be a Nak Muay and a winner and also how one loss in particular turned her into a better fighter.I ask: is it ever too late to start? and when do you call it a day? And Helene talks us through the changing bests that come with both age and menopause. Helene still trains, still coaches, and currently manages a gym: if you were looking for a sign to start, restart or keep on going, this episode is it.You can catch Helene onYouTube: @helenegarnettwickercamp2257Instagram: @helenewickercampAnd in person at Wicker Camp in Sheffield: https://www.wickercamp.co.uk/Fitness & ThinkingForget six packs, we’re looking at six pillars to gauge fitness: F&T is interested in the physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial aspects of being. What do you think about that?Never miss an episode! Subscribe onApple podcasts (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/fitness-thinking/id1840384710 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessandthinking and catch the newsletter on Substack:https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/ Get in touchEmail: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/

Dr Logan Collignon is a writer and senior lecturer in contemporary literature at The University of Sheffield.Logan’s research interests have centred on critical theory and the cold war and have also sought to bring in pop culture from Stanley Kubrick’s films and Stephen King’s writing to Batman and the X-Men.In this discussion we discuss why being “a” human is a “myth”, how our obsession with the apocalypse comes back to Freud, the importance of repetition, Tom Rasmussen, bodybuilding and swimming, why Arnie and Wolverine are important figures to Logan – and why we should still be critical of them – as well as how we might already be living in the end-times.Rocket States: Atomic Weaponry and the Cultural Imagination and The Insectile and the Deconstruction of the Non/Human are both available in print and e-book formats, with the latter available to read for free online at the time of recording:https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-mono/10.4324/9781003322757/insectile-deconstruction-non-human-fabienne-collignon____Fitness & ThinkingForget six packs, we’re looking at six pillars to gauge fitness: F&T is interested in the physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial aspects of being. What do you think about that?Never miss an episode! Subscribe onApple podcasts (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/fitness-thinking/id1840384710 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessandthinking and catch the newsletter on Substack:https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/ Get in touchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fitnessandthinkingEmail: [email protected]

Naomi Watson is a yoga teacher with over one thousand hours of teaching practice across the world. She’s currently based in Edinburgh and has recently qualified as a yoga therapist.I probably would have gotten into yoga at some point but it definitely helped that my first experience was when I was studying for my masters, signed up to the free yoga class as a way to work on my fitness outside of the weights room, and Naomi opened the session with her Scottish brogue and asked if I was walking back into town at the end of the class. Just as Niell (#6) became my inspiration for all things calisthenics, Naomi did for yoga and its real-world applications, as we go on to discuss.Naomi’s work as a yoga therapist brings together her study of psychology and a yoga practice that potentially predates her memory. In this conversation you can expect to find out what non-attachment is and why, practiced properly, it’s a good thing, if there are differences between yoga practice in India and in the UK – particularly around performativity, why LLMs and chatbots might be better avoided and what irks Naomi about social media representations of yoga.Catch Naomi here: https://www.instagram.com/vara_wellness/Fitness & ThinkingForget six packs, we’re looking at six pillars to gauge fitness: F&T is interested in the physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial aspects of being. What do you think about that?Never miss an episode! Subscribe onApple podcasts (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/fitness-thinking/id1840384710 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessandthinking and catch the newsletter on Substack: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/ Get in touchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fitnessandthinkingEmail: [email protected]

Marina Georgallides is a baker and content creator whose recipe series “Eat like a Greek”, “Protein Packed” and, my favourite, “OnlyCans” have garnered her millions of views and likes as well as hundreds of thousands of followers online.In this discussion you can expect to learn how Marina turned her passion into a distinct online presence and project and stayed sane throughout as she takes us through some of the fundamentals of content creation to the moments when she recognised that food could be more than fuel and she had a knack for creating and presenting in a way that people enjoy.We also scratch the surface of hooks, titles and thumbnails for bringing viewers in, alongside the importance of “good enough” and finding balance throughout.You can follow Marina @chefmarinie on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. And make sure to check out Marina’s website for her latest recipes and newsletter: chefmarinie.co.ukGet in touch:@fitnessandthinking @coachjackmann

Sayem Ahmed is a seasoned marketeer, holding various roles in tech, marketing and content creation, specialising in writing, consulting, and social media management.Sayem’s also one of my coaching clients. In our end-of-block catch-up, we look back at 12 weeks of training and dieting and re/learning what it’s like to be (in) a body in the world. From identity to perspective shifts, the importance of bringing your partner into your plan and aims, reminding yourself your worth it, and, a man’s take on feeling lost and found again, this episode is packed with feeling and insight that could apply to you whether you’re looking to make a physical change like Sayem, if you’re tired of feeling like you haven’t respected yourself, or if you just want to know or hear from somebody who wants to figure out what “better” and “best” looks like to them while supporting others to realise theirs.If you’d like to chat with me to learn whether we could work together as client and coach on your body goals and beyond, addressing each pillar of fitness that makes sense for your lifestyle, then feel free to book in a time to chat that works for you here: https://calendly.com/coachjackmann/free-callOn the call, mention “Sayem” and we’ll apply a 5% discount to your full coaching plan if you sign up.Get in touch⁠https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/https://coachjackmann.com/contact/⁠This week’s newsletterhttps://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/p/motorcycle-diaries-the-death-wobbleSupport F&TI'd love to bring some sponsors on board and already have a list of people and brands I'd happily work with. If you'd like to work with me, get in touch above.If you'd like to support the page, then please follow @fitnessandthinking on Instagram, and subscribe here, leaving positive reviews when you can, and constructive criticism when needed.Appreciate yas!

Seth Mullan-Feroze has watched over 3,450 films. He lives and breathes cinema and, before he shared this love with the world, he was an online fitness coach.In January 2022, Seth was an online coach who worked hard and kept to himself.He was a major inspiration to me just getting into coaching online at the time. I was keen to improve my physique and see how real-life coaches operated outside of the gym.This conversation covers this, what drew Seth to coaching in the first place (it's a more common story than you might realise), what people get wrong about online coaching – both as buyers and practitioners – how sethsfilmreviews started, what it was like to interview Gary Neville, Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher, which film characters he would have in his five-a-side team and why sports films up until 2025 often lag behind other genres when it comes to the winner's mindset.Linkshttps://www.tiktok.com/@sethsfilmreviewshttps://www.instagram.com/sethsfilmreviews/https://letterboxd.com/sethsreviews/https://www.youtube.com/@reeltokpodcastWatchlist based on this chatLove Lies BleedingMagazine DreamsThe Smashing MachinePerfect BlueHimWhiplashThe SubstanceMulholland DriveThis week's newslettersubstack.com/pub/fitnessandthinking/p/stop-trying-to-be-the-early-birdGet in touch and follow F&[email protected]://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/

David Forrest is a Professor in Film and Television Studies at The University of Sheffield.In this wide-ranging episode, you can expect to learn what the contemporary depictions of the working class, Northern man in film got right, and why they were able to make waves in British culture as they did, what drew David to running and how he bought into the parkrun ethos, the construction of masculinity in schools, particularly in PE via a discussion of the Barry Hines film Kes, as well as how ex-ravers make excellent distance runners.LinksDavid's book on KesThese sporting lives: David Storey, Barry Hines, and the case of the author-athleteGet in touch⁠F&T on instagram⁠⁠https://coachjackmann.com/contact/⁠Support F&TI'd love to bring some sponsors on board and already have a list of people and brands I'd happily work with. If you'd like to work with me, get in touch above.If you'd like to support the page, then please follow @fitnessandthinking on Instagram, and subscribe to fitnessandthinking leaving likes, loves and positive reviews when you can, and constructive criticism when needed.Appreciate yas!

Lindsay Bowers is a head coach supporting people through stoma life, with a particular focus on their physical and mental health.In this episode, Lindsay introduces us to her Guinness Book of Records DEKA Fit event coming up, her multiple surgeries and how she used to take her fitness for granted, how her body image and confidence has changed through medications, operations and training, as well as the people who inspire her to keep pushing her limits and our collective understanding of what it means (and looks like) to live with a stoma.LinksLindsay's instagramLindsay's crossover with Crohn's & Colitis UKBeth interviewed Lindsay in Spring this yearDEKA FITGet in touchF&T on instagramhttps://coachjackmann.com/contact/Support F&TI'd love to bring some sponsors on board and already have a list of people and brands I'd happily work with. If you'd like to work with me, get in touch above.If you'd like to support the page, then please follow @fitnessandthinking on Instagram, and subscribe to fitnessandthinking leaving likes, loves and positive reviews when you can, and constructive criticism when needed.Appreciate yas!

Fitness & Thinking is a weekly podcast and newsletter centred on five pillars of wellness.Hosted by yours truly, Jack Mann, an online coach and published poet with a master's in Psychology, F&T gets into the physical, mental, social, spiritual/emotional and financial experiences of being.In episode 11, we look back at the first run of themes and guests, some of which have already materially impacted my life.Rather than timestamps for this episode, let me link you to each episode, and then, if you like the sound of it based on what I say here, you can jump right on it:Episode one, IntroEpisode two, Lyrical FitnessEpisode three, Alex Smith & Psychopathy in Elite-level SportEpisode four, Jack Martindale & The Highs of RunningEpisode five, Sid Islam & A Bodybuilder's Search for MeaningEpisode six, Niell JJ & A Practitioner's Take on Beautiful MovementEpisode seven, Belle Stringer & How To Boss Fitness, In & Out Of the GymEpisode eight, Maddie, Embodying Ikigai & AlignmentEpisode nine, Lucas Hynes, The Philosophy & History of BJJEpisode ten, Dr. Maria Balaet, The Science of Psychedelics & Altered StatesGet in touchhttps://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking https://coachjackmann.com/contact/Support F&TI'd love to bring some sponsors on board and have an idea of people and brands I'd happily work with.If you'd like to work with me, get in touch above.If you'd like to support the page, then please follow @fitnessandthinking on Instagram, and subscribe to fitnessandthinking on Spotify and YouTube, leaving likes, loves and positive reviews when you can, and constructive criticism when needed. Cheers!

Dr. Maria Balaet is a Research Associate in the Department of Neuroimaging at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London. Following her talk on "The Science of Psychedelics" in Sheffield in July, I had a number of questions to ask Maria, and knew if she did come on the podcast that I'd have to provide the show's first caveat. SO here we go:*This discussion is grounded in clinical research and does not constitute medical advice*Expect to learn what the term "psychedelic" refers to, why the setting could be just as important as the substance, the role of "belief" in improving people's outcomes, the potential mechanism that keeps mothers coming back to childbirth and so much more.While I'm glad I'd brushed up on some neuroscience before we spoke, I think you'll appreciate Maria's ability to speak to technical and experiential themes.Maria's linksMy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aset.lab/My papers: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0562-6139Further readingAriel & Saville, 1972, "Anabolic steroids: the physiologicaleffects of placebos"https://jamesclear.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/anabolic-steroids-the-physiological-effects-of-placebos.pdfOlson et al., 2020, "Tripping on nothing: placebo psychedelics and contextual factors"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-020-05464-5Episodes you might like#3 Alex Smith, Psychopathy in elite sportshttps://open.spotify.com/episode/27e1C3n2kgdc8arkRfLhPr?si=e0e8ffa5db3441c8#8 Maddie Brenner-Roach, What on earth is a "best" life?https://open.spotify.com/episode/3NzoRWgP1ybnfjDg8yDEnX?si=956d7950f2b64305Get in touchhttps://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/https://coachjackmann.com/contact/

Lucas Hynes is a champion Brazilian Jiu Jitsu player on the UK national circuit and practicing BJJ coach.From working your way back to fitness, to finding your best whatever level you’re at, as well as the history of BJJ – both the Gracie version and the historically more representative version! – this episode is essential for fans of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, self-improvement and anyone concerned that the youth will fall for anything these days.Lucas’ love of learning belies his 23 years. If you’re sick and struggling to train, or simply sick of not achieving what you think you’re capable of, this episode has your name all over it.LinksLucas' IG: https://www.instagram.com/lucas.hynes1/The film we reference, 'Choke' https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0251637/The film we're excited to see, 'The Smashing Machine'https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11214558/If you enjoyed this episode, you should check outEpisode eight with life coach, Maddie, and episode six with senior physio, Niell JJ.Fitness & Thinking newsletterThis week's newsletter dovetails with this episode and those mentioned above: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/p/youre-a-pos-says-who-me

Maddie is a yoga teacher, life coach, and, as of this week, podcast host based in Sheffield.In this episode, Maddie talks us through the Japanese concept of "ikigai" in the context of finding one's reason to get up in the morning, what it means to be "aligned", the Western need to be productive, her origin story as a mind-body teacher, and so much more.This was the first time that Maddie and I had met in person, and so I had no idea how the conversation would go.Within minutes, I was mentally taking notes, and as of this week have already put my understanding of alignment into a newsletter. I hope you get as much from this chat as I did in the moment and again editing it!LinksMaddie's podcast, Definehttps://open.spotify.com/show/3mwG5N3KiHvQjQaKukkhPF?si=5345238e8be14f16Maddie's social media https://www.instagram.com/journeyoncoach/This week's newsletterhttps://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/p/freshly-sauced

Belle Stringer is an assistant gym manager and personal trainer at a Sheffield branch of one of the UK's largest commercial gym-chains.Belle wasn't always interested in being a PT but was spurred onto coaching others when lockdowns hit and she recognised her ability to plan routines that made her and her friends and family feel good, if not better.In this episode you can expect to find out what problems PTs face in 2025 and specifically in a gym as well-subscribed as the one she manages in, exactly why it can be harder for female PTs to succeed – and how she used a perceived fault to her advantage – the impact of one's cycle on sports performance, which pillar of fitness could matter most for lapsed or newbie lifters, as well as what to do if the gym really isn't for you.____"(0:03) Is it tough to be a female PT?""(2:26) Fitness is about how you feel in your body""(4:12) Social fitness is undervalued until it's acknowledged""(7:23) How do you manage sports performance alongside your menstrual cycle?""(8:20) How does Belle personally manage?""(11:20) What's "ovulation brain"?""(13:05) Belle's PT origin story""(14:40) What the average person gets wrong about the gym""(16:50) Managing fitness amidst shifting priorities""(18:38) The natural flow of gym sign-ups and drop-outs""(21:00) The importance of enjoyment and actually sound government guidelines""(22:19) Community was vital for Jack getting into fitness""(23:00) Advice for lapsed trainees""(24:42) What is that?! (benefits from video!)"____Belle loves the work INK Sheffield do for dance in the city:https://www.instagram.com/inkdanceuk/And found FitOn to be super helpful for people anxious about gyms or exercising to get started:https://fitonapp.com/See more from Belle here:https://www.instagram.com/fitbybelle/This week's newsletter: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/p/finding-stillness-in-movement

Niell Jordan Jinivon is a senior musculoskeletal specialist physiotherapist and calisthenics evangelist based in London.As a teenager, Niell fell in love with the ways in which our bodies can move through space. As an adult, he's looking to marry his exercise with his profession, becoming the go-to physiotherapist for calisthenics athletes.In this episode, we discuss how a lot of that pain you're feeling might be in your head rather than your joints (and why that's still valid), what to do when exercise is your life and you get injured, how to identify if what's causing you pain is the thing you think it is, whether we become our diagnoses, and what medical professionals can do better when delivering them, and so much more.Niell's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nielljj/And his physio account: https://www.instagram.com/thecaliphysio.niell/F&T newsletter: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/

Sid Islam is a champion bodybuilder turning his hand to running and climbing in 2025.More than just his prizewinning physique, Sid's a PT and online coach, a keen learner and a loyal friend, who finds strength in community.In this week's episode we discuss the importance of letting happiness happen, the meaning to be found in the journey, what faith means and how Sid practices, how not knowing everything is expected and necessary, and much more.Sid's a huge character and was a major inspiration for me working as a PT in Sheffield. I hope you enjoy spending time with him as much as I do.Linkshttps://www.instagram.com/sid150297/https://www.instagram.com/impact.training2017/This week's newsletterhttps://open.substack.com/pub/fitnessandthinking/p/work-a-job-you-love-and-youll-work-everyday-of-your-life

Jack Martindale is an exceptional distance runner, clocking in at 1:13:59 and finishing 8th of 2,196 in the Lake Garda half marathon this year.He works full-time and doesn't periodise his training – surely he shouldn't be as effective as he is?In this week's episode we discuss finding balance between competing interests (and income streams), the importance of community and the confidence to describe yourself as your dream job title, manifesting in Jack's vision for the perfect runner's hangout.Jack and I have found community in our respective disciplines in Sheffield and so have been aware of each other online for probably a year now.It was class to actually might him in-person, grab some coffees following our individual runs for the days and get into Jack's take on fitness and identity.There's a lot in here, at a much steadier pace than either of our record attempts, and I hope yas enjoy it!LinksJack's runclub (which I joined this week!) https://www.wearerunhappy.com/My stats on marathon runners around the world https://www.livestrong.com/article/13730338-running-statistics/What is Fitness and Thinking?F&T is currently a weekly podcast and newsletter that aims to provoke and inspire and unite people looking for their sense of self and peace of mind. Are you in?F&T newsletterWhere it all started on Substack https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/This week's newsletter https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/p/are-you-living-or-merely-not-dead

Alex Smith is a senior researcher at the University of Bern."Psychopath" is one of the most misunderstood and so misused terms we might use to negatively describe people in popular culture. And yet the traits of "psychopaths" are often also seen as advantageous if not desirable, given certain contexts.Expect to learn why you can't be diagnosed as a "psychopath", what the difference is between sports psychology and sports psychiatry, why Nike's advertising agency are on the money again, whether findings of psychopathy translate to the general population and much more.Citations and further reading:The Nike advert we reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwLergHG81c&pp=ygUSbmlrZSBiYWQgcGVyc29uIGFkIOC paper on rates of mental illnesses in elite sports https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/53/11/667Paper on mental health issues in former athletes https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/10/4/e001867Culture paper on ultra endurance sports https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2023.1192401/full (Alex says "the intro alone is enough!")The longitudinal study of Canadian women's step countshttps://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2734709#:~:text=Findings%20In%20this%20cohort%20study,intensity%20with%20all%2Dcause%20mortalityAlex's Google scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=L4leHA4AAAAJ&hl=en -Where to find more from the show:https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/ https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessandthinkingGet in touch through:https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/-If you liked this episode, you might also like:Episode #1https://open.spotify.com/episode/014kv0p8yiaZuz2hXiDWK8?si=5ff0090ccee0458a

Welcome to episode two of Fitness & ThinkingLast week, we discussed the five pillars of fitness: physical, mental, spiritual/emotional, social and financial.In this episode, we bring in an augmenter: creativity.I've had some incredible preliminary chats with potential guests, and in the process of piecing together a plan to catch up with all of them on their experiences and expertise pertaining to fitness, I unearthed some poems I put together as a PT on the anatomy.I'd read two good poems on working out, or what it feels like to be a gymgoer, and felt like the genre was underserved when I penned these pieces. I'm hoping they push you and me for more...If you enjoyed this episode, please drop a like and subscribe – every little action like this over time could be huge for the success of the podcast. Thank you.-Fitness & Thinking isn’t a self-help blog, nor is it a guided meditation app. F&T is a weekly podcast and potentially more frequent newsletter that aims to provoke and inspire and unite people looking for their sense of self and peace of mind. Are you in?This week's newsletter:https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/p/sleep-it-offWhile I'm building https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/Get in touch through https://www.instagram.com/coachjackmann/

Welcome to the very first episode of Fitness & Thinking.What started out as a weekly newsletter for my online coaching group in January 2024 has become something that my peers, colleagues and friends would like to actively contribute towards.And, as discussed in this episode, builds on the idea of five pillars of fitness (physical, mental, spiritual/emotional, social and financial) and how they're currently applying to my lifeIn future episodes, I'd like to bring in PTs, journos, healthcare professionals, graphic designers, haberdasherers, fellow poets, performers and writers to discuss and engage with fitness as they understand it (and maybe would like it to be).For now, this is 30 minutes of to camera what F&T is, a bit of who I am and why we're here, some Primavera chat and a call to arms, chopped into a more palatable 22 minutes.Make sure to drop a like and a comment if you like it, and let me know what you'd like to see in upcoming episodes. Cheers!