Playful Nature Podcast by WildStrong

This episode starts under a heron’s nest (with a slight risk of getting drenched) and turns into a walk and talk on what strength training is really for.After wrapping up another Strong for Life course, we reflect on what changes for people - it's not just strength, it’s confidence. and permission. It's very joyful watching people move from “I can’t” to “I’ll give it a go.”From there, we explore the idea of real-world strength - not just lifting weights, but being able to get down to the ground, jump a wall, play with your grandchildren, or move without hesitation. Along the way, we unpack concepts like affordances, why gym-based thinking can sometimes limit us, and how fear, not physical limitation, is often the real barrier.This episode is about moving beyond exercises and into capability - starting to see the world differently, and realising just how much is available to you once you start.Link to the blog and webinar we ran: https://wildstrong.co/news/gym-strength-and-life-based-strengthCore ideas:Affordances: Seeing opportunities for movement in your environmentVirtuous cycle: Confidence → more engagement → more capabilityTask-based thinking: Start with what you want to do, not the movement itselfConstraints-led approach: Individual × task × environmentLimitations of gym models: Machines prescribe movement but reduce explorationPractical takeaways:Start with real-life tasks you care aboutBuild options, not perfect techniqueConfidence often comes before capacityMovement becomes more engaging when it’s contextualLook for opportunities, not exercises

What does it really mean to be strong?In this conversation with Laurel Beversdorf from The Movement Logic, we explore the gap between being active and actually building strength -  and why so many people (especially women) have been left out of that understanding.We talk about the rise of strength training inside spaces like yoga, the tension between different movement worlds, and why blending practices isn’t always as simple as it sounds.We also get into the bigger picture: – why strength training still feels intimidating – how fear and misinformation shape the fitness industry – and the real-life barriers that stop women from getting startedThis is a grounded, honest look at movement - not as performance or aesthetics, but as something that builds confidence, capability, and long-term health.If you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing loads” but not feeling stronger… this one’s for you.See more about the Movement Logic here: https://themovementlogic.com/Further reading mentioned in this episode:– The LIFTMOR trial (Watson et al.) on high-intensity resistance training and bone health– Kistler-Fischbacher et al. systematic review on resistance training and bone mineral densityMusic: Exercise by Mary Erskine (Me for Queen)

Andrew had a great conversation with Dr. Ciaran Fairman, PhD, CSCS about how to make exercise meaningful and why so many assumptions about exercise optimisation don't resonate with regular people. Ciaran spoke about the difference between applying either a physiological or behavioural lens to exercise prescription and how sometimes exercise specialists fail to think about real life barriers and enablers.We discussed Ciaran's paper, 'A practical framework for the design of resistance exercise interventions in oncology research settings—a narrative review.', which he describes as a distillation of everything he's learned over his career.I wanted to speak with Ciaran because during our research in developing Strong For Life, we realised the most exercise programmes don't consider the needs and limitations of people who are trying to engage with exercise for the first time. His paper aligns with a lot of what we have learned regarding how to structure home programmes for people who aren't interested in going to a gym. His ideas also tie into our next project, Capabilities for Life. It's an episode that we'll end up using in our courses as a resource for discussing public health, exercise prescription, implementation science and social determinants of health.

In this episode, Andrew Telfer speaks with Dr Katy O’Neill Gutierrez, founder of Blaze Trails - a UK-based parent and baby walking community that has grown from a small local group into a nationwide movement supporting over 28,000 parents.Katy shares how Blaze Trails began as a way to stay connected to the outdoors after becoming a parent, and how it evolved during COVID into a support system for new parents facing isolation, anxiety, and loss of confidence.The conversation explores the power of peer-led communities, the barriers parents face in getting outdoors, and why something as simple as walking can have a profound impact on mental health, identity, and connection.Music: Exercise by Mary Erskine (Me for Queen)Read more about Blaze Trails here.

We could have called this - everything we've learned by making a bunch a mistakes. When we first started running sessions for older populations, they did what most coaches do - a lot of research. Then we scaled recommended exercises and tried to help people move “correctly.”And it didn’t work..Working with older adults quickly exposed a gap between what looks good on paper and easily quantifiable… and what works in class setting with populations who may have little to no exercise history. This episode is a reflection on those early mistakes — and how they led to a completely different way of thinking about movement, coaching, and health.From that process, Nature Moves emerged.Not as a predefined system, but as something shaped through trial, error, and paying attention to what helped people keep moving.Here's a link to the webinar we ran recently on this.

Dan Edwards returns to the podcast to talk what he calls a “quiet crisis” in parkour coaching - a drift from a real-world practice into something more standardised.Andrew and Dan explore why this drift is understandable (insurance, schools, certifications, parent expectations, safety rules, social media), but also what gets lost when coaching becomes too legible: the spirit of parkour as a practice of adaptability and growing up capable.They talk about outdoor training as the main event (not the optional extra), how adversity and uncertainty are central to real learning, why “perfect” technique can become a trap, and what it means to coach as a provocateur rather than a lecturer.They finish on the bigger picture: declining physical literacy, shrinking spaces for children to roam, and why the long-term solution is rebuilding environments where kids can play, struggle, negotiate risk, and become capable. Really recommend taking the time to read Dan's blog:Dan Edwardes BlogMore about Parkour Generations can be found here.If you've not listened to the first conversation with Dan, you can find it here - have a look at Episode Number 4 of the Playful Nature Podcast.

In this episode of the Playful Nature Podcast, Andrew and Gill discuss a debate that seems to be everywhere on social media: should people lift heavy weights or medium weights to improve bone density and strength as they age?The argument itself may be missing the bigger picture. For someone who has never lifted weights before, the distinction between 70% or 85% of a one-rep max is largely irrelevant. What matters far more is helping people discover that they are capable of lifting things at all.Together we explore how social media algorithms reward extreme or simplified messaging, why debates online often exaggerate small differences, and why many people underestimate their own strength.The conversation ultimately circles back to - strength training is less about chasing specific percentages and more about building the confidence and capability to interact with the physical world.Let us know your thoughts on this one. You can find the blog here.

Andrew chats with Gareth Williams, a primary school PE teacher on the Kent coast who’s built Play Folke, a weekly “playground games for adults” session designed for people who do not feel at home in gyms, bootcamps, or traditional sport.Gareth’s story starts in the familiar place of someone who lived inside sport. He trained full-time for a year at Crystal Palace, played semi-professional football for a decade, then tried hard not to become “the tracksuit coach” before eventually leaning into what he was good at. A headteacher nudged him towards teacher training, and after qualifying as a primary teacher, Gareth began to notice something that changed his approach. The kids who loved PE would always be fine. The ones who felt awkward, judged, or left behind were the ones who needed PE to work.During COVID, Gareth found a different style of PE through teachers and resources that emphasised inclusion, simplicity, and play. He describes a shift away from sport-heavy, match-based lessons towards activities that “let it breathe”, giving children freedom to explore, adapt, and find success without being singled out. That same insight became the seed for Play Folke: if these games create confidence and joy for kids, why would they not work for adults who have carried a negative relationship with movement since school?Play Folke began with three people, two of whom Gareth already knew. One new person turning up, and enjoying it, was the difference between stopping and continuing. Since then, Gareth has learned the slow reality of building community, the mismatch between online interest and in-person attendance, and the value of keeping sessions loose, social, and low-pressure. This episode is a look at what many movement spaces miss: belonging, permission, and play as a genuine route back to physical capability.Links for more about Play Folke:SubstackInstagramFacebookGareth on LinkedIn

In this conversation, Andrew sits down with physiotherapist and first-year PhD student Becky Dunphy to explore what changes when you stop treating movement like a neat mechanical problem.Becky traces her journey from a “black and white” early-career physio mindset (find the faulty part, prescribe the fix) toward a public health lens shaped by COVID-era NHS strain, inequality, and the reality that bodies don’t behave like textbooks. We go into how an “injury” makes sense on the surface, but when you widen the frame to stress, sleep, workload, and skipped meals, you start to see why the body might protect itself — and why a purely biomechanical explanation often fails people.From there the conversation moves into Cognitive Functional Therapy and the practical art of helping someone “make sense” of pain, reduce fear, and rebuild trust through experiential learning. Becky also challenges the idea that there is one correct way to move — pointing to everyday labour, the Paralympics, and sport itself as evidence that humans self-organise brilliantly. The deeper risk, she argues, is when credentialism and “optimal form” narratives become barriers that stop people moving at all.The episode closes with Becky’s current research focus: peri- and post-menopausal women with multiple long-term conditions (especially osteoarthritis), and why the gap in strength training may be biological, social, and structural — not a motivation problem. She ends with heuristics for exercising with pain: aim for tolerable discomfort, watch the after-effects, and keep it functional.

In this episode, Andrew is joined by Dr Gillian Bartle, lecturer in education, researcher, and Research Lead for the International Physical Literacy Association. Drawing on decades of experience across physical education, teacher education, further education, and academia, Gillian reflects on how we learn to move and what gets lost when movement is over-structured, over-measured, or over-scripted.The conversation begins with Gillian’s journey from PE teacher to philosopher of physical education, shaped by early discomfort with assessment systems that valued written knowledge over embodied knowing. Together, Andrew and Gillian explore physical literacy as a disposition rather than a programme or policy: an ongoing relationship with movement rooted in meaning, confidence, curiosity, and lived experience. They discuss the risks of normalising developmental benchmarks, the limits of fitness-led approaches, and why valuing movement cannot be reduced to sets, reps, or gym memberships.Woven throughout is a broader question: do we, as a society, actually value movement — and if not, what might help restore it as part of everyday life? Related links:IPLAExploring the Notion of Literacy Within Physical Literacy: A Discussion PaperPhysical Literacy as a Foundation for Physical Education in Scottish Primary Schools

In this short (ish) Gill & Andrew chat, they tackle one of the biggest topics they get asked about every week: pain, recovery, and coping when your body doesn’t feel like it used to.They start by talking through the three broad pain categories: nociceptive (often linked to acute tissue injury), neuropathic (linked to nerves), and nociplastic (often chronic, where the alarm system can become over-sensitive). The central idea: pain is an output of the nervous system — a kind of alarm — and alarms can be loud, imprecise, and shaped by context.From there, they explore the tension between a more reductionist “biomechanics / something is structurally wrong” story and a biopsychosocial model that includes biology, beliefs, stress, sleep, uncertainty, prior experiences, and cultural narratives about injury. The episode finishes with a practical recovery frame: two levers — calm things down and build things up. Calm the nervous system, reduce threat, create a plan, and adjust load temporarily. Then gradually reintroduce exposure, “flirt” with the edges of tolerable discomfort, and build capability over time — in ways that are meaningful to you, not imposed by a guru.The takeaway is, recovery isn’t “getting your old body back”. It’s building a new relationship with the one you have now.Links for more on this:Greg Lehman – referenced as a key pain educator; “pain is an output of the nervous system” framing.Peter O’Sullivan – referenced in relation to persistent pain work and rehab approach.Todd Hargrove  - Episode 22 – referenced re: “regaining territory” / explorer-map metaphor; also mentioned as a previous podcast guest.Nil Teisner – mentioned for the idea of “flirting with pain” (finding tolerable edges rather than avoidance).Tom Morrison – Episode 14Joanna Myers – Episode 12Jarlo Alano  - Episode 28 – mentioned for the “rusty hinge” analogy.

Be careful what you ask for folks! A lot of you asked for more from Gill and Andrew together, here's our first shot. A bit of a chatty one - we have a Part 2 to this coming shortly on pain and moving with pain.What if some of the advice meant to help us actually makes things worse?In this episode, Gill Erskine and Andrew Telfer unpack the nocebo effect - the lesser-known counterpart to placebo - and how it shows up in everyday healthcare interactions. From back pain diagnoses and scary scans to guru dynamics and over-reliance on “being fixed,” they explore how language, power, and belief can quietly undermine confidence, resilience, and recovery.Drawing on real experiences with physiotherapy and chiropractic care, as well as research discussed by clinicians like Peter O'Sullivan, this conversation looks at why pain isn’t a simple mechanical problem - and why building agency matters more than quick fixes.This isn’t about attacking professions or telling people to stop seeing practitioners. It’s about learning how to spot unhelpful narratives, ask better questions, and find support that helps you build capability for the long term.Blog article: ⁠The Stories That Shape How We Move ⁠Avoiding nocebo and other undesirable effects in chiropractic, osteopathy and physiotherapy: An invitation to reflect This is a paper that we often talk about in class. It looks at the disempowering and ‘nocebo’ effects that certain practitioners can have on their clients.Link to the Todd Hardgrove episode of the podcast.

In this powerful conversation, Andrew speaks with Lorraine Close, Outreach Director of Edinburgh Community Yoga, nurse educator at the University of Edinburgh, and long-time facilitator of trauma-informed movement programs across prisons, the NHS, psychiatric hospitals, addiction recovery centres, and local communities.Lorraine shares her personal journey into yoga - from teenage drinking culture in Glasgow to yoga communities in San Francisco, India, and Thailand - and how those experiences shaped her understanding of belonging, class, agency, and the deep inequities in Scotland’s health landscape.She explains the principles of trauma-informed practice, why “choice” and “agency” matter far more than perfect poses, and how the yoga and wellness worlds often unintentionally reinforce exclusion, coercion, or pseudo-spiritual dogma.In the second half, Lorraine speaks openly about the coming closure of Edinburgh Community Yoga after 11 years of impact, and the brutal pressures that community-based organisations face in a funding landscape that increasingly rewards commodification and influencer culture over grassroots relational work. What emerges is an honest exploration of what it means to do meaningful practice in an increasingly extractive system and where hope lives now.

In this episode, Andrew speaks with Dr. Lawrence Foweather, researcher and lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University and one of the key contributors to the Physical Literacy Consensus Statement for England (2023). Lawrence has spent two decades researching how children, adolescents, and adults engage with movement and physical activity.They explore:the origins and evolution of physical literacywhy it resonates across policy, practice, and real-world movement settingshow the concept differs from “moving more”how physical literacy unfolds across the life course, from early years to older adulthoodthe role of motivation, enjoyment, capability, and relationshipsthe Thrive principles (Tailored, Holistic, Reflective, Inclusive, Varied, Empowering)emerging research on balance, falls prevention, and middle-age “prevention windows”why not all minutes of activity are equalThis conversation offers a clear, accessible, and profoundly human take on why movement matters - not as a set of guidelines, but as a lifelong relationship.Sport England Consensus StatementInternational Physical Literacy Association WHO GLOBAL ACTION PLAN ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY 2018-2030

This week, Andrew speaks with Dr Charlotte Marriott - NHS Consultant Psychiatrist, Certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician, medical educator and nature-based coach. Charlotte works with people living with complex mental health challenges, while also championing evidence-based lifestyle change and accessible, community-led movement.Together they explore why health is simple but society makes it hard, and how nature, physical activity and social connection transform mental wellbeing. They discuss the pitfalls of optimisation culture, smartwatches, hustle wellness, and the systems-level barriers that shape our choices long before willpower ever enters the picture.Charlotte shares stories from her NHS practice, explains how movement changes the brain, and makes the case for designing environments - not just interventions - that help people thrive.In this episode:• The six pillars of lifestyle medicine, without the guilt• Nature as a core mental health intervention• Why enjoyment may be the most important metric in movement• The dark side of trackers, optimisation and wellness grift• How movement boosts brain health, mood and memory• Social determinants of health and the limits of “better choices”• Real patient stories: from ready-meals to boxing gyms• Why the first small step always matters the most.Books, articles, projects that came up in conversation and you might find interesting: 1. Losing Eden: Why Our Minds Need the Wild — Lucy Jones2. British Society of Lifestyle Medicine (BSLM)4. Nutri-Tank (Nutrition in Medical Education)5. SHAPE Programme – Supporting Health and Promoting Exercise6. Bee Network – Greater Manchester Active Travel

Andrew sits down with Jarlo Ilano, Physical Therapist (MPT) since 1998, former Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS), Certified Therapeutic Pain Specialist (TPS), co-founder of GMB Fitness, and martial-arts teacher of 20 years — to explore how people actually learn to move, heal, and keep moving across a lifetime.Jarlo traces three decades in physiotherapy: from a rigid, structural, biomedical model to the more nuanced biopsychosocial approach that recognises the interaction between body, mind, and context.He explains how good clinicians and coaches blend both — the bio still matters, but so do people’s stories, expectations, and environments. That shift, he says, makes practice multimodal and genuinely human.The conversation ranges through:Why evidence-based practice often misses lived complexity.The tension between efficacy (in controlled trials) and effectiveness (in the real world).How clinical equipoise, belief, and placebo/nocebo effects shape recovery.Why contextual effects aren’t noise — they’re the real environment of movement and health.From there, we explore GMB’s evolution from gymnastics to movement culture, the design of its Elements programme built on locomotion, auto-regulation, and reflection, and how scaffolded play and minimum effective dose thinking help people rediscover capability and confidence.TakeawaysGood practice balances biological, psychological, and social realities.Play needs scaffolding: constraints + feedback → learning without frustration.Functional independence — floors, stairs, shopping, confidence — is the best progress marker.More on GMB Fitness HereWildStrong Webinar on Using Games & Play to Teach MovementTransitional Movement: Where Strength Becomes Skill (You CANNOT Skip This)

Tim Gill is a writer, consultant and independent researcher championing children’s everyday freedoms, especially their freedom to move and play outdoors. He’s the author of No Fear (on risk aversion) and Urban Playground (child-friendly planning and design), and has worked with NGOs and cities internationally to put children at the heart of neighbourhood design.Tim is particularly focused on the fundamental conflict between cars and children, and the urgent need to reframe how we think about cars, streets and neighbourhoods.While some of this may seem remote from children’s outdoor play, he sees these issues as connected: we will only give children the spatial freedoms they deserve when we reduce the dominance of the car - both in the places where we live and inside our heads.Designing for children isn’t a niche add-on, it’s a way to build safer, calmer streets, stronger communities, and lifelong confidence, with benefits that reach every age.Resources mentioned Tim Gill — No Fear (free download) Tim Gill — Urban Playground Vauban, Freiburg case studyGreat Kneighton (Cambridge) overview Playout Play Streets Toolkit School Streets (toolkits) Dinah Bornat — All to Play For Childhood and nature: a survey on changing relationships with nature across generations

What if fitness isn’t really about exercise, but about belonging?Katie Rose Hejtmanek is professor of Anthropology and Children and Youth Studies at Brooklyn College, CUNY. She is the author of Friendship, Love, and Hip Hop (Palgrave Macmillan 2015) and co-editor of Gender and Power in Strength Sports (Routledge 2023). Hejtmanek’s work investigates cultures and processes of self-transformation and American and popular culture. She is also world and national champion in masters weightlifting.  In this episode, Katie joins Andrew to explore how a workout became a worldview.They trace CrossFit’s surprising roots in American new-thought religion, garage-founder myth, and military culture, and unpack how ideas like “hard work” and “self-improvement” turned into moral codes. Katie explains what she calls “audit culture” - when counting reps and tracking data stop being neutral and start defining our worth - and why that mindset still shapes much of modern fitness.The conversation also looks beyond CrossFit: at the early internet’s role in creating global community, at how women rebuilt outdoor movement networks during lockdowns, and at what strength really means in a culture obsessed with optimisation.It’s thoughtful, challenging, and full of insight into why we move, and what we might build in its place.You can find out more about Katie here.

This week Andrew speaks with Alison Crouch, a Pilates & movement teacher of 25+ years, osteoporosis specialist, and creator of the MoveSmart Method. Alison shares her personal story of reversing early bone loss, navigating a genetic predisposition to osteoporosis, and later facing her own diagnosis.We cover:Why the “fear-based” diagnosis conversation is so harmful, and how to replace it with empowering action.What bone mineral density scores really mean (osteopenia, osteoporosis, fracture risk).The truth about Pilates, yoga, and walking for bone health and why strength and impact matter.The LIFTMOR trial and what newer research tells us about heavy vs. moderate lifting.Practical guidelines: push, pull, squat, hinge, carry, plus the overlooked importance of balance and footwork.Why “limit, don’t eliminate” should be the guiding principle for movement with osteoporosis.Alison also talks about her new course and the resources she’s building for people who want a holistic approach to bone health that includes strength, balance, nutrition, and mobility.📍 Find Alison at:alisoncrouch.commovesmartmovement.com

In this episode, Andrew speaks with writer and researcher Matthew Remski — co-host of the Conspirituality podcast and author of Practice and All Is Coming and Surviving Modern Yoga. Matthew shares his journey from cult involvement to cult journalism, yoga teaching, and now writing on antifascism. Together they explore cult dynamics, the contested language of “high demand groups,” abuse in modern yoga, and how wellness and fitness cultures often reflect broader social and political forces.This conversation unpacks why cultic dynamics aren’t aberrations but common features of human organisations, how situational vulnerability draws people in, and why physical culture so often echoes anxieties of the time. From yoga studios and CrossFit boxes to gentrification and public housing gyms, Matthew shows how our spaces for movement reflect both the possibilities and pitfalls of community.Themes:Cult dynamics and contested language (“cult,” “high demand group,” “new religious movement”)Alexandra Stein’s model of disorganised attachmentSituational vulnerability and recruitment into exploitative groupsSystemic abuse in modern yoga — Pattabhi Jois, Iyengar, Bikram, and beyondThe hidden history of yoga’s modern form and its ties to nationalism and European physical cultureCult-like tendencies in fitness and wellness spaces, including CrossFitGentrification, yoga studios, and why community assets matterWhy physical culture should serve the neighbourhood, not just the individualAntifascist fight clubs and reclaiming physical braveryTimestamps:00:01 – Mathew’s introduction and personal background05:13 – What do we mean by “cult” and why the language matters10:22 – Disorganised attachment and abusive relationships14:57 – The “true crime” cult industry vs political realities17:36 – Cults as logical outcomes of capitalism20:03 – Situational vulnerability and why people join24:32 – Victim–perpetrator narratives and the complexity of agency26:25 – Systemic abuse in modern yoga communities36:12 – Modern yoga’s hidden history and links to nationalism and physical culture49:15 – CrossFit and cult dynamics in fitness spaces54:17 – Gentrification, yoga studios, and community access01:05:19 – Public health, planning, and simple solutions (bike lanes, basketball courts)01:09:13 – Antifascist fight clubs and reclaiming physical braveryLinks:Conspirituality PodcastSurviving Modern YogaPractice and All Is ComingAlexandra Stein – Terror, Love and BrainwashingRobert Putnam – Bowling AloneMusic by Me for Queen.

ShownotesSummaryIn this episode, Andrew speaks with Dr William Bird MBE, GP, health innovator, and the creator of Health Walks, the Green Gym, and Beat the Street. They explore how true health is built through belonging, safety, and feeling valued, and why community connection and a sense of place matter more than ticking boxes on exercise guidelines.William shares his journey from pioneering social prescribing in the 1990s to leading large-scale programmes that change how towns think about health. The conversation covers the science behind stress and motivation, the pitfalls of infrastructure without engagement, and the practical steps that help people not just be more active, but live better lives.Main themes:Why physical activity is the outcome of a connected, hopeful community, not just a prescription.The early days of Health Walks and the Green Gym and what they taught about behaviour change.How chronic stress rewires the brain, suppresses motivation to move, and shapes perceptions of safety.The importance of place, heritage, and local identity in health creation.Why “build it and they will come” often fails without community activation.The Health Creation Matrix: measuring safety, belonging, and feeling valued across people, place, and purpose.Beat the Street as a catalyst for change, and what communities do after the game ends.Supporting older adults to stay active safely and confidently.LinksBeat the Street – Intelligent HealthWorld Health Organization – Physical ActivityCormac Russell – Asset-Based Community Development Also see previous episode of Playful Nature with Cormac Russell.Music by @Me for Queen

In this really thoughtful conversation, Andrew Telfer speaks with writer and movement educator Todd Hargrove, whose books and blog have helped thousands rethink how they move, feel, and learn. They explore somatic traditions like Feldenkrais and Rolfing, ecological dynamics, affordances, pain perception, and the limitations of top-down movement instruction. Todd also shares insights from his new book Healthy Movement for Human Animals, which offers an evolutionary lens on movement that’s both accessible and grounded.Expect reflections on growing your “movement map,” changing your environment to change your behaviour, and how pain is often more a perception issue than a structural one. There’s also a fair bit of healthy critique for gyms, blueprints, and the fantasy of precision in movement coaching.Todd’s Book – Healthy Movement for Human AnimalsFrank Forencich – Human AnimalKaty Bowman – Nutritious MovementDaniel Lieberman – Exercised Harvard Gazette articleGibsonian Psychology & Ecological Dynamics (Affordances)Wikipedia entry on affordancesFeldenkrais Method – Official SiteRolfing Structural Integration – Official SiteBook – Paleofantasy by Marlene Zuk

In this new episode of the Playful Nature Podcast, we’re joined by Dom Higgins, to talk about green social prescribing and what it really means to build a Natural Health Service.Dom Higgins is Head of Health and Education at The Wildlife Trusts and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health. Over the past 20 years, he has worked to integrate nature into education, health services, and everyday life.Before joining The Wildlife Trusts, he was Director of External Affairs at TCV, where he played a key role in the development of Green Gyms. Dom currently chairs Wildlife and Countryside Link’s Nature and Wellbeing Strategy Group, and sits on advisory panels for Cambridge OCR and the Department for Education’s Climate Ambassadors Programme.Links for more:The Wildlife Trusts – Natural Health ServiceThe Conservation Volunteers – Green GymNextdoor Nature ProjectWildlife and Countryside Link – Nature and WellbeingNational Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP)Climate Ambassadors Programme – DfE

Biomechanist, bestselling author, and parent Katy Bowman joins Andrew Telfer to talk about how modern culture has stripped movement of its context, and how we can get it back. In this conversation, Katy shares her frameworks for “nutritious movement,” behavioural stretching, and parenting with physical variability in mind. Katy and Andrew explore how movement habits shape not only our bodies but our values, our stress tolerance, and our sense of self. From the callus metaphor to the role of discomfort in learning, this is a thoughtful, practical, and timely conversation for anyone looking to move better and live better.New Book: I Know I Should Exercise, But...Katy’s Podcast: Move Your DNAWebsite: NutritiousMovement.comBooks (UK): Katy Bowman on Amazon UKSocial Media:Instagram & Facebook: @nutritiousmovementYouTube: @nutritiousmovementofficialPublisher: @uphillbooks on IG and X

Clif Harski has been at the heart of fitness education for over a decade, teaching for MovNat, Animal Flow, and Spartan, running a seven-location boutique gym business in California, and now leading the Pain-Free Performance Specialist Certification (PPSC) as COO.So while he’s been deep inside the fitness world, and part of many of its most influential movements, he’s also uniquely placed to step back and ask the bigger questions. What’s really useful? What’s just trend-following? And what are we missing when we make movement too prescriptive?In this honest and often funny conversation with Andrew Telfer, Clif shares what he's learned from coaching over 11,000 professionals, and why he still turns up to coach regular folks every week.The trap of over-correction in fitnessWhy orthodoxy and dogma still dominate the industryRethinking kettlebells, strength, and athleticismThe difference between coaching coaches and coaching clientsWhat he’d change with a billion dollars and a blank slateThis episode is packed with insights for anyone coaching others, building movement communities, or just trying to keep themselves moving for life. It's a reminder that you’re allowed to question trends, and that just because something is popular doesn’t mean it’s right for you.Clif Harski is a coach, educator, and kettlebell experimenter who’s spent the last 15+ years helping people build useful strength and enjoy moving again. As Chief Operating Officer at PPSC, he leads both their flagship certification and the Functional Kettlebell Training course.Since 2010, he’s taught over 450 workshops around the world to more than 11,000 trainers, coaches, and therapists. He’s worked with MovNat, Animal Flow, Spartan, and Kettlebell Athletics, and brings a deep, practical understanding of movement education that goes beyond sets and reps.Before 2020, Clif ran a seven-location gym business in California, serving over 2,000 members each month. His experience as an athlete, coach, business owner, and teacher gives him a rare ability to cut through jargon and meet people where they are.These days, he still coaches in-person regularly, often barefoot, usually swinging a kettlebell in a slightly unconventional direction, and always advocating for strength with a sense of humour.📎 More on Clif’s work:getppsc.com/kb-fkt-home-pageMusic: MeforQueen

This week’s guest is Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi, a GP who’s challenging the way primary care approaches health, ageing, and behaviour change. This episode is not about tips or techniques, it’s about rethinking how we structure support.Andrew and Hussain explore what happens when we stop asking people to ‘try harder’ and start changing the environments around them. They talk about the limits of the 10-minute appointment, why traditional advice-based models often fall flat, and the power of social prescribing, group consultations, and joy-led activity.Hussain shares his personal story, from receiving a fatty liver diagnosis in his twenties to attending his first Park Run in a pair of paint-stained joggers, and how this experience reshaped his practice as a GP.This is a conversation about ladders, not lectures. Strength, not prescriptions. And the vital difference between telling people what to do- and helping them build the confidence to try.Bio:Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi is a GP with an extended role in lifestyle medicine (GPwERLM). He has always endeavoured to take a holistic view on healthcare and is the personalised care lead for the Leamington PCN. He leads the RCGP’s lifestyle and physical activity team; heads the UK’s first PCN-based fitness club; works as a TV doctor on This Morningand Good Morning Britain; leads on health partnerships for parkrun UK; is a trustee at ThinkActive (the regional active partnership); and sits on the advisory board for SWIM England. When not working, Hussain is a keen triathlete, representing his country.Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction and Hussain’s early story01:40 – Barriers to movement growing up04:30 – A wake-up call: fatty liver diagnosis06:00 – Parkrun with no trainers: a new chapter08:00 – Identity shift through movement10:45 – Behaviour change: ladders vs mountains14:30 – How group consultations change outcomes18:20 – Why the 10-minute model is failing25:00 – The structure of Leamington’s lifestyle clinics33:00 – The TOY method: Trust – Observe – Yield42:00 – Challenging well-meaning but limiting advice45:00 – Strength and age: doing more, not less51:00 – Building social options for meaningful strength55:00 – What gives Hussain hope about the system60:00 – Final reflections and a story of reversalResources & Links:RCGP GP with extended role in lifestyle medicineRCGP Physical Activity HubRed Whale Lifestyle Medicine CourseParkrun Practice InitiativeMental Health SwimsThink ActiveMusic: Opening and closing music by Mary Erskine aka Me for Queen, from the track Exercise. Used with kind permission.

Charlotte Blake, parkour coach, researcher,  and founder of Free Your Instinct (now Esprit Concrete) joins Andrew Telfer to unpack how parkour can support mental health, especially in people often left out of traditional fitness or therapy models. From the urban environment’s role in wellbeing to ecological dynamics, movement as non- verbal communication, and parenting through risk, this conversation is rich, real, and reflective. Charlotte shares how ‘failing small’ builds confidence, why parkour is misunderstood, and what she’s learned working in forensic mental health settings.Key Themes:Parkour as therapeutic interventionEcological dynamics and the person–environment relationshipReframing urban environments through playMovement as dialogue, not prescriptionParenting, fear, and letting kids take risksRedefining progress in mental health contextsTimestamps:00:00 – Intro & Charlotte’s background03:20 – Getting into parkour and early impressions05:30 – Gender, risk, and reclaiming space08:45 – The changing image of parkour10:00 – Making movement inclusive and adaptable12:15 – What parkour really is14:40 – Ecological dynamics explained18:15 – Parkour in forensic mental health services26:00 – Person–environment relationships & urban health35:00 – Non-verbal progress and ‘can cycles’39:30 – Being a parkour coach and a mum44:30 – Navigating screen time and outdoor play47:20 – How to get started in parkour or community movement50:30 – What’s next for Charlotte and Esprit ConcreteLinks:Esprit ConcreteFollow Charlotte on Instagram: @esprit_concreteBackground track by Mary Erskine aka Me for Queen, from the song Exercise: meforqueen.comLearn more about WildStrong: wildstrong.co.uk

In this episode, Andrew speaks with Sean Longhurst – a coach developer and play advocate whose career has spanned academia, elite football, and grassroots community sport. Sean is a programme director at ParkPlay, as well as a coach development consultant across the sports and physical activity sector. Sean’s work focuses on developing those who develop others, and using the power of play to do it. Sean reflects on how his early academic work helped shape the way we think about play and movement learning – including his role in Nonlinear Pedagogy in Skill Acquisition – and what happens when you try to apply those ideas in the wild.They explore how play builds connection, what makes a great game, the limits of structured sport, and how to meaningfully support volunteers and coaches. It’s a thoughtful, funny, and grounded conversation for anyone interested in physical literacy, coaching, or movement that matters.Key Themes:What is play really for?Nonlinear pedagogy and ecological dynamics - from theory to muddy bootsSupporting volunteers without imposing top-down ideasLetting people shape their own learning environmentsGame design: 5 principles to guide any age groupBuilding playful training for adults and older peopleLinks to resources that came up:Nonlinear Pedagogy in Skill Acquisition (Chapter 11 – includes Sean's work)Boing PlayMusic: Mary Erskine (Me for Queen), Exercise

In this conversation, Andrew Telfer (WildStrong) speaks with Eugene Minogue, Executive Director of Play England, about the state of play in the UK and beyond. From free-range childhoods to the rise of 'No Ball Games' signs, they explore how societal shifts and adult fears have squeezed play out of children's lives. Eugene shares personal insights, policy changes, and practical actions we can all take to restore play as a right for both children and adults. Expect reflections on parkour, digital play, physical literacy, public policy, and why your childhood memories might be the key to fixing the future.Themes:The shrinking free-range of children’s movementBuilt environment vs play opportunityThe “Know Ball Games” campaign and public spaceParkour and adult playRisk, fear, and liabilityISO standards on risk–benefit assessmentsDigital play and its limitsWhy physical literacy begins with unstructured playHow we design for children… and forget adultsLinks Mentioned:Play EnglandNo Ball Games / #MoreBallGames campaignThe Anxious Generation by Jonathan HaidtTaming Gaming by Andy RobertsonStolen Focus by Johann HariISO 45003: Benefit–Risk Assessment in PlayWildStrong🎵 Music: Exercise by Mary Erskine (aka Me for Queen) – used with permission.

In this episode, Andrew Telfer chats with Tom Morrison, known for his playful, relatable approach to mobility and strength. Tom shares his personal journey from chronic pain and immobility to becoming a coach who helps others rediscover what their bodies can do. They explore cultural ideas around pain, how strength and flexibility can co-exist, and why the fitness industry often gets it wrong and what it means to feel capable again.Whether you're working through back pain or just tired of rigid fitness rules, this conversation offers practical guidance and hope.Tom Morrison YouTubeSimplistic Mobility MethodFollow Tom on InstagramJoin Tom’s Facebook groupMusic by Mary Erskine aka Me For Queen

In this episode Andrew speaks with Rafe Kelley, the founder of Evolve Move Play. Rafe shares his journey from parkour and martial arts into developing a movement practice deeply rooted in evolutionary biology, nature, and play. They discuss the tension between structured fitness models and natural movement, the role of meaning in physical practice, and how modern fitness and social structures often strip people of their innate playfulness and movement capabilities. The conversation also touches on the evolution of fitness culture, the importance of community, and the challenges of maintaining movement longevity as we age.Evolve Move Play WebsiteRafe Kelley on YouTubeFrank Forencich – Exuberant AnimalJohn Vervaeke – Meaning Crisis & MovementParkour & Movement Culture ResourcesThanks for Listening, let us know what you thought and if you liked it, please like and subscribe!Music by Me For Queen

In this episode, Andrew speaks to physiotherapist, Joanna Myers,  about working with individuals in chronic pain management. They talk about how the definition of pain has evolved, the critical role of neurophysiology in chronic pain, and how resilience-building through movement can significantly improve the quality of life for those living with pain. Whether you're experiencing pain yourself or want to understand how to help others, this episode offers valuable insights.Joanna shares practical tools for managing pain, her holistic approach to patient care, and the importance of community and support in the healing process. We also discuss how pain management has shifted from a purely physical focus to a more holistic, person-centered approach that includes emotional and psychological well-being.Talking Points: How pain is not just physical but an emotional experience, and why it’s crucial to understand the neurophysiology behind it. The shift in pain management from acute injury models to chronic pain models. The importance of resilience in overcoming chronic pain and why movement is such a powerful tool. Real-life examples of how pain impacts day-to-day activities and strategies for improving quality of life. Resources to help you or someone you know better manage pain, including useful websites and videos.Resources Mentioned: Tame the Beastvideo by Laura Mosley FlippinPain (website) Pain Concern (website) Lorimer Moseley. Why Things Hurt Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review—your feedback helps us reach more people and continue sharing helpful insights on health and movement.

In this episode of thePlayful Nature Podcast, Andrew sits down withCormac Russell, a social explorer, author, and global expert inAsset-Based Community Development (ABCD). Cormac is the founder ofNurture Development and a faculty member of theABCD Institute at DePaul University.His work has impacted communities inover 35 countries, helping people reclaim their power, build local resilience, and redefine what health and well-being truly mean.Together, Andrew and Cormac talk about:🌿Why health isn’t just about medicine—it’s about community🏡How modern life has pulled us apart—and what we can do about it💡The difference between prescriptive models vs. descriptive approaches to movement and health🔄Why the fitness industry thrives on transactional relationships—and what’s missing🤝The real power of reciprocity: feeling like you belong and are needed🛠Practical ways we can reshape our communities to prioritise connection and collective well-beingCormac challenges the dominant narratives around health and fitness, urging us to move beyondservice provision and towardcommunity-led solutions. This is a must-listen for anyone passionate aboutrethinking movement, health, and the way we live together.More of Cormac's work:www.nurturedevelopment.orgCormac’s books:His most recent books areThe Connected Community- Discovering the Health, Wealth, and Power of Neighborhoods (Coauthor John McKnight);Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2022Rekindling Democracy – A Professional’s Guide to Working in Citizen Space; Cascade Books, 2020.Cormac’s TEDx talk can be viewedhere

How do you make movement a natural part of community life? Today, I chat with Matt Donnelly, a fitness coach and movement advocate leading the Active Villages project in Ribble Valley. Matt has taken a fresh approach to rural activity: instead of relying on gyms, he’s built Play Libraries, started community rounders games, and partnered with Park Play to create sustainable movement opportunities. 🔥 In this episode, we cover:✅ Why rural areas face unique movement challenges—and how to solve them✅ The power of Play Libraries and making equipment freely available✅ How to build movement-friendly spaces that work across generations✅ What Matt learned from CrossFit, natural movement, and community sport 📲 Follow Matt: Instagram: @bowlandfitness Instagram: @thoughtsfromatree Website: www.bowlandfitness.com Tackling Rural Isolation through Building Relationships - TaAF - Together an Active Future Let's Play: The story of the Active Hodder Play Area in Dunsop Bridge  - TaAF - Together an Active Future

In this episode Andrew Telfer speaks with Elaine McNish, co-director of Move Consulting, about the critical intersections of policy, behaviour change, and practical interventions in physical activity.  With over 35 years of experience spanning roles in public health, sports councils, and national policy advising, Elaine provides an in-depth perspective on how to bridge the gap between evidence and practice. Join us as we discuss: Why exercise referral needs to evolve into physical activity referral. The concept of pathways: how to build seamless systems for increasing physical activity. The role of behaviour change in designing impactful programmes. Success stories, like Oxfordshire’s integrated pathways and dementia-friendly swimming. Optimistic trends shaping the future of physical activity policy in the UK. Whether you're in public health, a community leader, or simply interested in movement culture, this episode offers valuable insights into creating inclusive, impactful pathways to movement. 👉 Learn more about Elaine’s work at Move Consulting.

In this episode, Andrew Telfer speaks with Rick Jenner, the driving force behind Park Play, an initiative transforming parks across the UK into vibrant spaces for play and connection. Rick shares how play breaks barriers, fosters inclusivity, and creates happier, healthier communities. Discover how ParkPlay empowers local leaders, adapts to unique communities, and brings people of all ages together through movement. 💡 What You’ll Learn: Why play is a natural instinct for all ages. How Park Play creates inclusive spaces for movement and connection. Practical tips to start your own community play sessions. You can find your local ParkPlay here

In this episode, Andrew sits down with Erin Eleuterio, the creator of the Second Act Fit Pros podcast and community, to discuss innovative approaches to physical activity for older adults. Erin shares insights into her work with senior living communities, the importance of autonomy and agency in fitness, and how reshaping language and expectations can empower individuals to stay active and resilient as they age. Topics covered include: The role of language in breaking down barriers to movement, including the shift from "fall prevention" to "fall resiliency." How Erin gamifies movement to make it accessible, enjoyable, and effective for older populations. Addressing ageism in fitness and moving away from age-specific silos like “senior” or “chair-based” classes. Erin’s journey in fitness and her decision to focus on meaningful movement for older adults. The exciting plans to resurrect parkour-inspired movement programs for diverse abilities. How to build intergenerational programs and communities through inclusive, playful movement. Erin’s experience and passion for rethinking fitness provide inspiration and practical ideas for anyone interested in creating meaningful movement opportunities for all ages. Resources Mentioned: Erin’s Second Act Fit Pros Podcast & Blog Learn about PK Silver and parkour for older adults Join the Second Act Fit Pros community

In this conversation, Andrew and Dr. Callum Lease chat about the importance of community in health, the impact of individualism, and the challenges posed by inequality in health interventions. They discuss the role of social media, the significance of physical activity, and how to create inclusive communities. The conversation emphasizes the need for empathy, understanding, and engagement at the community level to foster better health outcomes.Takeaways Callum Leese: This episode is with Dr Callum Leese. Callum medically qualified at the University of Edinburgh, now training in general practice in Aberfeldy, whilst working part-time at the University of Dundee undertaking research with the division of population health and genomics. He is co-founder of the community-based initiative 'Healthiest Town' in Aberfeldy, Scotland where they try to enact and inspire local change and involved with the charity RunTalkRun. Callum is an honorary support fellow in physical activity and lifestyle medicine at the RCGP, and spent time in 2023 with WHO Regional Office for Europe addressing physical activity promotion in primary care.  His research interest is physical activity, and specifically physical activity promotion in primary care. Healthiest Town https://www.healthiesttown.org/ Key Points: Community is the smallest unit of health.Social influences significantly impact individual health behaviors.Empathy is crucial for understanding others' perspectives.Cultural differences shape our understanding of health.Engagement in community activities fosters social connections.Social media can both connect and isolate individuals.Creating inclusive communities is essential for collective well-being.Physical activity should be accessible to all demographics.Understanding the social determinants of health is vital.Local initiatives can drive positive change in communities. Keywords: community health, individualism, public health, social media, inequality, physical activity, health interventions, community engagement, lifestyle medicine, social determinants of health

In this conversation, Andrew and Shelby explore the intersection of fitness, chronic pain, and personal growth. Shelby shares her journey from a sedentary lifestyle to becoming a movement coach, emphasizing the importance of empathy and community in fitness. They discuss the challenges of navigating chronic pain and how it has shaped Shelby's approach to training and coaching. The conversation highlights the significance of finding joy in movement and creating inclusive spaces for all individuals to engage in physical activity. In this conversation, Shelby Copeland and Andrew discuss the importance of community in movement and fitness, emphasizing the need for a female perspective in the fitness industry. They explore how play-based learning and natural movement can benefit individuals of all ages, particularly older adults. The discussion also touches on the revival of parkour for seniors and the significance of social interactions in promoting mental health. Ultimately, they highlight the potential for movement to be inclusive, adaptable, and community-oriented, encouraging adults to embrace play as a vital aspect of their lives.takeaways Pain can lead to a reevaluation of fitness goals. Strength training should be about quality of life, not ego. Movement challenges can ignite a passion for fitness. Chronic pain can provide valuable insights for coaching. Empathy is crucial for effective coaching. Community and connection enhance the fitness experience. Finding joy in movement is essential for well-being. Real-life experience often outweighs formal certifications. Networking is key to building a fitness career. Inclusivity in fitness creates opportunities for everyone. Finding community in movement is essential for connection. The fitness industry often overlooks the female perspective. Women desire to be strong and serve their communities through fitness. Natural movement can be practiced in various contexts with families. Community and social interactions are crucial for mental health. Play-based learning is becoming more accepted for adults. Parkour can be adapted for older adults to enhance mobility. Inclusivity in fitness encourages diverse participation. Movement should not be limited to sports-specific activities. Creating opportunities for play can foster community engagement. Links: Force of Nature Shelby's Instagram PK Silver

Such a pleasure to have Dan Edwardes on the podcast this month! We’ve followed Dan for years. As the founder and CEO of Parkour Generations, the multi-award-winning organisation for parkour, Dan has dedicated his life to practical movement, functional skills, and physical fitness. With an extensive background in fighting arts before he found parkour, his journey is fascinating and inspiring. What’s truly impressive about Dan is his ability to synthesise ideas across the movement space. He has a real knack for turning concepts into practical, tangible tools, and his thoughtful blog is essential reading—we’ve even added it to our L1 course reading list. Topics we discussed: Practical Movement over Functional Fitness Physical Literacy Task Oriented Training.“There must be an ideal solution...”. Assessing training methods of knife defense performance of police recruits. Movement DNA Workshops

“The premise is simple, but the impact is profound.” – Ginny Yurich, Founder of 1000 Hours Outside The concept at the core of this movement is simple - the amount of time kids spend outside ‘actually matters’, though you may not hear this very often. A childhood flooded with nature time benefits kids (and adults) in untold ways. In this episode, we chat with one of Gill’s long-term inspirations, Ginny Yurich. If you’re not familiar with 1000 Hours Outside, do check it out. We found it to be a great tool for thinking creatively about how to spend more time outdoors throughout the day. We taked about:  How to find more time for the outdoors - whether you're in the city, the suburbs, or the countryside The importance of letting kids be bored and create their own fun. How to create outdoor play spaces Peter Gray’s 13-year-old son heading off to Europe on his own (in the ‘80s) - that really stuck with us. How Ginny’s teenage children manage to get outside, even with all the pressures teenagers face today. We loved chatting with Ginny. She’s an incredible resource. Andrew took 23 pages of notes during our conversation... which says a lot! Thank you, Ginny, it was such a pleasure. 1000 Hours Outside Podcast Add the Wonder Nature Curriculum is here! This new resource is designed to be cross-curricular, multi-age, and affordable; but more than that it, was written to capture attention through the fascinating things and interconnections that are already embedded in our world.   Playborhood: Turn Your Neighborhood Into a Place for Play Peter Gray Free to Learn Angela Hanscom Interview from Ginny Yurich A few more favorites:🌲How to Raise a Wild Child by Scott D. Sampson🌲Balanced and Barefoot by Angela J. Hanscom🌲Free-Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy🌲There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather by Linda Åkeson McGurk🌲Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature by Jon Young🌲Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv🌲Outdoor Kids in an Inside World by Steven Rinella🌲2,000 Miles Together by Ben Crawford

What are the movements we need to keep doing as we age so we can keep joining in?Episode 2 is here and it’s all about: In-between strength.Gill & Andrew talk about the jigsaw piece, the glue that helps keep the show on the road.It’s the little wiggles and wobbles in-between movements.If you’re picking up a bag of grain from the ground, the in-between strength is what allows you to get into an awkward position and move that bag to a comfortable carrying or lifting position.It’s a hugely overlooked concept in gym culture and functional fitness because you can’t practice it when you’re measuring sets and reps with a perfectly configured barbell.It’s about the slower, more wobbly movements—the weird positions you find yourself in every day while just living your life.It can be humbling to start with - with a group of people who have a history of working out in gyms, it’ll often be those gym-goers who struggle, while the person who has no gym history but has gardened their whole life excels.Here are some more resources on in-between strength, some from us, and some from others:Videos that we've made over the years: Benefits of Controlled Movement Cleaning Odd Objects Kneeling Kettlebell Windmills & Other Variations Turkish Get Ups (Coaching Excerpt)Recommended Reading: Andrew Telfer: ⁠Reconnecting with Real-Life Skills: Task-Based Training for Older Adults ⁠ Dan Edwardes: Practical Movement, or Doing rather than training to do. Dan Edwardes: The Power of Physical Literacy Todd Hargrove: Affordances for MovementMusic by @MeforQueen.

The number one comment we hear when we introduce women to lifting heavy, odd objects is a fear that you will hurt your back or that you are doing it wrong. Sound familiar? As a society, we've done a good job of instilling this fear from a young age. As we get older, we often become more cautious, and the fear grows bigger. In this episode we (Andrew and Gill) talk about the most common fears and misconceptions women have about strength training. We discuss how the removal of some movement opportunities has led to a reliance on gyms, and why the aesthetics of lifting heavy often deter women from embracing strength training. We also touch on importance of lifting for increasing bone density and muscle mass and that lifting isn't limited to gym settings or specific equipment. Here's a blog we wrote a while back with some more reading materials attached. Enjoy! Music by our long term supporter @meforqueen