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51. Go Outside and Play: How Movement, Purpose, and Faith Can Heal the Body

Walk, Don't Run to the Doctor with Miles Hassell, MD

Release Date: 01/16/2026

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Walk, Don't Run to the Doctor with Miles Hassell, MD

In this episode of Walk, Don’t Run to the Doctor, Dr. Miles Hassell challenges a deeply ingrained assumption: that you should fully trust your doctor without question. While physicians often care deeply about their patients, they are also human—limited by time, bias, systems, and expertise. This conversation is about reclaiming agency in your healthcare, learning how to ask better questions, and becoming an active participant in decisions that affect your long-term health and healthspan. Dr. Hassell explores common pitfalls in modern medicine—like “anchoring” on one diagnosis,...

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Walk, Don't Run to the Doctor with Miles Hassell, MD

What does health, purpose, faith, and play all have in common? In this episode of Walk, Don’t Run to the Doctor, we dive into why movement, community, and purpose are essential to lifelong health—especially for kids and families. Miles Hassell MD sits down with Tyler LaRoche, pastor and founder of Legacy Sports, to talk about reclaiming play as a tool for discipleship, physical health, and community building. From the dangers of sedentary lifestyles and overreliance on pain medications to the role of purpose in disease prevention, this conversation challenges modern assumptions about...

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Walk, Don't Run to the Doctor with Miles Hassell, MD

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This week we are featuring a recent podcast recorded at George Fox University, called George Fox Talks. Erika Barber, MD talks with Miles Hassell MD about taking ownership of your own health. Through thoughtful eating and by giving your palate a chance to develop an appreciation for the richness of available food, you can have a transformative impact on the quality of your life and your body’s ability to resist disease.    Watch the full episode through the links provided.   YouTube:  Apple Pocasts:  Spotify:    Get your copy of Good Food Great Medicine,...

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Are blood pressure medications saving lives—or quietly making things worse? In this episode of Walk, Don’t Run to the Doctor, Miles Hassell MD takes a hard look at the role of blood pressure drugs. While medications can protect against stroke and heart damage, they also carry serious side effects—from fatigue and dizziness to diabetes and falls in older adults. The bigger issue? Medications can distract from the most powerful treatment of all: lifestyle change. Eating better, moving more, trimming excess weight, and cutting harmful habits often work better than pills—and without the...

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More Episodes

What does health, purpose, faith, and play all have in common? In this episode of Walk, Don’t Run to the Doctor, we dive into why movement, community, and purpose are essential to lifelong health—especially for kids and families.

Miles Hassell MD sits down with Tyler LaRoche, pastor and founder of Legacy Sports, to talk about reclaiming play as a tool for discipleship, physical health, and community building. From the dangers of sedentary lifestyles and overreliance on pain medications to the role of purpose in disease prevention, this conversation challenges modern assumptions about health and healing.

This episode explores how getting outside, staying active, and living with intention can reduce disease, improve recovery, and help people of all ages thrive—physically, mentally, and spiritually.


Key Takeaways:

  • Why “go outside and play” may be one of the most powerful health prescriptions

  • How sports and community build character, purpose, and faith

  • The connection between purpose, longevity, and reduced disease risk

  • Why pain is not always the enemy—and how overusing pain meds can slow healing

  • The truth about supplements, “fat burners,” and fitness shortcuts

  • Simple, sustainable habits that support lifelong health (even just 1 minute at a time)

  • How movement, nutrition, and purpose create a “health retirement account”

 
More on Legacy Sports Foundation: https://www.legacysportsfoundation.net/
 
Get your copy of Good Food Great Medicine, 4th ed.: https://a.co/d/1D6hIYM
 
More references can be found at www.GreatMed.org
 
Would you like Dr. Hassell to answer your question on the air? Contact us! Write us a letter, We love to hear from you! Send questions, comments, and support to:
 
Phone/text: 503-773-0770
 
EIN: 88-326-7056
 
GreatMed.org 4804 NW Bethany Blvd., Suite I-2, #273 Portland OR 97229
 
This podcast is sponsored by our generous listeners. #wellness #podcast #wellnessforlife #lifestyle #healthandwellnessgoals