#240 Defying Expectations with Pete Linnett
Health Oddity Podcast
“I’m sorry Mr & Mrs Linnett. Your son has spina bifida. He’ll never be able to walk, or father children or live a normal life.” This is what Pete Linnett’s parents were told by the doctor shortly after his birth. On this episode we talk about taking the ‘dis’ out of disability & living life to its fullest, defying expectations & breaking records along the way. Pete is a 4 x World Bench Champion, 4 x Worlds Strongest Disabled Man, has travelled the world competing & is a hard working family man. This is his inspiring & fascinating story (so far).
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#239 Stronger Women Academy with Jemma Wesson
Health Oddity Podcast
We are joined by returning guest Jemma Wesson from Stronger Women Academy (formerly The Unit) in Teeside. We last talked to Jemma back on episode 92, nearly 3 years ago about Bodybuilding, CrossFit & Functional Strength. On this episode we discuss empowering women over 40 through strength training, community & education. We talk about the different dynamics of training women vs men & how many outdated views & fears around strength training still exist within the general population. We learn what Jemma is doing to address this & make strength training something that women of...
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#238 Standards, Bumpers & Using Friction to Your Advantage.
Health Oddity Podcast
Pete & James have a reflective episode discussing Oli Mell’s recent Kettlebell Sport Workshop at Unique Results (& being featured in Men’s Health magazine) & the concepts of setting STANDARDS rather than goals, having BUMPERS rather than rigid requirements & how you can consciously use FRICTION to make behaviours you want to promote easier & those you want to avoid more awkward.
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#237 The Dark Horse - Paddy Haynes
Health Oddity Podcast
We are joined by first time guest, The Dark Horse; Paddy Haynes part of the new wave of Strongman athletes breaking through onto the world stage from the UK. Paddy is an Athlete & Performance Coach & the owner of Haynes Strength. He grew up (& still lives) on a farm in Oxfordshire & discusses how the work ethic & required manual work forged strength & resilience from a young age. We talk about athleticism, grip strength, a love of odd objects, his recent star turn at Britains Strongest Man, his upcoming debut at Europes Strongest Man & his aspirations to reach...
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#236 Skiing, Walking & Lifting
Health Oddity Podcast
Pete & James catch up for the first time in 2025 after a 9 week run of guests. They cover James’ revelation that getting heavier & stronger doesn’t necessarily transfer to an optimal snowboarding experience. Pete’s recent group talk on why ‘Walking Solves’, upcoming UK workshops with Pavel Macek & Chloe Brennan & what they’ve both learned so far from guests in 2025.
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#235 Pavel Macek (Part 2)
Health Oddity Podcast
We are joined from Prague by first time guest Pavel Macek for this special double episode. Pavel is a Strongfirst Master Certified Instructor, a lifelong Martial Artist, Coach, Author, Strength Historian & cat lover. We cover much ground (hence the double episode). Strength, resilience, psychology, meditation, stoicism, philosophy, morning routines & productivity. We also discuss Pavel’s upcoming ‘Enter the Dumbbell’ workshop in the UK. A fascinating conversation with a calm, clear & inquisitive man on a journey to improve himself & others. This is Part 2 of 2.
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#234 Pavel Macek (Part 1)
Health Oddity Podcast
We are joined from Prague by first time guest Pavel Macek for this special double episode. Pavel is a Strongfirst Master Certified Instructor, a lifelong Martial Artist, Coach, Author, Strength Historian & cat lover. We cover much ground (hence the double episode). Strength, resilience, psychology, meditation, stoicism, philosophy, morning routines & productivity. We also discuss Pavel’s upcoming ‘Enter the Dumbbell’ workshop in the UK. A fascinating conversation with a calm, clear & inquisitive man on a journey to improve himself & others. This is Part 1 of 2.
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#233 Holistic Strength with Chloe Brennan
Health Oddity Podcast
We are joined this week by first time guest & possibly the STRONGEST person pound for pound we’ve ever had on the show, Chloe Brennan. Chloe is the Founder & Coach @holisticstrengthcoaching she is World & European Strongwoman Champion in the Under 73kg class, she is a Strongman commentator & one of only a handful of women worldwide to lift the famous Dinnie Stones in Scotland. We discuss Chloe’s athletic life growing up, her transition to strength sports, her love of personal development & the ‘mindset of strength’ & spreading the benefit of being strong...
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#232 Order, Chaos & Balance with Sean Cole
Health Oddity Podcast
We are joined by Sean Cole; former Physical Trainer in the Royal Navy, owner of SC Vital Fitness & Co-Director of Balance Wellness Club (both in Portsmouth, UK) & mentor to Gym Owners & Personal Trainers. We discuss Sean’s time in the Navy & his transition back into civilian life. His journey as a business owner & his own health & fitness path. We also talk about alcohol, the physical & emotional impact of it & how through a combination of sobriety, contrast therapy & breath-work Sean is truly living an authentic life in his 50s. An honest & thought...
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#231 Training for Performance in your 40s with Laura Shanks
Health Oddity Podcast
We are joined by Laura Shanks, career woman, mother of 2 & a rapidly improving & rising HYROX athlete. Laura talks about her early experiences of exercise & training & the overriding focus on weight loss, weight control & staying slim. In her mid 40s Laura is now a HYROX athlete who podiums at events & is chasing her first race win. We discus discipline, scheduling training, a performance mindset, eating to fuel an athletes lifestyle & the balance of sacrifice & reward when chasing performance goals - as a regular person vs a full time athlete. An interesting,...
info_outlineWe talk to the highly inspirational & incredibly strong David Walsh AKA Sitting Bull UK.
The Worlds Strongest Adaptive Athlete 2022/2023, & Britains Strongest Disabled Man 2021, 2023 & 2024.
David started competing in Strongman in 2012 & was diagnosed with MS (Multiple sclerosis) in 2014. We discuss pulling trucks, deadlifting 600+kg & the mental journey he has been on since his diagnosis - this is a candid, honest & powerful account of coming to terms with disability & rebuilding a very different life.
David also shares how his relationship with his coach ‘Big Loz’ has helped him both physically & mentally in this incredibly tough sport & life as well.