Health Oddity Podcast

The show that strips away the jargon and hype surrounding all things health and fitness to help you live a long, strong and energetic life.

#249 Midlife Renaissance with Dr Nancy Allen 06/05/2025

#249 Midlife Renaissance with Dr Nancy Allen We are joined Dr Nancy Allen, the medical director of Renaissance Reset for Menopause. Nancy has been a practising NHS GP for the last 25 years & is a proud member of the Royal College of General Practitioners & the British Menopause Society. Nancy’s career has been dedicated to supporting women through every stage of their health journey, particularly during the transformative phase of menopause. In this episode we discuss many health & lifestyle challenges people are having in our modern society & take a deep dive into dementia along with the most recent research. This is our first conversation with Dr Nancy Allen & it definitely won’t be our last If you want to ask Dr Nancy any questions please fill out the form and she will answer them on her next visit /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/36871935

#248 An Ambassador of Strength with Sally Moss 05/29/2025

#248 An Ambassador of Strength with Sally Moss We are joined from London, England by Sally Moss, owner & founder of Strength Ambassadors. A gym which focusses on teaching, coaching & building strength through Powerlifting, Olympic Weightlifting & Strongman training. We discuss the importance of Strength for all, especially women, the changing landscape of strength training over the last 20 years & the wisdom & benefit in getting stronger as an end goal without it being tied to aesthetics, weight loss, fitness or dieting. A fascinating conversation with a pioneer & ambassador of female strength training in the UK. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/36774665

#247 London to The Lakes with Vicki Farrington 05/22/2025

#247 London to The Lakes with Vicki Farrington We are joined from Kendal in The Lake District, England by Vicki Farrington a former member of the MET Police turned Sports Therapist, Strength Coach & Ultra Endurance Cyclist. We talk about open water swimming, fell running, mountain biking & Vicki’s recent conquering of the Mega Mallorca 312 challenge! We also discuss the stark change of lifestyle moving from London in a highly pressurised & stressful career to a life in the countryside, spending much time outdoors & a totally different pace of life. This is a wide reaching conversation that I guarantee will make you want to spend more time in nature (& possibly visit The Lakes). /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/36680645

#246 Finding your connection to exercise 05/15/2025

#246 Finding your connection to exercise Pete & James recap 7 weeks of fantastic guests & pick up some of the themes & conversations that have sparked thoughts & discussions within our businesses. Staying grounded & anchored through times of stress & turmoil & what it REALLY means to find a deep connection to movement, exercise & our physical being are among the topics discussed. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/36583380

#245 Strength & Transformation with Terry Hollands 05/08/2025

#245 Strength & Transformation with Terry Hollands We are joined by a legendary figure of UK (& World) Strongman from Kent in England - Mr Terry Hollands AKA Big Tel. Terry is one of Britain’s best known & most successful strongmen. He competed at the Worlds Strongest Man 15 times, reached the final on 9 consecutive occasions & podiumed twice. We discuss the current Strongman scene, the upcoming 2025 Worlds Strongest Man in USA. Terry’s sporting background, training history & current focus. A fascinating conversation with a man who has pushed his body to the brink in the name of performance & is now focused on being strong, fit & healthy for the decades ahead. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/36491130

#244 Ballet, Barbells & Balance with Elise Ball 05/01/2025

#244 Ballet, Barbells & Balance with Elise Ball We are joined by Elise Laura Ball from Bristol in Somerset, England for an open & raw conversation about Ballet, professional dancing, body image, eating disorders, alcohol & recovery. Elise is a Strongfirst Elite trainer, Kettlebell & Strength Coach & a Ballet teacher who now focuses on teaching Ballet to adults & passing on her love of dancing without the pressure & pain from her past. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/36396945

#243 Built to Last with David Amerland 04/24/2025

#243 Built to Last with David Amerland We are joined for the first time live from Greece. David Amerland’s new book ‘Built to Last - How to get stronger, healthier & happier at every stage of life.’ Is NOT your standard health & fitness manual & David is certainly NOT your standard health & fitness expert. At 60 years of age his understanding of ‘why we do what we do’ is vast & is informed by a diverse professional & educational background. Authenticity & finding a deeper connection to what ‘fitness’ means to us individually is foundational to maintaining healthy practises for life. This is a thought provoking & deep conversation which may help you see fitness through a different lens. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/36299350

#242 Resilience At Any Age with Mike Tiktinsky 04/17/2025

#242 Resilience At Any Age with Mike Tiktinsky We are joined from California USA by 78 year old State Record Holding Powerlifter (& Pickleball enthusiast) Mike Tiktinsky. Mike took up strength training after he fought Prostate Cancer at 58. In his words he “wanted to get strong for whatever life was going to throw at him.” Since then, he has undergone (& recovered from) two total knee replacements AND a heart attack. This is an uplifting & inspiring conversation with a man who at nearly 80 is still competing, testing himself, being consistent & paying it forward by helping others who want to follow in his journey of strength. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/36210805

#241 The Worlds Strongest Firefighter with Andrew Burton 04/10/2025

#241 The Worlds Strongest Firefighter with Andrew Burton We are joined all the way from Texas USA by Andrew Burton. Winner of the Arnold Pro/Am Strongman 2025, 3rd Place at the Magnus Classic 2024 in Iceland & Winner of the Worlds Strongest Firefighter 2023! We learn about Andrew’s Powerlifting background, his varied jobs on leaving education (including working in a butter factory) training to become a paramedic & firefighter & how he manages to juggle training as an elite strength athlete with one of the most physically & emotionally demanding jobs on the planet. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/36088400

#240 Defying Expectations with Pete Linnett 04/03/2025

#240 Defying Expectations with Pete Linnett “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). /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/35995525

#239 Stronger Women Academy with Jemma Wesson 03/27/2025

#239 Stronger Women Academy with Jemma Wesson 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 all ages, sizes & backgrounds can engage in & benefit from. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/35891900

#238 Standards, Bumpers & Using Friction to Your Advantage. 03/20/2025

#238 Standards, Bumpers & Using Friction to Your Advantage. 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. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/35794885

#237 The Dark Horse - Paddy Haynes 03/13/2025

#237 The Dark Horse - Paddy Haynes 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 Worlds Strongest Man on the most prestigious stage of all. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/35678185

#236 Skiing, Walking & Lifting 03/06/2025

#236 Skiing, Walking & Lifting 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. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/35564840

#235 Pavel Macek (Part 2) 02/27/2025

#235 Pavel Macek (Part 2) 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. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/35470035

#234 Pavel Macek (Part 1) 02/20/2025

#234 Pavel Macek (Part 1) 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. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/35367425

#233 Holistic Strength with Chloe Brennan 02/13/2025

#233 Holistic Strength with Chloe Brennan 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 (mentally & physically) to EVERYONE. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/35276000

#232 Order, Chaos & Balance with Sean Cole 02/06/2025

#232 Order, Chaos & Balance with Sean Cole 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 provoking conversation. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/35181555

#231 Training for Performance in your 40s with Laura Shanks 01/30/2025

#231 Training for Performance in your 40s with Laura Shanks 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, insightful & inspiring conversation that we can all take something from. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/35084680

#230 Wim Hof Training in Poland with Nick Rainbird 01/23/2025

#230 Wim Hof Training in Poland with Nick Rainbird We are joined by Nick Rainbird, who we last spoke to on Episode 195 entitled - The Healing Power of Nature. Nick has recently taken his love of the great outdoors, nature & wellness to the next level & completed his Wim Hof Instructor training in Poland & joins us to discuss the 3 Pillars of the Wim Hof system, embracing the cold & things that take us out of our modern state of constant comfort. An inspiring & relevant conversation with a man who preaches what he practises & is bucking the trend of modern society & the path many are unconsciously drifting down /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/34984905

#229 Perpetual Strength with Paul Mcllroy (Part 2) 01/16/2025

#229 Perpetual Strength with Paul Mcllroy (Part 2) We take a deep dive with returning guest Paul Mcllroy into his new book - Perpetual Strength: How to keep getting stronger year in, year out - using the art & science of comfort zone expansion. We discuss the theory & philosophy behind Paul’s approach as well as the application, programmes & exercises selected. This is Part 2 of 2. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/34884315

#228 Perpetual Strength with Paul Mcllroy (Part 1) 01/09/2025

#228 Perpetual Strength with Paul Mcllroy (Part 1) We take a deep dive with returning guest Paul Mcllroy into his new book - Perpetual Strength: How to keep getting stronger year in, year out - using the art & science of comfort zone expansion. We discuss the theory & philosophy behind Paul’s approach as well as the application, programmes & exercises selected. This is Part 1 of 2. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/34792140

#227 Strong Spine, Active Life with Dr Ryan Wohlfert 01/02/2025

#227 Strong Spine, Active Life with Dr Ryan Wohlfert We are joined from Michigan USA by Ryan Wohlfert - Health & Wellness Dr & Dr of Chiropratic. This is a great discussion to kick off 2025 as it is about a topic that the majority of adults will need to address at some stage in their life - back pain & spinal health. Dr Ryan offers an empowering approach to personal responsibility & lifestyle modification & far from talking about ‘back cracking’ & ‘manipulations’ shares his teachings on posture, strength training, nutrition, hydration & daily spinal hygiene (think daily oral health - but for your back). This was a fun & informative conversation & Dr Ryan will definitely be returning to the show in the future. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/34700865

#226 Christmas Special 2024 (Part 2) 12/27/2024

#226 Christmas Special 2024 (Part 2) Pete & James don their Christmas attire once again (& zoom backdrops) for the second of a two part festive special to close out 2024 - this time they’re turning the Christmas Cheer up to 11! They preview upcoming guests, discuss James’ recent trip to Iceland along with such varied topics as strength training, monkey bars, Marcus Aurelius (inspired by Gladiator 2), Perpetual Strength, Walking & how to solve a Rubik’s Cube with one hand WHILST doing pistol squats - a podcast first anywhere in the World! /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/34534790

#225 Christmas Special 2024 (Part 1) 12/19/2024

#225 Christmas Special 2024 (Part 1) Pete & James don their Christmas attire (& zoom backdrops) for the first of a two part festive special to close out 2024. They discuss their own training as they head into Christmas. Pete’s new Walk Bath / Walking Solves App the recent release of Paul Mcllroy’s new book ‘Perpetual Strength’ & James’ upcoming trip to Iceland to watch the Magnus Classic Strongman Competition. T hey also talk about what they’ve learned from recent guests & their individual focus for 2025. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/34534640

#224 Becoming Sitting Bull UK with David Walsh 12/12/2024

#224 Becoming Sitting Bull UK with David Walsh We 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. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/34417285

#223 Protein, Sleep, Alcohol & other considerations for Menopause with Helen Hall 12/05/2024

#223 Protein, Sleep, Alcohol & other considerations for Menopause with Helen Hall We are joined by returning guest Helen Hall, who was last with us on Episode 66 (a full 3 years ago). Helen (now 53) updates us on her latest thinking, training, eating & lifestyle modifications around dealing with the menopause. She offers simple, relatable & easily applicable advice based on her own experience & through coaching many women in their 40s & 50s. Helen also talks about her own journey with HRT & highlights the responsibility of the individual to do all they can via lifestyle to complement any medical prescription leading to a truly holistic approach to healthy ageing (which is just as applicable to men as it is for women). /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/34306685

#222 Use It or Lose It with Peter & James 11/28/2024

#222 Use It or Lose It with Peter & James For the first time in 6 weeks Peter & James catch up with each other following another run of great guests. They discuss Paul Mcllroy’s new book; Perpetual Strength, the upcoming STONES 2 documentary from Maximum Iron, the development of Walk Bath & the qualities we all tend to lose as we age (if we don’t make a concerted effort to retain them) - monkey bars/hanging, sprinting, jumping & hill walking. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/34195995

#221 - Cruising Your Way to Fitness with Daniel Vintila 11/21/2024

#221 - Cruising Your Way to Fitness with Daniel Vintila We are joined by our first ever Romanian guest, Daniel Vintila. Daniel spent 10 years working as a croupier in Casinos onboard luxury cruise ships & in his time has pursued strength & fitness in many forms; Spartan racing, calisthenics, bodybuilding, kettlebells & most recently competing in both Powerlifting & Strongman. Daniel is a Strongfirst Elite Instructor & trains exclusively at home in his well equipped garage gym. We discuss finding your way in fitness, training around long shifts & onboard big ships & the importance of competition to focus the mind & training programme. /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/34097786

#220 Highland Wolf Strength with John Gibb 11/14/2024

#220 Highland Wolf Strength with John Gibb We are joined LIVE from Aberdeen, Scotland by the Highland Wolf - John Gibb. John is a Scottish Stonelifter & Strongman & the day before recording this episode he was crowned Britain’s Strongest Stonelifter 2024! J ohn was the 157th lifter (& walker) of the historic Dinnie Stones & was also featured in the recent documentary ‘STONES’ from Maximum Iron. We discuss training, eating, grip strength, sandbags, atlas stones & even get a tour round his awesome ‘shed of strength’. This is a great conversation with a man who is forging world class strength using rugged & historic methods & has the bruises & trophies to prove it! /episode/index/show/healthoddity/id/33935697

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