Trauma, Training & Transformation with Dr James Alder Exploring how movement heals the mind.

The Great Outdoors: How Nature, Movement & Adventure Improve Mental Health Can spending more time outdoors genuinely improve our mental health, resilience and wellbeing ? In this episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation , I’m joined by Dawson Isner from The Great Outdoors to explore the powerful relationship between nature, movement, outdoor adventure and the mind . From ✈️ flying and...

Strength & Conditioning: Why Mental Health Matters as Much as Physical Performance What if becoming a stronger athlete isn’t just about building a stronger body? In this episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation , I’m joined by Dr Angela Sorensen to explore the powerful connection between strength and conditioning, athlete mental health, sport psychology and physical performance . We di...

Running Towards Something: How Endurance Changes the Mind 🏃‍♂️🧠 What does it really take to run 26.2 miles —and what happens to your mind along the way? In this episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation , I sit down with Chris Baldwin , an experienced marathon runner preparing for his fourth marathon—the Venice Marathon . We explore the psychology of marathon running , endurance training,...

Can golf help rebuild your life after a traumatic brain injury? In this powerful episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation: Exploring How Movement Heals the Mind , I speak with Iain Miller of Golfing Positives about his extraordinary journey from a life-changing traumatic brain injury (TBI) to rediscovering identity, confidence and purpose through golf. After a rugby tackle changed his life...

Can we actually slow ageing? Is it possible to extend our lifespan, improve our healthspan, and live healthier for longer—or are we chasing an impossible dream? In this episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation: Exploring How Movement Heals the Mind , Dr James Alder sits down with Chris Burres , entrepreneur, researcher, and co-founder of MyVitalC , to explore the fascinating science of lon...

From Survival to Significance: How Personal Transformation Creates Lasting Impact | Summer Holeman Can childhood trauma become the foundation for a meaningful life? What if the greatest transformation isn't escaping your past, but learning how to use it to positively impact the lives of others? In this powerful episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation: Exploring How Movement Heals the...

Is healing really just about changing our thoughts, or have we forgotten the vital role that the heart, body and nervous system play in emotional wellbeing? For generations, we've looked to the brain as the centre of human experience. Every thought, every emotion and every decision has been viewed through the lens of neuroscience. But what if healing isn't simply about changing the way we...

What happens when every decision you make is judged by thousands of people? In elite rugby, there are no pauses for self-doubt. Every whistle, every call, and every decision must be made in seconds under intense pressure. But the lessons extend far beyond sport. In this episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation: Exploring How Movement Heals the Mind , I'm joined by Shanda , an elite Rug...

What happens when you lose everything you've worked for? How do you rebuild your life, your identity, and your confidence? In this powerful episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation: Exploring How Movement Heals the Mind , I sit down with Alex Thompson to explore the psychology of reinvention, resilience, and how weight training, weightlifting, mixed martial arts (MMA), and purposeful m...

Can ice baths really improve mental health, or is the science more complex than the headlines suggest? In this episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation: Exploring How Movement Heals the Mind , I welcome back Rachel Lee to explore one of the most debated topics in health, performance, and psychology, cold water immersion and ice bath therapy . Cold plunges have become increasingly popular w...

Who Are You When the Uniform Comes Off? | Trauma, Leadership & Finding Purpose Who are you when the uniform comes off? For many military veterans, police officers, emergency service personnel, athletes, and leaders, the greatest challenge isn't the job itself, it's discovering who you are when that chapter of your life comes to an end. In this powerful episode of Trauma, Training &...

My Wife Had a Stroke. I Lost My Job. Cycling Changed Everything What do you do when life falls apart? In this powerful episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation: Exploring How Movement Heals the Mind , David Martin shares how he navigated redundancy, caregiving responsibilities, stress, uncertainty, and one of the most challenging periods of his life. What began as a simple bike ride soon b...

Leaving Home Changed Everything | Rugby, Identity & Growth What happens when you leave everything familiar behind and take a chance on yourself? In this powerful episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation: Exploring How Movement Heals the Mind , I sit down with Irish rugby player Elliott Ryan, who left home to pursue opportunities abroad and is now playing professional rugby for Benfica...

Training Won’t Just Change Your Body… It Rebuilds Your Mind In the opening episode of Season 2 of Trauma, Training & Transformation , Dr James Alder sits down with Anthony Mosher, a CrossFit athlete, weightlifter, and fitness coach, for a powerful conversation exploring the connection between training, mental health, resilience, and identity. Many people begin training to improve their physica...

In this powerful episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation , I sit down with Thomas Snooks to explore what it truly means to live with a damaged heart—and the psychological battle that can come with it. After being diagnosed with Kawasaki disease, Thomas was left with damage to his aortic valve. Alongside the physical realities of a lifelong heart condition, he also faced the daily challeng...

Why Motivation Fails | The Psychology of Discipline in Fitness We’re often told that motivation is the key to change. That if you feel driven enough, inspired enough, focused enough… you’ll stay consistent. But the reality is different. Motivation fades. Discipline remains. In this episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation , I sit down with Tom Land , a fitness coach working both online and...

What if the biggest myth in high performance is the belief that we are supposed to have everything figured out? In Episode 28 of Trauma, Training & Transformation , Dr James Alder is joined by Dr Michael Francis-Pollin , a leading academic and practitioner in creativity, sport, and performance psychology , to explore the reality behind success, pressure, and the human experience within elite e...

What if trauma is not just something we remember… but something we carry? In Episode 27 of Trauma, Training & Transformation , Dr James Alder sits down with Dr Catherine Hitch to explore the psychology of trauma, mental health, and the process of healing. Trauma is often understood as a psychological experience, but growing research shows it also lives within the body. It can shape how we thin...

Rugby, Resilience & the Mind | The Psychological Journey of an International Player with Sam Miller In this episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation: Exploring How Movement Heals the Mind , Dr James Alder sits down with international rugby player Sam Miller to explore the psychological journey behind elite sport. From growing up in Nova Scotia to progressing through the high performanc...

Calm Under Fire | Becky Piddlesden on Military Leadership and the Rugby Pitch In this episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation , Dr James Alder sits down with RAF service member and RFU match official Becky Piddlesden to explore what it truly means to stay calm and lead under pressure. Drawing on her experience in the Royal Air Force and as a rugby match official , Becky shares insights in...

When a Man Decides He’s Had Enough — Why We Keep Missing the Signs | Paul Pook What happens in the moments before a man decides he has had enough? In this powerful episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation , Dr James Alder sits down with Paul Pook to explore the hidden reality behind men’s mental health, suicide, and the warning signs we often fail to recognise . Too often, the struggle is...

In this episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation , Dr James Alder sits down with Corey Robinson , former Canadian national wrestler, to explore the hidden psychological struggles behind strength, performance, and identity. From elite sport to life beyond competition, Corey opens up about the silent collapse many men experience when identity, purpose, and pressure collide. This conversation...

How Adversity Shapes the Transition from Student-Athlete to Lifelong Performer – A Conversation with Annie Kennedy What happens when the identity of being a student-athlete suddenly changes? In this episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation , Dr James Alder speaks with Annie Kennedy , a former varsity rugby player whose journey through adversity reshaped her relationship with sport, perform...

Breathwork for Trauma Recovery: Nervous System Regulation & Rebuilding Trust in the Body | With Rachel Lee Trauma changes the way the body responds to the world. Long after the event has passed, the nervous system can remain stuck in patterns of hyper vigilance, anxiety, and emotional shutdown. Learning how to regulate the nervous system is a critical step in rebuilding safety and trust within...

Pressure does not simply test you. It reveals you. In this episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation , Dr James Alder sits down with Kingsley Jones to explore the psychology of elite sport, identity under pressure, and what high-performance environments truly demand from leaders and athletes. Elite sport is not just about winning. It is about identity, resilience, leadership, emotional cont...