Health Coaching and Beyond

Summary In this episode, Tim is joined by Paul Houseman, PCN Manager at Belgrave and Spinney Hill in Leicester, and Senior WorkWell Coach for the city. Paul shares his journey from banking, consultancy and aerospace into primary care, reflecting on what nearly four decades in different sectors has taught him about people, leadership and the conditions that help teams thrive. The conversation explo...

Summary In this episode, Ollie and Tim come back together to reflect on some of the conversations, conferences and ideas that have been shaping their thinking over recent months. They begin by exploring two events that left a lasting impression: the Move More conference in Sheffield and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals' What Matters To You conference. Both highlighted a growing shift away from focusin...

Summary In this episode, Ollie is joined by health coach and nutritional therapist Nikki Coughlan to explore one of the fastest-growing areas in healthcare - the rise of GLP-1 medications such as Mounjaro, Wegovy and Ozempic. Drawing on more than four years of experience supporting people using these medications, Nikki shares what she has learned from working at the forefront of obesity care. (You...

Summary In this episode, Ollie is joined by two leading voices in the field of patient activation, Professor Alf Collins and Jag Mundra. Together, they explore why patient activation, the skills, knowledge and confidence people have to manage their own health and wellbeing, has become such an important concept in modern healthcare, and why it may hold the key to creating more sustainable health sy...

Summary In this episode, Ollie and Tim return to a topic that has shaped much of their work together: chronic pain. Drawing on recent training, emerging evidence and their own experiences in practice, they explore how understanding of persistent pain continues to evolve. The conversation focuses on newer approaches including Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) and Emotional Awareness and Expression Th...

Summary In this episode, Ollie is joined by fellow GP Dr Ben Allen to explore what really creates healthy, high-performing teams in healthcare. Drawing on a newly published paper in BMJ Leader, co-written with Dr Natalie Jones, Ben reflects on the journey of transforming his GP practice in Sheffield over several years and the lessons learned along the way. The conversation centres around what Ben...

Summary In this episode, Ollie, Tim and Caroline come together to reflect on the success of Peak Health Coaching’s fourth annual conference, which focused on health coaching for healthy working lives. They explore why bringing people together in person matters, particularly for health coaches and wellbeing professionals who can often be working in isolation. The conversation reflects on the energy...

Summary In this episode, Tim is joined by Dr Callum Leese, a GP based in the Scottish Highlands, researcher at the University of Dundee and co-founder of the community initiative Healthiest Town Aberfeldy. The conversation explores a familiar tension in healthcare - we know physical activity is one of the most powerful tools we have for preventing and managing disease, yet it remains difficult to...

Summary  In this episode, Ollie and Tim explore the growing focus on neighbourhood working within the NHS and what it will take to make it meaningful in practice. They reflect on the current policy direction, which emphasises a shift from hospital-based care to community, prevention and more proactive support. While the ambition is widely supported, the conversation explores why previous attempts...

Summary  In this episode, Ollie is joined by Ivo Gormley, social entrepreneur and founder of GoodGym, to explore a different way of thinking about exercise, community and connection. Ivo shares how GoodGym began with a simple idea: combining running with helping an older neighbour. What started as a personal solution to make exercise feel more meaningful has grown into a nationwide movement, where...

Summary  I n this episode, Ollie is joined by Joanne Smith, a nurse, health visitor and chronic pain and symptoms recovery coach, to explore her personal and professional journey through chronic pain and mindbody recovery. Joanne shares how her symptoms began after a car accident in 2008 and gradually expanded over the years into persistent pain across different parts of her body. Despite doing ev...

Summary In this episode, Ollie and Tim come back together to reflect on two big themes shaping health and wellbeing right now: the evolving understanding of persistent pain, and the growing impact of social prescribing. Tim shares insights from the Live Well With Pain Conference, where there was a strong sense that the field is shifting. Conversations are moving beyond helping people simply “live...

Summary In this episode, Tim is joined by GP and senior NHS leader Dr Iolanthe Fowler to explore the simple but powerful question: what matters to you? Drawing on her experience across general practice, community services and hospital leadership, Iolanthe reflects on how person-centred care can be embedded in busy healthcare settings without losing sight of the human being in front of you. The con...

Summary  In this episode, Ollie and Tim explore what health coaching might offer in workplace settings, and why healthier working lives may depend on more than reactive support alone. Drawing on Tim’s recent conversations at this year’s Health & Wellbeing at Work Show, the pair reflect on how unfamiliar health coaching still is in many organisations, despite growing interest once people unders...

Summary In this episode, Ollie is joined by GP, lifestyle medicine doctor and health coach Dr Hussain Al-Zabadi to explore how behaviour change really happens in healthcare. Hussain shares his personal journey into lifestyle medicine, reflecting on how his own health challenges forced him to rethink the way he was living and working. What followed was a gradual shift in perspective – from focusing...

Summary  In this episode, Ollie is joined by Tom Williams - one of the driving forces behind parkrun’s growth from just a handful of events, to a global movement spanning thousands of locations. Together they explore the simple but powerful formula at the heart of parkrun’s success: being outdoors, being active and being social - and why that combination speaks to something deeply human. Tom refle...

Summary In this episode, Ollie and Tim turn their attention to men’s health, prompted by the recent NHS Men’s Health Strategy and commentary from Professor Paul Galdas. They explore why men, despite often appearing privileged, experience poorer health outcomes, lower life expectancy and higher rates of suicide - and why many remain reluctant to seek help. The conversation examines both structural...

Summary In this episode, Ollie is joined by Darcy Parry, one of the earliest champions of the Care Coordinator role, to explore why this relatively new position is becoming so vital within the NHS. Drawing on five years in post, Darcy explains how the role supports some of the most vulnerable people in the system - those who may previously have struggled in silence or slipped through the gaps. Tog...

Summary In this episode, Ollie and Tim explore the rapidly emerging field of mind–body medicine. They explore what it means to integrate the mind–body connection into mainstream healthcare, as a growing evidence base shows how thoughts, emotions, beliefs and the nervous system can generate very real physical symptoms. Using examples from chronic pain and other persistent symptoms, they reflect on...

Summary In this episode, Ollie is joined by Dr Caroline Hart - academic, coach and director at Peak Health Coaching - for a conversation about aspirations, human development and what it really takes for people to live well. Drawing on Caroline’s research and Amartya Sen’s capability approach, they explore the idea that having a goal isn’t enough: people also need the freedom to imagine a future th...

Summary In this episode, Ollie and Tim explore the growing role of artificial intelligence in health coaching and wider healthcare settings. They reflect on where AI is already being used, the pressures driving its adoption and the opportunities it presents for reflection, learning and support. The conversation examines the balance between efficiency and human connection, the risks of over-relianc...

Summary In this conversation, Ollie and Chris Ham discuss the evolving landscape of health coaching and the NHS, reflecting on the impact of the Drug-Free Doctor program and the importance of patient agency in health outcomes. They explore the challenges faced by the NHS post-pandemic, innovative community health practices, and the vital role of health coaching in personalized care. The discussion...

Summary   In this episode, Tim and Ollie engage in a lively discussion about a recent Channel 4 program that highlights the effectiveness of non-drug approaches to managing chronic pain, metabolic health, and mental health. They reflect on the importance of health coaching in empowering individuals to take control of their health, emphasizing that personal stories and lived experiences can inspire...

Keywords pain management, chronic pain, health coaching, adverse childhood experiences, pain-free mindset, healthcare system, patient empowerment, neuroscience of pain, emotional trauma, pain recovery Summary In this enlightening conversation, Deepak Ravindran and Lee Vaughan share their journeys in pain management, emphasizing the importance of understanding chronic pain through a compassionate a...

Summary In this conversation, Ollie and Tim discuss the importance of self-compassion during the busy Christmas season. They explore the pressures associated with the holiday, the significance of gratitude, and the need to break away from traditional expectations. The discussion emphasizes the value of listening to others and oneself, as well as the importance of self-care during this hectic time....