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,...

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. A...

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.

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.

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' & '...

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...

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 w...

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 i...

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 jour...

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 walk...

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 hi...

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, s...

We are joined by returning guest Steve Bush, who was last with us on Episode 127 (Why Weight Loss Surgery Fails for the Majority of People). That was nearly 2 years ago so we thought it was about time to check in with Steve again. The release of this episode coincides with the 5th Anniversary of Steve's gastric sleeve surgery & Steve updates us on his latest thinking, recent physical achievements...

We are joined by Sue Collins (formerly Mapstone) as she reflects on a lifetime of sport & how an ever evolving love of sport, activity & movement have developed through the decades as commitments, circumstances & challenges arose. Sue represented England at the 1974 & 1978 Commonwealth Games (as a 17 & 21 year old respectively) in the Pentathlon. She won the Silver medal in Edmonton, Canada in 197...

We are joined by returning guest Claire Booth; Strongfirst Senior & Elite Instructor & head of Strongfirst GB. We last spoke to Claire WAY back on episode 33 (about 3.5 years ago) so it was great to catch up. In this episode we discuss mixing & balancing the three training modalities of Barbell, Kettlebell & Bodyweight, the impact of menopause & the importance of getting the right HRT balance & wh...

For the first time in 7 episodes Pete & James get an opportunity to discuss recent events & the guests we've met over the last few weeks. Britains Disabled Strongman/Strongwoman, the recent documentary 'Stones' from Maximum iron, the development of Walk Bath & the planning of the 2025 Unique Results Ski trip are all up for discussion & well as what we've learned & implemented over recent weeks.

We are joined by London based Scot, Clare Rafferty, a HYROX coach & athlete, Member of the Official Global HYROX Master Team, Race Director, Strength & Conditioning Coach & Running Coach with over 10 years experience. We learn about Clare's journey from the Bodybuilding stage to Running start line to Hybrid Fitness Athlete & the lessons she's learnt along the way. This is a great conversation abou...

We are joined from Belfast, Northern Ireland by Stevie Shanks; Drummer with Flash Harry & Clann an Drumma, Multiple World Record Weight Lifter (about 40 on last counting), Stone lifter & organiser of the annual Donald Dinnie Day Gathering in Scotland. We discuss the history of the Dinnie Stones & Stevie's father - Jack Shanks - an old time Strongman & the first to lift the Dinnie Stones since Dona...

We are joined today by Del Wilson. A Personal Trainer, Kettlebell Athlete & Coach - someone who has been at the forefront of kettlebell sport in England for many years. Del talks about his background in Formula 1 engineering, competitive Bodybuilding, Endurance Running & his transition into Kettlebell Sport where he found his true calling. Del competes in Kettlebell Pentathlon, Marathon & Long Cyc...

We are joined from Putney in London by Aidan O' Flaherty AKA @theirishphysio ahead of his 'Running Injuries & Performance Master Class' in Essex on Saturday 5th October. Aidan is a former pro football player, competitive rower & runner who now works with high level endurance athletes (up to Olympic level) & recreational runners of all shapes, sizes & abilities. In this fascinating conversation we...

We are joined all the way from New South Wales, Australia by Allen Willis for a hard hitting, honest & challenging conversation with a man who has faced many demons & trials in his life & is certainly on an upwards trajectory of strength, resilience, empowerment & redemption. We hear how Tim Anderson's Original Strength & the work of Dan John formed a pathway for Allen to rebuild his life (physica...

We are joined for the third time by Disabled Strongman pioneer & organiser of Britains Disabled Strongman & Strongwoman Competition Gary Clarke. This year the prestigious competition is being held at the Indoor Athletics Centre at Brunel University in London on the weekend of 14th/15th September & is going to be bigger than ever! Health Oddity are sponsoring the event, Magnús Ver Magnússon is the...

Peter & James return from their summer vacation (not together) & debrief their experiences of exploring the English countryside & mountainous terrain & discuss how they stayed on track with training while away from home. The importance of deciding on your outcome & strategy BEFORE you go away & how to hit the ground running on your return. James also visits the birthplace of King Arthur & has a ch...

We are joined by our first ever German guest, the strong & mighty Sven Rieger from Stuttgart (dialling in from a family vacation in the idyllic Tuscan countryside). Sven is the 204th lifter of the Dinnie Stones in Scotland (as referenced in Episode 203 with Andrew Russell) a Strongfirst Team Leader & Elite level instructor. He has also passed the incredibly tough 'Sinister' challenge & is a Functi...

We are joined from Poland (between races at the European Canoeing Championships) by 20 year veteran International Canoeist turned ultra-runner & motivational speaker Keith Moule. Keith describes the chance passing of a local canoe club at around 10 years of age that led to an international competitive career that saw him travel the world. We hear about Keith's record breaking race in 2023 that saw...