Make Movement Matter with Wendy Welpton

"What if pain isn’t the problem - but the message?" You’ve probably heard the word alignment used everywhere. But what does it really mean, and why does it matter in your everyday life? In this episode, I speak with Verity Bell, a human movement specialist with over 20 years’ experience, whose work blends biomechanics, breath, yoga and gait. Together, we explore: – Why “good posture” isn’t the goa...

Feeling stressed, tense, or stuck in a cycle of pain? What if your body already knew how to heal, and all you had to do was let it? In this episode, I speak with @sylviatillmann.tre about the power of Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE®): a simple, natural, and surprisingly powerful way to shake off what’s weighing you down - both physically and emotionally. We cover: – What TRE actuall...

Why are so many teachers constantly in pain? And what can movement do to change that? This week, I chat with Clare Rawlings, former teacher turned movement coach, founder of Raw Movement, about the hidden toll of repetitive work patterns, poor footwear, and a lack of basic movement education in both schools and offices. We talk about:👉 Why ticking the “150 minutes ‘exercise’ a week” box often isn...

What happens when four midlife women decide to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic?  In this powerful episode, I speak to my friends Kerry and Fiona, who took part in the World’s Toughest Row and came back with stories of strength, sea salt, and sisterhood. We talk about what it’s really like to live on a boat for 44 days, how mindset helped them through the hardest moments, and why they did it to...

What if one of the answers to better health wasn’t more medication… but more mud under your nails? In this episode of Make Movement Matter, I talk to Susan Taheri, a rural GP who turned her growing frustration with the healthcare system into something living and healing - a garden. Not a metaphorical one. A real, community garden next to her practice in Devon, where patients can reconnect, move mo...

How do you keep going when life throws everything at you at once? In this episode, I speak to award-winning speaker and gender equity advocate Jess Rad about how movement became her secret weapon through some of life’s toughest chapters - from premature menopause and divorce to discovering she’s neurodivergent in her 40s. Jess shares the unexpected power of cold water swimming, why she’s drawn to...

Most of us never stop to ask: what’s actually in our skincare—and is it helping or harming? In this episode, I speak with natural skincare founder and chemist Julie Macken about why it’s time to rethink what we put on our skin. We explore the surprising truth about moisturisers, the marketing messages we’ve absorbed without question, and how our skin—our body’s largest organ—needs support just as...

Is your pain alarm system overreacting? We often think of pain as a sign of damage - something to fear, avoid or push through. But what if pain isn’t just about injury? What if, like an oversensitive smoke alarm, it sometimes goes off when there’s no real danger? In this episode, I talk to Dr. Tawny Kross, a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Pain Specialist, to explore the truth about pain, the bigge...

Can walking really change your future? Sir Muir Gray believes it can. At 80, he’s still leading a revolution in public health. His latest mission is simple: get people moving more, every day. In this episode, we explore why walking is one of the most powerful tools we have - not just for prevention, but as part of the cure. We talk about Muir’s four S’s; Strength, Stamina, Suppleness and Skill, an...

Every step counts! Do you want to build a walking habit that actually sticks? Use National Walking Month this May as the perfect nudge. 🎙️In this short solo episode, I share how walking helped me in my recovery from chronic pain, why it’s one of the most underrated forms of movement we have, and how even just five minutes a day can change everything - for your body, brain and mood. Plus: ✅ The tr...

We talk about fitness. We talk about mindset. But what if the missing piece to movement, resilience and health is something we barely think about? Interoception, the sense of what’s happening inside our bodies, shapes how we think, feel and move. It’s why gut feelings exist. It’s why chronic pain can persist even when injuries heal. It’s why some people can read a room before a word is spoken. In...

Why are kids moving less than ever before? It’s easy to blame screens or modern life, but the reality is far more complex. Schools aren’t always prioritising PE, play spaces are disappearing and fear of failure is stopping many young people from even trying. When movement becomes a chore instead of something fun, kids opt out, and that can shape their relationship with exercise for life. So how do...

How long can you keep running? At 67, Sir Christopher Ball had never been a runner. A doctor told him he was slightly overweight and needed more exercise, so he started jogging. That decision led to 7 marathons in 7 days, a world record for 10 marathons in 10 days at 72, and the creation of the Brathay 10in10 Challenge - all proving movement really has no age limit. Now, at 90, he’s still running...

Can you reverse ageing? At 39, Leslie Kenny was diagnosed with lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and Hashimoto’s, told her health would only decline, and given no real solutions beyond medication. But instead of accepting that fate, she turned to lifestyle medicine, movement and cellular renewal, and now, at 59, her biological age is just 21 and she is thriving! In this episode, Leslie, founder of Oxfor...

What if that feeling of joy when you dance could give you more than fleeting benefits?  This week on the podcast, I chat with the wonderful Dr. Indika, also known as the Joyful Dancing Doctor, about her journey from GP to discovering the incredible healing power of conscious dance. We dive into why traditional healthcare can often fall short, how functional medicine is able to go further, and why...

What happens when life as you know it comes crashing down? In this episode of the ‘Make Movement Matter’ podcast, Sue Holly-Rodway and Suzy Bolt, two extraordinary women redefine resilience in the face of long COVID. From devastating symptoms to the profound isolation of an invisible illness, they share their deeply personal journeys and the surprising tools that brought them back to life.  Discov...

Have you ever wondered why so many teenage girls lose their spark for movement and activity? Adventurer and mindset coach Sophie Storm Roberts is the guest on this week’s episode of Make Movement Matter.  Sophie shares the deeper reasons behind this disengagement, from societal pressures to social media influences, and reveals her strategies for helping young girls reclaim their confidence. This i...

Meet Karl Chown, a man who’s been through the depths of addiction and found his way back to a fulfilling life. In this episode, Karl gets real about his 33-year journey of sobriety, the fears that shaped his childhood, and the pivotal moment that changed his life forever. Hear how Karl transformed his world, embracing nature, setting strong boundaries, and finding joy in the smallest moments.  His...

Living with fibromyalgia can be a very difficult journey, but Charlotte Neal’s story is one of hope, resilience, and empowerment. In this episode, Charlotte shares her personal experience of navigating mysterious symptoms, finally receiving a diagnosis and learning to advocate for herself.  From tracking symptoms to discovering the brain-body connection, she dives deep into how understanding her c...

Have you ever thought about how much your feet impact the movement of the rest of your body?💡  In this week’s episode of the ‘Make Movement Matter’ podcast, I’m chatting with biomechanics specialist Rachel Tyler, who’s here to show you why sore feet, back pain, or even tight hips might actually start with your toes! 🦶 Rachel unpacks the fascinating links between foot mechanics, posture, and over...

Kick off 2025 with inspiration from our special 1 year anniversary, New Year compilation episode of Make Movement Matter! We’ve gathered highlights from nine inspiring guests who remind us that movement isn’t about perfection or pressure, it’s about joy, exploration and finding what works for you. From wiggle breaks, or exercise snacking, or movement as play, these clips showcase how simple, small...

In this special year-end compilation episode of ‘Make Movement Matter’, we celebrate the transformative power of movement with highlights from some inspiring conversations earlier this year. From the science of why our brains are wired to move, to the emotional healing found in nature and community, this episode shows the profound ways movement can uplift our bodies, minds, and spirits. Whether it...

Are you ready to embrace your power and thrive in midlife?  In this inspiring episode, I chat with Sophia Raday, creator of "SheFlexx", about how women over 50 can challenge stereotypes of ageing. Sophia passionately advocates for rejecting the narrative that ageing equals decline, and instead shows how it can be a time of reinvention, strength, and endless potential.  She dives into how embracing...

Are you suffering from desk-related pain, but can’t escape your screen for long periods?  If sitting at a desk feels like a constant struggle, it might be time to reassess your workspace. In this episode, I chat with Alison Thomson, aka 'The Safety Elf,' a workplace posture expert who helps individuals and businesses optimise their desk setups for comfort and productivity.  We dive into practical...

It’s fascinating to discover the role some of our senses have in transforming the way we move.  In the latest episode of the Make Movement Matter podcast, I talk with Amanda Kemp, a pilates teacher with a deep understanding of how 3 of our senses can materially affect our movement patterns and therefore our practical abilities.  Amanda shares her journey of studying these sensory connections to he...