Physical Activity Researcher

Christina Reynolds, PhD Christina Reynolds received her Ph. D. in astrophysics from University College London and a Master's degree in software engineering from Harvard University. She has been a Data Scientist with ORCATECH with a focus on developing algorithms for the analysis of ORCATECH's large and diverse data set.  Much of her research career has involved developing software algorithms used...

This is the second part of our conversation with Dr Yunus Tuncel on philosophical approaches to emotions in sport. We explore how Kierkegaard's and Heidegger's account of anxiety can be applied to think of risk sports, discuss violence and aggression, and finish up on how to care for emotions in sport from a more practical perspective. Our conversation draws heavily on Yunus's book Emotion in Spor...

Can small daily changes really improve health outcomes for people with disabilities? Dr. James Haley believes they can—and he explains how. From setting water bottle goals to using wearable tech, this episode dives into practical strategies backed by science and lived experience. In the final part of this enlightening series, Dr. James Haley joins Dr. Olli Tikkanen to discuss accessible, research-...

In this episode, we explore emotions in sport from a philosophical perspective. How are philosophical perspectives different from the more established psychological perspectives? How can ideas found in Aristotle, Nietzsche, Hume and Spinoza help us establish a framework to explore emotions in sport? Why are certain emotions and their balance essential for sustaining our sporting culture as we know...

What stops people with disabilities from being physically active? In this episode, we discuss real barriers—and real solutions—from lived experiences and research. From neuropathic pain to equipment costs, Dr. James Haley shares what truly matters when designing inclusive activity interventions. In this continuation of the conversation between Dr. James Haley and host Dr. Olli Tikkanen, the focus...

Announcement Related to the Rest of the 2022 - Irregular Publishing Schedule Dear listeners, So it happened that both of the podcast hosts became parents on the very same day! Recordings have been swapped to diaper changing and lullaby singing. This means that the Meaningful Sport Series will be paused until about the end of the year. Regular episodes and Practitioner`s Viewpoint Series will be ru...

People with disabilities face more barriers to physical activity—but technology is offering new hope. In this episode, we explore one of the world’s first exercise apps designed specifically for people with multiple disabilities. Dr. James Haley, a health psychologist from the University of Chichester, joins host Dr. Olli Tikkanen to discuss how co-designed mobile health interventions can support...

Announcement Related to the Rest of the 2022 - Irregular Publishing Schedule Dear listeners, So it happened that both of the podcast hosts became parents on the very same day! Recordings have been swapped to diaper changing and lullaby singing. This means that the Meaningful Sport Series will be paused until about the end of the year. Regular episodes and Practitioner`s Viewpoint Series will be ru...

Survival Analysis - Dr Chris Moore --- This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | The New Gold Standard for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Monitoring Learn more about Fibion:  fibion.com/research --- Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely - Discover new Fibion SENS Motion: https://sens.fibion.com/

Evolution of Accelerometry Processing Methods - Dr Chris Moore --- This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | The New Gold Standard for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Monitoring Learn more about Fibion:  fibion.com/research --- Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely - Discover new Fibion SENS Motion: https://sens.fibion.com/  

Jesse Cook is a PhD candidate in the Dr. David Plante Sleep Research Laboratory and studies biological, psychological and sociological factors that connect with unexplained excessive sleepiness. He was first drawn to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research through the connection between sleep health and AD, and the prevention, detection and potential treatment implications of this connection. Cook belie...

Jesse Cook is a PhD candidate in the Dr. David Plante Sleep Research Laboratory and studies biological, psychological and sociological factors that connect with unexplained excessive sleepiness. He was first drawn to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research through the connection between sleep health and AD, and the prevention, detection and potential treatment implications of this connection. Cook belie...

Jesse Cook is a PhD candidate in the Dr. David Plante Sleep Research Laboratory and studies biological, psychological and sociological factors that connect with unexplained excessive sleepiness. He was first drawn to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research through the connection between sleep health and AD, and the prevention, detection and potential treatment implications of this connection. Cook belie...

Jesse Cook is a PhD candidate in the Dr. David Plante Sleep Research Laboratory and studies biological, psychological and sociological factors that connect with unexplained excessive sleepiness. He was first drawn to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research through the connection between sleep health and AD, and the prevention, detection and potential treatment implications of this connection. Cook belie...

In this second part of our conversation with Dr Leah Ferguson, we continue exploring self-compassion and flourishing in sport. Specifically, we discuss gendered perspectives on self-compassion and eudaimonic well-being, the need to move away from binary perspectives on gender and considering a broader range of cultural identities, and the importance of using appropriate language when discussing se...

Many athletes believe that they should be self-critical and hard on themselves to reach their full potential. Yet, what if an opposite perspective, focused on self-compassion, would actually be much more conducive to flourishing and meaningful experiences in sport? These and other questions are explored in this episode with Dr Leah Ferguson. Questions explored in this podcast include: - What is se...

In this second part of our conversation with Professor Rylee Dionigi, we continue exploring the Masters sport phenomenon from a socio-cultural perspective. Ageing-as-decline discourse is nowadays challenged by active, healthy and successful ageing discourses. What are the opportunities but also potential problems associated with these competing discourses? What are the implications for exercise an...

Opportunities for involvement in sports in later life have increased significantly and many sports around the globe have competitions and categories for Masters/Veteran athletes. At the same time, researchers have explored the experiences and meanings of being an older athlete, showing tensions in individual experiences as well as in shifting social discourse surrounding sport and ageing. We have...

Why do endurance athletes perform better after exhaustion, while power athletes decline? How does muscle coordination impact warm-ups and performance? In this episode, Dr. Daniel Boullosa and Dr. Olli Tikkanen dive deep into the science behind exercise physiology, muscle activation, and evolutionary adaptations in sports performance. Dr. Boullosa shares findings from his studies on how endurance-t...

How can heart rate variability help athletes optimize training? What role does post-activation performance enhancement play in endurance and power sports? In this episode, Dr. Daniel Boullosa and Dr. Olli Tikkanen explore cutting-edge research on athlete monitoring, fatigue management, and neuromuscular readiness. Dr. Boullosa discusses the significance of heart rate variability (HRV) in assessing...

How does fatigue help protect our bodies, and why does it matter for athletes? Can understanding evolutionary biology improve training and recovery? In this episode, Dr. Daniel Boullosa and Dr. Olli Tikkanen discuss the science of fatigue, performance optimization, and personalized training strategies. Dr. Boullosa explains how different types of athletes respond to endurance and strength exercise...

"How can advanced health monitoring devices support an aging population?" In this insightful episode, Dr. Olli Tikkanen sits down with Steve Seo, a biomedical engineer and CEO from South Korea, to discuss the role of wearable technology in healthcare, especially as populations age. Steve shares his journey from aspiring to be a doctor to working in biomedical engineering and explains how wearable...

"Is walking to school really enough to tackle childhood obesity?" In this third episode, Dr. Olli Tikkanen and Dr. Rob Noonan explore the complex issue of childhood obesity and the social factors that contribute to it. Dr. Noonan shares surprising findings from his research, showing that while children from deprived areas are more likely to walk to school, they are also more likely to struggle wit...

"How do you change a society's values when capitalism rewards consumption and individualism?" In this second part of the episode, Dr. Olli Tikkanen and Dr. Rob Noonan dive deeper into the societal drivers behind health inequality, focusing on the UK and comparing it to other nations like the Scandinavian countries. Dr. Noonan explains how the core values of a society - competition, productivity, a...

"Our obsession with economic growth might be making us sicker—what can we do about it?" In this powerful first episode, Dr. Olli Tikkanen sits down with Dr. Rob Noonan, an expert in health and education, to explore the critical link between capitalism and public health. Dr. Noonan explains how our relentless focus on economic growth has led to widespread public health issues like obesity, mental h...