Tim Gill is a writer, consultant and independent researcher championing children’s everyday freedoms, especially their freedom to move and play outdoors. He’s the author of No Fear (on risk aversion) and Urban Playground (child-friendly planning and design), and has worked with NGOs and cities internationally to put children at the heart of neighbourhood design.
Tim is particularly focused on the fundamental conflict between cars and children, and the urgent need to reframe how we think about cars, streets and neighbourhoods.
While some of this may seem remote from children’s outdoor play, he sees these issues as connected: we will only give children the spatial freedoms they deserve when we reduce the dominance of the car - both in the places where we live and inside our heads.
Designing for children isn’t a niche add-on, it’s a way to build safer, calmer streets, stronger communities, and lifelong confidence, with benefits that reach every age.
Resources mentioned
What if fitness isn’t really about exercise, but about belonging?
Katie Rose Hejtmanek is professor of Anthropology and Children and Youth Studies at Brooklyn College, CUNY. She is the author of Friendship, Love, and Hip Hop (Palgrave Macmillan 2015) and co-editor of Gender and Power in Strength Sports (Routledge 2023). Hejtmanek’s work investigates cultures and processes of self-transformation and American and popular culture. She is also world and national champion in masters weightlifting.
In this episode, Katie joins Andrew to explore how a workout became a worldview.
They trace CrossFit’s surprising roots in American new-thought religion, garage-founder myth, and military culture, and unpack how ideas like “hard work” and “self-improvement” turned into moral codes. Katie explains what she calls “audit culture” - when counting reps and tracking data stop being neutral and start defining our worth - and why that mindset still shapes much of modern fitness.
The conversation also looks beyond CrossFit: at the early internet’s role in creating global community, at how women rebuilt outdoor movement networks during lockdowns, and at what strength really means in a culture obsessed with optimisation.
It’s thoughtful, challenging, and full of insight into why we move, and what we might build in its place.
You can find out more about Katie here.
This week Andrew speaks with Alison Crouch, a Pilates & movement teacher of 25+ years, osteoporosis specialist, and creator of the MoveSmart Method.
Alison shares her personal story of reversing early bone loss, navigating a genetic predisposition to osteoporosis, and later facing her own diagnosis.
We cover:
Why the “fear-based” diagnosis conversation is so harmful, and how to replace it with empowering action.
What bone mineral density scores really mean (osteopenia, osteoporosis, fracture risk).
The truth about Pilates, yoga, and walking for bone health and why strength and impact matter.
The LIFTMOR trial and what newer research tells us about heavy vs. moderate lifting.
Practical guidelines: push, pull, squat, hinge, carry, plus the overlooked importance of balance and footwork.
Why “limit, don’t eliminate” should be the guiding principle for movement with osteoporosis.
Alison also talks about her new course and the resources she’s building for people who want a holistic approach to bone health that includes strength, balance, nutrition, and mobility.
📍 Find Alison at:
In this episode, Andrew speaks with writer and researcher Matthew Remski — co-host of the Conspirituality podcast and author of Practice and All Is Coming and Surviving Modern Yoga. Matthew shares his journey from cult involvement to cult journalism, yoga teaching, and now writing on antifascism. Together they explore cult dynamics, the contested language of “high demand groups,” abuse in modern yoga, and how wellness and fitness cultures often reflect broader social and political forces.
This conversation unpacks why cultic dynamics aren’t aberrations but common features of human organisations, how situational vulnerability draws people in, and why physical culture so often echoes anxieties of the time. From yoga studios and CrossFit boxes to gentrification and public housing gyms, Matthew shows how our spaces for movement reflect both the possibilities and pitfalls of community.
Themes:
Cult dynamics and contested language (“cult,” “high demand group,” “new religious movement”)
Alexandra Stein’s model of disorganised attachment
Situational vulnerability and recruitment into exploitative groups
Systemic abuse in modern yoga — Pattabhi Jois, Iyengar, Bikram, and beyond
The hidden history of yoga’s modern form and its ties to nationalism and European physical culture
Cult-like tendencies in fitness and wellness spaces, including CrossFit
Gentrification, yoga studios, and why community assets matter
Why physical culture should serve the neighbourhood, not just the individual
Antifascist fight clubs and reclaiming physical bravery
Timestamps:
00:01 – Mathew’s introduction and personal background
05:13 – What do we mean by “cult” and why the language matters
10:22 – Disorganised attachment and abusive relationships
14:57 – The “true crime” cult industry vs political realities
17:36 – Cults as logical outcomes of capitalism
20:03 – Situational vulnerability and why people join
24:32 – Victim–perpetrator narratives and the complexity of agency
26:25 – Systemic abuse in modern yoga communities
36:12 – Modern yoga’s hidden history and links to nationalism and physical culture
49:15 – CrossFit and cult dynamics in fitness spaces
54:17 – Gentrification, yoga studios, and community access
01:05:19 – Public health, planning, and simple solutions (bike lanes, basketball courts)
01:09:13 – Antifascist fight clubs and reclaiming physical bravery
Links:
Alexandra Stein – Terror, Love and Brainwashing
Robert Putnam – Bowling Alone
Music by Me for Queen.
Shownotes
Summary
In this episode, Andrew speaks with Dr William Bird MBE, GP, health innovator, and the creator of Health Walks, the Green Gym, and Beat the Street. They explore how true health is built through belonging, safety, and feeling valued, and why community connection and a sense of place matter more than ticking boxes on exercise guidelines.
William shares his journey from pioneering social prescribing in the 1990s to leading large-scale programmes that change how towns think about health. The conversation covers the science behind stress and motivation, the pitfalls of infrastructure without engagement, and the practical steps that help people not just be more active, but live better lives.
Main themes:
Why physical activity is the outcome of a connected, hopeful community, not just a prescription.
The early days of Health Walks and the Green Gym and what they taught about behaviour change.
How chronic stress rewires the brain, suppresses motivation to move, and shapes perceptions of safety.
The importance of place, heritage, and local identity in health creation.
Why “build it and they will come” often fails without community activation.
The Health Creation Matrix: measuring safety, belonging, and feeling valued across people, place, and purpose.
Beat the Street as a catalyst for change, and what communities do after the game ends.
Supporting older adults to stay active safely and confidently.
Links
Cormac Russell – Asset-Based Community Development Also see previous episode of Playful Nature with Cormac Russell.
Music by @Me for Queen
In this really thoughtful conversation, Andrew Telfer speaks with writer and movement educator Todd Hargrove, whose books and blog have helped thousands rethink how they move, feel, and learn.
They explore somatic traditions like Feldenkrais and Rolfing, ecological dynamics, affordances, pain perception, and the limitations of top-down movement instruction. Todd also shares insights from his new book Healthy Movement for Human Animals, which offers an evolutionary lens on movement that’s both accessible and grounded.
Expect reflections on growing your “movement map,” changing your environment to change your behaviour, and how pain is often more a perception issue than a structural one. There’s also a fair bit of healthy critique for gyms, blueprints, and the fantasy of precision in movement coaching.
Todd’s Book – Healthy Movement for Human Animals
Frank Forencich – Human Animal
Katy Bowman – Nutritious Movement
Daniel Lieberman – Exercised Harvard Gazette article
Gibsonian Psychology & Ecological Dynamics (Affordances)
Wikipedia entry on affordances
Feldenkrais Method – Official Site
Rolfing Structural Integration – Official Site
Book – Paleofantasy by Marlene Zuk
In this new episode of the Playful Nature Podcast, we’re joined by Dom Higgins, to talk about green social prescribing and what it really means to build a Natural Health Service.
Dom Higgins is Head of Health and Education at The Wildlife Trusts and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health. Over the past 20 years, he has worked to integrate nature into education, health services, and everyday life.
Before joining The Wildlife Trusts, he was Director of External Affairs at TCV, where he played a key role in the development of Green Gyms.
Dom currently chairs Wildlife and Countryside Link’s Nature and Wellbeing Strategy Group, and sits on advisory panels for Cambridge OCR and the Department for Education’s Climate Ambassadors Programme.
Links for more:
Biomechanist, bestselling author, and parent Katy Bowman joins Andrew Telfer to talk about how modern culture has stripped movement of its context, and how we can get it back.
In this conversation, Katy shares her frameworks for “nutritious movement,” behavioural stretching, and parenting with physical variability in mind.
Katy and Andrew explore how movement habits shape not only our bodies but our values, our stress tolerance, and our sense of self. From the callus metaphor to the role of discomfort in learning, this is a thoughtful, practical, and timely conversation for anyone looking to move better and live better.
New Book: I Know I Should Exercise, But...
Katy’s Podcast: Move Your DNA
Website: NutritiousMovement.com
Books (UK): Katy Bowman on Amazon UK
Social Media:
Instagram & Facebook: @nutritiousmovement
YouTube: @nutritiousmovementofficial
Publisher: @uphillbooks on IG and X
Clif Harski has been at the heart of fitness education for over a decade, teaching for MovNat, Animal Flow, and Spartan, running a seven-location boutique gym business in California, and now leading the Pain-Free Performance Specialist Certification (PPSC) as COO.
So while he’s been deep inside the fitness world, and part of many of its most influential movements, he’s also uniquely placed to step back and ask the bigger questions. What’s really useful? What’s just trend-following? And what are we missing when we make movement too prescriptive?
In this honest and often funny conversation with Andrew Telfer, Clif shares what he's learned from coaching over 11,000 professionals, and why he still turns up to coach regular folks every week.
The trap of over-correction in fitness
Why orthodoxy and dogma still dominate the industry
Rethinking kettlebells, strength, and athleticism
The difference between coaching coaches and coaching clients
What he’d change with a billion dollars and a blank slate
This episode is packed with insights for anyone coaching others, building movement communities, or just trying to keep themselves moving for life. It's a reminder that you’re allowed to question trends, and that just because something is popular doesn’t mean it’s right for you.
Clif Harski is a coach, educator, and kettlebell experimenter who’s spent the last 15+ years helping people build useful strength and enjoy moving again. As Chief Operating Officer at PPSC, he leads both their flagship certification and the Functional Kettlebell Training course.
Since 2010, he’s taught over 450 workshops around the world to more than 11,000 trainers, coaches, and therapists. He’s worked with MovNat, Animal Flow, Spartan, and Kettlebell Athletics, and brings a deep, practical understanding of movement education that goes beyond sets and reps.
Before 2020, Clif ran a seven-location gym business in California, serving over 2,000 members each month. His experience as an athlete, coach, business owner, and teacher gives him a rare ability to cut through jargon and meet people where they are.
These days, he still coaches in-person regularly, often barefoot, usually swinging a kettlebell in a slightly unconventional direction, and always advocating for strength with a sense of humour.
📎 More on Clif’s work:
getppsc.com/kb-fkt-home-page
Music: MeforQueen
This week’s guest is Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi, a GP who’s challenging the way primary care approaches health, ageing, and behaviour change. This episode is not about tips or techniques, it’s about rethinking how we structure support.
Andrew and Hussain explore what happens when we stop asking people to ‘try harder’ and start changing the environments around them. They talk about the limits of the 10-minute appointment, why traditional advice-based models often fall flat, and the power of social prescribing, group consultations, and joy-led activity.
Hussain shares his personal story, from receiving a fatty liver diagnosis in his twenties to attending his first Park Run in a pair of paint-stained joggers, and how this experience reshaped his practice as a GP.
This is a conversation about ladders, not lectures. Strength, not prescriptions. And the vital difference between telling people what to do- and helping them build the confidence to try.
Bio:
Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi is a GP with an extended role in lifestyle medicine (GPwERLM). He has always endeavoured to take a holistic view on healthcare and is the personalised care lead for the Leamington PCN. He leads the RCGP’s lifestyle and physical activity team; heads the UK’s first PCN-based fitness club; works as a TV doctor on This Morningand Good Morning Britain; leads on health partnerships for parkrun UK; is a trustee at ThinkActive (the regional active partnership); and sits on the advisory board for SWIM England. When not working, Hussain is a keen triathlete, representing his country.
Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction and Hussain’s early story
01:40 – Barriers to movement growing up
04:30 – A wake-up call: fatty liver diagnosis
06:00 – Parkrun with no trainers: a new chapter
08:00 – Identity shift through movement
10:45 – Behaviour change: ladders vs mountains
14:30 – How group consultations change outcomes
18:20 – Why the 10-minute model is failing
25:00 – The structure of Leamington’s lifestyle clinics
33:00 – The TOY method: Trust – Observe – Yield
42:00 – Challenging well-meaning but limiting advice
45:00 – Strength and age: doing more, not less
51:00 – Building social options for meaningful strength
55:00 – What gives Hussain hope about the system
60:00 – Final reflections and a story of reversal
Resources & Links:
Music: Opening and closing music by Mary Erskine aka Me for Queen, from the track Exercise. Used with kind permission.
Charlotte Blake, parkour coach, researcher, and founder of Free Your Instinct (now Esprit Concrete) joins Andrew Telfer to unpack how parkour can support mental health, especially in people often left out of traditional fitness or therapy models. From the urban environment’s role in wellbeing to ecological dynamics, movement as non- verbal communication, and parenting through risk, this conversation is rich, real, and reflective. Charlotte shares how ‘failing small’ builds confidence, why parkour is
misunderstood, and what she’s learned working in forensic mental health settings.
Key Themes:
Parkour as therapeutic intervention
Ecological dynamics and the person–environment relationship
Reframing urban environments through play
Movement as dialogue, not prescription
Parenting, fear, and letting kids take risks
Redefining progress in mental health contexts
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro & Charlotte’s background
03:20 – Getting into parkour and early impressions
05:30 – Gender, risk, and reclaiming space
08:45 – The changing image of parkour
10:00 – Making movement inclusive and adaptable
12:15 – What parkour really is
14:40 – Ecological dynamics explained
18:15 – Parkour in forensic mental health services
26:00 – Person–environment relationships & urban health
35:00 – Non-verbal progress and ‘can cycles’
39:30 – Being a parkour coach and a mum
44:30 – Navigating screen time and outdoor play
47:20 – How to get started in parkour or community movement
50:30 – What’s next for Charlotte and Esprit Concrete
Links:
Follow Charlotte on Instagram: @esprit_concrete
Background track by Mary Erskine aka Me for Queen, from the song Exercise: meforqueen.com
Learn more about WildStrong: wildstrong.co.uk
In this episode, Andrew speaks with Sean Longhurst – a coach developer and play advocate whose career has spanned academia, elite football, and grassroots community sport.
Sean is a programme director at ParkPlay, as well as a coach development consultant across the sports and physical activity sector. Sean’s work focuses on developing those who develop others, and using the power of play to do it.
Sean reflects on how his early academic work helped shape the way we think about play and movement learning – including his role in Nonlinear Pedagogy in Skill Acquisition – and what happens when you try to apply those ideas in the wild.
They explore how play builds connection, what makes a great game, the limits of structured sport, and how to meaningfully support volunteers and coaches. It’s a thoughtful, funny, and grounded conversation for anyone interested in physical literacy, coaching, or movement that matters.
Key Themes:
What is play really for?
Nonlinear pedagogy and ecological dynamics - from theory to muddy boots
Supporting volunteers without imposing top-down ideas
Letting people shape their own learning environments
Game design: 5 principles to guide any age group
Building playful training for adults and older people
Links to resources that came up:
Nonlinear Pedagogy in Skill Acquisition (Chapter 11 – includes Sean's work)
Music: Mary Erskine (Me for Queen), Exercise
In this conversation, Andrew Telfer (WildStrong) speaks with Eugene Minogue, Executive Director of Play England, about the state of play in the UK and beyond.
From free-range childhoods to the rise of 'No Ball Games' signs, they explore how societal shifts and adult fears have squeezed play out of children's lives.
Eugene shares personal insights, policy changes, and practical actions we can all take to restore play as a right for both children and adults.
Expect reflections on parkour, digital play, physical literacy, public policy, and why your childhood memories might be the key to fixing the future.
Themes:
The shrinking free-range of children’s movement
Built environment vs play opportunity
The “No Ball Games” campaign and public space
Parkour and adult play
Risk, fear, and liability
ISO standards on risk–benefit assessments
Digital play and its limits
Why physical literacy begins with unstructured play
How we design for children… and forget adults
Links Mentioned:
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Taming Gaming by Andy Robertson
Stolen Focus by Johann Hari
ISO 45003: Benefit–Risk Assessment in Play
🎵 Music: Exercise by Mary Erskine (aka Me for Queen) – used with permission.
In this episode, Andrew Telfer chats with Tom Morrison, known for his playful, relatable approach to mobility and strength.
Tom shares his personal journey from chronic pain and immobility to becoming a coach who helps others rediscover what their bodies can do.
They explore cultural ideas around pain, how strength and flexibility can co-exist, and why the fitness industry often gets it wrong and what it means to feel capable again.
Whether you're working through back pain or just tired of rigid fitness rules, this conversation offers practical guidance and hope.
Music by Mary Erskine aka Me For Queen
In this episode Andrew speaks with Rafe Kelley, the founder of Evolve Move Play. Rafe shares his journey from parkour and martial arts into developing a movement practice deeply rooted in evolutionary biology, nature, and play. They discuss the tension between structured fitness models and natural movement, the role of meaning in physical practice, and how modern fitness and social structures often strip people of their innate playfulness and movement capabilities. The conversation also touches on the evolution of fitness culture, the importance of community, and the challenges of maintaining movement longevity as we age.
Parkour & Movement Culture Resources
Thanks for Listening, let us know what you thought and if you liked it, please like and subscribe!
Music by Me For Queen
In this episode, Andrew speaks to physiotherapist, Joanna Myers, about working with individuals in chronic pain management.
They talk about how the definition of pain has evolved, the critical role of neurophysiology in chronic pain, and how resilience-building through movement can significantly improve the quality of life for those living with pain.
Whether you're experiencing pain yourself or want to understand how to help others, this episode offers valuable insights.
Joanna shares practical tools for managing pain, her holistic approach to patient care, and the importance of community and support in the healing process.
We also discuss how pain management has shifted from a purely physical focus to a more holistic, person-centered approach that includes emotional and psychological well-being.
Talking Points:
How pain is not just physical but an emotional experience, and why it’s crucial to understand the neurophysiology behind it.
The shift in pain management from acute injury models to chronic pain models.
The importance of resilience in overcoming chronic pain and why movement is such a powerful tool.
Real-life examples of how pain impacts day-to-day activities and strategies for improving quality of life.
Resources to help you or someone you know better manage pain, including useful websites and videos.
Resources Mentioned:
Tame the Beastvideo by Laura Mosley
FlippinPain (website)
Pain Concern (website)
Lorimer Moseley. Why Things Hurt
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review—your feedback helps us reach more people and continue sharing helpful insights on health and movement.
In this episode of thePlayful Nature Podcast, Andrew sits down withCormac Russell, a social explorer, author, and global expert inAsset-Based Community Development (ABCD). Cormac is the founder ofNurture Development and a faculty member of theABCD Institute at DePaul University.
His work has impacted communities inover 35 countries, helping people reclaim their power, build local resilience, and redefine what health and well-being truly mean.
Together, Andrew and Cormac talk about:
🌿Why health isn’t just about medicine—it’s about community
🏡How modern life has pulled us apart—and what we can do about it
💡The difference between prescriptive models vs. descriptive approaches to movement and health
🔄Why the fitness industry thrives on transactional relationships—and what’s missing
🤝The real power of reciprocity: feeling like you belong and are needed
🛠Practical ways we can reshape our communities to prioritise connection and collective well-being
Cormac challenges the dominant narratives around health and fitness, urging us to move beyondservice provision and towardcommunity-led solutions. This is a must-listen for anyone passionate aboutrethinking movement, health, and the way we live together.
More of Cormac's work:www.nurturedevelopment.org
Cormac’s books:
His most recent books areThe Connected Community- Discovering the Health, Wealth, and Power of Neighborhoods (Coauthor John McKnight);Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2022
Rekindling Democracy – A Professional’s Guide to Working in Citizen Space; Cascade Books, 2020.
Cormac’s TEDx talk can be viewedhere
How do you make movement a natural part of community life? Today, I chat with Matt Donnelly, a fitness coach and movement advocate leading the Active Villages project in Ribble Valley.
Matt has taken a fresh approach to rural activity: instead of relying on gyms, he’s built Play Libraries, started community rounders games, and partnered with Park Play to create sustainable movement opportunities.
🔥 In this episode, we cover:
✅ Why rural areas face unique movement challenges—and how to solve them
✅ The power of Play Libraries and making equipment freely available
✅ How to build movement-friendly spaces that work across generations
✅ What Matt learned from CrossFit, natural movement, and community sport
📲 Follow Matt:
In this episode Andrew Telfer speaks with Elaine McNish, co-director of Move Consulting, about the critical intersections of policy, behaviour change, and practical interventions in physical activity.
With over 35 years of experience spanning roles in public health, sports councils, and national policy advising, Elaine provides an in-depth perspective on how to bridge the gap between evidence and practice.
Join us as we discuss:
Why exercise referral needs to evolve into physical activity referral.
The concept of pathways: how to build seamless systems for increasing physical activity.
The role of behaviour change in designing impactful programmes.
Success stories, like Oxfordshire’s integrated pathways and dementia-friendly swimming.
Optimistic trends shaping the future of physical activity policy in the UK.
Whether you're in public health, a community leader, or simply interested in movement culture, this episode offers valuable insights into creating inclusive, impactful pathways to movement.
👉 Learn more about Elaine’s work at Move Consulting.
In this episode, Andrew Telfer speaks with Rick Jenner, the driving force behind Park Play, an initiative transforming parks across the UK into vibrant spaces for play and connection.
Rick shares how play breaks barriers, fosters inclusivity, and creates happier, healthier communities. Discover how ParkPlay empowers local leaders, adapts to unique communities, and brings people of all ages together through movement.
💡 What You’ll Learn:
You can find your local ParkPlay here
