The Science of Fitness Podcast

Hosted by Science of Fitness

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Latest episode

Jul 2026

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EN-AU

About the show

Welcome to the Science Of Fitness podcast where we aim to inspire you to live a healthier and more fulfilling life as we share evidence and anecdotes on all things health, fitness, performance, wellness and business. Hosted by Kieran Maguire, Co-Owner and Director of Science Of Fitness with an Undergraduate degree in Exercise Science and Masters degree in High Performance, the podcast includes guests and friends of SOF from all walks of life sharing their knowledge and stories within their field of expertise. Join us as we provide listeners with digestible and relatable educational tools and entertaining stories to inspire a healthier and more fulfilling life.

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60 recent

July 29, 202625 min

The Fitness Industry’s Hero Problem

The fitness industry doesn’t just have a programming problem, it has a hero problem. Too many gyms, coaches, and brands sell themselves as the solution that will “fix” you, using before-and-afters and short challenges to prove it. The catch is what happens when the program ends: if you’ve only learned how to comply, you’re left without the skills to self-regulate, adjust, and keep moving when life gets messy. We dig into how the transformation model took hold, why it’s so sticky, and what the evidence keeps pointing to instead: sustainable health and fitness comes from education, confidence, and long-term behaviour change. We break down why eight-week challenges often spike motivation then fade, and why enjoyment is the real driver of exercise adherence. We also zoom out to the Australian gym landscape, the business fragility that shapes what gets marketed, and the career longevity issues that make it hard to find experienced practitioners over decades. Then we get practical. We share simple consumer guide rails for choosing a program, plus a framework you can actually use: isolate, integrate, improvise. Whether you’re working on sleep with breathwork, rebuilding strength with back pain, or chasing performance goals, the aim is the same: become more independent in your body. We finish with the missing ingredient that makes everything easier to sustain, community and social connection. If you want coaching that builds skills for life, not a quick fix that expires, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a mate who’s stuck in the challenge cycle, and leave a review so more people can find evidence-based training that lasts.

June 30, 20261 hr 15 min

Race Week Fuelling Made Simple with Hanah Mills

We sit down with sports dietitian Hanah Mills to map out a practical fuelling plan for the Gold Coast Marathon and half marathon, from taper week to the finish line. We unpack gut issues, carb loading, hydration, caffeine, sodium, and what to do when race day logistics throw your usual routine out. • solo travel lessons and what Blue Zones get right about health and happiness • building a flexible mindset around food without sacrificing performance goals • learning from race-week stress and IBS symptoms during half marathon prep • separating IBS from common runner’s gut and why the fix depends on the cause • using low FODMAP strategies for carb loading and pre-race meals • gut training basics and why you should stick with what you’ve practised • taper-week nutrition and why maintenance energy beats cutting calories • carb loading targets in grams per kilo and what “proper” looks like • hydration needs during the carb load and how to check urine colour • race morning carb top-ups and avoiding fibre fat and too much protein • caffeine dosing ranges timing and when caffeine gels make more sense • sodium marketing myths and when electrolytes may still help via thirst • cramp reality check neuromuscular fatigue pickle juice and mouth rinse tricks • post-race recovery carbs hydration protein and a note on magnesium research Be sure to check us out across all forms of social media and subscribe to this channel if you want to stay up to date to the latest episodes and any other anecdotes with which we might share across these video platforms. If you ever find yourself locally in Brisbane, be sure to drop into one of our facilities or down on the Gold Coast in Burley. You can also check us out at scienceoffitness.com.au and see all things relating to what we offer in programming and performance, whether it's online or in person.

May 9, 20261 hr 18 min

How Sport Builds Belonging For People With Dr Lulu Pullar

We sit down with Dr Lulu Pullar, Brisbane Lions AFLW player and doctor, to unpack why sport can be the simplest pathway to belonging, confidence, and hope. We also go deep on what it takes to balance elite performance with emergency medicine, and why access matters more than talent when you’re building futures in remote Australia. • the real purpose of DreameD and why “freedom to dream” comes first • football as the connector for identity, belonging, and community strength in remote Indigenous communities • Lulu’s sporting background and why switching from soccer to AFL felt natural • why women’s sport quality rises with access to strength and conditioning from a young age • keeping joy at the centre of sport to survive the grind of high performance • what parents and coaches can do without taking choice away from the athlete • the reality of balancing medicine and AFLW and the self-doubt it creates • how elite sport improves clinical practice through feedback, reflection, and communication • making medicine more accessible so the workforce better represents the community • lifestyle medicine and preventative health as credible healthcare interventions • what DreameD camps deliver on the ground and why connection across communities is a win • sponsorship, funding, and practical ways people can support DreameD and tell better stories from Central Australia Be sure to check us out across all forms of social media and subscribe to this channel if you want to stay up to date to the latest episodes and any other anecdotes with which we might share across these video platforms. If you ever find yourself locally in Brisbane, be sure to drop into one of our facilities or down on the Gold Coast in Burley. You can also check us out at scienceoffitness.com.au and see all things relating to what we offer in programming and performance, whether it’s online or in person.

March 26, 202654 min

Why Pelvic Floor Strength Matters with Michelle Murphy

We sit down with pelvic health physiotherapist Michelle Murphy to talk about how pelvic floor function links to strength, pain, hormones, and confidence across the lifespan. We challenge the “fix me” mindset and map a practical path from isolated pelvic floor work to real-world lifting, running, and living well. • mental health concerns in a fast-changing online world • learning to read what patients mean beneath words • Michelle’s path from hospital physio to pelvic health • why pelvic floor dysfunction is under-taught and under-discussed • how physiotherapy shifts from manual fixing to resilience building • managing expectations when people want a quick fix • using language carefully around scans and diagnoses • coaching older women through prolapse and incontinence with realistic goals • what the evidence says about pelvic floor muscle training outcomes • integrating pelvic floor cues into squats, deadlifts, and impact work • knowing scope and building referral networks with trusted coaches • men’s pelvic health needs after prostate cancer surgery • signs of pelvic floor overactivity and pelvic pain • what preventative musculoskeletal health could change at scale Don’t overthink it. Just start, just do something small. Go and see a pelvic health physiotherapist, even if you’re not sure about issues or not.

March 2, 202647 min

Inside DEXA, VO2 Max, And Longevity Testing - Measure Up’s CEO

We speak with Sasha Levitt, CEO of Measure Up, about using DEXA, VO2 max, and strength metrics to turn health goals into a clear, personalised plan while expanding nationwide bone density screening to prevent life-altering fractures. We challenge BMI, unpack the economics of prevention, and show how simple, accurate testing boosts motivation and long-term habit change. • What DEXA measures versus calipers and impedance • National rollout of mobile bone density “bone buses” • Osteoporosis risk, fractures, and mortality data • Early screening benefits and Medicare gaps • Why insurers should move beyond BMI • Turning baselines into training and nutrition changes • VO2 max as engine, DEXA as chassis, strength as function • Grip strength and mid-thigh pull for longevity • How to start without overwhelm and avoid burnout • Upcoming lactate threshold testing and Zone 2 clarity Be sure to check us out across all forms of social media and subscribe to this channel if you want to stay up to date to the latest episodes and any other anecdotes with which we might share across these video platforms If you ever find yourself locally in Brisbane, be sure to drop into one of our facilities or down on the Gold Coast in Burley You can also check us out at scienceoffitness.com.au and see all things relating to what we offer in programming and performance, whether it's online or in person

February 13, 202627 min

11 Rules For Fitness And Business to Celebrate 11 Years of SOF

We share 11 rules forged from 11 years running a gym and building a community, linking what works in training to what works in business. From consistency and clear goals to measurement, people, patience, and celebration, we map a path you can stick to. • turn up as the non‑negotiable habit • surround yourself with good people for pull and accountability • set clear goals to direct effort and interest • measure progress and pain to guide decisions • avoid fads to protect longevity • know your strengths and build from them • don’t specialise entirely; shore up weaknesses • write commitments down and keep promises • listen to pain points in body and business • move at a slow, steady, sustainable pace • celebrate milestones to renew motivation Be sure to check us out across all forms of social media and subscribe to this channel if you want to stay up to date to the latest episodes and any other anecdotes with which we might share across these video platforms If you ever find yourself locally in Brisbane, be sure to drop into one of our facilities or down on the Gold Coast in Burley You can also check us out at scienceoffitness.com.au and see all things relating to what we offer in programming and performance, whether it's online or in person

December 19, 20256 min

6 Minute Guided Breathwork with Kieran

We guide a five‑minute breathwork session to shift state on demand, using simple counts, contrasts, and stillness to teach control over the nervous system. You learn to breathe low and wide, lengthen your exhale, and use brief breath holds to settle fast. • body awareness and rib expansion cues • 3‑in 5‑out pattern for downregulation • gentle pauses to relax face and jaw • 2‑in 1‑out set to upregulate safely • comfortable inhale hold to build tolerance • return to neutral breathing and body scan • when to use it for sleep, work, recovery Save it in your favourites, listen whenever you need a slowdown, before bed, before work, or after a long day when you get home

December 12, 20251 hr 9 min

Under the mask, lessons from Anaesthetist Dr Conrad Macrokanis

Surgery isn’t a Netflix nap. It’s a high‑stakes team effort where your anaesthetist runs the room, balances risk, and quietly steers you from fear to recovery. We sit with Dr Conrad Makrikanis to decode what really happens before the first dose, why obesity is a medical emergency, and how prehab can slash complications by half. Conrad traces a path from rural retrievals to Brisbane theatres, revealing how prevention often lives in a bubble while most patients arrive in crisis. He breaks down GLP‑1 agonists—how they silence food noise, why they’re not a quick fix, and how to protect muscle with resistance training and protein. We go deep on NEAT, the underrated daily movement that improves endothelial health, lowers clot risk, sharpens insulin sensitivity, and speeds wound healing. If you’ve got joint pain or a surgery date, his blueprint is clear: two strength sessions, two aerobic sessions, eight hours of sleep, six to eight weeks off smoking, minimal alcohol, and a plan for post‑op care at home. We also talk anxiety. Information lowers fear, and a simple pre‑op call with your anaesthetist can change your whole day. Learn the real risks—nausea, soreness, rare awareness—and why timing, age, urgency, and even after‑midnight cases influence outcomes. From Indigenous health contrasts to the power of community programs that drive prehab compliance, this is a candid look at what moves the needle in modern care. The future? Personalised anaesthesia guided by pharmacogenetics and CNS profiles. Until then, prepare like an athlete and recover like a pro. If this conversation helped you feel more prepared, follow the show, share it with a friend facing surgery, and leave a review so more people can find it. Your next best outcome starts with one small step today.

December 5, 202557 min

Recovery Applied with TH7 Founder - Tom Harvey

What if recovery wasn’t a luxury but the easiest way to upgrade sleep, focus, training, and mood? We sit down with TH7 co-founder Tom Harvey to map the shift from novelty wellness to purpose-built protocols that respect time, deliver clarity, and actually make your week feel better. Over the last 18 months Tom’s team opened four clinics and learned why consistency beats variety, how to turn protocols into habits, and what separates a true recovery experience from a sauna and ice bath shoved in a corner. Tom pulls back the curtain on the operational details that change outcomes: CO2-managed saunas that keep you clear-headed, pristine hot and cold pools auto-tested every ten seconds, and a custom booking system that sequences each step so you’re never stuck waiting. We break down the Nordic protocol—20 minutes heat, guided hot-cold cycling, steam, and a final cold hit—and explain why it remains the most copied format in the space. We also dig into what they scrapped (float tanks, certain mix-and-match combos), what scales and what doesn’t (cryo), and why hyperbaric oxygen therapy pairs so well with full-body red light for return-to-play and deep work focus. You’ll hear how heat before bed can set up deeper sleep through a thermal drop, why cold in the morning sharpens alertness, and how breath-led exposures make you calmer under pressure in daily life. Most of all, you’ll get a realistic playbook: make it social, lock a weekly slot, aim for the minimum effective dose, and let recovery become a multiplier for training, work, and home. If you want wellness that fits your life—not the other way around—this conversation gives you the framework to start today. Enjoyed the conversation? Follow the show, share it with a mate, and leave a review so we can help more people build smarter recovery habits.

November 29, 20251 hr 47 min

Sport Psychology: Mastering Change And Mindset With Tama Barry

What if the most valuable performance upgrade isn’t more effort, but more honesty with yourself? We sit down with Tama Barry — former principal dancer turned sport and exercise psychologist — to map the messy terrain between certainty and growth, and how language, values, and attention shape every outcome you care about. Tama opens up about the intensity of professional ballet, the abrupt end through knee injury, and the long stretch of highly functional depression that followed. From there, we dig into adjustment disorder, identity beyond a job title, and the often invisible work of rebuilding a purpose-led life. Along the way we challenge sloppy mental health language, separate “conflict” from “a hard conversation,” and show how precise words can calm the nervous system and unlock better behaviour. If you lead teams, coach athletes, parent, or just want to get unstuck, you’ll find practical tools: emotion check-ins, values clarification, and the ACT framework for psychological flexibility. We also zoom out to the system: why teams need shared language for buy-in, how coaches can cue “hold it lighter” instead of “do it perfectly,” and why friendships deserve the same repair as romantic relationships. Tama speaks candidly about dehumanisation, queer rights, and how policy shapes wellbeing, urging critical thinking as a health skill. The pattern is consistent across sport and everyday life: notice what’s real, align actions to who you want to be, and carry difficult feelings without letting them drive. If you’re ready to move from coping to flourishing, this conversation gives you a map and the first steps. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review with one value you’ll act on this week.

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