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The Uneducated PT

The Uneducated PT

Hosted by Karl O Rourke

Episodes

168

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN

About the show

Welcome to the uneducated PT. This show is to learn as much as we can about a range of different topics. I want you to come on the journey of self discovery with me.

Listen to episodes

60 recent
August 13, 202658 min

Ep 173 Ellen Johnston PT — Injury, Body Image & Fuelling Female Athletes

What does it really take to recover from a serious injury—not just physically, but mentally?In this episode, we sit down with Ellen Johnston, personal trainer and strength & conditioning coach, to discuss her journey through the fitness industry, women's football and the lessons she's learned from working with female athletes.Ellen opens up about her own ACL injury and rehabilitation, the psychological challenge of returning to sport, and how that experience completely changed her relationship with food, body image and performance. We also discuss why so many active women unknowingly under-fuel, the importance of strength training, and why chasing performance leads to better long-term results than chasing aesthetics.We also explore social media, external validation, before-and-after photos, coaching female footballers, and how Ellen's experience with dyspraxia has shaped both her confidence and the coach she has become.Whether you're an athlete, coach, footballer or simply someone trying to build a healthier relationship with training and nutrition, this conversation is packed with honest insights and practical advice.In this episode we cover:Ellen's journey into the fitness industryGrowing up in DonegalWomen's football and strength & conditioningWhy female athletes need to get strongerFuelling performance vs dietingCommon nutrition mistakes active women makeACL injury recovery and rehabilitationThe psychological impact of long-term injuryBody image in sportSocial media and external validationWhy Ellen doesn't use before-and-after photosConfidence, self-worth and coachingAdvice for young female athletesIf you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to like, subscribe and leave a comment letting us know your biggest takeaway.#HybridTraining #EllenJohnston #WomensFootball #ACLRecovery #FemaleAthletes #StrengthAndConditioning #Nutrition #BodyImage #PersonalTrainer #SportsPerformance #GirlsInSport #FitnessPodcast #SportsPodcast #IrishPodcast

July 25, 20261 hr 1 min

Ep.172 She's In The Way | Karl, Ger & Rob

Dating apps have given us more choice than any generation in history — but have they actually changed who we choose?In this episode, Karl, Ger and Rob dive into the science of modern dating, attraction and relationships, looking at five fascinating studies that challenge some of our assumptions about how men and women behave.We explore why people still gravitate towards partners who are similar to themselves, despite having thousands of potential matches at their fingertips. The lads discuss whether dating apps have genuinely expanded our options or simply made it easier to find more versions of the same "type."We also get into sexual overperception bias — the finding that men are more likely to mistake friendliness for sexual interest — and what that means in a world of texts, DMs, emojis and dating apps where intentions can be even harder to read.Then there's the psychology of the dating profile itself. What are we actually trying to communicate with the photos we choose? Research suggests men looking for long-term relationships may use pictures with pets or children to signal that they're caring and capable of commitment — although apparently, posing with a cat might not have quite the effect you're hoping for.The conversation also challenges one of dating's oldest stereotypes: men want sex, women want relationships. Research into sociosexuality suggests individual attitudes towards casual sex may tell us far more about someone's dating behaviour than whether they're a man or a woman.Finally, we look at why people actually use Tinder. Is endless swiping about sex, finding a relationship, boredom or simply getting the little confidence boost that comes from somebody swiping right?Along the way, Karl, Ger and Rob get into their own experiences, preferences and opinions on modern relationships — and ask whether technology has really changed dating or simply exposed the psychology that was always underneath it.In this episode:• Why we keep dating people similar to ourselves• Whether dating apps have really increased our options• Why men can mistake friendliness for flirting• How texting and DMs create mixed signals• What your dating profile says about you• Why men post photos with dogs, cats and kids• Whether men and women actually want different things• Casual sex, commitment and sociosexuality• Tinder, sexual desire and self-esteem• Attraction versus compatibility• Whether dating algorithms influence who we fall for• How much of attraction is conscious choice• Why having more options might not make dating any easierFive studies. Three lads. And one big question: has modern dating actually changed human behaviour — or have we just put ancient instincts on an app?

July 23, 202642 min

Ep 171 The Working Man's Case for Life: Tradies for Babies

Abortion is almost always framed as a women's issue — but what happens when working-class men decide they can no longer sit on the sidelines? In this episode, we sit down with the founder of Tradies for Babies, a grassroots movement bringing tradesmen into one of the most divisive conversations in modern Ireland. We go deep into the personal moment that turned him from bystander to activist, why he believes men have a moral obligation to speak up, and why he built this movement specifically around working-class identity rather than politics or religion. We don't shy away from the hard questions. We talk bodily autonomy versus the rights of the unborn, the backlash he's faced for taking a public stance, and whether modern culture has lost the ability to disagree without demonising each other. We also bring the conversation home to Ireland, discussing the proposed removal of the three-day waiting period before abortion — and the roughly 10,400 women between 2019 and 2024 who didn't return for a procedure after that reflection period. This isn't a comfortable conversation. It's not meant to be. It's an honest attempt to ask a question modern society rarely asks anymore: not just can we, but should we? Whether you agree with him or not, this conversation will make you think harder about where you stand — and why.

July 14, 202659 min

Ep.170 Learning How To Talk To Girls With Ben Campbell

EP170 | Learning How to Talk to Girls with Ben CampbellDating has never been more confusing for young men.In Episode 170, we're joined by Ben Campbell, a dating coach who helps men build confidence, improve their communication skills and navigate modern dating.We discuss why so many men struggle to approach women, how social media and dating apps have changed relationships, and what genuinely makes someone attractive beyond looks. Ben shares practical advice on overcoming rejection, improving your confidence and developing the social skills that lead to better relationships.In this episode we cover:• Why approaching women feels harder than ever• The biggest mistakes men make when dating• Confidence vs arrogance• How to start conversations naturally• Why rejection is part of the process• Dating apps and modern dating culture• Body language and first impressions• Building genuine confidence as a man• Red flags, green flags and healthy relationshipsWhether you're struggling to meet women, looking to improve your confidence, or simply curious about modern dating, this episode is packed with practical advice and honest conversation.If you enjoy the episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a rating and let us know your biggest takeaway in the comments.

July 9, 202657 min

Ep. 169 | 600 People Over 37 Shared the Advice They Wish They'd Known at 30.

Ep. 169 | 600 People Over 37 Shared the Advice They Wish They'd Known at 30.What would your older self tell you if they had the chance?After turning 30, Mark Manson asked more than 600 email subscribers aged 37 and older one simple question:"What advice would you give your 30-year-old self?"The answers were remarkably consistent.In this episode, Karl, Ger and Rob unpack the biggest lessons that came from hundreds of people who have already lived through the decades many of us are just entering. From money and health to relationships, family, purpose and taking risks, we ask whether we're making the same mistakes they wish they could undo.We discuss:• Why almost everyone wished they'd started saving earlier.• The importance of looking after your body before it's too late.• Setting boundaries and cutting out toxic people.• Why your closest relationships become your greatest investment.• The risks most people regret not taking.• Whether anyone ever really feels like they've got life figured out.• What success actually looks like as you get older.Finally, we ask ourselves one question:If your 80-year-old self could sit across from you today, what advice would they give you?A conversation about regret, perspective and how to build a life you won't look back on wishing you'd lived differently.

June 30, 202657 min

Ep 168 Philosophical Questions That Break Your Brain

This week Ryan and I step away from politics, fitness and current affairs and dive headfirst into some of the biggest philosophical questions human beings have wrestled with for centuries. Questions that on the surface feel simple, but the deeper you go the harder they become to answer. Is suffering necessary for meaning or can life be deeply meaningful without pain? Is lying always wrong or are there situations where deception becomes the moral choice? Can morality exist without God or are right and wrong simply human inventions? Should truth always be valued above happiness even when ignorance may bring peace? Drawing on ideas from thinkers like Friedrich Nietzsche, Albert Camus, Viktor Frankl, Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill, we explore both sides of arguments that force us to confront our deepest assumptions about life, truth, morality and what it actually means to live well. We are not philosophers and we do not pretend to have the answers. But I firmly believe conversations like this sharpen the mind, challenge certainty and remind us that sometimes the most important discussions are the ones where nobody walks away fully convinced they were right. This is an episode about thinking deeper, questioning your own beliefs and wrestling with ideas that refuse easy answers. Welcome to another hard conversation.

June 25, 202632 min

Ep. 167 Not All Gays, Why Pride Has Been Hijacked.

This week on The Uneducated PT Podcast, I sit down with Sean Ako — one of Ireland’s most outspoken and controversial cultural commentators.As a gay man who has increasingly pushed back against modern progressive politics, Sean challenges many of the assumptions surrounding Pride, LGBTQ activism, identity politics, gender ideology, and the growing culture around censorship and free speech.We discuss whether Pride has been politically hijacked, why Sean believes minority groups are often used to push ideological agendas, the debate around gender recognition laws in Ireland, pronouns in schools, media distrust, and whether modern society is becoming less tolerant of dissenting opinions.At a time where certain questions feel harder to ask publicly, this conversation explores one central issue:Are we still living in a culture that values free thought… or one that increasingly punishes disagreement?Agree or disagree — this is a conversation worth hearing.

June 23, 202655 min

Ep 166 The UK Grooming Gangs Scandal – The Horror They Tried to Hide

In this eye-opening episode, Ryan & I breaks down one of the darkest and most shocking scandals in British history — the systematic grooming, trafficking, and gang rape of thousands of vulnerable young girls across the UK. We dive into Rupert Lowe’s explosive Independent Rape Gang Inquiry, the gut-wrenching survivor stories, and the stomach-churning scale of the abuse that went on for decades. You’ll learn: How over 1,400 girls in Rotherham alone (and likely tens or hundreds of thousands nationwide) were groomed, drugged, passed around hundreds of men, and brutally violated — some from age 11. The horrific details of gang rapes, violence, pregnancies, and degradation that victims endured. How police, councils, and social services repeatedly failed these girls — often ignoring evidence and returning victims to their abusers — all while terrified of being called “racist.” Why this story is exploding on X right now but remains strangely downplayed in much of the mainstream media. This isn’t just history it’s a massive ongoing institutional betrayal that affects trust in government, policing, and child protection to this day. Ryan keeps it raw, factual, and accessible for listeners who are new to the topic. If you care about protecting kids, holding power accountable, or understanding why so many people are furious about this scandal, you need to hear this. Trigger warning: Contains discussion of child sexual abuse, grooming, and institutional failure. Available now on all platforms. Share this one

June 21, 202637 min

Ep 165 Dads Don't Cry With Peter Shelley

In this episode we talk about grieving the lost of your child with Peter Hanlon. Expect open and vulerable conversations.

June 18, 202646 min

Ep. 164 Does Money Change you or reveal you?

Back with the boys chatting about the psychology of money.

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