Just a quick update!

Dr Alice Howarth takes us through cancer treatments with a healthy skeptic's eye.

John recommends Three Books on 'being human'

'Three Books' for a skeptic's toolkit to tackle the evidence with confidence.

All about the social psychology of conspiracy theorists. Just don't call them the tin-foil hat brigade.

We explore modern anatomy and public understanding. Do you know your olecranon from your external sphincter?

We don't just eat because we are hungry. We get stuck into food psychology.

The prostate eh? That walnut sized gland can cause a lot of trouble. We discuss the big C and the complexities of PSA testing.

With 300 million people affected across the world the problems of colourblindness are hugely unappreciated.

Plant-based diets? Veganism? Pixie sets it all straight for us and how nutrition has to fit with the rest of our lives.

It's a massive, under-appreciated concern and problem gambling ruins lives. Learn more with the wonderful Dr Henrietta Bowden-Jones.

What is burnout? How do we recognise it and how do protect ourselves? Dr Adam Staten keeps it real with good commonsense advice.

Episode Notes How do you continue to exercise and be physically active in life when you have a chronic disease? Award-winning blogger Jeff McCarthy has had Lyme disease and the effects continue to cause him problems. We discuss how he still manages to run and race regularly while managing a chronic disease and serious challenges […]

Episode Notes Dr Judy Chu is a researcher who teaches a course on Boys’ Psychosocial Development at Stanford University in California. She has done some fascinating research into adolescents and younger boys examining gender socialisation, their development and relationships. She has fantastic insight into this field and we delve into masculinity issues that are relevant […]

Episode Notes I’m joined by John Adams who runs the Dad Blog UK blog to talk about fatherhood, parenting, and lifestyle. John is a stay-at-home father and the main carer for his kids while his wife goes out as the main wage earner. We talk about health and fitness as well as some of the […]

Episode Notes In this episode I chat to Professor Chris French who is an active skeptic and Head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at Goldsmiths, University of London. Chris is Special Advisor and former Editor-in-Chief of The Skeptic Magazine, the UK’s foremost and longest-running skeptical magazine. It’s a chance for us to talk about […]

Episode Notes After a brief hiatus it’s time for another informal and chatty episode this week with Dr John Richmond. We were all psyched up for the Lakeland Trails 18K Cartmel Challenge Race but the weather chipped in to rain on the plans. We still had a great day, despite the efforts of Storm Gareth […]

Episode Notes It’s an informal and chatty episode this week as John Richmond and I talk through how we go about preparing for events and races. Back in the very first few episodes of Blokeology John and I talked through some of the basics of running. We’re both running a local 18k trail race in […]

Episode Notes Vybarr Cregan-Reid has written a fascinating book on how our bodies are affected by the modern world and our current environment. He’s written extensively about running, movement, and the body. In many ways “modern life is rubbish”. It’s all covered in his most recent book Primate Change. We talk about modern diseases that […]

Episode Notes Nick Elvery has a fascinating background. He’s now a ‘Peak Performance’ coach for CEOs and spends his time helping people make positive changes in their life. Nick has had his share of problems. His father was very unwell with MS and Nick used drugs as a coping mechanism. He had many years of addiction […]

Episode Notes Jason Fitzgerald is a runner who has seen huge changes with strength training and helped many achieve results through his coaching and training. He’s been running the strengthrunning.com website since 2010 where there are tons of resources. He found strength training helped him recover from a serious ITB injury and he’s studied it […]

Episode Notes Alan Flanagan is a passionate advocate for science-based nutrition and communicating nutritional science. He has very clear views in a host of areas that could completely change how you think about nutrition: he lingers on the middle class fetish around carbs and fat; the need to change energy availability in the environment and […]

Episode Notes Dr John Sykes is a GP and a Trustee and Director with the British Society for Lifestyle Medicine. We talk about the lifestyle medicine movement, nutrition, healthy lifestyles, and how we can try to ensure that lifestyle change is not simply a middle class aspiration that worsens health inequalities. We range across a […]

Episode Notes Anita Bean is an award-winning nutritionist and author. She specialises in sports nutrition and was a British champion bodybuilder in her 20s. She is an expert at taking the science of nutrition and presenting it in easily digestible chunks. In this episode we talk about healthy lifestyles and cover Vegetarianism 101. In the […]

Episode Notes Registered dietician Renee McGregor is a best-selling author and leading performance and eating disorder specialist with over 15 years experience working with elite athletes, coaches and sport science teams. She understands how to offer nutritional support to athletes and works with people who have developed a dysfunctional relationship with food. We discuss healthy […]

Episode Notes I’m having a winter break! I should have mentioned in last week but completely forgot. It’s just a chance to take a breather and I’m still busy interviewing some great people for future episodes. We will be back on 11 Jan 2019 with those new episodes. Enjoy the holiday season and I hope […]

Episode Notes What is the evidence for high intensity interval training (HIIT)? Is it worth doing and is it safe? I used to be a bit of sceptic about HIIT but strong evidence is emerging and I talk through the topic with sports and exercise scientist Dr Michelle Swainson. It’s a good lesson for me […]

Episode Notes I am colour blind. I don’t have the necessary red cones and in this episode I talk about my experience of being colour blind and how to affects me. From my early days of colouring in the sky purple and painting elephants in pink to my general feebleness as a cricketer there are […]

Episode Notes I have an update this week on my own activities and it’s a bit of a chance to reflect on some interesting episodes over the past few weeks. Episodes looking at the benefits of physical activity on mental health, suicide, Parkrun and the concept of ‘Zettelkasten’ have had a real impact for me. […]

Episode Notes Dr Simon Tobin is a GP in Southport and a Parkrun Ambassador for Health and Wellbeing. He has lots of stories of the amazing power of Parkrun to transform lives and it’s about a lot more than running a 5K. It’s really all about community; Parkrun gets people moving and it can also […]

Episode Notes Just how good is physical activity for your mental health? Dr Brendon Stubbs is a research physiotherapist with a specific interest in mental health and over 400 published papers. He knows this area inside out and talks on the podcast about the evidence around physical activity and its impact on our psychological health. […]

Episode Notes Professor Rory O’Connor is the Director of the Suicide Behaviour Research Laboratory in Glasgow and one of the world’s leading experts on tackling suicide. Suicide is a complex topic with no easy answers but it affects everyone and the research shows that men are three times as likely to kill themselves as women. […]

Episode Notes Sönke Ahrens has written a book How to Take Smart Notes that could completely revolutionise how you go about this deceptively simple task. This episode digs into a slightly different area of lifestyle – reading, writing, and thinking. It doesn’t matter if you are an academic, a student, a non-fiction writer or just […]

Episode Notes I was at the RCGP Conference last week so I talk about my experience of conferences and trying to look after my health and wellbeing while I was away. I had some success and came home feeling less exhausted than I usually do. I also reflect on my own biases and on the […]

Episode Notes André Tomlin started the website The Mental Elf back in 2011 and he has built it into a remarkable and detailed resource with 100s of contributors and a constant stream of freely available advice on research relevant to mental health. He’s also had personal experience of postnatal depression and he talks about that […]

Episode Notes Peter Francis PhD is a sports scientist, runner, and Musculoskeletal Science Lead at Leeds Beckett University. We talk about running, managing pain, achieving consistency, and barefoot running amongst many other things. If you’ve ever had an achilles problem then you need to listen to his advice on managing that injury. How about barefoot […]

Episode Notes In this episode, I interview the journalist Phil Cain about alcohol. Phil is an experienced journalist with expertise in the SE region of Europe but, in recent times, has turned his hand to detailing some of the evidence around alcohol and telling its story. His book, Alcohol Companion, is fundamentally a science-based approach […]

Episode Notes In this episode, I have a bit of a personal update. There has been quite a lot going on for the past six months and this is the first time I’ve talked about it on the podcast. I also talk about my new discovery this week: Zettelkasten. If you’ve not heard of this […]

Episode Notes In this episode, I talk about burnout. It’s a big problem in the medical profession but it’s not one that is exclusive to doctors. I have definitely had my own experience of burnout and it has taken a long time for me to structure my life and career to keep it at bay. […]

Episode Notes In this episode, I tackle regression to the mean and it’s a chance to fine tune your BS detectors and understand this common phenomenon that doesn’t get enough attention. Don’t get conned into thinking medications or other interventions are working. And perhaps you might think twice before calling for your football team’s manager […]

Episode Notes In this episode, we continue with the fourth instalment of Summer Shorts for the month of August. The episodes have all been around ten minutes long as it’s time to get outside, enjoy the open air, take our holidays, and most importantly, catch up on some reading. So, as before, this Summer Short […]

Episode Notes In this episode, we continue with the Summer Shorts for the month of August. The episodes are around ten minutes long as it’s time to get outside, enjoy the open air, take our holidays, and most importantly, catch up on some reading. So, each Summer Short covers a couple of books that are […]

Episode Notes In this episode, we launch into the Summer Shorts for the month of August. The episodes will be around ten minutes long as it’s time to get outside, enjoy the open air, take our holidays, and most importantly, catch up on some reading. So, each Summer Short will cover a couple of books […]

Episode Notes In this episode, we launch into the Summer Shorts for the month of August. The episodes will be around ten minutes long as it’s time to get outside, enjoy the open air, take our holidays, and most importantly, catch up on some reading. So, each Summer Short will cover a couple of books […]

In this episode, I cover some evidence around exercising and coping in the heat. Based on the 2015 consensus guidelines published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine I cover acclimatisation, dehydration, and cooling. There's time for a brief mention around the thorny and somewhat controversial issue of exercise-associated hyponatremia as well. If you understand a bit more about hydration then you should be at low risk of problems and you can keep yourself safe when exercising in the heat. 

In this episode I have an interview with Keith and Gary Moseley from Run Daddy Run. They are both relatively new to runners and we talk about they got into it. We've plenty of useful tips for newbies as well as more experienced runners. Keith, Gary's father, has taken up running later in life and Gary wanted to do something to help his health and manage his weight. They went on to set up the Facebook group, Run Daddy Run, and we delve into the importance of running community and how much it means to them.

In this episode I have an interview with Rob Brown from Diabetic Dad Runs. Rob is a journalist, a runner, and has been a type 1 diabetic for 27 years. Rob has been out running ultras in preparation for the Marathon des Sables in 2019. He's raising money for T1International. We talk about his initial diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and the complexity of managing it in general. And he tells me about how he manages his nutrition and reduces the risk of hypos while he is out for long runs. He tells us about his experience of hypos but he has careful strategies to manage his nutrition when out. Nutrition is important on any ultra but he checks his blood sugar every 30 minutes when out running - using a smartphone and a little chip embedded in his arm. The evidence shows that type 1 diabetics who exercise regularly have better control and are less likely to get hypos. Rob offers lots of tips and advice for anyone diabetics out there who want to get more exercise and get running. And, of course, much of it applies to anyone as we all benefit from moving more! We also talk about low carb and ketogenic diets in the context of type 1 diabetes.

In this episode I have an interview with Bevan James Eyles. I’m a big fan of Bevan. If you looked at Bevan’s achievements over nearly two decades you might just assume he is one of those lucky blokes who were just sorted. Not the case. Listen to hear Bevan tell of where he started from. But, the first thing I do want to highlight is all his achievements. He’s been working in the fitness industry since 1999 and is a multi award winning fitness instructor. He has competed at Ironman triathlon at the highest levels, he was a pro. He’s still heavily involved in triathlon with the hugely popular podcast IM Talk. He’s written a great book The Fitness Attitude. And, more than anything, he’s a man who has a clear sense of purpose, a mission, to help people get fitter and address their fitness behaviours. Check out his own podcast, get the book, soak up his stuff. I’ve benefited enormously from Bevan’s insights and applied them to my own life and I hope you do too. In this episode I have an interview with Bevan James Eyles. I’m a big fan of Bevan. If you looked at Bevan’s achievements over nearly two decades you might just assume he is one of those lucky blokes who were just sorted. Not the case. Listen to hear Bevan tell of where he started from. But, the first thing I do want to highlight is all his achievements. He’s been working in the fitness industry since 1999 and is a multi award winning fitness instructor. He has competed at Ironman triathlon at the highest levels, he was a pro. He’s still heavily involved in triathlon with the hugely popular podcast IM Talk. He’s written a great book The Fitness Attitude. And, more than anything, he’s a man who has a clear sense of purpose, a mission, to help people get fitter and address their fitness behaviours. Check out his own podcast, get the book, soak up his stuff. I’ve benefited enormously from Bevan’s insights and applied them to my own life and I hope you do too.

In this episode, John Richmond and I are talking about life hacks. We've crammed in lots of thoughts, ideas, hints, tips, and advice on how to get a little healthier, fitter, and just live a little better. Not all of them will work for you but there is sure to be something here you can take away and use. We've structured the discussion around the seven steps in the Healthy Bloke Action Plan. Check out www.blokeology.io/journal if you want to get hold of that. And take a look at the list of links below to get a feel for all the areas we touch on. Whether rinsing your mouth out with sugary water, picking a new book on Amazon, or looking for the best apps to help out with life, we covered a lot of ground.

How does using technology and Strava affect your running? Do you use it to get fitter? What impact does it have on your training or how you feel about yourself? Could you be dependent on the tech and it is making you feel worse? In this episode, I talk to Andy Cottrell who has been doing research into wearable technology. We cover lots of different areas, from Stebbins' Serious Leisure Perspective and the social worlds framework. Andy also talked about how people 'specialise' within a community and he talks about the quantified self movement. Andy's research offers a fascinating insight into our motivation, goal setting and other behaviours can all be influenced by technology. It's tremendous research and he describes the five themes he pulled out of his qualitative analysis of interviews with a series of runners.

In this episode, I'm covering seven action steps you can use to give your health, fitness and lifestyle a checkover. We can all improve in one or more of these areas. Get these right and you are going to be well on your way to improving your physical and psychological wellbeing. As Richard Feynman said: "The first principle is you must not fool yourself.." I cover some of the questionnaires we use as doctors and that you can also use to give your health a quick check. They don't take long but they'll ensure you are not kidding yourself. You can sign up and download the full Healthy Bloke Action Plan at www.blokeology.io/journal

In this episode, I've got a very brief update on the future of Blokeology. Season One is drawing to a close but the aim is to cover all sorts of topics and mix it all together. There will doubtless be plenty more on running in the future but there will also be lots on all the other health topics that impact on us. After all, life and health is just a bit of a hot mess.

In this episode, inspired by my holiday enjoying the Highlands and Islands of western Scotland I take a wee look at the evidence for running on sand. It’s known to be a lot harder work but will it reduce your chance of injury? I also cover some of the basics around Lyme disease and how to manage ticks.

In this episode, I take a deep dive into the research evidence around some running topics. That is what Blokeology is all about and it is time to get into a little more detail. I’ve picked out three research papers covering the topics of blisters, gait-retraining, and compression clothing. We sift out the facts (or as close to facts as we can get) but also take some time to think about the research and just how helpful it is.

Isaac Williams has, in his time as editor of Men's Running magazine, run round a 400m track for 24 hours, scaled a volcano, run a 63-mile ultra marathon and interviewed the heavyweight champion of the world. It's an impressive list of achievements for a bloke who could barely run 5K when he first joined the magazine as an intern. It means he has a sound understanding of the challenges facing men getting into running and also those pushing on towards the longer, gnarly end of the ultra running spectrum. We talk about getting started, running technique, the ethos behind Men's Running magazine, and his desire to "make running as fun as possible".

In this episode we chat to Jeff McCarthy from RunEatRepeat.co.uk. Jeff is a 5x award-winning blogger, writer for Trail Running magazine, ambassador for #Run1000Miles challenge, race reviewer, and kit reviewer. He writes regularly about his experience of running but he has also interviewed many runners for his site. It's highly recommended. He loves trail running and he is also passionate about baking, homemade food, and smoothies.

In this episode, Euan and John chat about their own experiences with weight loss and diets. They talk about people who are 'naturally thin', calorie tracking and lessons learned from using diet tracking apps, middle age spread, protein supplements, low carb, high fat diets, BMI and more.

In this episode, Euan runs through some cornerstone techniques and key principles that will help you build an evidence-based training programme for running. There are many off-the-peg schedules for training for various running distances but understanding the underlying principles will allow you to build your own programme or adapt as needed. It will give you the flexibility and versatility to get fit for any distance, it will allow you to reduce your risk of injury, and it will help ensure you have the resilience to thrive as your training gets harder.

In this episode, Euan and John talk about goals and habits. They might seem mundane but with 40% of our lives being lived on automatic pilot getting these right is absolutely critical to developing a running habit. Or any habit for that matter. Setting appropriate goals and hacking the habits in your life is the surefire way to long-term health. It's still not easy but it'll make all the difference.

We continue with Season One of Blokeology and it's all about running. Euan and John chat about running injuries in this episode. Not the big nasty ones but the minor niggles and irritations you have to learn to manage if you get into running.

Euan and John chat talk about the basics of running kit. From running shoes to a few simple accessories we go back to the simple stuff. John is one of the few individuals on the planet who looks good in lycra and Euan is still slumming it in a pair of ancient Ron Hills. There's scope for everyone to indulge themselves but running kit doesn't have to be complicated either. This episode will get you started with a few easy principles.

This episode Euan chats to John Richmond, another doctor. We talk about running for newbies, going right back to the basics on how to get started and how we got going after enduring the traditional British school experience of humiliation by cross-country running. We talk about the need to run slow at the start. In fact, you may even need to walk. And, that's cool. It's an important part of the process for many people getting into running. The fear of people looking at you can be a concern, but take heart from the evidence - most people simply are not paying any attention. We also mention the mere-measurement effect - the importance of saying what you are going to do and how surrounding yourself with runners could be an important step as well.

Blokeology is all about an evidence-based approach to health, fitness and lifestyle. Blokeology is my effort, in my own little corner of the internet, to live a decent, healthy life but to bring in some evidence around men’s health to inform that. I’m a doctor so that involves stuff like physiology and psychology. And all the ‘ologies’ of medicine. Cardiology, neurology and neuropsychology. Gastroenterology. Urology. That’s a big one for blokes and their prostate. It also includes epidemiology and sociology. That’s a lot of science and ‘ologies’ across a whole load of disciplines. They are others we can chuck in too: behavioural economics, gender studies. The list is huge. And the Blokeology podcast is about using that understanding to help men, just like me and just like you, live a little better.