Physical therapist, educator, and author Mike Studer joins the podcast to explore the powerful connection between mindset, movement, and healthy aging. Mike shares insights from his book The Brain That Chooses Itself, challenging us to rethink how autonomy, belief, and choice shape motivation, adherence, and long-term health.

We talk about:

• Why generic advice often falls flat
• How listening can be one of the most effective interventions we have
• Why the words we choose can either reinforce limitations or open the door to possibility.

Mike also shares his own experience recovering from Bell's Palsy, offering a personal perspective on resilience and avoiding the mental traps that can slow recovery.

This conversation will change the way you think about behavior change, confidence, and what it really takes to help someone move toward a longer, healthier life.

Matt Scheib, a judo practitioner, judo school owner, and professional stuntman, explains how Ukemi (falling techniques) translate into teaching people 55+ to reduce injury, fear, and stigma around falls, which he frames as a normal part of life.

We discuss barriers created by fall-prevention-only language, the importance of changing the narrative around falling, making movement more fun and helping people gain confidence instead of avoiding risk altogether. 

Links for Matt:

The Falling Class

LinkedIn

Connect with AGEnts of Movement

www.agentsofmovement.com

Interview with fitness veteran, Mindy Mylrea to discuss creating classes that meet older adults where they are. Mindy shares her decades-long fitness career and how she’s focused on active aging through her SASS program (Seated, Assisted, Standing for Seniors), designed to let participants with very different abilities train together in one class.

We cover:

• How to structure a class
• How to use simple equipment and body positioning for multiple options; and
• How to market and cue classes to avoid intimidation and ensure success for everyone.

She identifies gaps in active aging programming, and how her and her husband built a non-profit based on Blue Zones research.

Links for Mindy:

https://themovementors.com/

Instagram

@mindymyrealfitness

Connect with AGEnts of Movement

https://www.agentsofmovement.com/

Sign up for the newsletter:

https://www.agentsofmovement.com/newsletter

Colin Milner, founder and CEO of the International Council on Active Aging, to discuss creating a true culture of active aging.

Colin defines active aging as being actively engaged in life, grounded in a whole-person wellness model that goes beyond physical fitness to include mind, spirit, environment, purpose, and connection.

We address persistent ageism in wellness and senior living, including “bubble-wrapping” older adults with overly cautious programming, and emphasize using research and education to change assumptions about capability and improvement even into late life.

Colin describes what an age-friendly culture looks like—autonomy, agency, inclusion, empathy, and community access for all ages—and shares future-focused insights on personalization, precision, genetics, technology, and closing the 12.4-year gap between lifespan and healthspan, stressing that HI—human intelligence and interconnection—remains central.

Links:

https://www.icaa.cc/

https://www.agentsofmovement.com/

I’m sharing the presentation I did for  day one of the Advancing Resilience of Falls Prevention Summit hosted by the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging and the Falls Free Wisconsin Coalition.

I dive into a topic that often gets overlooked in fall prevention conversations: social disconnection. We explore how social frailty and isolation contributes to cognitive and physical decline, reduced confidence, fear of falling, and ultimately increased fall risk.

I share research connecting social exclusion and loneliness to falls and discuss why movement professionals and community leaders need to think beyond physical assessments alone.

Throughout the conversation, we explore how movement programs can become powerful social interventions by intentionally creating spaces of belonging, connection, encouragement, and shared experience. We discuss practical ways to build confidence, foster peer relationships, and help participants feel seen, supported, and valued within class environments.

Links:

⁠Falls Free Wisconsin⁠

⁠Wisconsin Institute of Healthy Aging⁠

AGEnts of Movement blog post ⁠Designing For Resilience: The Role of Social Connection in Movement Programs for Fall Prevention ⁠

Shared episode with the Modern Management of the Older Adult podcast.  This is a conversation with Dustin Jones from the Institute of Clinical Excellence. We discuss:

• Lessons learned teaching in cardiac rehab, senior living communities, and senior centers

• The evolution and challenges of the SilverSneakers model

• Why language and programming matter in shaping the aging narrative

• How room setup, challenge, play, and choice influence confidence and engagement

• Practical ways instructors can foster connection and trust in movement spaces

Links:

Programming for Possibility

Beyond SilverSneakers: Expanding the Future of Older Adult Fitness

Ability, Not Age: Ending Ageist Assumptions in Physical Activity Programming

MMOA (Modern Management of the Older Adult)

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Interview with Sabrena Joe PhD, Senior Director of Science and Education at the American Council on Exercise (ACE). We delve into the psychological aspects that influence motivation and wellbeing in group exercise, particularly for older adults.

Sabrena elaborates on her research paper, which explores 'motivational climate' through the lens of self-determination theory, highlighting the core needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. She presents the RRAMP framework (Respect, Recognition, Alignment, Mistakes, Participant), a practical approach to creating a motivational climate in group classes.

The discussion expands on how implementing RRAMP benefits both the psychological and physical aspects of exercise, fostering inclusive, effort-focused, and supportive environments.

Links:

ACE RRAMP Approach

Sabrena Jo PhD on LinkedIn

Connect wtih AGEnts of Movement:

www.agentsofmovement.com

This episode of the Agents of Movement podcast highlights conversations and moments from the past year, featuring passionate professionals dedicated to changing the narratives around aging and movement. The podcast, rebranded from Second Act Fit Pros, includes excerpts from various interviews and panels discussing topics such as combating ageism in physical activity, the transformative power of dance for those with Parkinson's, intergenerational fitness programs, the role of parkour in building movement confidence, and effective marketing strategies for engaging older adults in physical activity.

Links to full Podcast episodes: 

Ability, Not Age-Rethinking How We Design and Deliver Movement Programs for Older Adults

Age is Not the Limit: Moving For Life With Wendy Welpton

WildStrong: Creating Community and Movement in the Outdoors

David Leventhal: Dance for PD and the Impact of Dance on Parkinson’s Disease

Bridging Physical Therapy With Community Fitness For Older Adults

The Movement Creative: Building Fall Resilience with Play and Parkour

Reclaiming Movement: How Parkour is Empowering Older Adults to Move With Confidence

Jay Croft: Strategies on Connecting and Marketing to the 50+ Demographic

Playful Connections: Redefining Movement Across Generations with Erica DeMarch

Person-Centered Care: Redefining Fall Prevention with Dr. Dessy

Microdosing Movement: Breaking Barriers to Exercise  with John Sinclair

Empowering Movement Through Language: Cheryl Whitelaw and Laura Dow

Laura Dow, founder of Stiff to Fit, and Cheryl Whitelaw, a Functional Movement Specialist and Feldenkrais Practitioner from Edmonton, Canada join the podcast. We dive deep into the topic of language and its impact on movement experiences, particularly for older adults. You'll learn how the words used by instructors can shape the confidence and participation of class members.

Our conversation covers practical tips for using inclusive language, creating a sense of community, and challenging ageist assumptions. Whether you're a physical activity leader or someone passionate about lifelong movement, this episode offers valuable insights for fostering a positive and supportive environment through language.

Connect with AGEnts of Movement and sign up for the newsletter:

https://www.agentsofmovement.com/

Links for Laura:

Stifftofit.com

LinkedIn

Mind Your Movement Book

Links for Cheryl:

https://www.peaceandpower.ca/

Peace and Power YouTube Channel

Interview with John Sinclair, co-founder of Seven Movements and a leader in sport performance and personal training — to explore how microdosed, personalized movement routines can remove the biggest barriers to exercise. John breaks down the concept of microdosing movement: small, frequent bouts of physical activity tailored to each person’s preferences, abilities, and daily rhythms.

We discuss why aligning movement with what clients love — and steering away from what they don’t — dramatically boosts adherence and confidence. The conversation dives into the psychological and physiological benefits of this approach, the power of “movement snacking,” and how it’s been successfully applied across diverse populations, including adults with chronic conditions.

Movement professionals will walk away with practical strategies for creating more personalized, accessible, and meaningful movement experiences that help clients stay consistent for the long haul.

Link to YouTube video demonstrating a pain relief technique:

https://youtube.com/shorts/__HlynFLThs

Links:

https://www.authentichealthcoaching.com/

Instagram: @authentichealthcoach

Seven Movements

Email: [email protected]