The commercialisation of wellness and wellbeing has led us to the point where everyone has basically gone fucking nuts. With so much crap on the internet, how can ordinary folk spot the snake oil? How can we be more skeptical about the information we’re presented with, and how can we be better scientists? In this episode, Dr Pete Olusoga and Dr Leah Washington talk to Dr Nick Tiller, exercise scientist at Harbor-UCLA, about Bad Science!

Dr Tiller is the author of The Skeptic’s Guide to Sports Science, a columnist at Skeptical Inquirer magazine, and a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.

• Follow Nick on Twitter: @NBTiller

In this episode of EightyPercentMental, hosts Pete and Leah are joined by Paralympic gold medalist Danielle Brown to talk about the Paris 2024 Paralympics. We discuss standout moments from the Games, the significance of the opening ceremony, and the psychological strategies athletes use to cope with pressure. In this conversation, Danielle Brown, double Paralympic gold medalist, shares her experiences and insights on the pressures of performance in sports, the identity and recognition of the Paralympics, and the importance of language in discussing disability. She emphasizes the need for a more scientific approach to athlete classification and advocates for the empowerment of female athletes through storytelling.

• Follow Danielle on Twitter (X): @danibrownmbe

4.04 – What about my immune system?

What is my immune system and why is it so important? In this episode, Dr Pete Olusoga and Dr Leah Washington are joined by immunologist, Senior Lecturer and author, Dr Jenna Macciochi, to explore how the immune system is linked to psychological health. We discuss what our immune systems actually are, what they do (and what they don’t do), as well as unpacking some of the barriers to maintaining a health immune system, and discussing the importance of movement. There’s so much to learn here!

• Check out Dr Macciochi’s website here: drjennamacciochi.com

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The Olympic Games wouldn’t be complete without an EightyPercentMental Olympic Review and that’s exactly what Dr Pete Olusoga and Dr Leah Washington are doing in this episode with the help of their guest, Dr Quincy Davis. We talk about highs, the lows, our favourite moments, and of course we dive into the psychology underpinning some of the most memorable performances – and yes that includes the breakdancing.

Dr Quincy Davis is an Assistant Director of Counseling and Sport Psychology at Mississippi State University and owns a private practice “Resolute Performance Consulting”. Passionate about all things athlete mental health, mental performance, and overall well-being.

• Follow Quincy on Instagram: @dr_quincydavis

There’s a well-established link between exercise and mental health. In this episode of Eighty Percent Mental, Dr Pete Olusoga and new co-host, Dr Leah Washington explore how and why moving our bodies can be beneficial for our psychological health, but also why it might not be as simple as just moving more! Our guest this episode is Dr Hillary Cauthen, a clinical sport psychologist based in Austin TX, and Co-Founder of Texas Optimal Performance & Psychological Services. Her work in high performance environments is breaking down stigma across communities which is highlighted in her book, “Hello Trauma, Our Invisible Teammate.”

• Follow Dr Cauthen on Twitter: @TOPPSTIP

Welcome to the brand-new series of EightyPercentMental, the podcast all about the psychology of sport and performance. Only… it isn’t just about sport and performance anymore, because in this series, we’re going to explore how psychology is important in exercise, health, and wellbeing, and how we can apply this to our everyday lives! Is exercise really good for my mental health? What’s the link between my immune system and psychological wellbeing? How can I start doing difficult things and keep going?

In this first episode, Dr Pete Olusoga and new co-host, Dr Leah Washington, speak to their expert guest, sport and exercise psychologist in training, and fitness coach, Clara Swedlund about all things motivation. What gets in the way when we try to change our habits? Why are values important to setting goals? Which way up should our cups go in the cupboard?

This was such a valuable conversation and a great way to kick off Series 4 of the 242nd most popular sports podcast in Costa Rica!

• Follow Clara on Instagram: @clara_theexerpsych

Sometimes the transition out of sport can be easy, a natural progression to the next stage of an athlete’s life. Sometimes it can be an intensely difficult and painful experience.  Sometimes, ending an athletic career can be a deliberate choice, other times it’s forced upon an athlete through injury, or changing circumstances. In the final episode of this series, Dr Pete Olusoga explores The Psychology of The End with two very special guests, Psychologist and Director of NBA Mind Health, Dr Kensa Gunter, and Senior VP and Head of NBA Player Development, Jamila Wideman. We discuss Jamila’s own playing career (drafted 3rd overall in the inaugural WNBA draft) and her own transitions in and out of sport, and Dr Gunter offers her insights from a psychological perspective on overcoming the challenges of bringing an athletic career to a close. It’s such an honest and truthful conversation and a wonderful way to bring this series to an end. Enjoy!

• Follow Dr Kensa Gunter on Twitter: @DrKensa

There’s no denying the strategy, the undeniable levels of skill, and the precision involved in American Football, but it’s also a sport, a little like rugby, where a good part of your time is spent picking yourself up off the floor after being knocked on your ass. In this episode of Eighty Percent Mental, Dr Pete Olusoga explores the psychology involved in collision sports. What are the unique mental challenges of taking (or dishing out) massive hit after massive hit? Joining Pete on this episode are special guests, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Health and Well-Being at the University of North Carolina, Dwight Hollier, and Performance Consultant and Therapist, Dr Adrian Ferrera.

• Follow Dwight Hollier on Twitter: @Dfin50

Earlier this series (Episode 3.13), Dr Pete Olusoga spoke to  Laura Langton and Kit Windsor, from Team Ace of Blades, just before they set off on their quest to row across the Atlantic. Along with the other two members of the crew, Lizz Watson and Beth Motley, they set off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands on 13th December, 2023. Forty-seven days later, they rowed their 25ft boat into English Harbour in Antigua having successfully navigated all 3000 miles of the World’s Toughest Row.

In this extra-special episode of EightyPercentMental, Laura, Kit, Lizz, and Beth are all here to talk about their incredible achievement, their magnificent voyage, and of course, about the role that psychology played on their adventure.

• Visit Team Ace of Blades: teamaceofblades.com

Ever fancied strapping yourself to a plank and throwing yourself down a snowy mountain? In this episode of Eighty Percent Mental, Dr Pete Olusoga explores The Psychology of The Slopes with snowboarding legend, Stevie Bell, and the Founder of the Mental Performance Center for Action Sports, Alēc Herbert. Such a great conversation around the mental aspects of action sports, preparation, professionalism, and doing things you immediately regret!

• Follow Stevie on Intagram: @steviebell801

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