Jonty & The Doc

You asked. Jonty Rhodes and Dr Marcus Ranney answered.

In this special 12th Man edition of Jonty & The Doc, we hand the conversation over to the audience for an Ask Me Anything covering everything from nutrition and strength to sleep, supplements, ageing — and, naturally, a little cricket.

What order should you eat the food on your plate? Is strength or coordination more important for longevity? Can you outrun a bad diet? Which health metrics are actually worth tracking? And what does Jonty look for when judging the fittest players in cricket?

In this episode:

• Does the order in which you eat your food actually matter?
  • How to reduce the glucose impact of a carb-heavy meal
  • Strength vs coordination for longevity
  • Why muscle matters far beyond aesthetics
  • The biggest fitness and longevity myths Jonty and Marcus want people to stop believing
  • Why you can’t “outrun a bad diet”
  • What Marcus thinks about Urolithin A and new longevity supplements
  • How Jonty’s relationship with competition has changed with age
  • Why Jonty now focuses on process rather than performance
  • The health metrics Jonty actually tracks
  • Why Marcus wishes we could track brain health more effectively
  • How their sleeping habits have evolved
  • Marcus’s 3–2–1 rule for better sleep
  • What “fitness” actually means inside an IPL team
  • The fielders who have impressed Jonty most over the years

It’s a slightly different Jonty & The Doc — driven entirely by the questions you want answered.

And if there’s something you want Jonty and Marcus to tackle in the next 12th Man, leave your question in the comments.

Watch the full episode on the @smartupivm YouTube channel and subscribe for more conversations about health, fitness and living better for longer.

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Erectile dysfunction is often treated as an embarrassing bedroom problem. But what if it’s actually telling you something important about your overall health?

In this episode of Jonty & The Doc, Jonty Rhodes and Dr Marcus Ranney have an open conversation about erectile dysfunction, why it becomes increasingly common with age and why men shouldn’t be afraid to talk about it. Marcus explains that ED can have vascular, hormonal, neurological and psychological causes — and in some cases may be an early sign of a larger health issue.

In this episode:

• Why erectile dysfunction becomes more common as men get older
  • The connection between ED and cardiovascular health
  • How diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol can affect erections
  • What declining testosterone does to the male body
  • What andropause means
  • Why erectile dysfunction isn’t always about performance anxiety
  • The blood tests men can discuss with their doctor
  • Why men often hesitate to speak about sexual health
  • How sleep affects testosterone production
  • The relationship between body fat, testosterone and estrogen
  • Why strength training can naturally support testosterone
  • The role of nutrition, healthy fats and micronutrients
  • How smoking and alcohol affect blood vessels and sexual health
  • Why small, sustainable lifestyle changes can make a difference

As Marcus explains, four out of ten men over 40 experience some degree of erectile dysfunction — yet the stigma surrounding the subject means many men still avoid talking about it.

The important thing is not to dismiss it, self-diagnose or immediately reach for a quick fix. Get tested, speak to a medical professional and understand what your body might be trying to tell you.

Because sometimes a problem that shows up in the bedroom can be a window into what’s happening everywhere else.

Watch the full episode of Jonty & The Doc on the @smartupivm YouTube channel.

Subscribe for more conversations with Jonty Rhodes and Dr Marcus Ranney about health, fitness, ageing and living better for longer.

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What happens when you reach the stage of life where your body is changing, your children still need you — and your parents are getting older too?

In this episode of Jonty & The Doc, Jonty Rhodes and Dr. Marcus Ranney explore what they call “The Middle Zone” — the period where you find yourself balancing your own health, family, career and the growing responsibility of caring for ageing parents.

Jonty gets personal about the changes he’s noticed in his own body, losing his father and watching his mother live with dementia, while Marcus breaks down some of the practical steps we can take to protect our own health and help our parents age better.

In this episode:

• What “The Middle Zone” of life actually means
  • How our bodies begin changing as we get older
  • Why testosterone levels can decline with age
  • Why being physically fit doesn’t necessarily mean you’re healthy
  • The health checks we often put off for too long
  • The emotional reality of watching your parents grow older
  • Why movement, muscle and purpose become so important in later life
  • How Jonty saw his father’s mobility decline
  • Jonty’s experience of his mother living with dementia
  • Why protein and resistance training matter for ageing parents
  • What polypharmacy means and why medications should be reviewed
  • Why vaccinations become increasingly important with age
  • The conversation around creatine, NMN, NAD and other supplements
  • Simple ways to encourage ageing parents to move more
  • Why spending time with your parents matters just as much as helping them stay physically healthy

For many of us, there comes a point when the relationship with our parents begins to change. The people who once looked after us may gradually start needing our help instead.

And while we can’t stop ageing, there are things we can do — for ourselves and for the generation above us. As Marcus reminds us in this episode, it’s never too late to start.

Watch the full conversation and let us know in the comments: what’s one thing you’ve started doing differently as you — or your parents — get older?

Subscribe to @smartupivm for more episodes of Jonty & The Doc with Jonty Rhodes and Dr. Marcus Ranney, exploring health, fitness, ageing and how to live better for longer.

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What really happens to your body as you age? Is getting slower, weaker and taking longer to recover simply inevitable?

In this episode of Jonty & The Doc, Jonty Rhodes and Dr. Marcus Ranney explore the science of the ageing athlete—from declining muscle mass and slower recovery to the mindset needed to thrive long after your sporting prime.

Drawing from Jonty's experiences as an elite cricketer, IPL fielding coach and Masters League player, alongside Dr. Marcus' medical insights, this conversation is packed with practical lessons for athletes, fitness enthusiasts and anyone over the age of 40.

In this episode:

• Why different sports age athletes differently
• How VO₂ max, muscle mass and reaction time change with age
• Why recovery becomes more important than training harder
• The transition from professional athlete to coach and mentor
• How experienced athletes train smarter, not longer
• The importance of physical, mental and emotional recovery
• What Heart Rate Variability (HRV) can tell you about your health
• The best ways to maintain strength and endurance after 40
• Why senior athletes often outperform younger players through experience
• The mindset shift from intensity to intelligence
• How to stay coachable at every stage of your career
• Lessons from elite athletes including MS Dhoni, Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, David Beckham and more

Whether you're a professional athlete, a weekend warrior or simply looking to stay healthy as you grow older, this episode offers practical strategies to help you perform at your best for years to come.

Subscribe to @smartupivm on YouTube for more conversations on health, performance and longevity with Jonty Rhodes and Dr. Marcus Ranney.

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Your skin may be ageing faster than the rest of you, and your everyday habits could be responsible.

In this episode of Jonty & The Doc, Jonty Rhodes and Dr Marcus Ranney explore what really happens to the skin as we grow older and what we can do to protect it.

From collagen loss and sun damage to smoking, sleep and skincare, they separate useful advice from unnecessary complexity.

In this episode:

• Why skin is the largest organ in the human body
  • How cricket and surfing affected Jonty Rhodes’ skin
  • The three main layers of the skin
  • What collagen and elastin do
  • Why collagen declines as we age
  • How skin-cell turnover changes over time
  • Why wrinkles, pigmentation and dryness develop
  • How the shape of the face changes with age
  • Whether collagen supplements actually help
  • Why vitamin C matters for healthy skin
  • How to choose a gentle cleanser
  • Whether expensive moisturisers are worth the money
  • Why hydration matters inside and out
  • How smoking accelerates visible ageing
  • How sugar, alcohol and processed foods damage collagen
  • The effect of sleep and air pollution on the skin
  • How mineral and chemical sunscreens work
  • Why SPF should be part of your everyday routine
  • What to know before using retinol
  • Whether red-light therapy and cold water can support skin health

Healthy skin is not only about appearance. It is a reflection of sun exposure, nutrition, recovery, hydration and the decisions we make every day.

Watch the full episode of Jonty & The Doc and discover the simple habits that can help you protect your skin and age better.

Subscribe to the @smartupivm YouTube channel for more honest, practical conversations on health, longevity and living healthier for longer.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonty Rhodes spent his career making impossible dives look effortless. But what actually allows the body to react, balance, fall and recover without thinking?

In this episode of Jonty & The Doc, Jonty Rhodes and Dr Marcus Ranney unpack the hidden system behind balance — from vision and the inner ear to joints, reflexes and body awareness.

In this episode, they cover:

• Why balance is more than just “not falling”
• How your eyes, ears and joints work together to keep you steady
• Why the real danger after a fracture is often immobility
• What Jonty’s iconic dives reveal about instinct, hesitation and impact
• Why balance, posture and reaction time start changing with age
• Common athlete injuries like ACL tears, hamstring strains and lower-back issues
• How to train smarter so you can stay active for longer

From Jonty’s fielding instincts to the science of posture, falls and recovery, this episode looks at one of the most underrated parts of staying healthy for longer: learning how to keep your body steady, sharp and ready.

Full episodes of Jonty & The Doc available now on the @smartupivm YouTube channel!

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Your immune system is working for you 24/7 — but most people don’t understand how it actually functions or how to support it.

In this episode of Jonty & The Doc, we break down immunity in the simplest way possible — from how your body defends itself, to what really impacts your ability to stay healthy.

We cover:

• The difference between innate vs adaptive immunity
• Why sleep is more important than you think
• The real role of vaccines (and how age changes the equation)
• How stress, travel, and overtraining affect your immune system
• Nutrition basics that actually support immunity
• Simple daily habits that make a long-term difference

This is not about hacks or shortcuts - it’s about understanding how your body works and making better decisions every day.

If you’ve ever wondered why you keep falling sick, feeling run down, or struggling with energy — this episode will change how you think about your health.

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What does it actually take to repair a damaged gut? Not vague advice - a real, structured protocol you can map onto your own life.

In this clip from Jonty & The Doc, Dr. Marcus Ranney walks through the 5R Framework for gut repair - a systematic functional medicine protocol - with Jonty applying each step to his own routine in real time.

The 5Rs:

Remove — eliminate what's actively harming the gut 

Replace — restore what's been depleted: enzymes, stomach acids 

Reinoculate — reintroduce beneficial bacteria through food and supplementation 

Repair — rebuild and heal the gut lining itself Rest & Recovery— the most underrated step, and the one most of us skip entirely. 

If you've been dealing with IBS, digestive sensitivity, bloating, or just know your gut isn't working the way it should - this framework is your starting point!

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What if your health starts in your gut?

In this episode of Jonty & The Doc, Jonty Rhodes and Dr. Marcus Ranney explore how gut health impacts everything - from digestion and immunity to energy levels, recovery, and long-term wellbeing.

Jonty reflects on how his understanding of health evolved over time -from growing up in a “kill all germs” environment to recognizing the importance of gut balance, whole foods, and consistent lifestyle habits.

Dr. Marcus breaks down the science behind the gut microbiome, how modern diets and lifestyles disrupt it, and why so many people today struggle with inflammation, poor absorption, and low energy despite “eating healthy.”

This conversation goes beyond trends and quick fixes. It’s about understanding how daily choices - what you eat, how you recover, how you live - shape your health from the inside out.

In this episode:

• Why gut health is the foundation of overall health

• The role of the microbiome in energy, immunity, and recovery

• How modern diets (sugar, processed foods, etc.) impact your gut

• Why “killing germs” might be hurting your health

• The connection between gut health and nutrient absorption

• Simple lifestyle habits that support long-term health

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In this episode, we dive deep into the science of brain health, longevity, and performance with legendary cricketer Jonty Rhodes and Dr. Marcus Ranney, a leading medical expert in the field of longevity science.

The conversation explores how modern lifestyle factors - from sleep and nutrition to stress and social media - are shaping both our physical and mental health.

We discuss the role of BDNF in brain longevity, the powerful connection between the gut and the brain, and how practices like intermittent fasting, breathwork, and yoga can support cognitive function and resilience.

Jonty also shares his unique perspective from decades in professional sport - including how technology and social media have changed the mental landscape for athletes today.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• What BDNF is and why it matters for brain health
• How intermittent fasting affects the brain and metabolism
• The real causes of brain fog and how athletes overcome it
• Why sleep timing may matter more than you think
• The impact of phones and social media on modern athletes
• What HRV (Heart Rate Variability) reveals about stress and recovery
• How box breathing can instantly calm the nervous system

Whether you’re interested in longevity, peak performance, or mental clarity, this episode offers practical insights grounded in science and real-world experience.

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