Matt Marney Podcast

In this solo episode, Matt explores the concept of gratitude and appreciation, and why these simple practices can have such a powerful impact on how we think, feel, and experience the world.

We all have an inbuilt negativity bias. It’s how the brain is wired. But in today’s world, that bias is being amplified. Social media, constant information, and polarised narratives are widening the gap between perception and reality.

This episode breaks down how gratitude can help rebalance that system.

In this episode, Matt explores:

• Why the brain is wired to focus on the negative 
• How modern life and social media amplify that negativity bias 
• The gap between perception and reality, and why it matters 
• How gratitude and appreciation influence neurology and physiology 
• How shifting attention can literally change your experience of the world 
• Practical ways to build gratitude into your daily routine 
• How to “hack your algorithm” to see more of what is good 

This episode is about more than just feeling positive. It’s about training your brain to notice what is already there, and in doing so, improving your health, your mood, and your performance.

If you have a question for the podcast or are interested in working with Matt, you can reach out at:
 • Email: [email protected]
 • Website: www.wellnesseducationdubai.com
• Instagram: @wellness_education_dubai
• Facebook: @mattmarneyfitness
• LinkedIn: Matt Marney (Wellness Education Dubai)

In this episode, Matt speaks with Paul Edmondson, a leading figure in fitness education who works with organisations such as the Gray Institute and Hyperice. Paul specialises in developing coaches, with a strong background in movement, mobility, and applied coaching.

Together, they explore a common disconnect in the fitness industry. Many people say they want better health, longevity, and energy, yet the way they train often doesn’t support those outcomes.

This episode challenges the idea that more intensity equals better results and highlights the often-overlooked role of recovery. From breathwork to modern recovery tools like heat, ice, and compression boots, they discuss how recovery is not an add-on, but a key part of improving health and performance.

In this conversation, they explore:

•  The difference between training for fitness and training for health 
•  Why many people’s training does not match their goals 
•  The impact of sedentary lifestyles combined with high-intensity exercise 
•  Why “redlining” in the gym can add more stress rather than reduce it 
•  The importance of building a strong aerobic and cardiovascular base 
•  How low-intensity training supports long-term health and performance 
•  The role of recovery in improving results and reducing stress 
•  Practical recovery tools including heat, ice, compression boots, and vibration therapy 
•  How breathwork can be used as a simple and effective recovery strategy 
•  Rethinking exercise beyond calorie burn and aesthetic goals 
•  Practical ways to structure training for better health outcomes 

If you are training hard but not seeing improvements in your energy, recovery, or overall health, this episode will help you rethink your approach and build a more sustainable way to train.

Want to connect with Paul. Details below:

Instagram – paul_edmonson_mta_gi

If you have a question for the podcast or are interested in working with Matt, you can reach out at:
 • Email: [email protected]
 • Website: www.wellnesseducationdubai.com
• Instagram: @wellness_education_dubai
• Facebook: @mattmarneyfitness
• LinkedIn: Matt Marney (Wellness Education Dubai)

In this solo episode, Matt reflects on a recent experience stepping away from the high-stimulation environment of Dubai and noticing what changed when that constant input was reduced.

This episode is not about location. It’s about what happens to your brain and nervous system when you are exposed to continuous stimulation — especially through your phone.

Matt takes a deep dive into the science behind doom scrolling, dopamine, and why modern digital habits are making it harder to focus, regulate emotions, and function in everyday life.

In this episode, Matt explores:

• What doom scrolling actually is and why it’s so addictive 
• The role of dopamine and how constant stimulation hijacks reward systems 
• How phone use impacts attention, focus, and cognitive performance 
• The effect of high stimulation on the nervous system and baseline mood 
• Why “normal life” can start to feel flat or underwhelming 
• The connection between low stimulation, boredom, and recovery 
• Practical ways to reduce stimulation and regain control of your attention 

This episode is for anyone who feels constantly distracted, overstimulated, or stuck in a loop of checking their phone without knowing why.

It’s not about removing technology. It’s about understanding what it’s doing to you — and taking back control.

If you have a question for the podcast or are interested in working with Matt, you can reach out at:
 • Email: [email protected]
 • Website: www.wellnesseducationdubai.com
• Instagram: @wellness_education_dubai
• Facebook: @mattmarneyfitness
• LinkedIn: Matt Marney (Wellness Education Dubai)

In this episode, Matt speaks with Mark White, runner, entrepreneur, and founder of the Daily Five app. Mark is also the creator of the Grateful Mile and the community initiative Give Your Town a Runaround.

Mark’s journey is one of transformation. After overcoming addiction and entering recovery, he discovered running as a powerful tool for rebuilding his life. What began as a personal practice eventually grew into a mission to help others improve their mental and physical wellbeing through movement, gratitude, and community.

Together, they explore how simple daily habits can create meaningful change in people’s lives.

In this conversation, they explore:

• Mark’s personal journey from addiction to recovery
• How running became a turning point in his life
• The origins of the Grateful Mile and why gratitude matters
• How gratitude during movement can shift mindset and emotional state
• The power of simple daily habits for improving wellbeing
• The creation of the Daily Five app and its mission
• Building community through initiatives like Give Your Town a Runaround
• How movement and gratitude can help people reconnect with themselves and others

If you are looking for simple ways to improve your wellbeing, strengthen your mindset, and connect more deeply with others, this episode shows how movement and gratitude can become powerful tools for change.

Want to connect with Mark. Details below;

Instagram 

@markwhite_0602

@gratefulmileofficial

@dailyfiveofficial

Linkedin

Mark white 

If you have a question for the podcast or are interested in working with Matt, you can reach out at:
 • Email: [email protected]
 • Website: www.wellnesseducationdubai.com
• Instagram: @wellness_education_dubai
• Facebook: @mattmarneyfitness
• LinkedIn: Matt Marney (Wellness Education Dubai)

In this solo episode, Matt shares practical advice for parents supporting their children through exam season.

Each year, Matt delivers stress-management sessions in schools across Dubai, speaking separately to both parents and students so that everyone is aligned and working from the same blueprint. This episode brings that guidance to you.

Exams are not just an academic challenge. They are a stress challenge. And during this period, protecting cognition is key.

In this episode, Matt explores:

• The physiology of stress and how it affects memory, focus, and decision-making
• Why managing stress is really about protecting the brain’s ability to perform
• The common mistakes parents and students make during exam season
• A simple, practical framework called SPAMS to support performance and wellbeing

SPAMS:

• S – Speak to someone
• P – Plan and prepare
• A – Avoid distractions
• M – Movement
• S – Sleep

This episode offers a clear and actionable blueprint to help parents support their children during one of the most demanding periods of their academic life.

If you are a parent navigating exam season, this episode is designed to help you stay calm, supportive, and aligned with what your child actually needs.

If you have a question for the podcast or are interested in working with Matt, you can reach out at:
 • Email: [email protected]
 • Website: www.wellnesseducationdubai.com
• Instagram: @wellness_education_dubai
• Facebook: @mattmarneyfitness
• LinkedIn: Matt Marney (Wellness Education Dubai)

In this episode, Matt speaks with Mark Dempster, an addiction specialist and therapist based on Harley Street in central London. Mark works with people struggling with substance use and behavioural addictions, helping them understand the deeper drivers behind addictive patterns.

Mark’s story is as powerful as the work he does today. Growing up on the streets of Glasgow in the 1970s, Mark became involved in drug dealing and drug smuggling before developing a heroin addiction himself. After becoming homeless on the streets of central London, Mark found a turning point selling The Big Issue, which ultimately led him to recovery. Over 20 years later, he is now one of the most sought-after addiction therapists in the UK.

In this conversation, they explore:

• Why addiction is not just about drugs and alcohol
• The rise of behavioural addictions in the modern world
• The role of dopamine and how modern life drives addictive behaviours
• Addictions beyond substances, including work, phone use, food, gambling, and pornography
• Why people are not always trying to get high, often they are trying to feel OK
• The psychological and environmental drivers of addiction
• Hope, recovery, and what actually helps people change

If you are navigating modern life and feeling pulled towards coping mechanisms that are hard to control, this episode offers insight, compassion, and real-world understanding of addiction in today’s world.

Want to connect with Mark. Details below 

[email protected]

www.markdempstercounselling.com

If you have a question for the podcast or are interested in working with Matt, you can reach out at:
 • Email: [email protected]
 • Website: www.wellnesseducationdubai.com
• Instagram: @wellness_education_dubai
• Facebook: @mattmarneyfitness
• LinkedIn: Matt Marney (Wellness Education Dubai)

In this episode, Matt speaks with Magda Snowden, a transformational coach with over 20 years of experience in healthcare leadership. Magda now uses her leadership experience to help organisations build stronger teams, develop better leaders, and improve performance at both individual and organisational levels.

Together, they explore what really happens when organisations shift from “hero leadership” to human-centred leadership.

In this conversation, they explore:

• What psychological safety actually is and why it matters
• The real meaning of engagement and how it shows up in teams
• Why allowing staff to make mistakes improves learning, innovation, and teamwork
• How psychologically safe environments drive collaboration, cooperation, and new ideas
• Why treating staff well is not just ethical, it is good for the bottom line
• Why gaining buy-in from senior leadership can be challenging
• Practical strategies for teams to create safer, more supportive working environments
• How purpose, communication, and trust drive performance

Whether you are leading an organisation, managing a team, or influencing culture from the middle, this episode offers practical insight into how better people practices lead to better business outcomes.

Want to connect with Magda. Details below:

https://directory.cpdstandards.com/providers/thriving-together-llc/

http://magdasnowden.com/

If you have a question for the podcast or are interested in working with Matt, you can reach out at:
 • Email: [email protected]
 • Website: www.wellnesseducationdubai.com
• Instagram: @wellness_education_dubai
• Facebook: @mattmarneyfitness
• LinkedIn: Matt Marney (Wellness Education Dubai)

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In this episode, Matt speaks with Lucy Kidd, a business psychologist with over 30 years’ experience working with leaders and teams across large organisations.

Lucy has spent decades supporting senior leaders around emotional intelligence, psychological safety, and culture. In this conversation, we turn the focus toward the leaders themselves, particularly those who are quietly struggling behind the scenes.

Together, we explore what leadership really looks like when the pressure is high and support is limited.

In this conversation, they explore:
 • What leaders typically struggle with but rarely talk about
 • Why leadership can feel isolating, even at the top
 • How Lucy works with leaders who are under sustained pressure
 • The emotional load leaders carry and how it shows up at work
 • The role of physical wellbeing in supporting emotional and psychological health
 • Practical ways leaders can regulate stress and lead more effectively
 • Why healthier leaders create healthier teams and cultures

Whether you’re a senior leader, an entrepreneur, or someone responsible for managing people, this episode offers insight, reassurance, and practical ideas for leading with greater awareness and resilience.

Want to connect with Lucy. Details below: 

www.lucykidd.com

Instagram @lucykiddleadership @collaborationequation

Linkedin – Lucy Kidd

If you have a question for the podcast or are interested in working with Matt, you can reach out at:
 • Email: [email protected]
 • Website: www.wellnesseducationdubai.com
• Instagram: @wellness_education_dubai
• Facebook: @mattmarneyfitness
• LinkedIn: Matt Marney (Wellness Education Dubai)

In this episode, Matt speaks with Haley and Scott Hills, a married couple and co-owners of Hills Cooper Performance. Hallie is a physiotherapist with a background in neuro rehab, and Scott is a personal trainer, nutrition coach, and strength and conditioning specialist with deep experience in stroke rehabilitation.

Together, they offer a compassionate and practical conversation about life after stroke — and why recovery is possible.

In this conversation, they explore:

• What a stroke actually is and what early hospital treatment involves
• Common myths and misconceptions around stroke recovery
• The critical role of neuro rehab and why it needs more visibility
• How strength training can play a part in physical and neurological recovery
• The emotional and mental impact a stroke has on individuals and families
• Tips and strategies to support progress — physically, mentally, and emotionally
• Why a multidisciplinary, long-term approach matters in stroke rehab

Whether you’re a stroke survivor, a caregiver, or someone working in health and wellness, this episode offers hope, clarity, and real-world advice for navigating one of life’s most difficult challenges.

Want to connect with Scott and Haley. Details below 

Instagram @scotty.is.my.coach  @haleyrhills @hcperformace_

If you have a question for the podcast or are interested in working with Matt, you can reach out at:
 • Email: [email protected]
 • Website: www.wellnesseducationdubai.com
• Instagram: @wellness_education_dubai
• Facebook: @mattmarneyfitness
• LinkedIn: Matt Marney (Wellness Education Dubai)

In this episode, Matt speaks with Dr. Graham Simpson, a medical doctor with over four decades of experience in preventative and longevity-focused medicine. Based in Las Vegas, Dr. Simpson is the founder of Eternity Medicine, a clinic that specializes in reversing chronic disease and optimizing long-term metabolic health.

Together, they explore one of the most misunderstood aspects of men's health: testosterone.

In this conversation, they explore:

• What testosterone actually does — beyond libido and muscle mass
• The cognitive, emotional, and metabolic benefits of healthy testosterone levels
• Common symptoms of low testosterone that are often ignored or misattributed
• Why testosterone is about more than "performance" — it's a foundation of male well-being
• How to test for low testosterone and what markers matter most
• The misconceptions surrounding testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)
• How to use TRT safely and effectively for physical and mental longevity

Whether you're a man over 35, a health professional, or simply curious about hormone health, this episode cuts through the hype and confusion to bring you clear, evidence-based insight on a vital topic.

Want to contact Dr Simpson. Details below:

www.eternitymedicine.com

[email protected]

If you have a question for the podcast or are interested in working with Matt, you can reach out at:
 • Email: [email protected]
 • Website: www.wellnesseducationdubai.com
• Instagram: @wellness_education_dubai
• Facebook: @mattmarneyfitness
• LinkedIn: Matt Marney (Wellness Education Dubai)