Monday Mile with Aimee Fuller

Today on the podcast we welcome Nikita Kuzmin, who is best known for his ability to glide across the floor in the ballroom.  He’s a fresh face making a serious impact on BBC Strictly Come Dancing. I’m not just talking about the blonde locks and serious charm, but as a dancer and choreographer his creativity and flare is noted. 

We took a stroll around Primrose Hill, before he hopped on the coach to tour the UK for Strictly Come Dancing Live. After 2 successful seasons on the show we discuss his creativity, the importance of inspiration, and taking pride in your work. He has showcased this through his partnerships with Tilly Ramsay and most recently Ellie Simmonds. We tap into his passion for being challenged, his competitive nature and how each partnership has required a different approach. Nikita admits his ability to overthink and we find out how that trait lends itself to to create some really special moments on the dance floor.

As a Type 1 Diabetic Nikita shares his journey with Diabetes and the responsibility he has in being a role model for the next generation. Being diagnosed at a young age, he is using his Strictly Platform to showcase the importance of managing it “well” not just on the outside but the importance of caring for what truly counts, the inside. He see’s it as an opportunity to showcase responsibility, keeping safe now, to prevent suffering in later life. Oh and we also tap into how he's casually signed up for a Marathon!

Aimee will be probing for answers from the full spectrum of routines; the early birds who have finely tuned Monday mornings, to the late risers who struggle to get up before 11am. How do elite athletes find the motivation to kick start their week come rain or shine? How do celebrities deliver no matter what the time of day? What knowledge can they pass on?

Each episode drops on a Monday morning as a bitesize piece of content and weekly dose of motivation - right when you need it. Aimee will meet each of her guests for a walk and a chat and over the course of the mile she will find out how they cope on a Monday morning - their idiosyncrasies, breakfast routines, alarm noises - and how, when they need to, find the motivation to kick-on through the week. Sharing some of Britain's greatest athletes, entrepreneurs, doctors, authors and broadcasters ’ secrets on self-motivation, candid thoughts on what they struggle with and a sideways look at some of their more unusual morning habits.

Head over to IG to watch the visuals of our episode and what we get up to on our Monday Mile. https://www.instagram.com/aimee_fuller/

Filmed by Tom Mallion 

Today we walk a mile with Paul Olima.  He is probably one of the strongest men I know, a natural athlete, a former International rugby player and now a video creator …. most known for his hilarious skits that go viral on the one thing the majority of us are addicted to, Instagram. He lights up a room with his infectious energy and sense of humour. 

We took a stroll around the park in Putney, and discussed the challenges of growing up as a black man in a very white Ireland. Sport created a place of acceptance for Paul, a place that made him feel welcome and a place to channel his aggression that built up through frustration at school. With around 200 fist fights under his belt by the age of 18,  we discuss his attitude towards life now, and how as a Father, he wants to see positive changes for his children growing up.

Aimee will be probing for answers from the full spectrum of routines; the early birds who have finely tuned Monday mornings, to the late risers who struggle to get up before 11am. How do elite athletes find the motivation to kick start their week come rain or shine? How do celebrities deliver no matter what the time of day? What knowledge can they pass on?

Each episode drops on a Monday morning as a bitesize piece of content and weekly dose of motivation - right when you need it. Aimee will meet each of her guests for a walk and a chat and over the course of the mile she will find out how they cope on a Monday morning - their idiosyncrasies, breakfast routines, alarm noises - and how, when they need to, find the motivation to kick-on through the week. Sharing some of Britain's greatest athletes, entrepreneurs, doctors, authors and broadcasters ’ secrets on self-motivation, candid thoughts on what they struggle with and a sideways look at some of their more unusual morning habits.

Head over to IG to watch the visuals of our episode and what we get up to on our Monday Mile. https://www.instagram.com/aimee_fuller/

Filmed by Jon Moy

Today’s guest is Ollie Locke, and we are walking a mile in Chelsea. He’s no stranger to the area having starred in E4’s reality series Made in Chelsea for 12 years! He’s been a bit of a pioneer in fronting the movement in equality, becoming the first man to come out on British television. 

He has lived life's journey in the public eye as an actor for many years. We delve into how REAL and RAW the reality show is and how much of it is a front. We chat about getting married to his partner Gareth on National television and this chat takes a deeper turn as we tap into his relationship with being bisexual, and how initially this was misunderstood and seen as unsafe. He's dated women and men publicly and we discuss the power of love, and falling in love with the person, that being Gareth and not the sexuality of the partner. 

Ollie and Gareth have been very open about their fertility journey, and how that works in Britain. We also talk about how the law hasn't changed in 35 years, and the process they are currently undergoing for their longed-for baby.  We touch on the sad news of their 3rd miscarriage, but also the continuing belief that one day,  Ollie and Gareth will become parents.

Aimee will be probing for answers from the full spectrum of routines; the early birds who have finely tuned Monday mornings, to the late risers who struggle to get up before 11am. How do elite athletes find the motivation to kick start their week come rain or shine? How do celebrities deliver no matter what the time of day? What knowledge can they pass on?

Each episode drops on a Monday morning as a bitesize piece of content and weekly dose of motivation - right when you need it. Aimee will meet each of her guests for a walk and a chat and over the course of the mile she will find out how they cope on a Monday morning - their idiosyncrasies, breakfast routines, alarm noises - and how, when they need to, find the motivation to kick-on through the week. Sharing some of Britain's greatest athletes, entrepreneurs, doctors, authors and broadcasters ’ secrets on self-motivation, candid thoughts on what they struggle with and a sideways look at some of their more unusual morning habits.

Head over to IG to watch the visuals of our episode and what we get up to on our Monday Mile. https://www.instagram.com/aimee_fuller/

Filmed by Jon Moy

Today’s guest is Chris Stark, he’s known for his former days at Radio 1 as a part of the Scott Mill’s show, and now sits in the hot seat over at Global as Capital FM’s Breakfast show co-presenter and exec producer. He also hosts That Peter Crouch Podcast, that casually had a certain Royal on the mic, Prince William. 

We dig into that famous Mila Kunis interview,  that acted as a career catapult. You remember that right? In his words he went into "full panic mode, going violently off message". We chat his pathway into Radio 1, parenthood, and juggling the two. Chris opens up about his career,  the selflessness that is required to be a good number two, working alongside the likes of Scott Mills, and now Roman Kemp.

The podcast also took an unexpected turn, when it comes to the discussion of finding balance in life and Chris opened up about the current state of imbalance and struggle he is experiencing. A very relatable discussion, about the routine life gives you, if you let it.  

Aimee will be probing for answers from the full spectrum of routines; the early birds who have finely tuned Monday mornings, to the late risers who struggle to get up before 11am. How do elite athletes find the motivation to kick start their week come rain or shine? How do celebrities deliver no matter what the time of day? What knowledge can they pass on?

Each episode drops on a Monday morning as a bitesize piece of content and weekly dose of motivation - right when you need it. Aimee will meet each of her guests for a walk and a chat and over the course of the mile she will find out how they cope on a Monday morning - their idiosyncrasies, breakfast routines, alarm noises - and how, when they need to, find the motivation to kick-on through the week. Sharing some of Britain's greatest athletes, entrepreneurs, doctors, authors and broadcasters ’ secrets on self-motivation, candid thoughts on what they struggle with and a sideways look at some of their more unusual morning habits.

Head over to IG to watch the visuals of our episode and what we get up to on our Monday Mile. https://www.instagram.com/aimee_fuller/

Filmed by Jon Moy

Today’s guest is Max Whitlock, he is not just a Gymnast, he’s a father, a husband and a role model to the next generation…….Max is the most successful gymnast in British history, with 6 Olympic medals to his name in the all round team, floor and pommel horse.

This conversation is one that may come as a bit of a shock to many. As the poster boy of not just British Gymnastics but Team GB, it appeared from the outside that Max Whitlock had it all sussed. However, Max has recently opened up about his own struggles with his mental health and he has pulled down the mask about his relationship with the sport. The pressure to always out-perform his very best and the pressure to win Gold in Tokyo and nothing less, was considered a failure. 

Having taken a year out, we chat about the highs and lows of Olympic sport, the pressure, purpose and the importance of speaking out. From the outside, Max's decision could look like a quick fix, but in reality it's his chance to take the opportunity to put himself within a chance of achieving the impossible. We discuss life after sport, and the importance of speaking out about what that could look like, not just for him, but for any athlete. It's real, raw and it's relatable. Thank you Max Whitlock for your honesty.

Aimee will be probing for answers from the full spectrum of routines; the early birds who have finely tuned Monday mornings, to the late risers who struggle to get up before 11am. How do elite athletes find the motivation to kick start their week come rain or shine? How do celebrities deliver no matter what the time of day? What knowledge can they pass on?

Each episode drops on a Monday morning as a bitesize piece of content and weekly dose of motivation - right when you need it. Aimee will meet each of her guests for a walk and a chat and over the course of the mile she will find out how they cope on a Monday morning - their idiosyncrasies, breakfast routines, alarm noises - and how, when they need to, find the motivation to kick-on through the week. Sharing some of Britain's greatest athletes, entrepreneurs, doctors, authors and broadcasters ’ secrets on self-motivation, candid thoughts on what they struggle with and a sideways look at some of their more unusual morning habits.

Head over to IG to watch the visuals of our episode and what we get up to on our Monday Mile. https://www.instagram.com/aimee_fuller/

Filmed by Jon Moy

Today’s guest - Wade Eastwood, is not just your average guy who can fly a helicopter, he’s an accomplished fixed-wing pilot. He can also add skydiver & free flier, rescue scuba diver,  and black belt martial artist to his list of talents.  Oh and in case I forget, he can Box, Fence, and skip an offshore yacht.  This guy is a highly graded horse rider, has advanced weapons skills and he has served his country in the Armed Forces.  He also holds multiple armoured car licenses and he has raced cars internationally, with a string of wins in Formula 3, prototypes and sports cars. 

Wade is a stunt coordinator and one of, if not the most reputable men in the industry. Do the films  Mission Impossible, Jumanji and Men in Black ring a bell?  Well, all the action and the stunts…. Wade is the brains behind them.

We headed up to the studio, known as his second home, and walked the woods where Wade has taught the likes of Tom Cruise how to drift. We even got a sneak peak in the 'stunt department'. Aside from chatting pure action, we got into Wade's lifestyle, how he balances work and play, and his passion for supporting the next generation of stunt performers.  We also had to get a little gossip on Mission Impossible 7 ....

Aimee will be probing for answers from the full spectrum of routines; the early birds who have finely tuned Monday mornings, to the late risers who struggle to get up before 11am. How do elite athletes find the motivation to kick start their week come rain or shine? How do celebrities deliver no matter what the time of day? What knowledge can they pass on?

Each episode drops on a Monday morning as a bitesize piece of content and weekly dose of motivation - right when you need it. Aimee will meet each of her guests for a walk and a chat and over the course of the mile she will find out how they cope on a Monday morning - their idiosyncrasies, breakfast routines, alarm noises - and how, when they need to, find the motivation to kick-on through the week. Sharing some of Britain's greatest athletes, entrepreneurs, doctors, authors and broadcasters ’ secrets on self-motivation, candid thoughts on what they struggle with and a sideways look at some of their more unusual morning habits.

Head over to IG to watch the visuals of our episode and what we get up to on our Monday Mile. https://www.instagram.com/aimee_fuller/

Filmed by Jon Moy

This week's Monday Mile takes us on a longer stroll in West London along the bank of the River Thames. He is best known for being a TV presenter and Podcast Host, but is more than that. Do the shows Soccer AM, and Sunday Brunch ring a bell?  I have had the honour of being a guest on his show and his podcast so it was epic to flip the switch and host Tim on my podcast. It's Tim Lovejoy.

We tap into how Tim has utilised his passion for self development and intrigue for learning to read his way out of depression. The different types meditation he has used and learned, one of which includes, (WALKING) and observing, so we did just that. The importance of living in the moment and how meditation can be a tool for that. His 2 self check-in alarms each day... We tapped into the importance of values, how they are learned and instilled within us. "If you value something show it attention, whether it's a friend, a partner, a cat, dog or a hobby" . We also tap into competition and fair game and his lack of empathy for "CHEATS" which comes back round to football. It's a meaty episode with some strong takeaways.

Aimee will be probing for answers from the full spectrum of routines; the early birds who have finely tuned Monday mornings, to the late risers who struggle to get up before 11am. How do elite athletes find the motivation to kick start their week come rain or shine? How do celebrities deliver no matter what the time of day? What knowledge can they pass on?

Each episode drops on a Monday morning as a bitesize piece of content and weekly dose of motivation - right when you need it. Aimee will meet each of her guests for a walk and a chat and over the course of the mile she will find out how they cope on a Monday morning - their idiosyncrasies, breakfast routines, alarm noises - and how, when they need to, find the motivation to kick-on through the week. Sharing some of Britain's greatest athletes, entrepreneurs, doctors, authors and broadcasters ’ secrets on self-motivation, candid thoughts on what they struggle with and a sideways look at some of their more unusual morning habits.

Head over to IG to watch the visuals of our episode and what we get up to on our Monday Mile. https://www.instagram.com/aimee_fuller/

Filmed by Jon Moy

This week's Monday Mile takes us out into a slightly different environment. You might expect this mile to take us into a ballroom, but no, we are in this particular individual's other happy place. He’s the definition of a Gentleman, he’s a multifaceted entertainer and an all round performer, a singer, an author and is most well known for his performances on the dance floor.  However this particular individual now sits on the exclusive judging panel every Saturday night on one of our most well loved shows - yes you've guessed - it’s Strictly Come Dancing, Anton Du Beke. 

We go for a round of Golf at the world famous Wentworth Course in Surrey.  During our walk, we discuss Anton's passion for Golf outside of the ballroom as well as his NTA nomination this week, and what it would mean to him to win. 

We tap into the brutality of being knocked out of the competition on Strictly, as someone with a depth of knowledge and experience having had a professional career as a Ballroom and Latin dancer, and 18 years of performing on the show.  Now on the other side as a judge, Anton gives us an insight into his empathy and understanding of what’s going on and how he applies his critique. 

Anton also leaves us with some really strong takeaways which can be applied to everyday life, the importance of showing up and being ready when an opportunity presents, and his motto “The one thing you must bring to everything, is your best”.

Aimee will be probing for answers from the full spectrum of routines; the early birds who have finely tuned Monday mornings, to the late risers who struggle to get up before 11am. How do elite athletes find the motivation to kick start their week come rain or shine? How do celebrities deliver no matter what the time of day? What knowledge can they pass on?

Each episode drops on a Monday morning as a bitesize piece of content and weekly dose of motivation - right when you need it. Aimee will meet each of her guests for a walk and a chat and over the course of the mile she will find out how they cope on a Monday morning - their idiosyncrasies, breakfast routines, alarm noises - and how, when they need to, find the motivation to kick-on through the week. Sharing some of Britain's greatest athletes, entrepreneurs, doctors, authors and broadcasters ’ secrets on self-motivation, candid thoughts on what they struggle with and a sideways look at some of their more unusual morning habits.

Head over to IG to watch the visuals of our episode and what we get up to on our Monday Mile. https://www.instagram.com/aimee_fuller/

Filmed by Jon Moy