Practically Fit is back! For season 2, Alex's wife Abbie joins him as a co-host. In this episode, Alex and Abbie kick off the new season by discussing the husband-wife fitness dynamic. Is it possible that couples who workout together have better relationships? Alex and Abbie share a few tips that have helped them reach their fitness goals together, and talk about things that might not be so helpful, too. And because it's Practically Fit, they also share insightful evidence that couples' fitness routines just might be the secret sauce for a healthy relationship.

As referenced during the podcast, check out S1E29, Do Romantic Partners Make the Best Friends?

In this episode, Alex and Jen interview Joan Maiden, who started a new career as a personal trainer at 50, helping clients overcome tremendous obstacles to lead an active, healthy life. Author of F Old Age, Joan talks about her own fitness journey and shares tips on how to live with passion, purpose and power at any age. You’ll also get a sneak peek of Jen and Joan’s upcoming trip to walk the Boudicca Way in England, named for a legendary warrior woman who stood up to the Romans in AD 60.

Studies say … drink more coffee, wait, no, less coffee. If you’ve ever been confused about all the conflicting health research out there, this episode is for you. While Alex and Jen like to talk about the science behind fitness, they are not scientists. In this episode, Jen chats with Wendy Cedron Craft, an actual scientist, about what to look for when reading research on health and fitness topics—or any topic for that matter. Wendy also shares about her own personal fitness journey, including her recent experience in getting back to running after a badly broken leg.

In this episode, Alex and Jen talk about sleep. What impact does sleep (or lack thereof) have on your health? How much sleep do you actually need? And can exercise help you sleep better? Jen and Alex answer these questions, plus Jen recounts her bizarre experience in a strip mall sleep lab.

Looking for the results of this episode’s experiment? According to Jen and Alex, both slept about the same amount as normal after one alcoholic beverage (consumed while recording this episode), with *slightly* lower overall sleep quality scores.

With smoke from wildfires blanketing parts of the eastern U.S. and Canada, and a “heat dome” scorching central parts of the continent, it’s been a rough summer for outdoor exercise enthusiasts. In this episode, Jen and Alex talk about outdoor workouts in less than ideal conditions like heat, humidity, smoke and poor air quality. Should you push through or head indoors? And if you decide to run, bike or hike, what precautions should you take?

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Next time you want to get high, try going for a run! In this episode, Jen and Alex explore the science behind the “runner’s high,” and its surprising source. We’ve always heard it’s endorphins that cause that blissful feeling after exercise, but recent research shows there another type of chemical in your body that is responsible for that relaxing feeling: endocannabinoids. Just what are they, and what sort of exercise brings them on? Alex and Jen answer those questions and share their own experiences with the runner’s high.

Is working out with your spouse or romantic partner a good idea? In this episode, Alex is joined by his wife Abbie to discuss how working out with your partner can both improve the relationship and help you reach your fitness goals…as long as you set some ground rules. If you’re thinking about starting a new exercise routine with your partner, Alex and Abbie have some tips for you based on their own experiences.

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With screen time skyrocketing, our kids are more sedentary than ever. In this episode of the podcast, Alex goes solo to talk about the negative impacts a sedentary lifestyle can have on our kids, including the effect on their heart health. He also shares some practical tips to help you get your kids interested in exercise. Getting kids more active is an important issue for society, so even if you’re not a parent, this episode is for you!

Feeling forgetful? Lacking energy or focus? Experiencing headaches? It could be stress. In this episode, Jen and Alex explore the impact of stress on your body, and talk about some practical ways to hit the reset button on stress and elicit what’s known as the “relaxation response.” How does exercise help alleviate stress? And can stress actually lead you to exercise less? Jen and Alex answer these questions, and share their own experiences with combating stress.

For Jenn Bencheck, running 100 miles was nothing compared with the grit and determination it took to overcome two life-changing neurological disorders. Now a registered yoga teacher, Jenn shares her story, including her experiences with ultra running and why fitness friends and positive thinking were keys to her success.  This episode is our first in a series we’re calling “real fitness journeys,” where we’ll feature guests with inspiring stories about how fitness influenced their lives.