Merry Christmas! I hope you and your’s have had a good holiday season!

I believe this will be a warming, nostalgic conversation to entertain you in this downtime.

Martin Middleton, a racing car fanatic has lived a remarkable life working on race cars as a mechanic and a remarkable spell as companion/translator to Formula One Legend Juan Manuel Fangio. 

I hope you enjoy this one. 

Go well and keep moving in 2026! If you need any help with getting more active drop me a note - [email protected]

Best wishes,

Teddy

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Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

JP joins the show once more to update on Cheltenham Football Club's rejuvenated season, look ahead to a big FA Cup showdown with Leicester plus reflects on his soft spot for Cameroon with AFCON upon us.

A compelling conversation with Jack Bannister - a Cruiserweight boxer from Gloucester who won the Southern Area title in November 2025.

Jack talks about falling in love with the sport, his frustration at trying to find opponents and his ambitions for the future.

Jack's sparred some big names and talks about the challenge of going into another fighter's camp.

Also discuss his day job as an electrician and why representing his home city means so much to him.

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Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

I hope you enjoy this uplifting conversation with Ash Loveridge as much as I did. Ash is a seasoned sports journalist who is approaching the 5th year of running the independent website https://stroudtimes.com

In this episode we talk about how former Premier League footballer and Wales international Robbie Savage has helped lift Forest Green Rovers on and off the pitch.

We also talk about the continued growth of Stroud Times and people's hunger for local news and sports coverage in an age where traditional outlets are under the pump.

Dr Laura O'Loghlen is a GP and private doctor in Cheltenham - co-founding Montpellier Medical in the heart of the town (https://www.montpelliermedical.co.uk)

In this conversation we covered some key areas of how to stay healthy in winter including:

* Modifying our physical output if fatigued/sleepy in the dark days of mid winter.

* Sleep (and screens)

* Alcohol

* Vitamin D

* Vitamin B12

* Relating to vitamin levels - the importance of blood tests.

* Daylight

* Socialising

* Flu (and how this year's vaccine may have been dodged by the prevalent strain in the UK)

I found this a really useful and practicable chat - and fun! Let me know what you think.

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Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

Mark Weir is not far off 60, but you’d never guess it! A UFC pioneer and Gloucestershire legend , 'The Wizard' recorded a 10-second KO win in the inaugural UFC in London in 2002 - he still trains, eats and sleeps like a Champion and is a bundle of energy and enthusiasm. 

In this conversation we discuss a coming-of-age year for his charge Christian Leroy Duncan who recorded three victories in the UFC to move to a 13-2 record and showed potential to be a championship contender. 

Mark reflects on the incredible growth of the UFC and the money and prestige that’s now up for grabs for fighters like Christian. 

We also talk about his continued work training aspiring pros and everyday people at Range Martial Arts Academy in Gloucester. https://www.facebook.com/RangeMartialArtsAcademy/?locale=en_GB

Mark tells me why MMA is the sport to choose for self-defence.

We also discuss Mark’s secrets to longevity and health - the importance of movement and his adherence to a daily fast. 

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Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

Andy Tucker is a football legend where I live in Cheltenham - an ex player for Cheltenham Town FC and Gloucester City, he created soccer schools that are famous in the this part of the world. And through his national franchise supa strikers Tuxs is helping kids as young as two learn the ropes of the beautiful game.

Great to talk football and business with this passionate man.

If you’re looking to coach kids in that 2-7 age bracket and need a little help, Tuxs has an entire system in place and can help you get started: https://www.supastrikers.co.uk

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Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

I met Claire Richardson recently at a networking event and was seriously impressed with her passion and vision - and overwhelming conviction that we can enjoy a healthy second half of life. 

I’m in my forties and I’m often saddened by the limiting beliefs of many of my peers. “I’m too old to exercise.” Or “it’s time to maintain what I’ve got.” To be honest, I first noticed comments like this in my twenties. As Claire underscores with hard science - we can get fitter and stronger as we age. 

Claire has set up GHS Clinics - https://ghsclinics.health/services/ - in Cheltenham to help clients maximise their health-span (how long they live in good physical and mental health) so it’s closer to their lifespan (total years lived). 

In this pod we talk about GHS’ Second Prime plan and the importance of taking some time to create a plan for ageing well. 

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Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

Powerful conversation with ex Antiguan and Barbudan international Craig Heskey on his role steering young players through the highs and lows of trying to make it as professional players at Liverpool Football Club.

Craig over the past six or seven years - at Leyton Orient and Millwall previously - has been a pioneer in this new, and, I think, vital role.

Craig and others' work is big from the clubs' perspective: by giving nurturing and mentoring care you increase the club's chances of maximising the talent in the ranks. But also from the players ' perspective, I love the fact that one of Craig's big drivers is keeping the players' joy for the game (whether they make it pro or not).

We also discuss Craig’s cousin, Ex England star Emile Heskey and his role as an inspirational figure to Craig. 

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Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: check out the intro to the podcast.

I’ve been to watch horse racing lots of times - most often here in the town I live in at the iconic Cheltenham Racecourse. And I know a fair bit about training - from a degree in sports science to qualifying as a personal trainer. But I don’t know too much about the training of horses. Turns out they’re not all that different to humans. 

It was illuminating then to chat with Max Kendrick - an ex jockey who know helps training horses at Fergal O’Brien’s picturesque yard near Cheltenham. 

Max is doing pioneering work with horse heart rate monitors, that also track metics like the speed of the horse and distance covered. This gives insight that will help trainers coax horses to peak performance, but also from an animal welfare perspective make sure the horses aren’t overtrained. 

Pretty cool to hear Max talk about how the data is often backing up old school trainers’ ‘feel’ for how the horses are.

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Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing check out the intro the podcast.