The MacVet Podcast

In this episode, I’m joined by exercise physiologist Marcelle Malan as we discuss current trends in health and fitness alongside how to effectively communicate their relevance and context with clients.

We begin with why behaviour change is rarely just about logic, and why people often need a meaningful or emotional reason to stick with difficult habits.

Marcelle shares her view that different people are motivated by different levers — for some it’s emotion, for others it might be numbers, progress tracking, or competition — and that understanding those drivers is key to creating lasting change.

We then dive into the mechanics of breathing, which Marcelle feels are often missing from mainstream conversations about breathwork. Rather than focusing only on breathing techniques for relaxation or performance, she explains why it matters to understand what breathing is doing mechanically in the body. We discuss the role of the diaphragm not just in respiration, but also in spinal stability and movement, especially when lifting or carrying load.

We also chat about heart rate variability (HRV) and how it’s often presented as a simple marker of stress or recovery when the reality is much more nuanced. Marcelle explains what HRV is, why it can be useful when tracked over time, and why comparing your numbers to other people is rarely helpful. We also touch on how many health and fitness norms are based on male data, which can create misleading assumptions — especially for women.

Along the way, there’s plenty of humour, coffee chat and practical advice on how to think more critically about the information we absorb online.

Join the conversation with your thoughts, observations and feedback by leaving us a comment!

Links:

www.fitpro.com/blog/authors/marcelle-malan/

www.instagram.com/marcelle.malan_ep/

www.theepgroup.com.au/practitioners/

https://open.spotify.com/episode/74T9m0N6w0v7a94xY4ZYAn

In this episode, Eoin Ryan shares his journey from a rural upbringing in Tipperary to his role as assistant professor at University College Dublin. He discusses the cyclical nature of farming, the challenges of retaining young vets in practice, and his involvement in teaching, clinical work, and research —highlighting the Sound Cow Innovation Programme (SCIP), which aims to improve cow mobility in Irish dairy herds through collaboration with farmers and vets.

Eoin emphasises the importance of communication in veterinary medicine, explaining how empathy and positive language are vital for building trust and engagement with farmers and students.

Enriched with personal anecdotes, practical advice for new graduates, and even a traditional Irish ballad, this conversation reflects the blend of professionalism and warmth that defines Eoin's approach and personality.

Notes from this episode:

Link to the Sound Cow Innovation Programme (SCIP): https://animalhealthireland.ie/programmes/hoof-healthcheck/scip-sound-cow-innovation-programme/

Link to the Irish Veterinary Benevolent Fund: https://www.ivbf.ie/

In this episode, you're invited to step into the world of the Wild Cattle of Chillingham with animal scientist and author Stephen Hall! Stephen discusses the genetic and behavioural characteristics of the Chillingham cattle, a herd that has been in existence since the 1700s and lives with minimal human interference in the stunning county of Northumberland, England.

Enjoy personal stories from Stephen's research journey, the inspiration behind his book, and the value of making scientific knowledge accessible beyond academic journals.. If you’re curious about nature, conservation, and the importance of holistic environmental management, this episode is packed with insights and anecdotes.

If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to follow the podcast, share your thoughts, and let us know what you’d love to hear more of!

Notes:

"Wild Cattle of Chillingham, the Natural History of an Ancient Breed" by Stephen Hall available from 5M Books Limited.

Chillingham Wild Cattle Association: https://chillinghamwildcattle.com/

In this episode, Fiona chats with vet, scientist and entrepreneur Rodrigo Bicalho. Rodrigo shares his journey from growing up on a ranch in Brazil to running a cutting-edge animal health company in Texas.

He talks about why good communication matters so much in his work, the challenges of getting new ideas out to farmers, and how stress affects dairy cows (and what we can do about it).

Rodrigo also introduces his company’s innovative product, FerAppease, which helps keep cows calm during stressful events. Plus, you’ll hear about his love for Colombian coffee and get tips on where to find more info.

Notes:

Website: www.feraah.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rodrigo-bicalho-7a590a10

After extolling the virtues of the cow's physiology, vet and herd manager Nial O'Boyle returns to talk about the cow's role in human progress and civilisation. Sharing stories that focus on the links between humans and cows, throughout the ages, Nial highlights common themes such as kinship, loyalty, betrayal and wealth.

Then to emphasise just how integrated bovine products are in our lives, we share how a day in the life of a typical person might look.

Highlights from this educational and fun-filled episode include: Queen Maeve of Connacht, vulcanisation, whitening of sugar, a false eye, and learning how the cow forms part of the borth of the world.

After hearing this episode, you'll be reminded how we shouldn't take cows for granted and reflect on the many ways we've benefitted from having them in our lives.

If you'd like to hear more from Nial, check out episode 8 in Season 3.

I think of milk in terms of its similarity to crude oil, so you could say my business is like running a milk refinery.

Dairy farmer and entrepreneur Jimmy Dickinsons returns to share more stories about how he built his business, this time expanding more on dairy product technology.

Jimmy talks about his long career marked by innovation and perseverance. He recounts experimenting with freezing techniques to create a viable frozen milk product.

Not all his experiments were successful, and Jimmy points out that progress often requires risk, resilience, and a willingness to learn from setbacks. 

Compared to the resources available to support innovation in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, we talk about the decline of independent dairy product research and innovation in the UK, attributing this to changing political and commercial landscapes.

Reflecting on a poignant piece of advice shared by his father, Jimmy recounts that, no matter how far one climbs, those at the top are just ordinary people, and the journey is often more significant than the destination. 

Communication should be brief but comprehensive. Indeed, beef farmer Andrew Loftus suggests we should all start life with a quota of words, and once that quota is reached, it's time to shuffle off this mortal coil!

Andrew currently chairs the Beef and Lamb Net Zero Roadmap Group, an industry led group providing thought leadership on sustainable UK beef and lamb production. In this and in his various former roles, the need to have strong communication skills is crucial. Andrew may come across as challenging and argumentative, yet what he strives to achieve in conversations is a deeper and clearer understanding of the topic under discussion, and the viewpoint held by others.

In this episode, we discuss:

• adapting communications for different audiences, including farmers, policymakers, and the scientific community,

• the challenges and rewards of farming,

• the significance of data in livestock management, and the role livestock markets should play in data transfer.

Listen in to hear more about Andrew's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee.

Notes/links:

Beef and Lamb Environmental Roadmap https://projectblue.blob.core.windows.net/media/Default/Environment/Beef_and_Lamb_Environmental_Roadmap_Feb%202025.pdf

Johnny Baghdad's Cafe on the Square, Masham, Ripon

Based in the beautiful county of Ayrshire, Graeme Warnock is a marketing professional with a diverse background working in agriculture, music and hospitality industries. In this episode, he discusses his journey into marketing, highlighting the importance of creating a need, want, or desire for a brand, product, or service.

Graeme also shares his personal challenges with dyslexia and how it has shaped his approach to marketing, focusing on simplicity and clear communication to resonate with consumers.

We also chat about:

• the importance of making technical information understandable and relevant to the audience,

• the role of influencer marketing in building brand awareness and the need for authenticity in these partnerships,

• the challenges of measuring marketing success, handling communication issues, and adapting to industry and technological changes.

Listen in to hear Graeme's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee!

Jimmy Dickinson is the owner of Longley Farm, an iconic Yorkshire-based dairy business. Their award-winning fresh dairy produce has been a staple in my diet for many decades, with their cottage cheese my number one choice.

Having completed an engineering degree and MBA, Jimmy returned to the farm in 1983. He soon spotted an opportunity to set up an export business selling frozen cream to Japan, putting to use his expertise in thermodynamics. Jimmy later expanded operations internationally, setting up businesses in Estonia, Australia and South America.

Operating in diverse countries presented challenges including corruption and cultural differences. Reflecting on his approach to managing those challenges, Jimmy stressed the importance of patience, realistic expectations, and building trustworthy relationships over the years. 

In this interview, Jimmy provides a comprehensive view of Longley Farm’s history, shares his business philosophy, talks about technological innovations and product development strategy.

Listen in to hear Jimmy's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee!

Notes:

Longley Farm website https://longleyfarm.com/

Lorna Burdge runs Waterhayne Farms in Devon with her husband, helped out by their three children. She is on a mission to share her farming story, to help bridge the gap between consumers and food producers. She regularly speaks in person at local schools and keeps children engaged through Farmer Time, an online platform that offers video calls between farmers and classrooms.

Lorna also loves to share daily activities on the farm in Devon on her social media channel, from bringing the cows in from the fields, taking us through the milking parlour, feeding the calves and general jobs around the farm.

In this episode, Lorna talks about:

• confidently communicating about farming
• educating the next generation about agriculture
• the joy of drinking fresh milk in coffee

Notes from this episode:

Instagram account @waterhayne_farm

NFU Education: https://education.nfuonline.com/

Farmer Time: https://www.farmertime.uk/