Physical Activity Researcher

Physical Activity Researcher

Hello and Welcome to Physical Activity Researcher Podcast! Physical Activity Researcher Podcast is the source of the latest research findings on all things related to physical activity, exercise, and health. World-renowned scientists and experts as guests in an informal and relaxed interview style format. New episodes on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The podcast is for anyone who likes to learn scientific and evidence-based knowledge of physical activity, exercise, and health. Our listeners range from researchers to health and fitness professionals, and from inactive office workers to marathon runners. Podcast has several series and hosts each concentrating on different aspects of physical activity: Physical Activity Researcher Series The latest research findings in exercise physiology, biomechanics, physical education, coaching sciences, sport psychology, epidemiology, and public health. These episodes are hosted by researcher and entrepreneur Dr Olli Tikkanen. Meaningful Sport Series Meaningful Sport is dedicated to the exploration of meaning and meaningful experiences in sport and physical activity. Many studies have revealed instrumental benefits of physical activity, but is there something more to it, and how does it contribute to meaningful lives? This series is led by Associate Professor Noora Ronkainen. The series provides inspiration for exploring the meaning and value in sport and physical activity for everyone. Practitioner’s Viewpoint Series Practitioner’s Viewpoint Series has health and fitness professionals as guests. How they see sedentary behaviour and physical activity in their work? What are the best practices to promote physical activity? This series is for you if you are a Personal Trainer, Physiotherapist, Medical Doctor, Health Coach, or anyone working as a health and fitness professional. This series is lead by physiotherapist MSc Liis Kukkonen. Publishing schedule: Tuesdays: Physical Activity Researcher Series Friday: Meaningful Sport Series Sundays: Practitioner’s Viewpoint Series. + Bonus episodes and republications of past highlight episodes We hope you find value in the podcast! -Podcasting team-

Episodes

October 31, 2025 19 mins

What stops people with disabilities from being physically active? In this episode, we discuss real barriers—and real solutions—from lived experiences and research. From neuropathic pain to equipment costs, Dr. James Haley shares what truly matters when designing inclusive activity interventions.

In this continuation of the conversation between Dr. James Haley and host Dr. Olli Tikkanen, the focus shifts to the day-to-day challenges...

Mark as Played

Announcement Related to the Rest of the 2022 - Irregular Publishing Schedule

Dear listeners,

So it happened that both of the podcast hosts became parents on the very same day!

Recordings have been swapped to diaper changing and lullaby singing. This means that the Meaningful Sport Series will be paused until about the end of the year.

Regular episodes and Practitioner`s Viewpoint Series will be running but with less episodes. Some ...

Mark as Played

People with disabilities face more barriers to physical activity—but technology is offering new hope. In this episode, we explore one of the world’s first exercise apps designed specifically for people with multiple disabilities.

Dr. James Haley, a health psychologist from the University of Chichester, joins host Dr. Olli Tikkanen to discuss how co-designed mobile health interventions can support individuals with complex needs. Dra...

Mark as Played

Announcement Related to the Rest of the 2022 - Irregular Publishing Schedule

Dear listeners,

So it happened that both of the podcast hosts became parents on the very same day!

Recordings have been swapped to diaper changing and lullaby singing. This means that the Meaningful Sport Series will be paused until about the end of the year.

Regular episodes and Practitioner`s Viewpoint Series will be running but with less episodes. Some ...

Mark as Played

Survival Analysis - Dr Chris Moore

---

This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | The New Gold Standard for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Monitoring

Learn more about Fibion: fibion.com/research

---

Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely -

Discover new Fibion SENS Motion: https://sens.fibion.com/

Mark as Played

Evolution of Accelerometry Processing Methods - Dr Chris Moore

---

This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | The New Gold Standard for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Monitoring

Learn more about Fibion: fibion.com/research

---

Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely -

Discover new Fibion SENS Motion: https://sens.fibion.com/

 

Mark as Played

Jesse Cook is a PhD candidate in the Dr. David Plante Sleep Research Laboratory and studies biological, psychological and sociological factors that connect with unexplained excessive sleepiness.

He was first drawn to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research through the connection between sleep health and AD, and the prevention, detection and potential treatment implications of this connection.

Cook believes sleep health disparities across...

Mark as Played

Jesse Cook is a PhD candidate in the Dr. David Plante Sleep Research Laboratory and studies biological, psychological and sociological factors that connect with unexplained excessive sleepiness.

He was first drawn to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research through the connection between sleep health and AD, and the prevention, detection and potential treatment implications of this connection.

Cook believes sleep health disparities across...

Mark as Played

Jesse Cook is a PhD candidate in the Dr. David Plante Sleep Research Laboratory and studies biological, psychological and sociological factors that connect with unexplained excessive sleepiness.

He was first drawn to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research through the connection between sleep health and AD, and the prevention, detection and potential treatment implications of this connection.

Cook believes sleep health disparities across...

Mark as Played

Jesse Cook is a PhD candidate in the Dr. David Plante Sleep Research Laboratory and studies biological, psychological and sociological factors that connect with unexplained excessive sleepiness.

He was first drawn to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research through the connection between sleep health and AD, and the prevention, detection and potential treatment implications of this connection.

Cook believes sleep health disparities across...

Mark as Played

In this second part of our conversation with Dr Leah Ferguson, we continue exploring self-compassion and flourishing in sport. Specifically, we discuss gendered perspectives on self-compassion and eudaimonic well-being, the need to move away from binary perspectives on gender and considering a broader range of cultural identities, and the importance of using appropriate language when discussing self-compassion with athletes and coa...

Mark as Played

Many athletes believe that they should be self-critical and hard on themselves to reach their full potential. Yet, what if an opposite perspective, focused on self-compassion, would actually be much more conducive to flourishing and meaningful experiences in sport? These and other questions are explored in this episode with Dr Leah Ferguson.

Questions explored in this podcast include:

- What is self-compassion and how is it differe...

Mark as Played

In this second part of our conversation with Professor Rylee Dionigi, we continue exploring the Masters sport phenomenon from a socio-cultural perspective. Ageing-as-decline discourse is nowadays challenged by active, healthy and successful ageing discourses. What are the opportunities but also potential problems associated with these competing discourses? What are the implications for exercise and health promotion with older adult...

Mark as Played

Opportunities for involvement in sports in later life have increased significantly and many sports around the globe have competitions and categories for Masters/Veteran athletes. At the same time, researchers have explored the experiences and meanings of being an older athlete, showing tensions in individual experiences as well as in shifting social discourse surrounding sport and ageing. We have shifted from ageing-as-decline to a...

Mark as Played

Why do endurance athletes perform better after exhaustion, while power athletes decline? How does muscle coordination impact warm-ups and performance? In this episode, Dr. Daniel Boullosa and Dr. Olli Tikkanen dive deep into the science behind exercise physiology, muscle activation, and evolutionary adaptations in sports performance.

Dr. Boullosa shares findings from his studies on how endurance-trained and strength-trained athlete...

Mark as Played

How can heart rate variability help athletes optimize training? What role does post-activation performance enhancement play in endurance and power sports? In this episode, Dr. Daniel Boullosa and Dr. Olli Tikkanen explore cutting-edge research on athlete monitoring, fatigue management, and neuromuscular readiness.

Dr. Boullosa discusses the significance of heart rate variability (HRV) in assessing recovery, readiness, and overall t...

How does fatigue help protect our bodies, and why does it matter for athletes? Can understanding evolutionary biology improve training and recovery? In this episode, Dr. Daniel Boullosa and Dr. Olli Tikkanen discuss the science of fatigue, performance optimization, and personalized training strategies.

Dr. Boullosa explains how different types of athletes respond to endurance and strength exercises, highlighting the role of warm-up...

Mark as Played

"How can advanced health monitoring devices support an aging population?" In this insightful episode, Dr. Olli Tikkanen sits down with Steve Seo, a biomedical engineer and CEO from South Korea, to discuss the role of wearable technology in healthcare, especially as populations age. Steve shares his journey from aspiring to be a doctor to working in biomedical engineering and explains how wearable devices like Fibion are helping to ...

Mark as Played

"Is walking to school really enough to tackle childhood obesity?" In this third episode, Dr. Olli Tikkanen and Dr. Rob Noonan explore the complex issue of childhood obesity and the social factors that contribute to it. Dr. Noonan shares surprising findings from his research, showing that while children from deprived areas are more likely to walk to school, they are also more likely to struggle with obesity. This challenges the ...

Mark as Played

"How do you change a society's values when capitalism rewards consumption and individualism?" In this second part of the episode, Dr. Olli Tikkanen and Dr. Rob Noonan dive deeper into the societal drivers behind health inequality, focusing on the UK and comparing it to other nations like the Scandinavian countries. Dr. Noonan explains how the core values of a society - competition, productivity, and consumption - shape not only i...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.