Purpose Driven Movement

Welcome to Purpose Driven Movement | Inside the Performer’s Mind, a collaboration between Functional Training Institute and HeadCoach.

Hosted by Tarek Michael Chouja and Jay Hedley, this podcast is for sport, health, wellness, and fitness professionals who want to operate at a higher level.

Each episode takes you inside real conversations with coaches, athletes, and leaders in high performance. Together, Tarek and Jay explore both si...

What truly sets elite sports leaders apart when managing multicultural teams? In this special episode of Purpose Driven Movement Podcast, co-hosts Jay Hedley and Tarek Michael-Chouja speak with Alana Thomas from Fiji Rugby about her journey from player to high-performance manager and how culture, connection, and empathy shape winning teams. You’ll learn how to shift from control to influence, balance accountability with care, and l...

Are you fueling your body or genuinely nourishing it? Join Ian Craig, founder of the Centre for Integrative Sports Nutrition (CISN), as he challenges conventional sports nutrition thinking. In this episode, you'll learn how to balance macronutrients with essential micronutrients, integrate diverse, colorful foods into your diet, and support your mitochondrial health for optimal energy, recovery, and performance. Ian breaks dow...

What if your chronic fatigue, inflammation, or low mood has nothing to do with motivation and everything to do with sunlight deficiency? In this episode, Peter Forhan, a Light Physicist,  breaks down the science behind how sunlight and red light therapy restore cellular energy, why most people today are living in chronic low-power mode, and how your intracellular water acts like a biological solar panel. You’ll learn about near-inf...

Ever wondered how technology can transform your health journey? In this episode of the Purpose Driven Movement podcast, Coach Tarek sits down with Jason Moore, founder of SPREN and Elite HRV, to discuss the future of health technology. Discover how SPREN is making health data more accessible and actionable, and learn about the role of personalization in health management. Jason shares insights into bridging the gap between medical ...

What separates good athletes from great ones? In this episode, host Tarek Michael-Chouja speaks with Jay Hedley, Managing Partner at The Coaching Room, who draws on years of experience in elite sport to show how mental skills shape winning outcomes. From working with powerhouse teams like Fiji Rugby to launching the HeadCoach brand, Jay explores transforming anxiety into potential, building strong team cultures, and collaborating w...

What if your feet hold the key to lifelong health, agility and movement? In this episode, Dr Emily Splichal, the Movement Longevity Doctor, shares her journey from podiatry to functional health, showing how foot strength and balance shape our overall wellbeing. She explains the hidden risks of overly supportive shoes and offers practical strategies for moving towards minimalist footwear. You’ll learn her four pillars of foot health...

Step into an inspiring story of transformation as Kelly O’Brien, founder of Elysium Wellness, shares her deeply personal journey from corporate life through the heartbreak and trauma of IVF to discovering lasting healing, purpose, and mental health awareness. In this episode, Kelly reveals how a near-fatal incident became the spark for personal growth, leading her to create accessible wellness solutions and champion the importance ...

Are you ready to revolutionise your health, performance, and mindset? In episode 51 of Purpose Driven Movement, host Tarek Michael Chouja celebrates a landmark of 50 episodes by bringing together the most transformative highlights from wellness visionaries like Sam Merza, Ian O’Dwyer, Anna Milani, and Whitney Jones. This special episode is packed with longevity tips, unique fitness philosophies, and holistic strategies that empower...

What if tightness isn’t the problem but a symptom of something deeper? In this eye-opening episode, Dave Liow, founder of the Holistic Movement Coach Programme, shares how he integrates musculoskeletal science with traditional Chinese medicine, emotional health, and sensory activation to help the body move better and feel stronger. With over two decades of experience in sport science, kinesiology, and coaching, Dave brings a ground...

What if your daily choices were shaping your biological age more than your birthday ever could? In this compelling episode of the Purpose Driven Movement Podcast, host Tarek Michael-Chouja is joined by Dr Denise Furness, a functional geneticist and global leader in nutrigenomics and epigenetics. Together, they explore the future of healthcare, shining a light on the science of preventative health, DNA testing, and the powerful role...

What if your body’s pain, performance, and emotional baggage were all flowing through the same system? In this episode of Purpose Driven Movement, host Tarek is joined by returning guest Ian O’Dwyer, Co-Founder of Feel SOMA. Together, they explore the living, moving matrix of fascia - how it stores emotion, responds to stress, and thrives through play and variability. You’ll learn why recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all, how popular c...

If you’re a health or fitness professional wanting to stay ahead of the curve, this episode of the Purpose Driven Movement podcast is essential listening. Host Tarek chats with Jennifer Halsall and Dr Lou Atkinson from The Collective, about the cultural shift sparked by the rise of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. These treatments are giving many people their first real chance to move without pain or shame, but as Jennife...

What if the fear holding you back is actually the key to your next breakthrough? In this episode, host Tarek Michael-Chouja is joined by Whitney Jones, three-times Ms. Fitness Olympia Champion, mentor and author of Win Broken. Whitney shares the raw reality behind the medals: injuries, setbacks and the deep internal battles most never see. You’ll learn how embracing fear, building discipline and showing up for yourself, even when b...

What does it take to keep elite athletes at their peak, even under relentless travel, pressure, and fatigue? In this episode of Purpose Driven Movement, host Tarek Michael Chouja speaks with Dr Stephen Bird, a professor in sport and exercise science, about the realities of athlete development. You'll hear about the power of planning, the importance of self-care, and why small routines—on and off the court—make all the differen...

In this insightful episode, host Tarek sits down with cognitive fitness expert Anna Milani to explore how movement can transform both body and mind. They discuss the impact of cognitive fitness training on mental health, longevity, and the fitness industry, highlighting the importance of complexity in training and the benefits of a holistic approach. Anna shares inspiring stories and insights into dual-tasking and the differences b...

In this podcast episode, Dr Sachin Patel, a chiropractor and functional medicine practitioner, shares groundbreaking insights on the transformative power of breathwork in health and wellness. Health professionals will find invaluable information on how breath can be a powerful tool for regulating the nervous system, facilitating emotional release, and improving overall health. Dr. Patel introduces the innovative "Breathe Like ...

Have you ever wondered what it really takes to recover from an injury—both physically and mentally? In this episode, Dane Larsen, an Exercise Physiologist at Total Fusion Gym, shares practical strategies for rehabilitation. From working with physios in the early stages to building strength and confidence for a full return to sport, he breaks down the process step by step. You’ll learn about the power of mindset, tailored training p...

Dive into the cutting-edge of fitness industry evolution with Ross Campbell, founder of Beyond Activ, in this must-listen episode for fitness professionals. Campbell, a veteran in market insights and industry growth, unpacks the transformative trends shaping health, wellness, and fitness businesses in 2025. From the rise of "light training" like Pilates to the resurgence of big box gyms, this episode offers invaluable ins...