Fitness Mindset Motivation Podcast
By Thomas Armstrong
Fitness Mindset Motivation Podcast Oct 02, 2020
Fuelled - James Laithwaite - S2 E1 - Sportsman, Injury, injury prevention, biohacking, coldwater therapy, red light therapy, business, entrepreneurship
In this episode, I spoke with James Laithwaite retired professional rugby player and now an entrepreneur.
'Jams' has suffered a lot with injury over the years and he talks about overcoming these setbacks and the hacks he uses day to day plus his inspiration to starting his company with his wife Michelle.
we talk about biohacking and how we both use certain techniques and devices to help our recovery from injury and improve our performance. he really advocates cryotherapy as do I and red light therapy which has been a game-changer for my hip pain.
In the last section of the podcast, Michelle joins as the pair talks about their ambitions in business and their company fuel hub and how they have made some huge changes, making the brand more eco-friendly and in line with their customers and client base.
If you want to find out more about fuel hub visit them online: www.fuelhub.co.uk and why not see their amazing menu on their Instagram @fuelhubuk
thanks again for listening please rate and review on apple podcasts it really helps the discoverability of the podcast.
have a great week
Tom
Indomitable - Owen Livsey - Ep14 - overcoming adversity,Judo, MMA, lifestyle, s&c, coaching,fighting, olympic trials
In this episode, I catch up with commonwealth judo champion turned professional MMA fighter and old teammate from saints academy Owen Livsey.
Owen played rugby and also trained and competed as a judoka until the last couple of years where the path of life dealt him some hands and he found himself in hull and coaching and teaching judo and wrestling to rugby players the sport that initially disregarded his pursuits of both rugby and judo all them years ago. Life has a funny way of coming around full circle many times over and his story is great to listen to as he like many sportsmen and women have been so close on many occasions but has never given up and is now in a great position training full time to pursue the dream of being an MMA fighter and not just a fighter! he wants to push this opportunity to its limit and I believe he has what it takes.
This conversation covers everything from judo camps to Olympic dreams, setbacks to dark times and the light at the end of the tunnel.
I hope you enjoy this episode. please like rate and share when you get a minute on apple podcasts it will help the algorithm and discoverability of the podcast.
If you want to discover more about Owen and his upcoming events please give him a follow on Instagram @owenlivsey or if you in the hull check out his gym @carlsongraciehull
We will be following his fight plan from now on and will be supporting him in any way possible so please check out his page and his current sponsors...
Again everyone has a great week and ill be back again soon with another podcast!
Take Care
Tom Armstrong
Ultraman 2 - Matthew Dyas - Ep13 - Hadrians wall ultra, adversity, mentality, marathon running, charity, cancer
In this episode, we review the 135km Hadrian's wall ultra we ran on Halloween of last year.
we initially planned to complete the run in one day but the conditions were against us and as a result, we had to complete the challenge over 2 days.
We talk about all the prep leading up to the run and then all the challenges we faced along the way.
This was, without doubt, one of the toughest challenges I've ever undertaken and even matty a seasoned ultras runner with over 15 ultras to his name said it was his toughest ultra he has completed.
I hope you enjoy this conversation, Please share with someone you think will like this episode! And rate review on wherever you listen to your podcasts... Thank You
Have a great week
Tom
Invincible - Andy Reid MBE - Ep 12 - Injury, Conflict, mindset, recovery, determination, adaptability
In this episode, I spoke with Andy Reid MBE and this was a long time since I last spoke to andy many years ago not long after his injury in Afghanistan in 2009.
There was a lot in this episode and we actually spoke for 2 hours but the first 30 minutes was too informal to publish and we have some excellent content that has been left out for another episode in the future which is exciting.
We spoke about his obvious injuries and the immediate moments from that point to where he is at now with his foundation and a new life without three of his four limbs.
Andy is a great bloke and I hope to link up with him on some more projects in the near future.
So thanks andy and thanks to everyone for listening.
I have published 2 bonus episodes which were recorded live with International DJ Max Chapman which you can find at @tarmstong89 on Instagram
And an episode with Matthew Dyas where we revisited our 135km Ultra Marathon last October.
I will get those episodes edited and published on the website as soon as I can.
Have a great week and Happy Easter
Tom
Empowering - Hannah Grace Lawson - S1 Ep 11 - Eating Disorders, Recovery, Performing arts, Les Miserable, Hairspray
This episode as part of national eating disorder awareness week and to be released today as part of International women's day!
I sat down with a west end star Hannah Grace Lawson.
Hannah is best known for appearing arguable one of the most iconic of west end shows Les Miserables.
Hannah had struggled with controlling her eating disorder whilst in a super high-pressure environment at arts educational and then later whilst on the west end itself.
We spoke about how it affected her and how she managed to find her pathway to recovery during the lockdowns.
Hannah is a huge advocate for healthy eating now and wants to spread her message through her Instagram and her youtube to reach other ladies who may be suffering in silence with these problems.
You can find out more about Hannah along with all her current endeavours here:
Hannah London theatre direct, youtube, Instagram personal, Instagram Fitness
If you got anything out of this conversation or you think someone will please share it with that person.
Have a great rest of the week.
Thomas Armstrong
Assiduous - Oliver Wilkes - S1 Ep 10 - Rugby, Longevity, Work Life balance, Mindset,Divorce
In this episode i caught up with Scotland International my old captain at leigh Centurions Oliver wilkes. He has amassed over 500 games in his professional career spanning over 20 years which is an amazing achievement by any standards across any sport in any country so it was a privilege and an honour to catch up with him and see how he managed to play at the highest level for so long!
We spoke a lot about rugby and about the transition out of sport and how he and others can use the help of others including rugby league cares who are doing a great job for the careers of players after the sport and he urges them to reach out and use the help that is there, No1 is going to do it for you.
Again thanks for listening if any of these topics reach you then please share or comment and give the podcast a rating where ever it is you listen.
Up next is a west end star who has overcome an eating disorder and is inspiring ladies from across the nation to be body confident...
Thanks again have a great week speak soon
Thomas Armstrong
Banished - Jamie Acton - S1 Ep 9 - ADHD, Mindset,Professional sport,coaching, meditation, mma
In this episode, I caught up with Jamie Acton my Ex Teammate and a good friend.
We spoke about his challenges and life living with and overcoming ADHD. We covered rugby, coaching the mindset of a coach and the current challenges facing him as an assistant coach at Swinton lions.
We spoke about the app he has been developing for the last 18 months in which he aims to BANISH peoples demons as he calls them or anxieties depressions, mental health or learning difficulties through the medium of exercise.
Jamie realised how important exercise was to his mental health after he retired from rugby and started to develop the app around his own life experiences to help others in a similar situation.
I hope you enjoy the episode and if you think someone can benefit from it or you benefit yourself please share this with one person to spread the conversation wider. And please like and rate on apple podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts it will really help the algorithm.
Have a great week
🗣 Be True to yourself be True Athletic
Thomas Armstrong
Misunderstood - Willie Tonga - S1 E8 - Anxiety, Depression, Sports, Rugby, Friendship
We talk in-depth about his career and his upbringing. His struggles in his early career trying to fit in! his reason for being a rugby player and how he managed to use criticism to his advantage and motivate him through the tough times.
We talked about injuries and the feeling of isolation which is associated with being injured and out of the loop from the squad which has a huge impact on many players young and old.
We got a lot deeper and shared some stories of anxiety and depression and how we have both suffered and have helped those around us with similar problems which are all too common in the sport!
I really hope this episode can reach someone and can help them understand better the mindset of a true athlete and how it isn't all sunshine and rainbows yet there is always help out there in the form of your peers or teammates or family.
If you get anything from this episode or think someone you know will please share this and leave a comment and a rating on Apple podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Thank you for listening
Have a great week
🗣Be True to yourself be True Athletic
Introspectivity - Ste Lane - S1 E7
In this Episode.....
I got to sit down with Ste and talk in a huge amount of depth about all aspects of fitness and health. We really did take a deep dive into the infinite space of living better and healthier!
I am going to keep this brief however some of the things we covered are...
- Diet
- Recovery
- Biohacking - Red Light therapy
- mushrooms supplements
- Psychedelics
- travel
- love
- happiness
- Mediation
- Leadership
And more...
If you want to find more out about Ste and what he is all about please reach out to him on instagram or visit his website www.peakprimalhealth.com
If you enjoy the episode please share it with one person and if you really want to help out please give a rating on apple podcasts or spotify it takes two minutes and will be a huge help with the algorithm.
Have a great week......
Up next I have Australian international Willie Tonga looking forward to this one!!!
Back Yourself Uce - QLT - S1 EP6
In this episode, I caught up with international Samoan Rugby player, Sheffield Eagles legendary Fullback and businessman QLT
This episode was a little different in the respect I was due an overdue catch up with Q after the year we have all had last year and it was over 2 years since I sat down and had a good chat with him so there was a little bit more back and forth but, to be honest, it was just nice to find out more about his life and ask some deeper questions to what I usually would in a rugby setting.
I spoke about his entire career From humble beginnings all the way through to the present day with a lot thrown in between during my time staying with him and his family during my time at Sheffield.
we went on to talk about his new coaching business and his property business try line property which he started a year and a half ago now with fellow rugby and Castleford tigers star Jesse Sene-Lefao . They are both clearly driven and motivated men to play full-time rugby raise a family and start-up business along the way. He also heads a coaching company complete rugby project with another former teammate of mine Jack Howieson this is for youngsters who haven't quite made it onto a professional pathway yet in Rugby League or Rugby union so be sure to check that out too here if you are interested in finding out more.
This episode will give you an insight into the life of Q and hopefully show people how it is possible to start second and third revenue steam in your spare time and still manage to juggle family life and all that goes with it whilst remaining happy and at the top of your game.
QLT was a mentor for me at my time at Sheffield and hopefully he can with his story guide others down a path to success and happiness too.
If you get anything out of this episode please let me know and leave a comment. It is greatly beneficial for the algorithms on Apple podcasts and YouTube if you like rate and comment so please if you have a minute to do that it will go along way.
thanks again for listening and reading see you next week
🗣Be True to yourself be True Athletic
Tom
TAF
The Triple threat - GB Triple Jumper and olympic bound- Naomi Ogbeta - Episode 5
In Episode 5. I spoke with the incredibly talented Naomi Ogbeta. She is best known for her talents as a world-class triple jumper but has many more strings to an infinite bow.
I wanted to find out more about Naomi's life because of how many skills and talents she has; from creating content to her off-piste talents as a comedian! Yes, you heard it right. She not only is one of GBs best female triple jumpers on her way to the japan 2021 Olympics but she is a comedian and has been asked by Team GB to document her time at the Olympics, to give us the fans a first-person view behind the scenes at the Olympics. The crowds might not be as vast this summer but this vlog style capturing of the events is no doubt a reason unto itself to get behind Naomi and team GB this summer at the japan Olympics. Let us all get behind her and the team and help her bring home an unforgettable experience and hopefully some precious metals!!
If you want to find out more about Naomi she has a great website with everything she is doing and has done up to this point in her life. Including her video diaries her written blogs, her work with the charity Football Beyond Borders and much more. Be sure to please give it a look and share with others to spread the work of Naomi.
Have a Great week thanks for listening!
Tom
Bon voyage, Rugby league star and S&C coach Andrew Dixon Season 1 Episode 4
First of all, I would like to wish Andrew the best of luck for his new move to Toulouse Olympique. They have a great set up and it will be a great opportunity to soak up a new culture and I think he and the team will make a huge impact this season!
In this episode, I talk with a good friend and long time teammate and opponent going back to grassroots rugby.
I sat down and spoke to Andrew before the new year after he had left his last club Toronto which we discussed in depth. His opinions on the situation with rugby over the pond and what he thinks about its future and a look back on his time at the club, he talks so fondly about Toronto the city and Canada as a country as well as a club.
We stick with the theme and talk about all things related to Fitness, Mindset and motivation and how Andrew continues to be one of the most consistent players out there and what he does ritually to achieve this state of excellence.
We talk about his multiple talents and how he has used his master's degree in strength and conditioning to become a coach alongside playing.
These are the really interesting and valuable topics I want to cover in these conversations as it interests me and I'm sure others to understand how and why Andrew and other high achievers manage to spin and balance successfully so many plates at the same time.
There were many things we forgot to touch on as we got lost down a few rabbit holes on the state of play with rugby at the minute during the pandemic. But that just leaves more to talk about the next time he comes on.
I hope you get something out of this episode with Andrew! Thanks for listening.
If you want to check out the last three episodes where I talk with an Ultrarunner, An international Rugby Star and an Olympian then please find them all here.
Have a great week
And all the best for this 2021!
The Judoka Olympian Rowena Birch
In this episode, I talk with Ex Olympian and European judoka champion Rowena Birch.
Rowena Is a colleague and friend of mine from the university of manchester sports scholarship panel were we help athletes on their journey to master their chosen sport whilst simultaneously excelling in their chosen academic pathway.
For information on sports scholarships or to find out more follow the link here https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/experience/student-life/university/sport-and-well-being/scholarships/
Rowena and I spoke about her judo career. Her transition into coaching then into her current working life as a wealth manager for Prestfield Wealth Management. She is now using all her past experiences in the world of sport and coaching to offer help, advice and solutions to people in the world of sport. To help them manage and understand their finances better.
If you want to find out more about Rowena's role as a wealth manager? Then reach out to her through the website: https://prestfieldwm.co.uk/specialist-advice/sports
It was great to talk in-depth with Rowena as she has so much experience in so many areas related to Fitness, Mindset and Motivation. It was fascinating to dig deeper into her life and reveal what wisdom she had to offer in the area as a hugely accomplished individual. It was also refreshing to talk engagingly with someone whom I have worked alongside for several years and not spoken to in as much depth.
We covered current topics like sport through covid, the Olympics being postponed to next year. Her experiences of coaching throughout covid and her thoughts on sport in general after 2020 and beyond.
I hope you enjoy and get something out of this episode. As always there is never enough time to fit everything in 40 minutes and under the circumstances with zoom calls audio and video sometimes isn't the greatest however I appreciate all my guest so far and for everyone who listens to the podcast.
So thank you. have a great day and rest of your week
.......
If you want to go back and listen to episode 1 with ultramarathon runner Matthew Dyas click here
Or with Rugby League star and international Liam Kay click here
Coming soon we have Rugby star and s&c coach Andrew Dixon and 2021 Olympic hopeful and GB triple jump under 23 record holder Naomi Ogbeta
Thanks again for listening and reading. It is hugely appreciated as this takes a lot of time to prepare and put together.
Take care!
Tom Armstrong
The Kaysways
In this episode, I speak to my good friend Liam Kay prolific rugby league winger try scorer with an almost 1:1 ratio of Trys to games. Liam is currently playing for the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in Superleague after his recent departure from The Toronto Wolfpack which he has made history as the clubs first-ever signing. And formerly of Leigh centurions.
We spoke about his career so far, his highlights, what motivates him and where his drive came from to become a professional athlete.
We cover His loss of love for the game and how he found it again, Mental health of players, Playing for Ireland on the biggest stage at a world cup. His future ambitions and what it's like playing and training as a professional sportsman during the pandemic.
I really enjoyed talking more in-depth with Liam as during my time as a professional sportsman you don't tend to ask these questions to one another which is really a bit of a shame but something now I am going to endeavour to do more of!
There is a lot in here for sports fans but for anyone who wants to listen to Liam and me catch up and discuss fitness mindsets and motivations and life in general.
Enjoy please leave a comment if this is something you are interested in or not. criticism is what moves us forward.
Have a great week
The Humble Ultraman
In This episode, we talk to an old friend of mine and ultramarathon competitor Matthew Dyas.
He has travelled the world working and competing in ultramarathon events for over 10 years now.
I wanted to talk to Matthew, as part of my reason for doing this podcast is to try and better understand the motivations of athletes like Matthew who work full time and train for such intense events.
We talk about what inspired him, how he got into the event. His training, his pre-event rituals, which are somewhat unconventional, to say the least. His toughest event, longest highest finishing, most enjoyable...All the stats ;)
Most importantly we talk about what goes through his head during such a long event. How he is able to push through the wall and how he believes anyone is capable of completing an ultra run with the right mindset and training.
Towards the end, he challenges me to run with him for over 100k so listen and find out what I have been roped in to do!
Please leave questions comments and feedback!
Enjoy
Tom