What does it take to thrive as a physiotherapist in elite sport — and beyond? In this episode, we speak with performance physio and founder of Athletic Shoulder, Ben Ashworth. From working with Olympians and Premier League players, to building a global education platform, Ben shares lessons on curiosity, problem-solving, mentorship, and the evolving role of the ‘physio coach’.

You can find Ben Ashworth on Instagram @athleticshoulder and at www.athleticshoulder.com

What happens when a world-leading psychiatrist challenges the system from within?

Dr. Andy Zamar — recognised globally for his work in treatment-resistant depression and bipolar spectrum disorders — joins Charlie Goodchild to talk about why he’s been called the “anti-psychiatry psychiatrist”. In this episode, we dig into:

• Why antidepressants often fall short
• The truth about innovation in mental health
• Game-changing tech like rTMS (Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)
• The shocking reality of outdated medical guidelines
• How mitochondria and brain energy drive mental wellness
• And why collaboration — not tradition — is the future of healthcare

You can find Dr Andy Zamar on his website https://andyzamar.co.uk/

The Better Health Podcast has its first sponsor! Our friends @arthrosamid kindly agreed to sponsor some selected episodes.

To kick this off we welcomed ex-pro golfer, Sky Sports commentator and Arthrosamid patient Dale Hayes as guest to tell his story of dibilitating osteoarthritis at his knees to getting his life back and being able to return to the sport he loves. We also explore his life as a golfer and his struggles with the pressure of elite sport.

Fresh back from a trip to Copenhagen, HQ and factory for @arthrosamid production, this episode celebrates the success of this new injectable treatment through the eyes of a suffering patient, no longer needing surgery, feeling better and living better!

We also discussed the free online exercise program, targeted at those with knee OA that can’t see a physio in person, produced by host Charlie Goodchild and colleague Nick Guth.

In this episode of The Better Health Podcast, we’re joined by Nick Hannah, a physiotherapist and coach with extensive experience in helping individuals navigate pain and movement challenges. Nick’s approach combines clinical expertise with a deep understanding of how the body can adapt and heal when given the right conditions.

Throughout the conversation, we explore Nick’s unique perspective on pain, posture, and movement, shifting the narrative away from a purely biomedical view. Instead, he emphasizes the importance of moving often, embracing change, and understanding the multifaceted nature of pain. Nick shares insights into how we can better care for our bodies and maintain long-term health, whether through rehabilitation or simply improving daily habits.

Follow Nick’s work and get more practical tips on movement and pain management by checking out his Instagram at @hannahmoves.

Milly Pickles is a trailblazing para-athlete, disability advocate, and social media influencer who has turned personal adversity into a platform for inspiration. After surviving a life-altering electrocution accident in 2017 that led to the loss of her right leg, Milly has rebuilt her life with resilience and positivity. Her journey is now shared online, focusing on fitness, mental health, and body positivity, while challenging stereotypes about disability. 

From becoming the first amputee to complete the world’s steepest 400m race to training, and finishing, the London Marathon, Milly exemplifies courage and determination. Her work extends beyond sports, as she partners with major brands to promote inclusivity and recently served as a presenter for the Paralympic Games.

If you want to find out more about MIlly, you can follow her on Instagram (@millypickles)

Aidan O' Flaherty aka The Irish Physio takes us on a journey from addiction to a love for running. Specialising in running injuries and performance, Aidan has been helping people progress through your running journeys, getting them out of pain and reducing risks of further injury. 

If you would like to get in contact or find out more about Aidan you can follow him on Instagram @theirishphysio or on his website https://theirishphysio.online/

Former rugby player turned trailblazing human performance and leadership coach, Richie Norton exhibits a ruthless commitment towards excellence. With clients ranging from sport's teams to business leaders,  Richie makes use of breathwork techniques, physical training and mindset tools to help empower peopme to unlock their true potential. 

You can find Richie Norton at his website https://richie-norton.com/ or on Instragram @richienorton_

Rob Madden is a physio and performance coach with a diverse knowledge of all things health. He has worked with many different high level athletes, CEOs and big players in the music and entertainment industry and has been apart of Anthony Joshua's performance team for over a decade. 

In this episode, we look at everything from sleep, alcohol and light and how this affects our recovery all the way to ice baths and protein intake. 

If you would like to find out more about Rob, you can follow him on Instagram @Rob_optim7se or visit his website (optim7se.com)

A mentor, growth coach and founder of Heroic Man, Pete Taylor helps men become the most heroic version of themselves. 

If you would like to find out more about Pete Taylor or Heroic Man, you can find them on Instagram @pete_taylor and @heroicmanofficial as well on on their website https://www.petetaylor.co.uk/ and https://heroicman.com/

Hot off the press, @osteoanisha releases her new book in October, @betterneverends podcast got the exclusive release months ago. We spoke at length about the book only to realise that it was top secret content. Embargo’d until now!

Anisha Joshi is an award-winning osteopath with an impressive track record. Working with professional athletes and A-list celebrities, she is sought after for her commentary around back pain and has made appearances on ITV's This Morning. 

If you are interested in finding out more, you can visit Anisha's website (https://osteoanisha.com/) or follow her on Instagram @osteoanisha. 

Ben Steele-Turner (@physiutrition) is a Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and Nutritionist currently studying the impact of nutrition and weight management with osteoarthritis. Over the years, Ben has helped countless clients achieve their health and fitness goals. 

If you would like to find out more about Ben Steele-Turner , you can visit his website at www.physiutrition.com or follow him on Instagram (@physiutrition)

Having worked for 12 years as a critical care consultant, exercise testing, and managing fatigue and breathlessness, Dr Steve James has seen enough patients with preventable diseases to know that the current state healthcare is not willing to invest the time and testing proactively to help people live healthy lives. With a focus on both physical and mental health, Dr Steve James is looking to change the way we approach longevity. 

If you would like to find out more about Dr Steve James, you can visit his website at drstevejames.com or follow him on Instagram (@drstevejames)

“Mental fitness is the reps you don’t see.”

In this episode of The Better Never Ends podcast, host Charlie Goodchild sits down with Robin Hughes, Head of Mental Fitness at Getahead Mindset, to unpack the concept of mental fitness – what it is, why we need it, and how it bridges the gap between mental health and peak performance.

Robin shares powerful stories, strategies, and analogies (beach balls, chimps, kaleidoscopes – you’ll see 👀) that help make mindset training as tangible as gym training.

You can find out more about Getahead at www.getaheadmindset.com

London-based counseling psychologist, Dr Pauline Chiarizia, is committed to having her clients become less affected by their anxiety, move through trauma and improve their quality of life. 

An in-depth episode centered around trauma, looking at the pitfalls of self labeling, its effect on our physical well being and how to compassionately face trauma in our lives. 

If you have any queries or are interested services that Dr Pauline Chiarizia provides you can email her at dr.paulinechiarizia@gmail.com or visit her website at www.drpaulinechiarizia.com

Specializing in knees, Kash Akhtar is an orthopaedic surgeon at Barts Health NHS Trust and Cleveland Clinic London. He is co-founder of Orthohub and co-host of the Orthohub Podcast. 

In this episode, Charlie and Kash tackle knee osteoarthritis, knee replacements, steps to take before turning to surgery, the use of injectables and much more.

Founder of PH Nutrition, now Head of Performance Nutrition at Marchon and with over 16 years of experience working in elite sport, Liam Holmes cuts through the fads, crash diets and social media noise to provide practical nutrition advice and help people be better, train better and feel better. 

In todays episode, we'll be chatting about protein intake, the importance of environment, how to approach weight management and practical nutrition advice for anyone on their health journey. 

Coaching 'Nine To Fivers' to feel like athletes, Dan ONeill has coached in some of London’s top gyms with professional athletes and inspiring clients and is dedicated to helping them actualise their goals and reach their full potential.

Charlie and Dan sit down to discuss sustainable approaches to training, sleep and nutrition that allows even the busiest of clients to thrive. 

Podcast also available on YouTube. Search 'Better Never Ends'

This week is not your typical episode, nor your typical guest. Ceri is a DJ and wellness advocate and has played all around the world, alongside the likes of everyone from Ryan Elliot and Objekt, to Mr. G, Jeremy Underground and Paranoid London. 

Suffering from chronic fatigue and disillusioned with traditional medicine, Ceri turned to alternative medicine to find a solution to her symptoms. 

You can find Ceri on Instagram (@cerimusic) and on Soundcloud (https://soundcloud.com/ceri)

As a multi-disciplinary health coach, Danny Ly @thediabetesguy combines nutrition, exercise and functional medicine to help people live sustainably healthy lives.  Danny has a particular interest in cardiometabolic health, digestive health as well as Type 2 diabetes. 

In this episode, we sit down to discuss chronic conditions, weight management and the key to living healthier and stronger into old age. This is most definitely not an episode to miss. 

If you would like to get in touch with Danny, you can find him on Instagram (@thediabetesguy) or through his website (www.dannylyhealth.com)

Nick Garcia is a performance coach working with both athletes and the general population and specialises in turning long-distance runners into stronger, more resilient athletes.

Charlie and Nick both worked behind the scenes with Josh Patterson on his record breaking achievement of running 76 marathons in 76 days.

In this episode, Nick breaks down his approach to coaching, the importance of plyometric training and the pros and cons of Instagram fitness culture.

Having been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at the age of 25, Fran Whitfield was given 2 years to live. After changing hospitals, brain surgery, chemotherapy, cyberknife radiotherapy, medically induced menopause and targeted therapy drugs that she still takes today, Fran was living cancer free. But despite the advice to rest, Fran trained throughout her entire diagnosis. 

Today, Fran is a Cancer and Rehabilitation Expert, working with people pre-treatment, during treatment and post treatment; preaching the importance of exercise, lifting weights and breaking down stigmas surrounding cancer.

This week we chatted to Matt Murray-Downing on the podcast. Matt is part of the team at Better and is a physiotherapist with extensive experience. He has worked for many years in elite sport as well as providing services as a performance coach in motorsports. 

We sat down with Matt and discussed all things physiotherapy, acute and chronic pain, the value of ice, posture and...lobsters(?)

Osteopath and clinical director at Acer House Practice, Peter Horobin has worked and supported elite team GB sprinters and Olympians. 

With a special interest in speed athlete development, injury diagnosis and management, Peter and Charlie discuss and dissect the more data driven approaches to athletic performance. 

"What if everything you thought you knew about pain was only part of the story?"

In this episode of The Better Health Podcast, host Charlie Goodchild welcomes pain specialist and physiotherapist, Richmond Stace. With 30 years of experience, Richmond challenges traditional narratives around pain, injury, and healing. They explore how pain is not just a signal from the body, but a deeply personal experience shaped by beliefs, environment, and lived reality.

From redefining what responsibility and self-compassion mean in the context of pain, to breaking down the power of predictive processing, this episode is a must-listen for physiotherapists, clinicians, and anyone who's ever struggled with persistent pain.

Founder of the Strong AF Club, Sam McGowan is a London-based personal trainer with passion for empowering women to lift heavy sh*t. 

Over the past 4 years, she has worked with hundreds of clients, transforming their lives with strength training and healthy habits. 

Founder of Onetrack, Anthony Fletcher is a biomechanics coach with over twenty years experience training individuals, teams and working with global fitness brands.

Anthony has educated thousands of fitness professionals and Olympic hopefuls and has been lucky enough to partner with teams such as England rugby and the Cannondale Garmin cycling. 

Discussing all things lactate, Anthony reveals the known and unknown of endurance training. 

Founder of Sci-translate, Dr Anna McLaughlin is an Academic Neuroscientist and has authored and co-authored multiple academic papers in prestigious neuroscience and psychiatry journals.  

Her scientific field of study focuses on the link between immunology, mental health and metabolism.

In the podcast, we discuss inflammation and it's impact on our minds and bodies, the holistic nature of managing depression and obesity and how we can use neuroscience to help us improve our relationships. 

Find out more about her work on https://www.sci-translate.com/

Reality TV star and multiple world-record holder, Josh Patterson has added another to his list: 76 marathons, in 76 days, in all 76 UK cities. 

We discuss the mental fortitude required for such an endeavour, the team behind the success and Josh's mission to change how society perceives mental illness. 

Award-winning researcher, practitioner sport and exercise psychologist, Dr Martin James Turner has worked with a number of professional athletes across a range of disciplines with a deep focus on studying the effects of stress and adversity on human wellbeing and performance.

Challenging the notions of goal setting, the pursuit of happiness as well as the very ideals of Better Never Ends itself, this podcast is a deep dive into what it means to live a fulfilling life. 

Jake Webster joins us in the podcast studio today. (@jakewebsterphysio)

Founder of Pioneer Physio and one of the brilliant minds behind The Nerdy Physios (@thenerdyphysios), Jake is noted as an innovative force in a profession where too often information is inaccessible to the public. Disseminating valuable and more easily digestible knowledge, he is proving that physios can be creative too.

This week on the podcast we are hosting Marjolein Dutry van Haeften (@hormoniously). 

Having been diagnosed with Endometriosis at 30 and later with anxiety and depression, Marjolein has experienced many of the health issues plaguing women today which are far too often unseen, unheard and undiagnosed. As a nutritional therapist, she provides bespoke nutrition and lifestyle programmes to support women navigating their health journeys. 

While this episode stretches across many different subjects, it is, for the most part, concerned with women's health problems, bringing to light these often overlooked issues and how Marjolein, as a nutrititionist, holistically approaches them.

A friend, colleague and rival, Jonathan Cairns is an outstanding chiropractor based in Soho, London.

We discuss the history of Chiropractic, where the bad press comes, what exactly a 'click' is and what it means to be a modern chiropractor where the lines between professions is becoming more and more blurred. 

You can following Jonathan on Instagram (@elev8clinic)

A young physio with a bright future ahead of her, Aisling Freir is passionate about changing the paradigm around women's health for the better. 

We'll be tackling some of the biggest myths surrounding exercise during pregnancy, discussing often overlooked subjects such as painful sex and endometriosis                    and looking at what it means to be a female athlete amongst discrimatory research in the health space. 

If you want to find out more, you can find Aisling on Instagram @aislingfreir_physio

Jon Bolding and Dave Lewis play a sport that you've likely never heard of: Powerchair Football. They use electric wheelchairs to navigate through life, then swap them for specialised Powerchairs to become world beaters on the court.

We talk about their journeys through life, living with a disability, and how they battled against the odds to play for England as elite athletes competing in International tournaments around the world. Later this year, they both travel to Sydney where they will compete for the World Cup, hoping to bring it home.

But despite the highs, life isn't always so enjoyable when living in a world not designed for them, juggling full time jobs and family life with the demands of competing as elite athletes. 

Back after a short hiatus, we're joined by hypermobility specialist and osteopath Alexandra Orfanides where we unpack the complexities and misconceptions around hypermobility—from diagnosis to lived experience, and from navigating healthcare systems to effective management.

If you would like to find out more about Alexandra, you can find her here:

www.hypermobilityhq.com

Instagram: @hypermobilityhq

TikTok: @hypermobilityhq

The surprising answer to this question, from a leading Soft Tissue Therapist, will change your mind on what massage really does, how it works, and who it is for. 

Andy Stanbury sits on the board for the Sports Massage Association, he has been honing his skills in the world of elite sport and private practice for over 20 years. Throughout this journey he has embodied the spirit of better never ends, forever learning and pushing his own practice. A highly respected practitioner in his field, we are honoured to have him speak.

I guarantee your perception of massage will be changed by listening to this podcast. 

The title says it all. This is a really powerful episode. We discuss her near death experience  with COVID-19 and how it defined her. You'll hear how it has led to a mission to help others transform their lives with a passion that her previous work as a doctor just never inspired. 

We discuss the complexity of stress, the way evolution has set us up to fail in the modern world and how there is still hope. With the right strategies, we can take back control over our stress to live a happy mindful life. 

If you want to learn more, speak to Dr Deschu direct on her instagram profile: @deschu.sahayam on her Facebook page: www.facebook.com/deschu.sahayam or via her website: www.deschu.co.uk

Connor Campbell aka @connorliftsstuff , founder of @stoicstrengthsystems , is a strength & conditioning coach who has worked with both elite athletes and the general public. Living and working in New York, previously London, Connor is a real thinker and uses this wisdom to maximise the effectiveness of his plans. 

Shortcut your own journey to a better gym plan with these hacks. Spoiler alert, it still takes effort (but maybe not as much as you might think), but this podcast will help you target your efforts in the right places. 

The podcast is back, and it's better!

Here's the trailer for the rebranded podcast: Better Never Ends. 

New episodes are edited and ready to go, here's a little teaser to get the ball rolling. 

Moving forwards from what used to be The Health Space Podcast, the upcoming episodes will focus on people that have either lived out the concept of "better never ends" themselves, or have the knowledge to help inspire you on your own journey to better.

After a few months off, we are back to bring you the wisdom of Richard Tucker, the director of The Human Performance Lab, to find out to achieve that all important personal best in endurance sport. Richard is an Exercise Physiologist, Strength & Conditioning Coach and Nutritionist... could he be any more qualified for this episode??

If you participate in endurance sport then this is the episode for you! Pushing for a Personal Best can be tough, and believe it or not, there's more to it than just trying your hardest. Richard utilises the latest in Sports Science research and technology to understand the nuance of designing training and nutrition plans bespoke to the individual.

Richard's favourite saying is "If you are not testing, you are guessing". Listen in to find out how you can put this into practice to help you push for your own personal best!

To find out more about Richard's services, check out his website: https://www.humanperformancelab.co.uk/

James Phillips, a Strength & Conditioning Coach also known as @optimalstrength_ joins Charlie & Andy for episode 17 fresh off the back of completing the London Marathon, one of the greatest challenges of all. The three discuss their recent exercise challenges, sharing their tips to help you succeed with your future challenges. 

Starting with the Three Peaks 24 Hour Challenge in 2019, Andy & Charlie have since fallen in love with the world of exercise challenges. But these things don't always go to plan. Listen in to find out how they are using these experiences to help them learn and also why they can't striving for more!

In this episode Charlie & Andy cover some serious ground with the fantastic Mike James, aka @the_endurance_physio.

Drifting through the world of an endurance athlete, busting some myths along the way, they talked training plans, nutrition, injuries and discuss the concept of periodisation.

The discussion about the distinctive psychology of the endurance athlete is worth a listen on its own. Mike really is an expert in this field, don't miss it!

WE ARE BACK!! After a few weeks off over the summer, we're back with a bang!

Dr James Noake is a Sport & Exercise Medicine Consultant who really knows his scans. But before we got to the business end, we wanted to know what a Sport & Exercise Medicine Consultant does... listen in to find out why they are such a crucial part of the injury recovery journey.

The big question we had for James was this: can you find pain using a scan? The answer to this might not be as straight forward as you think.

We bust some myths, chat some theory and most importantly, we finished the episode smarter than we started.

This is a cracker!

In this episode, we call on our favourite cycling nerd Bryan to tell us everything we need to know about cycling. Starting with spandex tips, then going deep on cycling snack suggestions, we cover a lot of ground.

Bryan is a physiotherapist and certified bike fitter, and he is perhaps better known by his company name "The Bike The Body". We ask about the health benefits, the injury risk, the best way to get started and even find out an easy way to get faster on the bike (ps. this isn't just about buying an expensive bike).

If you cycle, you should listen. If you don't cycle, you might just want to after hearing this.

Claire was on our list of speakers we wanted on the show right from the moment we started. She really does live up to expectations in this episode. The main question we ask is: Should We All Be Strength Training? Spoiler alert, if you want to live a longer, healthier life, then you might want to start now... 

If you are already strength training, then make sure you listen to this to find if you're doing the right things.

As always, we explore the evidence and bust myths. We break it down so that you can take away the key nuggets of info to set you up on your journey to a healthy life.

Listen in to find out the best way to integrate strength training in to your life.

In this thought-provoking conversation, psychologist Dr Steve Mayers joins host Charlie Goodchild to explore the deeper layers of mental health. From the rise of self-diagnosis on social media to what it really means to “become more like yourself,” Steve offers a refreshingly nuanced take on therapy, labels like ADHD and narcissism, and the role of community in healing. A powerful discussion for anyone curious about what lies beyond the diagnosis.

When it comes to Sports Podiatry, Ian is the voice of reason. For those who don't know what Podiatry is, let alone Sports Podiatry, worry not, he explains that too.

He knows the field like no other and casts a skeptical eye at some of the long held beliefs that exist regarding running shoes, orthoses and foot posture.

In some ways aided by a wardrobe filled with running shoes (this is no exaggeration), Ian has lots of tips to share with runners looking to optimise their own running shoe collections. Guided by the science, we delve into a number of topics to discuss comfort, performance and injury risk. 

If you run, this episode is guaranteed to be a winner!

Welcome to Season 2! In this season we will be exploring Exercise!

In the opening episode of the season invited runner, physiotherapist and running coach Alex Quinn to speak about getting ready for running. Alex gives tips on how you can not just get faster, but also on how to help you stay injury free in the process.

If you're new to running, keen on getting started, wondering why you're not getting faster or picking up injuries every other week, then this is the episode for you!

In the final episode of the season, hosts Andy & Charlie close it out by looking back on their first attempts at putting together a podcast. The aim is to challenge myths and educate, this first season was about breaking down the barriers that block your journey to a healthy life.

You'll hear clips of some of the best bits from season 1, plus plenty of epic fails that show them up for the amateurs they really are... but we are learning! But just like they always say: "better never ends".

Enjoy the best bits, and season 2 is just around the corner! 

We speak to Darren Brown, a physiotherapist specialising in HIV, oncology and infectious diseases. Darren contracted Corona Virus in March 2020, then after making a full return to work, suffered a major crash 6 months later due to the effects of Long COVID.

Darren speaks about his traumatic life-changing experience, then explains what Long COVID actually is. He reveals some fascinating truths about the condition and the effects of the COVID-19 vaccine on Long COVID, and what shines through is his remarkable optimism and hope for the future.

After an incredibly challenging year, Darren has turned his attention to using his experience and learnings for good by supporting others suffering with the symptoms of Long COVID. For more information on resources he has helped put together, check out his website: https://longcovid.physio/