Exercise Science, Studies Show

Dr Mitchell Gibbs

Here we take a dive into all things surrounding the research and practice of exercise science!

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    Ep 20: Soph Shephard - Navigating complextiy & embracing uncertainty through systems thinking

    It was great to have Soph back on for another chat! This was a great discussion around what complexity means, and how systems thinking can help us navigate that. This convo definitely made me think and I hope it does the same for you. This should serve as somewhat of an intro and a bit to chew on for systems thinking and Soph has been so kind as to provide some resources for further reading, which you can find below beneath her bio: Soph is a queer, Autistic/ADHD woman living andworking on Wiradjuri country (Wagga Wagga). She is an APA Titled Pain Physiotherapist, Pain Revolution Local Pain Educator & Mentor, and Clinical Director of Vive Pain & Fatigue, a niche telehealth practice established to support those living with complex persistent pain, chronic fatigue, and invisible illnesses. Soph is also a researcher and current PhD candidate, with interests spanning pain and fatigue management, health equity, rural health, neurodivergence,psychologically-informed care, and suicide prevention within physiotherapy. An experienced educator and speaker, Soph has presented nationally and internationally, including invited lectures for the Australian Physiotherapy Association, the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta, and University ofLondon (City). Her expertise has also been recognised with invited presentations at both the 2025 Global Ehlers-Danlos Conference and the 2025 Australian Pain Society Conference. In her spare time she also hosts a podcast, Beyond Pain & Fatigue. @vivepainandfatigue Resources: Arnold, R. D., & Wade, J. P. (2017). A complete set of systems thinking skills. Insight, 20(3), 9-17. Snowden, D. J. (2004). Managing for Serendipity or why we should lay off "best practice” in KM. Ark Group’s Knowledge Management Magazine, 8. Doll Jr, W. E., & Trueit, D. (2010). Complexity and the health care professions: Complexity and health care professions. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 16(4), 841–848. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2753.2010.01497.x Zinsstag, J., Schelling, E., Waltner-Toews, D., & Tanner, M. (2011). From “one medicine” to “one health” and systemic approaches to health and well-being. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 101(3–4), 148–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2010.07.003

    1 hr

  2. 23 JAN

    Ep 19: The ADHD EP - Ewan Hanbury-Brown

    Welcome back! Kicking off 2026 with a chat with Ewan 'The ADHD EP' - Please find Ewan's bio and links below. This was a good chat about how exercise practitioners should consider ADHD in clinical interactions. Ewan discusses the first two of his PhD studies and some really great clinical take aways! Bio: Ewan, also known as Chris, is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and PhD candidate at the University of Sydney (USYD) studying Exercise in Adults with ADHD. He draws on his experience in clinical practice and his own lived experience of ADHD to inform his research and, combined with his research knowledge, provide accurate, accessible and applicable information at The ADHD EP.  He is a member of the Australian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA) and has presented to a variety of groups and events including providing training and education for teams of clinicians and consumers as well as lecturing on ADHD to Exercise Physiology students at USYD.  His passion and research focus is centred around improving our understanding and implementation of exercise to improve the health and wellbeing of Adults with ADHD.  Links: Instagram - @the_adhd_ep Website - TheADHDep.com Christopher.hanbury-brown@sydney.edu.au

    1 hr

  3. 31/10/2025

    Episode 18: Jess De Silva - Applying a S&C skillset to corporate performance + lessons along the way

    This was a great chat with Jess, who I was lucky enough to teach in my first ever year of teaching back at WSU. Jess and I catch up on what she has been doing in the meantime & it sounds like an awesome journey. From Arizona State University to working at Google and all of the lessons along the way - this is a fantastic episode and a must listen for anyone keen on how translational the S&C skillset really is! Jess' bio & links: Jess De Silva is a Performance Coach for EXOS @ Google, specialising in bridging the gap between research and practice across various populations. While her day-to-day focuses on corporate performance, Jess brings a robust history of hands-on athletic experience, including leading the S&C program for the Sydney University American Football Club (U20's and Men's). A dedicated professional with a Master’s degree in Strength and Conditioning and experience interning at Arizona State University, Jess is uniquely positioned to discuss adaptable, evidence-based training methods. LinkedIn - Jess De Silva Instagram - @jess_desilva

    45 min

  4. 24/10/2025

    Episode 17: Emily Walker - A mediation analysis of patient-led goal setting & pain education for chronic low back pain

    This was a fantastic chat with emily about this paper (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40987621/), which was a mediation analysis of a previous trial (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30808666/). Emily was the lead author and walks us through what mediation is and why it is important for clinical trials, what this study found, what it means for clinical practice, and what is next! Emily and I get into some great discussion around relevant clinical strategies that can be derived from this paper (and other relevant literature) as well as some healthy banter along the way. This episode is a great listen & make sure to keep posted for a follow up ep that we talk about toward the end! Emily's bio & where to find her: Emily Walker is a PhD candidate at UNSW and Neuroscience Research Australia, using process evaluation to explore patient-led goal setting and pain science education for people with chronic low back pain. She also spends her time reading about social determinants of pain, health equity, and critical qualitative approaches to health research. Clinically, she works as an exercise physiologist in a multidisciplinary clinic, mainly supporting people with musculoskeletal concerns. She is also an Associate Lecturer at UNSW, where she is involved in subjects on research methods, musculoskeletal health, and special populations.   Insta: emwalker_exphys  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-walker-exphys/ Blue Sky: emwalkerexphys.bsky.social

    58 min

  5. 09/10/2025

    Episode 16: Soph Shephard - All things telehealth

    I was fortunate to sit down with Soph and chat all things Telehealth. Soph's bio below shows exactly why you should tune into this chat! There are some absolute gems of advice in here about how to get set up and navigate the online space! I will definitely be having Soph back on to talk more about her research so stay tuned for another chat :) Soph's Bio: Soph is a queer, Autistic/ADHD woman living andworking on Wiradjuri country (Wagga Wagga). She is an APA Titled Pain Physiotherapist, Pain Revolution Local Pain Educator & Mentor, and Clinical Director of Vive Pain & Fatigue, a niche telehealth practice established to support those living with complex persistent pain, chronic fatigue, and invisible illnesses. Soph is also a researcher and current PhD candidate, with interests spanning pain and fatigue management, health equity, rural health, neurodivergence,psychologically-informed care, and suicide prevention within physiotherapy. An experienced educator and speaker, Soph has presented nationally and internationally, including invited lectures for the Australian Physiotherapy Association, the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta, and University ofLondon (City). Her expertise has also been recognised with invited presentations at both the 2025 Global Ehlers-Danlos Conference and the 2025 Australian Pain Society Conference. In her spare time she also hosts a podcast, Beyond Pain & Fatigue. @vivepainandfatigue

    57 min

  6. 03/10/2025

    Episode 15: Nathan Spencer - Strength & Power Diagnostics

    This was a great chat with Nathan who is the current Strength & Power coach at the St George Dragons & leads Strength-IQ. In his spare time, he is also doing a PhD - so you can imagine, we had a lot to talk about. Nathan talks us through his experience in elite sport from the NRL to the NBA and his lessons along the way. There is some cool chat about interpreting research and statistics, which is extremely valuable for coaches, clinicians, and students. Get around it and have a listen! You can find Nathan's bio below, and learn more about him at the following links (be sure to follow him, the stuff he puts out on Linkedin is top shelf!) Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-spencer-a6856299/ Instagram: @performancecoach_spencer Nathan' bio: Nathan Spencer is a Strength & Power Coach and PhDcandidate whose career spans over a decade in elite sport both internationally and domestically. He has coached and consulted in the NRL, NBA, and Olympic pathways, with a focus on strength and power diagnostics, velocity-based training, and applied sports science. Nathan is currently Strength & Power Coach at the St George Illawarra Dragons and leads Strength-IQ, a consultancy dedicated to helping coaches and organisations gain clarity in athlete performance through diagnostics-driven prescription. His research explores mentoring and coach pedagogy, aiming to design evidence-based frameworks that support thenext generation of strength and conditioning professionals.

    51 min

  7. 19/08/2025

    Episode 14: Amelia Yarwood - Clinical Communication

    This was a very insightful chat with Amelia Yarwood, a Learning Success Advisor from USYD. In this podcast we chat all things communication, tricky clinical scenarios, and the complexity of navigating complex clinical communication. This is the episode I would have loved to listen to as an undergrad prior to going on my clinical placements - but there are also so many great insights in here for established clinicans also. Be sure to give this one a listen! Amelia's bio: Amelia Yarwood is annexperienced Learning Success Advisor of 7 years. She currently works at the University of Sydney where she supports students' academic success through workshops and 1:1 consultations. Amelia works closely with Allied Health students and has been responsible for delivering clinical communication workshops for disciplines with the Faculty of Medicine and Health since 2023.

    41 min

  8. 26/05/2025

    Episode 13: Scarlett Hamblin - Experiences of a new grad EP in Rural settings

    This was a great opportunity to sit down with Scarlett to chat about her experiences as a new grad EP in rural settings. I had the privledge of teaching Scarlett only a year ago and she always had brilliant insights and a bunch of experience - so when I heard she was working in rural settings I was very excited to pick her brain. This was a great chat and I hope you all enjoy! Scarlett's bio: "I am a 2024 graduate of the University of New South Waleswith a Bachelor of Exercise Physiology, awarded with distinction. During mystudies, I completed part of my practical placement in rural New South Wales, which led me to my current role as an Accredited Exercise Physiologist serving Dubbo and the Central West. Over the past eight months, I’ve had the opportunity to apply and refine the skills I developed at university across a diverse range of clients. In addition to my work as an Exercise Physiologist, Ialso work as a Personal Trainer. I’m passionate about supporting both general and clinical populations to challenge themselves and achieve their health and performance goals."

    48 min
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Here we take a dive into all things surrounding the research and practice of exercise science!

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