The Science of Fitness Podcast

Science of Fitness

Welcome to the Science Of Fitness podcast where we aim to inspire you to live a healthier and more fulfilling life as we share evidence and anecdotes on all things health, fitness, performance, wellness and business. Hosted by Kieran Maguire, Co-Owner and Director of Science Of Fitness with an Undergraduate degree in Exercise Science and Masters degree in High Performance, the podcast includes guests and friends of SOF from all walks of life sharing their knowledge and stories within their field of expertise. Join us as we provide listeners with digestible and relatable educational tools and entertaining stories to inspire a healthier and more fulfilling life.  

  1. Jul 29

    The Fitness Industry’s Hero Problem

    The fitness industry doesn’t just have a programming problem, it has a hero problem. Too many gyms, coaches, and brands sell themselves as the solution that will “fix” you, using before-and-afters and short challenges to prove it. The catch is what happens when the program ends: if you’ve only learned how to comply, you’re left without the skills to self-regulate, adjust, and keep moving when life gets messy. We dig into how the transformation model took hold, why it’s so sticky, and what the evidence keeps pointing to instead: sustainable health and fitness comes from education, confidence, and long-term behaviour change. We break down why eight-week challenges often spike motivation then fade, and why enjoyment is the real driver of exercise adherence. We also zoom out to the Australian gym landscape, the business fragility that shapes what gets marketed, and the career longevity issues that make it hard to find experienced practitioners over decades. Then we get practical. We share simple consumer guide rails for choosing a program, plus a framework you can actually use: isolate, integrate, improvise. Whether you’re working on sleep with breathwork, rebuilding strength with back pain, or chasing performance goals, the aim is the same: become more independent in your body. We finish with the missing ingredient that makes everything easier to sustain, community and social connection. If you want coaching that builds skills for life, not a quick fix that expires, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a mate who’s stuck in the challenge cycle, and leave a review so more people can find evidence-based training that lasts.

  2. Jun 30

    Race Week Fuelling Made Simple with Hanah Mills

    We sit down with sports dietitian Hanah Mills to map out a practical fuelling plan for the Gold Coast Marathon and half marathon, from taper week to the finish line. We unpack gut issues, carb loading, hydration, caffeine, sodium, and what to do when race day logistics throw your usual routine out.  • solo travel lessons and what Blue Zones get right about health and happiness  • building a flexible mindset around food without sacrificing performance goals  • learning from race-week stress and IBS symptoms during half marathon prep  • separating IBS from common runner’s gut and why the fix depends on the cause  • using low FODMAP strategies for carb loading and pre-race meals  • gut training basics and why you should stick with what you’ve practised  • taper-week nutrition and why maintenance energy beats cutting calories  • carb loading targets in grams per kilo and what “proper” looks like  • hydration needs during the carb load and how to check urine colour  • race morning carb top-ups and avoiding fibre fat and too much protein  • caffeine dosing ranges timing and when caffeine gels make more sense  • sodium marketing myths and when electrolytes may still help via thirst  • cramp reality check neuromuscular fatigue pickle juice and mouth rinse tricks  • post-race recovery carbs hydration protein and a note on magnesium research  Be sure to check us out across all forms of social media and subscribe to this channel if you want to stay up to date to the latest episodes and any other anecdotes with which we might share across these video platforms. If you ever find yourself locally in Brisbane, be sure to drop into one of our facilities or down on the Gold Coast in Burley. You can also check us out at scienceoffitness.com.au and see all things relating to what we offer in programming and performance, whether it's online or in person.

  3. May 9

    How Sport Builds Belonging For People With Dr Lulu Pullar

    We sit down with Dr Lulu Pullar, Brisbane Lions AFLW player and doctor, to unpack why sport can be the simplest pathway to belonging, confidence, and hope. We also go deep on what it takes to balance elite performance with emergency medicine, and why access matters more than talent when you’re building futures in remote Australia.  • the real purpose of DreameD and why “freedom to dream” comes first  • football as the connector for identity, belonging, and community strength in remote Indigenous communities  • Lulu’s sporting background and why switching from soccer to AFL felt natural  • why women’s sport quality rises with access to strength and conditioning from a young age  • keeping joy at the centre of sport to survive the grind of high performance  • what parents and coaches can do without taking choice away from the athlete  • the reality of balancing medicine and AFLW and the self-doubt it creates  • how elite sport improves clinical practice through feedback, reflection, and communication  • making medicine more accessible so the workforce better represents the community  • lifestyle medicine and preventative health as credible healthcare interventions  • what DreameD camps deliver on the ground and why connection across communities is a win  • sponsorship, funding, and practical ways people can support DreameD and tell better stories from Central Australia  Be sure to check us out across all forms of social media and subscribe to this channel if you want to stay up to date to the latest episodes and any other anecdotes with which we might share across these video platforms. If you ever find yourself locally in Brisbane, be sure to drop into one of our facilities or down on the Gold Coast in Burley. You can also check us out at scienceoffitness.com.au and see all things relating to what we offer in programming and performance, whether it’s online or in person.

  4. 12/12/2025

    Under the mask, lessons from Anaesthetist Dr Conrad Macrokanis

    Surgery isn’t a Netflix nap. It’s a high‑stakes team effort where your anaesthetist runs the room, balances risk, and quietly steers you from fear to recovery. We sit with Dr Conrad Makrikanis to decode what really happens before the first dose, why obesity is a medical emergency, and how prehab can slash complications by half. Conrad traces a path from rural retrievals to Brisbane theatres, revealing how prevention often lives in a bubble while most patients arrive in crisis. He breaks down GLP‑1 agonists—how they silence food noise, why they’re not a quick fix, and how to protect muscle with resistance training and protein. We go deep on NEAT, the underrated daily movement that improves endothelial health, lowers clot risk, sharpens insulin sensitivity, and speeds wound healing. If you’ve got joint pain or a surgery date, his blueprint is clear: two strength sessions, two aerobic sessions, eight hours of sleep, six to eight weeks off smoking, minimal alcohol, and a plan for post‑op care at home. We also talk anxiety. Information lowers fear, and a simple pre‑op call with your anaesthetist can change your whole day. Learn the real risks—nausea, soreness, rare awareness—and why timing, age, urgency, and even after‑midnight cases influence outcomes. From Indigenous health contrasts to the power of community programs that drive prehab compliance, this is a candid look at what moves the needle in modern care. The future? Personalised anaesthesia guided by pharmacogenetics and CNS profiles. Until then, prepare like an athlete and recover like a pro. If this conversation helped you feel more prepared, follow the show, share it with a friend facing surgery, and leave a review so more people can find it. Your next best outcome starts with one small step today.

About

Welcome to the Science Of Fitness podcast where we aim to inspire you to live a healthier and more fulfilling life as we share evidence and anecdotes on all things health, fitness, performance, wellness and business. Hosted by Kieran Maguire, Co-Owner and Director of Science Of Fitness with an Undergraduate degree in Exercise Science and Masters degree in High Performance, the podcast includes guests and friends of SOF from all walks of life sharing their knowledge and stories within their field of expertise. Join us as we provide listeners with digestible and relatable educational tools and entertaining stories to inspire a healthier and more fulfilling life.  

You Might Also Like