Movement Logic: Strong Opinions, Loosely Held

Dr. Sarah Court, PT, DPT and Laurel Beversdorf
  • 4.7 (129)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Biweekly

Welcome to the Movement Logic Podcast, with yoga teacher and strength coach Laurel Beversdorf, and physical therapist Dr. Sarah Court. With over 30 years combined experience in the yoga, movement and physical therapy worlds, we believe in strong ideas, loosely held – which means we’re not hyping outdated movement concepts. Instead, we’re here with up-to-date and cutting-edge tools, evidence and ideas to help you as a mover and a teacher. Music: Makani by Scandinavianz & AXM

  1. Sep 30 ·  Video

    139: AlgaeCal's Calcium Claims: Science or Salesmanship?

    In this episode, Sarah Court and Laurel Beversdorf investigate the bone supplement company AlgaeCal and ask whether its marketing claims are supported by good evidence. They unpack the company's promotion of algae-derived calcium, its use of strontium supplements to claim increases in bone density, and why improvements on a DEXA scan don't necessarily mean stronger bones. Along the way, they explain how appeals to nature, authority, and fear are used to sell expensive supplements to women worried about osteoporosis. The conversation also examines the growing "doctor-to-brand pipeline," using Dr. Vonda Wright as a case study in how medical authority can become intertwined with supplement marketing. Sarah and Laurel discuss why they declined an invitation to collaborate with AlgaeCal, why exercise remains the cornerstone of bone health, and how consumers can recognize misleading health claims before spending hundreds of dollars on products that may not deliver meaningful benefits. FREE Barbell Mini Course when you get on our mailing list FOLLOW Movement Logic on Instagram WATCH Movement Logic on YouTube LEARN MORE on the Movement Logic website Foldable Home Barbell Rack by Verse, coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout RESOURCES 92: Make Dr. Loren Fishman Make Sense 91: LIFTMOR, Not Less: An Interview with Belinda Beck 93: Should You Avoid Spinal Flexion with Osteoporosis? 113: Debunking Menopause Grifters: Mary Claire Haver and Vonda Wright Doctor vs Brand Instagram Post

    139: AlgaeCal's Calcium Claims: Science or Salesmanship?

  2. Sep 16 ·  Video

    138: Lift for Longevity: The DEXA Results

    SIGN UP Lift for Longevity. Enrollment closes Sunday, September 20th. Classes begin September 28th.In this episode, we talk with Lift for Longevity participant Julie Wright about beginning strength training in her mid-sixties after an osteoporosis diagnosis. Julie had never touched a barbell before joining the course. After completing Lift for Longevity three times, she has progressed from deadlifting 28 pounds to 100 pounds for reps, increased her bench press from 20 to 53 pounds, built visible muscle, returned to jumping in ballet, and become more hopeful about aging, traveling, and continuing to dance. We also examine Julie’s follow-up DEXA, which initially appeared to show a dramatic improvement from osteoporosis to osteopenia at nearly every measured site. We explain why scans performed at different facilities can’t provide a clean comparison and how raw bone-mineral-density values, machine calibration, arthritis, and strontium complicated the results. Julie’s story shows why DEXA matters—but also why strength, muscle, power, confidence, and the ability to keep doing what you love might matter more. SIGN UP Lift for Longevity. Enrollment closes Sunday, September 20th. Classes begin September 28th. FOLLOW @TheMovementLogic on Instagram RESOURCES Lift for Longevity Julie's website Listen to Dr. Lora Giangregorio on the Movement Logic Podcast

    138: Lift for Longevity: The DEXA Results

  3. Sep 2 ·  Video

    137: A Lifting Evolution: From Chair Pose to Barbell Back Squats

    In this episode, we look back at how our thinking about exercise has changed over the years, from our beginnings in yoga and physical therapy to strength training, bone density, power, fall prevention, and longevity. We talk about the ideas we stopped believing, the evidence that changed our minds, why “lift heavy shit” was an important corrective but ultimately an incomplete message, and how all of this has shaped the newest version of Lift for Longevity. We also get into what we’ve learned from teaching the course four times, why we’re removing exercises that create unnecessary friction, why AMRAPs are becoming a much bigger part of the program, and how we’re incorporating more power, balance challenges, and structured impact training. SIGN UP Free Strength Class on September 8th with replay! FOLLOW @TheMovementLogic on Instagram FOLDABLE HOME BARBELL RACK by Verse, use coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout RESOURCES 107: Does It Have To Be Heavy? 49: You Don’t Know How Strong You Are, Says Research 36: Somatic Dominance Loren Fishman et al.: Twelve-Minute Daily Yoga Regimen Reverses Osteoporotic Bone Loss paper LIFTMOR Trial Kistler-Fischbacher Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis 91: LIFTMOR, Not Less: An Interview with Professor Belinda Beck Dr. Lora Giangregorio on the Movement Logic Podcast Dr. Stuart Phillips on the Movement Logic Podcast Stu Phillips post Korpelainen paper

    137: A Lifting Evolution: From Chair Pose to Barbell Back Squats

  4. Aug 19 ·  Video

    136: Beyond "Just Lift Heavy": The Science behind Osteoporosis, Falls & Fracture Prevention with Dr. Lora Giangregorio, PhD

    In this episode, we talk with bone health researcher Dr. Lora Giangregorio about what the evidence really says about resistance training, impact exercise, menopause, fracture prevention, balance, and falls. We also get into claims from OsteoStrong, why not all published research deserves equal weight, and why confident claims about the “best” way to build bone often outrun the evidence. We discuss why bone loss around menopause can’t simply be blamed on inactivity, what we do and don’t know about heavy versus moderate versus light resistance training, why strength and impact are so difficult to separate in bone research, and why improving bone density is only one part of reducing fracture risk. Dr. Giangregorio also explains why getting better at standing on one leg isn’t necessarily the same thing as becoming less likely to fall, why yoga wouldn’t be her first choice for fall prevention, how to progress impact training without jumping straight into high-force exercises, and why real-world exercise programs need to adapt to the person rather than force everyone into the same supposedly “optimal” program. SIGN UP Free Strength Class on September 8th with replay! FOLLOW @TheMovementLogic on Instagram FOLDABLE HOME BARBELL RACK by Verse, use coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout RESOURCES Dr. Lora Giangregorio’s website and Instagram  Bones Lab YouTube channel Her approach to starting and progressing impact training Her summary of different aspects of balance Blog post on impact training

    136: Beyond "Just Lift Heavy": The Science behind Osteoporosis, Falls & Fracture Prevention with Dr. Lora Giangregorio, PhD

  5. Aug 5 ·  Video

    135: Make Louisa Nicola Make Sense, Part 2

    In part two of their deep dive into Louisa Nicola's claims about Alzheimer's prevention, Sarah and Laurel continue examining the scientific evidence behind some of her most widely shared social media posts, podcast appearances, and paid programs. Building on the foundation laid in part one, they fact-check claims about menopause, hormone therapy, Zone 5 training, heavy resistance training, creatine, and other interventions that Nicola presents as essential for protecting the brain. Throughout the episode, they compare her messaging with the available research, including randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and major clinical guidelines, highlighting where mechanistic theories are presented as established clinical facts and where evidence is overstated or misrepresented. The conversation then shifts from individual scientific claims to the broader marketing strategy behind Nicola's business. Sarah and Laurel analyze her paid products, including Brain Code and the $5,000 Decode Panel, discussing how fear-based messaging, appeals to authority, and selective use of research can drive consumers toward expensive products and testing. They contrast these approaches with the evidence-based recommendations from organizations like The Lancet Commission and the Alzheimer's Association, emphasizing that meaningful risk reduction is built on well-established lifestyle factors rather than highly specific protocols or premium wellness services. They close by discussing why influencers like Nicola resonate with audiences, where they see similar patterns among other health personalities, and why careful interpretation of evidence matters when communicating about diseases as frightening as Alzheimer's. SIGN UP FOR THE INTEREST LIST for Lift for Longevity FREE Barbell Mini Course when you get on our mailing list FOLLOW Movement Logic on Instagram WATCH Movement Logic on YouTube LEARN MORE on the Movement Logic website Foldable Home Barbell Rack by Verse, coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout RESOURCES 134 Make Louisa Nicola Make Sense, Part 1 113 Debunking Menopause Grifters Mary Claire Haver and Vonda Wright 92 Make Dr. Loren Fishman Make Sense Alzheimer's Association 2025 factsheet The Lancet Commission Mosconi et al. (2021) Correction: In this episode, Laurel cites a study erroneously as being from the Lancet. It's not from the Lancet, it's the Generation 100 study. PMID: 34878637 Resistance training and brain aging study  Creatine Monohydrate Pilot in Alzheimer's The Menopause Society  Pauline Maki  Diary of a CEO episode with Louisa Nicola

    135: Make Louisa Nicola Make Sense, Part 2

  6. Jul 22 ·  Video

    134: Make Louisa Nicola Make Sense, Part 1

    In this episode, Sarah Court and Laurel Beversdorf begin a two-part investigation into Louisa Nicola and the rapidly growing industry built around Alzheimer's prevention, brain optimization, and women's brain health. They examine how legitimate scientific concerns about dementia become transformed into highly marketable narratives, and explain the difference between what current evidence supports and what many online health personalities confidently claim. Sarah and Laurel break down the strongest evidence on dementia prevention, including findings from the 2024 Lancet Commission, and discuss what is known about exercise, vascular health, hearing, vision, education, social connection, and other modifiable risk factors. They also introduce concepts they call mechanism theater, evidence cosplay, and the fear-to-action marketing pipeline, showing how preliminary research is often stretched into certainty to sell protocols, supplements, and personal brands. Along the way, they critically examine several of Nicola's most common claims—including that Alzheimer's starts in your 30s, that women face six times the risk, and that heavy resistance training is uniquely protective—and compare those claims with the available evidence. Part 2 of this series will continue the investigation into Louisa Nicola's recommendations, products, and marketing strategies. SIGN UP FOR THE INTEREST LIST for Lift for Longevity FREE Barbell Mini Course when you get on our mailing list FOLLOW Movement Logic on Instagram WATCH Movement Logic on YouTube LEARN MORE on the Movement Logic website Foldable Home Barbell Rack by Verse, coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout RESOURCES 113: Debunking Menopause Grifters: Dr Mary Claire Haver and Dr. Vonda Wright 111: Make Stacy Sims Make Sense Correction: In this episode, Laurel cites a study erroneously as being from the Lancet. It's not from the Lancet, it's the Generation 100 study. PMID: 34878637 The Lancet Commission: Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care: 2024 Report Alzheimer's Association 2025 Fact Sheet Neuro Athletics Narrative review on resistance training and Alzheimer's disease (co-authored by Louisa Nicola) Dr. Vonda Wright podcast featuring Louisa Nicola The Diary of a CEO podcast featuring Louisa Nicola APOE4 and Alzheimer's disease research New England Journal of Medicine (2024) biomarker study on preclinical Alzheimer's disease

    134: Make Louisa Nicola Make Sense, Part 1

  7. Jul 8 ·  Video

    133: Dr Stu Phillips Part 2: Power, Protein, And The Science We Get Wrong

    In this episode, Sarah Court and Laurel Beversdorf continue their conversation with Dr. Stu Phillips, one of the world's leading protein researchers. They dig into the latest ACSM Position Stand on Resistance Training, unpacking what it actually says about strength, hypertrophy, power, progressive overload, and why many of the debates happening online are driven more by certainty than by evidence. They also explore why protein has "jumped the shark," how marketing has outpaced the science, whether menopausal women really need dramatically more protein, and why consistency—not optimization—is still the most powerful exercise strategy. Throughout the conversation, Stu explains why scientific nuance often gets lost on social media and why changing your mind when new evidence emerges is a strength, not a weakness. FREE Barbell Mini Course when you get on our mailing list FOLLOW Movement Logic on IG WATCH Movement Logic on YouTube LEARN MORE on the Movement Logic website Foldable Home Barbell Rack by VerseCoupon code: MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout RESOURCES ACSM Position Stand on Resistance Training ACSM Health & Fitness Journal special issue on power training Stu Phillips — Protein Jumped the Shark (2025 article)

    133: Dr Stu Phillips Part 2: Power, Protein, And The Science We Get Wrong

  8. Jun 24 ·  Video

    132: Dr. Stu Phillips Part 1: Bone Density and Scientific Nuance

    In this episode, Sarah and Laurel sit down with Dr. Stu Phillips, one of the world's most influential researchers in muscle physiology, protein metabolism, and resistance training. Together they discuss why Stu publicly challenged the idea that heavy lifting is required for bone density, what the evidence actually says about load and osteogenesis, and how newer research has changed the conversation around both muscle growth and bone health. Stu explains why many long-held training beliefs—including the need for heavy weights for hypertrophy—have not held up under scrutiny, why good scientists must be willing to change their minds, and how concepts like effort and "progressive stimulus" may matter more than specific loading prescriptions. The conversation also explores what researchers know (and still don't know) about bone adaptation, site-specific bone responses, impact training, mechanical loading, and the challenges of translating animal research into human recommendations. Finally, Stu shares his thoughts on protein obsession, exercise guidelines, weight loss stigma, and the importance of following the evidence wherever it leads. ABOUT Power Play FOLLOW @TheMovementLogic on Instagram WATCH Movement Logic on YouTube LEARN MORE on the Movement Logic website FOLDABLE HOME BARBELL RACK by Verse, use coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout Barbell Mini Course from Movement Logic RESOURCESKistler-Fischbacher et al. (2021) Exercise and Bone Density Watson et al (2018) LIFTMOR Trial Currier et al (2026) ACSM Position Stand on Resistance Training and Muscle Hypertrophy

    132: Dr. Stu Phillips Part 1: Bone Density and Scientific Nuance
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4.7
out of 5
129 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Movement Logic Podcast, with yoga teacher and strength coach Laurel Beversdorf, and physical therapist Dr. Sarah Court. With over 30 years combined experience in the yoga, movement and physical therapy worlds, we believe in strong ideas, loosely held – which means we’re not hyping outdated movement concepts. Instead, we’re here with up-to-date and cutting-edge tools, evidence and ideas to help you as a mover and a teacher. Music: Makani by Scandinavianz & AXM

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