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BBC Radio 4

The Joe Wicks Podcast

Joe Wicks wants to know: What’s the one thing that makes life better?
 
Joe loves finding ways to boost his mental and physical health, so this summer he’s asking some of his inspiring mates about their secret to physical and mental happiness. Whether it’s a high-intensity cycle, a freezing cold shower or a cheeky power nap, every guest will share the one thing that works for them.
 
Summer holiday’s been postponed and you’re feeling down? Forget about it. This is sunshine in a podcast. Joe Wicks is here for you, and he won’t stop until you’re fit and happy.

Welcome to The Joe Wicks Podcast

Joe Wicks wants to know: What’s the one thing that makes life better?

Joe loves finding ways to boost his mental and physical health, so he’s asking some of his inspiring mates about their secret to physical and mental happiness. Whether it’s a high-intensity cycle, a freezing cold shower or a cheeky power nap, every guest will share the one thing that works for them.

Gordon Ramsay’s best known for his restaurant empire, his fiery cooking shows and his fondness for an F-bomb or two. But you might not know that he’s something of a fitness fanatic as well. Joe caught up with Gordon in lockdown with the family in sunny Cornwall, where the whole Ramsay clan have been learning how to take things slow for a change. Whether it’s swimming in the sea or a 100-mile cycle adventure, Gordon loves nothing more than a serious test of endurance. But as Joe finds out, this is just as much about getting a mental tune-up as a physical one.

Joe and Gordon also share their experiences of spending time in celebrity-soaked LA, swap parenting tips and ponder the future of the restaurant industry.

This is sunshine in a podcast. Joe Wicks is here for you, and he won’t stop until you’re fit and happy.

Produced in Bristol by Emily Knight

1. Gordon Ramsay: Start cold, get warm

Joe Wicks wants to know: what’s the one thing that makes life better?
 
Joe loves finding ways to boost his mental and physical health, so he’s asking some of his inspiring mates about their secrets to physical and mental happiness. Whether it’s a high-intensity cycle, a freezing cold shower or a cheeky power nap, every guest will share the one thing that works for them.
 
Fearne Cotton has been a regular on radio and TV since she was 15. Over the past decade she’s become one of the most prominent voices on wellness, and mental wellbeing with her ‘Happy Place’ podcast, books and festival. She loves to keep fit, but as Joe finds out, Fearne always comes back to music to lift her spirits. Joe hears how the music of the 1970s in particular, made before the onset of the internet and social media, inspires Fearne to feel present.
 
Fearne describes coming through depression and disordered eating, and shares techniques like meditation and deep breathing which help her with anxiety. She and Joe talk family life and their shared enthusiasm for an ice cold shower.

This is sunshine in a podcast. Joe Wicks is here for you, and he won’t stop until you’re fit and happy.
 
Produced in Bristol by Clare Salisbury.

2. Fearne Cotton: Nothing blooms all year round

Joe Wicks wants to know: What’s the one thing that makes life better?

Joe loves finding ways to boost his mental and physical health, so he’s asking some of his inspiring mates about their secret to physical and mental happiness. Whether it’s a high-intensity cycle, a freezing cold shower or a cheeky power nap, every guest will share the one thing that works for them.

David Harewood, actor and BAFTA nominated documentary maker, is best known for his role in US drama ‘Homeland’. When he’s back home, and not on location filming in Canada and the US, he loves to start every day in the park, walking his little cavapoo ‘Sebby’.

In his early 20s David had a psychotic breakdown and was sectioned. Joe hears how David’s experience with psychosis is the subject of a BBC documentary where he re-visits that difficult time in his life. David also tells Joe how hard it’s been for him to find work in the UK as a black actor, and how his tenacity to succeed has led him to leading roles in Hollywood. They talk extreme sports, online gaming, and David tries to convince Joe that sometimes happiness is putting your feet up and taking a break.

Summer holiday’s been postponed and you’re feeling down? Forget about it. This is sunshine in a podcast. Joe Wicks is here for you, and he won’t stop until you’re fit and happy.

Producer: Clare Salisbury.
Editor: Dimitri Houtart
A BBC Audio Bristol production for Radio 4

3. David Harewood: Walkies!

Joe Wicks wants to know: What’s the one thing that makes life better?

Joe loves finding ways to boost his mental and physical health, so he’s asking some of his inspiring mates about their secret to physical and mental happiness. Whether it’s a high-intensity cycle, a freezing cold shower or a good night's sleep, every guest will share the one thing that works for them.

Documentary maker Louis Theroux has made a career out of immersing himself in the weirdest and most wonderful sides of human nature. From mega-jails to mental hospitals; from survivalists to Scientologists; from pro-wrestlers to porn-stars, Louis' seen it all. He approaches each of his subjects with the same inimitable mix of gentle good humour, and a slew of awkward questions.

Joe Wicks has been a fan of Louis' shows since he was a child, but he never would have thought Louis was a fan of his too! Together they chat about working out, surviving lock-down, and Louis' own top self-care tip: a cheeky 10 minute nap.

Summer holiday’s been postponed and you’re feeling down? Forget about it. This is sunshine in a podcast. Joe Wicks is here for you, and he won’t stop until you’re fit and happy.

Producer: Emily Knight
Editor: Dimitri Houtart
A BBC Audio Bristol production for Radio 4

4. Louis Theroux: Sneaky toilet naps

Joe Wicks wants to know: What’s the one thing that makes life better?

Joe loves finding ways to boost his mental and physical health, so he’s asking some of his inspiring mates about their secret to physical and mental happiness. Whether it’s a high-intensity cycle, a freezing cold shower or a good long dog-walk, every guest will share the one thing that works for them.

Runner, super-athlete and author Robin Arzón is perhaps best known as the head trainer at Peloton, the home-exercise-bike company. You might not know that she's run marathons, ultra-marathons, 100 mile races... she's even run through the night in the middle of the desert at Burning Man festival. And you almost certainly won't know how she got into running in the first place. It's a story of strength, grit and amazing triumph over adversity. No wonder she's Joe's 'go-to-girl' when he needs a bit of motivation for his own work-outs!

Joe and Robin chat about everything from physical strength to mental resilience, what it takes to run for 29 hours straight, and Robin's most important self-care routine... not a work-out, but getting a full, nine hours of sleep, every night.

Summer holiday’s been postponed and you’re feeling down? Forget about it. This is sunshine in a podcast. Joe Wicks is here for you, and he won’t stop until you’re fit and happy.

Producer: Emily Knight
Editor: Dimitri Houtart
A BBC Audio Bristol production for Radio 4

5. Robin Arzón: Sweating with swagger

Joe Wicks wants to know: What’s the one thing that makes life better?

Joe loves finding ways to boost his mental and physical health, so he’s asking some of his inspiring mates about their secret to physical and mental happiness. Whether it’s a high-intensity cycle, a freezing cold shower or a good long dog-walk, every guest will share the one thing that works for them.

Back in 2014, James Bay's first album 'Chaos and the Calm' established him as a British pop sensation, winning him Brit Awards and a Grammy nomination. James says his newest music, recorded earlier this year in Nashville is his most personal yet. As a self-admittedly private person, he says he's now ready to talk about his personal life for the first time. 

In this conversation, James opens up to Joe about the long road to being the 'overnight success' the music media dubbed him when his debut album was released. They talk about James' love for personal fitness (and a few Wicksy workouts), how his weekly 7-a-side football games with celebrity mates make him feel refreshed, and what happened when The Rolling Stones asked him to open their homecoming gig. And it turns out James' music has a very special place in Joe, and his wife Rosie's hearts.

Summer holiday’s been postponed and you’re feeling down? Forget about it. This is sunshine in a podcast. Joe Wicks is here for you, and he won’t stop until you’re fit and happy.

Producer: Clare Salisbury
Editor: Dimitri Houtart
A BBC Audio Bristol production for Radio 4

6. James Bay: Own the moment

Joe Wicks wants to know: What’s the one thing that makes life better?

Joe loves finding ways to boost his mental and physical health, so he’s asking some of his inspiring mates about their secret to physical and mental happiness. Whether it’s a high-intensity cycle, a freezing cold shower or a good long dog-walk, every guest will share the one thing that works for them.

Melissa Alcantara is best known as Kim Kardashian's personal trainer, but it was her own personal journey, from yo-yo dieting and experiencing post-natal depression to finding happiness through starting her own work out plan which inspired Kim in the first place. Today Melissa is a writer, owns her own fitness brand, and still trains Kim six days a week!

In this podcast, Joe hears Melissa's inspirational story. They talk about parenting, the importance of being honest on social media and their shared passion for hitting the road on their motorbikes. Melissa explains that as much as she loves riding through the Californian canyons, she also finds peace and calm on her surfboard, or walking along the beach at daybreak.

Summer holiday’s been postponed and you’re feeling down? Forget about it. This is sunshine in a podcast. Joe Wicks is here for you, and he won’t stop until you’re fit and happy.

Producer: Clare Salisbury
Editor: Dimitri Houtart
A BBC Audio Bristol production for Radio 4

7. Melissa Alcantara: Say yes to you

Joe Wicks wants to know: What’s the one thing that makes life better?

Joe loves finding ways to boost his mental and physical health, so he’s asking some of his inspiring mates about their secret to physical and mental happiness. Whether it’s a freezing cold shower, walkies with the dog, or a sneaky post-lunch nap, every guest will share the one thing that works for them.

If you don't recognise Andy Puddicombe's name, you MIGHT recognise the soothing sound of his voice. Joe's guest this week is the voice of, and brains behind, the Headspace app. Launched in 2012 and now a global success story, the app aims to 'demystify mindfulness and meditation' and bring it to people who might not think they need it.

In this podcast, Andy shares his incredible story with Joe: from fitness enthusiast in the UK, to Buddhist monk in Tibet, to mindfulness instructor in Moscow, and back to the UK to learn circus skills! Joe shares his own transformative experiences with meditation, and they geek out about life in LA, surfing, sharks, and learning how to be a mindful parent.

Summer holiday’s been postponed and you’re feeling down? Forget about it. This is sunshine in a podcast. Joe Wicks is here for you, and he won’t stop until you’re fit and happy.

Producer: Emily Knight
Editor: Dimitri Houtart
A BBC Audio Bristol production for Radio 4

8. Andy Puddicombe: A sense of play

Joe Wicks wants to know: What’s the one thing that makes life better?

Joe loves finding ways to boost his mental and physical health, so he’s asking some of his inspiring mates about their secrets to physical and mental happiness. Whether it’s a high-intensity cycle, a freezing cold shower or a good long dog-walk, every guest will share the one thing that works for them.

Jamie Oliver has been cooking on our TV screens and campaigning for good food for more than two decades. He's written 24 books and sold more than 36 million books worldwide. You knew that stuff, but did you know that Jamie is an avid music composer or that he loves nothing more than kicking back in a hammock in his garden?

Jamie inspired a teenage Joe Wicks to get in the kitchen, so during their conversation they talk eating and growing food and keeping fit. He also hears about Jamie's struggles with dyslexia, sleep and how the 2019 collapse of his restaurant chain almost took him to the edge. As well as making two TV series in lockdown, Jamie explains it also gave him a chance to rediscover a love for composing music and playing the drums.

Summer holiday’s been postponed and you’re feeling down? Forget about it. This is sunshine in a podcast. Joe Wicks is here for you, and he won’t stop until you’re fit and happy.

Producer: Clare Salisbury
Editor: Dimitri Houtart
A BBC Audio Bristol production for Radio 4

9. Jamie Oliver: Proper givin' it some

The UK’s favourite fitness coach is back with series three of his podcast. This summer, Joe is speaking to inspirational friends and some of his favourite people to ask them what they do to keep themselves feeling mentally and physically strong.

In this episode Joe chats to one of the most successful writers in Britain today – Caitlin Moran. She's the author of seven books including How To Be a Woman, which has sold over a million copies, How to Build A Girl, which has been adapted into a film, and More Than A Woman, which came out in 2020. She also has two popular weekly columns in The Times. 

Catlin Moran was born in a council estate in Wolverhampton, the eldest of eight children, and went on to become globally famous for her writing. From becoming a published novelist aged 16, to being a star columnist at The Times aged 18, she tells Joe her incredible life story. Joe and Caitlin connect over their shared experience of a difficult childhood, and discuss how this still affects them today. Opening up about her struggles with anxiety and her daughter's eating disorder, Caitlin reveals what she's learnt along the way, and how a good dose of humour and optimism has got her through. 

This is sunshine in a podcast. Joe Wicks is here for you, and he won’t stop until you’re fit and happy.

If you need support with mental health and self-harm, details are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Producer: Eliza Lomas
Editor: Dimitri Houtart
A BBC Audio Bristol production for Radio 4

34. Caitlin Moran: Being my own pet dog

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