One of the positives I’m seeing during the current lockdown is many people’s renewed appreciation for getting out, active and connected. Having to stay home is making us really value that small window in our days when we can step outside to exercise, interact with nature and say a (distanced) hello to people we pass on the street or in the park.

For that reason, I think you’re going to love listening to my guest on this week’s podcast. Kelly McGonigal is a US research psychologist, a lecturer at Stanford University and an author.

Kelly and I talk about the importance of music for movement, and how moving with others can improve social connections and foster a sense of support and community. We discuss how going beyond what you think you’re capable of – whether that’s an endurance event, lifting heavy weights or taking on an epic hike in nature – can provide a spiritual experience that changes the brain in positive ways.

If doesn’t have to be hard, though. Kelly explains how even the simplest of movements provide an immediate reset for your mood and brain chemistry. And she shares ground-breaking new research that shows how repeatedly contracting any muscles, through continuous exercise, releases antidepressant substances called myokines that scientists have dubbed ‘hope molecules’.

Whether you’re someone who wants to move more but isn’t sure where to start – or you’re already a confirmed fitness fanatic – I think you’ll find this conversation uplifting.

Disclaimer: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.*

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Watch the video version of this interview in full below.

Connect with Kelly:

Website     Instagram     Twitter     Facebook   

Kelly McGonigal’s playlists on Spotify

Kelly’s Books:

• The Joy of Movement†
• The Upside of Stress: Why stress is good for you (and how to get good at it)†
• Maximum Willpower: How to master the new science of self-control†

Further Learning:

• Kelly’s Ted talk: How to Make Stress Your Friend   
• Kelly’s Stanford University Biography
• NPR radio – Hope, happiness and social connection: the hidden benefits of exercise
• Greater Good Magazine – Five surprising ways exercise changes your brain
• Mind Body Green – 3 ways exercise reconfigures the brain to help you find joy and purpose
• Science Daily – Exercise genes? Study suggests certain people with depression may benefit from exercise  
• Sports for Schools – Does enjoyment of PE lessons affect exercise as adults?

Dr Chatterjee’s resources:

• Podcast #79 – How Running Can Transform Your Life with Sanjay Rawal
• Podcast #97 – How Exercise Changes Your Brain and Reduces Your Risk of Depression with Brendon Stubbs
• Find Dr Chatterjee’s 4 Pillar of Health in The 4 Pillar Plan†
• Available in the US & Canada with the title How to Make Disease Disappear†
• Order Dr Chatterjee’s book The Stress Solution†
• Dr Chatterjee’s NEW book Feel Better in 5† is out now
• Click here for Dr Chatterjee’s YouTube channel
• Facebook Dr Chatterjee 4 Pillar Community Tribe

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*DISCLAIMER: Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

† Disclosure: All books marked with a † are hyperlinked to an affiliate program. We take part in Amazon’s affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon’s website. You are not charged any extra by using these links to purchase books.