When was the last time you gave any real thought to walking? It’s so easy to put one foot in front of the other. Yet this unique, underrated activity sets us apart from other species, and brings incredible advantages – yes, superpowers – if we do it enough.

My guest on this week’s podcast is the neuroscientist Shane O’Mara, a professor of experimental brain research at Trinity College Dublin. After reading his remarkable new book, In Praise of Walking: The New Science of How We Walk And Why It’s Good For Us, I couldn’t wait to talk to him about the topics it raises. Shane has always been a keen walker and aims to clock 15,000 to 17,000 steps each day on his pedometer. But as we discuss, the positive effects of walking go way beyond the fitness benefits we all know about.

Walking helps more than our hearts and lungs, our muscles and posture, yet modern, sedentary lives mean we’re doing far less of it than nature intended. It can increase creativity and problem solving, lift our mood and protect us from depression. Shane reveals how it helps learning, memory and cognition and how it can slow and even reverse the functional ageing of the brain. All this science, he hopes, will help convince town planners and public health officials that we must redesign our environments with pedestrians in mind.

This is such an enlightening conversation and I know you’ll gain some fascinating new perspectives on how you could (and why you should) fit more walking into your life. Why not head out for a stroll as you listen?

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.

Find out more about Shane:

About Shane     Twitter

Shane’s book:

In Praise of Walking: The New Science of How We Walk And Why It’s Good For Us

Relevant articles:

• The Guardian – ‘It’s a superpower’: how walking makes us healthier, happier and brainier
• Standard – Why your happy place is just 5,000 steps away, according to a neuroscientist
• Irish Times – Why walking works as a self-acting repair tool for body and soul
• Belfast Telegraph –A walk a day keeps the doctor at bay…
• Irish Times – Ever wonder how the brain works? This expert shines a light

Further Learning:

• Science Daily – Attention, couch potatoes! Walking boosts brain connectivity, function
• Scientific American – Regular Walking Can Help Ease Depression

Dr Chatterjee’s resources:

• Podcast episode 46 – Making Movement Easier with Chris Boardman
• Podcast episode 79 – How Running Can Transform Your Life with Sanjay Rawal
• Podcast episode 35 – Why Depression Isn’t All In The Mind with Professor Edward Bullmore
• 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.

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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.