Modern Wellness Podcast

Our resident physiologist and VO2 enthusiast Oli Patrick interviews Iain Dickson, founder of Hero (gohero.io), a groundbreaking digital platform that democratizes VO2 Max testing. Oli and Iain explore the significance of VO2 Max as a longevity and health marker, how technology is making it accessible, and the potential impact on health, fitness, and insurance industries.And as a bonus for Modern Wellness listeners, Iain has given us a link to get free access to Hero, to test your VO2 Max. Just follow this link: https://app.gohero.io/downloadHuge thanks Iain and the Hero team!More about Hero: Hero is an app that provides personalised cardiorespiratory fitness insights, using just your smartphone. By combining the precision and immediacy of body-tracking and AI technology with gold-standard assessments and analysis, Hero transforms complex movement data into tangible insights. Meaning you can learn your estimated VO2 Max, and therefore understand your cardiorespiratory fitness level, in just a few minutes. 

Exercisers want a human in their corner. @lesmills’ 2026 Global Fitness Report surveyed 10K+ consumers across five continents and found only ~10% prefer AI-led workouts — while a majority lean human for connection and expertise. That’s notable because automated coaching is accelerating fast, from wearables layering in richer training signals to platforms pushing personalized programming at scale. Read more at Fitt Insider's Instagram (@fittinsider)What about running? With the ever increasing list of must-haves and must-dos is it becoming a bit exclusive? The team ask if running still is the most accessible form of exercise?And in trending, Adrienne takes on Chinamaxxing. What is it? And is there any merit to it, or is it just another TikTok trend?

As Spring speeds along we wanted to reshare this fantastic conversation that we first aired last year.Join Adrienne as she speaks with Philippa Harvey, SHA's Head of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The pair discuss how SHA Wellness uses TCM, as well as the incredible facilities and expansive offerings more widely.SHA Wellness is an internationally recognised luxury wellness brand with locations in Spain, Mexico, and Abu Dhabi, known for its integrative approach to health that combines ancient Eastern philosophies with cutting-edge Western medicine and personalised nutrition. They offer specialised programs for detox, weight loss, anti-aging, and more, all based on the proprietary SHA Method, designed to provide guests with lasting, scientifically-backed well-being through tailored treatments, medical diagnostics, and holistic therapies.  Don't forget to rate/review and subscribe or follow!You can follow the show and send in your questions to @modernwellnesspodcast or email questions@modernwellnesspodcast.comAnd follow the hosts Adrienne @adrienne_ldn, Sammi @sammiadhami, and Oli @_olipatrick.

First up, the team look at the rise in “Soft Cardio”, which is the latest trend in fitness but Zone 2 cardio has been a thing for a while. Simply put it’s cardio performed  at a moderate intensity , where your heart rate rises but you do not become breathless. Good for improving your endurance, burning fat, and keeping your heart healthy , without breaking down muscles or compromising recovery. Then the team turn to Burnout, as The Guardian report that it’s yet again on the rise, with over 75% of people experiencing it. Read more here.And lastly, Sammi is looking at the rise of using fitness as an excuse to travel. Have you headed abroad for a race or event?

Connor Minney (@connorminney) is the founder of gayns (@getgayns) a social wellness brand creating community-driven events that inspire a cultural shift in how gay and queer people experience fitness, connection and wellbeing.In just two years gayns has brought together 30,000 attendees across more than 300 events, created what is now the world’s largest weekly gay run club, developed their own tech, and is in a long term partnership with lululemon.Connor’s work sits right at the intersection of community, culture and wellness, and the impact of that work is being recognised more widely. This year Connor was included in the Attitude 101 List, recognising 101 LGBTQ+ trailblazers, for his work building gayns and supporting the community through fitness and wellbeing.In this episode Sammi sits down with Connor to discuss gayns, from its formation to its future, why Connor found himself yearning to reconnect with his own community post-pandemic, and why mainstream wellness culture is not working for every consumer.  

This is a replay of last year's special edition of The Modern Wellness Podcast, where Adrienne was joined by Simone Gibertoni, CEO of Clinique La Prairie (@cliniquelaprairie), the world-renowned Swiss medical spa and longevity clinic.Together, they dive deep into the evolving science of longevity — from groundbreaking cellular therapies to lifestyle interventions rooted in decades of research. Simone shares how Clinique La Prairie's unique approach blends medical precision with holistic wellbeing, drawing from fields like genetics, epigenetics, nutrition, and neuroscience to support not just a longer life, but a better one. Whether you're longevity-curious or seeking practical steps to upgrade your daily health routine, this is a conversation packed with inspiration, science, and forward-thinking ideas.Don't forget to rate/review and subscribe or follow!You can follow the show and send in your questions to @modernwellnesspodcast or email questions@modernwellnesspodcast.comAnd follow the hosts Adrienne @adrienne_ldn, Sammi @sammiadhami, and Oli @_olipatrick.

Today on the show the team start with a look at the news that demand for on-site gyms has surged as staff wellbeing takes centre stage. As health and wellbeing continue as priorities, new research from gym supply manufacturer BLK BOX has revealed an increased demand for office-based gyms from both employees and employers. Read more here: https://startups.co.uk/news/office-gym-demand/Things turn to AI, as they often do these days, and the team discuss the rise in AI therapy and preventative healthcare. Is this move net positive or negative?And lastly, Adrienne predicts a rise in Sexual Wellness as a pillar of the industry.

Disclaimer: 1N products contain nicotine, which is addictive and not risk free, and are intended only for adults who already use nicotine.Today on the show Adrienne speaks with Terry Seal, Founder of 1N (1nlabs.com).They discuss the current reframing of nicotine within wellness and Terry’s approach to communicating responsibly with factual, science-based claims, acknowledging historical tobacco-industry marketing harms and the stigma linking nicotine with smoking and vaping. There's also a look at biohacking’s mainstreaming, polarisation, male-dominated voices, and misinformation risks, and how the recent 1N launch has gone. With its roots in biohacking, 1N started in Berlin, where Terry came across the need for a nicotine product with higher quality and more transparency.