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170 turns · 1 hr 11 minPrevention is better than cure, though. It should be exercise for life. Exercise is medicine. I mean, it's as simple as that. Around 70% of our population are not getting enough exercise. There are so many media personalities. That's a big problem for us in the science field. The wearables, the digitals, the reality glasses, all these things are great. But at the moment, I think the icing on the cake. What is one unanswered question in your field? Why do some people get this buzz from exercise and others don't? Less can be more. Find something that you enjoy, that you want to do, that gives you pleasure and enjoyment. The social aspect of exercise shouldn't be underestimated. Anyone listening in age 35, 40 or over, if you don't already, start doing some resistance work. We're fighting a losing battle. The link between exercise in the brain and exercise in gut health is something that really exploded in the last decade. If stuff comes along to make you live to 250, well, then that's great news. But in the meantime, I'm telling you, there's still a lot of basic, boring, fundamental stuff that you can do to increase your health span. What is it, Andy? Brain chemistry, maybe. It's the lack of priority that we place on health. John, welcome. Very nice. I'm glad I bought the right jacket to match the colour scheme. You're
actually really nicely matching the art behind you. Camouflaged. Feels very intentional. Today we're going to talk about something that is very close to my heart. It's a field that I studied in many years ago. And so I've always been a huge fan of your work. So thank you for coming and spending time with us. You're welcome. Why don't we start with, why don't you do an introduction in your own words on what you've spent your career studying? Sure.
Okay, well, I'll try and be as brief as possible. Did my undergraduate work in the United Kingdom at Loughborough University, studying exercise biology, sports science. Did my master's degree in America, went to Ball State University, studied under Dave Kostel, who is the proverbial grandfather of exercise physiology, I guess. And then went to the University of Cape Town Medical School, studied under Professor Tim Noakes of late controversy and spent 10 years there, did a PhD and a postdoc and was also director of the South African Institute of Sport. And now you are full-time ACU. Full-time researcher. I've got rid of a lot of the administration. I am a distinguished professor at the Australian Catholic University in Melbourne. Which I visited very recently. You did indeed. We didn't quite get you in our metabolic chamber, but maybe next time.
Yeah, I would have loved to do that full suite of tests there. Because that is, you know, the metabolic chamber that you have there is the only one in the Southern Hemisphere, right? Correct. The only
one, yeah. Two bedroom. Two bedroom. Built actually in the University of Maastricht. in the Netherlands and then shipped to Melbourne. And literally this is a feat of engineering, which I can now appreciate dropped through the roof of the university. And it fits impeccably and worked at the turn of a switch. And it was a crazy setup there. Yeah, it is
Episode notes
Why do two people on the exact same exercise program end up with completely different results — and what does that mean for the roughly 80 percent of American adults who aren't getting enough exercise in the first place?
Professor John Hawley is the Director of the Centre for Human Metabolism & Performance at Australian Catholic University in Melbourne and has published more than 300 scientific papers on the interaction between exercise and nutrition.
This conversation keeps coming back to one idea: the biggest gains in health span don't come from a new molecule or a wearable — they come from getting the fundamentals of exercise and nutrition right, and understanding why so many people who genuinely try still don't stick with it. Embracing the mindset and making exercise a habit is discussed as the greatest challenge. However, as Chris and Dr. Hawley mentions, with minimal effort one can gain huge rewards.
Muscle mass peaks in your mid-30s and declines by roughly 1 percent a year after 50, accelerating sharply after 60 and 70. VO2 max — a simple, testable number — is currently the single best predictor of all-cause mortality we have. Strength training is a clear indicator for longevity and remember, it’s never too late to start!
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why identical exercise programs produce wildly different results in different people — and what the science says