Dr Erin Reifsteck: Developing a New Relationship with Sport Post-retirement

Athletic retirement is a much-studied topic, but only recently have researchers started to explore whether sport and physical activity remains part of retired athletes’ lives. Do athletes still find sport and physical activity meaningful pursuits, and if so, how do they change their practice and relationship with them? What kind of identity changes are required?Continue reading “Dr Erin Reifsteck: Developing a New Relationship with Sport Post-retirement”

Dr Ayse Yemiscigil: Understanding Purpose in Life, Physical Activity and Sport  

I became aware of Ayse Yemiscigil´s work through her article (co-authored with Ivo Vlaev) The bidirectional relationship between sense of purpose in life and physical activity: a longitudinal study. I was excited to discuss with Ayse her work which is one of the first to look at these two things together. Ayse also shared storiesContinue reading “Dr Ayse Yemiscigil: Understanding Purpose in Life, Physical Activity and Sport  “

Dr Dev Roychowdhury and Dr Maria Luisa Guinto: Mindfulness, What For?

Mindfulness has become a panacea for well-being and performance and is widely used in workplaces, schools… and sports. Many sport psychology studies have documented its benefits for athletes and it has become one of the main topics of sport psychology conferences. Dr Dev Roychowdhury and Dr Maria Luisa Guinto visited the meaningful sport podcast toContinue reading “Dr Dev Roychowdhury and Dr Maria Luisa Guinto: Mindfulness, What For?”

Drs Mac Ross and Michael McDougall: The Olympics, Human Rights and Managing Meaning(s) in Sport

“Why should people lose their homes for a hockey game to happen?” The upcoming Beijing Olympics have been in the media due to serious human rights concerns in the host country, but it is not the first time when there have been serious ethical concerns with hosting this sporting megaevent. Mac Ross and Michael McDougallContinue reading “Drs Mac Ross and Michael McDougall: The Olympics, Human Rights and Managing Meaning(s) in Sport”

Meaningful Sport Podcast: What is New for 2022?

The meaningful sport thematic series has now been going for about 1.5 years as a part of Physical Activity Researcher podcast. During this time, the podcast has grown steadily and we have been delighted to have a third host, Liis Kukkonen, leading her “practitioner viewpoint” series. Meaningful Sport episodes have been released on Fridays andContinue reading “Meaningful Sport Podcast: What is New for 2022?”

Dr Teemu Pauha: Understanding Religion and (New) Spiritualities in Sport

Especially in Western Europe, a growing number of people choose not to be affiliated with organised religion. But does it mean that they reject everything religious? And does sport have something to offer for spiritual life, at least for some? Dr Teemu Pauha visited the podcast to share his thoughts on these issues. Although myContinue reading “Dr Teemu Pauha: Understanding Religion and (New) Spiritualities in Sport”

Prof. Emmanuelle Tulle: Understanding Careers in Veteran Running and Women’s Mountaineering

Professor Emmanuelle Tulle from Glasgow Caledonian University is one of the leading scholars in theorising how older sports people make sense of and manage the process of bodily ageing. She visited the Meaningful Sport podcast to share insights from her research in two movement subcultures, Veteran/Masters running and mountaineering. Emmanuelle’s work often uses a lifeContinue reading “Prof. Emmanuelle Tulle: Understanding Careers in Veteran Running and Women’s Mountaineering”

Dr Ross Wadey: Telling Stories of Adversity in Sport

Adversity is something most people will inevitably encounter in sport and life. Yet, the way we give meaning to these experiences through storytelling can be very different for different people. Dr Ross Wadey visited the Meaningful Sport podcast to share his exciting work on stories of sport injury and adversity. What are the consequences ofContinue reading “Dr Ross Wadey: Telling Stories of Adversity in Sport”

What Can we Learn from Meaningful Work when Studying Meaningful Sport?

In the forthcoming ISSP conference, we’re doing a talk with Michael McDougall on ‘Lessons Learned from Meaningful Work: Implications for Sport Psychology and Understanding Meaningfulness in Sport’ . After recording the presentation a few days ago, I wanted to reflect on a few things arising from this work. Meaning and meaningfulness in sport (broadly understood)Continue reading “What Can we Learn from Meaningful Work when Studying Meaningful Sport?”

Laurence Halsted: The True Athlete Project (TAP) – Towards a More Compassionate World Through Sport

Laurence Halsted is a two-time Olympian who, after retirement from sport, became involved in The True Athlete Project which works towards addressing the pressing problems in sport – bullying, mental health issues, suffering – and reimagining sport as a force for good. He shared thoughts on his journey and the work being done in theContinue reading “Laurence Halsted: The True Athlete Project (TAP) – Towards a More Compassionate World Through Sport”