ISESA Podcast

People with severe mental illness face a staggering 15–20 year life expectancy gap compared to the general population. This is a scandal of inequality, largely driven by preventable physical health issues.
In this episode, Bruce sits down with Dr. Evan Matthews, researcher at SETU Waterford and co-author of the recent Lancet Psychiatry Commission report on lifestyle interventions in mental health care. They discuss the evidence behind the "Exercise Effect" pilot—a project integrating physical activity directly into mental health services—and how recent TU Rise funding is helping to drive this impactful research forward.

We are also joined by Sarah Dempsey, an Integrated Exercise Practitioner working on the ground in Wexford. Sarah shares the reality of helping service users take that first, daunting step into a gym, the strategy behind her staff "Lunch Crunch" classes, and the transformative effect the program has on lives.

Including powerful testimonials from service users Dylan, Sheila, and Shirley, this episode is a moving testament to the power of bridging the gap between physical and mental healthcare.

Topics:
The "Scandal" of the 15–20 year mortality gap.
Why the "Exercise Effect" integrates practitioners into clinical teams.
The difference between "Intrinsic" and "Autonomous" motivation.
Real-world success stories from Wexford.
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Most of us would struggle to drive a car for 12.5 hours without losing concentration. Caitriona Jennings ran for that long—averaging a blistering 7:34/mile pace to shatter the 100-mile World Record. In this episode, Bruce sits down with the 2012 Olympian and new ISESA board member to discuss one of the most remarkable feats in Irish endurance history. We explore how she balances her C Suite role (Vice President in Aircraft Trading) with elite ultra-running, often flying straight from a race finish line back to the office. We also revisit the heartbreak of London 2012, discussing how finishing last on a stress fracture became the foundation for the mental steel required to excel in the ultra-running world.

Key Topics Discussed:

The World Record: Breaking down the 12:37:04 run at Tunnel Hill—pacing strategy, fueling with high-carb gels, and the mental battle of the "figure of eight" course
The "Dual Career": How Caitriona manages 100-mile training weeks while holding down a high-pressure corporate role in aviation leasing
Resilience: Why the trauma of London 2012 ultimately prolonged her career and prepared her for the pain cave of ultra-running
Training Philosophy: How a mature athlete manages volume, avoids injury, and uses the weekend for "compounding" long runs
What's Next: The hunt for the "Green Number" at the Comrades Marathon 2026.

Links & Resources:

ISESA Website

Register for our January Webinar
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We spend hours training the heart and the muscles, but what about the primary sensor that drives every decision an athlete makes? In this episode, Bruce is joined by Dr. Fraser Horn, Professor at Pacific University College of Optometry and a world-renowned expert in Sports Vision. Having worked with Nike and collegiate athletics, Fraser challenges the idea that "20/20" is the gold standard, explaining why elite athletes often operate at 20/15 or better and why 20/20 might actually mean you react slower on the pitch

We discuss the difference between "hardware" and "software," the critical role of contrast sensitivity when tracking a sliotar against a grey Irish sky, and how nutrition acts as "internal sunglasses" for performance. Fraser also breaks down concussion management, explaining why a "blown pupil" is a myth and how to use "resistance training for the brain" to improve anticipation.

Key Topics Discussed:
The 20/20 Myth: Why 20/20 is just "average" and how better visual acuity buys you reaction time
The Sliotar in the Sky: Understanding why contrast sensitivity is key for Irish field sports
Resistance Training for the Brain: How stroboscopic glasses force the brain to anticipate movement, and how to mimic this using simple tennis ball or bean bag drills
Concussion & Baselines: Why every athlete needs a baseline eye exam (pupils & tracking) and the prevalence of visual symptoms post-concussion
Travel & Screen Fatigue: Why athletes should consider "Comfort Readers" or specific contact lenses to reduce stress during travel and film review
Nutrition: The role of carotenoid supplements (Lutein/Zeaxanthin) in improving processing speed and contrast

Links & Resources:
Dr. Fraser Horn’s Profile
Sports Vision Pros: https://www.sportsvisionpros.com/
Nutritional Research Centre Ireland (NRCI)
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With the 2025 season approaching, Bruce chats with Dr. Shane Malone (TU Dublin) about all things pre-season for the team sports. We discuss Shane’s brand new research (co-authored with Martin Buchheit) which suggests we may have become too reliant on GPS, marking the return of heart rate as a critical monitoring tool. Shane reveals why the traditional aerobic slog might be working for your midfielders but failing your explosive corner-forwards due to diminishing returns. Also discussed:

The New Rules: How the "solo-and-go" and the 2-point arc might spike high-speed running demands this year
Sport Science 3.0: Why combining Internal Load (Heart Rate) with External Load (GPS) is the future
The Research: A breakdown of the 2025 "Dose-Response" paper—Endurance vs. Hybrid vs. Speed profiles
Practical Coaching: How to stop the "January Spike" in injuries and why you need to treat your speed merchants differently

References:
Malone, S. & Buchheit, M. (2025). Dose-Response of Heart Rate Load and Performance in Gaelic Football.
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In this episode, we explore the powerful intersection of social enterprise, sport and exercise science and health promotion. Steve O'Connell, founder of The Football Cooperative, and Dr. Paula Carroll, Senior Lecturer at SETU and Principal Researcher on the Football Co-operative projects join me in studio to chat about their amazing collaboration. We discuss how a simple game of pick up football has evolved into an award-winning social enterprise. We dig into the reality of recreational football as a tool for physical and mental health and Paula breaks down the incredible data behind it, including the staggering €17.60 social return on investment for every €1 spent.

Our talking point include:

Where it all began: How Steve turned a personal need for flexible football into a nationwide movement
The research: Paula explains how they measure "social value" and validate the impact of community sport
Wide ranging benefits: not just for men's health, but family, relationships and the wider community
Scaling and developing: how the research has helped secure funding and scale a grassroots idea into a national project

You can find out more here:
Football Co-Operative website
Football Co-Operative on LinkedIn
Paula Carroll @ SETU
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