Life Stories

In this episode of the Andy Thomas Life Stories Podcast,Andy is joined by Andy Barker - former Leeds Rhinos Head Physio and founder of TheNew Grad Physio.
 
Andy shares his journey from struggling to get onto a physiodegree to working in elite sport, stepping into leadership early, and latermoving into business and mentorship.
 
They discuss the realities of professional sport, whycommunication and people skills matter as much as clinical expertise, and howmentorship can help bridge the gap between university and real-world practice.
 
A thoughtful conversation on career development, leadership,and supporting the next generation of physios.
 
🎧 Watch now on the AndyThomas Life Stories Podcast.

Andy Thomas Life Stories Podcast - Episode with Alex Manos |From Elite Sport to Coaching, Purpose & Personal Growth
 
In this episode of the Andy Thomas Life Stories Podcast,Andy is joined by Alex Manos, a former Premier League physiotherapist turnedcoach, for one of the most honest and reflective conversations on the show todate.
 
Alex shares his journey through elite football - fromworking at Crystal Palace, operating under intense pressure at the highestlevel, to realising that success on paper doesn’t always equal fulfilment inlife. He opens up about the realities of working in professional sport, theisolation that can come with senior roles, and the personal challenges thatultimately forced him to reassess who he was and what he wanted.
 
This conversation explores:
 
The pressures and expectations of elite sport environments
 
Why saying “I don’t know” is difficult,  but essential, in high performance
 
Transitioning from physiotherapy into coaching and personaldevelopment
 
How personal adversity can become a catalyst for meaningfulchange
 
Leadership, vulnerability, and creating healthier culturesin sport and business
 
Why learning to say “no” is one of the most powerful skillswe can develop
 
Alex explains how coaching transformed not only his career,but how he works with people - helping athletes, leaders, and professionalsfind clarity, balance, and purpose beyond performance alone.
 
This episode is about far more than sport or healthcare.It’s about identity, growth, and what it really means to succeed over the longterm.

Andy Thomas Life Stories Podcast - Episode with Matt Taylor| Building a Career, a Business & Resilience in Healthcare
 
In this episode of the Andy Thomas’ Life Stories Podcast,Andy is joined by Matt Taylor, Clinical Director at Response Healthcare Group,for a wide-ranging and honest conversation about careers in healthcare,entrepreneurship, and what it really takes to build something that lasts.
Matt shares his journey from growing up in the North West,discovering physiotherapy almost by chance, to running a national healthcareorganisation spanning private clinics, occupational health, and NHS services.Along the way, he reflects on the realities of working in MSK healthcare, thechanging role of physios, and why understanding business is no longer optional.
Topics covered include:
* Choosing physiotherapy and navigating an evolving jobmarket
* The gap between healthcare training and real-worldbusiness skills
* Pain, communication, and treating people - not justsymptoms
* Starting a clinic from a single room and scalingsustainably
* Resilience, mistakes, and why longevity matters more thanperfection
* Lessons from elite sport, including working at World’sStrongest Man
 
This episode goes beyond clinical practice. It’s aboutmindset, adaptability, and learning to balance care, commerce, and long-termthinking - whether you’re a clinician, business owner, or just curious abouthow healthcare is changing.

Andy Thomas Life Stories Podcast - Episode with Bob Stewart| Leadership, Longevity & Lessons from a Life in Sport
 
In this week’s episode of the Andy Thomas Life StoriesPodcast, Andy is joined by Bob Stewart for a wide-ranging conversation onleadership, high performance, and the lessons that only come from decades ofexperience in sport and professional life.
 
Bob reflects on his journey, sharing hard-earned insights onwhat truly drives long-term success - from building strong cultures and leadingpeople effectively, to navigating pressure, setbacks, and change. Thediscussion explores how values, consistency, and perspective often matter morethan short-term wins, both in sport and in business.
 
Topics covered include:
 
Leadership and decision-making over the long term
 
Managing pressure and responsibility in high-performanceenvironments
 
The importance of people, culture, and trust
 
Lessons from experience that apply far beyond sport
 
This episode is less about quick fixes and more aboutwisdom, perspective, and doing the right things well over time.
 
A thoughtful and engaging listen for anyone interested inleadership, performance, and personal growth.

Andy Thomas Life Stories Podcast – Episode with Dr AndyMcDonald | Rethinking Pain, Rehab & Modern Healthcare
 
In this episode of the Andy Thomas Life Stories Podcast,Andy is joined by Dr Andy McDonald for a deep, thoughtful conversation on pain,rehabilitation, and how healthcare needs to evolve.
 
Dr McDonald shares his journey through medicine andmusculoskeletal care, challenging traditional models of diagnosis andtreatment. Together, they explore how pain is far more complex than tissuedamage alone, why language and communication matter in patient outcomes, andhow clinicians can empower patients rather than create fear or dependency.
 
The discussion covers:
 
Modern pain science and why old narratives fall short
 
The importance of critical thinking in clinical practice
 
Bridging the gap between medicine, physiotherapy, andpatient-centred care
 
Why better outcomes come from education, trust, andcollaboration
 
This episode isn’t about quick fixes or rigid protocols.It’s about raising standards, questioning assumptions, and deliveringhealthcare that truly helps people move forward.