When this conversation was first recorded in 2023, structured exercise programmes for people living with long-term health conditions were only beginning to gain momentum. Today, the role of exercise professionals within healthcare has never been more important.

In this episode, Bruce is joined by Annalouise Muldoon and Marie O'Connor, who shares her remarkable journey of recovering from an atypical stroke. Together they explore how structured exercise can help people regain confidence, independence and quality of life long after they leave hospital.

As Ireland continues to develop new educational pathways for exercise professionals working in healthcare, this conversation feels more relevant than ever.

This episode forms part of the ISESA Podcast Summer Series: Exercise Beyond Sport - three conversations exploring the growing role of sport and exercise science within healthcare.

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Over the next few weeks, we're revisiting three episodes from the first season of the ISESA Podcast that have become even more relevant today than when they were originally recorded.

Together, these episodes explore how sport and exercise science is increasingly moving beyond performance and into healthcare—helping people regain independence after stroke, supporting people living with obesity, and improving quality of life after childhood cancer.

Whether you're discovering these conversations for the first time or listening back with fresh ears, I hope they offer a new perspective on the evolving role of exercise professionals within healthcare.

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Irish Rugby's Will Connors explains how he uses AI, Machine Learning and Biomechanics to decode tackle safety.

In this episode of the ISESA Podcast, Bruce Wardrop sits down with Irish international rugby player and sport science researcher, Will Connors.

Widely regarded as one of the most effective tacklers on the pitch thanks to his mastery of the "chop tackle," Will operates at the exact intersection of elite athletic performance and cutting-edge science. After nine highly successful years with Leinster, Will discusses his upcoming move to Connacht, reuniting with Head Coach Stuart Lancaster, and the tactical evolutions he hopes to bring out West. Beyond the pitch, Will is a PhD researcher at Trinity College Dublin. We dive into his fascinating work using computer science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to map the biomechanics of the tackle. Will explains the massive challenge of teaching an algorithm to identify safe tackle execution amidst the chaos of a professional match, and how this data can ultimately be used to improve player welfare and reduce concussion risks.

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In this super episode podcast, Bruce speaks with Adam Sweeney, a 22-year-old adventurer from Waterford. Adam is preparing to begin a two-month expedition with the objective of becoming the youngest Irish person to summit Mount Everest.

The discussion tracks his progression through increasingly demanding high-altitude environments, analyzing his experiences on Aconcagua in Argentina (6,961m) and the technically formidable Ama Dablam in Nepal (6,812m). We detail the physiological realities of acclimatization, the acute effects of hypoxia, and his specific strategies for managing nutrition and hydration when performing at altitude. Plus Bruce and Adam discuss the the psychological resilience required to navigate objective hazards like the Khumbu Icefall and the physiological breakdown that occurs within the "Death Zone" above 8,000m.

You can follow Adam's progress via his social media channels:

Adam on Instagram

Adam on TikTok

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In this episode, Bruce sits down with Jonny McKenna, a recent South East Technological University (SETU) graduate who crossed the Atlantic to complete his MSc in Mental Performance at Ithaca College, New York. Jonny & Bruce go for a deep dive into the realities of pursuing graduate studies and building a sport science career in the USA.

Serving as a natural follow-up to our previous discussions on US graduate studies (season 02 episode 02), Jonny shares the proactive steps he took to secure his dual roles as a Teaching Assistant and Strength & Conditioning Coach which are funding his Masters. He proves that putting yourself out there, leveraging your network, and simply "asking the question" can unlock incredible career opportunities.

So, whether you are an undergraduate mapping out your future, a recent graduate looking for international opportunities, or a practitioner interested in the intersection of S&C and sport psychology, this episode is packed with highly relevant, actionable advice.

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Preparations for the 2026 ISESA conference are well underway and today, Ciara Sinnott-O'Connor, e chair of this year's conference team brings us an update what we can expect and look forward to. Ciara outlines the shift in focus for this year's event, teasing us with potential keynotes on AI in sport, performing under pressure, and "bad science," while emphasizing that discipline-specific content will come from the attendees through symposia, workshops, and panel discussions. We also discuss opportunities for early-career researchers and students to present their work, the importance of networking events like the social evening at Sean's Bar, and encourage listeners to submit their proposals before the March 4th deadline.

https://isesa.ie/2026-conference

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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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