Figuring It Out

Dr Alex George

Having amassed millions of downloads with his hugely successful Stompcast podcast, Dr Alex George is putting down his stomping boots to try and answer life’s big questions. But he’s not alone. Dr Alex is joined by research scientist Dr Kathryn Bates. Combining their two worlds to answer the questions we all carry around with us, about our minds, our relationships, our choices and our health. We Google them at 2AM, we talk about them with friends and we wonder if we’re the only ones. Each episode arrives in three parts from Monday to Wednesday. Part One tackles the Big Question. Part Two answers a real dilemma sent in by a listener. Part Three puts the most common claims to the test in Myth, Fact and It’s Complicated.

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628 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes628

Newest first

Jan 2, 2023 · 16 min
Pt 3: Gemma Bird on financial planning through hard times
In the final part of Dr Alex and Gemma’s stomp, they discuss why it’s integral to always be putting money away if you can afford to. Gemma also talks about diverse places to put your money and all the different pots you can have; plus shares her view on whether young people should care about pensions. Follow Gemma @moneymumofficial Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 26, 2022 · 20 min
Pt 1: All On The Board in Greenwich Park
On our Christmas stomp this week, Dr Alex is joined by the two people behind All On The Board, Ian Redpath and Jeremy Chopra. In part one, Ian and Jeremy share the story behind how All On The Board began by a manager putting them together on shift, and the famous faces who have featured. They also explain their love and passion behind their boards, and how it’s reached people far beyond the London tubes. Follow @allontheboard and buy their new book here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 26, 2022 · 15 min
Pt 2: All On The Board on the powerful responses to their messages
As the rain starts to come down in part 2, Ian and Jeremy share how they use their platform to shed light on mental and invisible illness, and why it’s important to them. They also discuss their experiences of counselling and why talking about problems is crucial to begin healing. Finally, they share their most powerful messages they’ve received in response to their boards. Follow @allontheboard and buy their new book here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 26, 2022 · 21 min
Pt 3: All On The Board on navigating grief during Christmas
In the final part of this stomp with Ian and Jeremy, Dr Alex asks why Christmas isn’t easy for everyone, and how we can navigate it if it’s a difficult time. Ian and Jeremy also share moments of kindness they’ve seen whilst working on the tube, and how they try to bring a little weirdness into their work. Follow @allontheboard and buy their new book here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 19, 2022 · 31 min
Pt 1: Dr Karan Rajan in Greenwich Park
Surgeon, lecturer and educator to 5 million people on TikTok, Dr Karan Rajan is joining Dr Alex for a beautiful snowy stomp in Greenwich Park. In part one, Karan and Alex share stories from long hours working in the hospital, the pressures and struggles Doctors and Nurses are constantly facing, and their thoughts on what needs to change in the NHS. You can follow Dr Karan on Instagram and TikTok. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 19, 2022 · 27 min
Pt 2: Dr Karan Rajan on becoming a viral surgeon on TikTok
In this second part walking through the snowy grass of Greenwich Park, Dr Karan shares the story of how he decided to become a doctor, and how his social media career manifested through his love of educating and teaching. Dr Karan also talks about how doing drama at school helped him in both of his careers; and the difficulties of balancing his work as a doctor, social media and home life. You can follow Dr Karan on Instagram and TikTok. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 19, 2022 · 22 min
Pt 3: Dr Karan’s advice on processing trauma
In the final part of this week’s ‘Snowcast’ in Greenwich Park, Dr Alex and Dr Karan discuss the stresses and pressures doctors often face at work, and how they manage them. They also talk about facing the fragility of life whilst at work and why it’s important to always be kind on social media. Dr Karan also brings his own health fact of the week! You can follow Dr Karan on Instagram and TikTok. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 12, 2022 · 28 min
Pt 1: Lauren Mahon in Walthamstow Marshes
After being diagnosed with breast cancer at 31, Lauren Mahon was determined to use her story and voice to support others living with cancer. Lauren founded the charity GIRLvsCANCER, and co-hosted ‘You, Me and the Big C’ with her best friends, the late Deborah James, and Rachael Bland. In this first part, you’ll hear Lauren and Dr. Alex stomping around Walthamstow Marshes, talking about Laurens's diagnosis, how her new dog Raymond has given her a refreshed perspective on the world and how she copes with loss and grief. You can follow Lauren here and GIRLvsCANCER here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 12, 2022 · 20 min
Pt 2: Lauren Mahon on supporting women with cancer
In this second part of this week's stomp, you’ll hear Lauren share how she’s made it her mission to be a support to those with cancer. Lauren shares her diagnosis and recovery story, explaining the impact cancer had on both her mind and body, as well as how her outlook on life has changed. She also shares why she set up GIRLvsCANCER and what it was like for her, Deborah James, and Rachael Bland to have been awarded a doctorate from the Institute of Cancer Research. You can follow Lauren here and GIRLvsCANCER here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 12, 2022 · 17 min
Pt 3: Lauren Mahon on her lessons from burnout and trauma
As the sun started to set in Walthamstow Marshes, Dr. Alex and Lauren Mahon wrap up this week's episode by talking about mental health and cancer. Lauren discusses her life before cancer and how she mentally dealt with receiving her diagnosis and chemotherapy, her decision to restart taking the antidepressant Sertraline, and how her cancer journey has reshaped the way she now approaches life. You can follow Lauren here and GIRLvsCANCER here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 5, 2022 · 23 min
Pt 1: Max Whitlock in Thorndon Country Park
Three-time gold medal gymnast, Max Whitlock, is joining Dr Alex on this week’s stomp in Thorndon Country Park. In part one, you’ll hear Max sharing how his life as a father has given him purpose and grounding, why having a routine is paramount to his mental wellness and how he prepares for the Olympics. You can follow Max here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 5, 2022 · 28 min
Pt 2: Max Whitlock on depression after winning gold
In this second part, you’ll hear Max and Dr Alex speaking about how Max became the most successful male gymnast in Olympic history on the pommel horse. Max discusses the journey of his career to date and how his mindset has shifted with each competition. He also opens up about how he suffered and dealt with depression after his gold medal in 2020. You can follow Max here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 5, 2022 · 25 min
Pt 3: Max Whitlock's winning mentality and reframed mindset
In this final part of Max and Dr Alex’s walk, you’ll hear them discussing how Max is preparing for the Paris Olympics. Max opens up about how he overcame his low mood and negative mindset, how he’s changing his habits in order to go for gold again and what he’s doing to ensure his mind and body are at their best ahead of Paris. You can follow Max here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 28, 2022 · 28 min
Pt 1: Joe Sugg in Sussex
Joe Sugg, author, actor, business owner, musician and strictly finalist, is out stomping in the beautiful, and very hilly, Sussex countryside with Dr Alex this week. Since rising to fame with his YouTube channel, Joe has lived a very public life which was exacerbated by coming second in Strictly Come Dancing, with his dance partner and now girlfriend, Dianne Buswell. In this episode, Joe opens up about the difficulties that come with living a life in the public eye, why nature has become imperative to his health and wellness and the reason for him and Dianne making the move out of the city, and into the countryside. You can pick up a copy of Joe’s new book Grow here and Dr Alex’s A Better Day here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 28, 2022 · 33 min
Pt 2: Joe Sugg on his ‘doom scrolling’ and phone addiction
While stomping around Sussex, Joe Sugg and Dr Alex discuss the importance of finding a balance in our personal and professional lives. Joe shares the variation in his career to date and how he’s changed throughout the last 10 years, how to make it big on YouTube and how his new book, Grow, was born out of his phone addiction. You can pick up a copy of Joe’s new book Grow here and Dr Alex’s A Better Day here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 28, 2022 · 28 min
Pt 3: Joe Sugg on his Strictly 'blessing’
As the stomp draws to a close, Dr Alex and Joe Sugg reflect on Joes time on Strictly Come Dancing. In part 3, Joe speaks about how he was approached for the hit show, how he dealt with nerves and being outside of his comfort zone and why for him strictly was a blessing and not a curse. Joe also shares his advice on making a career change and why he lives by ‘your tribe being your vibe’. You can pick up a copy of Joe’s new book Grow here and Dr Alex’s A Better Day here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 21, 2022 · 27 min
Pt 1: Billy Billingham in Malvern
SAS: Who Dares Wins team member and Sunday Times best-selling author, Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham, is putting Dr Alex through his paces on a stomp through the hills of Malvern this week. Billy had an 18 year career in the military and is a highly decorated SAS soldier. He’s completed missions in both the UK and some of the most hostile countries in the world, which has earned him an MBE and the Queens commendation for Bravery. Billy shares with Dr Alex how he coped with fear while on tour; what it’s really like to serve and survive in environments like the jungle; how a soldier's sixth sense becomes finetuned while in survival mode and why you should never take the easy route…. You can follow Billy here and pick up a copy of ‘Survive to Fight’, his new novel that’s based on his life and career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 21, 2022 · 28 min
Pt 2: Billy Billingham, on being an SAS Soldier
In part 2 of this stomp, Dr Alex asks Billy about life as a soldier in the armed forces and the challenges he faced when readjusting back to civilian life. Billy shares with Dr Alex how his family had to deal with the uncertainty of his tours - recalling the time when a 10 day tour became a 9 month tour without any form of contact or communication, and why his daughter felt like she didn’t ‘know’ her dad until she read his books. Billy also discusses the treatment of veterans of the British Armed Forces and how we can better support those who have served and their families. You can follow Billy here and pick up a copy of ‘Survive to Fight’, his new fiction book that’s based on his life and career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 21, 2022 · 28 min
Pt 3: Billy Billingham’s life as a Bodyguard to Hollywood A-Listers
Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Sir Michael Caine, Jude Law, Kate Moss and Tom Cruise are just a handful of names who have employed this week’s guest, Billy Billingham, as their bodyguard. In part 3 of this stomp in Malvern, Billy shares how his career pivoted from being an SAS soldier to a bodyguard, and then from being a bodyguard to being a member of Channel 4’s hit show SAS: Who Dares Wins. Dr Alex also asks Billy about his childhood and upbringing as well as his literary work as the author of 2 novels, based on his life in the military, and his autobiography. You can follow Billy here and pick up a copy of ‘Survive to Fight’, his new fiction book that’s based on his life and career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 14, 2022 · 26 min
Pt 1: Tom Kerridge in Marlow
Michelin-star chef, Tom Kerridge is stomping with Dr Alex this week in Marlow, home to many of his restaurants, namely The Hand and Flowers, the only pub in the UK to be awarded two Michelin stars. During part one of this stomp, Tom and Dr Alex talk about why he thrives in environments he describes as ‘controlled chaos’; how he continued to serve the local community during lockdowns as well as the impact Covid had on his businesses and how he overcomes the hurdles that come his way in both life and business. Follow Tom here and grab a copy of his new cookbook, Real Life Recipes, here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.