Movement Logic: Strong Opinions, Loosely Held

Dr. Sarah Court, PT, DPT and Laurel Beversdorf

Welcome to the Movement Logic Podcast, with yoga teacher and strength coach Laurel Beversdorf, and physical therapist Dr. Sarah Court. With over 30 years combined experience in the yoga, movement and physical therapy worlds, we believe in strong ideas, loosely held – which means we’re not hyping outdated movement concepts. Instead, we’re here with up-to-date and cutting-edge tools, evidence and ideas to help you as a mover and a teacher. Music: Makani by Scandinavianz & AXM

Play

Open in

21 episodes
fortnightly
Avg 1 hr 8 min
English

Episodes 21

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

S8 · E137
September 2 · 1 hr 37 min
137: A Lifting Evolution: From Chair Pose to Barbell Back Squats
In this episode, we look back at how our thinking about exercise has changed over the years, from our beginnings in yoga and physical therapy to strength training, bone density, power, fall prevention, and longevity. We talk about the ideas we stopped believing, the evidence that changed our minds, why “lift heavy shit” was an important corrective but ultimately an incomplete message, and how all of this has shaped the newest version of Lift for Longevity. We also get into what we’ve learned from teaching the course four times, why we’re removing exercises that create unnecessary friction, why AMRAPs are becoming a much bigger part of the program, and how we’re incorporating more power, balance challenges, and structured impact training. SIGN UP Free Strength Class on September 8th with replay! FOLLOW @TheMovementLogic on Instagram FOLDABLE HOME BARBELL RACK by Verse, use coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout RESOURCES 107: Does It Have To Be Heavy? 49: You Don’t Know How Strong You Are, Says Research 36: Somatic Dominance Loren Fishman et al.: Twelve-Minute Daily Yoga Regimen Reverses Osteoporotic Bone Loss paper LIFTMOR Trial Kistler-Fischbacher Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis 91: LIFTMOR, Not Less: An Interview with Professor Belinda Beck Dr. Lora Giangregorio on the Movement Logic Podcast Dr. Stuart Phillips on the Movement Logic Podcast Stu Phillips post Korpelainen paper
S8 · E136
August 19 · 1 hr 40 min
136: Beyond "Just Lift Heavy": The Science behind Osteoporosis, Falls & Fracture Prevention with Dr. Lora Giangregorio, PhD
In this episode, we talk with bone health researcher Dr. Lora Giangregorio about what the evidence really says about resistance training, impact exercise, menopause, fracture prevention, balance, and falls. We also get into claims from OsteoStrong, why not all published research deserves equal weight, and why confident claims about the “best” way to build bone often outrun the evidence. We discuss why bone loss around menopause can’t simply be blamed on inactivity, what we do and don’t know about heavy versus moderate versus light resistance training, why strength and impact are so difficult to separate in bone research, and why improving bone density is only one part of reducing fracture risk. Dr. Giangregorio also explains why getting better at standing on one leg isn’t necessarily the same thing as becoming less likely to fall, why yoga wouldn’t be her first choice for fall prevention, how to progress impact training without jumping straight into high-force exercises, and why real-world exercise programs need to adapt to the person rather than force everyone into the same supposedly “optimal” program. SIGN UP Free Strength Class on September 8th with replay! FOLLOW @TheMovementLogic on Instagram FOLDABLE HOME BARBELL RACK by Verse, use coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout RESOURCES Dr. Lora Giangregorio’s website and Instagram Bones Lab YouTube channel Her approach to starting and progressing impact training Her summary of different aspects of balance Blog post on impact training
S8 · E135
August 5 · 1 hr 25 min
135: Make Louisa Nicola Make Sense, Part 2
In part two of their deep dive into Louisa Nicola's claims about Alzheimer's prevention, Sarah and Laurel continue examining the scientific evidence behind some of her most widely shared social media posts, podcast appearances, and paid programs. Building on the foundation laid in part one, they fact-check claims about menopause, hormone therapy, Zone 5 training, heavy resistance training, creatine, and other interventions that Nicola presents as essential for protecting the brain. Throughout the episode, they compare her messaging with the available research, including randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and major clinical guidelines, highlighting where mechanistic theories are presented as established clinical facts and where evidence is overstated or misrepresented. The conversation then shifts from individual scientific claims to the broader marketing strategy behind Nicola's business. Sarah and Laurel analyze her paid products, including Brain Code and the $5,000 Decode Panel, discussing how fear-based messaging, appeals to authority, and selective use of research can drive consumers toward expensive products and testing. They contrast these approaches with the evidence-based recommendations from organizations like The Lancet Commission and the Alzheimer's Association, emphasizing that meaningful risk reduction is built on well-established lifestyle factors rather than highly specific protocols or premium wellness services. They close by discussing why influencers like Nicola resonate with audiences, where they see similar patterns among other health personalities, and why careful interpretation of evidence matters when communicating about diseases as frightening as Alzheimer's. SIGN UP FOR THE INTEREST LIST for Lift for Longevity FREE Barbell Mini Course when you get on our mailing list FOLLOW Movement Logic on Instagram WATCH Movement Logic on YouTube LEARN MORE on the Movement Logic website Foldable Home Barbell Rack by Verse, coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout RESOURCES 134 Make Louisa Nicola Make Sense, Part 1 113 Debunking Menopause Grifters Mary Claire Haver and Vonda Wright 92 Make Dr. Loren Fishman Make Sense Alzheimer's Association 2025 factsheet The Lancet Commission Mosconi et al. (2021) Correction: In this episode, Laurel cites a study erroneously as being from the Lancet. It's not from the Lancet, it's the Generation 100 study. PMID: 34878637 Resistance training and brain aging study Creatine Monohydrate Pilot in Alzheimer's The Menopause Society Pauline Maki Diary of a CEO episode with Louisa Nicola
S8 · E134
July 22 · 1 hr 18 min
134: Make Louisa Nicola Make Sense, Part 1
In this episode, Sarah Court and Laurel Beversdorf begin a two-part investigation into Louisa Nicola and the rapidly growing industry built around Alzheimer's prevention, brain optimization, and women's brain health. They examine how legitimate scientific concerns about dementia become transformed into highly marketable narratives, and explain the difference between what current evidence supports and what many online health personalities confidently claim. Sarah and Laurel break down the strongest evidence on dementia prevention, including findings from the 2024 Lancet Commission, and discuss what is known about exercise, vascular health, hearing, vision, education, social connection, and other modifiable risk factors. They also introduce concepts they call mechanism theater, evidence cosplay, and the fear-to-action marketing pipeline, showing how preliminary research is often stretched into certainty to sell protocols, supplements, and personal brands. Along the way, they critically examine several of Nicola's most common claims—including that Alzheimer's starts in your 30s, that women face six times the risk, and that heavy resistance training is uniquely protective—and compare those claims with the available evidence. Part 2 of this series will continue the investigation into Louisa Nicola's recommendations, products, and marketing strategies. SIGN UP FOR THE INTEREST LIST for Lift for Longevity FREE Barbell Mini Course when you get on our mailing list FOLLOW Movement Logic on Instagram WATCH Movement Logic on YouTube LEARN MORE on the Movement Logic website Foldable Home Barbell Rack by Verse, coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout RESOURCES 113: Debunking Menopause Grifters: Dr Mary Claire Haver and Dr. Vonda Wright 111: Make Stacy Sims Make Sense Correction: In this episode, Laurel cites a study erroneously as being from the Lancet. It's not from the Lancet, it's the Generation 100 study. PMID: 34878637 The Lancet Commission: Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care: 2024 Report Alzheimer's Association 2025 Fact Sheet Neuro Athletics Narrative review on resistance training and Alzheimer's disease (co-authored by Louisa Nicola) Dr. Vonda Wright podcast featuring Louisa Nicola The Diary of a CEO podcast featuring Louisa Nicola APOE4 and Alzheimer's disease research New England Journal of Medicine (2024) biomarker study on preclinical Alzheimer's disease
S8 · E133
July 8 · 50 min
133: Dr Stu Phillips Part 2: Power, Protein, And The Science We Get Wrong
In this episode, Sarah Court and Laurel Beversdorf continue their conversation with Dr. Stu Phillips, one of the world's leading protein researchers. They dig into the latest ACSM Position Stand on Resistance Training, unpacking what it actually says about strength, hypertrophy, power, progressive overload, and why many of the debates happening online are driven more by certainty than by evidence. They also explore why protein has "jumped the shark," how marketing has outpaced the science, whether menopausal women really need dramatically more protein, and why consistency—not optimization—is still the most powerful exercise strategy. Throughout the conversation, Stu explains why scientific nuance often gets lost on social media and why changing your mind when new evidence emerges is a strength, not a weakness. FREE Barbell Mini Course when you get on our mailing list FOLLOW Movement Logic on IG WATCH Movement Logic on YouTube LEARN MORE on the Movement Logic website Foldable Home Barbell Rack by Verse Coupon code: MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout RESOURCES ACSM Position Stand on Resistance Training ACSM Health & Fitness Journal special issue on power training Stu Phillips — Protein Jumped the Shark (2025 article)
S8 · E132
June 24 · 49 min
132: Dr. Stu Phillips Part 1: Bone Density and Scientific Nuance
In this episode, Sarah and Laurel sit down with Dr. Stu Phillips, one of the world's most influential researchers in muscle physiology, protein metabolism, and resistance training. Together they discuss why Stu publicly challenged the idea that heavy lifting is required for bone density, what the evidence actually says about load and osteogenesis, and how newer research has changed the conversation around both muscle growth and bone health. Stu explains why many long-held training beliefs—including the need for heavy weights for hypertrophy—have not held up under scrutiny, why good scientists must be willing to change their minds, and how concepts like effort and "progressive stimulus" may matter more than specific loading prescriptions. The conversation also explores what researchers know (and still don't know) about bone adaptation, site-specific bone responses, impact training, mechanical loading, and the challenges of translating animal research into human recommendations. Finally, Stu shares his thoughts on protein obsession, exercise guidelines, weight loss stigma, and the importance of following the evidence wherever it leads. ABOUT Power Play FOLLOW @TheMovementLogic on Instagram WATCH Movement Logic on YouTube LEARN MORE on the Movement Logic website FOLDABLE HOME BARBELL RACK by Verse, use coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout Barbell Mini Course from Movement Logic RESOURCES Kistler-Fischbacher et al. (2021) Exercise and Bone Density Watson et al (2018) LIFTMOR Trial Currier et al (2026) ACSM Position Stand on Resistance Training and Muscle Hypertrophy
S8 · E132
June 10 · 1 hr 34 min
131: Basic Bitches Talk About Balance
What is balance, really? In this episode of the Movement Logic Podcast, Laurel and Sarah unpack why “balance” is much more than standing on one foot, not falling, or having a strong core. Using the motor control concept of postural control, they explore balance as a dynamic, emergent process shaped by sensory input, motor responses, cognition, confidence, fear, environment, prior experience, and social context. They discuss center of mass, base of support, stability, perturbations, sensory reweighting, and why balance is deeply context specific. You’ll learn why steady-state, reactive, and anticipatory balance are different biological problems, why yoga may train some balance skills better than others, why strength and power matter for fall recovery, and why no single “balance exercise” prepares you for every balance challenge life throws at you. SIGN UP Free Barbell Mini Course ABOUT Power Play FOLLOW @TheMovementLogic on Instagram WATCH Movement Logic on YouTube LEARN MORE on the Movement Logic website FOLDABLE HOME BARBELL RACK by Verse, use coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout RESOURCES BOOK: Motor Control: Translating Research into Clinical Practice by Anne Shumway-Cook and Marjorie Woollacott EPISODES 128: Does 'Balance Training' Prevent Falls, or Just Improve Balance? 129: Sarcopenia Redefined: Loss of Strength and Power Matter More Than Muscle Mass On motor learning - 29: The Cues We Use Pt. 1, 31: The Cues We Use Pt. 2, 34: The Cues We Use Pt. 3 Our interview on the Capable and Worthy Podcast
S8 · E130
May 27 · 45 min
130: Why We Created Power Play and What's Inside the Course
POWER PLAY is on sale now for $99. The price goes up after May 31st. Sign up here - https://themovementlogic.com/power-play/ Power training is not just for athletes. It's also not just box jumps, Olympic lifts, or kettlebell swings. Power is for everyone and it shows up all day, everyday in our daily activities. It's the ability to produce force quickly. You use power when you stand up from a chair, climb stairs, get off the floor, or react fast enough to prevent a fall. This week on the Movement Logic podcast, Laurel and Sarah explain why they created their new course, Power Play. They discuss why power declines faster than strength as we age, why that matters for fall prevention and independence, and why so many people mistakenly conclude “my knees can’t handle that anymore” or “I’m too old for that” after being exposed to way too much impact or explosive movement too soon. They break down how power exercises can be scaled and progressed, why most group fitness classes fail to individualize this type of training, and how Power Play teaches people to start at the very beginning rather than assuming the hardest version is the entry point. They also discuss pelvic floor concerns, type 2 muscle fibers, balance, aging, reactive movement, and why just a few minutes of power training per week can make a meaningful difference in long-term physical function. ABOUT Power Play FOLLOW @MovementLogicTutorials on Instagram WATCH Movement Logic on YouTube LEARN MORE on the Movement Logic website FOLDABLE HOME BARBELL RACK by Verse, use coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout
S8 · E129
May 13 · 1 hr 37 min
129: Sarcopenia Redefined: Loss of Strength and Power Matter More Than Muscle Mass
A lot of people think sarcopenia means age-related loss of muscle mass. But this is not what it means! This week on the Movement Logic podcast, Laurel and Sarah unpack sarcopenia: what it actually is, why the definition has changed over time, and why losing strength and power matters more than losing muscle mass. They walk through the evolution from a tissue-focused understanding of sarcopenia to a function-focused one. Learn how the nervous system plays a major role in aging-related decline, and how this explains a far more rapid loss of strength and an even more rapid loss of power. They discuss why resistance training is essential if you want to maintain independence, reduce fall risk, and preserve the ability to do the things you love as you age. They also discuss why yoga, Pilates, walking, and cardio alone are not enough to prevent sarcopenia, and why training strength and power is non-negotiable for long-term physical function. ABOUT Power Play FOLLOW @MovementLogicTutorials on Instagram WATCH Movement Logic on YouTube LEARN MORE on the Movement Logic website FOLDABLE HOME BARBELL RACK by Verse, use coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout RESOURCES GUARDIAN ARTICLE - We were asked to weigh in about Stacy Sims advice EPISODE - Barbell Medicine on Sarcopenia 127: ASCM says K.I.S.S. 94: Capacities for Longevity - Power CLARK, 2008 - PMID: 18772470 CLARK, 2012 - PMID: 22469110 MITCHELL, 2012 - PMID: 22934016 REID, 2012 - PMID: 22016147 European Working Group position stand 2018 - PMID: 30312372 European Working Group position stand 2010 - PMID: 20392703 BHASIN, 2020 (SDOC Paper) - PMID: 32150289 TØIEN, 2023 - PMID: 37881849 WIEGMANN, 2021 - PMID: 33657752 TØIEN, 2023 - PMID: 36442699
S8 · E128
April 29 · 1 hr 39 min
128: Does "Balance Training" Prevent Falls, or Just Improve Balance?
In this episode, we break down what drives fall risk, and why the common advice to “just work on your balance” falls short. We explore how falls are measured, what balance tests really tell us (and what they don’t), and why improving a test score doesn’t automatically mean you’re less likely to fall in real life. We dig into the evidence on exercise and fall prevention, and explain why simpler, consistent exercise programs often outperform more complex approaches. We also look at surprising findings, like a randomized trial where a yoga group fell more than the control group, and what that reveals about confidence vs actual capacity. From there, we focus on what matters most: power, reaction time, and the ability to recover from instability. Most falls aren’t failures of static balance; they’re failures to respond quickly when something goes wrong. Finally, we cover what almost no one talks about: what happens after you fall. We discuss “long lies,” why getting up off the floor is a critical independence skill, and how a small amount of targeted practice can make a meaningful difference. Power Play Course available soon! FREE Barbell Mini Course when you get on our mailing list FOLLOW Movement Logic on IG WATCH Movement Logic on YouTube LEARN MORE on the Movement Logic website Foldable Home Barbell Rack by Verse, coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout RESOURCES CDC data on falls in older adults 2024 Korean study on fear of falling 2024 JAMA / USPSTF systematic review 2025 SAGE RCT, Iyengar yoga and falls 2020 Sherrington et al. Cochrane Review 2017 Sherrington et al. Cochrane Review 2022 Simpkins et al. power vs strength 2025 Zhu et al. power and fall prediction 2021 Okubo et al. stepping impairments and fall risk 2022 Devasahayam et al. reactive balance training Sheffield Long Lies Study Floor Rise Training Trial
S8 · E127
April 15 · 1 hr 52 min
127: ACSM says K.I.S.S.
In this episode, we break down the new 2026 American College of Sports Medicine position stand on resistance training—and why it’s not what the internet gurus were hoping for. Instead of doubling down on rigid rules, this update does the opposite: it expands the evidence base, loosens the prescriptions, and makes one thing very clear—there is no single “best” way to train. Most resistance training works. What matters more is consistency, effort, and aligning your training with your actual goals. We unpack what the ACSM looked at (including 137 systematic reviews and over 30,000 participants), what’s changed since 2009, and what the evidence actually says about strength, hypertrophy, power, endurance, and physical function. We also break down why “optimization” is often overhyped, why going from nothing to something is still the biggest win, and how power training may play a bigger role in real-life function than you think. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting fitness advice—or like you’re doing it “wrong”—this episode will simplify what actually matters and what you can safely ignore. FREE Barbell Mini Course when you sign up for our mailing list FOLLOW Movement Logic on IG WATCH Movement Logic on YouTube LEARN MORE on the Movement Logic website Foldable Home Barbell Rack by Verse, coupon code MovementLogic10%OFFat checkout Resources: ACSM 2026 Position Stand ACSM 2009 Position Stand POST about “strength span” from Stronger by Science (Nuzzo, 2024) PMID: 38781472
S7 · E126
April 1 · 49 min
126: Are You a Pain Avoider or a Pain Endurer?
In this episode, Sarah looks at two broad pain patterns, people who tend to push through pain and people who tend to avoid it, and explains how each one can shape your relationship with exercise. Before getting into those categories, she lays out a key foundation of modern pain science: pain is not a simple one-to-one signal of tissue damage. Instead, pain is a subjective experience shaped by the brain’s interpretation of threat, context, past experiences, beliefs, and emotions. She also explains why the common zero-to-10 pain scale is often misunderstood, what it is useful for, and why phrases like “I have a high pain tolerance” or “my pain is a 10 out of 10” may not communicate what people think they do. From there, the episode walks through the fear avoidance model, pain catastrophizing, and the avoidance-endurance model to explain why some people stop moving the moment something feels wrong while others ignore pain until it becomes a much bigger problem. Sarah breaks down the strengths and liabilities of both patterns, including how pain avoiders can become deconditioned by steering clear of normal exercise discomfort and how pain endurers can blow past clear warning signs and delay recovery. She also talks through how these patterns show up in real life, how to tell which direction you tend to lean, and how better pain literacy, gradual progression, and thoughtful exercise programming can help you recalibrate your response to pain without swinging all the way to the opposite extreme. FOLLOW @themovementlogic on Instagram FOLLOW @themovementlogic on YouTube Sign up here for the Movement Logic Free Barbell Mini Course RESOURCES Fear Avoidance Model revisited Pain Catastrophizing Model Avoidance-Endurance Model Pain Catastrophizing Scale Avoidance-Endurance Questionnaire
S7 · E125
March 18 · 52 min
125: Trauma-Informed Coaching with Dr. Vanessa Komarek, PsyD
Dr. Vanessa Komarek, PsyD joins Laurel for a conversation about strength training, trauma myths, gymtimidation, training through pregnancy, and what it actually means to be trauma informed as a coach. They talk about how lifting can support mental health, why fear-based messaging can backfire, where coaching ends and therapy begins, and which evidence-based PTSD treatments deserve more attention than social media trauma narratives. FOLLOW @TheMovementLogic on Instagram WATCH @TheMovementLogic on YouTube Sign up for our Free Barbell Mini Course HERE RESOURCES Dr. Vanessa Komarek, PsyD Instagram @HeavyLiftingPychologist Website www.weightsforwellbeing.com
S7 · E124
March 4 · 1 hr 2 min
124: Doctor or Brand? Amanda Thebe on the Midi Health Model
In this episode, Laurel and Sarah talk with menopause educator and advocate Amanda Thebe about Midi Health, its public messaging, and what happens when menopause care becomes a venture-backed business model. Amanda shares how she first noticed Midi when a physician moved from a major hospital to join the telemedicine platform, and why she initially saw it as a promising solution to a real problem, women being dismissed, under-treated, and unable to access knowledgeable care. Over time, she describes getting “amber flags” from Midi’s marketing, especially the way hormone therapy was framed as a near-universal fix with benefits that outpaced the evidence, a pattern she contrasts with other companies she feels communicate more responsibly. The conversation digs into the incentives created by venture capital funding and what it can do to a company’s priorities, shifting from careful medical decision-making to selling more, retaining customers longer, and expanding into profitable add-ons. They discuss Midi’s move into wellness-style offerings and unproven products, including rapamycin framed for longevity, compounded and non-evidence-based creams, and the broader drift of menopause platforms into weight loss and longevity medicine to keep people buying beyond the menopause transition. They also unpack why influential clinician-brands can develop intensely loyal followings that resist criticism, and what it signals when platforms partner with high-profile figures like Mary Claire Haver. Throughout, Amanda emphasizes that the real need is ethical, evidence-based care that doesn’t put profit before patients, and she offers practical advice for what a solid menopause appointment looks like, how to prepare, where to look for reputable resources, and how to block the noise. FOLLOW @TheMovementLogic on Instagram WATCH @TheMovementLogic on YouTube Sign up for our Free Barbell Mini Course HERE RESOURCES Instagram: Amanda Thebe Website: amandathebe.com LinkedIn: Amanda Thebe Movement Logic: Doctor vs Brand IG post Amanda Thebe: Midi Health IG post Instagram: Dr. Pauline Maki Instagram: Professor Susan Davis The Menopause Society: Provider directory and resources
S7 · E123
February 18 · 42 min
123: Don't Get it Twisted: Scoliosis Facts vs Fiction
In this episode, Dr. Sarah Court unpacks scoliosis from the ground up, what it is, how it is diagnosed, the different types, and what we actually know about why it happens. She explains the Cobb angle, idiopathic versus congenital, neuromuscular, and degenerative scoliosis, and why muscle imbalances, heavy backpacks, or “bad posture” are not the root cause. Drawing on her own experience living with scoliosis and her time observing medical care in a pediatric hospital setting, she walks through current medical interventions, including observation, bracing, and spinal fusion, along with the real-world tradeoffs that come with each. The episode then turns to exercise. Do you need scoliosis-specific methods like Schroth or SEAS, and do they meaningfully change outcomes? Sarah reviews the current evidence, which suggests small to modest short-term changes at best, with limited high-quality data, especially in adults. She makes the case that most adults with scoliosis do not need to chase curve correction or cosmetic symmetry. Instead, the focus should be on building strength, addressing meaningful side-to-side capacity differences, supporting breathing where needed, and improving function and confidence. Heavy lifting, including deadlifts and squats, is not inherently dangerous for people with scoliosis, and getting stronger is often the most practical, evidence-informed path forward. FOLLOW @theMovementLogic on Instagram Movement Logic: Free Barbell Mini Course RESOURCES: The Schroth Method The SEAS Method VIDEO: Schroth in action
S7 · E122
February 4 · 1 hr 11 min
122: A Science Communicator Explains Pseudoscience, with Dr. Joe Schwarcz, PhD
In this episode, Laurel and Sarah are joined by Dr. Joe Schwarcz, Director of the Office for Science and Society at McGill University and one of the most experienced science communicators working today. They explore why pseudoscientific health claims spread so effectively, even among educated and well-intentioned people, and why wellness culture is so drawn to simple explanations for complex biological problems. The conversation moves through three dominant narratives shaping modern health messaging: the obsession with finding a single root cause, the moralization of food, chemicals, and health behaviors, and the pressure to optimize every biological variable imaginable. Dr. Schwarcz explains how these narratives distort public understanding of science, create unnecessary anxiety, and distract from the few behaviors that reliably matter for health, like movement, nutrition, and basic risk management. They also discuss how science actually works, including why it changes over time, how peer review can fail, how industry funding complicates research interpretation, and why cherry-picked studies and observational data are so easily weaponized in marketing. The episode closes with practical guidance on how to evaluate health claims, how to think about trust and expertise, and why asking better questions is often more powerful than finding definitive answers. FREE Barbell Mini Course—SIGN UP FOLLOW @MovementLogicTutorials on Instagram Verse Agile Rack, Foldable Home Barbell Rack coupon code MovementLogic50OFF RESOURCES Dr. Schwarz's radio show McGill University blog McGill University YouTube Book: The Certainty Illusion, by Timothy Caulfield
S7 · E121
January 21 · 55 min
121: Do No Harm, But Also Sell Shoes? The Doctor vs Brand Problem
In this solo episode, Sarah takes the “doctor vs brand” framework that went viral on Instagram and runs it as a real-time case study on a real company. The target is Cadense, an adaptive shoe that claims to help with foot drop, toe catch, and neurologic walking difficulties using “variable friction” tech, basically a glide-to-grip outsole design meant to reduce toe snagging while still giving traction during stance and push-off. Sarah breaks down what foot drop is, who this type of device might help, who it might put at risk, and why any rehab-adjacent product should be judged on more than vibe, testimonials, or white-coat authority. Then she gets into incentives, the part everyone wants to ignore until it’s their wallet. She walks through Cadense’s ambassador, coach, and affiliate pathways, and uses the full checklist to evaluate where Cadense lands on the clinician-led spectrum, including what they disclose well, what they oversimplify, and what they should tighten up if they want to be truly “do no harm” about a product that can literally change someone’s fall risk. Finally, Sarah looks at the actual research (yes, it exists, no, it’s not robust yet), explains what a five-person pilot study can and can’t prove, and lays out the line she personally won’t cross, recommending a product case-by-case versus becoming financially tied to a medical-ish purchase decision. FREE Barbell Mini Course—SIGN UP FOLLOW @MovementLogicTutorials on Instagram Verse Agile Rack, Foldable Home Barbell Rack coupon code MovementLogic50OFF RESOURCES Instagram Post: When a Doctor Becomes a Brand Cadense, Official Website Cadense Coaches Program, Clinician Partnership Pilot Study of Cadence, A Novel Shoe for Patients With Foot Drop, Evora et al. 2019 NIH Clinical Trial, Variable Friction Shoe vs AFO (NCT06234124) Global Wellness Economy Reaches $6.8 Trillion, Global Wellness Institute
S7 · E120
January 7 · 1 hr 6 min
120: Is Advice to Eat 30 Different Plants/Week Science-Backed?
In this episode of the Movement Logic Podcast, Laurel Beversdorf revisits the advice to eat 30 different plants per week and explains why it sounds scientific while resting on a much shakier foundation than it appears. She reflects on encountering the claim, why her and Sarah’s initial reaction was skepticism, and how listener feedback led to a closer look at where the idea came from and how it spread. Laurel breaks down what the American Gut Project actually showed: an observational association between self reported plant variety and gut microbiome diversity in a specific, self selected, largely affluent cohort. She explains why this type of research cannot identify an optimal number of plants or justify turning a statistical cutoff into a universal lifestyle rule, especially given the limits of how plant intake was measured. She then examines how the venture backed consumer health company Zoe translated this association into a prescriptive target and built products around it, arguing that the clarity and certainty of the message functions as marketing rather than sound, science backed health advice. Finally, Laurel zooms out to the emotional and social impact of this advice, explaining how moralized wellness claims turn health into a performance metric while ignoring access, instability, and other social determinants of health. FREE Barbell Mini Course—SIGN UP FOLLOW @MovementLogicTutorials on Instagram RESOURCES 113: Debunking Menopause Grifters 118: How Should We Eat To Be Healthy? with Abby Langer, RD 102: Moralizing Movement American Gut Project McDonald, 2018; PMID: 29795809 Book: The Certainty Illusion, by Timothy Caulfield Guardian Article: ‘Personalising stuff that doesn’t matter’: the trouble with the Zoe nutrition app Zoe + Science + Nutrition interview with Prof. Tim Spector Post: Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple's infographic on scientific process Post: What Peter Attia gets wrong Post: Attia & 30 plants/week Post: Doctor vs. Brand
S7 · E119
Dec 24, 2025 · 25 min
119: Testosterone in Menopause: What We Know, What We Don't
Testosterone is everywhere in menopause conversations right now, often framed as a solution for everything from low energy and brain fog to bone health and longevity. In this episode, Dr. Sarah Court, PT breaks down what actually matters when it comes to testosterone for menopausal women, separating social media hype from clinical evidence. The real questions are not whether women have testosterone or whether levels change with age, but whether testosterone should be prescribed, for whom, and what the data truly supports. Using current consensus guidelines, this episode explains why testosterone has one narrow, evidence-based indication, hypoactive sexual desire disorder, and why claims about mood, energy, cognition, bone health, and longevity are not supported by high-quality research. Dr. Court also walks through how testosterone is prescribed in the real world, why the lack of FDA-approved products for women creates problems, and what the safety data does and does not tell us about long-term risks. If you have heard confident claims about testosterone as a menopause cure-all, this episode provides the context you need to evaluate those messages with clarity and skepticism. FOLLOW @MovementLogicTutorials on Instagram Movement Logic: Free Barbell Mini Course Instagram: Professor Susan Davis Instagram: Dr. Kelly Casperson Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women — Davis et al., 2019, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism ISSWSH Clinical Practice Guideline on Systemic Testosterone for Women — Parish et al., 2021 Testosterone Therapy for Women, Systematic Review & Meta-analysis (Lancet Review) — Islam et al., 2019 Androgen Therapy in Women, A Reappraisal — Davis & Wahlin-Jacobsen, 2015 Kelly Casperson blog post — Testosterone Can Help With Libido, Energy, Focus, & More During Menopause You Are Not Broken Podcast — Kelly Casperson, MD YouTube Short: Testosterone and Bone Health YouTube Short: Testosterone, Motivation & Vitality
S7 · E118
Dec 10, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
118: How Should We Eat To Be Healthy? With Abby Langer, RD
In this episode of the Movement Logic Podcast, Laurel and Sarah talk with registered dietitian and longtime myth buster Abby Langer, RD, about what it actually means to eat in a healthy, sustainable way. Abby brings clarity to some of the most confusing and overhyped nutrition messages online, explaining the meaningful difference between dietitians and nutritionists, why food guidelines get so much misplaced blame, and why simple habits like eating more fiber, plants, and whole foods still matter far more than clean eating, hormone-balancing diets, or supplement-driven solutions. She breaks down ultra processed foods, weight gain misconceptions, what causes overeating, and why carbs, fruit, sugar, and seed oils have all become targets of unnecessary fear. The conversation also explores protein needs, plant versus animal protein, the role of fiber in digestion and satiety, what gut health is and isn’t, and why probiotic claims are often overstated. Abby shares how her decades of experience in hospitals, primary care, and private practice have shaped her evidence-based approach, and she offers grounded advice on how to build a sane, less anxious relationship with food in a culture that thrives on extremes. SIGN UP for our FREE Barbell Mini Course FOLLOW @MovementLogicTutorials on Instagram RESOURCES abbylangernutrition.com Substack: Bite Me Instagram: @abbylanger

Showing 1–20 of 21 episodes