The Method - Health in the Real World

For many of us, January starts with a new membership to the gym. Whether it’s your first time, or a glorious come back, chances are you’re thinking about a new routine. So where’s the best place to start? And maybe more importantly, what are we actually doing it for? What is resistance training, and why does it matter to be healthy?

In this episode of The Method, Greg and Charlie sit down with natural bodybuilder and Strength and Conditioning researcher Eric Helms, to demystify resistance training: what counts, what doesn’t, and what benefits building strength holds beyond building muscle or looking “toned”. 

We start with the science, exploring why muscle growth, strength, and power are foundational to a long-term quality of life. Eric breaks down why resistance training isn’t just for athletes or bodybuilders, and why women in particular should feel confident picking up weights.

From there, we move into the practice. With Eric, Greg and Charlie dive into routine advise you can adopt right now. We cover:
  • “Training splits” or how to fit effective workouts into a tight schedule (16:28)
  • How to achieve progress over time (20:11)
  • Why resistance training can enhance endurance (23:36)
  • The role played by hormonal cycles in training routines (25:41)
Spoiler alert: you don’t need huge volumes or perfect programming to start seeing results, especially in the beginning.

Finally, in the experience section, we talk about how to train when we don’t have a solid sleep routine, how yoga or mobility work can fit into resistance training, and how to interpret pain during sessions. Eric helps us figure out what can help us reach our goals. 

If you’re trying to train smarter, check out this conversation that will show you the ropes to make resistance training a part of your life. 


Links:
If you’d like to send us your health questions for future episodes, you can email us a voice note, or simply write in with your question at themethod@thriva.co


About Thriva:

Thriva is a proactive health platform built for the modern age. The promise of longevity often comes with years spent in poor health. We want to bridge the gap between lifespan – how long we're living – and healthspan – how well we're living. We combine powerful at-home blood testing with wearable insights and expert guidance. So you can know exactly what’s going on inside your body - and what to do about it - before issues arise. With this podcast, we hope to bring listeners confidence in everyday health decisions. 

To learn more about Thriva’s values and services, visit https://thriva.co/. 


What is The Method - Health in the Real World?

There’s no shortage of health advice out there, but how much of it actually works? Cold plunges, glucose monitors, protein timing, strength training, avoiding microplastics… How do we figure out what’s worth our time? Now there’s a method.

The Method – Health in the Real World unpacks the science and real-world application behind modern-day health. We speak with leading voices to help you make sense of your health, and we find out how we can live better now, and for longer.

Each episode, long-time friends Greg Potter and Charlie Edmondson will interview leading experts to put key health topics under the microscope, and unpack health questions through three lenses:
- The science: What the experts, data, and scientific research say.
- The practice: How to turn theory into habit and sustainable behaviour change.
- The experience: How the practice lives up to expectation in real life.

In an often chaotic world, we want to keep an eye on the long game: maximising your healthspan, not just your lifespan.

Whether it’s eating better, moving with intention, or getting quality sleep… We help you build good, evidence-based habits that stick. Let’s find out what works for you. The Method gives you the tools to chart your own path towards health confidence.

Expect deep dives into the science of health. We’ll cover topics like: supplements, brain health, personalised nutrition, biomarker tracking, zone 2 training, stress management, but also explore psychological wellness, the power of social connection, and good emotional resilience.
Whether you’re new to proactive health, or already experienced and looking for nuanced conversations and fresh insights, The Method will empower you to push what really matters when it comes to your health.

About your hosts:
Dr Greg Potter is a health consultant with a PhD in sleep, nutrition, and metabolic health, and a master’s in exercise physiology. A real chameleon in the health world, he works across product development, coaching, scientific advisory, and science communication. He also loves meeting people, exploring new places, and spending an unreasonable amount of money on specialty coffee. On this show, Greg is here to cut through the noise of the wellness world and help listeners focus on what truly moves the needle for long-term health.

Charlie Edmondson is a proudly Northern outdoors lover, with a growing passion for what it means to live well. She spent years firing her health questions at Greg over voice notes; a habit she now conveniently brings to the show. A real sports addict, Charlie has tried everything from swimming, to hockey, and cycling, to endurance racing representing Team GB in triathlon and duathlon across the globe. She is also a dog mum and doesn’t say no to the occasional Guinness. She brings her warmth to the Method to champion the voice of the everyday listener, who might not be an expert in health, but is brimming with questions.

About Thriva
The Method is brought to you by Thriva, a proactive health platform built for the modern age. The promise of longevity often comes with years spent in poor health. We want to bridge the gap between lifespan – how long we're living – and healthspan – how well we're living. We combine powerful at-home blood testing with wearable insights and expert guidance. So you can know exactly what’s going on inside your body - and what to do about it - before issues arise. With this podcast, we hope to bring listeners confidence in everyday health decisions.

To learn more about Thriva’s values and services, visit https://thriva.co/.