In this episode of the Fit Life podcast, host Martin Sharp speaks with Rik Stevens, founder of Mentally Healthier, a former Met Police officer, and a British Army veteran turned mental wellness coach.

Known as the “Calming Chaos Coach,” Rik brings 30+ years of high-pressure frontline experience to the table. Together, they discuss the cost of constant stress, the need for proactive wellbeing strategies, and how busy professionals can regain control over their health and performance before burnout strikes.

Whether you're leading a team, scaling a business, or trying to stay mentally sharp in a fast-paced world, this conversation will challenge your assumptions about success, stress, and self-care.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

🎙️What life in the Army and police force teaches you about resilience and people

🎙️Why burnout is so prevalent in high-responsibility roles — and how to spot it early

🎙️How businesses often mishandle mental health (and what to do better)

🎙️The 3 pillars of sustainable performance: Eat Better, Move More, Think Better

🎙️Simple changes that can dramatically improve your focus, mood and energy

🎙️Why leaders must stop glorifying long hours and stress to drive real results

🎙️How to set boundaries, rewire habits, and show up for both work and family

🎙️How Rik helps emergency services and business teams through coaching & nutrition

Rik’s honest insights will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt stretched too thin and inspire listeners to re-evaluate what “Fit for Life” really means.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music & YouTube

📩 To connect with Rik or book a wellbeing workshop: mentallyhealthier.co.uk

📩 Emergency services support: cptsdrelief.co.uk

👍 Like | 💬 Comment | 🔔 Subscribe for more insights into peak performance, wellness and leading a life that works.

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In this thought-provoking episode of the Fit for Business and Life podcast, host Martin Sharp sits down with Dr Darren Stevens, a developmental psychologist, senior lecturer, speaker and creator of Constructed Development Theory.

With a career that bridges academic research and real-world leadership development, Darren shares how the way we think, not just what we think, directly impacts how we lead, make decisions and adapt to change.

This episode explores:

• 🔈What Constructed Development Theory reveals about risk-taking, decision-making and growth
• 🔈Why most people operate on autopilot and how to become truly self-aware
• 🔈How busy professionals and business owners can improve their cognitive agility and leadership capacity
• 🔈The truth about transformational leadership and why most people aren't doing it (even when they think they are)
• 🔈Darren’s perspective on AI coaching and why the complexity of thought matters in both personal & professional performance

Whether you're leading a business, managing a team, or navigating personal change, this episode will challenge the way you think – and show you how to think better.

Connect & work with Dr Darren Stevens:

🔗 adultdevelopment.institute

🔗 darrenstevens.co.uk

Want to be a guest or learn more about the Sharp Fit for Life community?

Email: hello@sharpfitforlife.com

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In this deeply personal and energising episode of the Fit for Life podcast, host Martin Sharp is joined by long-time friend and ultra-marathon runner Gabriel Flores.

Together, they explore how running and mindset can become essential tools for overcoming adversity, building resilience, and thriving under pressure in running, business and life.

From completing a triple marathon challenge to navigating elite ultra events like the Thames Path 100 and the Spartathlon, Martin and Gabriel unpack the high-performance habits and mental frameworks that support long-term success, even in the face of burnout, fear or uncertainty.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

🏃‍♂️How Gabriel turned personal trauma into a mission for impact

🏃‍♂️The role of running in reclaiming control during life’s hardest moments

🏃‍♂️Why consistency beats motivation for long-term change

🏃‍♂️The science of fatigue, fuelling and mental endurance

🏃‍♂️How to balance ambition with sustainability — in work and wellness

🏃‍♂️Training tactics for busy professionals (even those who “hate running”)

🏃‍♂️Body Glide, parmesan cheese, and the truth about chafing

🏃‍♂️Why burnout mirrors “hitting the wall” — and how to stay in the race

🏃‍♂️How building a support network creates lasting transformation

🏃‍♂️Real talk on failure, flow state, and embracing discomfort

This episode is not just about running — it’s about developing the mental toughness and self-awareness needed to perform consistently under pressure, whether scaling a business or tackling a personal challenge.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music & YouTube.

📩 Get in touch: hello@sharpfitforlife.com

👍 Like | 💬 Comment | 🔔 Subscribe for more insights into peak performance, wellness and leading a life that works.

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