Magic Pill

A daily dose of get-up-and-go

The Magic Pill, Episode #1: The Rewards Right Now

The pilot episode of The Magic Pill, WBUR's new exercise podcast, focuses on the immediate rewards of moving more. Sign up and you'll get a Magic Pill in your email inbox for the next 21 days.

08-31
09:45

The Magic Pill, Episode #2: What Exercise Means To You

We look at what exercise means to you and how that meaning may have become polluted over the years.

09-01
08:59

Magic Pill, Episode #3: Losing Weight And Keeping It Off

Exercise may not be a very effective way to lose weight, but there's solid evidence that it really helps keep weight off.

09-02
09:54

Magic Pill, Episode #4: The Big Reasons For Small Changes

You might want to sign up right now for a marathon, but in this episode we discuss the upside of slow, gradual change.

09-02
09:34

Magic Pill, Episode #5: What To Do When You Fall Down

Chances are, whether now or later, you'll fall off your new exercise wagon. If/when you do, you might try a little self-compassion.

09-02
08:13

Magic Pill, Episode #6: But What If I Just Don't Have Time to Exercise?

Your life may be so demanding that you really, truly have no time to get to the gym. But Episode 6 of The Magic Pill offers ways to move where and when you can.

09-03
09:47

Magic Pill, Episode #7: Peer Pressure — The Good Kind

In this episode we examine how social bonds can help motivate us to exercise.

09-06
09:57

Magic Pill, Episode #8: So Many Reasons Not To Exercise

Our minds can come up with so many reasons not to exercise. This episode offers a reality check on which reasons actually make sense.

09-07
09:27

Magic Pill, Episode #9: The Joy Of Lifting Weights (Really)

We look at how important strength training is to your overall fitness, and how building muscle mass can help you maintain weight loss.

09-08
10:32

Magic Pill, Episode #10: 'Exercise Is Like Taking A Little Prozac And A Little Ritalin'

Magic Pill takes a look at how exercise can improve our mood.

09-08
10:31

Magic Pill, Episode #11: Life Isn’t Fair But At Least Some Of It's Free

From walking to outdoor Zumba, super-cheap and free exercise options abound.

09-09
08:57

Magic Pill, Episode #12: Getting Older Better

We don't stop moving because we age, we age because we stop moving. Today Magic Pill looks at how we can age better.

09-09
07:22

Magic Pill, Episode #13: The Playground Workout: Getting Exercise Wherever You Can

The playground workout is part of the "lifestyle exercise" concept of fitting exercise into your life where and when you can.

09-12
06:49

Magic Pill, Episode #14: How Exercise Can Help Manage Pain

From endometriosis to fibromyalgia to arthritis, exercise has been shown to help with all sorts of pain conditions -- and may even help increase pain tolerance.

09-13
08:23

Magic Pill, Episode #15: Pokemon Go And Beyond – It's Playtime

It's a whole lot easier to exercise if it's fun. We look at how the meaning physical activity changes as you age and how to reclaim the fun.

09-13
07:46

Magic Pill, Episode #16: Fighting Fear Of Death, Disease And Decrepitude

Fear -- of death, pain, disease -- isn't the best motivator. But for a lot of us, it's what keeps us committed to exercise.

09-13
07:49

Magic Pill, Episode #17: Location, Location, Location: It Can Impact Your Exercise Habits Too

What do you do if where you live and work gets in the way of moving more? From biking to walking groups and other special programs, we look at ways to get around those barriers.

09-14
09:25

Magic Pill, Episode #18: Time For A Game Of 'Fitness Fact Or Fiction'

We take a small step towards combating all the the fitness misinformation that's floating around out there.

09-14
07:13

Magic Pill, Episode #19: What Does Beethoven’s 5th Have To Do With Walking?

New ideas are likelier to occur to us when we're moving than when we're not. We take a look at Beethoven's daily routine as an example.

09-14
07:45

Magic Pill, Episode #20: Looking Good Naked

Today's episode of Magic Pill is totally superficial: it's not about how we feel, it's about how we look.

09-14
07:58

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