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The Meaningful Podcast Experience (MPE)
Our purpose is to engage in conversations with those enacting Meaningful Physical Education (research, practice and everything in between). Part of the LAMPE (learning about MPE) project, our goals for the podcast are as follows.
1) Through conversation and discussion, explore the whys, hows and whats of Meaningful PE in a variety of contexts.
2) Seek to understand the underpinnings and outcomes of prioritizing meaningful experiences in physical education.
3) Share a variety of perspectives on the theory and practice of Meaningful PE for growth and learning.
4) Help ensure that the evolving framework for Meaningful PE is accessible, available and adaptable.
The Meaningful Podcast Experience (MPE)
S2E06 - Meet Them Where They Are: Co-Creating a Running Program with Adolescent Girls w/ Dr. Joanne Hill, Dr. Laura Gubby and Mel Bound
What if the way to help girls love running is to remove the pressure and ask them what a running program that met their needs would look like ? We sit down with Dr. Joanne Hill (University of Bedfordshire), Dr. Laura Gubby (Canterbury Christ Church University), and Mel Bound, founder of This Woman Runs, to discuss how they co-designed a running program with 11-13 year old girls that swapped distance and pace targets for minutes moving, and measure success by feelings of safety, belonging, and joy. This episode highlights the importance of meeting students where they are, not where adults think they should be, through a continual process of listening and responding.
Bio:
Dr. Joanne Hill is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Bedfordshire and Co-Deputy Director of the Institute of Sport and Physical Activity Research (ISPAR). Her research interests include meaningful engagement in physical activity and the impact of space on embodiment and meaning as well as women's running safety. You can connect with Joanne at joanne.hill@beds.ac.uk
Dr. Laura Gubby is a Senior Lecturer in the Sociology of Physical Education, Physical Activity, Sport and the PG Research Lead for Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at Canterbury Christ Church University. Her main areas of interest are the sociology of PE, sport, and physical activity, and qualitative research methods. You can connect with Laura at laura.gubby@canterbury.ac.uk
Mel Bound is the founder of This Woman Runs, an organization devoted to the idea that no woman should feel that being active is a struggle. Mel is a pioneer in women’s grassroots sport, recognized globally for her ability to build & lead connected communities that drive lasting change and deliver measurable impact at scale. You can connect with Mel at mel.bound@thiswomanruns.com
Show Notes:
Run 30: Co-Designing a Run Walk Program with Adolescent Girls (Dr. Hill’s Website)
Azzarito, L. and Hill, J. (2013). Girls looking for a “second home”: Bodies, difference and places of inclusion. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy 18(4), 351-375. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17408989.2012.666792#.U5yyZPldWSo
Gubby, L., & Hill, J. (2025). Women trail runners’ encounters with vulnerability to male harassment in rural off-road spaces. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 17(1), 17–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2024.2393318
Gubby, L. and Hill, J. (2024). Women trail runners’ encounters with vulnerability to male harassment in rural off-road spaces. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 17(1), 17-31. doi: 10.1080/2159676X.2024.2393318
Hawes O, Hill J, Phillips B, Smith T, Roberts K, Chater A. "MoveScape": Informing Active Landscape Planning to Improve Physical Activity and Well-Being. J Phys Act Health. 2025 Oct 16;23(2):179-190. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2024-0690. PMID: 41101729.
Hill, J., and Flemons, O. (2024). Creating space for meaningful physical activity at home: women’s stories of social interaction, micro-adventure, and the joy of feeling strong. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 16(4), 333-351.
Thanks to Isaiah (steelandbone1997@gmail.com) for the guitar pieces, SSHRC for some funding and our guests for sharing!
To contact us:
dgleddie@ualberta.ca
riddick@ualberta.ca