From Head To Toe: The Irish Dancer Wellness Podcast

Chloey and Dr. Mitch are back, and this time they’re taking a closer look at some of the messages and claims dancers are constantly exposed to online. From pushing through exhaustion, to taking “100% ownership” of every outcome, to using positive self-talk to override nerves, they unpack what actually holds up, what needs more context, and what might be doing more harm than good. Not everything is simply true or false. Sometimes the most useful answer sits somewhere in the grey area, and that’s exactly what this conversation explores. Mitch also checks back in on the goal he set in our last episode and shares how it’s been going. And if you’ve come across a post, quote or claim online that’s made you stop and think, send it our way. We may break it down in a future episode.

Chloey and Mitch work through a long-term fitness goal and discuss how understanding the motivation behind it, and breaking the challenge down into tangible daily behaviours, can make it more likely that success is achieved. You’ll also find a link to our goal-setting worksheets below if you’d like to follow along or put some of the concepts from this episode into practice. A quick note from Chloey: I know my audio quality isn’t the best in this episode. We’ll have that fixed for the next one, but I hope you still enjoy the conversation and find it valuable. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WrwF3ksK2MZmqN7I1-bUYUi4w6cmAky5/view?usp=sharing

In Part 3 of our Stamina series, Registered Dietitian and TCRG Julia Chase explores the vital role nutrition plays in a dancer’s energy, endurance, recovery, and performance. Julia discusses why Irish dancers need to fuel themselves for the athletes they are, the importance of carbohydrates, and how under-fuelling can sometimes feel like a stamina problem. She also shares practical guidance for fuelling longer workshops, competition days, training sessions, and performances, helping dancers feel more energised, focused, and prepared to perform at their best. To work with Julia one-to-one, or to book a nutrition workshop for your dance school, connect with us through From Head to Toe Academy. www.fromheadtotoeacademy.com

In this episode of From Head to Toe: The Irish Dancer Wellness Podcast , Dr. Mitch DeSimone explores the psychology of stamina for Irish dancers. After Part One focused on the physical side of stamina, including energy systems, strength, aerobic support, and specificity, Part Two looks at the mental side of stamina and what happens when a dance starts to feel hard. Dr. Mitch discusses how attitude, beliefs, thought processes, and self-talk can impact the way dancers approach stamina work, respond to fatigue, and perform under pressure. Because stamina is not just physical. It is also about how dancers think, focus, and respond when their body starts to work hard. Want to work with Dr. Mitch 1:1 or join our monthly From Head to Toe Academy workshops? Check it out here: www.fromheadtotoeacademy.com

In this episode of From Head to Toe: The Irish Dancer Wellness Podcast , Chloey Turner breaks down the physical side of stamina for Irish dancers. After a follow-up from Dr. Mitch’s “Friend, Bestie, Enemy” question in Episode 1, Chloey explains why Irish dance stamina is not the same as long-distance running, and why dancers need to train for the actual demands of their sport. This episode explores the energy systems that power Irish dance, why the aerobic system still matters, why strength plays an important role in performance, and how progressive, dance-specific training can help dancers build speed, power, stamina, and confidence from the beginning of a round to the end. Chloey also shares why this time of year is a great opportunity to build a solid base before heading into Oireachtas prep. Look out for Part Two, where Dr. Mitch explores the psychology of stamina and what happens in the mind when the dance starts to feel hard. Register for the Elevate Off-Season Summer Training Plan here: Elevate off-season summer training

In our very first episode of From Head to Toe: The Irish Dancer Wellness Podcast, we’re talking about scope of practice, credentials, and why it matters who dancers are taking advice from. This conversation came from a real question we received from an Irish dance teacher about qualifications in the wellness space. So we wanted to open up an honest discussion around what different professionals are actually trained to do, where the boundaries are, and how dancers, parents, and teachers can feel more informed when looking for support. Today, Chloey Turner and Dr. Mitch DeSimone, Performance Psychology Specialist, Certified Mental Performance Consultant, and TCRG, chat about the importance of education, lived experience, collaboration, and knowing when to refer out. It’s a practical and much-needed conversation for the Irish dance world as we continue to bring strength, psychology, nutrition, recovery, and wellness support into the community in a responsible way.