Why Community Matters More Than Motivation with Dr. Olivia Affuso

Dr. Olivia Affuso is a physical activity epidemiologist, ultrarunner and researcher studying what helps people, particularly women, become active and stay active.

Olivia joins Scott to talk about why physical activity drops so dramatically for girls during adolescence, the role friendship and social connection can play in keeping women moving, and what she has learned from studying running communities. Her research points to more than just exercise itself: encouragement, strong group leadership and simply feeling safe can all influence whether women participate.

They also explore Olivia's connection to trail and ultrarunning, her goal of completing an ultra in all 50 states, and why being outside has become an important part of both her personal life and her work. Olivia shares how time in nature helped her recognize the connection between movement, stress and wellbeing and why getting someone outside doesn't necessarily have to begin with "exercise."

The conversation also turns to youth literacy, another cause Olivia is passionate about, and her work supporting efforts to get books into the hands of more children and families.

It's a conversation about running, belonging, the outdoors and creating environments that make it easier for more people to discover the joy of moving.

Chapters 00:00 – Meet Dr. Olivia Affuso

01:45 – Discovering ultrarunning

02:45 – An ultra in all 50 states

05:50 – What is physical activity epidemiology?

07:05 – Why girls stop being active

13:15 – Community, run groups and motivation

15:00 – Helping women feel safer on the trails