Parkrunners Podcast
Parkrunners Podcast
Podcast Description
Parkrunners Podcast shares real stories from the global parkrun community—runners, walkers, and volunteers whose lives have been transformed by movement and connection. Hosted by Catherine Stenson, each episode celebrates courage, belonging, and the quiet power of showing up.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes of personal transformation, community building, and the impact of movement on mental health. Episodes include inspiring stories such as Nick Alexander's journey to recovery through parkrun, Minreet Kaur's evolution from a non-runner to forming the Asian Women Run group, and Nick Blanchard's insights on volunteerism and community spirit in Bushy Park.
Parkrunners Podcast shares real stories from the global parkrun community—runners, walkers, and volunteers whose lives have been transformed by movement and connection. Hosted by Catherine Stenson, each episode celebrates courage, belonging, and the quiet power of showing up.
This week I’m thrilled to welcome my very first parkrun Japan guest — Akihiro Matsuda — whose beautiful mantra is:
“parkrun exists in every place I call home.”
Akihiro’s parkrun story spans Singapore and Japan, and it’s packed with warmth, community-building and quietly brilliant leadership. We begin with his early parkrun days at East Coast Park parkrun (Singapore), and follow his journey back to Japan where he helped bring parkrun to life close to home — launching Gongendo 2gou Kouen parkrun (GGD2) and building an event culture based on belonging, friendship, and shared responsibility.
We also chat about Akihiro’s recent experience supporting the launch of a brand-new event in Toyama — Fuganunga Kansuikouen parkrun (FKK) — and two powerful “connection moments” that show just how deeply parkrun can weave into our personal history and sense of place.
And there’s a standout section where Akihiro shares his simple, memorable view of “parkrun and happiness” — and how Saturday mornings can help unlock the feel-good chemistry that keeps us coming back.
In this episode we cover:
- Why “home” can be a feeling — and how parkrun helps create it
- Starting and growing a new parkrun event community in Japan
- The leadership “secret” behind GGD2’s success (including shared leadership and junior Run Directors)
- The magic of new event launches — and what they reveal about community
- A wonderfully practical happiness model you’ll want to share
If you’ve ever travelled, moved, started again, or simply needed a place to belong… this one will land.
🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts)
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Disclaimer
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