You’re Probably Walking Wrong: The Simple Shift That Impacts Longevity, Pain & Daily Health | Dr. Milica McDowell (Bonus Episode)
Minimalist Moms Podcast | Purposeful Life & Parenting Tips
Diane Boden
4.7 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 6 May 2026
⏱️ 41 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
What if one of the most powerful tools for your health, longevity, and overall well-being is something you’re already doing every day - but not quite optimally? In today’s episode, we’re rethinking walking with expert-backed insights that challenge common assumptions (including the 10,000 steps myth). We explore how your walking speed, cadence, and even foot health can reveal deeper truths about your body, and how small, simple shifts can reduce pain, improve energy, and support long-term health.
Links Discussed in This Episode |
- Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
- Xero Shoes
- AltraRunning
- WHITIN Women's Minimalist Barefoot Shoes
- Milica's Resource: Fringe Red Light
- Connect with Dr. Milica McDowell:
- Website
- Book: Walk: Rediscover the Most Natural Way to Boost Your Health and Longevity - One Step at a Time
About Dr. Milica McDowell|
Dr. Milica McDowell is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, exercise physiologist, and certified strength and conditioning specialist with a passion for helping people move better and live longer. As the Vice President of Operations for Gait Happens, she specializes in foot health, biomechanics, and human movement, translating complex science into practical, everyday strategies. Dr. McDowell is also a trusted health expert featured in outlets like The New York Times, Women’s Health, and Runner’s World, where she shares evidence-based insights on injury prevention, longevity, and sustainable fitness. Through her work, she empowers individuals to reclaim movement as a foundational pillar of lifelong health.
Episode Sponsors |
The Minimalist Moms Podcast would not be possible without the support of weekly sponsors. Choosing brands that I believe in is important to me. I only want to recommend brands that I believe may help you in your daily life. As always, never feel pressured into buying anything. Remember: if you don't need it, it's not a good deal!
Enjoy the Podcast?
Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your fellow mothers so that they can be inspired to think more and do with less.
Order (or review) my book, Minimalist Moms: Living & Parenting With Simplicity.
You can contact me through my website, find me on Instagram, Pinterest or like The Minimalist Moms Page on Facebook.
Our Sponsors:
* Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com
* Check out Ruggable and use my code MINIMALIST for a great deal: https://ruggable.com
* Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.com
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | For those of you that are new around here, I release bonus episodes that serve a niche part of my audience. |
| 0:04.8 | So if this content is something that doesn't fit what you're looking for, check out the other |
| 0:08.5 | episodes that drop this week or join me back here next week for episodes that you don't want to miss. |
| 0:14.4 | And 10,000 is truly. |
| 0:16.4 | What of those amazing myths that we're excited to bust. |
| 0:19.5 | It's a lestover from a 1960s Japanese pedometer |
| 0:23.3 | company's marketing campaign. And it was around the Tokyo Olympics. The device only ticked up to |
| 0:29.8 | 10,000. And so when you hit 10,000, it went back to zero. And then the name of the device in |
| 0:34.6 | Japanese was the 10,000 stat meter. And so 10,000 was really never based on science. |
| 0:40.6 | This is Diane Bowden, and you're listening to the minimalist moms podcast. What if one of the most |
| 0:45.1 | powerful tools for your health, longevity, and overall well-being is something you're already doing |
| 0:50.1 | every day, but not quite optimally? In today's episode, we're rethinking walking with expert-backed |
| 0:56.2 | insights that challenge common assumptions, including the 10,000 steps myth. My guest, Dr. Melissa |
| 1:01.4 | McDow and I explore how your walking speed, cadence, and even foot health can reveal deeper |
| 1:06.2 | truths about your body, and how small, simple shifts can reduce pain, improve energy, and support long-term health. I will say, I'm sure there's a lot of you that have researched the benefits of walking for your health. I know that I've done that. And yet this episode was full of information that I had never heard in my life. So stick around even if this is something that you feel like you already know about. Quickly, before we get there, if you enjoy this conversation today, make sure you hit |
| 1:29.6 | five stars, you're subscribed to the minimalist mom's podcast, or share this episode with a |
| 1:33.5 | friend that could benefit. |
| 1:35.8 | And with that, let's get into my conversation with Dr. Melissa McDowell. |
| 1:41.7 | Well, Dr. Melissa McDowell, thank you so much for joining me. |
| 1:45.3 | We're going to be talking about your new book. |
| 1:47.3 | It's called Walk. |
| 1:48.7 | Rediscover the most natural way to boost your health and longevity one step at a time. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Diane Boden, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Diane Boden and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.