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)
Moved to Move - NOT Made to Move, with Will Westphal
Will is a veteran elementary Physical Education teacher who presents on the Meaningful Physical Education framework across the United States. Additionally, Will has a background in Human Motor Learning, research, sports coaching, and strength & conditioning. All these experiences put together give Will a unique ability to make movement science practical. Come listen to how Will tries to make his class a place where students are "Moved to Move".
X: @WillWestphal
Show Notes:
- Beni, S., Fletcher, T., & Ní Chróinín, D. (2017). Meaningful experiences in physical education and youth sport: A review of the literature, Quest, 69(3), 291 - 312. (See all the MPE publications here on the LAMPE site.)
- The Captain Class, Sam Walker
- Health and Physical Education MEd Cohort - accepting applications for a Summer 2026 start!
- Doug Lemov - Teach Like a Champion.
- Justen O’Connor, Laura Alfrey & Dawn Penney (2024) Rethinking the classification of games and sports in physical education: a response to changes in sport and participation, Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 29:3, 315-328. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2022.2061938
- O’Connor, J., Jeanes, R., Magee, J., Spaaij, R., Penney, D., & Miyashita, S. (2025). What is Informal Sport? Negotiating Contemporary Sporting Forms. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 49(2-3), 153-174. https://doi.org/10.1177/01937235251321855
- Kilborn, M., Lorusso, J., & Francis, N. (2015). An analysis of Canadian physical education curricula. European Physical Education Review, 22(1), 23–46.
- Wikipedia: Nudge Theory
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