#11 Cormac Russell. It Takes a Village: Why Health Starts with Connection

In this episode of thePlayful Nature Podcast, Andrew sits down withCormac Russell, a social explorer, author, and global expert inAsset-Based Community Development (ABCD). Cormac is the founder ofNurture Development and a faculty member of theABCD Institute at DePaul University.

His work has impacted communities inover 35 countries, helping people reclaim their power, build local resilience, and redefine what health and well-being truly mean.

Together, Andrew and Cormac talk about:

🌿Why health isn’t just about medicine—it’s about community

🏡How modern life has pulled us apart—and what we can do about it

💡The difference between prescriptive models vs. descriptive approaches to movement and health

🔄Why the fitness industry thrives on transactional relationships—and what’s missing

🤝The real power of reciprocity: feeling like you belong and are needed

🛠Practical ways we can reshape our communities to prioritise connection and collective well-being

Cormac challenges the dominant narratives around health and fitness, urging us to move beyondservice provision and towardcommunity-led solutions. This is a must-listen for anyone passionate aboutrethinking movement, health, and the way we live together.

More of Cormac's work:www.nurturedevelopment.org

Cormac’s books:

His most recent books areThe Connected Community- Discovering the Health, Wealth, and Power of Neighborhoods (Coauthor John McKnight);Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2022

Rekindling Democracy – A Professional’s Guide to Working in Citizen Space; Cascade Books, 2020.

Cormac’s TEDx talk can be viewedhere