Episode 5: Ed Hatfield - Automation of Lifestyle Processes, The Cardiff Medical School Rural Education Programme, Deepest-Darkest Russia, 16 Minute Parkruns and Nokia 'Bricks'

My guest on the podcast today is a fantastic young man by the name of Mr Ed Hatfield, final year medical student at Cardiff University. Ed  is semi fluent in Russia,  travelling to deepest darkest Russia at the age of 18 for three months during his gap year to teach English. Ed happily absorbs a 16 minute 5k park-run and he is tucking into his cereal just about the time that the rest of us are crossing the finish line. Ed would rather have had teeth pulled then discuss his success as a runner.I met Ed early in 2020 at the COVID-19 'hot' hub at the local airfield, having volunteered to drive the rapid response vehicle. We shared many hours of banter, mainly focused on his appetite for running, which we discuss in detail during the episode, but also the possession of an ungainly prehistoric monstrosity of a mobile phone, a bit like Michael Douglas circa  Wall Street. My clumsy questions surrounding his Nokia 'brick' certainly came thick and fast, and despite the inhuman interrogation on my part, there was still no clue as to his rhyme and reason for the outdated technology. He tells all about the relic during the podcast.During the episode we talk more about the power of intense aerobic exercise in the hills of Pembrokeshire and its medication properties, and Ed paints fantastically vivid pictures with his descriptions. Ed recounts his time with the Cardiff University Rural Education Programme allowing him to integrate a whole year into primary care.We discuss reading, and Ed draws upon works of Russian author Mikhail Bulgakov as he draws on him as an inspirational figure. This young man has a steady nature, and Ed describes himself as being able to maintain even keel, sometimes despite chaos surrounding him, understanding implicitly the requirements and necessities of self awareness, self motivation, self regulation. We talk about automation of lifestyle processes, and the theme of how to top load his day and craft out periods of recovery and relaxation time. During the interview, I was cognisant of his emotional maturity and intelligence, with characteristics displayed of those way beyond his years.  Ed is fluent, funny, articulate and engaging. The two hour interview went by in a snip, and I felt relaxed and spontaneous with this gentleman, particularly as the interview with held over a very nice glass of Rioja....