In this episode, Anna and Derek sit down with Jesse Couture to discuss the relationship between digital health technologies, community building, and the sociopolitical implications of platforms like Strava. We explore how data, community, and capitalism intersect in the world of running and fitness tracking.
Jesse Couture is a teaching assistant professor in the Department of Health & Kinesiology at the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign. His research focuses on the relationship between sport and community, running cultures, digital health technologies, and child and youth sport.
Chapters
03:58 Strava as a digital extension of physical activity
12:03 The rise of the running boom post-COVID and tracking technology
15:56 The decision to stop tracking and its implications
19:55 The role of digital community in physical activity and health
23:55 Advertising, data, and subtle marketing in fitness apps
27:56 The influence of elite athletes and privacy concerns
32:01 The impact of data on self-perception and competition
32:58 The cultural and political implications of fitness data
36:03 The hybrid nature of online and offline sports communities
38:52 The role of digital platforms in community sustainability
43:49 The critique of platform capitalism and data commodification
45:00 The potential for ethical and equitable data practices
49:53 The importance of critical engagement with technology
51:09 The social and political dimensions of sports data
52:01 The ongoing evolution of sports technology and community
Hosts in this episode: Anna, Derek
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