The Political Economy of Fitness Data

<p>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.</p><p>Jesse Couture is a teaching assistant professor in the Department of Health &amp; 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. </p><p>Chapters</p><p>03:58 Strava as a digital extension of physical activity</p><p>12:03 The rise of the running boom post-COVID and tracking technology</p><p>15:56 The decision to stop tracking and its implications</p><p>19:55 The role of digital community in physical activity and health</p><p>23:55 Advertising, data, and subtle marketing in fitness apps</p><p>27:56 The influence of elite athletes and privacy concerns</p><p>32:01 The impact of data on self-perception and competition</p><p>32:58 The cultural and political implications of fitness data</p><p>36:03 The hybrid nature of online and offline sports communities</p><p>38:52 The role of digital platforms in community sustainability</p><p>43:49 The critique of platform capitalism and data commodification</p><p>45:00 The potential for ethical and equitable data practices</p><p>49:53 The importance of critical engagement with technology</p><p>51:09 The social and political dimensions of sports data</p><p>52:01 The ongoing evolution of sports technology and community</p><p>Hosts in this episode: Anna, Derek</p><p>________________________________________</p><p><strong>Support &amp; Follow The End of Sport</strong></p><p><strong>Patreon:</strong> <a href="https://www.patreon.com/Theendofsport"><u>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/Theendofsport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</u></a> (Support the show!)</p><p><strong>Bluesky:</strong> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/endofsportpod.bsky.social"><u>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@endofsportpod.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</u></a></p><p><strong>Instagram:</strong> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theendofsportpod?igsh=OHRtanJiaWJlNmF1"><u>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@endofsportpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</u></a></p><p><strong>Twitter/X:</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/EndofSportPod"><u>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@EndofSportPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</u></a></p><p><strong>YouTube:</strong> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@endofsportpod"><u>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The End of Sport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</u></a></p><p><em>Listen, shar