That Physical Culture Podcast

Join Renee and Justine for a candid, cheeky and totally heartfelt look at Physical Culture in Australia, celebrating the women, the wins and the wonderfully unhinged moments that make Physie what it is.

We come from a position of being absolute novices (well actually, we're moving into Intermediate in 2026, if you want to be technical!), so if you're looking for an expert viewpoint of Physie, you're in the wrong place!

This podcast has zero affiliation with BJP Physie and/or our club. It's a manifestation of many hundreds of conversations we've had about physie over the past three years. Our views and opinions do not represent those of BJP Physical Culture and/or our club.

Where we poke some fun at physie (all types of physie) please know, we absolutely love doing Physie, but like all creative outlets, there's always little things that surprise us and make us laugh and we want to share those laughs with others! It's all in jest, and we have no desire to offend or upset anyone.

Hopefully these discussions will open up the Physie world to others, and ultimately grow our amazing sport! With love and appreciation, Renee & Justine.

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That Physical Culture Podcast

History, Herstory - Episode 5

March 04, 2026 • Renee Walker & Justine Rigby • Season 1 • Episode 5

0:00 | 1:21:18

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This week on That Physical Culture Podcast, we go back. Way back.

Not to Nationals. Not to the first syllabus you remember. Not even to Australia.

We begin in Copenhagen, 1845, in a world where physical training wasn’t about competition or choreography, but about nation-building, discipline and survival.

In this episode, we trace the remarkable evolution of Physical Culture from its European roots to the distinctly Australian sport we know and love today.

At the centre of that story is Christian Bjelke-Petersen, the Danish-born youngster whose influence would shape generations of physie dancers, whether they realise it or not.

We explore how structured Nordic gymnastics systems, steeped in military preparedness and national identity, travelled across continents and found fertile ground in a young Australia still forming its own identity.

We unpack Christian’s role within the Australian Department of Defence, his European study tours, the controversies, the politics, and the vision that laid the foundation for what would become the Bjelke-Petersen School of Physical Culture (BJP).

Alongside that story, we follow the development of the Edith Parsons School of Physical Culture, and how the two codes helped cement physie as a uniquely Australian tradition.

But perhaps the most fascinating part of this journey is how something born in a man’s world — shaped by military training, discipline and national strength — evolved into one of Australia’s most enduring female-dominated sports. A space led by women, sustained by women, and passed down through generations.

From European gymnasiums to Australian competition stages, this episode connects the historical dots and asks a bigger question:

How did we get here?

If you love physie, history, or simply understanding the roots of the culture you’re part of, this one is for you.

Because physie didn’t just happen. It was built. Find out more about the giants of the sport we know and love.

This week's Poddy Pick from Justine is O&M Desert Dry Texture Spray: https://originalmineral.com.au/products/desert-dry-texture-spray-300ml

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