The Ready State Podcast - podcast cover

The Ready State Podcast

Kelly Starrett, Juliet Starrettthereadystate.com
The Ready State Podcast explores what it takes to build a stronger, healthier, more durable, more capable life. Hosted by Dr. Kelly & Juliet Starrett, the show features conversations with leading experts, coaches, and thought leaders across health, aging, fitness, recovery, nutrition, parenting, wellness, performance, and beyond. As three-time New York Times bestselling authors, Dr. Kelly & Juliet Starrett bring decades of experience helping people move better, feel better, and perform at a high level in sport and in life. Dr. Kelly’s work coaching elite athletes across the NFL, MLB, and the Olympics is matched by Juliet’s perspective as a 3x world champion paddler, entrepreneur, and founder. Together, they bring a rare combination of credibility, curiosity, and practicality to every conversation. Just as importantly, they bring warmth, humor, and a down-to-earth approach that makes the show inviting, non-judgmental, and easy to connect with. Each episode turns complex ideas into practical tools you can use right away - whether you want to move better, recover well, train smarter, build resilience, age well, or show up more fully in everyday life. The goal is simple: to help listeners feel better, function better, and live with more strength, capacity, and intention. That’s when you’re in The Ready State: having the strength, resilience, and capacity to meet life well, whatever it asks of you.
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Episodes

RECESS: Juliet & Kelly Starrett on NCAAs, Healthy Aging, Dean Potter, and the Meowfia

Welcome to the first episode of RECESS, a new, more personal series from us, Juliet and Kelly Starrett. In these shorter, looser conversations, we’re pulling back the curtain on what’s going on in our lives, what we’re learning, what’s making us laugh, and what we’re thinking about across health, movement, longevity, performance, parenting, and everything in between. In this episode, we talk about Kelly’s experience coaching Cal Women’s Water Polo at the NCAA championship and what it’s like to c...

May 08, 202634 minEp. 190

How Constraints Boost Creativity, Focus & Performance | David Epstein

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush In this episode, David Epstein explores a powerful idea: constraints don’t limit us – they make us better. Drawing from his book Inside the Box, he explains why too much freedom often leads to overwhelm, indecision, and worse outcomes. Whether it’s creativity, productivity, or everyday decisions, we perform better when we narrow the field and work within clear boundaries. Through stor...

Apr 30, 20261 hr 25 minEp. 189

How to Stay Sharp, Creative, and Focused in the Age of AI with Steven Kotler

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush What happens when human biology collides with exponential technology? In this wide-ranging and deeply relevant conversation, Steven Kotler – NYT best-selling author and founder of the Flow Research Collective – joins The Ready State to unpack how AI, information overload, and rapid technological change are reshaping the way we think, work, and live. Steven breaks down the growing mism...

Apr 16, 20261 hr 18 minEp. 188

Cesalina Gracie on Self-Belief, Women’s Safety, and Staying Calm Under Pressure

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush Imagine standing near the summit of Mount Everest during its deadliest season while battling the internal voice that tells you to turn back. Cesalina Gracie joins Kelly and Juliet Starrett for a powerful conversation about resilience, self-belief, and staying calm under pressure. Drawing on lessons from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Everest, and her work in women’s safety, Cesalina offers a gr...

Apr 02, 20261 hr 46 minEp. 187

Biocentric Lighting for Better Sleep, Recovery, and Performance with Kyle Harris of BrainLit

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush Are you getting the right light signals to perform at your peak? Most of us spend nearly 90 percent of our time indoors, missing the critical biological triggers our bodies need for sleep, recovery, and focus. In this episode of the Ready State Podcast, we dive deep into the world of biocentric lighting and how you can optimize your environment to match your natural circadian rhythm. ...

Mar 19, 20261 hr 5 minEp. 186

The #1 Predictor of Dementia (Not Genetics) — How to Stimulate Your Mind & Prevent Alzheimer’s with Dr. Tommy Wood

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush What if the biggest predictor of dementia isn’t your genes — but your metabolic health? In this episode, neuroscientist and performance coach Dr. Tommy Wood reveals why blood sugar regulation and blood pressure are more powerful predictors of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline than amyloid plaques or even genetics like ApoE4. For decades, Alzheimer’s has been framed as either a...

Mar 05, 20261 hr 19 minEp. 185

Evidence-Based Wellness Without the “Protocol Life” — Practical Longevity & What to Track with Dr. Rachele Pojednic

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush In a world obsessed with “optimal” routines, Dr. Rachel Pojednic cuts through the noise with a grounded, evidence-based approach to longevity and performance. This conversation is a reset for anyone overwhelmed by conflicting health advice, anxious about wearable scores, or stuck chasing perfect protocols that collapse under real life stress. You’ll learn what the science actually sup...

Feb 19, 20261 hr 17 minEp. 184

Metabolism Myths and the Science That Challenges Popular Nutrition Beliefs — with Dr. Kevin Hall

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush In this episode of The Ready State Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Kevin Hall—one of the world’s leading metabolism researchers and a longtime NIH scientist—for a wide-ranging conversation on what the research actually says about weight loss, energy balance, and the modern food environment. Dr. Hall explains what we’ve learned from real-world and tightly controlled studies, including his...

Feb 05, 20261 hr 24 minEp. 183

Excellence Without Burnout: Brad Stulberg on Escaping Hustle Culture

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush In a world that rewards constant stimulation and surface-level productivity, it’s become easier than ever to stay busy — and harder than ever to feel fulfilled. Many people aren’t burning out from doing too much, but from spending their days disconnected from the things that actually matter. The result is a numbing, restless state Brad Stulberg calls zombie burnout. In this episode of...

Jan 22, 20261 hr 16 minEp. 182

Building Resilience Outside Your Comfort Zone with Ginger Naylor of Outward Bound

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush Discover the secret to thriving outside your comfort zone with Ginger Naylor, CEO of Outward Bound USA. In this inspiring conversation, Ginger shares how wilderness adventures help kids and adults build resilience, face discomfort, and uncover their true potential. Learn why stepping into the unknown fosters personal growth, how Outward Bound uses outdoor challenges to teach life-chan...

Jan 15, 20261 hr 3 minEp. 181

Muscle for Longevity: Dr. Gabrielle Lyon On Why This Organ Is the Missing Link in Healthy Aging and Disease Prevention

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush What if the key to longevity isn’t found in your heart, your brain, or your hormones — but in your muscle? In this episode of The Ready State Podcast, Dr. Gabrielle Lyon explains why skeletal muscle is the most overlooked organ in modern medicine and how its decline quietly drives aging, disease, and loss of independence. Drawing from her work in nutrition, geriatrics, and muscle-cent...

Jan 08, 20261 hr 5 minEp. 180

Training for Life: Ben Bergeron on Longevity, Discipline, and Mental Fitness

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush Discover how to become a humble, hungry, happy person, that kicks butt into your 90s. In this episode, world-class strength & conditioning coach Ben Bergeron shares his holistic approach to long-term fitness, strength, and mental resilience. Learn how creating supportive environments, building strong connections, and focusing on key pillars—eat, sleep, train, think, connect—can he...

Dec 25, 20251 hr 14 minEp. 179

Longevity Starts in Your Mouth: Dr. Kenny Brown on Oral Health & Whole-Body Wellness

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush Did you know your oral health is directly tied to your longevity? In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Kenny Brown, Stanford-educated oral and maxillofacial surgeon, unpacks the shocking link between dental hygiene and overall health and wellness. Discover how bacteria in your mouth can impact your heart, brain, gut, and even reproductive system, and why gum disease could be silently...

Dec 11, 202559 minEp. 178

How Muscle Shapes Who We Are: Bonnie Tsui on Strength, Resilience, and Her Newest Book On Muscle

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush What if strength isn’t just physical, but emotional and cultural too? Award-winning journalist Bonnie Tsui, author of Why We Swim and On Muscle, explores how our muscles tell the story of who we are — our adaptability, creativity, and joy in motion. On this episode of The Ready State Podcast, Juliet and Kelly Starrett sit down with Bonnie to unpack how muscle links the brain and body ...

Nov 27, 202554 minEp. 177

The Hidden System Behind Performance: Functional Vision Training with Dr. Bryce Appelbaum

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush Behind every great movement is a trained visual system. Your eyes aren’t just for seeing — they’re tools for balance, reaction, and control. When they’re not working in sync with your brain and body, everything from focus to performance suffers. In this episode of The Ready State Podcast, Dr. Bryce Appelbaum — a neuro-optometrist specializing in functional vision — joins Juliet and Ke...

Nov 13, 202559 minEp. 176

Performance Longevity with the 'Check Engine Light' Framework

Rob Wilson is a performance educator with over twenty years of experience helping people build durable, high-functioning bodies and minds. He joins us on The Ready State Podcast to unpack the uncomfortable truth about performance: it’s not free. In this powerful conversation with Kelly and Juliet Starrett, Rob dives into the real price of pushing your limits, why sleep is non-negotiable, and how to reframe “selfish” self-care as the foundation for showing up better in every area of life. Togethe...

Oct 30, 20251 hr 7 minEp. 175

The Truth About Women’s Health: Hormones, Metabolism, and Strength with Dr. Stephanie Estima

In a world where “one-size-fits-all” health advice dominates, women are often left out of the conversation entirely. Enter Dr. Stephanie Estima — chiropractor, health strategist, and unapologetic myth-buster — who’s redefining how women think about hormones, metabolism, and longevity. Known for her bestselling book The Betty Body and her work on aligning health practices with the female cycle, Estima is helping women ditch cookie-cutter protocols and reclaim their biology as a superpower. In thi...

Oct 16, 20251 hr 21 minEp. 174

From Injury to Recovery: The Truth About ACL Rehab for Young Athletes with Coach Carmen Bott

ACL tears used to be rare in high school sports. Today, they’re an epidemic. Behind the headlines, there’s one voice cutting through the noise with hard truths, practical solutions, and decades of experience: Coach Carmen Bott. Known online as “Coach Bott,” she’s become the go-to expert on youth athletic development and late-stage ACL rehab, guiding parents, athletes, and coaches through one of the most pressing crises in sports performance. In this episode of The Ready State Podcast, Kelly and ...

Oct 02, 20251 secEp. 173

Gut Health, Energy & Brain Fog: Dr. Amy Shah on Microbiome, Ultra-Processed Foods, and Circadian Fasting

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush Feeling tired after meals, battling brain fog, or wondering why your gut health feels off? Dr. Amy Shah — a double board-certified physician, nutrition expert, and bestselling author — reveals how your microbiome holds the key to energy, mood, and long-term wellness. In this episode of The Ready State Podcast, she breaks down the hidden impact of ultra-processed foods, the surprising ...

Sep 18, 20251 hr 11 minEp. 172

The Science of Good Stress: Dr. Sharon Bergquist on Hormesis, Resilience & Longevity

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush Discover why you need stress with Dr. Sharon Bergquist, an award-winning physician and author of The Stress Paradox. In this episode of The Ready State podcast, we explore how stress, often misunderstood as harmful, can actually help you live longer, healthier, and happier. Dr. Bergquist breaks down the science of good stress, including the concept of hormesis and how small, manageabl...

Sep 04, 20251 hr 10 minEp. 171

Dr. Drew Timmermans: Revolutionary Ways to Heal Chronic Injuries with PRP & Stem Cell Therapy

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush You’ve heard of PRP. You’ve heard of stem cells. But do you actually know what they are — or when they really work? In this episode of The Ready State Podcast, Dr. Drew Timmermans breaks down the exploding field of regenerative medicine. We dive into PRP (platelet-rich plasma), autologous stem cell therapy, nerve hydrodissection, and prolotherapy — what they are, how they work, and wh...

Aug 21, 20251 hr 7 minEp. 170

Dr. Jessica Knurick: Fighting Health Misinformation, Nutrition Myths, and Systemic Barriers to Wellness

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush Confused by conflicting nutrition advice and viral health trends? You're not alone. In this episode, Dr. Jessica Knurick—a nutrition scientist, dietitian, and public health expert—tackles the growing wave of health misinformation spreading across social media and mainstream wellness channels. Dr. Knurick discusses the difference between individual health optimization and public health...

Aug 07, 20251 hr 37 minEp. 169

Dr. Emily Splichal: Foot Health is the Gateway to Improved Performance and Cognitive Function

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush Want to know the real deal about fixing feet and unlocking performance? Join renowned functional podiatrist Dr. Emily Splichal as we dive into barefoot living, foot health myths, and how your feet can impact everything from athletic performance to daily movement. In this episode of The Ready State podcast, Kelly and Juliet Starrett explore why foot strength and sensory stimulation are...

Jul 24, 20251 hr 15 minEp. 168

Dr. Sara Reardon: Fixing Pelvic Floor Dysfunction - Expert Advice from The Vagina Whisperer

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush In this episode of The Ready State Podcast, Dr Sara Reardon sits down with Kelly and Juliet Starrett to break the silence around leaking, pelvic pain, painful sex, and what every woman should know about their body — but probably wasn’t taught. Join Dr. Sara Reardon, aka "The Vagina Whisperer," as she shares groundbreaking insights from her book Floored about pelvic floor health at eve...

Jul 10, 20251 hr 6 minEp. 167

Sue Norman: Racing Rapids, Becoming an Unexpected Parent at 56, & Risking It All

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush Sue Norman’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. From her roots as a world-class whitewater athlete and U.S. National Champion to her time in the military and her inspiring decision to become a mom at 56, Sue’s life is packed with resilience, adventure, and heart. In this episode of The Ready State Podcast, Sue shares her incredible story of navigating risk, overcoming childhoo...

Jun 26, 20251 hr 27 minEp. 166

Jay Maddock: The Profound Health Benefits of Nature Exposure In As Little As 120 Minutes Per Week

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush Are you spending 8 hours a day in front of screens? It’s time to give your brain a break with nature! Discover how just 120 minutes a week outdoors can transform your mood, boost executive function, and even improve your immune system. From walking in a local park to engaging in forest bathing, this video explores the profound mental and physical health benefits of reconnecting with t...

Jun 12, 20251 hr 14 minEp. 165

Nathan Adrian: From Podium to Purpose: 8 Medals Across 3 Olympics, Cancer, and Rebuilding Identity After Sport

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush What happens after you win five gold medals in the Olympics? In this episode, 5 time Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer and entrepreneur, Nathan Adrian, opens up about the pressure of elite performance, the shock of a cancer diagnosis, and what it’s like to rebuild identity after sport. He’s an Olympic icon, but also a husband, father, and now co-founder of a company that helps young athle...

May 29, 20251 hr 58 minEp. 164

Katy Bowman & Dr. Diana Hill: Recognizing and Eliminating Barriers to Movement

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush Most people don’t struggle with movement — they struggle with the mindset around movement. In this episode, psychologist Diana Hill and biomechanist Katy Bowman break down the real reasons so many of us stay stuck in sedentary loops. It’s not laziness. It’s not time. It’s our mental patterns: “If I can’t do a full 45-minute workout… why bother doing anything at all?” This is the all-o...

May 15, 20251 hr 8 minEp. 163

Danny Matta: How Cash-Based Care Unlocks Better Outcomes and Why the Traditional Medical Model Fails Patients and Practitioners

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush From Army PT to a successful entrepreneur, Danny Matta’s journey is nothing short of inspirational. Starting as a military physical therapist stationed in Hawaii, he transformed his skills and vision into building multiple successful businesses, including PT Biz, which empowers physical therapists to create and scale thriving cash-based practices. As the host of the PT Entrepreneur Po...

May 01, 20251 hr 20 minEp. 162

Jeremy Frisch: Why Every Kid NEEDS Athletic Development Training Before Age 12

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush Why is early sports specialization hurting kids? In this episode, we explore how early focus on a single sport can limit a child’s overall athletic growth and lead to burnout, injuries, and missed opportunities to develop essential coordination, balance, and agility. Featuring expert insights from Jeremy Frisch, a leader in youth athletic development, this conversation highlights the ...

Apr 17, 20251 secEp. 161
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