Colleen Quigley says she never dreamed of being an Olympian, but when she started running in high school, she found herself on a path that would make her one of America’s top track and field athletes. Colleen joins the WHOOP Podcast to share her journey to the top of her sport, and what she’s learned about herself along the way. She also details her struggles with injuries and how mindset is an important tool in overcoming physical setbacks. She discusses getting into running late (2:50), overtr...
Aug 18, 2021•56 min•Season 1Ep. 136
Dr. Kelly Starrett, a world-renowned performance and mobility expert, explains how mobility is so much more than just technique for injury prevention – it’s one of the fundamental keys to unlocking your best performance. Kelly sits down with Mike Lombardi for a wide-ranging discussion on how to improve your range of motion and what he believes are the benchmarks to good human functioning. He details why he uses WHOOP (2:20), the importance of movement (6:30), avoiding the "training until you bre...
Aug 11, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 135
Christian Harris, one of the most recognizable names in CrossFit, shares how sport is so much more than just your individual performance--it comes down to the team you build. Christian sat down with Mike Lombardi at the CrossFit Games for a deep dive on coaching, culture building, and leadership. Christian talks candidly about his team’s disqualification from the Games this year after one member tested positive for a banned substance, and says his squad, Move Fast Lift Heavy, will come back stro...
Aug 04, 2021•34 min•Season 1Ep. 134
One of the best metrics to determine your physical fitness and your body’s readiness to perform is heart rate variability. We’re bringing you some of our top WHOOP Podcast conversations on HRV to date, detailing everything you need to know about HRV, what it signals about your body, and what you can do to optimize it. Kristen Holmes and Emily Capodilupo explain the basics about HRV (2:17), the factors that increase or decrease your HRV (5:42), and why HRV is a highly personalized metric (9:34). ...
Jul 28, 2021•35 min•Season 1Ep. 133
Dr. Stacy Sims – a leading researcher and author who specializes in female physiology – joins the WHOOP Podcast to discuss the role food has in performance and how women should think about nutrition differently than men. Dr. Sims sits down with WHOOP VP of Performance Kristen Holmes and VP of Data Science Emily Capodilupo to discuss why women are not small men (4:32), fueling for the stress (7:25), the underfueled female athlete (9:17), signs your missing the mark with your nutrition (10:41), in...
Jul 21, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 132
This week we’re sharing some groundbreaking WHOOP research about the importance of stress, rest, and recovery — and how they are key ingredients to improving performance and giving you a competitive advantage. One of the best ways you can improve your performance is being more aware of the mental and physical factors at play. This research showed that, for every 45 minutes of sleep debt a person accrued, they had a 5 to 10 percent decrease in mental control the following day — and for every 30 m...
Jul 14, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 131
Fewer than a dozen people have broken 5:40 in rowing. Olympian Tom George is one of them. Tom accomplished the feat during lockdown, while training on a rowing machine in his parents shed. A year later, he has his sights firmly set on winning gold for Great Britain in Tokyo. He joins Mike Lombardi to discuss making rowing history (2:36), staying calm in the moment (9:59), being accountable to teammates (14:50), strain and sleep (19:50), nutrition (25:56), managing red recoveries (31:49), how he ...
Jul 07, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 130
Last year, WHOOP collaborated with leading scientists at Harvard, Austin Health, and Australia’s Monash University on a major research effort to learn how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted our members’ physical and mental health. That study, known as the COVID Resilience Project, has now revealed an eye-opening connection between sleep duration, sleep consistency, and mental health resilience. WHOOP VP of Data Science and Research Emily Capodilupo sits down with researcher Mark Czeisler to discuss ...
Jun 30, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 129
Marston Sawyers and Heber Cannon, better known as The Buttery Bros, are some of the kings of content in the CrossFit space. They are documentary filmmakers who travel the world to capture the fittest people on the planet in action. That work has resulted in a massive social media following and has made them two of the most recognizable people in CrossFit. They sit down with our resident CrossFit expert Mike Lombardi to discuss how they use WHOOP in their lives (2:26), the next generation of Cros...
Jun 23, 2021•40 min•Season 1Ep. 128
Actress Lina Esco, the co-star of the CBS drama SWAT, joins the WHOOP Podcast to talk about mindfulness, meditation, and finding success in Hollywood. Lina shares why learning those skills have made a tremendous difference in her life, and also explains why connecting with your subconscious is critical for everyone. She candidly details how she overcame a tough childhood and drug addiction to get where she is today. Lina discusses becoming an actress (2:15), her early struggles (3:26), dealing w...
Jun 16, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 127
Global fitness icon and golf legend Gary Player joins the WHOOP Podcast for a wide-ranging discussion about health, life, and happiness. At 85 years old, Gary still works out harder than most people half his age. He shares his philosophies on exercise, nutrition, sleep, and the four factors he believes are key to a long and healthy life. Gary discusses how he got into fitness (3:01), his diet (6:09), sleep and training (10:50), the importance of breathwork (12:58), Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palme...
Jun 09, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 126
Boston Bruins center Charlie Coyle sits down with WHOOP VP of Performance Kristen Holmes for a wide ranging discussion about his journey to the NHL, the importance of work ethic, and the connection between recovery and performance on the ice. They discuss why he always dreamed of playing pro hockey (2:37), putting in the work (5:36), making sacrifices for hockey (8:38), sleep consistency and naps (14:20), how sleep debt affects performance (17:07), why elevated WHOOP recovery means better play o...
Jun 02, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 125
NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes sits down for a wide ranging discussion on strain, recovery, and peak performance. Patrick shares his WHOOP data with Will Ahmed and they examine just what kind of toll the NFL season takes on the human body. Patrick also shares how his father's baseball career inspired him to become a professional athlete (3:01), why he almost picked other sports over football (5:21), how visualization and mindset play a key role in his success (10:04), the advice Tom Brady gave him (12:...
May 19, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 124
Haley Adams won CrossFit’s teen division in 2018, and said then that she would win the CrossFit Games within 5 years. Since moving up to the adult division two years ago, she has turned in 6th and 4th place finishes at the Games and is looking for an even stronger performance this year. She joins the WHOOP Podcast to detail her journey to the top of the sport, how she thinks about performance, and why she tries to help girls who are getting into CrossFit. Haley sits down with Mike Lombardi to ta...
May 12, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 123
Steve Cook is one of the most recognizable people in the fitness space. He took a lifelong interest in working out and staying active and turned it into a successful bodybuilding career on stage and creating content online. This episode is about following your passions and finding your identity. Steve explains how he found solace in the gym after his football career stopped and his marriage ended. He says those trying times resulted in a change of direction in his life that allowed him to get to...
May 05, 2021•54 min•Season 1Ep. 122
Emily Capodilupo, WHOOP VP of Data Science and Research, returns to the WHOOP Podcast to detail our latest COVID-19 vaccine research. We've found that younger people are more likely to be affected by the vaccine than older people. Additionally, you should expect to feel more rundown by the second dose than the first, but any vaccine aftereffects are short lived and only last a day or two. Emily and Will Ahmed detail our research (0:55), the difference between mRNA and viral vector vaccines (4:19...
Apr 28, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 121
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan joins the WHOOP Podcast for a wide-ranging discussion about navigating the pandemic, optimal performance, and the PGA’s groundbreaking new partnership with WHOOP. Under Jay’s steady leadership, golf was the first pro sport to return from the coronavirus shutdown and paved the way for other sports leagues to get back to play. He details the bumps in the road, how WHOOP data helped keep golfers and staff safe as play resumed, and why he believes the last year has ...
Apr 21, 2021•35 min•Season 1Ep. 120
John John Florence, two-time world champion surfer, joins the WHOOP Podcast for a discussion on mindfulness, visualization, and the mental skills needed to be successful in sports and in life. He explains how his mindset helped him recover from a torn ACL in 5 months in order to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. John John also discusses how the best surfers in the world inspired him (5:20), the mental side of surfing (7:57), controlling the controllables (10:09), mindfulness in sports and life (15...
Apr 14, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 119
Willy Walker turned his company, Walker & Dunlop, into a force in the commercial real estate world. When he took the family business over in 2003, it was valued at $25 million. Now, Walker & Dunlop is worth well over $3 billion and has been public for over a decade. He joins the WHOOP Podcast to share his thoughts on balance, gratitude, and mental well-being. Willy is candid about his experiences and what he’s learned along the way to become the best version of himself. Willy discusses, ...
Apr 07, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 118
Bryan Johnson is on a mission to unlock the secrets of the human brain. Using the money he made from the sale of Venmo in 2013, Bryan launched a groundbreaking company, Kernel, that builds hardware measuring the activity of your brain. The team at Kernel recently did a study with WHOOP that showed a direct correlation between sleep quality and impulse control. Bryan joins Will Ahmed to discuss his mission (2:47), finding your purpose (5:08), the success of Venmo (9:56), making his dream a realit...
Mar 31, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 117
Alex Honnold is one of the greatest rock climbers on the planet and is most famous for his daring ascent of Yosemite’s 3,000-foot El Capitan without a rope. The climb was chronicled in the Oscar award-winning National Geographic documentary Free Solo. Few athletes in the world have reached the level of mastery in their field the way Alex has. He details how visualization has prepared him for some of his most dangerous and awe-inspiring accomplishments. Alex shares how he has trained himself to c...
Mar 24, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 116
Rich Diviney spent 20 years in the Navy SEALs, including time as a commanding officer of the famed SEAL Team Six, the unit that killed Osama Bin Laden. He did 13 overseas deployments, 11 of those to Afghanistan and Iraq. Rich details how the right mental framework can prime you for success, no matter what challenges you might be facing in your life. He discusses becoming a Navy SEAL (2:43), SEAL training (5:13), leadership (9:07), confidence and perseverance (12:54), adaptability and resilience ...
Mar 17, 2021•54 min•Season 1Ep. 115
WHOOP is the now official wearable of CrossFit, and we’re celebrating our new partnership by welcoming CrossFit owner and CEO Eric Roza to the WHOOP Podcast. Eric shares his story and why he believes owning CrossFit is his calling in life. He explains how he’s changing the culture at CrossFit, his vision for the brand and the sport moving forward, and why surrounding yourself with good people is one of the keys to success in business and in life. He discusses making his dream to own CrossFit a r...
Mar 10, 2021•54 min•Season 1Ep. 114
Will Ahmed sits down with Joe Bullmore of the Gentleman's Journal podcast to discuss everything about WHOOP and our journey over the last decade. This conversation is a deep dive on entrepreneurship, the future of wearable technology, and exactly how WHOOP is trying to unlock human performance. Will and Joe discuss the origin of WHOOP (4:16), believing in your vision (8:58), how WHOOP leads to positive health changes (12:33), being told you will fail (13:20), building prototypes and tracking HRV...
Mar 03, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 113
WHOOP is unveiling a major research effort with the U.S. Army in Alaska to better understand how soldiers are adapting to the harsh winter conditions in the Arctic. This study examines how circadian alignment impacts physiological metrics, heart rate variability, and self-reported measures of resilience. WHOOP Director of Military Teams Robert Moeller sits down with WHOOP VP of Performance Kristen Holmes and Army Chief Warrant Officer Phil Ranck to discuss helping those who serve (2:59), measuri...
Feb 24, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 112
This week’s episode is a deep dive on nutrition and how eating disorders can negatively affect your body and your performance. Allison Lynch, our Senior Marketing Manager of Running and Women’s Performance, details her powerful personal battle with anorexia and bulimia and shares how she overcame her eating disorders. Allison sits down with WHOOP VP of Performance Kristen Holmes to talk about her journey and just how important proper nutrition is for all athletes. They discuss the serious conseq...
Feb 17, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 111
Chef, businessman, and athlete Michael Chernow discusses his journey to sobriety, the importance of gratitude, and what drives him to perform in life. Michael talks about overcoming adversity and what he’s learned along the way. He also shares how he’s learned to balance being a father, a husband, a fitness freak, and a successful businessman all at the same time. Michael discusses finding his passion at a young age (2:09), getting sober (5:14), the role fitness plays in sobriety (8:24), using W...
Feb 10, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 110
WHOOP is researching how COVID-19 vaccines could affect your body. VP of Data Science and Research Emily Capodilupo breaks down our latest study, which found that the majority of 1,200 vaccinated WHOOP members did not show a significant difference in recovery, resting heart rate, and heart rate variability after getting the first shot. This study also found that those who did see a change in physiological metrics did not experience a diminished recovery for more than a day or two. Emily and Will...
Feb 03, 2021•20 min•Season 1Ep. 109
Dr. Daniel Plews has been at the forefront of some of the most groundbreaking heart rate variability research over the last 10-plus years. He sits down with WHOOP VP of Data Science and Research Emily Capodilupo and VP of Performance Kristen Holmes to discuss how you can apply your HRV data to your training. They dive deep on how HRV can guide your training (4:08), why HRV is foundational to the WHOOP recovery metric (6:19), keys to excellent recovery (13:57), avoiding overtraining (14:56), look...
Jan 27, 2021•46 min•Season 1Ep. 108
On this week’s episode, we cover the results of Project PR, a study in the value of using the WHOOP recovery metric to guide your training. This study showed that runners who used the recovery score to help determine their daily training load over an 8-week period improved their times significantly and sustained fewer injuries than those who used a static training program. WHOOP VP of Data Science and Research Emily Capodilupo and WHOOP Marketing Manager of Women’s Performance and Running Alliso...
Jan 20, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 107
