WHOOP Podcast

On this week’s episode, WHOOP VP of Performance Science, Principal Scientist, Kristen Holmes is joined by SVP of Data Science & Research Emily Capodilupo to talk about all things Heart Rate Variability. HRV is one of the key signs of fitness and how well your body is ready to perform on any given day. Kristen and Emily will discuss what HRV is (2:15), how WHOOP measures HRV (5:15), adaptive behaviors to help HRV rebound (11:45), how HRV is a personalized metric (17:40), menstruation and pregnancy impacting HRV (21:12), HRV and sleep (27:30), the WHOOP Core4 Challenge (33:47), and listener questions on HRV (49:15).Support the show

On this week’s episode, WHOOP VP of Performance Science, Principal Scientist, Kristen Holmes is joined by Elissa Epel, Ph.D., professor and vice chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and the author of the book entitled The Stress Prescription. She studies how self-care practices such as meditation and positive stress can promote psychological and physiological thriving and is interested in large-scale interventions for communal well-being and health equity. Kristen and Elissa will discuss the difference between stress, anxiety, and depression (3:25), the perception of stress and your mindset (6:22), the ability to identify stress (12:55), the physiological impacts of stress (16:45), how mindset impacts stress and coping mechanisms (20:20), tools to increase our stress resilience (23:15), the traps of modernity (28:30), maternal lifetime stress exposure and telomere aging (33:32), stress impacting nutrition and overeating (37:41), the ideology of Skillful Surfing (42:58), and sleep strategies (44:49).Resources:The Stress PrescriptionSupport the show

On this week’s episode, WHOOP VP of Performance Science, Principal Scientist, Kristen Holmes is joined by one of the world’s top masters runners, Ken Rideout. Ken has been crowned the “World’s Best Marathoner Over 50” by the New York Times. In addition to his running accolades, Ken is known for sharing his story about overcoming opioid addiction. Kristen and Ken will discuss Ken’s backstory and life growing up (3:35), moving to New York and starting in finance (10:40), Ken’s struggle with addiction and seeking help (17:00), seeking extreme experiences as a high (23:35), running the Gobi March in Mongolia (27:30), the power of showing up (38:55), nutrition and hydration practices for maintaining high strains (45:20), running the 6 major marathons (46:35), and what Ken is obsessing over (51:05).Resources:Ken's WebsiteKen’s InstagramTHE FIGHT with Teddy AtlasSupport the show

On this week’s episode, Will Ahmed, the Founder and CEO of WHOOP, is joined by former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander. Before being elected Secretary of State in 2012, he was a member of the Missouri House of Representatives. Jason is also a veteran of the United States Army achieving the rank of Captain during his service as a military intelligence officer in Afghanistan. Will and Jason will discuss Jason’s decision to join the military (3:12), life in Afghanistan (5:10), Jason’s daily routine in the service (13:25), dealing with and talking about PTSD (15:50), what led him to take the first step and get help (25:10), dealing with suicidal thoughts and therapy (30:10), using meditation (36:45), how Jason uses WHOOP (38:28), Jason’s political career and life today (46:55), and Jason’s book and podcast (56:55).Resources:Jason’s WebsiteInvisible Storm: A Soldier's Memoir of Politics and PtsdSupport the show

On this week’s episode, WHOOP VP of Performance Science, Principal Scientist, Kristen Holmes is joined by Simon Hill. Simon is a physiotherapist, nutritionist, and author on a mission to help people make informed lifestyle choices. In 2021, he published his first book, The Proof is in the Plants, which makes a case for a plant-based, whole-food diet, drawing on all the latest nutrition research. Kristen and Simon will discuss Simon’s book and his main philosophies (3:55), tailoring diets to the individual (11:30), scientific research that helped shape Simon’s findings (13:13), the barrier for entry for various diets (19:38), the negative stigma around legumes and soy (24:23), getting enough protein (31:38), biomarkers that people might see change while dieting (41:43), dietary data from WHOOP members (46:33), how nutrition impacts sustainability and the environment (50:38).Resources:Simon’s WebsiteSimon’s Podcast with Thomas DayspringOur World In DataSupport the show

On this week’s episode, WHOOP VP of Performance Science, Principal Scientist, Kristen Holmes is joined by fitness expert Brad Schoenfeld. Brad is widely regarded as one of the leading authorities on body composition training. He is a lifetime drug-free bodybuilder and has won numerous natural bodybuilding titles. Kristen and Brad will discuss the definition of hypertrophy and resistance training as well as their benefits (2:50), getting started with resistance training (6:35), outlining a muscle-building program (8:05), the utility of a one rep max (10:42), training recommendations for different age groups (16:00), lifting cadence and recovery techniques (20:25), nutritional recommendations (25:50), adding cardio into a workout and warmup (28:15), incorporating rest in between sets (32:05), and the process of progressive overload (33:55).Resources:Brad’s WebsiteSupport the show

This week, we’re diving back into the inbox to answer questions from our listeners – thanks to everyone who has submitted questions so far. WHOOP Senior Sport Scientist Chris Chapman is here to answer your questions about the popular Zone 2 Cardio space and strength training. We had a number of questions come in after our Zone 2 Training episode with Paul Laursen, that’s Episode 222 if you haven’t listened yet. We’ve also received some great questions about strength training and our Strength Trainer product episode. That’s Episode 219 with our CTO Jaime Waydo. Chris discusses navigating strain goals and recoveries with Zone 2 (2:45), incorporating Zone 2 into marathon training (7:05), how heart rate zones differ from person to person (11:55), identifying your Zone 2 heart rate range (14:20), how heart rate zones can change over time (20:20), combining strength training and endurance training (24:00), and the difference between free weights and machines (38:00).Resources:Episode 222 - Paul LaursenEpisode 219 - Strength TrainerSupport the show

On this week’s episode, WHOOP VP of Performance Science, Principal Scientist, Kristen Holmes is joined by Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, a distinguished professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. He is one of the leading researchers in the study of how psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD, and DMT can change the human brain and in doing so, be used to successfully treat various mental health challenges such as major depression, anorexia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and addiction. Kristen and Robin discuss the etymology of psychedelics (2:30), researching altered states and altered consciousness (6:35), recreational use of psychedelics (12:53), how attitudes around psychedelics are changing (16:00), the most promising and exciting aspects of psychedelic research (19:11), physiological markers impacted by psychedelics (24:20), the optimal time to explore psychedelic treatment (31:00), what it means to biologically “let go” (35:35), the performance-enhancing possibilities of psychedelics (39:57), legality in the U.S. (45:11), what Robin is obsessing over (50:20), and the biggest benefits of psychedelics (51:35).Resources:Psychedelics and the Impact on Veterans and PTSDDr. Carhart-Harris on TwitterSupport the show

On this week’s episode, Jeremy Powers WHOOP Senior Sports Marketing Manager, Endurance Sports is joined by professional cyclist Alison Jackson. Alison is a female professional racing cyclist riding for team: EF-Education First-Tibco-SVB. She is a two-time and current Canadian National Road Champion, the 2021 Canadian National Champion for Time Trial, she represented Canada at the Tokyo Olympics, and back in April, she won the 2023 Paris-Roubaix Femmes. Jeremy and Alison will discuss Alison’s life growing up and finding endurance sports (3:15), winning the famous Paris-Roubaix Femmes (10:37), Alison’s passion for entertaining fans (18:20) the emotional impact of winning Paris-Roubaix Femmes (25:31), being a team leader while also being a creator (30:30), putting yourself out there on social media (35:30), Alison’s motto throughout her career (39:50), her hobbies and life outside of cycling (42:58), the Tour de France Femmes and the state of women’s cycling (47:25), how Alison deals with negativity and down days (54:15), and what Alison has learned from WHOOP (58:25).Resources:Alison’s InstagramSupport the show

On this week’s episode, WHOOP VP of Performance Science, Principal Scientist, Kristen Holmes is joined by behavioral psychologist Dr. Jemma King. She has a PhD in human behavior and is an emotional intelligence and performance under stress expert. Jemma is a research fellow at the University of Queensland School of Psychology and works as a specialist external advisor to McKinsey and Company. Kristen and Jemma will discuss Jemma’s work as a behavioral psychologist (2:45), defining stress types and styles (3:45), behaviors that can help mitigate stress (11:35), dealing with stress before bed and throughout the night (23:50), a study out of Oxford around moving the body forward (34:51), Jemma’s work with the Australian Special Forces (36:30), what Jemma is obsessing over at the moment (48:50), the Wim Hof Study powered by WHOOP (54:00), and the best ways to prepare yourself before a stressful event (56:20).Resources:Stress and Health Study Support the show