Powerful Strategies To Improve Human Performance with Expert Rachel Vickery

This week on the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance, Principal Scientist, Dr. Kristen Holmes sits down with women’s health expert Dr. Mariza Snyder. Dr. Snyder and Dr. Holmes break down some common misconceptions in peri-menopause and menopause care, and share actionable tools and insights to regain control of your hormones. Dr. Snyder shares her personal journey navigating perimenopause, the warning signs to watch for, and how tracking data with WHOOP can empower women to better understand their bodies. This episode covers everything from cycle tracking and lifestyle habits that can reduce symptoms, to the role of exercise and nutrition, and the impact of alcohol and stress hormones like cortisol. Learn the practical routines for building a symptom-free lifestyle and the baseline knowledge every woman should have by age 30.(00:21) Dr. Snyder’s Personal Relationship with Perimenopause and Menopause(03:17) The Warning Signs of Perimenopause(08:21) Role of Data in Understanding Your Body(11:51) Navigating The Healthcare System: Advocating for Perimenopause Treatment(17:31) Finding Solutions to Perimenopause Symptoms(19:15) Starting the Conversation Around Perimenopause Symptoms With Your Partner(22:33) Cycle Tracking: Seeing The Early Signs of Perimenopause(28:34) Easing Symptoms: Incremental Lifestyle Habits To Feel Your Best(36:17) Parenting the Next Generation: Healthy Habits and PCOS Management(42:47) Cortisol-Awakening Response: What Is It and How Can You Test For It?(49:56) Exercise’s Role In Symptom Management(01:00:31) Baseline Knowledge For Every Woman To Know By 30(01:04:04) Daily Routines For A Symptom-Free Lifestyle(01:10:03) WHOOP Podcast Rapid Fire Q’s(01:11:22) Hormones, Birth Control, & HRT(01:16:12) How Alcohol Is Altering Hormones During Perimenopause(01:27:06) Dr. Snyder’s Perimenopause RevolutionFollow Dr. Mariza Snyder:InstagramLinkedInFacebookWebsite The Perimenopause Revolution & BooksSupport the showFollow WHOOP: www.whoop.com Trial WHOOP for Free Instagram TikTok YouTube X Facebook LinkedIn Follow Will Ahmed: Instagram X LinkedIn Follow Kristen Holmes: Instagram LinkedIn Follow Emily Capodilupo: LinkedIn

This week on the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance, Principal Scientist, Dr. Kristen Holmes, sits down with Chantelle Otten, world-renowned psycho-sexologist, author, and advocate for evidence-based conversations around sexual wellbeing, mental health, and relationships. Chantelle and Dr. Holmes break the taboo around sex in this episode, promoting a more holistic view of sexual health, highlighting the importance of intimacy, desire, and emotional regulation. This episode combines the importance of data and self-awareness, using tools like WHOOP, to support stress management and sleep, and how they contribute to confidence, connection, and satisfaction in and out of the bedroom. 00:27 Chantelle Otten: Psycho-sexology and Why It’s Important07:00 WHOOP Podcast Rapid Fire Q’s08:20 Importance of Stress and Sleep Management on Your Sexual Health11:30 Unlocking Your Sex Life15:19 Best Practices to Self-Audit: How to Stay Grounded21:21 How to Detect Red Flags In Your Environment24:27 Best Ways To Facilitate Conversations With An Intimate Partner28:36 Creating Safety in Intimacy29:28 Peri-Menopause and Menopause’s Effect on Relationships 37:36 Navigating Performance Pressure45:53 The Rules of Curiosity: Responsive and Spontaneous Desire51:23 The Two Key Takeaways That Will Change Your Sex LifeFollow Chantelle Otten:InstagramTiktokWebsiteSupport the showFollow WHOOP: www.whoop.com Trial WHOOP for Free Instagram TikTok YouTube X Facebook LinkedIn Follow Will Ahmed: Instagram X LinkedIn Follow Kristen Holmes: Instagram LinkedIn Follow Emily Capodilupo: LinkedIn

What separates good from great in high-pressure environments? On this episode of the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance, Principal Scientist, Dr. Kristen Holmes, sits down with Rachel Vickery, world-renowned performance consultant. Having spent decades working with elite athletes, military operators, Fortune 500 executives, and emergency physicians, Rachel has cracked the code on understanding and regulating the nervous system to ensure optimal performance when stakes are high. Dr. Holmes and Rachel explore how physiology, behavior, and mindset intersect, and why mastering the nervous system is the key to unlocking peak performance. From breathing mechanics and physiological control, to cultivating curiosity and trust under pressure, this conversation dives deep into the science and skills you need for taking on your next challenge.(00:48) Rachel Vickery on Human Performance(01:41) WHOOP Podcast Rapid Fire Q’s (02:50) Essential Breathing Techniques To Use Under Pressure(11:38) Keeping The Body and Mind Calm: What To Do and Why It's Important(15:56) Navigating Fear and Maintaining Positive Self Talk(21:04) How To Train Your Physiology To Aid a Positive Mindset(27:03) Where Data Comes Into Play: Measuring Performance Traits and Habits(34:29) Maintaining a Solid Foundation: High Performance No Matter The Occasion(50:40) Co-regulating: Maintaining Your Cool in a Team Environment(57:10) Advice For Athletes & Coaches: Easing Physiological Effects in a High Pressure Environment(01:11:25) Operating with Trust: How Does This Benefit High Performers?(01:14:57) Learning From Common Traits Relating to Performance AnxietyFollow Rachel Vickery:WebsiteRelated WHOOP Podcast Episodes:Podcast 245: Mental Toughness with Elite Performance Coach Rachel VickeryPodcast 319: Daily Practices to Reset Your Mind, Body, and Identity with Dr. Rangan ChatterjeeResources:Study: 'Cyclic sighing' can help breathe away anxietySupport the showFollow WHOOP: www.whoop.com Trial WHOOP for Free Instagram TikTok YouTube X Facebook LinkedIn Follow Will Ahmed: Instagram X LinkedIn Follow Kristen Holmes: Instagram LinkedIn Follow Emily Capodilupo: LinkedIn

On this episode of the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Founder and CEO Will Ahmed sits down with World #1 Tennis Player Aryna Sabalenka. Aryna opens up about her journey from first picking up a racket at six years old to becoming the top-ranked player in the world. She reflects on the role her father played in her early development, the turning point when she fell in love with the game, and how her mindset has evolved through the years.Aryna shares an inside look at her training, recovery, and how WHOOP helps stay on top of her game. Aryna discusses balancing fun with competitiveness, the lessons she’s learned from setbacks, and her strategies for staying resilient under pressure.Looking ahead to the US Open, Aryna shares what the tournament means to her personally and how she’s preparing to defend her title. Aryna reflects on her game and shares her advice to young athletes chasing their dreams.(00:58) Building A Career In Tennis(03:36) The Road to Becoming World #1(06:50) Mindset and Keeping Things Light Hearted As A Team (07:38) How Aryna Views Herself and Her Game On Court(09:03) Aryna’s Training and WHOOP Data(17:41) Having a Red Recovery Going Into The US Open Final(20:39) Travel Tips For Peak Performance(21:43) Aryna’s Definition of Success(26:27) Looking Ahead to The US Open: What The Tournament Means to Aryna(27:50) Reflecting on Past Competitions(30:46) The Differences in The Men’s and Women’s Game(31:53) The Secret to Maintaining A Positive Mindset(34:20) Rapid Fire Questions(37:04) Build The Best Tennis Player(38:17) Aryna’s Lowest RecoveryFollow Aryna Sabalenka:InstagramYouTubeXSupport the showFollow WHOOP: www.whoop.com Trial WHOOP for Free Instagram TikTok YouTube X Facebook LinkedIn Follow Will Ahmed: Instagram X LinkedIn Follow Kristen Holmes: Instagram LinkedIn Follow Emily Capodilupo: LinkedIn

In this episode of the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP SVP of Research, Algorithms, and Data, Emily Capodilupo, sits down with renowned circadian rhythm researcher and expert, Dr. Satchin Panda, to explore how the timing of your daily habits, like light exposure, sleep, and meals, can transform your health. Dr. Panda explains why our body doesn’t just run on a single “master clock,” but on a network of clocks in nearly every cell—and how food timing plays a surprisingly powerful role in synchronizing these clocks. You’ll learn practical strategies for training your circadian rhythm, optimizing your nightly routine and light exposure for better sleep, and using time-restricted eating to improve metabolic health.(00:23) Rapid Fire Q’s with Dr. Satchin Panda(02:26) Decoding the Brain’s Master clock(08:12) How to Train Your Circadian Rhythm: What Factors Apply Most?(11:09) Importance of Light Exposure For Optimal Sleep(15:41) Time Restricted Eating: How Does It Help Circadian Rhythm?(18:56) What Time Restricted Eating Studies Tell Us(28:22) Benefits of Time Restricted: What Do We Know?(40:54) Practical Takeaways For Time Restricted Eating and Circadian AlignmentFollow Dr. Satchin PandaDr. Panda’s Salk ProfileDr. Panda’s InstagramWHOOP Blue Light Blocking Glasses:WHOOP ShopSupport the showFollow WHOOP: www.whoop.com Trial WHOOP for Free Instagram TikTok YouTube X Facebook LinkedIn Follow Will Ahmed: Instagram X LinkedIn Follow Kristen Holmes: Instagram LinkedIn Follow Emily Capodilupo: LinkedIn

On this month’s installment of the How To Series, WHOOP Director of Sports Marketing, Jeremy Powers, sits down with Ironman World Champion, Lucy Charles-Barclay, to explore what it takes to train as a hybrid athlete. From her roots as an elite swimmer to dominating the world of triathlon, Lucy shares how she balances high-volume training across swim, bike, and run, while incorporating strength work. Lucy breaks down her training blocks, recovery strategies, and using WHOOP to stay consistent and injury-free. Lucy also opens up about managing celiac disease, experimenting with HYROX, and building an engaged fitness community through her YouTube channel, all while maintaining elite-level performance across multiple disciplines.(00:37) Introduction to Lucy Charles-Barclay (01:35) Rapid Fire Q’s (02:41) Lucy’s Journey From Pro-Swimmer to Ironman World Champion(06:02) Winning The World Championship: Training & Lead-Up To Competition(12:38) Week In The Life Training For An Ironman(15:13) Balancing Disciplines: Training Hybrid(18:16) Monitoring Strain While Training & Mitigating Injury(20:26) Inside Lucy’s Recovery Habits(21:55) Perfecting Her Game: Lucy’s Tech, Tools, and Coaching (27:08) Lucy’s Favorite WHOOP Metrics(30:16) Improving Sleep Routine While Traveling: Blue light Glasses, Early Dinners, & More(33:55) Training With Celiac: Nutrition for Endurance(36:44) Building A Community While Training: Lucy’s YouTube and Social Media Channels(41:52) What’s Next For Lucy? Upcoming Goals, Races, And Challenges Follow Lucy Charles-Barclay:InstagramYouTubeTikTokSupport the showFollow WHOOP: www.whoop.com Trial WHOOP for Free Instagram TikTok YouTube X Facebook LinkedIn Follow Will Ahmed: Instagram X LinkedIn Follow Kristen Holmes: Instagram LinkedIn Follow Emily Capodilupo: LinkedIn

On this episode of the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Director of Sports Marketing, Jeremy Powers, sits down with Jake Dearden, Hybrid Athlete and Social Media Personality, to explore the world of HYROX. Jake shares his journey from civil engineering to elite fitness, opening up about his bouts with injury, journey toward mental toughness, and growing in endurance sport. Jake and Jeremy break down HYROX training and fueling strategies, reflect on the rise of hybrid training and offer insights on recovery, VO2 Max, sleep hygiene, and injury prevention. (00:26) Introduction to Jake Dearden(01:14) Icebreaker: T or F Questions(03:27) Jake’s Journey From Marathons to Hyrox(05:39) Breaking Down Hyrox: What Is It and How To Compete(06:34) Building Community Through Hyrox(07:34) Jake’s Guide To Ultra-Marathons(10:55) Mental Toughness and Motivating A Community(12:11) The Rise of Hybrid Athletics and What It Means For Fitness(15:01) Importance of VO2 Max For Fitness and Competition(17:39) Growth in Sport: Prep, Pressure, and Setbacks(25:18) Recovery and Sleep Hygiene’s Effects on Performance(30:48) Jake’s Competition Prep and Fueling Strategy(34:52) Jake’s WHOOP Data at Hyrox World Championships(39:31) Learning From Injury: Jake’s Recovery Advice(43:34) Performance Improvements To Achieve Goals(45:07) Building a Platform: Experience, Advice, and Messaging on Jake’s Social MediaJake Dearden:InstagramYouTubeTiktokSupport the showFollow WHOOP: www.whoop.com Trial WHOOP for Free Instagram TikTok YouTube X Facebook LinkedIn Follow Will Ahmed: Instagram X LinkedIn Follow Kristen Holmes: Instagram LinkedIn Follow Emily Capodilupo: LinkedIn

On this week’s episode of the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance, Principal Scientist Dr. Kristen Holmes sits down with Lucy Davis, HYROX athlete, ultra-marathon runner, and content creator. Lucy shares the fitness, wellness, and recovery strategies that power her elite performance, including how she maintains a high HRV, rebounds from intense strain, and keeps her WHOOP Age under 18. Lucy opens up about her training strategy, mental health journey, and mission to empower women through sport. Whether you're new to fitness or chasing the podium, this episode offers valuable insights to help you build strength, resilience, and recovery.  (00:21) How Lucy Davis Rebounds From High Strain(05:29) WHOOP Podcast Rapid Fire Q’s(08:48) Lucy’s RHR, HRV, And Recovery Recommendations(11:42) Mastering Fitness as a Hybrid Athlete(14:14) Training Harder to Improve Hyrox Times(14:57) Lucy’s Longevity Secrets and WHOOP Age(19:48) Lucy’s Relationship with Strength Training(22:00) Staying Grounded While Travelling and Training(31:16) Mastering Mindset Entering Competition(33:33) Hyrox, World Records, and Going For More(37:10) Body Image, Health, and Mentality(39:17) Empowering Women Through Sport and Fitness(42:11) Inspiring Athletes and Promoting Participation in SportLucy Davis:InstagramYouTubeTikTokSupport the showFollow WHOOP: www.whoop.com Trial WHOOP for Free Instagram TikTok YouTube X Facebook LinkedIn Follow Will Ahmed: Instagram X LinkedIn Follow Kristen Holmes: Instagram LinkedIn Follow Emily Capodilupo: LinkedIn

We know sleep and physical activity are crucial for overall health, but how do they affect one another? On today’s episode of the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP SVP of Research Algorithms and Data, Emily Capodilupo sits down with Sleep and Circadian Scientist Josh Leota to break down the latest WHOOP study on how intense exercise and timing affect sleep—and how sleep, in turn, influences your ability to train. Josh shares his insights on two major peer-reviewed studies, using WHOOP to analyze data on sleep and physical activity. The results? The closer to bedtime you train, the more your sleep is affected. Whether you're an early bird, night owl, or somewhere in between, Emily and Josh offer science-backed strategies to optimize both sleep and physical performance without sacrificing either.(00:33) Using WHOOP For Data Collection In Research Studies(02:43) The Study: High Intensity Training’s Effects on Circadian Rhythm(05:05) WHOOP Podcast Rapid Fire Questions(06:06) Do Late Night Workouts Affect Sleep Quality?(10:44) The Hawthorne Effect: What Is It and Why Is It Important?(12:57) How Do Sleep Patterns Predict Next Day Performance? (17:32) What Happens To Exercise When Sleep Cycles Are Disrupted?(23:47) Early Birds vs Night Owls: Why When You Train Matters(30:21) How To Optimize Sleep and Exercise as a Busy Individual(33:26) Advice & Practical Takeaways From The Study(42:59)  What’s Next? Foreshadowing Future WHOOP StudiesSupport the showFollow WHOOP: www.whoop.com Trial WHOOP for Free Instagram TikTok YouTube X Facebook LinkedIn Follow Will Ahmed: Instagram X LinkedIn Follow Kristen Holmes: Instagram LinkedIn Follow Emily Capodilupo: LinkedIn

What happens to your body—and your behavior—when you start wearing WHOOP every day?In this episode, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance, Principal Scientist, Dr. Kristen Holmes is joined by WHOOP Senior Research Scientist, Dr. Greg Grosicki to break down the results of a groundbreaking new study conducted by WHOOP, analyzing the data from 12,000 WHOOP members over 12 weeks. The study reveals a clear relationship between WHOOP wear frequency and improvements in key health and performance metrics like sleep consistency, duration, and quality, RHR and HRV, and overall physical fitness. Dr. Holmes and Dr. Grosicki break down the study, science, and implications of the findings on long-term health and longevity.The Study:Wearing WHOOP More Frequently Is Associated with Better Biometrics and Healthier Sleep and Activity PatternsRelated Episodes:Understanding GLP-1: The Latest Research From WHOOP with Dr. Greg GrosickiSpotifyAppleYouTubeImproving VO₂ Max For Longevity and Performance with Dr. Greg GrosickiSpotifyAppleYouTubeSupport the showFollow WHOOP: www.whoop.com Trial WHOOP for Free Instagram TikTok YouTube X Facebook LinkedIn Follow Will Ahmed: Instagram X LinkedIn Follow Kristen Holmes: Instagram LinkedIn Follow Emily Capodilupo: LinkedIn