We just wrapped up a super-fun chat with none other than Bob Alejo, the new assistant strength conditioning coach for the Los Angeles Angels MLB team. Get ready to be a fly on the wall as you gain exclusive access to the life and experiences of this esteemed sports professional. From his time at CSU to his stint with the US Olympics, Alejo's journey is as insightful as it is inspiring. We discuss the nuances of working with college athletes versus the pros, and underline the significance of...

In this enlightening episode, we discuss the role of gut microbiota in chronic diseases, its impact on organs like the brain, and how factors like sex, diet, and exercise influence it. We throw light on the good, the bad, and the misunderstood bacteria within us, questioning the oversimplified labels of "good" and "bad" bacteria. We discuss how exercise and diet may lead to a healthier microbiome, and the potential for functional redundancy among the thousands of types of bacteria in our gut....

Ever wonder how your muscles adapt and grow through exercise? Join us as we embark on a journey into the depths of muscle physiology with the insightful Dr. Andy Galpin, a renowned professor and human performance scientist. We're going to get under the skin of muscle hyperplasia, a topic that has sparked fierce debates within the scientific community. Get ready to challenge your understanding of muscle growth, as we also discuss muscle hypertrophy in relation to muscle damage. Timeline: 3:22...

Join us as we chat with Brandon Harris, performance coach and owner of Premier Fitness Systems, who has been guiding top-tier athletes for over two decades. Brandon's unique insights shed light on the intricate world of athlete training, underscoring the need for individualized and flexible approaches. 00:00:03 Sports Science and Working With Athletes 00:11:49  Mental Aspect of Sports and Competition 00:24:00  Athlete Identity and Pursuit of Mastery 00:29:03  MMA Strength and Conditioning...

Meet Dr. Michael Roberts, a trailblazer in the world of muscle growth research. This episode promises to be an intriguing journey through the world of scientific research. Timeline 2:35 – The evolution of how Mike Roberts’ lab did the squat vs. hip thrust study. 5:17 – There is a crazy amount of work involved in a training study. 6:15 – It took about 2 years to pull it off. 8:17 – Animal models – applies to humans? Yes or no? 9:10 – Animal work in nutrition – should we dismiss it? 9:40 –...

In our latest podcast, we turn the spotlight on Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum, a physician, strength coach, and competitive powerlifter, who is breaking new ground in the world of fitness and medicine. As we chat, Dr. Feigenbaum opens up about his unique approach to blending modern medicine and strength conditioning, the critical gaps in lifestyle medicine training for healthcare professionals, and how addressing these could drive substantial positive change in our communities. Timeline: 2:40 – How...

Ever wondered if the cholesterol demonization and saturated fats scare is all just an exaggerated myth? Join us today as we chat with Dr. Susan J. Hewlings, who brings a fresh perspective on these misunderstood health topics. Dr. Hewlings, a respected researcher and compassionate animal rescue advocate, sheds light on her recent publication that challenges the long-held belief about cholesterol and saturated fats' harmful health impacts. Timeline: 2:26 – The ARF Shack – an animal rescue...

Juan Carlos Santana MS CSCS disrupts the overly simplistic mantra 'you can never be strong enough;' We delve into the confluence of strength, skill, and strategy across a spectrum of sports, from distance running to boxing, and explore the fine art of exercise selection for peak performance. Be ready to reframe your thinking and challenge your beliefs on strength training. Timeline – Episode 49 with Juan Carlos Santana 3:42 How much strength is enough? You can never be strong enough. (See...

Timeline: 2:17 Cursing helps you exercise better. I swear. 14:13 Elevator pitch – if you want better performance, CURSE. “F**k” and “Shit” works. I swear. 16:07 How Dr. Lia came up with her dissertation topic. 16:11 Find a topic that you won’t be sick of in 4 years. 16:59 A good dissertation is a completed dissertation 21:56 Likeability in men (not being jacked) (self-perception) linked to improved sexual behavior/experience. 23:50 With women, arousal is a predictor of women less likely to...

 On our latest episode, we go toe-to-toe with the topic of pain and how it's crucial in achieving peak performance. Joining us is Dr. Jonathan Mike, a strength and conditioning professional, and educator at Grand Canyon University, who sheds light on the fine line between striving for superior performance and sidestepping unnecessary injuries.  Timeline: 1:35 Dr. Ricci and I have a new publication in “Physiologia” on Weight Loss and Competition of UFC fighters in the Flyweight...

Ever wondered how neuroscience and physical therapy intersect to tackle pain management? Unearth new learnings about your body's response to pain and its complex nature as we engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Natalia Sikaczowski , a passionate advocate for individualized patient treatment and founder of Symmetry Physical Therapy, and Dr Raymond Butts, an expert in investigating central mediated aspects of chronic pain. Explore the multifaceted dimensions of peripheral and...

Ever wondered why the world is addicted to caffeine and coffee? Brace yourselves as we meander through the rich aroma and complex brew of coffee with Dr. Lonnie Lowery, our distinguished guest for the episode. With over two decades of expertise in nutrition, exercise physiology, and academic consulting, Dr. Lowery brings a blend of insights that leaves no stone unturned - from the antioxidant powerhouse that coffee is, to the much-debated timing of the first morning cup. Timeline: 0:30 –...

Step into the world of Mixed Martial Arts with none other than Dr. Heather Linden, the Senior Director of Physical Therapy for the UFC Performance Institute. Drawing from her remarkable journey from the Olympics to the UFC, Heather enlightens us about the unique challenges and rewards of working with world-class MMA athletes. She takes us behind the scenes of creating a top-tier sports medicine clinic from scratch and building an interdisciplinary team to work with UFC fighters from across...

Get ready for a riveting discussion with Dr. Michael Sagner, a seasoned clinician and researcher in the field of sports medicine and preventive care. Join us as we explore Dr. Sagner's inspiring journey, from his humble beginnings to his military service and finally his passion for physiology. We take a fascinating detour into Dr. Sagner's work with Ozempic and its impact on obese patients, revealing the critical importance of protein intake and resistance training in sustainable weight...

In a riveting conversation with researcher Dr. James L Nuzzo, we dissect the differences in skeletal muscle fiber types between men and women. James brings unique insights from his meta-analysis of over 100 studies, unraveling fascinating intricacies about muscle power and strength differences between men and women.  Then, we turn the spotlight on the less examined subject of gender differences in exercise sciences and academia. The absence of discourse on the physiological disparities...

Get ready to shatter stereotypes as we journey through the controversial domain of testosterone and steroids in sports with our high-profile guest, Rick Collins Esq., an internationally recognized legal authority on everything from sports nutrition and bodybuilding supplements to performance-enhancing substances. Tune in for an enlightening discussion that promises to challenge preconceived notions, bringing you face to face with the surprising reality that 80% of non-medical steroid users...

We've got a meaty show this week. Our special guest, Dr. David Church, takes us on an intriguing journey into protein stimulation and how this fascinating science brought us the Impossible Burger.  Our co-host, Katie Emerson loves this burger. Though after this show, she may change her mind. Hold on tight because we're not done yet! We take an unexpected turn into the world of anabolic steroids, specifically their role in muscle preservation within the military. It's a topic that's often...

Ever pondered the power of collagen supplementation? We're peeling back the layers of this booming health trend with Dr. Shiloah A. Kviatkovsky, a standout postdoc at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Center.  Now before you make fun of Arkansas, Dr. Shy says it's a hidden gem. Be ready to have your mind blown as we explore the nitty-gritty of her extensive research on the role collagen plays in body composition, bone mineral density, and joint pain. Join us as we dispel myths and...

Timeline: 00:21 About Dr. Bill Campbell – Professor at the University of South Florida 02:40 How Bill chose his field of study at USF – sports nutrition versus physique enhancement 05:17 Performance versus Looking Pretty – Dr. Campbell opines 09:07 What’s the ‘real’ body fat %? DXA vs Skinfolds vs Pick your method 09:32 Two women can have the same % fat and yet one can look “ripped,” and the other looks super smooth 13:55 Are there regional differences where body fat is lost? Male vs...

We had a fun discussion about the current state of science vis a vis Squats vs. Hip Thrusts See this paper for more information: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.06.21.545949v2  Hip thrust and back squat training elicit similar gluteus muscle hypertrophy and transfer similarly to the deadlift Timeline: 00:23 – About our special guest, Bret Contreras PhD 1:48 – Boca Raton is one big Seinfeld episode 3:48 – Bret explains how this study came about 3:56 – The infamous Barbalho...

Timeline 00:00 – About Stacy Sims PhD – scientist, author, former collegiate rower, endurance athlete extraordinaire (former professional cyclist). 3:36 – How Dr. Sims visualized and actualized the ISSN’s Position Paper, Full article: International society of sports nutrition position stand: nutritional concerns of the female athlete (tandfonline.com). 5:24 – Women are not small men – there are clear sex differences starting at the beginning of life as explained by Dr. Sims 7:10 – That...

Timeline 00:00 About Dr. Mike Ormsbee – Did you know he played collegiate hockey? 5:34 – What prompted Mike to start examining the role of pre-sleep feeding – a cool story 8:43 – Muscle protein synthesis (acute data) vs. the important metrics such as body composition and performance 11:12 – Whey, casein, vs. plant-based proteins – does it matter what you consume pre-sleep? 14:20 – Two participants got rhabdo from 150 reps (eccentric reps with each leg)!  23:10 – Does not matter what you...

“Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) differentially bind to androgen receptors depending on each SARM's chemical structure.”(Solomon ZJ et al. 2019). But do they actually give the benefits of androgens or anabolic steroids minus the side effects?  Listen and learn my friends! Edwin Davila DO MS CISSN is a senior resident of Internal Medicine, TIGMER San Antonio. Medical degree from the UIWSOM San Antonio, MS Exercise Physiology Baylor University, BS Biology Baylor University, CISSN...

“Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists (also known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, incretin mimetics, or GLP-1 analogs) represent a class of medications used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus and, in some cases, obesity. Examples of drugs in this class include exenatide, lixisenatide, liraglutide, albiglutide, dulaglutide, and semaglutide. According to the American Diabetes Association, metformin remains the preferred first-line therapy for treating type 2 diabetes. However, the addition of a...

Dr. Grant Tinsley is an Associate Professor and Director of the Energy Balance & Body Composition Laboratory at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. He earned his Ph.D. in Kinesiology and Exercise Nutrition from Baylor University after completing bachelor’s degrees in Nutritional Sciences and Physiology at Oklahoma State University, as well as a master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from Colorado State University. He is also a Certified Sports Nutritionist (CISSN) through the...