EPISODE 8:  Feeding the Force: A Tactical Dietitian’s Guide to Optimal Health & Performance

In this episode, Martin and Jonpaul talk to tactical dietician Dr. Will Conkright about the role of a dietitian in the military and the challenges he faces. We dive into the basics of optimal nutrition and examine how people working in high-stress, high-stakes environments can leverage good nutritional habits to positively influence physical and cognitive performance, rest, recovery and sleep.

Guest, Cast & Crew

Dr Will Conkright is a registered dietitian and researcher with over 16 years of experience in clinical, academic and research settings. He primarily works with high-reliability populations, focusing on military operational stress, training and recovery. 

Hosted by Martin Jones & Jonpaul Nevin https://www.ophp.co.uk 

Edited by Bess Manley

Produced by Wavell Room https://wavellroom.com/

Resources

• Operational Supplement Safety  https://www.opss.org/ 
• Will’s email [email protected] 

If you enjoy this content, please like and subscribe so we can keep improving. Remember to visit Wavell Room for their latest articles, podcasts, and newsletters. 

Chapters

00:42 Introducing Dr. Will Conkright

01:35 Will's Background and Military Experience

04:35 The Role of a Dietitian in the Military

12:31 Fundamentals of Good Nutrition

21:17 Challenges and Strategies in High-Stress Environments

26:49 Holistic Health and Fitness in the U.S. Army

30:06 Nutrition's Impact on Cognitive Performance and Sleep

33:38 Supplements for Performance and Recovery

40:15 Precision Performance Nutrition

43:58 Future Trends in Nutrition

Up Next

Next week, we’ll be joined by The Green Room, to talk about mental fitness and how wellbeing coaching, leadership and organizational development can help maintain and improve it.  

Thanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.

This podcast is for people who can’t afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.

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