If you’re like most gym goers, you’re probably not working out in silence. If you’re ever forgotten your headphones and have had to workout without any music, you know how much it helps and how much you miss it when it’s not there. But have you ever wondered why working out with music is so much better than exercising without it?

I break down a study in this episode that examined music’s effect on exercise performance and offer some thoughts as to why it’s such a potent component of your routine. I also share what goes into designing playlists for my group training sessions, and explain why my own workouts have very different playlists depending on what I’m doing.

Have a favorite artist, album, or song you like to workout to? Comment below so I can check it out!