Erika Nardini is one of the most influential women in sports. As the CEO of Barstool Sports, she has overseen the company's growth from 12 employees to hundreds and has helped establish the brand as one of the most recognizable in sports and beyond. Erika discusses her journey to Barstool (2:11), landing her dream job (5:12), working with Barstool founder Dave Portnoy (6:46), growing the brand authentically (10:13), creating a playground for personalities (15:59), cancel culture (22:19), political correctness (25:20), pushing back against naysayers (29:19), trusting her WHOOP (34:46), and how she identifies talent (36:47). Support the Show.

Erika Nardini, trailblazing CEO of Barstool Sports, discusses authenticity and tuning out critics

At WHOOP, we are on a mission to unlock human performance. WHOOP Founder & CEO Will Ahmed sits down with top athletes, scientists, experts, and more to learn what the best in the world are doing to perform at their peak – and what you can do to unlock your own best performance. Every week, we dig deeper into sleep, recovery, nutrition, training, lifestyle habits, and more to help you reach your potential.

Science

Sports

Fitness

Health & Fitness

Life Sciences

On this week’s episode WHOOP Founder and CEO Will Ahmed is joined by Dermot Whelan. Dermot is an award-winning Radio and TV Broadcaster, Author, Comedian, Podcast Host, and Meditation Expert. As the host of The Mind Full Podcast, Dermot is sharing his wealth of knowledge and teachings around meditation, stress management, positivity, and more. Will and Dermot discuss how Dermot found comedy (1:35), his first time doing stand-up (8:15), developing material (11:07), finding meditation (15:50), Dermot’s 16-second meditation technique (23:33), meditation sparking Dermot’s health kick (31:24), how society views meditation (36:54), how Dermot uses WHOOP (40:50), and the power of fulfillment (48:07).

Resources:
Dermot’s Website
Dermot’s Instagram
The Mind Full Podcast
Dermot’s Book Support the Show.

Laugh Your Stress Away with Comedian Dermot Whelan

On this week’s episode WHOOP Founder and CEO Will Ahmed is joined by barre3 Co-Founder and CEO Sadie Lincoln. Barre3 is a fitness company focused on teaching people to be balanced in body and empowered from within. Beyond running her company and being a global spokesperson, Sadie still enjoys teaching barre3 classes to many of her founding clients in her hometown of Portland, Oregon. Will and Sadie discuss how Sadie got into barre (1:38), the biggest difference from the first barre3 studio to now (4:23), what makes barre unique (7:16), teaching and coaching clients (12:15), using WHOOP (17:00), Sadie teaching classes (21:52), work-life balance with a loved one (24:35), what it means to be inside your body (27:41), the difference between being a founder and CEO (37:32), and advice to other female CEOs (39:27). 

Resources:
barre3.com
Sadie’s Instagram 
 Support the Show.

Empowering Women in Health and Business with Sadie Lincoln

On this week’s episode WHOOP Founder and CEO Will Ahmed is joined by Performance Chef and Podcast Host Dan Churchill. The Australian native is now the Chef at The Osprey in Brooklyn and the host of The Epic Table Podcast. With a Master's Degree in Exercise Science, Dan blends his expertise in fitness and wellness with his passion for healthy cooking and has become the face of nutrition-based performance. Dan is here to talk about his latest book Eat Like a Legend and his experience running the Boston Marathon. Dan and Will discuss how Dan treats his body and mind (2:15), physical strain vs. mental strain (9:15), becoming a chef (11:58), moving from Australia to America (20:33), Dan’s new book Eat Like a Legend (24:45), top meals for performance (29:10), what’s next for The Osprey (34:18), running the Boston Marathon (40:27), and weight loss tips (49:04).

Resources:
Dan's Website
Dan’s Instagram  Support the Show.

Dan Churchill: How Food Fuels Your Performance

On this week’s episode WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance, Principal Scientist Kristen Holmes is joined by WHOOP SVP, Research Algorithms, and Data Emily Capodilupo. The pair is here to talk about the link between sleep, stress, and blood pressure. Kristen and Emily will be talking about an upcoming study conducted by our team here at WHOOP, that you our listeners and members can be a part of. Kristen and Emily discuss an overview of the study (1:50), why we are conducting this study (4:32), the protocols of the study (12:14), the power of big data collections (22:34), breaking down stress (26:35), how anxiety impacts sleep (32:27), how we perceive stress (39:55), and understanding sleep patterns (49:16).

Resources:
Harvard Health: Stress Response
What Happens to the Body During Stress
Email Research Study
Navy Seal Box Breathing
Dr. Rangan Chatterjee: Breathing Techniques Support the show

Sleep and Stress: The Latest Study Powered by WHOOP

On this week’s episode WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance, Principal Scientist Kristen Holmes is joined by Lori Locust. Lori is entering her sixth season coaching in the NFL and her second season with the Titans. Prior to arriving in Tennessee, she spent four seasons as an assistant defensive line coach at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where she won a Super Bowl in 2021. Kristen and Lori discuss preparing for the NFL season (3:01), learning a playbook (6:20), getting her first shot at coaching (9:27), Coach Lo’s perspective on the game (13:20), starting in the NFL (16:08), integrating with the Tampa Bay staff (28:10), Tom Brady joining the Buccaneers (28:10), preparation and mindset before the Super Bowl (32:07), Lo’s coaching style (34:32), defining success (36:42), shedding the stigma of “just ticking a box” (38:32), barriers for women in sport (41:04), the future of women in the NFL (46:57), meditation and self-reflection (50:04). 

Resources:
Coach Lo’s Instagram  Support the Show.

Erika Nardini, trailblazing CEO of Barstool Sports, discusses authenticity and tuning out critics

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