Steve Cook is one of the most recognizable people in the fitness space. He took a lifelong interest in working out and staying active and turned it into a successful bodybuilding career on stage and creating content online. This episode is about following your passions and finding your identity. Steve explains how he found solace in the gym after his football career stopped and his marriage ended. He says those trying times resulted in a change of direction in his life that allowed him to get to where he is today. Steve discusses charting a new path in life (2:47), pursuing your goals (6:56), getting into fitness at a young age (10:32), his bodybuilding career (11:57), how WHOOP warned him of COVID (20:27), recovery (22:37), HRV (24:44), the dark side of bodybuilding (33:00), practical vs. optimal in fitness (41:20), accountability (42:40), enjoying the journey (51:22). 
 Support the show

Steve Cook discusses finding solace in the gym and picking yourself up after life knocks you down

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 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

Coach Lori Locust: The Future of Coaching is Female

On this week’s episode, WHOOP Founder and CEO Will Ahmed is joined by Jason McCarthy the Co-Founder and CEO of GORUCK. Jason served in Special Forces after 9/11. He founded GORUCK in West Africa with his wife Emily, a Case Officer for the CIA, and a napkin sketch for a rucksack that could thrive in Baghdad and NYC.  He also proudly serves on the Board of Directors of the Green Beret Foundation. Will and Jason discuss how Jason joined the military (2:30), having accountability for the country (11:45), the idea for GORUCK (16:25), what is in a go bag (19:35), starting the business (21:20), defining rucking and its benefits (25:53), what’s next for GORUCK (31:28), baseline and extreme rucks (33:14), developing mental toughness (35:49), advice to future Green Berets (39:41), and how Jason uses WHOOP (41:36).

Resources:
GORUCK Website  Support the show

Unpacking the Rise of Rucking with Jason McCarthy

As Women’s History Month comes to an end, we wanted to answer your questions around women’s health. Who better do that than WHOOP SVP, Data Science and Research, Emily Capodilupo. Emily answers questions about menstrual cycle physiology (2:05), how to use WHOOP to better understand your cycle (3:55), nutritional habits during your period (4:50), how cycles can impact HRV (6:35), supplements to take during your cycle (8:58), birth control methods (12:12), long-term impacts of birth control (14:45), birth control impacting athletic performance (16:08), preparing the body for pregnancy (21:03), and sleeping tips while pregnant (24:16). Support the show

Steve Cook discusses finding solace in the gym and picking yourself up after life knocks you down

Download our free app to listen on your phone