The Coaching Lab: Evidence-Based High Performance & Wellbeing

What's holding you back and what does The Flinch have to do with moving forward? Do you notice those times when you're flinching - and thus hesitating to move forward at the critical moments? The Flinch is a book by Julien Smith, working alongside Seth Godin, and in this interview Julien shares some different techniques on how to master the Flinch.  Julien Smith is a New York Times bests...

Looking for a few keys to dialing in a better, more meaningful life? In this special episode, Dr. Cooper shares 7 Keys to a Meaningful Life to help point you in the right direction. They include:  Dots: More Creating... Less Connecting  Tune In Without Tuning Out  Differentiating Goals vs. Resources  Easier to "Stay" in Shape (in any area of life) than "Get" in Shape  Two-way S...

Stanford’s Dr. Kelly McGonigal is a multiple-time best-selling author and a pioneer in the field “science-help” as she aims to translate insights from psychology and neuroscience into practical strategies that support personal well-being and strengthen communities. Her TED talk, "How to Make Stress Your Friend," is one of the most viewed TED talks of all time, with over 20 million views....

In 1967, Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon. However the way it happened stunned the world and changed the face of marathons and women's running. In this episode, Kathrine peels back the curtain on what really happened on the day of the race and how it changed our world since that day.   Kathrine Switzer has long been one of running’s most iconic fig...

Professor Timothy Noakes has gone against the grain all his life. 1st his groundbreaking book The Lore of Running... then coming out against the idea that dehydration was the most significant risk to marathoners (turns out he was right),  then the Central Governor Theory... then... well, it goes on and on. In this once in a lifetime interview opportunity, Dr. Cooper takes a deeper dive into each a...

When first hearing about blood flow restriction training, it may sound more like an ancient torture device than an actual training strategy - at least it did to us! Restricting blood flow might seem like a counterintuitive training method, but this technique has been touted  as “the next big fitness trend”.  Airbands Founder Joseph Marcus discusses the research, practical application and more.   ...

Habits are at the core of what makes us who we are but they are SO hard to change! Or are they? Best-selling author and professor, Dr. Wendy Wood shares evidence-based insights on how we can - frankly quite easily - eliminate the bad habits from our lives and start good habits. This hidden gem episode is one of our all-time favorites for a good reason! If you'd like to access a video version...

Long hauler or long haul Covid is affecting a significant portion of the population and it isn't just those generally at high risk who are at high risk for long covid. Elite masters runner and best-selling author Matt Fitzgerald sat down with us to share his experience, what he's learned, and what the data and early research is revealing. If you'd like to access a video version of t...

Barnard College President, researcher and author Dr. Sian Beilock pulls back the curtain on what causes us to choke under pressure and what we can do to reduce or eliminate this tendency. Dr. Beilock, wrote a fascinating book, Choke , and in this interview we dive into  why we  too often blunder when the stakes are high, what happens in our brain and body when we experience the dreaded performance...

What if we could interview Friedrich Nietzsche about health, wellness & performance?   The well-known philosopher famous for "That which does not kill us makes us stronger" or "The higher we soar, the smaller we appear to those who cannot fly" or even "He who has a WHY to live can bear almost any HOW." Nietzsche died in the year 1900, but Professor John Kaag has a...

Is the vaccine safe?  Was it rushed through development? How about for pregnant mothers? Children? Do we all need it? What if I'd rather just get Covid than the vaccine? Michelle Barron, MD, the Senior Medical Director at UC Health and Professor of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases) was kind enough to make herself available to answer every question we posed.  She helps to separate rea...

David Epstein is the multiple time best-selling author of The Sports Gene and Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World and was formerly a writer for Sports Illustrated. He is the writer I (the host) hope to become when I grow up - although he's 17 years younger! You'll love his insights and the way he communicates so effectively, yet humbly. This is one of our special hidden...

Menopause and perimenopause play a significant role in the lives of women and those who are close to them.  Dr. Dunston discusses hormones, nutrition and other ways to optimize the influence of menopause on the lives of women in this phase of life. If you're looking for the most effective ways to make the most of this aspect of life, treat menopause symptoms, and make the most of your life be...

What are some of Craig "Crowie" Alexander's greatest memories in the sport? How has he continued to be successful into his mid-40's? What secrets has he applied to garner such a long and successful career? Why was Craig "Crowie" Alexander able to become the 5x World Triathlon Champion? (70.3 in 2006 & 2011 and Ironman in 2008, 2009 & 2011). What did he do to c...

This one was personal. Growing up, the Miami Dolphins Larry Csonka was a childhood hero who's picture hung on the wall and who's incredible performance on the field was "must see TV" each week. As a fullback for the undefeated '72 Miami Dolphins, he lead the league in yards/carry and helped carry the Dolphins to 3 straight Super Bowls under the greatest coach of all time -...

Are genetics or lifestyle more important when it comes to health, wellness & performance?  Epigenetics researcher and best-selling author Dr. Kenneth Pelletier (MD and PhD) walks us through the evidence surrounding that question and what it means for our lives in this fascinating "Hidden Gem" episode! To access the "BE A CATALYST!" hoodies, t-shirts and more mentioned in th...

You know the name Dr. BJ Fogg... You've heard of (and likely read) the book Tiny Habits... Now you have the opportunity to hear best-selling author and Stanford Professor Dr. BJ Fogg dig into the details of how to apply the powerful tools and resources that have made his book a worldwide sensation! You can access the video version of this interview at https://youtu.be/zvNgJxH6FCE More details...

Is creatine all about building muscle? Or does it have a role for all of us? Are you curious about whether creatine is right for you? Would you like to have an expert provide guidance based on the evidence rather than just the locker room chatter? Is creatine helpful to someone who isn't lifting weights? Does it influence brain health? Endurance? Strength? Aging? There are plenty of headlines...

Do you have a clear and unique vision for your life that provides a powerful driver for you, a northern star during the struggles, and a direction for the decisions and steps you take each and every day? In this special episode, Dr. Cooper takes you through the steps to creating your own vision as you move forward in your life.  This can be your step forward, not to simply creating goals (the WHAT...

There are a select number of locations around the world that are considered Blue Zones where people live longer and healthier lives. These areas - originally discovered by our very special guest Dan Buettner - have some specific strategies we can all apply to our lives. We discuss those details and more in this engaging interview with explorer and best-selling author Dan Buettner! Info re earning...

You know the Stages of Change (or Transtheoretical Model of Change) model. It was developed in 1983 by Prochaska and Diclemente and has since become a cornerstone for health coaches, wellness coaches, performance coaches, counselors, life coaches, physicians, physical therapists and countless individuals looking to improve their lives. This incredibly special - and personal - interview with Dr. Ja...

Is the flu vaccine dangerous? Does it harm our immunity? How does it work? Are the myths about vaccines actually true? Should my children take it? What if I'm pregnant - does it harm or help my baby? Does it cause problems long term? These are just some of the common questions surrounding the flu shot (and related to the coming Covid-19 vaccine). We were grateful to have Dr. William Schaffner...

Does physical activity influence our lifespan? Does consistent exercise extend our lives? There's an ongoing debate about physical activity and whether it's REALLY important or whether the priority is our nutritional choices and the activity is a nice bonus. That's where Dr. Trine Moholdt, a research scientist and physiotherapist out of Norway comes in. Her research was recently pub...

Are you curious about how nutrition affects your surgery recovery and or injury response?  Would you like details on what nutritional choices would improve your results to surgery or recovery from injury? In this episode, Dr. Abbie Smith-Ryan digs into the details of what you need to know and how you can apply it in your own life or that of family, friends or (for health care providers) patients....

Ever thought it would be intriguing to listen in on a real, live coaching session provided by a nationally board certified (NBC-HWC) health & wellness coach? This is your chance! If you're a coach, the benefit is obvious, providing a way to tap into some new tools and resources for your own coaching (including a live "debrief" after the session). However, even if you've nev...