The Podium

We use numerous wearables and connected devices when working with our patients at Podium.  The science and technology in this space is rapidly evolving.  To dig into this evolution, I am joined by Chuck Hazzard.  Chuck is an entrepreneur and technology expert. He is currently working with Heads Up Health, the leading digital health analytics platform that is being used for remote patient monitorin...

Sodium bicarbonate ( or "bicarb") is a well-researched and proven supplement when it comes to promoting athletic performance.   It is often used by the highest performing athletes, but there are barriers that keep others from trying this supplement.  Its safety is well established.  (Bicarb is just baking soda!)  However, ingesting bicarb can lead to unpleasant gastric side effects. In t...

Supplement quality and safety is an area of considerable concern in our practice.  Due to the structure of laws in the US, there is very little oversight when it comes to supplement production.  In fact, it is probably the case that much (if not most) of the products on the market are worthless or even dangerous. In this episode, we talk about this very problem, but we also discuss how we navigate...

Continuous Glucose Monitoring (or CGM) is a tool that we use with all of our patients at Podium, most of whom are not diabetic.  This has proven to be a very powerful means of providing instant feedback into the body's response to certain variables.  Food obviously plays a very important role in one's glucose response and metabolism, but the context around that diet is key as well.  Exer...

This time of year, a large portion of our population ends up on antibiotics.  For those of us that are athletes or inclined to maintain a high level of activity, that can be detrimental.  Indeed, antibiotics can cause as many problems as they can cure. In the US, medical practitioners are notorious for prescribing antibiotics when there is clearly no indication to do so.  Head colds and bronchitis...

COVID has dominated our lives for the past year, and now there are vaccines which are becoming widely available in the US.  Many of my patients have had questions about the vaccines and whether they should be vaccinated.  In this podcast, Patrick and I discuss  thoughts on the vaccines and how individuals should approach this decision.

Morning Routines have become the subject of many articles and discussions in the popular media of late, and for good reason.  Having a routine can ensure that you start each day on the right foot.  However, such practices risk becoming overly complicated and counterproductive in some instances.  In this episode, we look at Morning Routines and how they can be beneficial.  In order to explore the t...

The term "Overtraining" gets thrown around a lot, often inappropriately.  There seems to be a good deal of confusion around this issue and the associated physiologic processes.  In this episode, we dig into the continuum of Overtraining Syndrome (OTS)...Functional Overreaching, Non-Functional Overreaching, Overtraining.  What are the symptoms of each stage along this continuum?  How is t...

Athletes rely on a sharp mind and disciplined focus in order to perform at their best.  These attributes are crucial to the execution of a game plan.  For those of us who don't make a living competing in professional sports, these are also necessary tools.  We all benefit when our mind is clear and our focus is unshakable.  In this episode, we look at how we can train and support mental Focus...

No person can sustain a "pedal to the metal" pace of training for 52 weeks per year.  An effective training plan allows for times of increased load, as well as for recovery.  A given year or season must incorporate encouragement of varying physiologic processes, some of which should not be trained concurrently with others.  The concept of "Periodization" is what allows for a tr...

Cheri Mah, MD, MS, is a world-renowned expert when it comes to the relationship between sleep and performance in elite athletes.  In addition to performing some of the most important research on this topic, Dr. Mah serves as the sleep expert for the Nike Performance Council.  She has worked with the Golden State Warriors, San Francisco Giants, San Jose Sharks, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steel...

One of the most frequent questions I receive from patients is, "How much exercise is too much?"  We have all seen the stories or personally known someone who suffered a cardiac condition despite being extremely fit.  Yet, it is well established that exercise is ultimately good for the heart.  This raises the question of whether you can get too much of a good thing. No one is more qualifi...

Dr. Aaron Baggish joins us to talk about the cardiac complications and evaluation of athletes who have had COVID.  Aaron is the Director of the Cardiac Performance Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, and is a globally-recognized expert on all aspects of sports cardiology.  The international guidelines around COVID and heart evaluations have been written and revised by Dr. Baggish and his co...

Heart Rate Variability (or "HRV") is the metric which elite athletes are following daily to assess their recovery and plan their daily training.  The science around HRV dates back many decades, but only recently has this become something we can all easily measure.  Whether you are aiming to compete at the highest level or simply perform in daily life, might HRV be the guide you have been...

Glucose, or "blood sugar", is a variable which can change significantly throughout our day.  Those kinetics are a major determinant of our health and of our athletic performance.  In this episode, we review the basics and talk about the most effective ways to measure and impact our blood glucose levels.

Sleep.  It seems so simple, but sleep is often an overlooked determinant of health and performance.  The recognition of this importance is growing, and for some, the pendulum may have even swung too far the other way.  In episode 3 of this season on The Podium, we dig into the science of sleep, how it affects us, and what we can do to ensure we have the best plan for optimizing our daily sleep and...

Caffeine is the most frequently consumed psycho-active substance in the world.  It has been studied for decades, and it's benefit for sports performance is well-documented.  Even so, few understand the pros and cons of using caffeine for performance.  We'll dig into the science and help you understand how your cup of coffee may positively impact your next 5K. 

While at the PGA's Memorial Tournament in Dublin, OH, I got to sit down with two of the top trainers and physios in professional sports.  Adam Kerley, Nic Catterall, and I sat down with tacos and bourbon to talk through all aspects of high performance.  These two are a wealth of knowledge, and their insight is valuable to athletes competing in any sport or discipline. Adam Kerley is a physica...

On this episode, I share with you a recording of the Par Four Performance podcast on which I was a guest.  I spoke with Joe Gambino, physical therapist in New York City, to discuss how the tenets of physiologic performance play out across multiple sports, from triathlon to golf.  Even if you are not a golfer, there is good info in here for you. https://joegambinodpt.com/par-four-performance/

Season 2 of The Podium is about to be launched!  In this season, we will address: - HRV (Heart Rate Variability) as a measure of recovery - Glucose metabolism for health and performance - Sleep - Caffeine as a performance aid We'll also have two great interviews to share with you.  Six more episodes of The Podium are coming your way, in Season 2.

The amount of misinformation and politicized skewing of data has been both amazing and disheartening.  In this episode, I dig into the questions that I am most frequently asked by patients.  For some, there are answers.  For others, it is not black and white.  The goal is to step away from the political-year confusion and look at what we currently know about the pandemic.  I'm no virologist o...

I had the pleasure of sitting down for a (remote) conversation with Dr. Allen Lim, renowned sports scientist and founder of Skratch Labs.  Allen is always one of my favorite people to talk to, as he's such a wealth of knowledge and insight.  This conversation was recorded while maintaining our social distance at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, so please excuse the sub-par audio.  I pr...

The concepts of "recovery" and "adaptation" are often confused by athletes and coaches alike.  Though not mutually exclusive, optimizing for one will often lead to a decline in the other.  In this episode, we talk about when to target recovery, when to aim for adaptation, and how to ensure you do this successfully.

As athletes, our daily activities often vary.  One day may involve a long aerobic workout.  Another may consist of high intensity intervals, or recovery, or travel.  A day sitting in your office will look different still.  Too frequently though, dietary intake does not change to support these varied activities.  On this episode we will discuss how to structure your diet to support your day, regard...

Many are familiar with creatine as a supplement used by bodybuilders and power athletes.  Recent research has shown that it may have benefit for endurance athletes and even for cognitive performance.