Christie Aschwanden

Christie Aschwanden, a science journalist and author of "Good to Go," joins the conversation to explore why there's value in not optimizing every aspect of life. She discusses the pitfalls of relentless self-improvement, emphasizing the importance of balance between productivity and downtime. Christie highlights how our physiological responses can inform personal growth and critiques the reliance on data-driven metrics for well-being. The slow and steady nature of scientific progress is also examined, calling for more intellectual humility in interpreting research.

In the past few years, sports recovery has become a big business. Elite athletes and weekend warriors alike are spending lots of time and money on things like cryotherapy, float tanks, foam rolling, and supplements in order to feel better, push themselves harder, and gain an edge over the competition. But does any of this stuff actually do anything? My guest today spent a year investigating the science of exercise recovery. Her name is Christie Aschwanden and she’s the author of Good to Go: What the Athlete in All of Us Can Learn From the Strange Science of Recovery. We begin our show discussing what exactly athletic “recovery” is and why the recovery business has been booming recently. Christie and I then dig into several different recovery modalities from drinking Gatorade, to taking ice baths, to foam rolling, and the science, or the lack thereof, behind their effectiveness. We end our conversation discussing what actually works best for exercise recovery (hint: you do it every night and it’s free), whether you should spend your money on things like cryospas, and whether recovery methods can still be beneficial, even if they're largely based on the placebo effect. Get the show notes at aom.is/recovery.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Christie Aschwanden, science journalist and former elite Nordic skier and cycling champ, brings skeptical rigor to the recovery industry. She discusses cold plunges and cryotherapy fads, why sleep trackers can harm more than help, the value of boring recovery tactics like rest and heat, and how trend pressure and marketing shape athlete choices.

Christie Aschwanden, an award-winning science journalist and author of *Good to Go*, dives into the accuracy of recovery scores from fitness trackers. She discusses how wearable technology may not align with an athlete's personal fatigue levels and stresses the importance of self-assessment. Christie also explores how aging impacts recovery time and shares strategies for managing stress and enhancing recovery, emphasizing stillness and relaxation as essential components for athletes and high-performing professionals alike.

In this episode, world-renowned science journalist Christie Aschwanden and hosts Prof. Ross Tucker and Mike Finch explore the science behind athletic recovery. They debunk misleading claims and practices, including the ineffective use of ice baths and the illusion of hydration. They also discuss the psychological impact of beer on recovery and emphasize the importance of relaxation and sleep for optimal recovery.

Christie Aschwanden, a journalist and author of "Good to Go," shares insights on athletic recovery methods. She debunks popular recovery trends like cryotherapy and foam rollers, emphasizing the need for scientific backing. The importance of adequate sleep and its impact on performance is discussed, with tips for better sleep hygiene. She also challenges traditional sports nutrition beliefs, focusing on consistent diet over timing. Lastly, Christie explores gender differences in endurance, highlighting the impressive stamina of female athletes.

Christie Aschwanden, award-winning science journalist and author of Good to Go, brings athlete experience to evidence-based recovery. She explains why sleep is king, practical sleep hacks, which recovery levers matter after basics, how training load and age change recovery needs, and why many recovery products live on marketing and placebo rather than science.

Christie Aschwanden, a science writer and author of 'Good to Go', delves into the peculiar world of exercise recovery. She examines whether Gatorade or even beer aids recovery. With humor, she critiques popular recovery products like pneumatic compression boots and cryo chambers, urging athletes to prioritize real food and body awareness. Aschwanden discusses hydration myths, the science behind recovery methods, and the importance of personal experience in evaluating their effectiveness. Her insights challenge conventional wisdom around fitness trends.

Swimming coach Rick Madge and science writer Christie Aschwanden discuss the rapid improvement of world records in swimming and make a case for the 5,000m race over the marathon. They explore the influence of technology on swimming records, the benefits of the 5k race, and the health advantages of running.

Christie Aschwanden, FiveThirtyEight's lead writer for science, discusses the challenges and pitfalls of food surveys. She explores the difficulties in accurately recalling food consumption habits and the complexities of quantifying food intake. The podcast also delves into surprising correlations between food choices and unique personal characteristics, emphasizing caution in drawing causal relationships from correlations.