Perform with Dr. Andy Galpin
Scicomm Media
This is Perform with Dr. Andy Galpin.
I'm Dr. Andy Galpin, a professor and director of the Human Performance Center at Parker University.
With this podcast, my goal is to help you better understand and maximize your own physical and mental performance, leveraging my two decades of experience with elite performers, including Olympians and world champions across numerous sports. The goal is to cover a range of tools, technologies, and strategies designed to help everyone—from beginners to record-breaks, and everyone in between.
While not all of us are elite athletes—myself included—there are countless lessons and tools we can learn from those performing at the highest levels. And remember, as legendary coach Bill Bowerman stated, "If you have a body, you are an athlete." If you're not already, I hope you'll consider starting to train and recover like one.
I'm Dr. Andy Galpin, a professor and director of the Human Performance Center at Parker University.
With this podcast, my goal is to help you better understand and maximize your own physical and mental performance, leveraging my two decades of experience with elite performers, including Olympians and world champions across numerous sports. The goal is to cover a range of tools, technologies, and strategies designed to help everyone—from beginners to record-breaks, and everyone in between.
While not all of us are elite athletes—myself included—there are countless lessons and tools we can learn from those performing at the highest levels. And remember, as legendary coach Bill Bowerman stated, "If you have a body, you are an athlete." If you're not already, I hope you'll consider starting to train and recover like one.
Episodes
Mentioned books
41 snips
May 13, 2026 • 1h 45min
Intense Exercise & Potential Heart Damage (aka Athlete's Heart)
A deep dive into the athlete's heart paradox and how training reshapes cardiac structure, function, and electrical patterns. A tour of historical discoveries and genetic causes that can mimic dangerous conditions. A look at endurance versus strength remodeling, thresholds for change, and when intense training links to arrhythmia, coronary calcification, or fibrosis. Practical guidance on screening and monitoring for high-risk athletes.
196 snips
Apr 29, 2026 • 2h 35min
Hardship, Resilience & Competing at the Highest Level | Ken Rideout
Ken Rideout, author, endurance athlete, and masters marathon world champion, shares his path from addiction and a brutal childhood to elite racing. He gets into the savage Gobi March, why suffering became his reset button, the mental games he plays to avoid quitting, clean vs. dirty motivation, discipline, parenting toughness, and asking for help.
894 snips
Apr 15, 2026 • 2h 20min
Build Mental Toughness & Perform Under Pressure | Dr. Lenny Wiersma
Dr. Lenny Wiersma, director of sports and performance psychology at UC Berkeley with decades working with elite and extreme athletes. He unpacks risk and why fear isn’t absence, practical visualization and wipeout planning, reframes self-talk and psychological distancing, and shares biofeedback, breathing, and coaching tactics to perform under pressure.
517 snips
Apr 1, 2026 • 1h 44min
How to Build a Strong Core & Abs
Clear breakdown of core versus abs and which muscles actually matter. A practical 'look, feel, perform' framework for tailoring training goals. Debate on crunches, spinal safety, testing methods, and how to measure progress. Programming tips with a five-step progression, sample weekly plan, and exercise choices by movement pattern. Guidance for aesthetics, performance, and back-health priorities.
1,115 snips
Apr 16, 2025 • 2h 9min
Enhance Your Physical & Mental Resilience (HRV, Respiratory Rate, RHR)
Discover how to gain control over your nervous system and enhance both physical and mental resilience. Learn about heart rate variability, breathing techniques, and the three I's—Investigate, Interpret, and Intervene. Explore methods to increase stress tolerance, including cold exposure and structured breathwork. Dive into the significance of desensitization and HRV biofeedback to improve your overall well-being. Plus, find out how personal data can guide your interventions for peak performance.
466 snips
Apr 9, 2025 • 2h 10min
Jill Miller: Increase Flexibility & Relieve Pain with Breathwork & Myofascial Release
In this conversation with Jill Miller, a fascia expert and breathwork instructor, listeners delve into the significance of fascia for flexibility and movement. They explore the power of self-myofascial release techniques like foam rolling, discussing its benefits for pain relief and improved mobility. Jill shares insights on managing chronic pain through breathwork and emphasizes the importance of the diaphragm in overall health. With practical tips for all ages, this discussion is a must for anyone looking to enhance body awareness and recovery.
521 snips
Apr 2, 2025 • 2h 32min
Dr. Michael Ormsbee: Food Timing, Nutrition & Supplements for Fat Loss, Muscle Growth & Recovery
Dr. Michael Ormsbee, a nutrition and integrative physiology professor at Florida State University, shares his expertise in exercise physiology and supplementation. He discusses the effects of pre-sleep nutrition on fat metabolism and muscle growth, debunking myths about late-night eating. The importance of resistance training for weight management is emphasized, alongside insights into protein intake and lesser-known supplements like betaine and butyrate. Listeners will learn how to tailor nutrition for enhanced athletic performance and recovery.
519 snips
Mar 26, 2025 • 1h 57min
Dr. Allison Brager: Improve Sleep Efficiency & Resilience
In this conversation with Dr. Allison Brager, an active-duty Army neuroscientist, listeners dive deep into the science of sleep resilience in extreme conditions like Antarctica and space. They explore how circadian rhythms affect performance, especially in sports, and the critical differences in sleep between men and women. Dr. Brager shares practical strategies for improving sleep through nutrition, light exposure, and even naps, emphasizing the importance of understanding individual chronotypes for better performance and well-being.
297 snips
Mar 19, 2025 • 1h 50min
Strength Training for Kids & Building Lifelong Movement Skills
This discussion delves into the vital role of strength training for kids, particularly in combatting childhood obesity and promoting mental health. The host debunks common myths about resistance training, emphasizing its numerous benefits. Key concepts like the three I’s—investigate, interpret, and intervene—for enhancing movement abilities are introduced. The risks of early sports specialization and the importance of enjoyable physical activity are highlighted, along with practical tips for fostering lifelong fitness and healthy habits in children.
725 snips
Mar 12, 2025 • 2h 19min
Dr. Herman Pontzer: How We Really Burn Calories & Lose Weight
Dr. Herman Pontzer, a Duke University professor specializing in evolutionary anthropology and human bioenergetics, unpacks the mysteries of energy expenditure. He shares fascinating insights from his research on hunter-gatherer societies, revealing surprising similarities in calorie burn compared to sedentary lifestyles. Pontzer challenges misconceptions about the roles of exercise and diet in weight management, emphasizes the complexity of metabolic processes, and discusses how pregnancy impacts energy needs, reshaping our understanding of health and metabolism.
