Dr. Bubbs Performance Podcast

In Season 4, Episode 2, Dr. Bubbs interviews former NFL offensive lineman John Welbourn, who started over 100 games and made 10 play-off appearances appearing in 3 NFC Championship games as a starter for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999-2003 and Kansas City Chiefs from 2004-2007. In this episode, John talks about the transition both physically and mentally from college to the pros and what the state of nutrition was like in the NFL at that time. John shares how his mentorship with Dr. Mauro Di Pasquale had a major influence on his diet and deeply impacted his ability to perform and recover. He also talks about the concussions he experienced while playing, how he helped rehabilitate his cognitive health and the state of brain health in the league today. Finally, John discusses his work in training and performance consulting with professional athletes and elite Navy Seals and military.

In Season 4 Episode 1, Dr. Bubbs interviews Dr. Justin Roberts, PhD, to discuss his recent work contributing to the JISSN position stand on nutritional considerations for single-stage ultra-marathon training and racing. In this episode, Justin highlights the multiple factors influencing the daily caloric and specific protein requirements for ultra-marathoners. He shares his insights on the potential benefits of training with low-carb availability, the role of tryptophan in central fatigue (and potential beneficial effects of BCAA supplementation), race day nutrition strategies and how much to hydrate during competition. Justin also discusses his experience running ultra-marathons and provides practical tips for preparation.

In Season 3, Episode 39, Dr. Bubbs interviews Dr. John Berardi, PhD, co-founder of Precision Nutrition, the world’s largest nutrition coaching, education, and software company. In this episode, John shares the story of how his life was dramatically changed by fitness and a key mentor during his youth. He discusses a career changing moment and describes when he realized his purpose. John also talks about career development, how to level up your skills, and the importance of being honest with yourself about your strengths and passions. He also outlines his new project, the Changemaker Academy.

In Season 3, Episode 38, Dr. Bubbs interviews Steve Ottersberg, MS, a research biochemist to talk all things CBD. In this episode, Scott shares insights The evolutionary background of the endocannabinoid system and the different functions of CB1 and CB2. He also discusses how CBD impact inflammation, the potential for CBD for head trauma and pain in professional sports, as well as the role of omega-6 to omega-3 balance in the endocannabinoid system. Steve talks about how your genes impact CBD function, the various delivery methods of THC and CBD and the evolution of CBD research.

In Season 3, Episode 37, Dr. Bubbs interviews Precision Nutrition Curriculum Director Dr. Krista-Scott Dixon, PhD, to talk about the challenges in the complex world of helping clients integrate nutritional changes. In this episode, Krista shares her insights the neuroscience of childhood development, her stance on male coaches discussing body composition with female athletes, and the line between offering a presence to clients who are suffering and when to recognise that professional support is needed. See full notes at drbubbs.com.

In Season 3, Episode 36 Dr. Bubbs interviews former professional football player Marc Brouillette. In this episode, Brouillette discusses what it was like to transition like from collegiate football in Canada to the pros, if nutrition had a big influence on his regime during his career and his supplementation strategies for performance and recovery. He also shares how much the mental side of the game propelled his performance, the importance of the relationships he built in the league, and the current state of player safety when it comes to head trauma. Finally, Brouillette shifts gears to talk about life after football, his career as a lawyer, and juggling all the demands of career and fatherhood. Terrific insights from a high performer both on and off the field!

In Season 3, Episode 35 Dr. Bubbs interviews Dr. Alan Walker PhD whose research is focused on the effects energy expenditure and workload have on biomarkers in athletes. In this episode, Alan shares his insights on how biomarkers inform athlete stress over a 24-hour period, the difference between specificity and sensitivity when it comes to lab testing, and his research into season-long changes in elite female soccer players. He discusses the ripple effects of pre-season on biomarkers, the delayed-effect seen in athletes, the connection between IL-6, hepcidin and iron status, and shares his ‘big rocks’ for performance nutrition in athletes.

In Season 3, Episode 34 Dr. Bubbs interviews Dr. Tara Swart, MD, PhD. Dr Tara Swart is a neuroscientist, leadership coach, award-winning author and a medical doctor. In this episode Tara shares her insights into how we can become more aware of our unconscious biases, the impact of body language and emotion in communication and how to ‘master’ our emotions. Tara discusses her brain agility model, how fear and failure can act as a trigger for performance, and considers whether you can be really smart and also really emotionally intelligent? Don’t miss this and more.

In Season 3, Episode 33 Dr. Bubbs interviews baseball performance consultant Xan Barksdale. A baseball coach with Team USA and former professional baseball player, Xan shares his sporting background and how training and physical preparation has changed over the last 20 years. He also discusses the key role of off-season training in athletic development, how much is enough, and the potential pitfalls of early sport specialization. Xan also chats nutrition in baseball; current trends he’s seeing in athletes, how supplementation impacts baseball performance and navigating travel nutrition in young athletes. Finally, Xan discusses the importance of mindset in baseball and the evolution of baseball performance in the next 5-10 years.

In Season 3, Episode 32 Dr. Bubbs interviews Ben Kenyon, performance coach with the NBA’s Portland Trailblazers. In this episode, Ben discusses his journey to working in professional sport, the importance of relationships and building up the ‘trust jar’, the value of routine in skill development, and how core values translate to high performance. He also shares his insights on player diets in the NBA, how the players cope with all the travel, and ‘return-to-play’ injury nutrition. Ben also shares how mindset is what separates the best from the rest and shares his thoughts the next frontier in performance.

In Season 3, Episode 31 Dr. Bubbs interviews expert coaches, practitioners and researchers on all things caffeine. Jozo Grgic, PhD(c) kicks things off by sharing his research into the effects of caffeine on resistance training and prof Stu Phillips, PhD the impacts of caffeine supplementation on exercise. From there, Nanci Guest, PhD shares her research in genetics, caffeine metabolism and endurance training, Dr. Eric Helms, PhD talks caffeine, bodybuilding and improving body composition, and Dr. Andrew Chappell, PhD from England shares his research on the caffeine habits of elite British bodybuilders. Lastly, Dr. Ian Dunican, PhD shares his research on the effects of caffeine on sleep in professional rugby players in Australia.

In Season 3, Episode 30 Dr. Bubbs interviews Dr. James Morehen PhD, performance nutritionist with a research background in rugby league and currently working for the English Football Association. In this episode, James discusses the physical demands and athlete profile in elite professional rugby league. He highlights the fundamental fueling strategies in a sport with high caloric demands, potential nutrition ‘gaps’ in elite rugby players, and whether or not polyphenol supplementation improves recovery post-competition. James also shares his insights and experience in developing travel nutrition plans in preparation for international competitions, rapid rehydration strategies and consequences of dehydration in hot climates and where the next greatest gains in performance nutrition will be made.

In Season 3, Episode 29 Dr. Bubbs interviews Dr. Inna Khazan, PhD, BCB a faculty member at Harvard Medical School and a clinical psychologist specializing in health psychology and performance excellence training using biofeedback and mindfulness-based approaches. In this episodes, Dr. Khazan talks about how mindfulness enhances biofeedback and biofeedback enhances mindfulness. She shares research on HRV, and biofeedback and how to find your resonance frequency (RF) rate. Dr. Khazan also discusses how mindfulness meditation and how it literally changes your brain. Finally, she dispels common myths around mindfulness & how emotions – like shame, guilt, anxiety and fear - drive behaviour.

In Season 3 Episode 28 Dr. Bubbs interviews Pratik Patel, Director of Nutrition and Assistant Strength Coach for the NFL's New York Giants. Pratik talks about his circuitous route to working in high performance and his early experience in leading an elite collegiate nutrition program. He also shares his philosophy and strategies on pre-season nutrition and supplementation in the NFL, position specific changes in body composition, and how the nutrition plan may change in-season. Pratik also discusses injury nutrition, ‘cheat days’, and the biggest challenges in building player buy-in with respect to nutrition.

Mind w/ Coach Rejean Chiasson In Season 3, Episode 27 Dr. Bubbs interviews renowned running coach Rejean Chiasson to talk all things running. Coach Rejean shares his journey into elite running and the fundamentals of preparing for a marathon, from beginner to elite. He also shares his insights into planning your training week, balancing volume and intensity in training, and common mistakes made by beginner, intermediate and advanced runners. Coach Rejean also talks about the importance of recovery, fueling during your runs and how his nutrition has changed over the years, as well as the importance of mindset and community in running and life.

In Season 3, Episode 26 Dr. Bubbs interviews renowned exercise physiologist Dr. Andy Sparks PhD. In this episode, Andy shares his passion for expert-generalism, his serendipitous path to research, the early days of high-fat, low-carb pre-exercise fueling in endurance sport, his work in measurement error and why it matters, inter-individual differences in how beetroot juice impacts endurance performance, personalized dosing of sodium bicarb, fueling practices in ultra-endurance athletes and much more!

In Season 3, Episode 24 Dr. Bubbs interviews expert coaches, practitioners and researchers on all things sprinting. Dr. Jas Randhawa and Jason Hettler from renowned Altis share insights on training philosophy, fundamentals and the power of observation. The ‘Sprint Coach’ Derek Hansen talks differences in stride length vs. frequency and why off-season training is crucial for injury prevention. Dr. Chris Bellon PhD shares the ‘Big 4’ tenets of acceleration, strength coach Clance Laylor explains why sprinting is so beneficial in pro hockey players, and Prof. Paul Laursen PhD talks HIIT training and the different types you can aim for in athletes and clients. Check out drbubbs.com/podcast for full episodes.

In Season 3, Episode 24 Dr. Bubbs interviews Dr. Igor Grossman, PhD who discusses his extensive research on wisdom and wise-reasoning. In this episode, Dr. Grossman starts by defining intelligence, wisdom and characteristics of wise-reasoning. He then highlights how social class may predict your ability to reason-wisely, how uncertain environments drive decision making, and how today’s social media world influences how we resolve conflicts with others. Grossman also shares how better wise-reasoning may impact performance in sport, strategies for cultivating more wise-reasoning, and the evolution of the research in this area.

In Season 3, Episode 23 Dr. Bubbs interviews Zach Bitter, American and world record holder in the ultra-marathon. In this episode, Zach shares how he first got into racing, how to build up from marathons to ultra-marathons and how far out you should start training for an ultra. Zach also discusses the importance of building an aerobic base for ultra-marathons, his recent win in the San Diego 100-mile race, and common mistakes made by recreational ultra athletes. Finally, Zach shares his fueling strategy during training and competition, common nutrition pitfalls he sees with clients and what’s next for him on the performance front.

In Season 3, Episode 22 Dr. Bubbs interviews Chris Bishop MS, Senior Lecturer in Strength and Conditioning at the London Sport Institute and current Chairman of the Board of Directors for the UK Strength and Conditioning Association. In this episode, Chris discusses his research in inter-limb asymmetries or differences in strength and power in athletes. He shares current assessment methods to detect asymmetries and how they impact performance in athletes. Chris also talks about the various methods that can be used to correct or limit asymmetries in athletes, as well as whether a ‘threshold’ exists for asymmetries, and when practitioners should address an asymmetry in athletes. Finally, he shares his thoughts on return to play and the evolution of research in athlete asymmetries.