Fast Talk
463 episodes — Page 1 of 10
423: Potluck Discussion – Heat Training, Back Pain, and Grant’s Big Crash
422: The Science of Power Meters, with Stages Cycling’s Pat Warner
421: Fast Chats — What Differentiates Cycling’s Greats, and New Research on the Causes of Overtraining Syndrome
420: Cycling Race Craft and Tactics with Chris Horner
419: How to Lose Weight in Season Without Hurting Performance
418: Potluck Discussion – When Racing Data Doesn’t Match Training, Muscle Memory, and Just How Much Aerodynamics Have Changed Cycling
Ep 417417: What Makes the Pedal Stroke So Unique, and Why Strength Training Is So Important
Functional training expert Dr. Stacey Brickson joins us to explain why no other sport movement is like the pedal stroke and, more importantly, why that requires doing additional strength work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 416416: Setting the Example for Youth Development with NICA
NICA serves all juniors, from future Olympians to kids borrowing their neighbor's bike. We talk with two leaders at NICA about how they balance serving riders of all levels. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 415415: The 5 Most Important Things to Know About Nutrition
We distilled decades of experience into the most impactful nutrition concepts for athletes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 414414: Fast Chats — Navigating Complex Injuries, and Evidence that Hormonal Changes Don’t Degrade Performance
We discuss how to find solutions when you’re dealing with injuries without an obvious cause, then we review new research that demonstrates that changes in progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone do not negatively impact performance in males or females. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 413413: The Critical Roles of Inflammation, the Immune System, and the Gut in Performance, with Dr. Fred Chaleff
A healthy gut and appropriate inflammation are critical to our training, but finding the right balance is challenging. Cardiologist Dr. Fred Chaleff discusses the ways we can all find equilibrium. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 412412: Zwift’s Next Chapter in Training and Racing
Zwift revolutionized indoor training, but they didn’t stop there. We talk with Nick Kalkounis and Ryan Cooper about both the history and future of Zwift’s innovations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 411411: Dissecting Training Zones with Siren Seiler and Dr. Stephen Seiler
Based on their recent research article, the Seilers discuss the proliferation of training zone systems and compare them to the highly touted Norwegian five-zone model. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 410410: Exploring the New UCI Consensus Statement on Supplements
Some of the top sports physiologists in the world, led by Dr. Louise Burke just wrote the UCI’s position on supplements. Lead author Jamie Whitfield joins us to discuss their recommendations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 409409: Fast Chats – New Research Challenging Whether We Should Do Efforts on Our Long Base Rides
Purists say never do efforts on long base rides, but recent research is challenging whether a few efforts really do any harm. More importantly, can doing some neuromuscular work help? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 408408: Potluck Discussion - The Value of Average Power, Sustaining What Works Season to Season, and Our VO2max Ceiling
In this week’s potluck episode, we discuss when and how to best use average power from our rides, whether there’s a ceiling to our VO2max capacity, and how we can replicate success from season to season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 407407: Reclaiming Success Through Mattering, Connection, and Purpose in Competitive Sports, with Sonya Looney
Mattering is the experience of adding value and feeling valued, both to the self and interpersonally. It's the feeling of being seen, heard, valued, and needed. It's a psychological need and a human instinct, but is rarely discussed in performance contexts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 406406: Tech vs. Wild – How Augmented Reality, GPS, and Other Technologies Are Reshaping the Way We Adventure, with Chris Burkard
Technology has penetrated deep into the wilds of the world, be it with GPS, satellite communications, drones, or other forms of gadgetry. Adventure photographer and endurance athlete Chris Burkard breaks down how tech is impacting our wild sides. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 405405: Top Coaches Share Strategies on Base Training with Limited Time
The truth about base training for time-crunched cyclists—what to cut, what to keep, and what actually moves the needle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 404404: How Much Protein Do Endurance Athletes Need?
One of the Top Experts in the world on protein joins us to talk about why athletes need protein and whether we’re getting too much or too little. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 403403: Celebrating American Cycling Success in 2025, with Jim Miller
Across cycling disciplines, American riders male and female had exceptional success. USA Cycling’s Chief of Sports Performance details the highlights, addresses . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 402402: Fast Chats - Which Nutrition Gadgets are Worthwhile, Plus Health Impacts of Caffeine and Carbs
Athletes can now perform sweat analysis, check skin temperature, and monitor insulin in the field. But should they? We review the latest in nutrition technologies. We also talk about the potential adverse impacts of carbohydrates and caffeine on our health. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 401401: The Further Initiative — What Female Ultra Research Is Teaching Us About Fueling, Recovery, and Performance
This episode highlights the Further Initiative — a groundbreaking research project on female ultra-endurance athletes conducted in partnership with Lululemon and the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 400400: The Past, Present, and Future of Sport Science with Drs. Louise Burke, Stephen Seiler, and Iñigo Mujika
For our 400th episode we invited three of the most prominent names in exercise physiology to discuss where we are and where we’re going in endurance sports science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 399399: Potluck Discussion - Is There a Ceiling, Value of Wintering, and Alternative Training
In this week’s potluck episode, we discuss whether there is a true ceiling to our potential, whether there’s a value in “wintering” or taking time off, and what cross training our hosts recommend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 398398: Creating Nutritional Training Plans, with MetPro’s Angelo Poli
As athletes, we understand the need for training plans, but have you ever considered applying the same principles to your nutrition? This episode discusses how it’s done. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 395397: Fast Chats: Rethinking Injury Risk and Longevity—Evidence That Defies Convention
Two new studies challenge common assumptions: intensity may matter more than volume for healthy aging, and triathlete injury patterns aren’t what most coaches would predict. We unpack what this means for training prescription, and why neuromuscular and strength work belong in every plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 396396: Neck Pain in Cyclists - Mechanics, Fit, and Clinical Insight
Experts in medicine, biomechanics, and physical therapy join Dr. Griffin McMath and Trevor Connor to decode the causes of neck pain in cyclists and the strategies that keep athletes strong, steady, and pain-free over the long haul. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 395395: The Difference Between Efficiency and Economy, and Why You Should Care
Dr. Ray Browning joins us to answer a question that even some exercise physiologists get wrong: what is the difference between efficiency and economy? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 394394: Teaching Parents to Better Support Their Child-Athletes
We talk with Dr. Jennifer Harris about the critical role that parents play in junior athlete development, and why that role is too often ignored or left undefined. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 393393: Fast Chats - How Endurance Athletes Cope with Pain
We unpack what pain really means in endurance sport and how ultra-athletes use interoception, mindset, and adaptive coping (vs. maladaptive spirals) to finish stronger—less suffering, more control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 392392: Potluck Discussion - Altitude Downsides, Fatigue Weeks with Limited Time, and the Auto-Pause Debate
In this week’s potluck episode, we discuss whether there are issues with coming down from altitude, how to do a fatigue week with limited time, and whether or not to use auto-pause. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 391391: How to Use Physiological Data to Determine the Work You Should Do
Physiologist Jared Berg talks with us about how he uses both in-lab and on-the-road testing to determine what type of work an athlete should focus on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 390390: Exploring the Mindset and Training of America’s Most Accomplished Nordic Skier, Jessie Diggins
No American skier has rewritten the record books like Jessie Diggins. She’s figured out how to take down the Norwegians at their strongest sport—and she shares how she did it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 389389: Fast Chats - Should We Be Reconsidering Zone 2 Training
Zone 2 training has become all the rage, but a 2025 review is taking a step back and questioning whether it really produces the gains we thought it does. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 384388: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Trends in Training Software
TrainingPeaks CEO, Lee Gerakos, joins us to discuss the current trends in training software and where he thinks they are going. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 387387: Preparing for Cyclocross Race Day, with Adam Myerson
Cyclocross veteran Adam Myerson shares the essential race-day strategies—covering equipment, course inspection, warm-up, nutrition, and tactics—that can make or break your season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 386386: The Psychological Impact of Overtraining
We talk with Dr. Kristen Dieffenbach about the psychological indicators of overtraining, which can often be the more dynamic signs for athletes and coaches to look for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 385385: Potluck Discussion - Fatigue Training, Impact of Pregnancy, and Athlete Parents
In this week’s potluck episode, we discuss the value of training fatigued, how to support a pregnant athlete, and what we can learn from parents who are professional athletes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 384384: The State of Gravel Racing, with Alexey Vermeulen and Ben Delaney
We’re joined by the Michigan-born gravel racer and the longtime cycling journalist to explore the good, the bad, and the ugly of gravel racing and riding in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 380383: Longevity and Biomarkers of Performance
In this episode, we take a critical look at the longevity movement and explore the most valuable—yet elusive—biomarkers for athletes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 382382: Can We Resurrect the American Road Race Scene?
Leipheimer talks with our team about how a new racing model used at the Levi Fondo may be the future of domestic racing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 381381: The Synergistic Power of Training Your Brain, with Dr. Scott Frey
We’re joined by neuroscientist Dr. Scott Frey as we explore the effects of mental fatigue and brain endurance training on performance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 380380: Durability: The Fourth Pillar of Aerobic Fitness
Coaches have known about the importance of durability for years, but researchers are only just starting to catch up. We discuss why it is the fourth pillar of performance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 379379: Why Researchers, Coaches, and Athletes Need to Work Closely Together
We talk with Dr. Michael Kennedy about his work trying to bridge the knowledge-practice gap between researchers and practitioners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
378: Potluck Discussion - Lessons Learned, Comparing Intervals, and Is All Base the Same?
In this week’s potluck episode, we discuss lessons learned from big events, the difference between over-under's and true HIIT intervals, and whether all base training is made equal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
377: When Is Our Interval Work Too Much?
Brent Bookwalter talks with us about the importance of balancing physical and mental resources to get our workouts just right. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
376: Too Little Protein? Too Much Sodium?
Two nutritional trends have serious health and performance consequences. We discuss the why, what, and how of protein and sodium intake. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
375: Comparing the Top Nutrition Apps for Endurance Athletes
In this episode, we explore how endurance athletes and coaches are using today’s top nutrition apps—and what to consider before relying on them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 374374: The Impact of AI on Training Prescription, with Dr. Paul Laursen
The world of AI is changing extraordinarily fast. We spoke with Dr. Paul Laursen about the current challenges and developments of the technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices