Perform with Dr. Andy Galpin
This is Perform with Dr. Andy Galpin. Dr. Andy Galpin, a professor and director of the Human Performance Center at Parker University, hosts this podcast. The goal is to help listeners better understand and maximize their physical and mental performance, leveraging his two decades of experience with elite performers including Olympians and world champions. The podcast covers a range of tools, technologies, and strategies designed to help everyone from beginners to record-breakers. It emphasizes that if you have a body, you are an athlete, and encourages listeners to train and recover like one.
Episodes
Female Training, Hormones & Nutrition: Fact vs. Fiction | Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple to examine what the science says about female-specific training and nutrition. We discuss why so little research has historically focused on women, what makes menstrual cycle research so difficult and expensive to run, and what her own dissertation found when she measured muscle protein synthesis across cycle phases. Dr. Colenso-Semple exp
How to Think Clearly in an Age of Distraction | Sam Harris
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Sam Harris to discuss how attention, mindfulness, and clear thinking shape performance. We start by separating intelligence from wisdom, then look at how modern technology is rewiring our attentional capacity — including which tools enhance cognition and which compete with it. Sam walks through three approaches to working with the mind: training concentration,
Intense Exercise & Potential Heart Damage (aka Athlete's Heart)
In this episode, I cover "athlete's heart" — the paradox where the same cardiovascular adaptations that make endurance athletes exceptional can also mimic, and sometimes mask, real risk. I trace the history of what’s now known as exercise-induced cardiovascular remodeling (EICR), and walk through what's actually happening structurally, functionally, and electrically in a trained heart. I separate
Hardship, Resilience & Competing at the Highest Level | Ken Rideout
In this episode, I sit down with Ken Rideout — author, elite masters marathoner, and one of the most compelling people I've ever had on the show — to discuss his journey from a difficult childhood and decade-long opioid addiction to becoming the Masters (50+) Marathon World Champion and winning the Gobi March, a 155-mile self-supported stage race across the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. Ken shares how
Build Mental Toughness & Perform Under Pressure | Dr. Lenny Wiersma
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Lenny Wiersma — one of the most respected and quietly influential figures in sports psychology — for a conversation on what it actually takes to perform when the stakes are highest. A professor for over 25 years and a highly published scientist,
We discuss Alex Honnold's recent skyscraper climb and unpack what's really happening psychologically at the absolut
How to Build a Strong Core & Abs
In this episode, I break down everything you need to know to build a strong core and better-looking abs — and explain why most people are training them wrong. I start by clarifying the difference between "abs" and "core," covering the key muscle groups involved (rectus abdominis, obliques, transverse abdominis, spinal erectors, and more) and debunking the myth that these muscles require uniquely h
Enhance Your Physical & Mental Resilience (HRV, Respiratory Rate, RHR)
In this episode, I explain how to increase your control over your nervous system — not just to manage stress, but to recalibrate your autonomic nervous system for long-term physiological resilience and adaptability. This episode goes beyond basic stress management techniques to explore how to fine-tune your nervous system, become more stress tolerant, and use your personal data to know exactly whe
Jill Miller: Increase Flexibility & Relieve Pain with Breathwork & Myofascial Release
In this episode, my guest is Jill Miller, a renowned fascia expert and teacher of breathwork practices and self-myofascial release (SMR) to improve mobility, reduce pain, and enhance body awareness. We discuss how fascia—the connective tissue in and around muscles, bones and organs—is essential for flexibility and movement, and we explore how tools like foam rollers, balls, massage and cupping can
Dr. Michael Ormsbee: Food Timing, Nutrition & Supplements for Fat Loss, Muscle Growth & Recovery
My guest is Dr. Michael Ormsbee, Ph.D., a professor of nutrition and integrative physiology and the director of the Institute of Sports Sciences and Medicine at Florida State University. We explore how pre-sleep nutrition affects fat metabolism, muscle growth, performance, and recovery, while helping individuals meet their daily protein goals without causing weight gain. We discuss what to eat at
Dr. Allison Brager: Improve Sleep Efficiency & Resilience
In this episode, my guest is Dr. Allison Brager, Ph.D., an active-duty Army neuroscientist whose research focuses on physiological resilience in extreme stress environments such as Antarctica and outer space. We discuss how sleep is impacted in these harsh conditions and the broader concept of sleep resilience, which is crucial for athletes, military personnel, and anyone with demanding personal o
Strength Training for Kids & Building Lifelong Movement Skills
In this episode, I discuss the importance of exercise, specifically strength training, for kids. With growing concerns over childhood obesity, limited opportunities for physical activity in school, decreased outdoor playtime, and reduced sports participation, the lack of physical activity in children poses serious long-term risks to their physical and mental health. I address common myths and misc
Dr. Herman Pontzer: How We Really Burn Calories & Lose Weight
My guest is Dr. Herman Pontzer, Ph.D., a professor of evolutionary anthropology and global health at Duke University, known for his research on human bioenergetics, particularly energy expenditure and the exercise paradox. We discuss his work comparing highly active hunter-gatherer groups to more sedentary cultures, exploring their total energy expenditure and the surprising similarities.
We exam
Jordan Sullivan: Fueling for Sports Performance & Body Composition
In this episode, my guest is Jordan Sullivan, APD, a registered sports dietitian and the founder of The Fight Dietitian (TFD), whose clients include UFC world champions, Olympians, and ultra-endurance athletes. We discuss performance nutrition, focusing on how to strategically use diet and nutrition to optimize an athlete’s physical performance, recovery, and overall health while aligning with the
Enhancing Bone Health at Every Age
Bone health is often dismissed as something only “old people” or postmenopausal women should worry about, but evidence clearly indicates that poor bone health is extremely common—even among young, healthy people, including men. It is also highly preventable and reversible through various lifestyle and other modifiable factors.
In this episode, I explain what bone health actually means; bone loss
Dr. Bret Contreras: How to Build Bigger Glutes & Legs
My guest is Dr. Bret Contreras, PhD, CSCS, a leading expert in glute training. We cover key strategies for maximizing glute growth, explore the anatomy and function of the glutes, and break down effective exercises like the hip thrust.
We discuss how to structure training programs based on individual goals, the importance of prioritizing recovery, and common mistakes that hinder progress. Additio
Dr. Tommy Wood: Enhancing Brain Performance & Preventing Dementia
In this episode, my guest is Dr. Thomas Wood, a UK-trained M.D. with a Ph.D. in physiology and neuroscience. He is a professor of pediatrics and neuroscience at the University of Washington. We discuss how both physical and mental challenges can enhance cognitive function in the short and long term. We also examine the crucial roles of nutrition, sleep, and other lifestyle factors in supporting ov
How to Boost Your Metabolism & Burn Fat
In this episode, I discuss science-supported methods to boost metabolism and maintain sustainable fat loss. I explain the key components of total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) and why some people seem to stay naturally lean with little effort. Using the three I’s—Investigate, Interpret, and Intervene—I explain how to assess your metabolism and make changes to improve it. I describe various behav
Nutrition to Support Brain Health & Offset Brain Injuries
In this episode, I discuss nutrition and supplementation to reduce the risk of brain injury and enhance brain performance and long-term health. Most brain injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBIs) and concussion, are not from sports and are actually quite common in non-athletes. I explain what happens in the brain when a TBI occurs and discuss science-supported nutrients to reduce the risk
How to Use & Interpret Blood Tests for High Performance
In this episode, I discuss blood testing for athletic performance. I explain how performance-based blood testing differs from medical or disease-based blood panels and the pros and cons of blood testing for performance.
I explain how to choose specific blood markers based on your performance goals, scenario, and situation. I also discuss the timing, frequency, and preparation for blood tests to
Genetic Testing for Sports Performance
In this episode, I discuss genetic testing for sports and athletic performance. I describe the history of sports genomics and the search for genes that determine strength, endurance, and other performance markers. I explain how to interpret genetic test results, including how many genes determine a trait, the relative influence of a single gene, and the likelihood that a genetic variant produces n
Avoid Fitness Plateaus, Overtraining & Mis-Timed Performance Peaks
In this episode, I discuss training plateaus, overtraining, and peaking (aka “tapering”) to help you train smart for your goals and effectively use rest to maximize performance.
I discuss training plateaus, the underlying molecular mechanisms that cause plateaus, and how to overcome plateaus by targeting systems and nutrition-based approaches. I describe how overtraining reduces performance, whic
How Lactate & Metabolism Influence Performance
In this episode, I discuss lactate (or “lactic acid”) and its essential roles in metabolism and athletic performance. Lactate is commonly misinterpreted as the waste product responsible for muscle soreness and exercise fatigue. However, I explain why it is produced, how lactate positively affects multiple organ systems, and its critical function in metabolism and as a signaling molecule.
I expla
How to Enhance Performance With Better Sleep
In this episode, I explain how sleep optimization produces a competitive advantage and the many tools available for improving sleep to maximize athletic performance. I explain how sufficient, high-quality sleep enhances speed, accuracy, reaction time, and competition performance and aids in injury recovery. I also describe why most athletes suffer from chronic suboptimal sleep, the athlete’s sleep
Build Muscle Size, Strength & Power With Science-Backed Programs
In this episode, I explain protocols to build muscle hypertrophy (muscle size) and maximize strength and power for athletic performance, health, and longevity. I describe two science-supported programs developed by strength and performance experts that are appropriate for both men and women, no matter the sport or training level background.
I discuss the key training concepts of strength-based pr
How to Improve Your VO2 Max & Build Endurance
In this episode, I explain practical applications for improving your VO2 max and endurance in order to prevent disease, promote longevity, and optimize overall health and performance. I also explain the training fundamentals and methods to consider when developing an endurance training program, such as general conditioning, warm-ups/cool-downs, tissue tolerance and recovery, injury prevention, and
Why Muscle Matters & How to Build It
In this episode, I discuss the essential role of skeletal muscle in health and performance. I explain what skeletal muscle is made of, how it works, and its role as an integral organ system for physical and mental health. I explain how to focus on skeletal muscle quantity (total muscle) and muscle quality (functionality, speed, power, strength) to ensure you function and perform at the highest lev
How & Why to Strengthen Your Heart & Cardiovascular Fitness
In this episode, I discuss the critical importance of building a strong heart and how to do it. I explain why the human body needs to breathe, the importance of cardiorespiratory fitness for sleep and exercise recovery, and its long-term implications for physical health, disease risk, and mortality. I explain how the heart functions, what determines heart rate, why the heart never gets sore, and t
Welcome to Perform with Dr. Andy Galpin
This is Perform with Dr. Andy Galpin.
I'm Dr. Andy Galpin, a professor of kinesiology at California State University, Fullerton.
With this podcast, my goal is to help you better understand and maximize your own physical performance, leveraging my two decades of experience with top-tier performers, including Olympians and world champions across numerous sports. We'll discuss a range of advanced t
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