WHOOP Podcast

Heart rate variability (HRV) is one of the most powerful metrics for understanding your recovery and resilience. In this week’s episode of the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance and Principal Scientist Dr. Kristen Holmes and WHOOP Staff Research Scientist Dr. Greg Grosicki explain what HRV actually measures and what it indicates about the health of your autonomic nervous system. They unpack the biggest factors that influence HRV, including sleep consistency, hydration, training load, psychological stress, alcohol, and illness. You'll learn how to use HRV as a practical guide to balance stress and recovery, identify which ha...

Women's health has long been underserved by research, leaving many women without the information they need to understand their own bodies. On this week’s episode of the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance and Principal Scientist Dr. Kristen Holmes sits down with Dr. Elina Berglund Scherwitzl, Co-Founder & CEO of Natural Cycles° and Nobel Prize-winning particle physicist. The conversation explores how data is transforming women's reproductive health.

After helping discover the Higgs boson, Dr. Berglund Scherwitzl turned her expertise in physics and data science toward her own health journey by creating the world's first and onl...

After reaching nearly 300 pounds, WHOOP Member Daniel Day committed to changing his life, turning WHOOP to give him the guidance he needed. On this week’s episode of the WHOOP Podcast WHOOP Staff Research Scientist Dr. Greg Grosicki sits down with Daniel to discuss his unique journey to optimize his health using WHOOP. After ultimately losing more than 125 pounds through sustainable lifestyle changes, endurance training, and a relentless focus on long-term health, Daniel decided to challenge himself to complete a Half Ironman. Daniel shares how WHOOP became an essential part of that transformation, providing the accountability, and daily insights th...

On this episode, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance and Principal Scientist, Dr. Kristen Holmes sits down with exercise scientist Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple for a refreshing, evidence-based conversation that cuts through some common myths in fitness. Together, Dr. Holmes and Dr. Colenso-Semple unpack how social media has fueled misinformation around hormones, menopause, menstrual cycles, strength training, and recovery.

Dr. Colenso-Semple challenges popular narratives around cycle syncing, hormone optimization, and sex-specific training. The episode makes the case that while men and women are biologically different, the fundamental principles of building strength, improving fitness, and maintaining health are remarkably...

Welcome back to the WHOOP Podcast’s Science of Human Performance Series! On this week’s episode, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance and Principal Scientist, Dr. Kristen Holmes, sits down with WHOOP SVP of Research, Algorithms, and Data, Emily Capodilupo, to explore the science behind the WHOOP Recovery Score. Emily explains the progression of the recovery algorithm, from the company’s origin to the supporting research that supports it today. Dr. Holmes and Emily identify the key metrics, like heart rate variability, resting heart rate, and sleep performance, that impact your recovery the most. Each physiological signal tracked by WHO...

Welcome Back to the WHOOP Podcast's Science of Human Performance Series! This week, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance and Principal Scientist Dr. Kristen Holmes sits down with WHOOP SVP of Research, Algorithms, and Data Emily Capodilupo for a deep dive into the science behind the WHOOP Sleep Score and the habits that have the biggest impact on restorative sleep.

Emily explains why sleep consistency is one of the strongest predictors of performance, recovery, and long-term health, and walks through the four metrics that make up your WHOOP Sleep Score: sleep duration, consistency, efficiency, and sleep stress...

Welcome back to the WHOOP Podcast How To Series! This week, Global Head of Human Performance Principal Scientist Dr. Kristen Holmes sits down with double-board certified physician, nutritionist, and gut health expert Dr. Amy Shah to teach you how to fix your gut through nutrition and lifestyle behaviors. Gut health is essential for energy, recovery, and immunity, making it a critical component for overall health and longevity. Dr. Shah reveals the powerful connection between gut health, hormones, and brain function, along with the tools and framework you need to impact your overall performance. The conversation dives into science-backed strategies...

Welcome to the Science of Human Performance Series where we are breaking down the key metric for you to improve your fitness. This week, we’re unpacking Strain with WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance, Principal Scientist Dr. Kristen Holmes and WHOOP Staff Research Scientist Dr. Greg Grosicki. Together, Dr. Holmes and Dr. Grosicki explore how both cardiovascular and musculoskeletal load are taken into account when measuring a member’s daily strain to help balance training, recovery, and build long-term fitness. The conversation explains the influence of WHOOP Strain on overall fitness goals, from improving fitness to supporting weight mana...

Fertility is often misunderstood. On this episode of the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP SVP of Research, Algorithms, and Data Emily Capodilupo sits down with board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, fertility specialist, and OB-GYN Dr. Lucky Sekhon to separate fact from fiction when it comes to fertility and hormonal health.

Together, they explore the real science behind fertility, hormone health, menstrual cycles, sleep, stress, exercise, nutrition, and aging. Dr. Sekhon explains why fertility is deeply connected to overall health, debunks common myths about birth control and conception, and shares what everyone needs to understand about reproductive health.

Whether you're...

In this episode of the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Founder and CEO, Will Ahmed sits down with world-record-holding freediver Alexey Molchanov to explore the extraordinary physical and mental demands of freedriving and the importance of breath work for nervous system regulation. Alexey shares how he developed the ability to dive more than 130 meters in a single breath and the mindset required to remain calm under extreme pressure. He breaks down the breathing techniques, meditation practices, and training methods that help him lower his heart rate, improve recovery, and perform at the highest level. The conversation also covers resilience after failure...

In this episode, Emily Capodilupo sits down with gerontologist, leadership coach, and author of The Middlescence Manifesto Barbara Waxman to explore the powerful idea of “middlescence” — a transformative stage of life between young and late adulthood. Together, they unpack why midlife isn’t a crisis, but an opportunity for reinvention, alignment, and growth. Listeners will learn how mindset, purpose, relationships, and joy directly impact an individual’s healthspan and longevity. Emily and Barbara share the best strategy to use wearable data as a tool for self-awareness rather than self-judgment. This conversation is full of practical insights on flourishing at every age...

On this week’s episode of the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance, Principal Scientist Dr. Kristen Holmes welcomes Happiness Expert and Yale Professor Dr. Laurie Santos to explore what makes humans happy. This science-backed conversation looks at the key mindset, habits and behaviors that drive a person’s happiness, beyond chasing achievements. Dr. Santos shares the information you need to create lasting joy and quiet negative emotions when they arise. Each practical tool shared in this episode will help to overcome stress, perfectionism and create the self-compassion needed to truly improve your everyday life. 

(00:35) Insid...

This week on the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Founder and CEO Will Ahmed welcomes TV Personality, Entrepreneur, and Endurance Athlete Spencer Matthews for a candid conversation about transformation, resilience, and pushing human limits. Spencer reflects on his early life, struggles with alcohol and fame, and the turning point that led him to prioritize health, discipline, and purpose. Through endurance challenges like running 30 marathons in 30 days and completing 7 Ironman competitions in 7 continents over 21 days, Matthews shares how consistency, mindset, and self-belief can unlock extraordinary performance. The episode blends personal storytelling with insights on recovery, training, and mental toughness, highlighting how intentional...

In this episode of the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP SVP of Research, Algorithms, and Data Emily Capodilupo sits down with Renowned Cardiologist Dr. Mia Chorney and AI Entrepreneur Susan Sly to explore how AI is transforming women’s health– specifically for women going through perimenopause and menopause. Drawing from personal experiences and clinical expertise, this episode unpacks why millions of women are dismissed or misdiagnosed throughout their perimenopause and menopause journey. Dr. Mia Chorney and Susan Sly explain the science behind hormonal changes, and how data, wearables, and AI can provide better support and earlier intervention. The conversation highlights the powe...

On this month’s episode of the WHOOP Podcast Longevity series, WHOOP SVP of Research, Algorithms, and Data Emily Capodilupo sits down with Google Deepmind AI Researcher Vivek Natarajan to explore how large language models are transforming healthcare and biomedical research. Emily and Vivek discuss AI’s potential to both accelerate scientific discovery, such as developing new treatments and understanding diseases, and expand access to care globally by delivering medical guidance more equitably. The episode examines how AI can augment, rather than replace, doctors by improving diagnostics, increasing efficiency, and enabling more personalized care, while highlighting the importance of trus...

In this episode of the WHOOP Podcast How To Series, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance and Principal Scientist, Dr. Kristen Holmes, sits down with renowned longevity expert, Dr. Darshan Shah, to break down how to maximize longevity. The episode focuses on what truly drives healthspan, drawing from Dr. Shah’s own experience as a trauma surgeon. Dr. Shah explains why most chronic diseases are preventable and reversible and why lasting change comes from mastering the fundamentals: sleep quality, daily movement, nutrition, stress management, and consistent data tracking. The conversation explores key biomarkers, the dangers of sedentary living, the ro...

In this episode of the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Founder and CEO Will Ahmed sits down with Quest Diagnostics CEO Jim Davis to discuss the partnership behind WHOOP Advanced Labs. Will and Jim discuss how combining blood biomarkers with continuous physiological data is reshaping consumer health. Will and Jim explore how trends in metrics like cholesterol, glucose, sleep, and recovery can drive more personalized, actionable insights and help shift healthcare from reactive to preventative. Jim shares his personal approach to health tracking, Quest's vision for democratizing lab testing, and leadership lessons from running a 50,000+ employee organization. Jim gets candid about...

This week on the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP SVP of Research Algorithms and Data Emily Capodilupo sits down with best-selling author, military test fighter pilot, and former Airforce Chief of AI Test and Operations, Tucker “Cinco”  Hamilton. Tucker shares his experience operating at the edge of human performance – from life-or-death situations in the cockpit to navigating the future of AI development, he breaks down why it's essential to unlock elite performance. Tucker presents his idea behind tapping into your “last 20%”, marking the difference between good performance and fulfilled performance to unlock strong clarity, purpose, and character. Emily and Tucker break down the ev...

On this week’s episode of the WHOOP Podcast, the WHOOP Research Series continues, sharing science-backed habits to help you improve your golf game. WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance, Principal Scientist Dr. Kristen Holmes and WHOOP Staff Research Scientist Dr. Greg Grosicki break down the groundbreaking new research linking recovery, sleep, and biometrics to the real-world performance of elite golfers. Drawing from one of the largest datasets in WHOOP research history, including 35,000+ nights of sleep data from 389 professional tour-level golfers, Dr. Holmes and Dr. Grosicki reveal how small improvements to sleep and recovery can translate to improved golf pe...

On this episode of the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Founder & CEO Will Ahmed sits down with comedian Bert Kreischer for a candid and light-hearted conversation on how “the average guy” uses WHOOP. Bert shares his personal experience as a long-time WHOOP wearer, how it helped to improve his health and fitness journey despite spending months on tour. From prioritizing longevity habits like weightlifting, sauna, cold plunge, and optimizing sleep habits, to still allowing himself to party and live life fully, this episode blends comedy with real talk about balance and what it actually means to get healthier.

(01:03) Bert Krei...

On this month’s episode of the WHOOP Podcast How To Series, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance, Principal Scientist Dr. Kristen Holmes sits down with renowned neuroscientist and author of The Stimulated Mind Dr. Tommy Wood. Dr. Holmes and Dr. Wood share the key habits to “future-proof” your brain against dementia, ensuring you stay sharp throughout all stages of life. Dr. Wood highlights the importance of activating your brain, outside of the monotonous routine of daily life through exercise, learning a language or instrument, or picking up a new hobby. This episode will provide you with the key tools...

In this month’s episode of the WHOOP Podcast Longevity Series, Emily Capodilupo sits down with physician, entrepreneur, and AI educator Dr. Trishan Panch to explore what artificial intelligence actually means for the future of medicine. From ICU algorithms to everyday primary care, Emily and Dr. Panch unpack why the healthcare system is structurally built for acute rescue rather than prevention and how AI, wearables, and continuous monitoring could fundamentally shift that model. Dr. Panch presents what it would take to responsibly integrate AI tools into clinical care, and how technology might finally make proactive, personalized health scalable. But th...

This week, WHOOP Founder and CEO Will Ahmed welcomes designer Samuel Ross, back to the WHOOP Podcast to unveil Project Terrain, the new collection built to elevate your performance. From technical Italian and Japanese fabrics to architectural steel clasps and reflective detailing, Samuel shares how function, endurance, and silhouette drive every decision. Together, Will and Samuel explore each of the pieces of the collection, diving into the intent that went into the creation of each. Whether its the perforation of the fabrics, the logo detailing, or material finishing, each detail of this collection was thoughtfully created to reimagine performance...

Welcome back to the WHOOP Advanced Labs series! This week on the WHOOP Podcast, Dr. Hazel Wallace, medical doctor, registered nutritionist, and member of the WHOOP Medical Advisory Board, joins WHOOP SVP of Research Algorithms and Data Emily Capodilupo for a powerful conversation about women’s health, nutrition, and the hormonal milestones that shape our lives.

From the reality that most medical research is based on male bodies to the overlooked nutritional needs of women across the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, and beyond, Dr. Wallace breaks down what women actually need to thrive. Emily and Dr. Wallace explore co...

Welcome to the WHOOP Research Series, where we breakdown into the extensive, scientific research conducted by the WHOOP Performance Science team. On this week’s episode, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance, Principal Scientist, Dr. Kristen Holmes sits down with WHOOP Senior Research Scientist Dr. Greg Grosicki to unpack the latest WHOOP Research Study on Heart Rate Variability Coefficient of Variation or HRV-CV. Using data from 21,000+ WHOOP members and 2 million nights of sleep, Dr. Holmes and Dr. Grosicki reveal why day-to-day stability in your HRV may matter more than the number itself. HRV-CV proves to outperform traditional metrics in de...

On this months edition of The WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP SVP of Research, Algorithms, and Data Emily Capodilupo sits down with longevity researcher, bioethicist, Scholar in Residence at the American Federation for Aging Research, Dr. Raiany Romanni-Klein to explore how society should be handling aging.

Dr. Romanni-Klein breaks down why aging may be the most underfunded and misunderstood driver of suffering in modern society, and why treating it as a solvable biological problem could transform our economy, healthcare system, and future. From the ethics of longevity to the policy failures slowing innovation, Dr. Rommani-Klein explains that extending healthspan...

In this month’s edition of the How To Series, WHOOP Founder & CEO Will Ahmed sits down with one of the world’s most dominant cyclists, Mathieu van der Poel. Will and van der Poel sit down to unpack how to perform across disciplines, sustain longevity in elite-level sport, and embrace suffering for greatness. 

Van der Poel shares his training philosophy, what motivates him to push through the toughest moments of a race, and how he uses WHOOP data to optimize recovery. From sleep habits, to caffeine consumption, to strength training, and key recovery habits, van der Poel...

This week, on the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Founder & CEO Will Ahmed sits down with 23-time gold medalist, Michael Phelps. Michael opens up about his experience coming up as a swimmer, reflecting on impactful changes that could benefit the sports future successes. Michael shares personal stories from his career, revealing the areas athletes can improve upon in order to break records on the world’s biggest stage. Beyond competition, Will and Michael dive deep into recovery, sleep, and the power of data, assessing how small biometrics guided Michael’s training at the highest level and how WHOOP is changing how athl...

The WHOOP Podcast Longevity Series is back! This week, WHOOP SVP of Research, Algorithms, and Data, Emily Capodilupo sits down with Dr. Ami Bhatt, renowned cardiologist, Chief Innovation Officer at the American College of Cardiology, and Chair of the Digital Health Advisory Committee. Dr. Bhatt offers a rare, inside look at how medicine, technology, and policy are coming together to enhance the future of healthcare. From wearables to AI to patient agency and clinician training, this conversation unpacks what it takes to modernize healthcare. Dr. Bhatt shares her personal journey from practicing cardiologist to national innovation leader, highlighting the...

This week on the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Founder & CEO Will Ahmed, sits down with Samuel Ross, Global Creative Director, WHOOP x SR_A, for an exploration of design, performance, and purpose. Drawing from his formative years, creative partnership with Virgil Abloh, and work shaping some of the world’s most influential brands, Samuel reflects on how creativity, physical discipline, and narrative converge to define modern culture. Will and Samuel explore creativity, discipline, and storytelling and reveal how intentional design can shape not only products, but the way we live and perform.

Join the waitlist!

(00:46) Samuel Ro...

On this episode of the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Founder and CEO Will Ahmed sits down with Global Music Star, Niall Horan, for a candid conversation about fame, creativity, and staying grounded. From auditioning for the hit show X Factor to navigating One Direction’s rapid rise, Niall reflects on gratitude, pressure, and what it really feels like to perform in front large audiences around the world.

Niall shares his experience with the reality of songwriting, building a life beyond music through golf and entrepreneurship, and how WHOOP helps his routine and recovery to stay sharp on tour. Th...

Welcome back to the WHOOP Podcast! To kick off the New Year, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance, Principal Scientist, Dr. Kristen Holmes, sits down with 2x HYROX World Champion, Meg Martin. Meg joins the WHOOP Podcast to share what it really takes to push your physical and mental limits—without burning out. Meg shares how a childhood in gymnastics and sports aerobics built her discipline, why most people overdo intensity in their workouts, and how she and her husband balance elite performance with a focus on recovery and longevity. Meg and Dr. Holmes dives into sickness, travel, immune re...

We had an incredible year on the WHOOP Podcast and to celebrate we’re looking back on some of the conversations that inspired us, challenged us, and helped us better understand what it means to perform at our peak. This year, we sat down with world-class thought leaders, athletes, and creators – each sharing lessons on health, mindset, and the science of human potential. 

From Olympic gold medalists and Grand Slam champions to cardiologists, nutrition scientists, and happiness experts, this Best of 2025 episode brings together the most powerful insights shared on the podcast this year. Will Ahmed, Dr. Krist...

This week on the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance, Principal Scientist, Dr. Kristen Holmes sits down with dual-sport national team athlete and exercise physiologist Dr. Heather Logan-Sprenger. The two take a deep dive into one of the most underrated and often forgotten about habits for human performance: hydration.

Dr. Logan-Sprenger shares how growing up in Northern Ontario, watching her dad water flowers and her cat grow winter fur, quietly planted the seeds for a lifelong fascination with physiology, stress, and adaptation. From competing for Team Canada in both ice hockey and road cycling to...

This week on the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance, Principal Scientist, Dr. Kristen Holmes sits down with fitness entrepreneur and creator of WeGlow, Stef Williams. The two discuss building an empowering global community, navigating endometriosis, redefining movement, and Stef’s pregnancy journey. Stef opens up about her path from athlete to influencer, the realities of running multiple businesses, her evolving relationship with health and mindset, and how intentional lifestyle choices helped her reclaim her wellbeing. This episode highlights the power of a positive mindset, training, and understanding your body to feel stronger, more connected to your he...

On this week’s episode of the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance Principal Scientist, Dr. Kristen Holmes and WHOOP SVP of Research, Algorithms and Data, Emily Capodilupo sit down to give you an exclusive look into the WHOOP 2025 Year in Review. Emily and Dr. Holmes share the numerous features released by WHOOP this year, including WHOOP Age and Healthspan, advances in AI and WHOOP Coach capabilities, WHOOP Advanced Labs, and more – all in the effort to add 1 billion healthy years to WHOOP member’s lives. 

Emily and Dr. Holmes give an inside look into the dev...

On this week’s episode of the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance, Principal Scientist, Dr. Kristen Holmes sits down with Rachel Otto, the first female operator of the United States Secret Service Counter Assault Team. Rachel recounts her journey from playing Division I volleyball at The Citadel, to her experience in law enforcement, becoming a federal agent in New York City, and protecting various heads of state. Rachel shares what it takes to protect the President and Vice President, from maintaining elite readiness for split-second decision making to managing sleep consistency across time zones. Dr. Holmes an...

On this month's edition of the WHOOP Podcast How To Series, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance, Principal Scientist, Dr. Kristen Holmes sits down with Registered Sports Dietician, Angie Asche to explore what it really means to fuel for performance as an athlete. Angie has worked with a variety of professional athletes in the MLB, NHL and more, optimizing their nutrition habits to perform at their peak.

Angie outlines the importance of prioritizing the three macronutrients – carbohydrates, proteins, and fats – and how to ensure you’re getting the right amount of each. This episode dives into why the ti...

On this week’s episode of the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP SVP of Research, Algorithms, and Data Emily Capodilupo sits down with Dr. Angela Holliday-Bell, physician and certified sleep specialist, to discuss the importance of sleep training from infancy to adulthood. Dr. Holliday-Bell explains how building consistent sleep habits supports long-term health by reducing risks like cardiovascular disease, anxiety, and depression, while also improving daily energy, focus, and creativity. Dr. Holliday-Bell shares her insights from her own experience sleep training her infant and breaks down the variety of methods parents can use to help their children sleep through the night. Em...

This week on the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Founder and CEO, Will Ahmed, sits down with 3x Olympic Gold Medalist, Aly Raisman to discuss the ins and outs of Aly’s gymnastics career. Aly opens up about her experience training, the intense pressures of elite competition, and how it took a toll on her body. Through her experience with burnout and anxiety, Aly shares the lessons she’s learned about recovery, self-care and taking care of her body and mind. Will and Aly go through Aly’s top WHOOP journal behaviors that help her feel recovered, such as gardening, learning, and ti...