The Real Science of Sport Podcast
Episodes
Beware The Sugar Bonk ! / Tennis' Latest Prodigy / Is Evenepoel Cyclings' Real Deal?
14 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From the young talents of US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz and Tour of Spain champion Remco Evenepoel to the good and the bad of commentators, the team...
SOS SPECIAL: Jenna's Crawl: Tales from an elite ultra runner
08 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Elite ultra runner Jenna Challenor made headlines during the recent 89km (56-mile) Comrades Marathon when she crawled across the finish line on all fo...
Why Humans Are Designed To Run Long / Comrades Marathon Wrap /
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The team take a look at the world of endurance running after the recent Comrades Marathon and discuss why humans are so successful at long distance ru...
How To Breathe Better!
30 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The team speak to cardiopulmonary physiotherapist Samantha Holtzhausen about the role of effective breathing in life and exercise. Holtzhausen explain...
Sniff, Sneeze! The Low Down on Allergies and Sport
24 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From amateur to pro, allergies affect a relatively large proportion of athletes. But the latest treatments and protocols could end the suffering. The ...
Heart Rate And Exercise: Why HR Variability May Be The New Frontier
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How does exercise affect heart rate (HR)? The team discuss everything from HR drift and fatigue to a special interview with Heart Rate Variability (HR...
Tour de France / World Athletics Champs Wrap: Insights & Science
27 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
09:13 - 2022 World Athletics Championships: From suspect timing systems to the accidental super shoe, the biannual celebration of track and field serv...
Patrons Q&A: Heart Rate Zones Explained / The Best Stance For Recovery / TUE's in Pro Sport And More!
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From understanding heart rate zones to the best stance for recovery, the use of TUE's in sport after the Rafael Nadal-Thibaut Pinot controversy and ho...
SPECIAL: How To Hang Tough Like A Royal Marine
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Former Royal Marine, Green Beret and now amateur cyclist Richy Poynter transports us deep into the mindset and training of an elite soldier. From phys...
How Cold Affects Exercise
23 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From the extremes of cold water swimming to how the body loses heat and hyperthermia. The team takes a deep dive into the fascinating physiological ef...
Should Women's Soccer Have Different Rules? / Is African Cycling Finally On The Rise?
15 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The team take on three different subjects in our new segment called 'Caught My Eye." We tackle the subject of how different rules and regulations in w...
EXCLUSIVE: How Adidas Took On Nike In The Shoe Wars
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The team take a critical look at an interview with Simon Lockett, Global Category Director of Running Footwear at adidas. Simon and his team are ...
Doping and the Curious Case of Shelby Houlihan
17 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Excuses for doping are as varied as the drugs available on Amazon (yep, it's that easy!). But what does it take to be a doper? Are authorities winning...
How The Pros Train (And What We Can Learn From It)
21 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From top level cyclists to world-class runners and speedskaters, pro training regimes offer a fascinating look into what it takes to count yourself am...
CYCLING SPECIAL: The Science of Cadence / Van der Poel's Incredible Numbers / Colbrelli's Health Scare
13 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this cycling special, we take a deep dive into the numbers that helped Mathieu van Poel win the Tour of Flanders, why new research on cadence has c...
The Lia Thomas Controversy: Anger in the Age of Trans Gender Sport
24 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Transgender athlete Lia Thomas recently won the 500-yard title at the US National College Swimming (NCAA) Championships triggering an uproar and sugge...
The Future Of The Olympics: Are They Heading For Obscurity?
24 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Viewership figures are down, fewer cities want to host them and their integrity is being seriously challenged. What does the future of the Winter and ...
The Science of Endurance: Fuel & Hydration
15 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Prof. Ross Tucker and sports journalist Mike Finch break down the various forms of energy the body uses, how they work, how we fuel them and when to u...
Winter Olympic Special: The Science of Ice Hockey, Cross Country Skiing and Biathlon
08 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What makes world-class ice hockey players, cross-country skiers or biathletes? We ask two experts to help explain the special set of skills needed to ...
The Science of Endurance
01 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to endurance month! In this episode the team break down the mechanics of endurance, the five challenges that long-distance athletes face, how ...
The Effects of Heat on Exercise
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Season 4 of the Science of Sport Podcast! So what happens to our bodies when the temperatures go up? The team dig into the mechanics of exe...
Bonus episode: Brief thoughts on the Lia Thomas transgender controversy, and a year end salute
16 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this bonus episode, Ross shares brief thoughts on the latest, inevitable and increasingly volatile controversy in the transgender athlete debate. S...
Bonus episode: Facts and fallacies in the trans athlete debate, a conversation with Dr Emma Hilton
26 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this bonus episode, Ross sits down with Dr Emma Hilton, a developmental biologist who has outspokenly defended women's sport and explained the scie...
S3 E27: Why the IOC's Recent Guidelines on Transgender Athletes Raise So Many Questions
17 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently announced controversial new transgender guidelines which could threaten the future of women's sport...
S3 E26: The Coaches: Why Mindset Matters
10 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Responders and non-responders are easily identified but poorly understood. Elite coach and sports scientist John Kiely from the Institute of Coaching ...
S3 E25: Why a Five-Year-Old Premier League Recruit Is Just Madness
03 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Coaching development specialist Stuart Armstrong, of Sport England, discusses the role of sport in childhood development with Prof. Ross Tucker. The t...
S3 E24: Lachlan Morton And The Quest For Cycling Nirvana
27 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Lachlan Morton is an Australian cyclist famous for taking on audacious endurance challenges, including his recent solo 5500km Alt. Tour de France. In ...
S3 E23: Future Champion or Lifelong Athlete? The Coaching Kids Conundrum
19 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Stuart Armstrong has made a career coaching sport and his role at Sport England is to help coach the coaches and make sport and exercise accessible to...
Bonus episode: Should rugby reduce the number of substitutes to lower injury risk
14 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the ongoing debate and discussion about the risk of injury in rugby, many people have suggested that cutting the number of substitutes is the easie...
S3 E22: The Science of Sleep Q&A
12 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this follow-up podcast, sleep science specialist Dr Dale Rae returns to answer all your questions from polyphasic sleeping, eating right for your s...
S3 E21: An All Black Legend on Why Rugby Needs New Contact Guidelines
05 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
All Black legend Conrad Smith, from the International Rugby Players body, talks to Prof. Ross Tucker on World Rugby's newly-released guidelines for co...
Bonus episode: It is time to choose: How a new transgender guidance policy shifts the conversation and demands difficult decisions
01 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The UK Sports Councils have released guidelines on transgender participation in sport, following an exhaustive and comprehensive review process. The t...
S3 E20: THE COACHES: Neal Henderson - Secrets of Physiology and Psychology in Endurance Sport
15 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
American Neal Henderson is one of the most celebrated coaches in endurance sports - particularly triathlon and cycling. Having coached pros like cycli...
S3 E19: The Science of Nutrition in Sport
08 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
From weight loss to fuelling for performance, the team demystify the world of sports nutrition with leading sports nutrition specialist Prof. Graeme C...
S3 E18: Olympic Special: The Science of Climbing
01 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Climbing makes its debut at the Tokyo Olympics and the format is both controversial and fascinating. Here's all you need to know about one of the four...
S3 E17: Olympic Special: The Science of Sprinting
29 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Stuart McMillan is one of the world's most respected sprint coaches. Currently in his 25th year of professional coaching, McMillan has worked with pro...
S3 E16: Olympic Special: The Science of Gymnastics
26 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The team are joined by gymnastics coach, biomechanist and former competitor Dr Helen Bayne to talk through the scoring systems, debate the controversi...
S3 E15: I Rode Half the Tour de France Solo and This is What Happened + 2021 TDF Wrap-Up
21 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
SOS Podcast co-host Prof. Ross Tucker took on the challenge of riding half the distance of each 2021 Tour de France stage to see how he would cope. Th...
S3 E14: Tour de France: Can Tadej Pogačar's Domination Be Trusted?
09 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Slovenian Tadej Pogačar has dominated the 2021 Tour de France but questions about his performance remain given cycling's doping history. How much do ...
S3 E13: 2021 Tour de France: The Age Spread / Is This Year Really More Crash Prone?/ Cycling Biomechanics
01 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The 2021 Tour de France has highlighted the spread of ages among the leading contenders from 41-year-old Alejandro Valverde to defending champion Tade...
S3 E12: Tour de France 2021 Preview / Olympic Transgender Controversy / Olympic Spectators: Good or Bad?
23 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The 2021 Tour de France is set to be a battle of the all-rounders with less climbing and more time trialling: The team look at the form book and the c...
S3 E11: The Christian Eriksen Incident: Sudden Death During Sport / Is Track Star Shelby Houlihan Guilty of Doping? / Super Spikes Debate:
17 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When Danish football star Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field during a Euro 2020 clash it raised the question of sudden cardiac arrest in world-c...
S3 E10: The Meaning of Fitness: From Definition to Measurement
14 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Whether it's endurance, strength or agility, defining 'fit' is a complex subject. The team talk through definitions, how fitness depends on your disci...
S3 E9: How Fast Do We Lose Fitness? / The Art of Fitness Resilience
03 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to fitness it's a case of use it... or lose it! But how fast do we lose fitness, how can we limit the damage when we take time off and i...
S3 E8: Why Transgender Athletes Threaten Fairness In Women's Sport
20 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Allowing transgender athletes to compete in women's sporting competitions has created a storm of controversy around human rights. The team get to grip...
The Psychology of Food
11 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Disordered eating is common among sportspeople, both amateur and professional. The team talk to dietician and psychologist, Kim Hofmann, about why mos...
S3 E6: COVID LATEST: Does Fitness Level Affect Severity? / Long Term Effects of Covid on Athletes
04 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With thousands of studies being conducted around the Covid pandemic, many are now finally producing results. Prof. Ross Tucker and co-host Mike Finch ...
Q&A Session: Covid Impact on Elite Sport / The Importance of Self Talk / Can the Mind Override the Body?
28 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, the team answer your questions. We tackle the effects of the Covid pandemic on elite sport progression, whether the mind is capable o...
The Freeman Doping Affair: The Case Against Team Sky and British Cycling
18 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When the UK Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) recently found former Team Sky and British Cycling head doctor, Dr Richard Freeman, guilty o...
The Amazing Science of Sleep
03 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sleep, and the quality of it, can dictate everything from our moods to our sporting performances. Prof. Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch interview slee...
Q&A SPECIAL: Salty Sweater? Is it bad thing? / Why You're Probably Training Too Hard / Smart Watch VO2: How Accurate Are They?
22 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We asked our Patreon community to pose their most vexing sport science questions so that we could answer them. Prof Tucker and Mike Finch discuss ever...
S3 E1: The Science of Motivation / Does BMI really matter? / How Exercise Affects Body Temperature:
21 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
S3, Ep1: In our first episode of 2021 Mike Finch and Prof. RossTucker discuss the science of staying motivated, if Body Mass Index (BMI) is outdated a...
Does Crowd Support Matter? / What Covid Taught Us / 2021: The Stories to Watch
08 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From shoe tech to the effect of crowd support on performance, 2020 has been an unprecedented year that also provided some unique opportunities. Togeth...
Why Rugby's Controversial New Transgender Guidelines Make Sense For All Sporting Codes
03 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In early October 2020, World Rugby released its Transgender Guidelines aimed at protecting player safety. But the guidelines were followed by controve...
What the London Marathon Taught Us About Performance and Temperature / The Fall of Kipchoge / Can Kosgei Be Beaten?
06 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The ground-breaking 2020 London Marathon saw the great Eliud Kipchoge lose his first marathon since 2013 as Ethopian Shura Kitata took the men's win a...
TOUR DE FRANCE WRAP: Pogacar's Race-Winning TT Analysis / Cadence vs Power / VAM Explainer
23 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Slovenian Tadej Pogacar's sensational penultimate stage performance up the famed Les Planche de Belle Filles, on his way to his overall win, will go d...
TOUR DE FRANCE 2020 (Week 2): The True Risk of Covid and Roadside Fans / Pogacar's Climbing Numbers / The Concussion Question
15 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Do excitable fans on the side of the roads really present a threat to cyclists in the midst of the Covid pandemic? Join Mike and Ross for a second wee...
THE CASE OF CASTER: Why Principle Trumped Bad Evidence / Her Future / What It Means For the Future of Women's Sport
12 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week double Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya lost her appeal in a Swiss Federal Court to have a decision made by World Athletics - effectivel...
TOUR DE FRANCE 2020 (Week 1): First Week Deep Dive / What Pro Power Data Shows Us / The Covid Question / How the Sprints are Won
08 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The first week of the delayed 2020 Tour de France threw up some big surprises and some stunning performances. But what does all the data say about the...
THE SUPPLEMENTS EPISODE / Why Most Claims are Bogus / What Really Works / The Problem with Vitamins
02 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From vitamins to weight-loss tablets, muscle builders and energy drinks, supplements promise a quick fix to performance and health. But is there any e...
The Simple Truth about Exercise and Hydration
17 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The perfect hydration strategy during exercise is simpler than you think. Join Prof. Ross Tucker and Mike Finch as they delve into the science, discus...
Watt The FTP?
10 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Functional Threshold Power (FTP) is one of the most popular terms in endurance sport and used by both professional and amateur racers. Take a deep div...
Why the WHO's Advice on Exercising and Face Masks is Wrong
03 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently advised against the use of masks while exercising. Prof. Ross Tucker and sports journalist Mike Finch exp...
The Adria Tennis Tour: How NOT to Organise A Sporting Event in the Time Of Corona
25 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The ill-fated Adria tennis Tour, headlined by world number one Novak Djokovic, was a lesson for sporting organisers around the world in what not to do...
Corona Comeback: How Sport Is Leading The Way / Do Spectators Matter?
28 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With soccer matches already under way and many professional sports looking at innovative plans to get back in action, Prof. Ross Tucker and host Mike ...
The Remarkable Effects of Exercise on Ageing
12 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Taking part in regular exercise throughout your life has truly remarkable effects on performance and ageing. Prof. Ross Tucker and Mike Finch discuss ...
Sport, Exercise and Health in the Age of Corona
07 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The impact of the Coronavirus across the globe has been felt in every sphere of life, including sport. From the cancellation and postponement of most ...
Why Everything You Know About Recovery May Be BS
18 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From ice baths to Tom Brady's infrared pajamas, the science of recovery is full of wild claims and wonder products. Join Prof. Ross Tucker and host Mi...
The Science of Perfect Training
26 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Cut through the hype and discover what the science says about training just right... no matter what your sport. Join host Mike Finch and world-renowne...
The Shoe That Broke Running II: The End of Integrity
08 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nike's newly-released Alphafly Next% - released just four days after new regulations on shoe design were announced by World Athletics - will do little...
2019 Wrap: The Awards / Our Favourite Interview / The Stories That Changed The World / 2020 Predictions
31 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
From the shoe that broke running, to drug cheats, Caster Semenya, Alberto Salazar, the best way to make a champion and Red-S, our first season of the ...
The Amelia Boone Interview: How the "Queen of Pain" Faces Down Her Demons
03 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As one of the world's top obstacle racers and ultra runners, Amelia Boone is regarded as one of the toughest female athletes on the planet. But a life...
Mary Cain & RED-S: When Weight Loss Affects Performance
25 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Join Prof. Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch - with guests exercise physiologist and scientist Dr Trent Stellingwerff and former elite runner Hilary Ste...
The TECH EPISODE / When Tech Affects Performance Integrity / Tech Overuse and Reliance / What The Future Holds
20 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch looked at the effect that modern day tech has on sport, its role in performance and what the future looks li...
What Rugby is Teaching Other Sports About Player Safety
30 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
From law changes to concussion research, World Rugby has taken a proactive approach to make the game safer at all levels. Professor Ross Tucker and ho...
The Shoe That Broke Running
23 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Mechanical Doping or Tech Breakthrough? Nike's controversial carbon-plated Vaporfly running shoe has forced us to recalibrate what performances m...
A Critical Analysis of the Ineos 1:59: Breaking The Sub-2 Hour Marathon
08 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Is Eliud Kipchoge's second attempt at breaking the two-hour marathon mark a human advance or just a technological sidestep? In October the world's bes...
The Craziest Week In Athletics / The Case Against Salazar / Bekele In Berlin / World Championships
04 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In one of the most dramatic weeks in athletics history, legendary American coach Alberto Salazar was banned for four years for doping offences, 37-yea...
World Athletics Champs Preview: The Science of Heat / Doping Scandals / Who To Watch / The State of T&F
27 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The World Athletics Championships takes place in Doha from September 27 to October 6 and handling heat, hopefully, will the major talking point. From ...
Why the All Blacks Are the World's Greatest Sports Team
23 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Join Prof Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch as they speak to renowned author Peter Bills about his latest book 'The Jersey: The Secrets Behind the World...
An Expert's Guide to Becoming a World Class Rugby Team
17 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Join one of the world's most outspoken voices in rugby, former Springbok player, international coach, analyst and World Rugby advisor Nick Mallett as ...
How to Cheat at Sport and Get Away With It
09 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Why do sportsmen and women cheat? Because they are human. But when is cheating just sporting gamesmanship or plain fraud? We look into some of the mos...
How To Make A Champion (Part II): Should You Be a Woods or a Federer?
27 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Prof Ross Tucker and journalist Mike Finch interview David Epstein, author of the New York Times best-selling book Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a...
How To Make A Champion (Part I)
13 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Prof. Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch delve into the real facts and stats behind what makes a world class sportsman or woman. Find out if when and whe...
What It Really Takes To Ride The Tour de France: A Doctor's Perspective
23 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Explore the challenges of working as a doctor at the Tour de France as Ross and Mike talk to Dr Adrian Rotunno, one of the team physicians for the UAE...
The Drugs In Sport Episode
09 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch dig deep into the world of drugs in sport: What are they? How are they used? What percentage of athletes tak...
What A Cricket Doctor Teaches Us About Sports Injuries And Protecting Your Back
03 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Join Professor Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch as they chat to cricket doctor Dr Janine Gray about the complexities of sports injuries, how to protect...
The Science of Cricket with Gary Kirsten
18 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Former international opening batsman and coach of both the South African and Indian cricket teams, Gary Kirsten talks frankly about the modern game, t...
What It's Really Like To Be a Professional Runner
04 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this emotional interview, Olympic middle distance runner and former 5000m and 10 000m NCAA champion, Dominique Scott-Efurd opens up about the train...
Running Shoe Technology: Good Science or Good Marketing?
21 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
World-renowned sport scientist Professor Ross Tucker and veteran sports journalist Mike Finch explore the science behind running shoe technology. Expl...
The Caster Semenya Decision Explained
03 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On May 1, 2019 double Olympic and three-time World 800m champion Caster Semenya lost her case against the IAAF in the Court of Arbitration forcing her...
Caster Semenya: Explaining Sex vs Gender in Sport
29 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Since 2009 Caster Semenya has ignited debate around female athletes with differences in sex development that may give them have an unfair advantage du...
Introducing the Science of Sport Podcasts
28 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
An introduction to the Science of Sport Podcasting series with Professor Ross Tucker and veteran sports journalist Mike Finch Hosted on Acast. See aca...