On this week’s episode, WHOOP Founder and CEO Will Ahmed is joined by two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Fintan McCarthy. The Irish Lightweight rower has been dominating the sport for several years now alongside his partner Paul O’Donovan. McCarthy started rowing professionally when he was 15. He's won 3 European Championships, 3 World Championships, and two gold medals at the Tokyo and Paris games. Will and Fintan discuss how Fintan became a rower (1:45), breaking through the pain threshold (3:54), how to effectively train (5:03), training cadence as a pro (6:35), breathwork techniques (8:16), Fintan’s Olympic experiences (13:10), his WHOOP data in Paris (18:35), sleep tips (22:30), winning gold with his partner Paul O’Donovan (26:51), external factors while rowing (31:17), in-race communication tactics (33:09), Fintan’s guide to recovery (37:46), and winning a gold medal (40:55).

Resources:
Fintan’s Instagram

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On this week’s episode, WHOOP Senior Vice President of Research, Algorithms, and Data is joined by Economist and Parenting Expert Emily Oster. The pair discusses Emily’s background (1:50) and journey from economist to parenting expert (2:55), the lack of research in pregnancy and parenting (3:45), navigating caution in pregnancy (5:36), receiving pushback from physicians (8:11). Emily Oster gives insight into creating her business, ParentData (12:28), navigating social media (15:56), and presenting some of the biggest surprises in parenting research (19:58). The pair continue to discuss policy changes and parenting aid (21:41), when the best time to have children is (22:15), family planning (28:37), and unpacking some listener Q’s (41:01).

Resources:
Emily’s Instagram
Emily’s TikTok
Podcast: Raising Parents with Emily Oster
Podcast: Parent Data with Emily Oster
ParentData.org
Get Emily’s Books

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On this week’s episode, we have another great listener questions episode for you. WHOOP Senior Sport Scientist Chris Chapman joins us to answer all of your questions on strength training and performance. Chris answers questions around strength training and workout focus (2:17), preventing osteoporosis (8:43), the timing of workouts impacting recovery (12:55), building the ideal training program (16:32), progression through lifting programs (21:08), creatine and other supplements (27:39), and nutritional suggestions for different lifting programs (31:41).

Resources:
Research Paper on Bone Health
Research Paper on Creatine and Disease
Research Paper on Creatine and Brain Health
Research Paper on Protein
WHOOP Podcast #252 with Dr. Darren Candow
WHOOP Podcast #218 with Chris Chapman

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On this week’s episode, WHOOP Founder and CEO Will Ahmed is joined by a very special guest, football sensation Virgil van Dijk. Virgil is not only the captain of Liverpool, one of the top clubs in the Premier League, but also the captain of the Dutch National Team. Virgil has won a number of championships throughout his professional career including a Scottish League Cup with Celtic, a Champions League Title with Liverpool, and he helped end Liverpool’s 30-year league title drought when they won the Premier League back in 2020. Virgil is widely regarded as one of the most dominant and complete center backs in the world. Will and Virgil discuss how Virgil got started in football (2:49), his calm demeanor (7:13), breathing exercises (10:33), leadership roles and mentality (11:59), dealing with injury and adversity (13:02), Virgil’s WHOOP data and health habits (18:27), his playing style on the pitch (22:08), transferring to Liverpool FC (27:10), his family life (31:01), playing for Holland (32:46), the mental side of the game (35:16), WHOOP growing more of a presence in the football space (38:58), and some rapid fire questions (42:51).

Resources:
Virgil van Dijk on Instagram

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On this week’s episode, WHOOP Founder & CEO Will Ahmed interviews Gymshark Founder & CEO Ben Francis MBE. Will and Ben discuss Ben’s background (2:01) the road to creating Gymshark (2:32), Gymshark’s first sale (11:00), designing the Gymshark brand (17:59), and Ben’s journey and growth as a CEO and Founder (29:20). Will and Ben give their insights as Founder/CEOs and the mentality needed to develop a successful brand (36:18), dive into Ben’s experience on WHOOP (44:52), and how to learn from mistakes to create business opportunities (47:35).

Resources:
Gymshark Website
Ben's Instagram
Ben's YouTube

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We are announcing an all-new feature on this week’s episode! WHOOP Founder and CEO Will Ahmed is joined by WHOOP SVP Research Algorithms, and Data Emily Capodilupo to discuss the newest metric on the WHOOP platform, steps! Will and Emily were on the move for this episode and monitoring their steps throughout the recording. They will discuss the all-new feature (1:19), listen back to an old clip of Will denouncing steps (2:28), the importance of accuracy when counting steps (5:26), the difference between steps and Strain (7:06), the research leading to our changing viewpoints on steps (15:26), the impact of being sedentary (18:12), and how members will see Steps inside the WHOOP app (20:37).

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On this week’s episode, WHOOP Director of Sports Marketing, Jeremy Powers welcomes former Australian National Rugby League (NRL) player, Keegan Hipgrave. Jeremy and Keegan discuss Keegan’s background in sport (1:48), the ins and outs of rugby league (3:52), Keegan’s NRL career (14:28), rugby’s culture around playing through injury (14:28), and Keegan’s medical retirement due to concussion (21:46). Keegan shares his insights on navigating retirement from professional sport (27:53), the importance of implementing mental health resources in the NRL (30:47), his adjustment to retirement (34:20), and the importance of mental health representation in sports (38:19).

Resources:
Keegan’s Instagram
The Keegan and Company Podcast
The Keegan and Comoany Podcast on Instagram

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On this week’s episode, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance - Principal Scientist, Kristen Holmes, and Senior Vice President of Research, Algorithms, and Data, Emily Capodilupo discuss Sober October. Kristen and Emily discuss the breakdown of alcohol (1:50), the immediate downstream effects of alcohol (3:56), what happens to sleep when alcohol is in the system (6:47), how to aid recovery during and after drinking (11:51), how alcohol affects tomorrow (16:58), and alcohol’s effects on your serotonin levels (24:00). Kristen and Emily also provide insights on the Whoop Sober October Challenge (30:06) and how to implement this behavior change (34:20).

Resources:
Episode 43: Alcohol and Performance
Episode 29: What is Heart Rate Variability

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