Dr. Bubbs Performance Podcast

In Season 4, Episode 8 Dr. Marc Bubbs chats with Mental Performance Coach Bryce Tully from Canada Basketball and the Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic. In this episode, Bryce discusses the Values-Skills-Traits model for supporting elite mental performance. He talks about the challenges of working with athletes who are ‘wired’ differently than you, the leader-follower dynamic and how to build entrenchment in your performance program. Bryce shares his thoughts on the value of sharing meals together, the pros and cons of technology for communicating with athletes, and the value of empathy. He also highlights the rate of change of traits, values and skills, rules versus values, and why stories matter.

In Season 4, Episode 7, Dr. Bubbs interviews Dr. Patrick Wilson, RD, PhD, author of the new book The Athlete Gut. In this episode, Patrick shares his insights on how short-intense and prolonged endurance exercise bouts impact the athlete’s gut, if female athletes experience more GI symptoms than men, and how low FODMAP diets impact bloating and discomfort. He also discusses the impacts of high-fat diets on gut health and diversity of microbiota, theoretical benefits (and limitations) of MCT ingestion during exercise, protein ingestion and impacts on bloating and discomfort, and long-term implications of restricting fermentable carbohydrates in your diet. Finally, he discusses the connections between mindset, anxiety and gut symptoms and what athletes can do to improve symptoms.

In Season 4, Episode 6, Dr. Bubbs REWINDS the tapes to bring you a highlights podcast on immunity and recovery. In this episode, hear expert exercise immunologist Dr. David Pyne, PhD provide a brief overview of how the immune system works, how it’s impacted by exercise and what testing tells us about athletes. Christy Aschwanden, author of Good To Go, then talks about what big data can tell us about recovery and how to incorporate periodized recovery into your routine. Next, sport dietician Jen Sygo, MSc shares the importance of adequate fueling for elite sport and the consequences of low energy availability (LEA) on health and performance. This is followed by performance nutrition director at PN Brian St-Pierre talking vitamin D and immunity. Finally, Miguel Mateas, PhD(c) discusses stress, the gut brain connection and how this can deeply impact your overall health. Don’t miss this episode!

In Season 4, Episode 5, Dr. Bubbs interviews Dr. Meeta Singh, MD the service chief of sleep medicine, and section head and medical director at the Henry Ford sleep center in Michigan. In this episode, Meeta shares her philosophy on the application of sleep science and the impacts of the baseball season scheduling and travel on sleep. She discusses the effects of fatigue accumulation, if it’s possible to ‘bank’ sleep and how athlete chronotypes might impact performance. We also dive into the use of adderall, amphetamines and ADHD in baseball, the nuances of applying sleep strategies in practice, the evolution of research in sleep and athletic performance, and much more!

In Season 4, Episode 4, Dr. Bubbs interviews Bill Burgos, NBA Strength & Conditioning Coach with over 12 years currently working with the Minnesota Timberwolves. In this episode, Bill discusses his career in the NBA, philosophy of strength and conditioning coaching, and coaches who have influenced his approach. He shares insights about the common challenges he faces working with young professional basketball players, how early specialization can impact athlete development, and how he navigates these roadblocks. He also breaks down how nutrition has changed in the NBA over the last decade, the League’s obsession with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and strategies to support pro athletes. Finally, Bill shares his advice to athletes on how to improve performance.

In Season 4, Episode 3, Dr. Bubbs interviews Marie Spano MS, one of the country’s leading sports nutritionists, currently working for the Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta Braves. In this episode, Marie discusses her philosophy on performance nutrition and where she typically starts with her athletes. She also talks about her recovery pillars, immuno-nutrition strategies to fight off colds and flu, and how to keep athletes healthy with constant travel. Marie then shares real-world challenges when working with professional athletes, how movies like Game Changers impact athlete adherence and where she sees the future of performance nutrition. Don’t miss this episode!

In Season 4, Episode 2, Dr. Bubbs interviews former NFL offensive lineman John Welbourn, who started over 100 games and made 10 play-off appearances appearing in 3 NFC Championship games as a starter for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999-2003 and Kansas City Chiefs from 2004-2007. In this episode, John talks about the transition both physically and mentally from college to the pros and what the state of nutrition was like in the NFL at that time. John shares how his mentorship with Dr. Mauro Di Pasquale had a major influence on his diet and deeply impacted his ability to perform and recover. He also talks about the concussions he experienced while playing, how he helped rehabilitate his cognitive health and the state of brain health in the league today. Finally, John discusses his work in training and performance consulting with professional athletes and elite Navy Seals and military.

In Season 4 Episode 1, Dr. Bubbs interviews Dr. Justin Roberts, PhD, to discuss his recent work contributing to the JISSN position stand on nutritional considerations for single-stage ultra-marathon training and racing. In this episode, Justin highlights the multiple factors influencing the daily caloric and specific protein requirements for ultra-marathoners. He shares his insights on the potential benefits of training with low-carb availability, the role of tryptophan in central fatigue (and potential beneficial effects of BCAA supplementation), race day nutrition strategies and how much to hydrate during competition. Justin also discusses his experience running ultra-marathons and provides practical tips for preparation.

In Season 3, Episode 39, Dr. Bubbs interviews Dr. John Berardi, PhD, co-founder of Precision Nutrition, the world’s largest nutrition coaching, education, and software company. In this episode, John shares the story of how his life was dramatically changed by fitness and a key mentor during his youth. He discusses a career changing moment and describes when he realized his purpose. John also talks about career development, how to level up your skills, and the importance of being honest with yourself about your strengths and passions. He also outlines his new project, the Changemaker Academy.

In Season 3, Episode 38, Dr. Bubbs interviews Steve Ottersberg, MS, a research biochemist to talk all things CBD. In this episode, Scott shares insights The evolutionary background of the endocannabinoid system and the different functions of CB1 and CB2. He also discusses how CBD impact inflammation, the potential for CBD for head trauma and pain in professional sports, as well as the role of omega-6 to omega-3 balance in the endocannabinoid system. Steve talks about how your genes impact CBD function, the various delivery methods of THC and CBD and the evolution of CBD research.

In Season 3, Episode 37, Dr. Bubbs interviews Precision Nutrition Curriculum Director Dr. Krista-Scott Dixon, PhD, to talk about the challenges in the complex world of helping clients integrate nutritional changes. In this episode, Krista shares her insights the neuroscience of childhood development, her stance on male coaches discussing body composition with female athletes, and the line between offering a presence to clients who are suffering and when to recognise that professional support is needed. See full notes at drbubbs.com.

In Season 3, Episode 36 Dr. Bubbs interviews former professional football player Marc Brouillette. In this episode, Brouillette discusses what it was like to transition like from collegiate football in Canada to the pros, if nutrition had a big influence on his regime during his career and his supplementation strategies for performance and recovery. He also shares how much the mental side of the game propelled his performance, the importance of the relationships he built in the league, and the current state of player safety when it comes to head trauma. Finally, Brouillette shifts gears to talk about life after football, his career as a lawyer, and juggling all the demands of career and fatherhood. Terrific insights from a high performer both on and off the field!

In Season 3, Episode 35 Dr. Bubbs interviews Dr. Alan Walker PhD whose research is focused on the effects energy expenditure and workload have on biomarkers in athletes. In this episode, Alan shares his insights on how biomarkers inform athlete stress over a 24-hour period, the difference between specificity and sensitivity when it comes to lab testing, and his research into season-long changes in elite female soccer players. He discusses the ripple effects of pre-season on biomarkers, the delayed-effect seen in athletes, the connection between IL-6, hepcidin and iron status, and shares his ‘big rocks’ for performance nutrition in athletes.

In Season 3, Episode 34 Dr. Bubbs interviews Dr. Tara Swart, MD, PhD. Dr Tara Swart is a neuroscientist, leadership coach, award-winning author and a medical doctor. In this episode Tara shares her insights into how we can become more aware of our unconscious biases, the impact of body language and emotion in communication and how to ‘master’ our emotions. Tara discusses her brain agility model, how fear and failure can act as a trigger for performance, and considers whether you can be really smart and also really emotionally intelligent? Don’t miss this and more.

In Season 3, Episode 33 Dr. Bubbs interviews baseball performance consultant Xan Barksdale. A baseball coach with Team USA and former professional baseball player, Xan shares his sporting background and how training and physical preparation has changed over the last 20 years. He also discusses the key role of off-season training in athletic development, how much is enough, and the potential pitfalls of early sport specialization. Xan also chats nutrition in baseball; current trends he’s seeing in athletes, how supplementation impacts baseball performance and navigating travel nutrition in young athletes. Finally, Xan discusses the importance of mindset in baseball and the evolution of baseball performance in the next 5-10 years.

In Season 3, Episode 32 Dr. Bubbs interviews Ben Kenyon, performance coach with the NBA’s Portland Trailblazers. In this episode, Ben discusses his journey to working in professional sport, the importance of relationships and building up the ‘trust jar’, the value of routine in skill development, and how core values translate to high performance. He also shares his insights on player diets in the NBA, how the players cope with all the travel, and ‘return-to-play’ injury nutrition. Ben also shares how mindset is what separates the best from the rest and shares his thoughts the next frontier in performance.

In Season 3, Episode 31 Dr. Bubbs interviews expert coaches, practitioners and researchers on all things caffeine. Jozo Grgic, PhD(c) kicks things off by sharing his research into the effects of caffeine on resistance training and prof Stu Phillips, PhD the impacts of caffeine supplementation on exercise. From there, Nanci Guest, PhD shares her research in genetics, caffeine metabolism and endurance training, Dr. Eric Helms, PhD talks caffeine, bodybuilding and improving body composition, and Dr. Andrew Chappell, PhD from England shares his research on the caffeine habits of elite British bodybuilders. Lastly, Dr. Ian Dunican, PhD shares his research on the effects of caffeine on sleep in professional rugby players in Australia.

In Season 3, Episode 30 Dr. Bubbs interviews Dr. James Morehen PhD, performance nutritionist with a research background in rugby league and currently working for the English Football Association. In this episode, James discusses the physical demands and athlete profile in elite professional rugby league. He highlights the fundamental fueling strategies in a sport with high caloric demands, potential nutrition ‘gaps’ in elite rugby players, and whether or not polyphenol supplementation improves recovery post-competition. James also shares his insights and experience in developing travel nutrition plans in preparation for international competitions, rapid rehydration strategies and consequences of dehydration in hot climates and where the next greatest gains in performance nutrition will be made.

In Season 3, Episode 29 Dr. Bubbs interviews Dr. Inna Khazan, PhD, BCB a faculty member at Harvard Medical School and a clinical psychologist specializing in health psychology and performance excellence training using biofeedback and mindfulness-based approaches. In this episodes, Dr. Khazan talks about how mindfulness enhances biofeedback and biofeedback enhances mindfulness. She shares research on HRV, and biofeedback and how to find your resonance frequency (RF) rate. Dr. Khazan also discusses how mindfulness meditation and how it literally changes your brain. Finally, she dispels common myths around mindfulness & how emotions – like shame, guilt, anxiety and fear - drive behaviour.

In Season 3 Episode 28 Dr. Bubbs interviews Pratik Patel, Director of Nutrition and Assistant Strength Coach for the NFL's New York Giants. Pratik talks about his circuitous route to working in high performance and his early experience in leading an elite collegiate nutrition program. He also shares his philosophy and strategies on pre-season nutrition and supplementation in the NFL, position specific changes in body composition, and how the nutrition plan may change in-season. Pratik also discusses injury nutrition, ‘cheat days’, and the biggest challenges in building player buy-in with respect to nutrition.