Podcasts

Gatorade Sports Science Institute

All Me Podcast/Taylor Hooten Foundation

Have you ever wondered how a product like Gatorade is formulated? Where does this process start and is there a team of scientists who create these formulas? When we think of Gatorade, the first thing that comes to mind is a Sports Drink.

What we probably don’t realize is the extensive amount of research that goes into formulating these products along with the team of scientist they have on staff. With the ever evolving athletes today looking for an edge to get bigger, stronger, and faster, the Gatorade Sports Science team investigates how to fuel our bodies with proper nutrition and hydration to maximize performance and recovery.

In this episode, Joe Trahan speaks with Gatorade Sports Science Institute Senior Director Dr. James Carter. James and Joe will discuss what the GSSI does on a day to day basis, their testing locations, their current work in the field, and type of athletes they are testing. We’ll also discuss what the future of sports performance research looks like.

James Carter PhD

Hydration

All Me Podcast/Taylor Hooten Foundation

Are you someone who struggles with consuming enough fluids each day? Do you know how much fluid you need to stay hydrated and the benefits that are associated with it? Also, have you ever wondered what electrolytes are important, what their functions are, and when you should consume them in a beverage? Gatorade has spent over 50 years studying hydration, sweat rates, and electrolytes in active individuals and athletes and in this podcast, I speak with Dr. Lindsay Baker, from the Gatorade Sports Science institute to learn more about our hydration and electrolyte needs. In this podcast, we’ll discuss the key electrolytes that are important for hydration and their function, how important hydration is for the body, and the signs and symptoms of dehydration.

Lindsay Baker PhD, FACSM

Nutrition Strategies to Optimize Recovery

All Me Podcast/Taylor Hooten Foundation

Athletes are always looking for a competitive advantage when it comes to their performance. Whether trying to reduce muscle soreness, refuel your gas tank, or help your muscles repair and rebuild after an intense lifting session, just making small improvements in these areas can make the next training session a little easier. Are there specific nutritional strategies we can take to speed the recovery process? What would happen if we could consume specific nutrients to improve day to day performance and recovery? In this podcast, I’ll speak with Gatorade Sports Scientist and Sports Dietitian Kevin Luhrs to discuss what you can do to speed the recovery process from training.

Kevin Luhrs MS, RD, CSCS

Optimizing Human Health & Performance

Progress, Potential and Possibilities

Dr James Carter discusses his background and the history of GSSI before diving into different aspects of athlete health and performance. 

James Carter PhD

Chronic Pain & Injury in Football: Implications for Mental Health

Mettle Minds Podcast

In this “deep dive” conversation, Kevin discusses the negative impact of injury and chronic pain on his personal and professional identity and feelings of self-worth. He candidly discusses the “high-testosterone” environment and masculine culture of football led him to try and expedite his return to the field after injury. Kevin also highlights the importance of his support network in helping him experience personal change, growth, and a new perspective on life.

Kevin Luhrs MS, RD, CSCS

From Student to Scientist

All Me Podcast/Taylor Hooten Foundation

Have you ever wondered what the life is like for a scientist, especially those who test athletes for various measures of performance? Furthermore, what steps do you need to take to get to that level? Whether it’s testing an NFL player’s sweat to see if they have enough electrolytes or trying to determine the correct carbohydrate solution to refuel an NBA player after an exhaustive first half, those are the types of studies conducted at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI).

In this podcast, Dr Rebecca Randell and Bridget Sopeña discuss their path towards being a scientist at the GSSI, the educational direction they took, and the challenges they faced along the way. We’ll also dive into the significance of a mentorship/mentee relationship and why it played a critical role in their development as scientists.

Rebecca Randell PhD, FECSS and Bridget Sopeña MS

Communicate the Science

The Sports Medicine Broadcast

Kimberly Stein PhD and Kevin Luhrs MS, RD, CSCS

Sports Performance and Recovery

The Health Me Podcast

In this podcast Dr Eric Freese discusses different aspects of performance and recovery. More specifically we discuss factors that make elite performers compete at a high level and how they change these factors for optimal recovery.

Eric Freese PhD

Caffeine's Effect on Performance & Health

All Me Podcast/Taylor Hooten Foundation

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world as in 2021, over 166 million bags of coffee was consumed. An 8-ounce cup of coffee can have anywhere between 60-135 mg of caffeine depending on the type consumed.  But why do so many people need their caffeine fix? Market research tells us roughly 70% drink it for its taste, while 62% consume it for an extra boost of energy and 34% have some for the added focus.

Did you know caffeine is an effective ergogenic aid?  In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Rebecca Randell from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute to define an ergogenic aid, the benefits of caffeine for athletes, and are there any health benefits and side effects from consuming caffeine.      

Rebecca Randell PhD, FECSS

Heat Exhaustion, Hydration, and Sweat Testing

All Me Podcast/Taylor Hooten Foundation

Are you one of those individuals like me who cuts grass in the heat and humidity? In certain parts of the world, especially during the summer months, the heat and humidity can play a significant role in your hydration status. Furthermore, if training, exercising or just working in the heat for too long, you may experience some significant side effects and some that could be life threatening if you do seek immediate attention. In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Michelle King from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute about the impact of the heat and humidity on hydration status, the signs and symptoms of dehydration and heat stroke, the importance of electrolytes, Gatorade’s new sweat testing patch which is available for the consumer, and in the end, you’ll get to learn which band she would be the lead singer for if she had the opportunity.

Michelle King PhD

How to Stop Losing Muscle While Aging?

All Me Podcast/Taylor Hooten Foundation

Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle tissue as a natural part of the aging process. Did you know that after age 50, muscle mass decreases at an annual rate of 1-2% and muscle strength declines by 1.5% between ages 50-60? It is estimated that 5-13% of people 60-70 years of age are affected by sarcopenia with those numbers increasing to up to 50% for those aged 80. But, is there a way that we can slow this process down or even prevent from happening? In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Sara Oikawa, from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute about strategies to minimize muscle loss as we age. We’ll discuss the impact of exercise and exercise type, dietary factors and the importance of protein, are there any dietary supplements that could play a role.

Sara Oikawa PhD

How Gatorade Plans to Make its Gx App the Go-To Resource for Athletes

Muscle & Fitness

Drew Palin is the senior director of digital innovation and ecosystem at Gatorade.

One of the big projects Drew recently worked on was the overhaul of the GX app, which is a free training tool with workout programs and science-backed info for future athletes, current athletes, and people who want to tear themselves off the couch and do athletic things.  

Dr Eric Freese, a GSSI Principal Scientist, joins Drew Palin to discuss the science-backed resources within the app.

Eric Freese PhD and Drew Palin

Impact of Mental and Physical Fatigue on Health?

All Me Podcast/Taylor Hooten Foundation

When you think of the word fatigue, you may associate this with just being tired. Fatigue is more than just being tired or sleepy as many people who have fatigue are so drained, that their exhaustion interrupts their daily life. Nearly 44% of employees have reported physical fatigue at work which is up 38% from 2019. It was also reported that 60% of those same employees reported negative impacts of work related-stress, interest, motivation, or energy which resulted in a lack of effort. In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Ali Boolani to discuss what is physical and mental fatigue, the causes, the signs, and symptoms, how diet, exercise, and sleep play a big role, and what we can do to minimize both.

Ali Boolani PhD

Nutrient Timing

All Me Podcast/Taylor Hooten Foundation

Have you ever wondered if when you eat a particular type of food on whether it can impact your performance? For example, should you eat right before workout or does consuming carbohydrates and/or protein after workout improve strength and recovery. What if you are running a marathon as should you consume something during a 3-5-hour event?

In this podcast, we speak with Gatorade Scientist and Sports Dietitian Lisa Heaton on the timing of macronutrients and how they impact performance, recovery, and endurance. Lisa explains the role of carbohydrates and protein, pre, during, and post exercise as well as how much we need to maximize performance. We also discuss the role of carbohydrate and protein type and how they influence the outcome. 

Lisa Heaton MS, RD, CSSD, LDN

Vitamin D for Health and Performance

All Me Podcast/Taylor Hooten Foundation

Did you know 25% of Americans are deficient in vitamin D and 41% are considered below sufficiency status? Is this because of the inability to get enough from the food supply or lack of sunlight in certain parts of the country? In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Kimberly Stein from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute to discuss the versatility of this nutrient and its important role in health and human performance. Dr. Stein discusses the functions of vitamin D, how to correct a deficiency, the best sources of vitamin D, and how much does someone need to reach an optimal level. 

Kimberly Stein PhD

Referring & Nutrition in Women's Football

The Offside Rule: Women's Football Unlocked

Lynsey & Tash are joined by referee Rebecca Welch & Gatorade Sports Science Institute Scientist and Nutritionist Caroline Tarnowski to discuss refereeing & nutrition in women's football.

Caroline Tarnowski MSc