Christie Aschwanden

Christie Aschwanden, a science journalist and author of "Good to Go," joins the conversation to explore why there's value in not optimizing every aspect of life. She discusses the pitfalls of relentless self-improvement, emphasizing the importance of balance between productivity and downtime. Christie highlights how our physiological responses can inform personal growth and critiques the reliance on data-driven metrics for well-being. The slow and steady nature of scientific progress is also examined, calling for more intellectual humility in interpreting research.

In this episode, world-renowned science journalist Christie Aschwanden and hosts Prof. Ross Tucker and Mike Finch explore the science behind athletic recovery. They debunk misleading claims and practices, including the ineffective use of ice baths and the illusion of hydration. They also discuss the psychological impact of beer on recovery and emphasize the importance of relaxation and sleep for optimal recovery.

Christie Aschwanden, a journalist and author of "Good to Go," shares insights on athletic recovery methods. She debunks popular recovery trends like cryotherapy and foam rollers, emphasizing the need for scientific backing. The importance of adequate sleep and its impact on performance is discussed, with tips for better sleep hygiene. She also challenges traditional sports nutrition beliefs, focusing on consistent diet over timing. Lastly, Christie explores gender differences in endurance, highlighting the impressive stamina of female athletes.

In the past few years, sports recovery has become a big business. Elite athletes and weekend warriors alike are spending lots of time and money on things like cryotherapy, float tanks, foam rolling, and supplements in order to feel better, push themselves harder, and gain an edge over the competition. But does any of this stuff actually do anything? My guest today spent a year investigating the science of exercise recovery. Her name is Christie Aschwanden and she’s the author of Good to Go: What the Athlete in All of Us Can Learn From the Strange Science of Recovery. We begin our show discussing what exactly athletic “recovery” is and why the recovery business has been booming recently. Christie and I then dig into several different recovery modalities from drinking Gatorade, to taking ice baths, to foam rolling, and the science, or the lack thereof, behind their effectiveness. We end our conversation discussing what actually works best for exercise recovery (hint: you do it every night and it’s free), whether you should spend your money on things like cryospas, and whether recovery methods can still be beneficial, even if they're largely based on the placebo effect. Get the show notes at aom.is/recovery.

Christie Aschwanden, a science writer and author of 'Good to Go', delves into the peculiar world of exercise recovery. She examines whether Gatorade or even beer aids recovery. With humor, she critiques popular recovery products like pneumatic compression boots and cryo chambers, urging athletes to prioritize real food and body awareness. Aschwanden discusses hydration myths, the science behind recovery methods, and the importance of personal experience in evaluating their effectiveness. Her insights challenge conventional wisdom around fitness trends.