Sports Science Dudes

Dr. Dean St Mark, a pharmacologist and product formulator for UK-based brand called Supplement Needs, brings his expertise on testosterone, PEDs, and their health implications to the podcast.• TRT usage has shifted from older men to being prescribed for men in their mid-20s with hypogonadism• Many users push beyond replacement therapy (800 ng/dL) into enhancement territory (1200+ ng/dL) • Androgens impact brain chemistry, creating psychological dependency through altered dopamine thresholds• Female athletes face unique risks including potentially irreversible virilization effects like voice deepening• Polypharmacy and arbitrary dosing based on gym advice rather than science increases health risks• "FemTest" protocols inappropriately extrapolate safety data from PCOS patients to healthy female athletes• Excessive size and muscle mass may contribute to early mortality in bodybuilders (40-60 years old)• EPO can benefit endurance athletes but requires careful monitoring due to blood viscosity concernsFind Dr. Dean St Mark on Instagram @DeanSTM.

Dr. Matt Frakes shares his experience as Director of Performance Nutrition for the New York Giants, focusing on optimizing player performance through individualized nutrition strategies and building trusting relationships with athletes.• Breaking into sports nutrition careers requires networking, professionalism, and willingness to do grunt work before showcasing talent• College and pro settings differ dramatically—pros have more autonomy and often work with their own nutrition and training specialists• Athletes can build too much lean muscle mass relative to their skeletal structure, increasing injury risk• Performance nutrition requires an individualized approach considering body composition, position demands, and training phase• Nutritional strategies for brain health include omega-3 fatty acids, anti-inflammatory foods, and creatine supplementation• Recovery modalities like sauna, cryotherapy, red light therapy and compression are widely used at the professional level• Successful teams require strong interdisciplinary communication between performance staff, medical team and coachesDr. Frakes will be delivering the President's Lecture at the 22nd International Society of Sports Nutrition Conference, June 23-25 in Delray Beach, Florida.

Dr. Katie Vasenina shares her journey from standout tennis player to sports scientist, offering unique insights on sport-specific training methodologies and nutritional interventions for athletes. Her research challenges conventional wisdom about asymmetrical training, collagen supplementation effectiveness, and dietary approaches for optimal recovery and performance.• Former Division I tennis player who specialized in sport-specific training• Completed her PhD studying various topics including collagen supplementation and muscle damage recovery• Found early sport specialization (before age 9) correlates with increased injury rates• Discovered traditional strength coaches often apply inappropriate training methods to tennis players• Researched collagen supplementation, finding it ineffective for muscle recovery but potentially beneficial for tendons• Conducted innovative study comparing vegan vs omnivore diets for muscle damage recovery• Found no performance differences between diet groups when protein intake was equated (1.4-1.5g/kg)• Currently training for a 50km ultra obstacle race (not sure she should do it!)• Starting a new position at the University of Tampa in August 2024• Planning future research on collagen supplementation with vitamin C for tendon healthCatch Dr. Vasenina's presentation "Collagen Doesn't Do Sh*t, Except When It Does" at the ISSN conference in Delray Beach, June 23-25.

Lauren Colenso-Semple is a muscle physiology researcher, science communicator, and co-owner of the MASS Research Review. Her research primarily focuses on female physiology and endocrinology and the response to resistance exercise. Lauren has a PhD in Integrative Physiology, MS in Exercise Science, and BA in Psychology. She is also an expert fitness professional with years of practical experience and certifications in strength and conditioning, sports nutrition, group fitness, and personal training.About the ShowWe cover all things related to sports science, nutrition, and performance. The Sports Science Dudes represent the opinions of the hosts and guests and are not the official opinions of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), the Society for Sports Neuroscience, or Nova Southeastern University. The advice provided on this show should not be construed as medical advice and is purely an educational forum. Hosted by Jose Antonio, PhDDr. Antonio is the co-founder and CEO of the International Society of Sports Nutrition and the co-founder of the Society for Sports Neuroscience, www.issn.net. Dr. Antonio has over 150 peer-reviewed publications and 16 books. He is a Professor at Nova Southeastern University, Davie, Florida in the Department of Health and Human Performance.Twitter: @JoseAntonioPhDInstagram: the_issn and supphd 

Melanie Sulaver (MS, RD, CDN, CISSN) is the founder and small (but mighty) business owner of Nutrition by Mel. She is a registered dietitian working to bridge the gap between women’s health and performance nutrition. As speaker, counselor, and coach, Mel works with women in sport, educating on disordered eating, low energy availability, relative energy deficiency in sport, menstrual health, fertility, and menopause. Her goal is to change the narrative surrounding what it means to navigate life as a woman, an athlete, and a mother. About the ShowWe cover all things related to sports science, nutrition, and performance. The Sports Science Dudes represent the opinions of the hosts and guests and are not the official opinions of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), the Society for Sports Neuroscience, or Nova Southeastern University. The advice provided on this show should not be construed as medical advice and is purely an educational forum.Hosted by Jose Antonio, PhDDr. Antonio is the co-founder and CEO of the International Society of Sports Nutrition and the co-founder of the Society for Sports Neuroscience, www.issn.net. Dr. Antonio has over 150 peer-reviewed publications and 16 books. He is a Professor at Nova Southeastern University, Davie, Florida in the Department of Health and Human Performance.Twitter: @JoseAntonioPhDInstagram: the_issn and supphd

Antonella Schwarz is an Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at Barry University in Miami, specializing in skeletal muscle physiology and strength training. With a PhD in Exercise Science, her research focuses on innovative resistance training methods and sports nutrition to enhance performance and recovery. She brings a unique blend of academic rigor and practical application to studying human movement and training efficiency. As an avid runner and weightlifter, she has a deep understanding of the physiological demands of athletic performance. Antonella is dedicated to translating cutting-edge research into actionable strategies for optimizing health and performance. About the ShowWe cover all things related to sports science, nutrition, and performance. The Sports Science Dudes represent the opinions of the hosts and guests and are not the official opinions of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), the Society for Sports Neuroscience, or Nova Southeastern University. The advice provided on this show should not be construed as medical advice and is purely an educational forum.Hosted by Jose Antonio, PhDDr. Antonio is the co-founder and CEO of the International Society of Sports Nutrition and the co-founder of the Society for Sports Neuroscience, www.issn.net. Dr. Antonio has over 150 peer-reviewed publications and 16 books. He is a Professor at Nova Southeastern University, Davie, Florida in the Department of Health and Human Performance.Twitter: @JoseAntonioPhDInstagram: the_issn and supphd

Dan Turner, a PhD in Human Physiology and Director of Athlete Safety for Enhanced, shares his vast experience working with elite athletes and professionals across various fields. He discusses the careful planning behind performance-enhancing strategies and the ethical dilemmas involved. The conversation delves into the mental health challenges faced by athletes like Michael Phelps and Simone Biles, and the potential therapeutic role of psilocybin. Turner also highlights advancements in personalized health protocols and the psychological resilience required in extreme sports.

Eric Hillman is the Co-Founder of Europa Sports, Headquarters in Charlotte, NC and is the world’s industry-leading distributor of nutritional and sports supplements, sports drinks, and accessories with more than 6,000 products representing 300 plus of the industry’s best brands. Eric was the CEO of MusclePharm Inc founded in 2005 from Sept 2022 until March 2024.  Eric partnered in his first Fitness Center, 1985 in Winston-Salem, NC and later opened Powerhouse Gym Winston-Salem and the current owner of Linny Mac’s Powerhouse Gym in Charlotte, NC.  Eric serves as a National Physique Committee and IFBB Professional Judge. Eric was a director for the USA Rugby Trust, the philanthropic arm of USA Rugby.   Eric was on the Strength and Conditioning Department 2015-2019 as the Head Size Coach for Appalachian State University winning 4 consecutive bowl game appearances and member of the ISSN, the only non-profit academic society dedicated to promoting the science and application of evidence-based sports nutrition and supplementation. Eric was the official Nutrition and supplement advisor for the Documentary Le Ride (2016), Directed by Phil Keoghan. Eric is a Global Advisory member for The International Sports Hall of Fame, established to honor the world’s greatest athlete legends in all sports.As a successful entrepreneur, he’s been instrumental in catapulting some of the industry’s biggest brands into the mainstream.Since starting Europa Sports nearly 34 years ago, Hillman has been the recipient of multiple "Entrepreneur of the Year" nominations and honors. His leadership and entrepreneurial vision have culminated in several company growth and employee satisfaction awards, including back-to-back recognition as one of the Best Places to Work, according to Outside Magazine.About the ShowWe cover all things related to sports science, nutrition, and performance. The Sports Science Dudes represent the opinions of the hosts and guests and are not the official opinions of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), the Society for Sports Neuroscience, or Nova Southeastern University. The advice provided on this show should not be construed as medical advice and is purely an educational forum.Hosted by Jose Antonio PhDDr. Antonio is the co-founder and CEO of the International Society of Sports Nutrition and the co-founder of the Society for Sports Neuroscience, www.issn.net. Dr. Antonio has over 120 peer-reviewed publications and 16 books and is a Professor at Nova Southeastern University, Davie, Florida in the Department of Health and Human Performance.X @JoseAntonioPhDInstagram: the_issn and supphd

Jeff Young, MS (Exercise and Sport Science), doctoral student (EdD, Kinesiology), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), ACSM-EIM works primarily in medical fitness, and has worked at world-class facilities such as Duke University, UCLA, and Beth Israel Medical Centers, and as the founding fitness coordinator and faculty practice provider at Mount Sinai Medical Center’s Center for Health and Healing in New York City – the most comprehensive urban-based academic integrative medicine and medical fitness facility in the U.S. at the time.Jeff operates his own company in New York City, which implements and oversees medical fitness and post-rehabilitation patient services at a clinical facility in Manhattan and provides virtual medical fitness services nationally. About the ShowWe cover all things related to sports science, nutrition, and performance. The Sports Science Dudes represent the opinions of the hosts and guests and are not the official opinions of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), the Society for Sports Neuroscience, or Nova Southeastern University. The advice provided on this show should not be construed as medical advice and is purely an educational forum.Hosted by Jose Antonio, PhD, CEO of the ISSN, www.issn.netDr. Antonio is the co-founder and CEO of the International Society of Sports Nutrition and the co-founder of the Society for Sports Neuroscience, www.issn.net. Dr. Antonio has over 120 peer-reviewed publications and 16 books. He is a Professor at Nova Southeastern University, Davie, Florida in the Department of Health and Human Performance.Twitter: @JoseAntonioPhDInstagram: the_issn and supphdCo-hosts Anthony Ricci EdD and Cassandra Evans MS RD 

Unlock the secrets of sports nutrition with Dr. Jennifer Kurtz from Appalachian State University, as she takes us on a journey into the world of quercetin, a powerful plant pigment. Discover how quercetin found in everyday foods like citrus fruits, elderberries, and onions, can potentially enhance athletic performance by managing inflammation and oxidative stress. About our guest:Dr. Kurtz holds a Ph.D. in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Physiology and Nutrition from Georgia State University and both her M.S. in Health and Human Performance and B.S. in Exercise Science from Georgia College and State University. Dr. Kurtz teaches several courses, including Exercise Physiology and Nutritional Aspects of Exercise and Sports.Her research focuses on physiological and nutritional interventions in sports performance, emphasizing nutrient timing, ergogenic aids, and preventative nutrition. She also explores hormonal impacts on metabolism, resistance training, and high-intensity interval training. Dr. Kurtz is affiliated with several professional organizations, including the International Society of Sports Nutrition, where she is a Certified Sports Nutritionist, and the American College of Sports Medicine as a Certified Exercise Physiologist. Additionally, she has published extensively on topics like quercetin’s effects on performance, nutrient timing, and sports nutrition.About the ShowWe cover all things related to sports science, nutrition, and performance. The Sports Science Dudes represent the opinions of the hosts and guests and are not the official opinions of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), the Society for Sports Neuroscience, or Nova Southeastern University. The advice provided on this show should not be construed as medical advice and is purely an educational forum.Hosted by Jose Antonio PhDDr. Antonio is the co-founder and CEO of the International Society of Sports Nutrition and the co-founder of the Society for Sports Neuroscience, www.issn.net. Dr. Antonio has over 120 peer-reviewed publications and 16 books and is a Professor at Nova Southeastern University, Davie, Florida in the Department of Health and Human Performance.X @JoseAntonioPhDInstagram: the_issn and supphdCo-hosts: Anthony Ricci EdD FISSN and Cassandra Evans MS RD CISSN