Fast Talk
Fast Talk Labs
The Fast Talk podcast offers the best guides to cycling performance and endurance sports training from world-class experts.Cohosted by cycling coaches and sport scientists Trevor Connor and Rob Pickels, Fast Talk episodes feature fascinating conversations with world-class experts discussing the endurance sports topics they know best: the best ways to train, effective workouts, questions on polarized and interval training, sports nutrition, physiology and recovery, and sport psychology.Fast Talk guests and regular contributors include Dr. Stephen Seiler, Joe Friel, Dr. Asker Jeukendrup, Sebastian Weber, Jim Miller, Dr. Andy Pruitt, Dr. Timothy Noakes, and elite professional athletes like Kristin Armstrong, Sepp Kuss, Brent Bookwalter, Kate Courtney, and many more.Fast Talk is part of Fast Talk Laboratories, a new endurance sports knowledgebase for endurance racers and adventurers.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 25, 2025 • 42min
403: Celebrating American Cycling Success in 2025, with Jim Miller
In this conversation, Jim Miller, Chief of Sports Performance at USA Cycling, shares insights on America's cycling triumphs in 2025. He discusses the critical roles of talent identification and development across multiple disciplines. Jim highlights the impressive performances of emerging athletes and the importance of leadership in fostering a winning culture. He also addresses challenges like talent scouting in a dwindling domestic race scene and how AI is transforming decision-making processes. Listeners will gain an understanding of the future of American cycling and the promising talents to watch.
Dec 18, 2025 • 37min
402: Fast Chats - Which Nutrition Gadgets are Worthwhile, Plus Health Impacts of Caffeine and Carbs
Explore the latest nutrition technologies that athletes are using, like sweat analysis and continuous glucose monitors. Discover the potential downsides of carbs and caffeine, including their effects on inflammation and gut health during exercise. The hosts discuss how wearable devices often fall short, lacking actionable insights for athletes. They emphasize the need for a balance between peak performance and long-term health. With a critical eye on emerging tech, the conversation sheds light on the complexities of nutrition science.
Dec 11, 2025 • 1h 9min
401: The Further Initiative — What Female Ultra Research Is Teaching Us About Fueling, Recovery, and Performance
Dr. Trent Stellingworth, Chief Performance Officer at the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific, and Dr. Hannah Caldwell, a postdoctoral fellow at UBC, dive into groundbreaking research on female ultra-endurance athletes. They explore the unique fueling and recovery needs of these athletes, revealing caloric burn levels that reach 11,000 kcal/day and emphasizing the importance of individualized nutrition strategies. The discussion highlights embracing psychological resilience, real food preferences, and the critical gaps in female-specific sports research. Their insights challenge traditional practices, paving the way for better support in women's athletics.
12 snips
Dec 4, 2025 • 1h 19min
400: The Past, Present, and Future of Sport Science with Drs. Louise Burke, Stephen Seiler, and Iñigo Mujika
Dr. Stephen Seiler, an exercise physiologist known for his research on endurance training, joins sport scientist Iñigo Mujika, who specializes in periodization, and Dr. Louise Burke, a sports dietitian with a focus on nutritional strategies. They explore how technology has reshaped sport science, the importance of personalized training, and the risks of over-relying on metrics. They also discuss the concept of 'durability' in athletes, the challenges of measuring nutrition accurately, and emphasize a return to foundational biological principles in sports science.
15 snips
Nov 27, 2025 • 48min
399: Potluck Discussion - Is There a Ceiling, Value of Wintering, and Alternative Training
Jeff Sankoff, a seasoned coach and frequent contributor, joins the discussion on athletic potential and off-season strategies. They debate whether athletes have innate ceilings or are held back by mental barriers. The conversation explores the value of 'wintering' for mental resets and building stronger relationships. Practical tips emerge for cross-training, emphasizing the importance of joy in movement and injury prevention. Jeff offers insights on careful running progression for cyclists, aiming for balance and longevity in athletic pursuits.
Nov 20, 2025 • 1h 18min
398: Creating Nutritional Training Plans, with MetPro’s Angelo Poli
Angelo Poli, the Founder of MetPro and a seasoned nutrition coach, shares insightful strategies for optimizing athletic performance through nutrition. He emphasizes the importance of planning meals like training, contrasting reactive dieting with preparation. Preparation is key, as it drives adherence more than willpower. Angelo also discusses metabolic profiling and how individual needs vary. With practical meal prep strategies and tips for fueling workouts, he highlights how tailored nutrition can enhance athletes' performance!
Nov 13, 2025 • 38min
397: Fast Chats: Rethinking Injury Risk and Longevity—Evidence That Defies Convention
Two new studies challenge common assumptions: intensity may matter more than volume for healthy aging, and triathlete injury patterns aren’t what most coaches would predict. We unpack what this means for training prescription, and why neuromuscular and strength work belong in every plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 6, 2025 • 1h 19min
396: Neck Pain in Cyclists - Mechanics, Fit, and Clinical Insight
Experts in medicine, biomechanics, and physical therapy join Dr. Griffin McMath and Trevor Connor to decode the causes of neck pain in cyclists and the strategies that keep athletes strong, steady, and pain-free over the long haul. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6 snips
Oct 30, 2025 • 1h 7min
395: The Difference Between Efficiency and Economy, and Why You Should Care
Dr. Ray Browning, an exercise scientist and biomechanist who co-founded Biomodem and played a key role in Nike's Breaking2 project, dives into the crucial distinction between efficiency and economy in sports. He explains efficiency as energy output versus input, while economy focuses on energy required per velocity. Browning shares insights from the Breaking2 project, highlighting how footwear innovations enhanced running economy. He also discusses the importance of improving economy for better performance and offers actionable strategies to optimize training.
Oct 23, 2025 • 1h 16min
394: Teaching Parents to Better Support Their Child-Athletes
We talk with Dr. Jennifer Harris about the critical role that parents play in junior athlete development, and why that role is too often ignored or left undefined. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
