WHOOP Podcast

Welcome to the WHOOP Research Series, where we breakdown into the extensive, scientific research conducted by the WHOOP Performance Science team. On this week’s episode, WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance, Principal Scientist, Dr. Kristen Holmes sits down with WHOOP Senior Research Scientist Dr. Greg Grosicki to unpack the latest WHOOP Research Study on Heart Rate Variability Coefficient of Variation or HRV-CV. Using data from 21,000+ WHOOP members and 2 million nights of sleep, Dr. Holmes and Dr. Grosicki reveal why day-to-day stability in your HRV may matter more than the number itself. HRV-CV proves to outperform traditional metrics in detecting the real impact of alcohol, sleep consistency, and metabolic health, making it a great measure of healthspan. By looking deeper into the study, Dr. Holmes and Dr. Grosicki explains how HRV-CV can help you program your training smarter, improve your healthspan and build autonomic resilience. This episode unpacks how measuring HRV-CV isn’t just about performance, but risk stratification and understanding your physiology over-time, not just day-to-day. 
(01:11) Intro To The Study: Why Is HRV-CV Important? 
(04:09) HRV-CV and Risk Stratification
(08:28) Definition of HRV-CV
(11:40) What HRV-CV Indicates in Athlete Recovery
(14:26) Breaking Down The WHOOP Study
(17:13) HRV-CV Trends in Shift Workers
(21:21) Why Is HRV-CV an Important Biomarker?
(25:18) HRV-CV Trends in Individuals on GLP-1 Medications
(26:29) The Weather vs. The Climate: HRV vs. HRV-CV
(33:41) The Results: Breaking Down the Data
(36:37) How HRV-CV Responds to Certain Behaviors
(39:38) Trends Between HRV-CV Between Age, Biological Sex, and Body Mass Index
(49:54) How To Improve HRV-CV
(56:39) New Research Roles and Opportunities at WHOOP
References:
American Journal of Physiology Publication
HRV-CV: The Key Metric for Lifestyle Consistency and Stability

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On this months edition of The WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP SVP of Research, Algorithms, and Data Emily Capodilupo sits down with longevity researcher, bioethicist, Scholar in Residence at the American Federation for Aging Research, Dr. Raiany Romanni-Klein to explore how society should be handling aging.
Dr. Romanni-Klein breaks down why aging may be the most underfunded and misunderstood driver of suffering in modern society, and why treating it as a solvable biological problem could transform our economy, healthcare system, and future. From the ethics of longevity to the policy failures slowing innovation, Dr. Rommani-Klein explains that extending healthspan is all about reducing disease, caregiver burden, and economic strain.
The conversation dives into the science and economics of aging, including why brain health may offer the highest return on investment, the opportunities of the pharmaceutical industry in creating longevity drugs, and why exercise and diet remain the most powerful longevity tools we have today. Emily and Dr. Rommani-Klein the regulatory and incentive barriers preventing large-scale aging trials and what would need to change for society to treat aging as a disease.
(00:33) Introduction to Dr. Raiany Romanni-Klein
(01:17) Where Is The Intersection of Ethics and Longevity Science? 
(02:05) The Aging Population and Reduced Birth Rates
(04:31) WHOOP Podcast Rapid Fire Q’s
(07:42) Ethics Around Technological Evolution: What Is Best For Longevity & Society
(11:41) Changing Perspectives on Longevity
(17:42) What Biomarkers Are Important For Longevity
(22:09) Incentives For Pharmaceutical Companies to Invest In Longevity Science
(24:51) Do People Have The Agency To Extend Healthspan?
(27:16) Policy Issues Affecting Longevity
(34:18) The Influence of Longevity Drugs Like GLP-1s
(42:10) Is There A Better System The US Should Be Following?
(45:17) What More People Need To Know About Longevity Science
(46:27) Running Models and Simulations To Understand Longevity
(53:22) The Future of Longevity Science: What Excites Dr. Romani-Klein

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In this month’s edition of the How To Series, WHOOP Founder & CEO Will Ahmed sits down with one of the world’s most dominant cyclists, Mathieu van der Poel. Will and van der Poel sit down to unpack how to perform across disciplines, sustain longevity in elite-level sport, and embrace suffering for greatness. 
Van der Poel shares his training philosophy, what motivates him to push through the toughest moments of a race, and how he uses WHOOP data to optimize recovery. From sleep habits, to caffeine consumption, to strength training, and key recovery habits, van der Poel offers an inside look at how listening to his body and staying consistent drives performance.
The conversation reflects the highs and lows of van der Poel's career, from battling pneumonia at the Tour de France, to the impact his long-term team has made on his career, to the role of fierce rivalries in pushing him to the next level. This episode offers an exclusive look into the mindset it takes to be one of the best endurance athletes in the world. 
(00:40) Mathieu van der Poel on Versatility as a Cyclist
(03:21) Aspiring To Go Pro: van der Poel’s Upbringing in Cycling
(04:36) Measuring Success In Cycling
(05:55) Skills and Metrics Needed To Gain Power Over The Competition
(08:06) A Week In Training To Gain Endurance
(09:13) Essential Recovery Techniques
(11:12) Learning To Enjoy The Suffering in Training
(13:28) Overcoming Setbacks: Pneumonia & Tour de France
(15:10) Importance Of Building A Supportive Team
(16:32) Mathieu’s Motivations: Favorite Races & Inspiration In Sport
(20:23) Turning To The Data: Monitoring Metrics Throughout The Race
(23:55) Strength Training As A Cyclist & Mitigating Injury
(27:39) A Look Ahead: Exciting New Steps in van der Poel’s Career
(29:00) Nutrition & Intuitive Eating Before, During, and After Race Day
(30:00) Visualization and Mindset’s Role In Cycling Success
(30:35) WHOOP Podcast Rapid Fire Qs
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This week, on the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Founder & CEO Will Ahmed sits down with 23-time gold medalist, Michael Phelps. Michael opens up about his experience coming up as a swimmer, reflecting on impactful changes that could benefit the sports future successes. Michael shares personal stories from his career, revealing the areas athletes can improve upon in order to break records on the world’s biggest stage. Beyond competition, Will and Michael dive deep into recovery, sleep, and the power of data, assessing how small biometrics guided Michael’s training at the highest level and how WHOOP is changing how athletes understand their bodies. Michael also reflects on breaking world records, the mindset required to chase the “impossible,” and how preparation quiets pressure on the biggest stages.
Michael opens up about his ongoing mental health journey, discussing his experience with depression and anxiety. He redefines success beyond medals, the importance of community, and what it means to see himself fully as a human, a father, and a role model, not just an athlete.
(00:55) Phelps on His Career In Swimming
(04:49) Funding Sports and Athletes To Succeed
(08:44) Road to 2028: What To Expect in Swimming
(11:52) Who To Watch: The Rise Of The Next Great Record Holders
(14:55) Recovery As A Theme For Greatness
(18:20) What Mental Success Looks Like 
(24:35) Physical Modalities To Aid Mental Health
(25:45) WHOOP As An Accountability Provider
(31:33) Understanding Blood Biomarkers with WHOOP Advanced Labs
(36:13) Phelps on Parenting Young Athletes
(38:02) Phelps’ Advice For Athletes: Nerves and Preparation
(42:54) What’s Next: Mental Health Advocacy & Parenthood
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The WHOOP Podcast Longevity Series is back! This week, WHOOP SVP of Research, Algorithms, and Data, Emily Capodilupo sits down with Dr. Ami Bhatt, renowned cardiologist, Chief Innovation Officer at the American College of Cardiology, and Chair of the Digital Health Advisory Committee. Dr. Bhatt offers a rare, inside look at how medicine, technology, and policy are coming together to enhance the future of healthcare. From wearables to AI to patient agency and clinician training, this conversation unpacks what it takes to modernize healthcare. Dr. Bhatt shares her personal journey from practicing cardiologist to national innovation leader, highlighting the role of  education, ethics, and human-AI collaboration in creating a better healthcare landscape for patients across the country.
(00:53) Intro to Dr. Ami Bhatt, Chair of the Digital Health Advisory Committee
(3:20) Seeing AI As A Tool In Healthcare
(06:23) Teaching AI: Responsibility & Ethics In Healthcare
(09:19) Dr. Bhatt: From Cardiology to Policy
(12:21) Role As A Chief Innovation Officer in Healthcare Regulation
(16:03) Adjusting Teaching Policies to AI
(21:45) Thinking About Wearables: Data Translation & AI
(30:38) Technology in Healthcare: Building Useful Algorithms

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