Sports Nutrition Podcasts

Sports Nutrition Podcasts

By Nancy Clark

Thanks to the Internet, we all have abundant access to high quality, science-based nutrition podcasts. They offer an amazing opportunity to learn (for free!!!) from some top-notch researchers and clinicians from around the globe. This article identifies a few podcasts that focus on general nutrition, sports nutrition, dysfunctional eating, injury recovery, and other topics that can be helpful to nutrition professionals and athletes alike. 

Podcasts focused on general nutrition topics

• SoundbitesRD.com/podcast hosted by Melissa Joy Dobbins RD. Posted twice a month; about an hour long.
      Melissa is among the first dietitians to jump into podcasting. She now has recorded more than 226 episodes and has thousands of listeners. Her information is popular with dietitians and the general public alike. Melissa does an excellent job of delving into the science, psychology and strategies behind good food and nutrition. You’ll learn about all aspects of nutrition, with a focus on current food trends and controversies. A few examples of topics covered include:

1. Body Image and Your Relationship with Food
2. The Science of Sweetness
3. Difference Between Animal Welfare & Animal Rights

• Spot On! Podcast hosted by Joan Salge Blake RD. Posted twice a month; about 30-45 minutes long. Joan teaches nutrition at Boston University. Hence, her podcast is geared towards college students, but it is of interest to everyone. Joan’s lively, engaging style will hold your attention. She interviews top experts who offer accurate and practical health and wellness information on a variety of current topics and trends, including:

1. What Really Is a Sustainable Diet?
2. The Latest on Food Allergies
3. Do You Need to Beef Up on Protein to Bulk Up?

Podcasts focused on Sports Nutrition

• The Long Munch – Nutrition for Runners, Cyclists & Triathletes  hosted by two Australian sport dietitians:
  Stephanie Gaskell has a special interest in gastro-intestinal nutrition and Alan McCubbin researches hydration and sodium for endurance sports at Monash University. Posted weekly, about an hour long. To familiarize yourself with the rich variety of topics addressed on The Long Munch, you can listen to the Birthday Year in Review You’ll hear a 3 to 5 minute summary of each weekly podcast and identify the episodes that interest you. When time allows, you can listen to them in full. Sample topics include:

1. Should I get regular blood tests? If so, what should I test for?
2. How much sodium should I replace during exercise?
3. Are sports drinks and gels bad for my teeth?

• Performance Nutrition Podcast hosted by Dr, Marc Bubbs ND, CSCS. Posted monthly; about 60 minutes long 

     Marc is Director of Performance Nutrition for Canada Basketball. In his podcast, he interviews leading experts from around the globe and discusses nutrition topics related to performance. A sampling of topics:

1. Nutrition & Training for Stronger Tendons & Ligaments
2. Impact of Dehydration on Teams & Endurance Athletes
3. The Misunderstood Science of Metabolism

• Nail Your Nutrition Podcast hosted by sports dietitians Marita Radloff RD & Sarah Schlichter. Posted weekly; about 60 minutes long

Given the podcasters are athletes and moms, as well as registered sports dietitians, they handily address a variety of topics from many perspectives, such as—

1. Nutrients of Concern for Plant-based Athletes
2. What my Eating Disorder Took from Me
3. Taper nutrition for the marathon

Podcasts offering support to athletes struggling with food, injuries & life.

• Voice in Sport hosted by Stefanie Strack, former athlete and advocate for advancing women in sports. Posted weekly, about 45 minutes long

     Stef interviews women who have excelled in sports, asking about their journeys. Her guests share untold stories on topics rarely discussed, such as their struggles with body image, dysfunctional eating, mental health, and nutrition. Aspiring athletes will find hope and inspiration by listening to how these established female athletes survived their challenging journeys. Listeners will learn they are not the only ones having a hard time transitioning from high school sports to collegiate teams to pro sports. Sample episodes include: 

1. Andi Sullivan, soccer pro, talks about how she built confidence and improved her mental approach to sports.
2. Elyse Kopecky, author of Run Fast, Cook Fast, Eat Slow, shares her experiences as a runner facing many injuries.
3. Allie Ostrander, 3-times NCAA champion runner, shares her journey with disordered eating.

• The Catalyst Health, Wellness and Performance Coaching Podcast
  Hosted by Brad Cooper. About an hour long

      Health coach Brad Cooper interviews best-selling authors, world-renowned researchers, elite athletes, and respected coaches in an engaging format. The overall focus is on wellness and the podcast addresses various aspects that contribute to self-care. A few enjoyable episodes include:

1. Conflict: Why We’re Trapped and How to Escape
2. Redefining Rich: Keys to True Wealth
3. Our Hungry Brain: Why We Choose Junk and How to Change 

• The Injured Athletes Club is hosted by mental skills coach Carrie Jackson and health/fitness journalist and runner Cindy Kuma. Posted weekly; about an hour long
      Part of being an athlete includes being injured. That’s why these two athletes joined forces to create a podcast and a community of followers that offer support and hope to ease the recovery journey. They interview athletes who have recovered from injury (and also injury after injury after injury…) Examples of topics include—

1. Surviving setbacks
2. Recovery from RED-S 
3. Expanding your identity

     May you find this list of easy-listening podcasts educational, helpful for enhancing athletic performance and well-being, and hope-filled for facing the challenges presented to athletes of all ages and abilities. Listen-up!  

Please help PINES expand this list! Send links to your favourite podcasts to nclarkrd@rcn.com. 

PINES Secretary Nancy Clark MS RD CSSD  counsels both fitness exercisers and competitive athletes in the Boston-area. Her best-selling Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook is a popular resource, as is her online workshop. Visit NancyClarkRD.com for more information.