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.

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474 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes474

Newest first

Jun 5, 2025 · 59 min
374: The Impact of AI on Training Prescription, with Dr. Paul Laursen
The world of AI is changing extraordinarily fast. We spoke with Dr. Paul Laursen about the current challenges and developments of the technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 29, 2025 · 1 hr 7 min
373: The Revolutionary Work of Dr. Hans Selye
Dr. Stephen Seiler joins us to talk about one of the biggest influences on his own work, Dr Hans Selye who's been called the Einstein of the biological sciences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 22, 2025 · 1 hr
372: Coffee, Gels, and the Jitters: Using Caffeine Without Overdoing It
In this episode we explore the science of caffeine in endurance sports—when it helps, when it doesn’t, and how to use it wisely. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 15, 2025 · 59 min
371: Potluck Discussion - Is More Better, Training for Time Trial Series, and Dream Research
Our hosts talk about why we shouldn’t believe that more is always better, how to build a weekly time trial series into your training, and what research we’d like to see conducted. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 8, 2025 · 1 hr 24 min
370: Our Deep Dive on the Norwegian Method
We talk with Brad Culp, author of “The Norwegian Method,” about the main tenets of the training philosophy, as well as who should and shouldn’t apply the method in their training. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 1, 2025 · 1 hr 11 min
369: How Coaches and Athletes Interact with Data
Mollie Brewer joins us to discuss how we interact with data – which can say as much about coaches and athletes as the data itself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 24, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
368: Are Shorter Cranks Faster?
On this episode, Lennard Zinn shares his decades of experience and experimentation to help answer the question of whether shorter cranks are better. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 17, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
367: Podcast Swap — Body Composition, Performance, and the Dangers of Under-fueling, from the TriDoc Podcast
This week, we share an episode from the TriDoc Podcast. Host Jeff Sankoff is joined by dietitian Alex Larson and coach Juliet Hochman to explore the complex relationship between body composition, fueling, and performance—plus how coaches can support athletes without crossing the line. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 10, 2025 · 1 hr 10 min
366: Balancing the Principles of Training with Triathlon
The TriDoc Jeff Sankoff joins us to talk about how to still apply the principles of supercompensation and progressive overload in a sport as complex as triathlon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 3, 2025 · 57 min
365: Potluck Discussion - Athlete Autonomy, Training Different Bikes, and the Importance of Skincare
In this week’s potluck episode, we discuss the balance of athlete autonomy versus prescription, how to balance training with multiple types of bikes, and how to avoid being swayed by athlete-marketed skincare trends that may not be worth the hype. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 27, 2025 · 1 hr 6 min
364: How to Help Your Body Fit Better on the Bike with John Howard
We talk a lot about fitting your bike to your body, but there’s a lot you can do to keep your body healthy and help it fit in a more powerful position on the bike. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 20, 2025 · 1 hr 25 min
363: Why Breathing Frequency May Become Our Best Measure of Training Stress
Dr. Stephen Seiler joins us to talk about his new project developing a breathing frequency measure and why it may match up better with perceived exertion than heart rate or power. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 13, 2025 · 1 hr 7 min
362: How to Make Interval Work Motivating
Our team of coaches got together and discussed why we do intervals, how to execute them, and most importantly, how to make them more fun. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 6, 2025 · 58 min
361: Examining a Critical Meta-Analysis of Training Distribution Models
Dr. Michael Rosenblat joins us to discuss the largest meta-analysis comparing distribution models that he wrote with Dr. Stephen Seiler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 27, 2025 · 58 min
360: Potluck Discussion: First Conversation, Doing Cadence Work, and Training with a Group
In this week’s potluck episode, we discuss what coaches should look for in their first conversation with an athlete, how to best do cadence work on the bike, and how to take advantage of group training while not losing sight of your plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 20, 2025 · 58 min
359: Do Women Athletes Need Zone 2 Training?
Recently, some prominent researchers have suggested that women need far less zone 2 training than previously thought. Physiologists Julie Young and Dr. Dana Lis join us to debate that question. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 13, 2025 · 1 hr 10 min
358: How to Use—and Not Use—HRV in Your Training
We talk with HRV expert, Dr. Brad Lichtenstein, about the value of HRV in training, what it does and doesn’t show, and what to be careful of when you use it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 6, 2025 · 1 hr 9 min
357: Progressive Overload Is Critical But Does It Have a Limit?
Coach Isaiah Newkirk joins us to talk about why progressive overload is so important to training, and how we can continue to get gains when we can’t add more volume or intensity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 30, 2025 · 1 hr 15 min
356: The Importance of Maintaining Muscle Mass with Jared Berg
Fast Talk’s head physiologist details why it’s important to maintain muscle mass as an endurance athlete, and how to do it even when trying to lose weight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 23, 2025 · 58 min
355: Potluck Discussion: Finding the Right Plan, Virtual Base Training, and U.S. Cyclocross
We discuss how to find the right plan for you, using virtual training platforms in the base season, and the state of U.S. Cyclocross. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices