Perform with Dr. Andy Galpin

Scicomm Media

This is Perform with Dr. Andy Galpin.

I'm Dr. Andy Galpin, a professor and director of the Human Performance Center at Parker University.

With this podcast, my goal is to help you better understand and maximize your own physical and mental performance, leveraging my two decades of experience with elite performers, including Olympians and world champions across numerous sports. The goal is to cover a range of tools, technologies, and strategies designed to help everyone—from beginners to record-breaks, and everyone in between.

While not all of us are elite athletes—myself included—there are countless lessons and tools we can learn from those performing at the highest levels. And remember, as legendary coach Bill Bowerman stated, "If you have a body, you are an athlete." If you're not already, I hope you'll consider starting to train and recover like one.

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23 episodes
fortnightly
Avg 2 hr 14 min
English

Episodes 23

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September 16 · 2 hr 23 min
How to Train Without Pain (Back, Shoulders, Mobility & Strength) | Dr. John Rusin
In this episode, my guest is Dr. John Rusin, a physical therapist and strength coach who bridges rehabilitation and human performance.
August 19 · 3 hr 2 min
How to Reach Your Fitness Goals (Hard-to-Grow Muscles, Lose Fat, Busy Schedule & More) | Dan Garner
In this episode, my guest is Dan Garner, a renowned human performance coach behind UFC champions, Olympic medalists, and CEOs.
August 5 · 1 hr 8 min
The Fundamentals of Nutrition, Hydration & Performance Fueling
In this episode, I answer your questions on ⁠nutrition⁠, hydration, and ⁠recovery⁠ in our second audience Q&A.
July 22 · 1 hr 12 min
The Fundamentals of Training for Muscle, Strength & Longevity
In this episode, I answer your questions in the first-ever open Q&A on Perform, working through the five themes that came up most. I start with how I think about training for longevity—why being well-rounded and resilient matters more than chasing any single marker like grip strength or VO2 max. From there, I break down the basics of training for muscle, strength, and fat loss, including the simple rules I use for each: the 72-hour rule for hypertrophy, the 3-to-5 rule for strength, and the 5-4-3-2-1 rule for fat loss. I then walk through my exact process for program design, what "functional" training really means, and where AI is actually useful—and where it falls short—for your health and performance. This one is for anyone who wants a clear, practical foundation for building their own training. Sponsors Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/galpin David: https://davidprotein.com/perform LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/perform Chapters (00:00:00) Introduction: The First-Ever Perform Q&A (00:02:48) Training for Longevity & Resilience (00:05:52) Grip Strength & VO2 Max: Proxies vs. Real Targets (00:12:51) Muscle vs. Strength vs. Fat Loss (00:14:10) Building Muscle: Mechanical Tension & the 72-Hour Rule (00:19:54) Progressive Overload (00:22:39) Training Strength as a Skill (00:26:45) The 3-to-5 Rule for Strength & Power (00:30:10) Fat Loss & the 5-4-3-2-1 Rule (00:36:48) Program Design: The Modifiable Variables (00:38:07) Frequency, Exercise Choice & Order (00:45:24) Intensity, Volume & Rest Intervals (00:48:52) Predicting Problems in Your Program (00:50:24) Functional Training & Movement Quality (00:59:12) Stretching, Flexibility & Lengthened Partials (01:03:26) AI in Health & Performance (01:09:10) Recap & Closing Thoughts Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 8 · 2 hr 27 min
What Drives Muscle Growth & What Doesn't | Dr. Mike Roberts
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Mike Roberts, one of the most respected muscle physiologists, to explain how muscle actually grows.
June 24 · 1 hr 39 min
Identify & Fix Muscle Imbalances & Injury Risks
In this episode, I tackle muscle asymmetries and imbalances — when the differences between your two sides help you, when they hurt you, and what to actually do about them.
June 10 · 2 hr 8 min
Female Training, Hormones & Nutrition: Fact vs. Fiction | Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple to examine what the science says about female-specific training and nutrition. We discuss why so little research has historically focused on women, what makes menstrual cycle research so difficult and expensive to run, and what her own dissertation found when she measured muscle protein synthesis across cycle phases. Dr. Colenso-Semple explains the real hormone fluctuations of the menstrual cycle, why testosterone matters far less for women's muscle than people assume, and why men and women gain strength and size at the same relative rate at any age, including through menopause. We also cover low energy availability, scientific literacy, and how to figure out what works for you. This episode is for anyone, coach or lifter, trying to separate evidence from misinformation in women's fitness. Sponsors Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/perform David: https://davidprotein.com/perform TrueMed: https://truemed.com/perform Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/perform Chapters (00:00:00) Lauren Colenso-Semple (00:01:51) The Lit Review That Never Was (00:07:01) Why Women Got Bad Training Advice (00:11:23) Individualization & Where Sex Actually Ranks (00:21:09) Estrogen, Rodent Models & the Anabolic Myth (00:34:52) Hormones Across the Menstrual Cycle (00:45:18) The Myth of the Textbook 28-Day Cycle (00:51:41) Why Female Research Is So Hard (00:57:55) Inside Lauren's Dissertation: Tracers & Biopsies (01:06:10) Strength, Power & Hypertrophy: No Phase Effect (01:14:13) The Real Role of Testosterone & Menopause (01:23:36) Becoming a Better Consumer of Science (01:50:10) Low Energy Availability & RED-S (01:57:30) Advice for the Average Woman Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#26
May 27 · 2 hr 28 min
How to Think Clearly in an Age of Distraction | Sam Harris
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Sam Harris to discuss how attention, mindfulness, and clear thinking shape performance.
#25
May 13 · 1 hr 44 min
Intense Exercise & Potential Heart Damage (aka Athlete's Heart)
In this episode, I cover "athlete's heart" — the paradox where the same cardiovascular adaptations that make endurance athletes exceptional can also mimic, and sometimes mask, real risk.
#24
April 29 · 2 hr 34 min
Hardship, Resilience & Competing at the Highest Level | Ken Rideout
In this episode, I sit down with Ken Rideout.
#23
April 15 · 2 hr 19 min
Build Mental Toughness & Perform Under Pressure | Dr. Lenny Wiersma
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Lenny Wiersma — one of the most respected and quietly influential figures in sports psychology — for a conversation on what it actually takes to perform when the stakes are highest.
#22
April 1 · 1 hr 43 min
How to Build a Strong Core & Abs
In this episode, I break down everything you need to know to build a strong core and better-looking abs — and explain why most people are training them wrong.
#21
Apr 16, 2025 · 2 hr 8 min
Enhance Your Physical & Mental Resilience (HRV, Respiratory Rate, RHR)
In this episode, I explain how to increase your control over your nervous system — not just to manage stress, but to recalibrate your autonomic nervous system for long-term physiological resilience and adaptability.
#20
Apr 9, 2025 · 2 hr 10 min
Jill Miller: Increase Flexibility & Relieve Pain with Breathwork & Myofascial Release
In this episode, my guest is Jill Miller, a renowned fascia expert and teacher of breathwork practices and self-myofascial release (SMR) to improve mobility, reduce pain, and enhance body awareness.
#19
Apr 2, 2025 · 2 hr 32 min
Dr. Michael Ormsbee: Food Timing, Nutrition & Supplements for Fat Loss, Muscle Growth & Recovery
My guest is Dr. Michael Ormsbee, Ph.D., a professor of nutrition and integrative physiology and the director of the Institute of Sports Sciences and Medicine at Florida State University.
#18
Mar 26, 2025 · 1 hr 57 min
Dr. Allison Brager: Improve Sleep Efficiency & Resilience
In this episode, my guest is Dr. Allison Brager, Ph.D., an active-duty Army neuroscientist whose research focuses on physiological resilience in extreme stress environments such as Antarctica and outer space.
#17
Mar 19, 2025 · 1 hr 49 min
Strength Training for Kids & Building Lifelong Movement Skills
In this episode, I discuss the importance of exercise, specifically strength training, for kids.
#16
Mar 12, 2025 · 2 hr 19 min
Dr. Herman Pontzer: How We Really Burn Calories & Lose Weight
My guest is Dr. Herman Pontzer, Ph.D., a professor of evolutionary anthropology and global health at Duke University, known for his research on human bioenergetics, particularly energy expenditure and the exercise paradox.
#15
Mar 5, 2025 · 2 hr 58 min
Jordan Sullivan: Fueling for Sports Performance & Body Composition
In this episode, my guest is Jordan Sullivan, APD, a registered sports dietitian and the founder of The Fight Dietitian (TFD), whose clients include UFC world champions, Olympians, and ultra-endurance athletes.
#14
Feb 26, 2025 · 1 hr 52 min
Enhancing Bone Health at Every Age
Bone health is often dismissed as something only “old people” or postmenopausal women should worry about, but evidence clearly indicates that poor bone health is extremely common—even among young, healthy people, including men.

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