World-renowned sports scientist Professor Ross Tucker and veteran sports journalist Mike Finch break down the myths, practices and controversies from the world of sport. From athletics to rugby, soccer, cycling and more, the two delve into the most recent research, unearth lessons from the pros and host exclusive interviews with some of the world's leading sporting experts. For those who love sport. Get bonus content on Patreon (https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/4295570)
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Sleep And Menopause: Understanding The Impact And Learning To Cope
The team talk to Dr Zoe Schaedel on the impact of menopause on sleep patterns and how to resolve them. Schaedel has 15 years of experience as an NHS GP in the UK with expertise in menopause care, sleep problems, sexual health and contraception. She is an accredited British Menopause Society (BMS) Menopause Specialist and is a member of the BMS Medical Advisory Council. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1/18/2024 • 38 minutes, 33 seconds
How Allergies Affect Sleep and How to Fix It
Join host Mike Finch, Dr Jill Warner and Emeritus Professor John Warner to break down the effect allergies have on sleep quality. The panel discuss the various allergens affecting sleep - from dust mites in your bed to cat dander - and how best to deal with them. Dr Jill Warner has a BSc in Immunology and Physiology and a PhD in Allergy from the University of London. She is currently an Honorary Professor in Paediatrics at The University of Cape Town and her research interests are in the foetal origins of allergic disease and environmental allergen avoidance. Dr Jill Warner has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and journal articles in the field of allergy. Prof. John Warner is a Professor of Paediatrics at Imperial College London and the University of Cape Town. His research has focused on the early life origins of asthma and related allergic and respiratory disorders. He has published over 400 papers in scientific journals on these topics. He was Editor-in-Chief of the journal Pediatric Allergy and Immunology from 1997-2010 and chairman of the paediatric section of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology for 5 years until 2010. He is also a member of the Speciality and Training Committee of the World Allergy Organisation and a past Trustee of the charity known as The Anaphylaxis Campaign. He was a member of the Advisory Committee for Novel Foods and Processes of the Food Standards Agency for 12 years until 2012 and was recognised for his work in food allergy research by the award of an OBE in 2013. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1/9/2024 • 31 minutes, 47 seconds
SLEEP CASE STUDY: Does My Child Suffer From A Dust Mite Allergy?
In this case study Prof John Warner interviews a mother whose 8-year-old child suffers from persistent allergies. Could it be dust mites? Listen in on this consultation to see how allergies are diagnosed.Prof. John Warner is a Professor of Paediatrics at Imperial College London and the University of Cape Town. His research has focused on the early life origins of asthma and related allergic and respiratory disorders. He has published over 400 papers in scientific journals on these topics. He was Editor-in-Chief of the journal Pediatric Allergy and Immunology from 1997-2010 and chairman of the paediatric section of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology for 5 years until 2010. He is also a member of the Speciality and Training Committee of the World Allergy Organisation and a past Trustee of the charity known as The Anaphylaxis Campaign. He was a member of the Advisory Committee for Novel Foods and Processes of the Food Standards Agency for 12 years until 2012 and was recognised for his work in food allergy research by the award of an OBE in 2013. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1/9/2024 • 9 minutes, 14 seconds
Sleep and Mental Health / How To Treat The Most Common Sleep Disorder /
Co-hosts Dr Jill Warner and Mike Finch are joined by Dr Simon Durrant, Associate Professor at the School of Psychology, University of Lincoln and Chairman of the British Sleep Society, to discuss the relationship between sleep and mental health, the most common sleep disorders and how to treat them and how sleep can determine your chances of getting depression. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
12/7/2023 • 39 minutes, 10 seconds
Sleep And Adolescence: Understanding Teenage Sleep Health
Join Dr Dale Rae, Director: Sleep Science, Cape Town and Senior Lecturer at the Division of Physiological Sciences, University of Cape Town, and co-hosts Dr Jill Warner and Mike Finch as they talk about the special challenges adolescents have when it comes to sleep time, regularity and requirements. Understand why teenagers sleep at odd hours, how stress affects their sleep and the best sleep strategies for the younger set. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11/30/2023 • 30 minutes, 11 seconds
Sleep And Athletic Performance (feat. Olympic gold medallist Ryk Neethling)
The team are joined by Dr Dale Rae, Director at Sleep Science and a Senior Lecturer in the Division of Physiological Sciences at the University of Cape Town, to break down the special sleep needs of sports, and active, people. The team talk about how to earn a 'nap' licence, how much to sleep if you're an active person, how to cope with jet lag and why early risers are more likely to succeed in sport. Co-host Dr Jill Warner also interviews former Olympic gold medallist swimmer Ryk Neethling about his sleep experiences and the lessons he has learnt along the way. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11/21/2023 • 43 minutes, 44 seconds
Mike LIVE in Budapest, Day 5 recap from the World Athletics Championships: Ingebrigtsen, Warholm, ties and goulash
Day 5 from the World Athletics Championships threw up some intriguing storylines. An upset in the men's 1500m, as history repeated in the GB (actually Edinburgh Athletic Club) vs Ingebrigtsen rivalry, Karsten Warholm returned to the top step of the 400m hurdles podium, and there was an agreed tie for gold in the Women's Pole vault. We discuss the physiological fragility of the 1500m event, ponder fatigue and pacing strategies in the field events, compare Lyles 2023 to Bolt 2009, and Mike gives us insights on Hungarian goulash! Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
8/24/2023 • 55 minutes, 22 seconds
Mike LIVE in Budapest: Day 4 recap from the World Athletics Championships
Mike is on the ground in Budapest, and the duo are doing LIVE Instagram chats every morning, discussing the big stories from the World Athletics Championships. In this episode, we go back to Night 3 to talk about the women's 100m champion and a press conference that Mike attended (and asked a question that got a prickly answer!), and discuss Sha'Carri Richardson's volatile relationship with the media, in contrast to her huge potential upside to the sport. We also talk about Faith Kipyegon's absolute dominance of middle distance running (bordering on invincibility), the heat and humidity in Budapest as a challenge to everyone from the schedule-creators to the shot-putter to the marathon runner. We also open the door on some anti-doping stories, including the potential for a new tool, and a brewing doping controversy.These episodes have been recorded every day on Instagram live (so apologies for some scratchy sound, live from the field), and then all of them are uploaded as Patron exclusives, so if you're enjoying our coverage and feel like being part of the Science of Sport patron community, check us out and consider donating here!Show notes:The article about a tilted runway in the pole vault - Mike and his spirit level are on it!Systematic review on cannabis and its effects on exercise performanceThe Sean Ingle piece about AIU and the new antidoping toolA brief article on Tobi Amusan's whereabouts failure and the prospect of AIU appealing the decision (the full decision is out today, more to come, no doubt) Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
8/23/2023 • 57 minutes, 1 second
SOS SPECIAL: Jenna's Crawl: Tales from an elite ultra runner
Elite ultra runner Jenna Challenor made headlines during the recent 89km (56-mile) Comrades Marathon when she crawled across the finish line on all fours to finish fourth. Mike Finch talks to her about her Comrades experience, how she dealt with debilitating long Covid, training and pacing strategies and how to tough it out.SHOW NOTES: Jenna Challenor's dramatic Comrades finish https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULZQiAZF03A Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
9/8/2022 • 28 minutes, 42 seconds
Bonus episode: Brief thoughts on the Lia Thomas transgender controversy, and a year end salute
In this bonus episode, Ross shares brief thoughts on the latest, inevitable and increasingly volatile controversy in the transgender athlete debate. Swimmer Lia Thomas has been shattering university records, setting the fastest times in the USA, and is well on the way to becoming the highest profile trans women athlete to date. Her times as Lia are within sight not only of legends of US women's swimming, but also very close to what she swam as Will Thomas, prior to a period of suppressing testosterone to become eligible for women's sport. This confirms what science has shown, that biological and performance advantages of males cannot be undone by a period of testosterone suppression. What next? Ross shares some insights, explaining how Thomas is the result of a system that has failed women from the top, how women are now being told to hold their thoughts, science be damned, and why the argument about winning and being unbeatable is spurious, and how Thomas refutes an old and incorrect rebuttal saying "if there is an advantage, where are all the medalists?". Also, a 2021 Christmas wish, and thanks for listening to the podcast in 2021. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
12/16/2021 • 26 minutes, 27 seconds
Bonus episode: Facts and fallacies in the trans athlete debate, a conversation with Dr Emma Hilton
In this bonus episode, Ross sits down with Dr Emma Hilton, a developmental biologist who has outspokenly defended women's sport and explained the science and physiology of male vs female sporting performance differences. In a candid conversation, she shares insights ranging from political to philosophical, both personal and scientific. Why is the recent IOC Framework such a failure of leadership and setback for women? What do we make of trans men in men's sport? How should sports respond to sex reassignment during childhood? What are the most compelling arguments for and against inclusion, and how should fallacies like the length of Michael Phelps' arms steer our thinking about fairness in sport, and the need to protect the women's sporting category? All these questions, and more, answered in this wide ranging interview, which was initially broadcast live on Twitter Spaces on 25 November. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11/26/2021 • 1 hour, 31 minutes, 44 seconds
S3 E27: Why the IOC's Recent Guidelines on Transgender Athletes Raise So Many Questions
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently announced controversial new transgender guidelines which could threaten the future of women's sport. But what does the evidence say and why did the IOC ignore the science? Mike Finch and Prof. Ross Tucker explain all. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11/17/2021 • 50 minutes, 3 seconds
Bonus episode: Should rugby reduce the number of substitutes to lower injury risk
In the ongoing debate and discussion about the risk of injury in rugby, many people have suggested that cutting the number of substitutes is the easiest and most obvious "fix". The truth, however, is a little more complex than this, because there are grounds to suggest that doing this will backfire and make the situation worse, not better. That's why decision-makers in the sport have to prioritize evidence when making decisions. In this bonus episode, Ross shares the two models in play for the substitute-case, and explains how research is needed to identify which model holds sway, and what this means for player welfare decisions in the sport. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
10/14/2021 • 13 minutes, 46 seconds
Bonus episode: It is time to choose: How a new transgender guidance policy shifts the conversation and demands difficult decisions
The UK Sports Councils have released guidelines on transgender participation in sport, following an exhaustive and comprehensive review process. The two key points made are: 1) to confirm that the current policy that suppresses testosterone for twelve months is not fit for purpose, because advantages are retained even after testosterone is reduced, and 2) that "categorization by sex is lawful" (it also states that this categorization remains the most useful and functional division relative to sporting performance.The implications of those two statements alone are profound, and they effectively mandate the sports to make a choice between three options, also offered in the guidelines. In this bonus episode, Ross explains what they are, what this all means, and perhaps most importantly, discusses revelations from the report about fear and anxiety from those who don't believe in inclusion and fairness, and how they've been threatened into silence or compliance on this issue. That should be alarming, but the presence of this report should be encouraging. What happens next? Nobody knows, but this podcast has you covered for where we are now. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.