Shows / The Real Science of Sport Podcast
The Real Science of Sport Podcast
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
The Real Science of Sport PodcastInside the Mind of a Winter Olympian: The Science of Stoke
If you love the podcast, and want to show your support, a monthly pledge on Patreon is the way! We'd be absolutely stoked if you did! Show notes Lesley McKenna…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastNo Sports Advantage for Trans Women? / Khelif Defiant but in Denial / Bol's 800m debut
The conversation continues on Discourse, for our Science of Sport Supporters. Join now with a small monthly pledge for access to the best sports science…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastWinter Olympic Spotlight: Vonn('s gate) and risk / Cross Country Klaebo / Speed Skating Unfairness / Penis-gate
Become a Science of Sport Supporter, and get access to our Discourse chat community, and to our upcoming Real Science of Sport Live Chats. A small monthly…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastWINTER OLYMPIC SPECIAL: Speed Skating 101
Professor Florentina 'Fleur' Hettinga loves speed skating. Not only has she competed as an athlete in the discipline, but she has also researched many elements…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastA VO2max of 101: Fantastical Physiology? / Australian Open Wrap / Contact Sport Dilemmas
Show Notes On the Spotlight this week, we wrap up the Australian Open where dramatic semi finals saw Alcaraz overcome cramp (to Zverev's dismay), Djokovic…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastWINTER OLYMPIC SPECIAL: An Insiders Guide to Cross Country Skiing and Biathlon
Norwegian Oyvind Sandbakk is a specialist in the brutally tough world of cross-country skiing and biathlon. He is Sports Director at the Norwegian School of…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastWINTER OLYMPIC SPECIAL: The Beauty and Drama of Figure Skating
Figure skating is one of the most popular sports at the Winter Olympics as it combines world-class athleticism with dance, choreography and music. Jackie Wong…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastThe Heat is On In Aus, But Whoop Is Gone / Noakes and a Low Carb Theory Full of Holes
On the show, we mention our Supporters Club a lot, and reference discussions of various sports science subjects that inspire and inform our own conversations…
- The Real Science of Sport Podcast
Alex Hutchinson: The Battle For Credibility
Journalist, author, and speaker Alex Hutchinson is passionate in his search for truth. As the author of three books ('Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights?…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastThe Rise of the Machines: Can AI Take Over Coaching? / Talent ID's Imprecise Guess
Become a Supporter of the Real Science of Sport podcast - a small monthly donation via Patreon is how you do it, and then you'll get access to our listener…
- The Real Science of Sport Podcast
New Year Predictions: The Biggest Stories to Expect in 2026
Join Mike, Ross and the chief sportswriter at The Guardian, Sean Ingle, as we look ahead to the biggest events in 2026. From the Winter Olympics to the World…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastFestive Season Catch-up: What We Missed, Watched and Debated During The Holidays
There's a lot to catch up on today's Spotlight. Four weeks of Festive season sport means a range of topics from technology failures in the Ashes to the "Battle…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastThe 2025 Sport & Science Awards Show
As 2025 winds down, Gareth, Mike and Ross reunite to look back on a packed and fascinating year in sport and sports science in a bumper Year-end show! We pick…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastAIU's Brett Clothier: Catching Athletics' Doping Cheats
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) is the body established to oversee drug testing and other integrity issues within the sport of athletics and road running…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastElite Athletes and Weight Worries - GLP-1 Debates and RED-s Warnings
Become a Supporter of The Real Science of Sport by making a small monthly pledge, and you also get access to our world-class community of experts and…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastAre You Being Injured By Your Running Shoes? / Mondo Soars Again / Preventing Head Impacts / A $1400 Mattress That Does What?
Join the Real Science of Sport Supporters club, and get access to the sports science community where at least one person (usually many more) knows the answer…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastMediocre Male Beats Strong Women, But Justice Prevails / Should XC Running Be In The Winter Games? / Concussion Prevention Illusions
Join The Real Science of Sport Supporters Club by making a small monthly pledge at Patreon.com. Think of it as buying us a cup of coffee before you listen to…
- The Real Science of Sport Podcast
US Anti-Doping Chief Travis T. Tygart: Inside The Politics and Fight Against Doping
Support us on Discourse Discourse is our "sponsorship", our sole source of income. But it's way more than that - it's a community of experts and enthusiasts…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastA Deeper Insider Look at Fatigue and Pacing / Why High Carbohydrate Intake Works - It's Not Fuel Depletion / A Heat Condundrum
In this Spotlight, we pick out some of the sports science topics that our listeners are sharing in our Discourse community. You can become a Real Science of…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastOlympic Track and Field Schedule Surprises / Risk of Cardiac Events When Watching Sport / Rugby's Calendar Challenge
Become a member of The Real Science of Sport Supporters Club to show your support and have your say. A perk of membership is Discourse, our community that…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastWill the Olympics Finally Protect Women's Sport? / Anti-Doping Antagonism and The Enhanced Games / Bracy-Williams Banned
Support us on Discourse Discourse is our "sponsorship", our sole source of income. But it's way more than that - it's a community of experts and enthusiasts…
- The Real Science of Sport Podcast
The Story (and Science) of Endurance
Endurance has been one of the most hotly debated topics in sports science for over three decades. From early research in the 1930s to the ground-breaking 1996…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastKlecker Hits 175g/h Carbs in NYC / New York Racing Analysis / Ozempic Doping?
Join Discourse! A small monthly pledge gets you access to the best Sports Science community on the interwebs. For opinions, insights on sport, advice on…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastIs Exercise for Weight Loss a Waste of Time? / Doping Convictions, Conundrums and Coital Contaminations / Heat Stress Hacks
Discourse Support the show by becoming a Patron, which means a monthly pledge that is equal to buying us a cup of coffee! That gets you access to our Discourse…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastDoes Cardio Training Kill The "Gainz"? / Are Tennis Players Playing Too Much? / The True Prevalence of Doping? / Unlocking a New Performance Metric
Join Discourse! No pitch, just a link to sign up and show your support! In this week's show, we tackle intriguing physiological questions raised by listeners…
- The Real Science of Sport Podcast
The World's Most Famous Amateur Cyclist on Training and Racing
Forty-year-old lawyer Andrew Feather hit the news headlines recently when he 'beat' Tadej Pogacar in an exhibition handicap uphill cycle race. Even though…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastDo You Need Only 10g per Hour of Carbs? Tim Noakes Thinks So / Pacing Implosions: When Regulation Fails
Support us on Discourse As Gareth mentioned, Discourse is our "sponsorship", our sole source of income. But it's way more than that - it's a community of…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastHow to Avoid the Traps of Bro Science / Protecting the Brain in Contact Sport / "Athlete Trafficking" and Talent Pathways
Discourse Support the show, and get way more fascinating insight than the Bros deliver on the pod! Everything in Spotlight is discussed, dissected and debated…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastWomen's World Cup Culmination / Ryder Cup Drama / CAS Dismisses Contaminated Meat Defence
Join Discourse and contribute to the Spotlight, and join the conversation - a small monthly donation gets you membership to our community, and that allows you…
- The Real Science of Sport Podcast
World Cycling Champs Review: The Greatest Champs This Century? / Is Remco Close To Beating Pog? / Post Race Interviews
The 2025 UCI World Road Cycling Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, delivered plenty of drama and debate, and SOS host Mike Finch was there to witness the action…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastPro Preview: Ashleigh Moolman Pasio on Rwanda's World Cycling Champs
Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio is one of the most experienced riders in the women's pro peloton and, in 2025, celebrates her 15th appearance at the UCI World Cycling…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastThe Tokyo 2025 Wrap: Winners, Losers and Lasting Memories / Womens' Rugby World Cup Final
Spotlights are our weekly show that wraps up the news and the topics that you, the listener, are discussing in our VIP Discourse community. To become a member…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastTokyo Day 9: Women's 800m Upset / Cole Hocker's Redemption Arc / Botswana Crash the USA Relay Parade
Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastTokyo Day 8: An Historic Men's 800m / Women's 5000m Plays Into Chebet's Hands / Relay Qualification Carnage
Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastTokyo Day 6 and Day 7: SML's Near WR as Two Break 48 / 400m Hurdles / 200m Defence and Doubles
Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastTokyo Day 5: A Men’s 1500 Surprise Dissected / A Brutal Women’s’ Steeple How Fast Will Sydney ML Go?
Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastTokyo Day 4: Kipyegon Perfection / Tinch seals the 110m Hurdles / Men's 1500m Preview
Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastTokyo Day 3: The Greatest Marathon Finish Ever? / Men's Steeplechase Drama / Hocker DQ
Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastTokyo Day 2: The Fastest Man and Woman in the World / Men's 10000m Stunners / A marathon sprint
Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastTokyo Day 1: Women's 10000m and Mixed 4 x 400m
Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastReflections on Gladwell and Tokyo 2025 gets underway
Become a Discourse member Join our community on Discourse - predict, pontificate, ponder and pledge - a small monthly donation gets you into the VIP room for…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastTokyo 2025: Preview Show with Sean Ingle
The Tokyo World Athletics Championships kick off on September 13, and while the team are not there in presence, we will be bringing you recaps, insights and…
- The Real Science of Sport Podcast
Inside the Astonishing World of Elite Rowing
Rower Drew Ginn is one of Australia's most decorated athletes with five world championships and three Olympic gold medals to his name. From 1995 to 1998, he…
- The Real Science of Sport Podcast
Follow Up: Did Malcolm Gladwell Need To Apologise for Trans Stance?
In episode 20, celebrity author, columnist, and podcaster Malcolm Gladwell apologised for the way he had handled a debate on trans athletes at the 2022 MIT…
- The Real Science of Sport Podcast
Malcolm Gladwell Talks Sport
Author, speaker, podcaster and columnist Malcolm Gladwell has sold over 25 million books, including titles such as The Tipping Point, What the Dog Saw…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastTokyo Teasers, Women's Rugby Risks, and Doping Double Standards
Get with the Discourse, and share thoughts on the subjects we tackle - a small monthly pledge gets you into the VIP room for the "best content on the…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastShould Doping Coaches Be Banned For Life? / Heat and Heart Rate / Tokyo Rivalries In Focus
The conversation begins, continues, but rarely ends, on Discourse! As mentioned, you can become a member of our VIP community by donating a small monthly…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastZone 2: The Debate Continues / World Records Old and New
Join Discourse Join Kona champions, beer mile WR holders, sports scientists, and sports enthusiasts who will add exponentially to the value of the show! Make a…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastWhy Everything You Know About Zone 2 Training is Probably Wrong
Everyone is talking about Zone 2 training, but few understand the real science behind it. But thanks to a new scientific review, Much Ado About Zone 2: A…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastCutting Weight to Win: PFP's Performance Strategy. Or Slippery Slope?
Join Discourse Weigh in on these and other stories by becoming a Science of Sport Discourse member with a small monthly pledge Show notes This week on the…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastInside The World of Women's Professional Cycling
Multiple African Champion, Commonwealth Games medallist, Olympian, multiple Giro Rosa podium finisher and one of the most experienced riders in the women's…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastFitness, Fatigue and a Tour Without Fire (But Hope From the Women's TDF)
Join Discourse Join Daisy and hundreds of others who comment, discuss, or read what has grabbed the interest of our listeners! For a monthly pledge, you can…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastWhat Your Strava Fitness Score Really Means
TSS, Relative Effort, Fitness Score... Confused by all the numbers and what they mean? Mike and Prof. Tucker delve into the details of what defines fitness…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastTrust Issues: Doping, the Media, and the Athlete’s Dilemma
Join Discourse: you know what to do - small monthly pledge, and the community is yours! This week's Spotlight kicks off on the roads of France with a…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastHormones, Hype & High Performance: The Menstrual Cycle in Sport
In this episode, we dive into the intersection of the menstrual cycle and athletic performance—a topic often surrounded by strong opinions but surprisingly…
The Real Science of Sport Podcast🚨 SOS: It WAS Too Good To Be True: Marathon World Record Holder Chepng'etich Provisionally Suspended
Join Discourse - a small monthly pledge gives you access to the best sports science and sports insight community on the interwebs (yes, we are biased). Pledge…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastStaying Cool at the Tour - Gimmick or Gain? | Busting the Hype About Salty Sweat
Join Discourse by making a small monthly pledge, to double your Science of Sport experience! In a packed episode of Spotlight, we kick off with a Discourse…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastThe Science of Cramp
It's time to pour yourself some pickle juice and suck on a salt tab (or is it?) as we talk exercise-associated muscle cramps (EAMCs) - one of the most complex…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastVingegaard's Muscle: No Match for Pogacar? | Who is to Blame for Tour Crash Chaos?
Discourse - the best thing about this Podcast, is all yours for a small monthly pledge. No exorbitant fee, no toilet paper advert every 510min, and access to…
The Real Science of Sport PodcastWhat It's Really Like to be a Tennis Professional on Tour
Kevin Ullyett has won 34 career tennis titles - including two doubles (2001 US Open, 2005 Australian Open) and one mixed (2002 Australian Open) Grand Slams -…