Listening to podcasts while exercising can be a convenient opportunity to educate yourself about all-things-nutrition. Nutrition podcasts can not only entertain you during yet another long run, erg session, or workout at the gym, but also teach you how to fuel better so you can enjoy better results from your workouts.
To help you choose trustworthy podcast selections, I have listed below a few options with topics of potential interest to athletes—health, energy, eating disorders, injury repair, current food controversies, plus more. I hope you will take advantage of these opportunities to learn from these top-notch nutrition researchers and clinicians from around the globe.
Given many sports nutritionists do not have their own podcasts, you might also want to google podcasts with ___. Fill in the blank with respected clinicians and exercise physiologists such as Louise Burke, Stu Phillips, Asker Jeukendrup, and Trent Stellingwerff. You’ll be able to listen to these guests on someone else’s podcast.
Sound Bites with registered dietitian (RD) Melissa Joy Dobbins.
Posted 2/month; ~ 60 minutes.
Melissa’s information is popular with both dietitians and the general public. You’ll learn about topics related to your daily diet, with a focus on current trends and controversies. For example:
• How Safe Are Food Dyes? An Expert Weighs in on the Research and Regulations
• The Sober Curious Movement: Embracing an Alcohol-Free lifestyle
• Plant-based Performance Nutrition: Benefits, Challenges & Key Nutrients
Spot On! with Joan Salge Blake EdD RD
Posted 2/month; 30-45 minutes
Joan, a RD and nutrition professor at Boston University, covers timely nutrition topics. In her lively style, she interviews top experts who offer practical health and wellness information. For example:
• Food Order: The Science Behind the Eating Pattern of a Meal and Your Health
• How a Creatine Supplement May Boost Your Muscle and Your Mind
• Why “Calories In vs Calories Out” is a Myth For Weight Management
Exam Room Nutrition with Colleen Sloan, Physician Assistant, RD
Posted 1/week, ~30 minutes.
Designed to address medical and nutrition questions, Colleen provides practical guidance on how to manage food for health. You’ll find food guidance that bridges the gap between medicine and nutrition.
HDL=Good, LDL=Bad? It’s Not That Simple
Overcoming Nutrition Challenges for Women Over 40
“I’m barely Eating. Why Can’t I Lose Weight?” The Hidden Factors at Play
Fueling Endurance – Nutrition for Runners, Cyclists & Triathletes with Alan McCubbin PhD
Posted 1-2/month; ~60 min.
Alan, a sports dietitian, nutrition researcher, and lecturer at Australia’s Monash University, addresses a rich variety of topics based on questions that athletes ask him as a dietitian for endurance athletes.
• Are high carb diets a health concern for athletes?
• Can I trust AI with my sports nutrition questions?
• Are omega-3s important for athletic performance?
We Do Science with Laurent Bannock
Posted 1/week,~60+ min.
This podcast out of the Institute of Performance Nutrition features a wide variety of leading guest experts who are clinicians and/or scientists with expertise in sports and exercise nutrition or other related/relevant fields. They take a deep dive into current trends and hot topics.
• Nutrition for the Prevention and Treatment of Sports Injuries
• Plant-based Sports Nutrition
• Advising Nutritional Supplements
Unbiased Science with Jessica Steier & Sarah Scheinman
Posted 1/week, ~30 minutes
The hosts take close looks at the science on health-related topics that may be a source of controversy. They debunk health myths and clarify the confusion with facts.
• Cholestero-all In! The role of Cholesterol in Heart Health
• Protein, Creatine and “Skinny Teens”
• Food Dyes, Seed Oils and Nutrition!
The Injured Athletes Club
1/week; ~60 minutes
Hosted by mental skills coach Carrie Jackson and health/fitness journalist and runner Cindy Kuma, this podcast offers support to athletes dealing with sports injuries. The podcast creates a community that offers hope to help make the recovery journey easier. The hosts interview athletes who have recovered from an injury, if not an injury after injury after injury.
• Coping When Recovery Feels Overwhelming
• Recovery from RED-S
• Expanding your identity
Whom to trust for nutrition facts
After having listened to Why Should I Trust You?, I now better understand why so many people today mistrust messages related to food additives, ultra-processed foods, seed oils and other public health issues. One answer: Too many nutrition scientists need to offer clearer messages to the public. Two sources of clear messaging are Dr. Andrea Love PhD and Dr. Jessica Knurick PhD. They can help you better understand facts vs. hype You can follow @dr.AndreaLove and @drJessicaKnurick on social media channels such as Instagram and substack.
May these sources of science-based nutrition and health information address your questions and food concerns, enhance your health and athletic performance, resolve nutrition confusion, and add listening enjoyment to your long workouts.
Nancy Clark MS RD CSSD counsels both fitness exercisers and competitive athletes in the Boston-area and has been a guest on many podcasts. Her best-selling Sports Nutrition Guidebook is a popular resource. For more information, visit NancyClarkRD.com