Advertise on podcast: TRAINED

Since the day Joe Holder stepped on the scene, his innovative training strategies have attracted everyone from executives to supermodels. But this Nike Trainer didn’t become one of the most influential figures in the industry by having a star-studded book of clients. He did it by challenging the rules and continuously working to make fitness more approachable and inclusive. On this episode, Joe explains how his famous philosophy, the Ocho System, enables us take care of ourselves so that we’re better equipped to help others. He tells us why being part of the “Plant-Based Gang” is anything but restrictive, and why exercise snacks can help movement fit on anyone’s plate. He also gets candid about his qualms with the fitness world and lays out a simple mindset shift that can help us reach our goals. Joe’s concepts show that the barriers to health and fitness aren’t so hard to knock down, and that by choosing to better ourselves, we can inspire others to do so too.

Sleep doesn’t usually come to mind when people think about fitness. But after Jeffrey Durmer, MD, PhD, noticed the lack of sleep support when he was an elite athlete, and again when his daughters were national-level swimmers, he decided to take the research into his own hands. Now, as a neurologist, systems neuroscientist and sleep-medicine physician, Dr. Durmer is that support for today’s top athletes. Through his work with the NFL and the USA Weightlifting team for the 2021 Tokyo games, he’s shown how simple tactics like sleep banking can make a serious impact on performance. But above all, he’s shown that sleep is recovery, and no training routine is complete without enough of it. On this episode, he gets specific about why sleep is essential to our physical and psychological health, tells us how to know whether we’re really getting as much as we need and sets us all up for a more alert tomorrow.

In February of 2018, NBA star DeMar DeRozan shocked the world when he tweeted, “This depression got the best of me.” He posted it on impulse, but the effects it had on the stigma surrounding athletes and mental health were far-reaching. On this episode, DeMar tells us how owning his depression helped him find relief and influenced the industry to make mental health a higher priority. He also shares the hard-won lessons he learned during childhood and opens up about getting past losses on the court and the loss of his father. DeMar’s willingness to be vulnerable has given him a mental edge in basketball and in life. Now, he’s using his platform to encourage other athletes to speak their minds — and to instill self-love, self-awareness and self-confidence in the next generation.

Like many people who have pelvic floor issues, Ann Nwabuebo, DPT, unknowingly lived with hers for years. It wasn’t until a physical therapist called out her symptoms of pain and urinary frequency as atypical that she realized they were treatable. Within just a few sessions, Dr Ann got relief — and directed her career toward becoming a pelvic rehabilitation practitioner to help others achieve the same. On this episode, the founder and CEO of Body Connect Physical Therapy sets out to reduce the stigma around pelvic floor dysfunction, offers strategies to prevent problems, and explains when it’s time to seek professional care. By sharing exercises to strengthen those muscles, she enables people across all genders, fitness levels and stages of motherhood to make sure a weak pelvic floor doesn’t restrict their life.

What do a top conservation biologist and a legendary marathoner have in common? Their passion for the environment. On this episode, two unique perspectives come together to tell the story of one goal: to preserve our planet so we can all thrive. First, scientist M. Sanjayan, the CEO of Conservation International, lays out the state of our climate. He explains why athletes — no matter what they play or where they train — are affected by environmental change, the impact of our food choices, and simple steps to take for a better future. Next, longtime Nike athlete Joan Benoit Samuelson details how decades of running have forced her to adapt to poor air quality and irregular weather patterns and inspired her to join local climate initiatives. Both share a hopeful look at how they continue to embrace the outdoors and the ways every one of us can lace up for the race against climate change.

At Trained, we believe in the boundless capabilities of the body and mind. So as Nike celebrates its 50th anniversary, we dug through our archives to find our favorite informational and inspirational moments. Our guest athletes and experts have played key roles in helping us understand the five facets of fitness: mindset, movement, nutrition, recovery and sleep. As host Jaclyn Byrer walks us through guidance from Shalane Flanagan, Simon Sinek, Angela Manuel-Davis and others, we’ll revisit topics like the best training routine for long-term success, recap how to cope with anxiety by embracing it and recount the journeys of athletes who endured trauma and healed through sport. No one can say what the next 50 years will hold. But one thing we know for sure? You can count on Trained to continue keeping pace with the changes in science and the expanding needs of athletes all around the world.

Tunde Oyeneyin’s reputation as a fitness icon has been 36 years in the making. And according to the personal trainer and cycling instructor, all of her highs wouldn’t have been possible without the lows. On this episode, Tunde tells us about the ups and downs of her life and career. We’ll hear how losing her mom helped her step into the greatest version of herself, why self-doubt is a catalyst for change and how missed opportunities can shift you in the right direction. Tunde’s story is one of grace, gratitude and realizing your dreams.

Amanda Beard grew up in the spotlight. She graced the Olympic podium by 14, racked up eight USA Swimming national titles and appeared on the covers of numerous sports and lifestyle magazines. But with the glamour and glory came intense media scrutiny that led her to struggle with body dysmorphia, depression and self-harm. On this episode, Amanda shares her coming-of-age story as a young woman in professional sports. She speaks about pressures specific to female athletes and explains why they can be so harmful. Having found confidence and happiness since her early days in the pool, she also tells us how athletes and their support systems can prioritize self-worth and well-being.

Most of us equate feeling tired with needing more sleep. But according to Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD, that only scratches the surface of what it really means to be rested. Through her research, the internal-medicine physician and founder of Restorasis identified seven types of rest that cut across all socioeconomic, cultural and racial barriers. On this episode, she gives us a thorough break-down of what these are and how to know when we’re getting enough of each. Whether you’re a worn-down athlete, a worn-out parent or an overworked employee, Dr Dalton-Smith assures us that her restorative practices aren’t additions to our to-do lists, they’re daily habits that can help us all become our optimal selves.

Trained's Jac Byrer introduces Nike's new podcast, a limited series called No Off-Season, and its hosts from Crisis Text Line, Dr. Shairi Turner and licensed social worker Natalia Dayan. Featuring in-depth, personal conversations about mental health with athletes like Karl-Anthony Towns, Laurie Hernandez, Raven Saunders, Tatyana McFadden and more, No Off-Season will run right here—Tuesdays on Trained's feed—for the next few months. In centering mental health, No Off-Season asserts that there is strength in asking for help, power in sharing our inner experiences, and healing in community. From dealing with loss to working through depression and anxiety to overcoming trauma, the stories presented on No Off-Season show those of us facing mental health challenges that we are not alone and serve to unite all of us around an issue with universal impact. Crisis Text Line, a Nike nonprofit partner, provides free, 24/7, high-quality text-based mental health support and crisis intervention by empowering a community of trained volunteers to support people in their moments of need. At any time, texters in the U.S. can connect with volunteer Crisis Counselors by texting the word STRONG to 741741.

With the loss of several family members to COVID-19, including his beloved mother, and getting sick with the virus himself, NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns has been forced to examine mortality and grief in all new ways. On this debut episode of No Off-Season, Karl joins Crisis Text Line's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shairi Turner, to discuss what he's learned from dealing with loss, the ways he manages his own self-worth and how he hopes to enhance the mental health of his entire community.

By the time gymnast Laurie Hernandez turned 16, she’d reached the peak of her sport. But success came at a cost and her mental health suffered. In this honest and intimate conversation with Crisis Text Line’s Natalia Dayan, a licensed social worker and therapist, Laurie shares what she endured, how she found the resolve to recover, and the profound therapeutic steps she has taken to heal.