In this month’s edition of the How To Series, WHOOP Founder & CEO Will Ahmed sits down with one of the world’s most dominant cyclists, Mathieu van der Poel. Will and van der Poel sit down to unpack how to perform across disciplines, sustain longevity in elite-level sport, and embrace suffering for greatness.

Van der Poel shares his training philosophy, what motivates him to push through the toughest moments of a race, and how he uses WHOOP data to optimize recovery. From sleep habits, to caffeine consumption, to strength training, and key recovery habits, van der Poel offers an inside look at how listening to his body and staying consistent drives performance.

The conversation reflects the highs and lows of van der Poel's career, from battling pneumonia at the Tour de France, to the impact his long-term team has made on his career, to the role of fierce rivalries in pushing him to the next level. This episode offers an exclusive look into the mindset it takes to be one of the best endurance athletes in the world.

(00:40) Mathieu van der Poel on Versatility as a Cyclist

(03:21) Aspiring To Go Pro: van der Poel’s Upbringing in Cycling

(04:36) Measuring Success In Cycling

(05:55) Skills and Metrics Needed To Gain Power Over The Competition

(08:06) A Week In Training To Gain Endurance

(09:13) Essential Recovery Techniques

(11:12) Learning To Enjoy The Suffering in Training

(13:28) Overcoming Setbacks: Pneumonia & Tour de France

(15:10) Importance Of Building A Supportive Team

(16:32) Mathieu’s Motivations: Favorite Races & Inspiration In Sport

(20:23) Turning To The Data: Monitoring Metrics Throughout The Race

(23:55) Strength Training As A Cyclist & Mitigating Injury

(27:39) A Look Ahead: Exciting New Steps in van der Poel’s Career
(29:00) Nutrition & Intuitive Eating Before, During, and After Race Day

(30:00) Visualization and Mindset’s Role In Cycling Success

(30:35) WHOOP Podcast Rapid Fire Qs

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This week, on the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Founder & CEO Will Ahmed sits down with 23-time gold medalist, Michael Phelps. Michael opens up about his experience coming up as a swimmer, reflecting on impactful changes that could benefit the sports future successes. Michael shares personal stories from his career, revealing the areas athletes can improve upon in order to break records on the world’s biggest stage. Beyond competition, Will and Michael dive deep into recovery, sleep, and the power of data, assessing how small biometrics guided Michael’s training at the highest level and how WHOOP is changing how athletes understand their bodies. Michael also reflects on breaking world records, the mindset required to chase the “impossible,” and how preparation quiets pressure on the biggest stages.

Michael opens up about his ongoing mental health journey, discussing his experience with depression and anxiety. He redefines success beyond medals, the importance of community, and what it means to see himself fully as a human, a father, and a role model, not just an athlete.

(00:55) Phelps on His Career In Swimming

(04:49) Funding Sports and Athletes To Succeed

(08:44) Road to 2028: What To Expect in Swimming

(11:52) Who To Watch: The Rise Of The Next Great Record Holders

(14:55) Recovery As A Theme For Greatness

(18:20) What Mental Success Looks Like

(24:35) Physical Modalities To Aid Mental Health

(25:45) WHOOP As An Accountability Provider

(31:33) Understanding Blood Biomarkers with WHOOP Advanced Labs

(36:13) Phelps on Parenting Young Athletes

(38:02) Phelps’ Advice For Athletes: Nerves and Preparation

(42:54) What’s Next: Mental Health Advocacy & Parenthood

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The WHOOP Podcast Longevity Series is back! This week, WHOOP SVP of Research, Algorithms, and Data, Emily Capodilupo sits down with Dr. Ami Bhatt, renowned cardiologist, Chief Innovation Officer at the American College of Cardiology, and Chair of the Digital Health Advisory Committee. Dr. Bhatt offers a rare, inside look at how medicine, technology, and policy are coming together to enhance the future of healthcare. From wearables to AI to patient agency and clinician training, this conversation unpacks what it takes to modernize healthcare. Dr. Bhatt shares her personal journey from practicing cardiologist to national innovation leader, highlighting the role of education, ethics, and human-AI collaboration in creating a better healthcare landscape for patients across the country.

(00:53) Intro to Dr. Ami Bhatt, Chair of the Digital Health Advisory Committee

(3:20) Seeing AI As A Tool In Healthcare

(06:23) Teaching AI: Responsibility & Ethics In Healthcare

(09:19) Dr. Bhatt: From Cardiology to Policy

(12:21) Role As A Chief Innovation Officer in Healthcare Regulation

(16:03) Adjusting Teaching Policies to AI

(21:45) Thinking About Wearables: Data Translation & AI

(30:38) Technology in Healthcare: Building Useful Algorithms

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