ep. 38 | Meditation for Athletes

Meditation has become a very important part of my daily routine over the past 5 years, and has played a tremendous role in my philosophies around spirituality, nutrition, health, and athletics. I’ve spent a lot of time practicing meditation and have attended multiple retreats, and in recent times I’ve been prioritizing it even more with the current state of the world due to COVID-19. I believe strongly in the power of meditation to live a more examined and meaningful life, and also think more athletes should consider developing a practice for a variety of reasons.

In this episode of the show, I share my general thoughts on meditation for those new to the idea, how I see it being beneficial for athletes through my own experiences, and end with a short, 10 minute guided meditation session. If you want to hear more about my experience from the 10 day retreat, check out my previous podcast episode.

Show Notes

Mindfulness Mechanisms in Sports: Mediating Effects of Rumination and Emotion Regulation on Sport-Specific Coping

Mindfulness and Flow in Elite Athletes

Waking Up / Sam Harris

Headspace App

Insight Meditation Society

Dhamma.org

Altered Traits book

ep. 37 | Professional Cyclist Toms Skujiņš

I sit down for a conversation with my friend and Latvian professional cyclist Toms Skujiņš, where he is currently in lockdown in Girona, Spain. We chat about a variety of topics including staying motivated during uncertainty and quarantine, philosophies around nutrition and sport, lessons learned while in the pro peloton, and what it’s like to wear the polka-dot jersey in the Tour de France. Follow Toms on social media @tomashuuns and on his website https://www.tomsskujins.com/

Jackson on Instagram: @intheflownutrition

Jackson on Strava: http://strava.com/athletes/jacksonlong

ep. 36 | Ask Me Anything #3

I’m back with another chapter of my Ask Me Anything series, where I field listener questions and do my best to provide thoughtful and practical answers. I cover everything from the role of supplements in a plant-based diet, recovery nutrition, musical tastes, oil’s place in my own diet, and what the deal is with collagen, and more. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions, and thanks for listening!

Show Notes

Dr. Michael Greger’s Optimal Nutrient Intakes

Complement Plus

IOC Consensus Statement on Supplements for Athletes

McAlindon et al. 2011

Shaw et al. 2017

Clark et al. 2008

Jackson on Strava

Jackson on Instagram

Jackson on YouTube

ep. 35 | Christie Aschwanden on the Art and Science of Recovery

Recovery has become an increasingly popular buzzword in the world of sport, and has made the jump from a noun to a verb and blossomed into a massive industry. From supplements to ice baths to compression boots to various torture device looking contraptions, there’s no shortage of money to be spent on “enhancing” our performance. But what actually works? What does the science actually show? My guest today is Christie Aschwanden, a science writer, journalist, avid endurance athlete, and author of the book Good to Go: What the Athlete in All of Us Can Learn From the Strange Science of Recovery. Christie set out to answer these questions, and eloquently and effectively dives into the fray to search for truth in the world of recovery by trying many of these things, digging into the research, and talking to experts in the field.

We talk about the big picture side of recovery. How so many times athletes miss the forest for the trees and don’t prioritize the boring, simple, and most evidence-based fundamentals and instead focus on the latest shiny gadget that their favorite pro athlete/influencer is promoting on social media. We discuss gaining that calm confidence in training hard and developing a lifestyle that is conducive to adaptation and performance, and how we can stay in our lane and be insulated from the claims of recovery marketing. For more on Christie, check out her website www.christieaschwanden.com and follow her on Twitter @cragcrest.

ep. 34 | Staying Proactive During COVID-19 for Athletes with Vic Johnson

As COVID-19 sweeps its way across the planet, everything is changing in a way that is beyond anything we've ever experienced. For so many of us athletes, whose identity and lifestyle is defined by movement and competition and accomplishing goals, it can be extremely frustrating and stressful when there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. But we must stay proactive and positive despite the circumstances. Because it ultimately comes down to focusing on the things we can control, like staying active and healthy, prioritizing the process instead of outcomes, and creating small, daily goals to keep moving forward in a time of uncertainty.

Today I sit down with my good friend Vic Johnson to chat about how athletes can stay positive, proactive, and productive during a global pandemic. We talk training, creating your own "epic", pandemic shopping food choices, core routines, and more. Vic is a plant-based mountain ultra runner, future dietitian, and handsome, compassionate human. Find him on Instagram @vegantrailrunner and http://vegantrailrunner.com