The Curious Competitor with Connor Carrick

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Nikole MacLellan aka “Dr. Kokes”, a naturopathic doctor and fellow member of the Designs For Sport advisory board. We talk about the dance between sympathetic and parasympathetic states for athletes, strategies for getting back into a parasympathetic state after an event, how to balance a playful approach in stressful situations, and using breathwork as a tool to build your CO2 tolerance. Dr. Nikole also dives into the tradeoffs that often occur between performance and longevity, why you should build a support team of different professionals you trust, and how to endure the darker periods as an athlete.   Dr. Nikole on socials @sportsdockokes Check out her podcast “The Off Season Podcast” on all platforms   Episode Overview: 2:30 - What athletes should be doing less of    7:00 - Parasympathetic recovery tools    14:00 - Managing your lifestyle as an athlete     18:00 - Changing your beliefs about performance   21:00 - Breathwork as a tool for building CO2 tolerance // breathwork as a powerful tool   30:00 - Building your foundation before adding external factors   32:00 - Performance and longevity   38:00 - Importance of building a support team   42:00 - Navigating dark periods as an athlete   45:00 - Developing phrases to improve performance   To purchase my favorite Designs For Sport supplements visit www.connorcarrick.com  TOLOS BAREFOOT SHOES - Use Code “CC” for 10% Off Your Order - https://weartolos.com/ Follow Connor’s Instagram or Twitter Visit our YouTube for additional content

In this episode, we are joined by the founding members of Apex Cool Labs, Ariel Paul and Evy Lyons to discuss their new and innovative palm cooling device “The Narwhal”. Ariel and Evy share their inspiration for creating Apex Cool Labs, how your core body temperature and local muscle temperatures affect your performance and why palm cooling is such an effective tool. They also discuss the use of palm cooling for downregulation at the end of your workout and to reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness, the optimal temperature for palm cooling to see results, and how palm cooling can be used to aid those who experience exercise intolerance.   Discover Apex Cool Labs on all socials @Apexcoollabs  Visit ApexCoolLabs.com   Episode Overview: 1:30 - How Ariel and Evy got started 7:30 - How temperature can affect performance 10:30 - Why palm cooling is an effective tool 15:30 - Palm cooling and post-workout recovery 21:00 - The trick to cooling down before bed 27:00 - How to hack a palm cooling device and the optimal temperature for palm cooling 34:00 - Other brands we love in the fitness space 40:00 - Palm cooling for exercise intolerance  53:00 - Where you can find Apex Cool Labs   TOLOS BAREFOOT SHOES - Use Code “CC” for 10% Off Your Order - https://weartolos.com/ To purchase my favorite Designs For Sport supplements visit www.connorcarrick.com  Follow Connor’s Instagram or Twitter Visit our YouTube for additional content

Do you ever wonder how your brain works? In this episode, we have the privilege of hosting Neurotherapist Dr. Andrew Hill, who graciously guides us through an exploration of cerebral operations. Following our participation in Quantitative EEG "brain mapping," we had the opportunity to interpret the ensuing data in real time during the podcast. Our analysis delves into an array of brain patterns, connections, and states of neural activity. Notably, several of these revelations unveil significant correlations with the daily-life symptoms I encounter and even extend to my athletic performance, all without any prior interaction with Dr. Hill. Our discussion extends to the impact of brain injuries on function, alongside an examination of how brain mapping holds promise for forthcoming athletes. We conclude by addressing pivotal lifestyle factors poised to enhance cognitive capabilities.   Episode Overview: 1:14 Understanding The Tests Of My Brain 3:39 Interpreting My Results - Performance 6:22 My Brain Patterns and Brain Waves  16:55 Why Connor Might Have Brain Fog  18:55 Being Tired Wired and Sleep 27:05 Acquired Vs Learned Brain  33:05 How Brain Mapping Could Help Future Athletes 48:19 Lifestyle Factors To Boost Results  58:52 Conclusion   Connect With Peak Brain Institute at https://peakbraininstitute.com/     To purchase my favorite Designs For Sport supplements visit www.connorcarrick.com  TOLOS BAREFOOT SHOES - Use Code “CC” for 10% Off Your Order - https://weartolos.com/ Follow Connor’s Instagram or Twitter Visit our YouTube for additional content

If you're a hockey player or any sport for that matter, and If you're looking to gain an edge on your opponents and train your brain in the same way that you train your body, then watch this video! Scott Livingston shares with us his methods for training our brain in the same way that we train our body, and it's sure to help you unleash your athletic potential! In this episode, I welcome renowned Performance Coach and Physical Therapist Scott Livingston. We discuss the concept of Neuro Reconditioning, and how traditional training modalities fail to consider how the brain functions. We talk about the importance of individuality in training based on sport, position, injury history, and body type. We also chat about the hidden challenges of working through injury as well the importance of disrupting narratives we tell ourselves.   Episode Overview: 0:00 Introduction 0:47 What Is Neuro Reconditioning? 18:12 Short Falls Of Typical Training Philosophy 25:25 Understanding Individuality In Training 33:20 The Hidden Challenge Working Through Injury 41:30 Physical Vs. Mental Issues (Software Vs. Hardware) 45:04 Interupting The Narratives We Tell Ourselves 57:20 The Four Stages Of Competence Related To Sport   Connect With Scott Here: https://www.instagram.com/kingopain/ Website: https://www.reconditioningHQ.com Leave Your Mark - https://leaveyourmark.buzzsprout.com/     TOLOS BAREFOOT SHOES - Use Code “CC” for 10% Off Your Order - https://weartolos.com/ To purchase my favorite Designs For Sport supplements visit www.connorcarrick.com  Follow Connor’s Instagram or Twitter Visit our YouTube for additional content

In this episode, I break down some of my thoughts on the latest NHL trade deadline as well, as some personal stories of players that have been moved. I also discuss some recovery modalities I use to help me regulate my nervous system and maximize athletic performance during the season. I also talk about the importance of emotional regulation and off-season training advice for youth athletes.  TOLOS BAREFOOT SHOES - Use Code “CC” for 10% Off Your Order - https://weartolos.com/ To purchase my favorite Designs For Sport supplements visit www.connorcarrick.com  Follow Connor’s Instagram or Twitter Visit our YouTube for additional content   Episode Overview:  0:00 Introduction  2:14 Thoughts on Trade Deadline  2:25 Dmitry Orlov 6:57 John Klingberg  10:20 Tanner Jeannot 11:46 Patrick Kane  17:11 Heart Rate Variability & Nervous System Regulation  20:20 Red Light Therapy & Dopamine  21:45 Napping & Non-Sleep Deep Rest  23:11 Importance Of Protein Consumption  24:12 Disrupting Of Routine  24:23 Visualization  26:35 Reading  27:48 Addressing Injuries  29:30 Training Advice For Youth Athletes  35:35 Emotional Regulation For Importance  37:57 Final Thoughts