Fast Talk

The Fast Talk podcast offers the best guides to cycling performance and endurance sports training from world-class experts.Cohosted by cycling coaches and sport scientists Trevor Connor and Rob Pickels, Fast Talk episodes feature fascinating conversations with world-class experts discussing the endurance sports topics they know best: the best ways to train, effective workouts, questions on polarized and interval training, sports nutrition, physiology and recovery, and sport psychology.Fast Talk guests and regular contributors include Dr. Stephen Seiler, Joe Friel, Dr. Asker Jeukendrup, Sebastian Weber, Jim Miller, Dr. Andy Pruitt, Dr. Timothy Noakes, and elite professional athletes like Kristin Armstrong, Sepp Kuss, Brent Bookwalter, Kate Courtney, and many more.Fast Talk is part of Fast Talk Laboratories, a new endurance sports knowledgebase for endurance racers and adventurers.

367: Podcast Swap — Body Composition, Performance, and the Dangers of Under-fueling, from the TriDoc Podcast
Apr 17, 2025 – 01:04:30
366: Balancing the Principles of Training with Triathlon
Apr 10, 2025 – 01:10:00
365: Potluck Discussion - Athlete Autonomy, Training Different Bikes, and the Importance of Skincare
Apr 3, 2025 – 57:24
364: How to Help Your Body Fit Better on the Bike with John Howard
Mar 27, 2025 – 01:06:44
363: Why Breathing Frequency May Become Our Best Measure of Training Stress
Mar 20, 2025 – 01:25:00
362: How to Make Interval Work Motivating
Mar 13, 2025 – 01:07:32
361: Examining a Critical Meta-Analysis of Training Distribution Models
Mar 6, 2025 – 58:56
360: Potluck Discussion: First Conversation, Doing Cadence Work, and Training with a Group
Feb 27, 2025 – 58:13
359: Do Women Athletes Need Zone 2 Training?
Feb 20, 2025 – 58:39
358: How to Use—and Not Use—HRV in Your Training
Feb 13, 2025 – 01:10:05
357: Progressive Overload Is Critical But Does It Have a Limit?
Feb 6, 2025 – 01:09:13
356: The Importance of Maintaining Muscle Mass with Jared Berg
Jan 30, 2025 – 01:15:08
355: Potluck Discussion: Finding the Right Plan, Virtual Base Training, and U.S. Cyclocross
Jan 23, 2025 – 58:28
354: How Homeostasis Explains Everything
Jan 16, 2025 – 01:03:26
353: The Power of Motivational Interviewing, with Dr. Jeff Breckon
Jan 9, 2025 – 01:00:11
352: The Four Fitness Foundations of Mobility, Flexibility, Stability, and Strength
Jan 2, 2025 – 01:17:03
351: Drawing Ethical Boundaries in the Coach-Athlete Relationship
Dec 26, 2024 – 01:00:42
350: How to Set Strava Records on the Most Famous Climbs in the World
Dec 19, 2024 – 01:08:18
349: Potluck Discussion: Sacrifices, Initial Season Workouts, and Over-Communication
Dec 12, 2024 – 54:20
348: How to Find Your Motivation in the Early Season
Dec 5, 2024 – 01:03:30
347: Favorite Workouts—Off-the-Bike Edition!
Nov 28, 2024 – 38:50
346: The Effect of Virtual Training on Coaches and Athletes, with Robbie Ventura
Nov 21, 2024 – 01:07:57
345: Why Our Gut Microbiome Is Important for Performance and Recovery
Nov 14, 2024 – 57:17
344: The Role of Nutrition in Optimizing Mental Performance
Nov 7, 2024 – 53:46
343: How to Fuel for Health
Oct 31, 2024 – 01:08:36
342: How to Set Yourself Up for a Successful New Season
Oct 24, 2024 – 01:08:35
341: Potluck Discussion: Hobbies as Training, Returning from Injury, and Off-Season Workouts
Oct 17, 2024 – 52:06
340: Norwegian Method or Just Good Holistic Practice? With Dr. Stephen Seiler
Oct 10, 2024 – 01:07:40
339: How Our Muscles Adapt, with Dr. Brendan Egan
Oct 3, 2024 – 01:07:14
338: Nutrition Needs of Junior Endurance Athletes
Sep 26, 2024 – 01:08:11
337: End-Season Form, CX Race Fueling, and Getting to the Top Too Fast?
Sep 19, 2024 – 01:04:14
336: How to Train Perceived Exertion and Go Harder
Sep 12, 2024 – 01:12:49
335: Nerd Lab: Dr. Edward Coyle's Defining and Controversial Work on Endurance Athletes
Sep 5, 2024 – 01:17:39
334: How to Measure and Train Zone 2, with Jared Berg
Aug 29, 2024 – 01:12:11
333: It's Never Too Late to Start an Endurance Sport—or Change It Up
Aug 22, 2024 – 01:40:31
332: How to Measure Running, with Nell Rojas
Aug 15, 2024 – 01:03:27
331: Potluck Discussion: Race Weight, Not Feeling a Workout, and Big Lessons Learned
Aug 8, 2024 – 57:34
330: How Much Interval Training Do We Really Need? With Dr. Stephen Seiler
Aug 1, 2024 – 01:30:38
329: Nutrition Approaches for Ultra-Endurance Events
Jul 25, 2024 – 01:10:55
328: Long Workdays, Training Races, and Varying Base Rides
Jul 18, 2024 – 01:05:33
327: What It Takes to Race the Tour de France, with Alex Howes and Neal Henderson
Jul 11, 2024 – 01:27:01
326: Revisiting Episode 8: The Importance of Neuromuscular Training
Jul 4, 2024 – 01:02:57
325: When Is Fast Tech Too Fast?
Jun 27, 2024 – 01:21:21
324: Lennard Zinn’s Cycling Gear Essentials
Jun 20, 2024 – 01:22:40
323: Do All Athletes Need Regular Blood Testing?
Jun 13, 2024 – 01:14:16
322: Evolution of the Holistic Athlete with Dirk Friel
Jun 6, 2024 – 01:08:36
321: How to Effectively Give and Receive Feedback, with Eric Brunner
May 30, 2024 – 01:30:10
320: Potluck Discussion: Holding a Wheel, GI Issues While Running, and Training Physiology or Performance
May 24, 2024 – 01:08:18
319: Do Cooldown Sessions Help or Hurt You?
May 16, 2024 – 49:54
318: Get the Most Out of Your Performance with Mental Strength Techniques
May 9, 2024 – 01:25:40

Recent Reviews

WannaBeAthlete1

Thought provoking listen

I’ve been listening to this podcast for about a year now and really enjoy the topics. I don’t have a medical background but I find the physiology aspect fascinating and learn a thing or two on each episode - which is always a win! Helps me get through long days at the office and in the gym. I think the show is structured well. Always like hearing Connor and Rob’s tangents. Guests are great. Would like to hear from more athletes. Paul Larsen I believe has a good mix of medical pros and athletes in the rotation (always love when paul comes on the show!) Keep it up!
Jcwaller

Even interesting for a Triathlete

This podcast goes deeper than I knew you could go into the science of endurance cycling. As a triathlete, I have found several very interesting tidbits.
The Old Johnson

Great pod but the young blowhard…

This is a great podcast, and it is my favorite when it comes out, but the young guy is quite the virtue singling blowhard. I guess that’s OK. It’s just an observation.
JimV 1

Great pod!!

Great pod!!
mcdave45

Nutrition

Meat is not the only food!!!
Ghammer25

Great insight

I listen to a lot of health and wellness podcast. I just went to the KetoCon conference in Austin, listened to a lot low-to-no carb speakers. While there may be some people to excel in the no carb world, I can’t as a cyclist. This podcast does a good job of highlighting the difference between eating and fueling for endurance competition. Great job.
njl1

The good, the bad and the ugly.

I've been listening to endurance training and cycling podcasts for years. THE GOOD: Fast Talk occasionally has outstanding world class guests. The March 16th episode had Asker Jeukendrup, a leading expert and researcher in sports nutrition. THE BAD: The moderators seem perpetually interested in hearing their own opinions rather than letting the expert guest talk. The moderators love to quote cherry picked research that they "find interesting" but is all too often not relevant to the current discussion. THE UGLY: Sadly the moderators seem to be looking for approval from the guest for their own opinions rather than letting the expert guest expand on what is actually important for the listener to hear. This is a real shame and common amongst most podcast moderators. 4/5 Stars
James314159265358973

I’m not a roadie but….love this.

For most of my riding life, I never really thought about it. I just ride mtb and gravel bikes. My rides vary from 10-100miles..after following this podcast I have completely rethought how I approach cycling . I’ve never used a HRM before now I do, etc…. I love the science based content. Keep up the great work! I maybe asking for advice someday on how to prepare for a gravel event!
Omsanz1

Opened a new wold

What a world that’s been exposed to me as a new rider in my 60’s, I listen to the science and pay attention to the experience and search ways to break it down to my age and level so I can apply the process. I’m in awe.
Cowens49

Very Informative

These guys know their stuff and do a good job of sharing that Info.
Opus Uno

As repetitive as a chain spinning round

Guests are really great - sometimes. Sometimes the audio is as if they are out on a ride phoning it in. But really, my bigest criticism is there's no new ideas. I've listened from the beginning but I can't take Trevor Conner talking about himself anymore. It's become boring and pretty Boulder-centric. Might start listening again if they profiling athletes that make up 99% of their listening audience. Or people with names (not the coaches generic athlete) on local teams across this country, etc. I mean I love Sepp Kuss, but I really don't give a crap how he or any othet elite trains. I want to know how a middle aged Sally a small business owner with 3 kids keeps fast. Or Joe Schmo prepping to finish DK. Colin Stricland and Ted King are great... but seriously... also way beyond most listeners category.
LeslitaSimone

Love the science-based discussions

Other than not always being able to hear the episodes (big gear with Neal Henderson) sounded like it would be super interesting, but so many time throughout the podcast, at the highest volume, I could not hear or decipher what was being said.
SCinTN

Only two stars after the coaching change

I love Fast Talk and have listened for years, but I love more Trevor Connor and and not a fan at all of the new coach. When I heard the first topic with the new coach (dropper posts) I had reached the limit. The best thing about Fast Talk over all the years is that it was about road cycling. I hope Trevor Connor will start his own show soon.
Amy Morrison 11

New fav

My coach, Julie Young, was a guest on a podcast and I took a listen. After listening I downloaded more episodes and I am hooked. Even though I have Julie writing my training plans, I love having more back knowledge to what and why we are doing what we are doing, which you guys explain great!!! Easy to listen to and have the time fly by without realizing. Thanks for the quality information and mentioning when the advice you give might be biased and why you have that bias — helps with understanding where the experience is coming from!
thosbailey

Language

I am already tired of Colby Pierce’s foul mouth. If I want to listen to somebody trying to be cool bu uttering profanity, I can go listen to Lance Armstrong. Offensive language is not needed in a show like this. I find it ironic that a person promoting a lifestyle of alignment has such vulgarity in his head and mouth. It is obvious he has some issue to resolve. I had to stop episode 2 because I was trying to listen with my wife and kids. I don’t think there was vulgarity in any of the other fast track shows before this. So disappointing.
Andrew Vontz

Mega and Marginal Gains Explained

All of the best and latest training information. Congrats on the relaunch. Excellent listen.
sbetourn

I also agree this is the best cycling podcast

From the riding and athletic podcasts to which I have listened, Fast Talk comes across as being the most substantiated and well-researched. I feel that I can take good confidence in the findings that are presented by the hosts and guests.
jlinnski

Best Cycling Podcast

Thanks Chris and Trevor, keep ‘em comin’!
Elle3323

Glad fast talk is its own podcast

Thank you so so much for making this it’s own podcast! I always got annoyed scrolling through the velonews podcasts looking for the fasttalk ones! In fact, when I first heard about fast talk I couldn’t even find it because I thought it WAS its own podcast! Thank you thank you thank you!!!
The Zman28

Always look forward to.

Since I started listening about a year ago every pod is so interesting. In fact in motivated me to get my USAC Level 3 Coach license. Ty
Lenny3200

Great but could improve

I love the topics and I love the guests. I’m a long time listener. Three things could be improved: 1. More people that disagree with you. Polarized is great, but many coaches have success not using this method. Have more if then on the show. 2. Make it shorter. Most podcast I listen to for into an hour. I feel this podcast doesn’t have a time constraint and can often drag on. Try to condense and focus more. (But don’t fully eliminate the colorful banter.) the VeloNews podcast does this well. 3. Stay away from medical topics. I’m a physician and when you go into medical topics, you are often off track. Thank you for doing this. I’ve learned so much!
jess cycling bess

Great stuff!

I always love the deep dives into science topics. Great practical info as well. This is one of my favorites for cycling knowledge.
Anson the Gnome

Okay

Trevor Connor is probably the most dogmatic and least open minded coach of any Podcast I listen to. He has his opinions, and he systematically ignores data and science that disagree with him. But it’s still listenable, I guess.
Chris DeMattei

Informative

Very informative and fun to listen to. Great source of differing views on training.
Sean Hylton

Outstanding podcast

Great content and well organized flow of information. Valuable resource in learning the physiology of endurance.