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The Real Science of Sport Podcast

Professor Ross Tucker and Mike Finch
Cycling
Doping
Olympics
Sports Science
VO2 Max
Winter Olympics
Athletics
Tour De France
Rugby
Paris 2024 Olympics
Tokyo World Championships
Swimming
Olympic Games
Sleep
Transgender Athletes
Kenya
Women's Sports
Triathlon
Mental Health
Endurance Sports

World-renowned sports scientist Professor Ross Tucker and veteran sports journalist Mike Finch break down the myths, practices and controversies from the world of sport. From athletics to rugby, soccer, cycling and more, the two delve into the most recent research, unearth lessons from the pros and host exclusive interviews with some of the world's leading sporting experts. For those who love spor... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes339Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

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Latest Episodes

Quick heads up before we start: this is not a brand new episode. If you are one of our Members you will have heard it in full about six weeks ago, when we released it as a Members' only Applied show. But we thought it was too interesting and relevant... more

Become a Supporter of The Science of Sport, and along with our undying gratitude you get a bonus Applied show every week, ad-free listening, and a seat in the best community in sport. It costs less than a coffee, or a gel.

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The big story ... more

YouTube

Become a Supporter of the Science of Sport and you'll get the Applied show every week, ad-free listening, and a seat in the best community in sports science, all for the price of a coffee a month (or a gel if you're a cyclist). Here are all the membe... more

YouTube

Team NSN Cycling is one of the most exciting teams in the World Tour peloton, and Lausanne-based Briton David Bailey is its Head of Sport Science. Amid the pressures of being at the cutting edge of athletic performance, Bailey talks us through the cu... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

David Bailey
Performance consultant and head of sports science for NSN Cycling
NSN Cycling
Episode: The Science Behind a Pro Cycling Team
Michael Cox
Author and football tactician, founder of Zonal Marking; regular contributor to The Athletic
Zonal Marking / The Athletic
Episode: Stop Watching the Ball: Michael Cox Unlocks the Fascinating Hidden Sides of Football
Dominic Riefstahl
Formula 1 pundit for Luxembourg broadcast, former engineer and F1 insider
Luxembourg TV broadcast
Episode: Inside the World of F1 Racing: An Engineer's Perspective
Eric Rawson
Chair and Professor of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Science at Messiah University
Messiah University
Episode: The Creatine Episode
Ben Lyttleton
British football journalist, author of Twelve Yards; expert on penalties
Twelve Yards / Football School
Episode: Re-Release: The Art and Science of the Perfect Football Penalty
Alma Smit
Host of The Good, The Scars and The Rugby rugby chat show
South Africa media/rugby media
Episode: Caution for Contact Sport Athletes and CTE / Women's Rugby Six Nations and Smaller Balls / Worst Sport to be Elite at?
Adrian Ritona
Concussion expert, former guest on the show
Guest expert referenced in the cycling concussion discussion
Episode: A Huge Doping Bust in Georgia Rugby / Epic Climbs and Concussions in Cycling / Who is the Greatest Track Athlete of Them All?
Josie Perry
Sports psychologist, specialization in ADHD and performance anxiety
Performance in Mind, British Psychology Studio
Episode: The Sporting Mind: Overcoming Mental Barriers For Better Performance
Mike Posthumus
Director of Performance at Specialised
Specialised
Episode: How To Win One of the World's Toughest Mountain Bike Races

Hosts

Ross Tucker
Host and world-renowned sports scientist with university affiliations; prominent voice in sport science discussions.
Gareth Davies
Co-host and sports journalist; regular on Spotlight episodes and main discussions.
Mike Finch
Host with background in rugby and sports media; leads interviews and discussion.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.5k ratings
  • The Best of the Best

    This podcast is a must for any aspiring recreational athlete who is interested in improving health, performance, mental resilience and just to quench curiosity.

    Ross and Gareth is bitterly witty, sharp, informed and intelligent yet possess of the rare ability to take science and make it palatable for the layman.

    Ross and Mike have an amazing ability for getting most out of their guests in a way that is both fun to listen at and be super informative.

    There are several episodes that I re-listen... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Marius Kieck
    South Africa6 days ago
  • One small flaw

    My favorite podcast. Consistently the one I can listen to all the way through. I would enjoy the interviews more if you didn’t structure every question as “tell me your thoughts on this, because my thoughts are blah blah blah…”

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RonaTD
    United States13 days ago
  • Brilliant

    Brilliant and highly informative. I use it all the time for my teaching

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TomM1982
    Francea month ago
  • Love this, so interesting

    Surprised by this recent find. So interesting and entertaining. Have really enjoyed hearing their take on cross country skiing which is under-covered in general. Keep it up!

    Addendum…disappointed you’re putting content behind a paywall. I’d rather listen to a couple of ads and keep this available to all to learn from

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Hazzabear
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Ultra Ultra Marathons ( 250 miles )

    Love the podcast and am especially interested in your take on the female who blew away all comers in the recent 250 mile event in Arizona. Apparently woman are better equipped and better than men at this kind of distance. Can you explain why . ? I find this fascinating and am curious about your view.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    outsider1960
    United Kingdom3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Several reviews highlight credibility and practical takeaways for athletes and coaches.
Listeners praise the rigorous, accessible sports science explanations and clear storytelling.
A minority express concern about provocative or controversial topics and tone.
Some critique coverage of rugby topics as dominating episodes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#103
United Kingdom/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#224
Canada/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#180
Australia/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#196
South Africa/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#6
South Africa/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#13
Singapore/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Inside the World of F1 Racing: An Engineer's Perspective
Q: What role does budget and funding play in a driver's ability to reach F1?
Budget and sponsorship play a significant role; a substantial amount of money is required to advance a driver through the junior ranks, and teams closely watch the return on investment. While talent drives opportunity, financial backing can influence whether a driver can access top equipment, teams, and development resources across the ladder.
Inside the World of F1 Racing: An Engineer's Perspective
Q: How has the driver–engineer relationship evolved with more data and sensors?
The relationship has become more data-driven and collaborative. There is a race engineer who sets up the car and a performance engineer who tailors systems to a driver's preferences, but the driver's feedback remains crucial. Over time, teams have shifted from gut-feel decisions to scientifically guided choices, while maintaining the need for driver buy-in to realize performance gains.
Inside the World of F1 Racing: An Engineer's Perspective
Q: How do drivers typically progress to Formula 1, from karting up through the lower formulas?
Drivers typically move through karting at national and international levels to FIA-sanctioned formulas like F4, F3, and F2 before reaching F1. Talent scouts from top teams monitor young talent from early on and sponsor or coach promising individuals, while the most successful paths emphasize winning in lower formulas and proving consistency, speed, and adaptability.
Stop Watching the Ball: Michael Cox Unlocks the Fascinating Hidden Sides of Football
Q: How has your approach evolved from 2010 to today, and what has that meant for your analysis of modern football?
My approach has become more focused on patterns and strategic shape rather than chasing single incidents; I've also integrated discussions of how international football differs from club football, and how pace and space affect tactical decisions.
The Creatine Episode
Q: Are there meaningful brain health benefits, beyond muscle performance?
There is accumulating evidence that brain creatine can rise with supplementation and may improve cognitive processing under duress (sleep deprivation, aging, or concussion scenarios), but this area requires more randomized controlled trials to establish definitive effects.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Real Science of Sport Podcast

What is The Real Science of Sport Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A data-driven, science-forward discussion on sport performance, physiology, and governance. The show routinely breaks down complex research across endurance, running, cycling, rugby, and team sports, pairing rigorous analysis with practical implications for athletes, coaches, and admins. Guests range from top researchers to industry practitioners, delivering expert perspectives on training, nutrition, equipment, and policy, often tying findings to real-world events and major competitions. A standout is the blend of deep science with accessible storytelling, plus regular Spotlight episodes that unpack technology, ethics, and performance at the highest levels. This mix makes it valuable for listeners who want rigorous insights applicable to t... more

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How many subscribers and views does The Real Science of Sport Podcast have?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Real Science of Sport Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Real Science of Sport Podcast:

1. Inside Running Podcast
2. Sweat Elite Podcast
3. That Triathlon Show
4. The Norwegian Method Podcast
5. Fast Talk

How many episodes of The Real Science of Sport Podcast are there?

The Real Science of Sport Podcast launched 7 years ago and published 339 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Real Science of Sport Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Real Science of Sport Podcast?

Recent guests on The Real Science of Sport Podcast include:

1. David Bailey
2. Michael Cox
3. Dominic Riefstahl
4. Eric Rawson
5. Ben Lyttleton
6. Alma Smit
7. Adrian Ritona
8. Josie Perry

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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