🎙️ From Olympic Marathoner to Physiology Researcher: Jess Piasecki on Female Health and Performance
In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jess Piasecki — Olympic marathon runner and associate professor specialising in female physiology. Jess shares her unique journey from elite athlete to academic, reflecting on the transition from shorter races to the marathon distance, overcoming injury setbacks, and staying motivated throughout her career.
We dive deep into the science of female athletic performance, covering crucial topics like menstrual health, low energy availability, and amenorrhea, and how they impact training, recovery, and long-term health. Jess also highlights the benefits of cross-training, the importance of nutrition, and how athletes can maintain both mental resilience and physical well-being in high-performance environments.
Whether you're a competitive athlete, a coach, or simply passionate about sports science and women's health, this conversation is packed with practical insights and evidence-based advice.
🔑 Topics Covered: • The realities of being a female endurance athlete • Navigating injuries and maintaining motivation • The role of cross-training in recovery • Understanding energy availability and menstrual health • Why regular cycles matter in sports performance • Mental health, body image, and athlete well-being • Research-backed advice for long-term health in sport
📍 Chapters: 00:00 – Intro & Jess Piasecki’s Background 05:10 – From University Running to the Olympic Stage 08:16 – Injury Setbacks and Staying Motivated 14:05 – Cross-Training: A Vital Recovery Tool 17:17 – Female Physiology: What Every Athlete Should Know 31:08 – Bone Health, Hormones & Long-Term Well-being 42:35 – Nutrition, Energy & Performance 51:56 – Understanding Menstrual Health in Athletics 01:03:23 – Empowering Female Athletes Through Knowledge
🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if you found this episode insightful!
#FemalePhysiology #MarathonRunning #SportsScience #AthleticPerformance
Popular Podcasts
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com