The Curious Competitor with Connor Carrick – Details, episodes & analysis

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/

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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 

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In this episode, I recap what the last few months have looked like and some of my strategies for adopting a growth mindset. I dig into the concept of DIIG: Desire, Intent, Imagination, and Grind, and how I use these concepts to fuel my growth as a professional hockey player. I walk through some of the ways that I support healthy dopamine levels to fuel my desire, including cold exposure, vagal tone, taking phone breaks, and creating variations within my routine. I also talk about the mindset I take to prevent burnout, how to ask yourself questions in order to find solutions to your game, as well as how to effectively put your plans into place.

Timeline:

• 3:35 Growth Mindset
• 6:30 How Desire Leads to Improvement
• 16:00 Dopamine and Athleticism
• 23:00 Working Hard to Make Things Easy
• 27:00 Preventing Burnout as an Athlete
• 32:30 Using Intent in Practice
• 35:00 Using Imagination to Find Solutions
• 42:20 Putting Your Plans Into Place
• 50:30 Conclusion

To purchase my favorite Designs For Sport supplements visit www.connorcarrick.com 

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In this episode I sit down with J.B. Spisso to chat about career design, mental wellness, performance and what it looks like at the highest level. J.B. is a veteran of the US Armed Forces, leadership and culture expert, and author of the Warrior Leadership: Steps to Success for Leaders on the Ground. J.B. opened up about his decision to join the military and some of the parallels between the military and athletes in terms of setting and maintaining high standards and short term goals. We spoke about some of the examples of leadership in the locker room, how to pick yourself back up after defeat, some of our tools for mental wellness, and the importance of enjoying the journey that is your life. 

Episode Overview:

• 0:00 Welcoming JB Spisso
• 5:00 Joining the Military
• 9:00 High Standards and Short Term Goals
• 3:30 Leadership in the Locker Room
• 21:00 Repairing Bruised Belief
• 30:00 Tools for Mental Wellness
• 41:30 Lessons From Combat
• 49:00 Understanding Your Needs
• 58:00 Conclusion

Instagram @ jbspisso

Website: https://www.jbsleaders.com/

To purchase my favorite Designs For Sport supplements visit www.connorcarrick.com 

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In this episode, we welcome Frankie Corrado, a professional hockey defenseman and former teammate of mine from the Toronto Maple Leafs. We took a trip down memory lane remembering our journeys into the professional hockey space and joining the OHL before becoming teammates on the Toronto Maple Leafs. We talked about the struggles of transitioning from junior hockey to the NHL, the ways that luck works for or against you, how we build mindfulness into our day, and battling through injuries. 

Timestamps:

• 0:00 Welcoming Frankie Corrado
• 2:00 Frankie’s Hockey Origin Story
• 6:00 Joining the OHL
• 14:30 Transition from Junior Hockey to NHL
• 20:45 Luck of the Draw in the Game
• 31:30 Reviewing Your Old Plays
• 37:30 Building a Mindfulness Practice
• 43:30 Battling Injuries
• 52:00 Building Mental Toughness
• 55:00 Don’t Rim the Puck
• 1:05:30 Working with TSN

To purchase my favorite Designs For Sport supplements visit www.connorcarrick.com 

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In this episode, I sit down with Sylvie Tetrault, sports nutritionist, about all things nutrition for athletes. We discuss her experience working with Gary Roberts and the NHL, the importance of good nutrition, systems or habits you can implement to help you achieve your nutrition goals, and staple foods to have on hand. We reflected on the changes in food systems that have led to food intolerances, and why the quality of food you eat is important. She breaks down why fasting may not be beneficial for all athletes and the cyclical nature of athletes, how to wind down after a late-night game, and why you should take responsibility for your own health.

Episode Overview:

• 0:00 Welcoming Sylvie Tetrault
• 0:30 Working with Gary Roberts
• 8:30 Foundational Basics of Nutrition
• 12:00 Systems for Effortless Results
• 16:15 Staple Foods to Keep on Hand
• 20:30 Foods that Get a Bad Rep
• 24:00 Fasting Practices as an Athlete
• 31:13 The Cyclical Nature of Athletes
• 48:30 Taking Responsibility For Your Own Health
• 56:15 Foundational Supplements for Athletes
• 1:07:00 Conclusion

Sylvie’s Instagram: @Sylvietetrault

Find Sylvie at Gary Robert’s Performance: https://garyrobertsperformance.com/sports-nutrition/ 

Email: info@sylvietetrault.com 

To purchase my favorite Designs For Sport supplements visit www.connorcarrick.com 

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In this episode, I sit down with a former teammate and NHL veteran, Aaron Volpatti, high-performance coach and author-to-be. We spoke about Aaron’s story of adversity and perseverance that got him into the NHL, his relationship with high-stress environments and tolerance to pain, working through the fear of failure, and how to use the power of visualization to get to where you want to be.

For more information on Aaron’s work, check out: https://www.aaronvolpatti.com/

Episode Overview: 

• 0:00 Welcoming Aaron Volpatti
• 1:00 Aaron’s NHL Origin Story
• 18:00 High-Stress Environments and Pain
• 23:00 Using Visualization to Get Into the NHL
• 29:00 What is Visualization
• 36:00 Getting Started with Visualization
• 43:00 The Fear of Failure
• 47:45 How to Stay in a Flow State 
• 50:45 Adversity is an Opportunity for Growth
• 53:30 Looking at the Bigger Picture
• 57:00 Wat Aaron is Most Proud Of
• 58:30 Conclusion

To purchase my favorite Designs For Sport supplements visit www.connorcarrick.com 

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In this episode, we welcome former national taekwondo champion and founder of Pain Station, David Arsenault. We discuss how to find joy in the process of showing up every day to training, leaning into adversity, the importance of remaining consistent in your effort as an athlete, and how physical literacy can improve your life.

For more information on David’s work, check out: https://www.championsforlife.ca/

Episode Overview:  0:00 Welcoming David Arsenault 5:00 David’s Origin Story 12:00 Finding Joy in the Process 22:00 The Birth of Pain Station 28:00 Being Consistent in Your Effort as an Athlete 32:00 Bringing Personal Values Into Your Game 40:00 The Importance of Physical Literacy 57:00 Conclusion

To purchase my favorite Designs For Sport supplements visit www.connorcarrick.com 

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In this episode, I sit down and reflect on this season so far as well as my brief experience being called up to the Seattle Kraken. We chat about my experience of how not to engage with NHL referees, the elements that make up a strong hockey team, working through minor injuries, and how my meditation practice has allowed me to lean further into my practice as an athlete.

Episode Overview:

• 2:40 Introduction
• 4:00 Schedule Disruptions
• 7:45 How Not to Engage with Referees
• 16:45 Elements of a Strong Team
• 22:40 Minor Injuries
• 29:00 Using Meditation to Improve my Game
• 39:00 Conclusion

To purchase my favorite Designs For Sport supplements visit www.connorcarrick.com 

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How to surprise everyone to make the NHL, and then do it again, with the Ultimate edge finder and teammate, Liam O'Brien. In this episode, we discuss how adversity challenged Liam's growth and belief in himself, strategies that Liam uses to reflect let go and prepare for the next battle. We also discuss the evolution of the sport in youth, as well as, some secret stories from Hersey Bears during their time as roommates. 

• 0:30 Introduction
• 1:57 Breakthrough In Washington
• 7:47 Favourite Memorabilia & First NHL Goal
• 10:36 First Stint In NHL & Challenge Of Being Send To Minors
• 17:45 How Liam Uses Writing To Reflect and Let Go
• 24:00 How Injuries Challenge You To Grow
• 34:36 Signing In Colorado & Playing In Arizona
• 39:40 What Gives Liam An Edge  
• 43:18 The Power Of Belief
• 47:47 The Evolution Of Preparation Of Sport
• 1:02:02 How Connor Got In A Fight With An AHL Heavyweight
• 1:08:21 Stories From The AHL

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