Lab Rat Radio

About Lab Rat Radio

Lab Rat Radio is a long-form conversation about human physiology, nutrition, exercise science, and evidence-based health. Hosted by lifelong lab rats and current university professors Dr. Emily Dow, PhD, RDN, CSCS, and Dr. Nathan Jenkins, PhD, the show bridges research, teaching, coaching, and real-world application. Together, Emily and Nathan explore the mechanisms behind common health and performance questions while separating what the evidence actually shows from what gets exaggerated online. Topics include metabolism, fueling for performance, hormones, gut health, training adaptations, stress physiology, recovery, supplements, and the challenges of translating science into everyday decisions. For curious people who want to understand the body more deeply without being scared, sold to, or talked down to.

Publisher

Nathan Jenkins

Category

education · health & fitness · science

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

28 Jul 2026

Latest episode

18 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

4 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Aug 2026

   Gut Health 101 and Dr. Emily's Dissertation Research

   In this episode, we unpack what "gut health" actually means, from symptoms, motility, digestion, and the microbiome to intestinal barrier function, immune signaling, gut-brain communication, and exercise-related GI distress. Emily walks us through her dissertation research on resistance training, mood state, and intestinal permeability, and we use a case study to talk through bloating, fiber tolerance, probiotics, gut repair supplements, and why symptoms do not automatically mean your gut is broken. This episode is sponsored by MacroFactor, a premium nutrition app that combines fast food logging with adaptive nutrition coaching. MacroFactor uses logged nutrition intake and body weight data to estimate energy expenditure over time, then adjusts calorie and macro targets through weekly check-ins based on your goals and progress. It also includes detailed macro and micronutrient tracking, weight trend data, and an adherence-neutral approach that does not punish you for going over or under your targets. Use code LABRAT for a 14-day free trial. MacroFactor link: https://app.macrofactor.com/mflabrat

2. 

   11 Aug 2026

   Cortisol: The Internet's Favorite C-Word

   Cortisol has become the wellness world's favorite scapegoat: blamed for belly fat, fatigue, poor sleep, training plateaus, and basically every difficult season of life. In this episode, we unpack what cortisol actually does, why acute rises with exercise, food, waking, fasting, and stress are often normal, and when cortisol patterns may genuinely reflect chronic dysregulation or clinical concern. We also discuss under-fueling, sleep restriction, training load, caffeine, cortisol testing, "adrenal support" marketing, and why the better question is usually not "How do I lower cortisol?" but "How do I manage my overall stress load?". Cortisol is not the villain. Bad explanations are. This episode is sponsored by MacroFactor, a premium nutrition app that combines fast food logging with adaptive nutrition coaching. MacroFactor uses logged nutrition intake and body weight data to estimate energy expenditure over time, then adjusts calorie and macro targets through weekly check-ins based on your goals and progress. It also includes detailed macro and micronutrient tracking, weight trend data, and an adherence-neutral approach that does not punish you for going over or under your targets. Use code LABRAT for a 14-day free trial. MacroFactor link: https://app.macrofactor.com/mflabrat

3. 

   4 Aug 2026

   Fueling for Performance vs. Body Composition

   Do you want to perform well, or do you want to be lean? The internet loves forcing that binary. We do not. In this episode, we use the case of an athlete who is afraid to fuel to explore the large overlap between performance nutrition and body composition nutrition. We talk energy balance, carbohydrates, protein, recovery, low energy availability, and why under-fueling can make both performance and fat loss harder. Fueling is not reckless eating, and dieting is not supposed to mean feeling terrible all the time. This episode is sponsored by MacroFactor, a premium nutrition app that combines fast food logging with adaptive nutrition coaching. MacroFactor uses logged nutrition intake and body weight data to estimate energy expenditure over time, then adjusts calorie and macro targets through weekly check-ins based on your goals and progress. It also includes detailed macro and micronutrient tracking, weight trend data, and an adherence-neutral approach that does not punish you for going over or under your targets. Use code LABRAT for a 14-day free trial. MacroFactor link: https://app.macrofactor.com/mflabrat

4. 

   28 Jul 2026

   Introduction to Lab Rat Radio

   Welcome to Lab Rat Radio with Dr. Emily Dow and Dr. Nathan Jenkins! In our first episode, we introduce ourselves, the podcast, and the reason this show exists: health and fitness content has never been more available, and somehow people have never been more confused. We talk about what it means to think like scientists, coaches, professors, and lifelong lab rats in a space full of fear-based messaging, influencer certainty, and wellness internet chaos. Season 1 will cover fueling, hormones, metabolic flexibility, gut health, hormones, data interpretation, and how to read health content without losing your mind. If you're tired of being told your body is broken by people trying to sell you a protocol, you're come to the right place.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

11 ratings

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.