Lab Rat Radio

Published by Nathan Jenkins

Education
Health & Fitness

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.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Podcast charts

Lab Rat Radio

Published by Nathan Jenkins

Education
Health & Fitness

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Recent episodes

Fueling for Performance vs. Body Composition

Aug 4, 2026

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

Introduction to Lab Rat Radio

Jul 28, 2026

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.