#78 - Optimising HRV for Athletic Performance & Mental Health - Matt Bennett - Multi Author, Therapist & Founder

Today I’m joined by Matt Bennett; author of six books, former psychotherapist, and founder of OptimalHRV.com. After experiencing great results with the Optimal HRV app, I reached out to Matt, and we ended up diving deep into the science and practice of heart-rate variability.Whether you’re completely new to HRV or a seasoned athlete seeking marginal gains, understanding what those numbers on your wearable really mean is crucial. In this conversation we unpack the fundamentals, share the most effective ways to boost HRV (including the evening routines that have transformed my own scores), and highlight the pitfalls to avoid.It’s a fascinating, insight-packed chat. Btw if you’re struggling to stick to healthy habits you can claim one of onehundred free Indiip VIP months by heading to indiip.com/podcastOh and my first ever sponsor Bear Bar, make the highest quality shower soaps. If you’d like to try them you can get 15% off by heading to https://bit.ly/barejase and entering JASE at checkout.Please enjoy my conversation with Matt Bennett.Fully Timestamped Chapter List00:00:00 Intro, HRV in Mental Health & Episode Setup 00:00:51 Matt’s Journey: From Therapist to HRV Advocate 00:05:37 HRV 101: Physiology, Flexibility & the Vagus Nerve 00:16:40 Wearables, Accuracy & Designing HRV Protocols 00:23:09 Jason’s HRV Experiment: Sleep, Breathing & Biofeedback 00:32:33 Creating the Optimal HRV App & Accessibility 00:38:18 HRV Best Practices for Athletes 00:47:49 Age, Genetics & Long-Term HRV Trends 00:55:14 HRV as a Health Marker: Biomarkers, Early Warning & Illness 01:09:06 Interpreting Daily Patterns & Recovery Signals 01:17:09 Boosting HRV: Movement, Sleep, Nutrition & Resonant Breathing 01:38:18 HRV for Performance, Over-Training & Pre-Event Prep 01:43:38 Matt’s Five Daily Habits for Nervous-System Health 01:49:44 Future Plans: AI Coaching & the App Roadmap 01:54:35 Contact Details & Closing Remarks***LINKS***Optimal HRV:https://bit.ly/4m7E2JmHabit tracking - Claim one of onehundred free Indiip VIP months:https://bit.ly/indiippodcast15% Off Bare Bar (CODE: JASE):https://bit.ly/barejaseMY STUFF:Awaken Out Of Context Podcast (YouTube & Podcast Links):https://bit.ly/3tk8FVvFollow Me On Instagram (@awakenoutofjason):https://bit.ly/3RAkKQj