Episode
Ep. 185: Smiling to perform and Breathe Easy: How Air Quality Data Can Save Your Race Day
- Published
- Nov 28, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 3767
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Summary
In this episode: Can smiling make you perform better? We know that when you are happy that you will smile but it turns out that the relationship may be more of a two way street. that is to say, if you smile it can actually make you happy as well. On the Medical Mailbag we look at some fascinating science that suggests smiling can have some pretty important impacts on performance. Plus, I chat with Will Hicks, the brain behind the Air Track app, which does the heavy lifting of tracking air pollution like a hawk with a PhD. With a mix of traffic data, meteorological conditions, and some AI wizardry, this app offers insights that could make even the most oblivious runner stop and think twice about their chosen route. Will shares how understanding the local air quality can help athletes reduce exposure to pollutants, and let's be real, nobody wants to inhale a cloud of diesel fumes while trying to crush that PR. Spoiler alert: it turns out that even a couple of blocks away from a bustling street can drop your pollution exposure by 30%. So why not take the scenic route? The episode is packed with actionable advice, a dose of sarcasm, and the hard truth about how air quality impacts our health and performance. Who knew a little data could go such a long way in keeping us breathing easy while we sweat it out on those trails? Segments: [06:26]- Medical Mailbag: Smiling to perform [36:36] - Interview: Will Hicks Links Will's Facebook page @airawarewill on Instagram Will's Website Will on YouTube places2swim web site