
He Bet Everything on Recovery….. And It Worked
Rich Roll
Jul 14, 2025

Episode description
Will Ahmed is the founder and CEO of Whoop, the revolutionary wearable that's redefining how we understand recovery and human performance. We discuss the hidden science of heart rate variability, why elite athletes obsess over the 20 hours they're NOT training, meditation as an entrepreneurial superpower, and more. READ MORE👉 http://bit.ly/richroll922
✌🏼🌱 – Rich
This Episode Is Brought To You By…
Lincoln Financial: Check out the NEW 4-part series "The Action Plan"👉https://bit.ly/TheActionPlan
Squarespace: Use the offer code RichRoll to save 10% off your first purchase 👉https://www.Squarespace.com/RichRoll
iFit: Use code RICHROLL to get 10% off any purchase of $999+👉https://bit.ly/rrnordictrack
Whoop: The all-new WHOOP 5.0 is here! Get your first month FREE👉https://www.join.whoop.com/Roll
Check out all of the amazing discounts from our Sponsors 👉🏾 https://bit.ly/rrpsponsors
LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/rrpitunes
Spotify: http://bit.ly/rrpspotify
Google: http://bit.ly/rrpgooglepods
Meal Planner: http://meals.richroll.com
Voicing Change Book: http://richroll.com/vc
Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RichRollPodcastClips
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/rollcallemail
CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:52 Navigating Competition & Market Differentiation
00:04:45 Origin of Strain & Recovery Focus
00:08:27 Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Discovery
00:11:50 What is Heart Rate Variability?
00:14:19 Understanding HRV Baselines & Genetics
00:16:12 Improving HRV & Lifestyle Impact
00:17:04 Whoop vs. Smartwatches
00:20:01 Intuition vs. Data in Training
00:22:01 AI & Future of Health Data
00:23:53 Accuracy of Wrist-Based Heart Rate
00:28:37 Getting Elite Athletes Onboard
00:31:11 Insights from Michael Phelps’ Data
00:34:16 The Importance of Recovery
00:36:04 Sponsor Break
00:38:25 Loyalty to Whoop & Data Connection
00:41:22 Entrepreneurial Vision & Early Business Plan
00:42:58 Entrepreneurial Stress & Personal Growth
00:45:43 Panic Attack & Meditation Breakthrough
00:47:35 Meditation’s Broader Benefits
00:55:56 Intuition, Ego, and Decision-Making
01:09:04 Sponsor Break
01:11:01 Overcoming Doubt & Building Belief
01:12:58 Harvard, Default Paths, and Existential Reckoning
01:21:44 Continuous Personal Inventory & Growth
01:23:05 Success, Drive, and Gratitude
01:28:28 Service, Mission, and Leadership
01:32:16 Healthy Relationship with Data & Optimization
01:38:51 AI, Wearables, and the Future of Preventative Health
01:43:54 Societal Impact of AI & Human Connection
01:49:59 Final Reflections: Self-Awareness & Measuring Progress
CONNECT WITH RICH
✩ Website - http://richroll.com
✩ Rich Roll Podcast - https://richroll.com/all-episodes/
✩ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/richroll/
✩ Twitter - https://twitter.com/richroll
✩ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/richrollfans
✩ Strava - https://www.strava.com/athletes/14443?oq=rich
✩ Memoir: Finding Ultra - https://www.richroll.com/shop/books/finding-ultra/
✩ Meals - http://meals.richroll.com
✩ Cook - The Plantpower Way - https://www.richroll.com/shop/books/the-plantpower-way-signed/
✩ Italian! - The Plantpower Way: Italia - https://www.richroll.com/shop/books/the-plantpower-way-italia-signed/
✩ Support - https://www.patreon.com/richroll
FILMED AND EDITED BY DAN DRAKE
https://www.dandrake333.com/
* * * * *
NEW TO RICH?
Hi I'm Rich Roll. I'm a vegan ultra-endurance athlete, author, podcaster, public speaker & wellness evangelist. But mainly I'm a dad of four. If you want to know more, visit my website or check out these two the NY Times articles:
http://bit.ly/otillonyt
http://bit.ly/vegansglam
I LOVE MAIL! SEND IT HERE:
2630 Conejo Spectrum St.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
#richroll #richrollpodcast
Episode description
Will Ahmed is the founder and CEO of Whoop, the revolutionary wearable that's redefining how we understand recovery and human performance. We discuss the hidden science of heart rate variability, why elite athletes obsess over the 20 hours they're NOT training, meditation as an entrepreneurial superpower, and more. READ MORE👉 http://bit.ly/richroll922
✌🏼🌱 – Rich
This Episode Is Brought To You By…
Lincoln Financial: Check out the NEW 4-part series "The Action Plan"👉https://bit.ly/TheActionPlan
Squarespace: Use the offer code RichRoll to save 10% off your first purchase 👉https://www.Squarespace.com/RichRoll
iFit: Use code RICHROLL to get 10% off any purchase of $999+👉https://bit.ly/rrnordictrack
Whoop: The all-new WHOOP 5.0 is here! Get your first month FREE👉https://www.join.whoop.com/Roll
Check out all of the amazing discounts from our Sponsors 👉🏾 https://bit.ly/rrpsponsors
LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/rrpitunes
Spotify: http://bit.ly/rrpspotify
Google: http://bit.ly/rrpgooglepods
Meal Planner: http://meals.richroll.com
Voicing Change Book: http://richroll.com/vc
Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RichRollPodcastClips
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/rollcallemail
CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:52 Navigating Competition & Market Differentiation
00:04:45 Origin of Strain & Recovery Focus
00:08:27 Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Discovery
00:11:50 What is Heart Rate Variability?
00:14:19 Understanding HRV Baselines & Genetics
00:16:12 Improving HRV & Lifestyle Impact
00:17:04 Whoop vs. Smartwatches
00:20:01 Intuition vs. Data in Training
00:22:01 AI & Future of Health Data
00:23:53 Accuracy of Wrist-Based Heart Rate
00:28:37 Getting Elite Athletes Onboard
00:31:11 Insights from Michael Phelps’ Data
00:34:16 The Importance of Recovery
00:36:04 Sponsor Break
00:38:25 Loyalty to Whoop & Data Connection
00:41:22 Entrepreneurial Vision & Early Business Plan
00:42:58 Entrepreneurial Stress & Personal Growth
00:45:43 Panic Attack & Meditation Breakthrough
00:47:35 Meditation’s Broader Benefits
00:55:56 Intuition, Ego, and Decision-Making
01:09:04 Sponsor Break
01:11:01 Overcoming Doubt & Building Belief
01:12:58 Harvard, Default Paths, and Existential Reckoning
01:21:44 Continuous Personal Inventory & Growth
01:23:05 Success, Drive, and Gratitude
01:28:28 Service, Mission, and Leadership
01:32:16 Healthy Relationship with Data & Optimization
01:38:51 AI, Wearables, and the Future of Preventative Health
01:43:54 Societal Impact of AI & Human Connection
01:49:59 Final Reflections: Self-Awareness & Measuring Progress
CONNECT WITH RICH
✩ Website - http://richroll.com
✩ Rich Roll Podcast - https://richroll.com/all-episodes/
✩ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/richroll/
✩ Twitter - https://twitter.com/richroll
✩ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/richrollfans
✩ Strava - https://www.strava.com/athletes/14443?oq=rich
✩ Memoir: Finding Ultra - https://www.richroll.com/shop/books/finding-ultra/
✩ Meals - http://meals.richroll.com
✩ Cook - The Plantpower Way - https://www.richroll.com/shop/books/the-plantpower-way-signed/
✩ Italian! - The Plantpower Way: Italia - https://www.richroll.com/shop/books/the-plantpower-way-italia-signed/
✩ Support - https://www.patreon.com/richroll
FILMED AND EDITED BY DAN DRAKE
https://www.dandrake333.com/
* * * * *
NEW TO RICH?
Hi I'm Rich Roll. I'm a vegan ultra-endurance athlete, author, podcaster, public speaker & wellness evangelist. But mainly I'm a dad of four. If you want to know more, visit my website or check out these two the NY Times articles:
http://bit.ly/otillonyt
http://bit.ly/vegansglam
I LOVE MAIL! SEND IT HERE:
2630 Conejo Spectrum St.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
#richroll #richrollpodcast
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