Awaken Out Of Context11 Aug 2025

#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/podcast

Oh 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 List

00:00:00 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/4m7E2Jm

Habit tracking - Claim one of onehundred free Indiip VIP months:

https://bit.ly/indiippodcast

15% Off Bare Bar (CODE: JASE):

https://bit.ly/barejase

MY STUFF:

Awaken Out Of Context Podcast (YouTube & Podcast Links):

https://bit.ly/3tk8FVv

Follow Me On Instagram (@awakenoutofjason):

https://bit.ly/3RAkKQj

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