Performance Longevity with the 'Check Engine Light' Framework

Rob Wilson is a performance educator with over twenty years of experience helping people build durable, high-functioning bodies and minds. He joins us on The Ready State Podcast to unpack the uncomfortable truth about performance: it’s not free. In this powerful conversation with Kelly and Juliet Starrett, Rob dives into the real price of pushing your limits, why sleep is non-negotiable, and how to reframe “selfish” self-care as the foundation for showing up better in every area of life. Together, they tackle burnout, aging, and what it takes to sustain health and high output in a world that rewards constant hustle. What You'll Learn in This Episode The three waves of fitness, and why Rob Wilson's book represents the vanguard of the third wave. The problem with the democratization of health metrics like Heart Rate Variability (HRV) if you don't know how to interpret the data or take action. The story behind the "Check Engine Light" metaphor, which helps high performers prioritize what to address and what to ignore. Why the phrase "self-care" often fails with service-oriented and high-performing individuals and the analogy used instead. The "Cobra Effect" or Goodhart's Law, and how chasing a metric like a high HRV can lead to misleading and useless outcomes. How to stop the "medical cascade" and apply an experimental framework (test/retest) to chronic, nagging pain and everyday health issues. The true cost of high performance and the crucial need for a "cost mitigation strategy" to avoid burnout. Why context matters more than perfect protocols, and how to create a personal longevity dashboard for continuous adaptation. For more info, follow Rob on Instagram and definitely pick up a copy of his new book, Check Engine Light: Tuning Your Body and Mind to Achieve Performance Longevity . Key Highlights: (00:00) - Intro (00:48) - Check Engine Light Book Overview (06:49) - Check Engine Light Metaphor Explained (14:06) - Importance of Check Engine Light for Everyone (17:49) - Inputs and Outputs in Life (20:37) - One Size Fits All Approach: Myth or Reality? (25:25) - Identifying What Matters Most to You (27:28) - Performance Costs: Understanding Trade-offs (29:27) - Recommended Supplements for Health (32:55) - LMNT: Importance of Hydration Explained (37:10) - Resistance: Creativity's Universal Challenge (39:48) - Becoming Reasonable: A Personal Journey (45:18) - Heart Rate Variability (HRV): Benefits Explained (47:15) - Using Tracking Devices Mindfully (49:57) - The Cobra Effect: Understanding Consequences (57:55) - Setting Up Environments for Success (1:00:20) - Changes Since Writing the Book (1:03:14) - What's Next for Rob: Future Plans (1:04:30) - Finding Rob: Where to Connect Sponsors This episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by LMNT and Momentous .