Episode 95: Morgan Smith and Naiomi Hunter: Advancing Athletic Performance with Menstrual Cycle Research and Wearables

In episode 95 of Trail Society, hosts Corrine Malcolm, Keely Henninger, and Hillary Allen sit down with two standout researchers from Stanford University—Dr. Morgan Smith and Naiomi Hunter—for an insightful conversation about the intersection of women's health, athletic performance, and wearable technology. Dr. Smith, a sport scientist, coach, and postdoctoral fellow with the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance at Stanford, is passionate about how physiology and metabolism influence performance, especially for women in sport. Her research is grounded in the real world, as she also coaches high school athletes, lifts weights, and enjoys time outdoors with her dog, Reggie. Naiomi Hunter, a PhD candidate in Stanford's School of Medicine, focuses on the menstrual cycle and its impact on female athlete performance through wearable tech and biometric data. With a strong commitment to reproductive justice and healthcare equity, Naiomi's work seeks to create more inclusive and personalized approaches to reproductive care for marginalized communities. In this episode, they explore the potential of wearables in tracking menstrual cycle data, the challenges in the current research, and why individualized training plans are key to optimizing performance. They also discuss the importance of mentorship for women of color in science, their passion for combining sport and research, and the exciting future of wearable technology in improving athletic health. Follow them here: @Goldenmo_ and @Nnahunter SPONSORS We are so excited to be partnering with rabbit as our primary apparel sponsor this year! Send us some DMS about your favorite apparel and what you would like to see built for the trail running space! USE CODE TRAILMARCH for 10% OFF! - UPF Deflector : sun hoodie with a UPF 50 rating; lightweight, breathable, quick drying; new cute pink color - Leggy Smashems : 5" compression shorts w/ storage waistband so you can ditch the fuel belt. Keep sliding into our DMs with your messages, they mean so much to us! FOLLOW US on Instagram: @trail.society And go follow our NEW youtube channel @trailsociety_podcast This episode is brought to you by Freetrail @runfreetrail