In this 52nd episode of Rabbit Hole of Research, the first episode of season 3, Joe, Nick, and Georgia are joined by author, Air Force engineer, and ultramarathoner Hayley Reese Chow to explore the physics and biology of extreme performance. They discuss what the human body can endure, where it breaks, and why we keep trying to push past the red line anyway. From the “second wind” and the infamous invisible wall to pain tolerance, recovery, and the evolutionary logic of persistence hunting, the conversation blends real physiology with the psychology of endurance.
Hayley shares her firsthand experience running ultramarathons, including racing through injury, managing pain over hundreds of miles, and navigating the strange mental territory that emerges when quitting is always an option, but never the one you take. The hosts unpack the science behind aerobic versus anaerobic effort, flow state, the so-called “berserker mode,” and the role of brain chemistry, hormones, and heat regulation in sustaining performance. They also explore new research suggesting that women may hold advantages in ultra-endurance events, examining metabolic efficiency, recovery, and long-term fatigue resistance.
From there, the episode expands into engineering, biohacking, and science fiction. Could biomechanical suits, genetic modification, or neural interfaces extend human physical limits? What would it actually take to run on another planet, survive high-G environments, or compete in a world of enhanced bodies? Along the way, they dig into their pop culture performance enhancing favorites, from GATTACA to Iron Man, asking where’s the line between the actual factual and Handwavium.
Find out more about Hayley and check out her books
Check out what the RHR crew is creating
Joe:
Red Line: Chicago Horror Stories Anthology featuring a new story by Joe!
Joe’s Sci-fi physiological thriller Novel: Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?
Essay by Joe: From Beyond Press: Specific Knowledge: Jotham Austin, II, PhD on Transformations in Fiction
It’s Science for Weirdos
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We want to Hear From You (leave a comment):
Have you ever experienced a “second wind,” flow state, or the invisible wall during physical effort? What did it feel like?
Would you willingly replace a healthy limb with a biomechanical one to gain superhuman strength or endurance?
Do you think future technology, exosuits, biohacking, or genetic engineering, should be used to enhance human performance, or are some limits worth keeping?
And in fiction: which story best captures extreme physical endurance for you?
Drop your thoughts in the comments. We read them all, and your ideas often shape future episodes.
Future Episodes & Events
Season 3
Episode 53: Space Arks and Colonizing New Worlds
Guest: Roland Pitts
If Earth is no longer an option, what comes next? Roland Pitts helps us imagine space arks, generation ships, and building new civilizations in the stars.
Episode 54: What’s Love Got to Do With It?
Guest: Joe Compton
A deep dive into the science, psychology, and cultural myths of love. Exploring whether attachment is chemistry, storytelling, evolutionary strategy, or something stranger than fiction.
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