Oxygen Advantage

Oxygen Advantage
Oxygen Advantage
Latest episode

89 episodes

  • Oxygen Advantage

    The Anatomy of Functional Breathing | Patrick McKeown & Tom Myers

    06/05/2026 | 1h 8 mins.
    Discover how modern life is radically reshaping the way we breathe. In this in‑depth conversation, Patrick McKeown (Oxygen Advantage) and Tom Myers (Anatomy Trains) explore the hidden links between our environment, posture, jaws, emotions, and breathing patterns. You’ll learn: - Why we’ve “made a zoo and now live in it” – and how tech, sitting, and urban living drive anxiety and dysfunctional breathing - How our genes, lifestyle, and domestication have literally narrowed our faces, jaws, and airways - The crucial difference between nasal vs mouth breathing for sleep, concentration, child development, and long‑term health - What the diaphragm really does (beyond the usual “belly breathing” story) and how tensegrity explains rib cage mechanics - Why so many children mouth breathe, snore, and struggle with attention – and what can be done to help them early - Practical, anatomy‑based insights into opening the nose, improving airway function, and restoring more natural breathing patterns If you’re interested in breathing, sleep, posture, airway health, fascia, or human performance, this episode offers a rare blend of deep anatomy and practical breathing wisdom. Chapters: 0:00 Intro & Tom Myers’ background 3:30 “We made a zoo and now we live in it” – modern life & anxiety 6:40 Genes, laziness, and why our world lets us stop moving 8:10 Domestication, shrinking jaws & narrowing airways 10:00 Mouth breathing, sleep apnea & childhood development 15:00 Conscious vs unconscious breathing, sea mammals & humans 20:00 Tensegrity, rib cage mechanics & the diaphragm as a piston 31:00 Nasal vs mouth breathing, palate shape & deviated septum 40:00 Non‑surgical ways to help open the airway 45:00 Where breathing education needs to go next #OxygenAdvantage #PatrickMcKeown #TomMyers #AnatomyTrains #Breathing #Breathwork #NasalBreathing #MouthBreathing #SleepApnea #AirwayHealth #Posture #Anxiety #Fascia #Diaphragm #HumanPerformance #FunctionalBreathing #HolisticHealth #buteykobreathing #buteykomethod
  • Oxygen Advantage

    Addiction, Prison & Recovery — The Power of Breath | John O’Hegarty

    16/04/2026 | 1h 1 mins.
    What happens when an overactive mind, guilt, and addiction take over completely?

    In this episode, Patrick McKeown speaks with John O’Hegarty about a life that moved from philosophy and curiosity… into addiction, bank robberies, prison — and eventually recovery through breath, movement, and meaning.

    John shares, in a very real and unfiltered way, how addiction changed his thinking, how rationality disappeared, and how actions that once felt unthinkable became normal. He talks about the mindset behind it — not to justify it, but to help people understand what actually happens when someone is deep in that state.

    They also explore what came after: how he rebuilt his life inside prison how meaning, structure, and movement became anchors and how breathing became a tool to create space from the mind

    This is not just a story about addiction. It’s a conversation about the human mind, the need to escape it, and how we can learn to regulate it.

    In this episode:
    how addiction overrides rational thinking the “suspension of the voluntary mind”
    prison, structure, and rebuilding from the inside
    Viktor Frankl and the role of meaning
    breathing and its effect on mental state
    cold exposure and learning to tolerate discomfort
    why so many people today struggle with overthinking

    John now brings both lived experience and professional training to his work, supporting others through breathwork, movement, and recovery-focused practice.

    📍 Connect with John O’Hegarty https://oxygenadvantage.com/pages/instructor/john_o_hegarty

    Timestamps:
    00:00 – Childhood & early curiosity
    06:00 – Philosophy & Viktor Frankl
    12:00 – The accident & start of addiction
    16:00 – Bank robberies & mindset
    21:00 – Prison & rebuilding
    30:00 – Injury & discovering breathwork
    36:00 – “The breath is the mind made visible”
    43:00 – Cold exposure & presence
    50:00 – Addiction & modern overstimulation
    56:00 – Working with others today

    Listener note: This episode includes discussion of addiction, trauma, criminal behaviour, incarceration, and mental health. Some parts are raw and personal. Please listen with care and take what feels helpful.

    More from Oxygen Advantage®: Breathing programs, instructor training & resources www.oxygenadvantage.com
  • Oxygen Advantage

    Breathing Techniques That Transform Athletic Performance - Patrick McKeown and David 'Jacko' Jackson

    13/03/2026 | 1h 17 mins.
    Discover how changing your breathing can transform your running performance, recovery, and overall enjoyment of the sport. In this conversation, Patrick McKeown (author of The Oxygen Advantage) interviews David “Jacko” Jackson, former professional rugby player, strength & conditioning coach, and author of “Breathe Smarter, Run Stronger” (out March 12, 2026). They explore: How Jacko accidentally knocked over a minute off his 5K time in four weeks just by changing his breathing—not his training volume Why most runners (from recreational to elite) are leaving performance on the table by ignoring breathing The difference between breathing rate vs. tidal volume and why deeper, slower, more efficient breaths can reduce perceived effort and breathlessness How nasal breathing improves oxygen delivery, running economy, and recovery—and when it makes sense to switch to mouth breathing at higher intensities The role of the diaphragm, rib cage mobility, and posture in breathing efficiency and running mechanics Why CO₂ tolerance, air hunger, and breathing muscle effort are key levers for controlling pace and effort How breath holds and “anaerobic” breath training can boost repeat sprint ability and lactate handling in team and endurance sports Practical ways Jacko integrates breathing into daily life, sleep, easy runs, hard sessions, and recovery Whether you’re a casual jogger or a competitive athlete, this episode shows how training your breath can help you run faster, feel better, and recover quicker—without just adding more miles. #oxygenadvantage, #breathwork, #runningperformance, #nasalbreathing, #endurancetraining, #runnersofinstagram, #marathontraining, #5ktraining, #vo2max, #diaphragmaticbreathing, #functionalbreathing, #sportsperformance, #recovery, #mentalhealth, #asthma, #rugby, #strengthandconditioning, #breathingexercises, #runningtips, #runstronger
  • Oxygen Advantage

    Eating Disorder to World-Class Strongwoman | Sandra Bradley on Mindset, Breath & Oxygen Advantage

    16/02/2026 | 54 mins.
    Can strength training, breathwork, and self-awareness completely transform a life shaped by bullying, low confidence, and an eating disorder? In this powerful conversation, professional strongwoman and strength & performance coach Sandra Bradley shares how she became one of the world’s leading strongwomen and how tools like Oxygen Advantage® breathing, mindfulness, and process-focused training have shaped her body and mind.
    We explore:
    - How Sandra went from watching World’s Strongest Man on TV to becoming a top strongwoman athlete
    - Her journey from eating disorder, bullying, and dissociation to self-acceptance and inner strength
    - Why lifting odd objects and historical stones (including the famous Fullsterkur stone in Iceland – 154 kg) builds real-world resilience
    - How Oxygen Advantage style breathing, cold exposure (ice baths), and mindfulness support nervous system regulation and recovery
    - The difference between ego-based goals vs intrinsic goals in training and life
    - How to use strength sports, breathwork, and presence as tools for self-confidence, emotional regulation, and personal growth
    If you’re interested in Oxygen Advantage breathing, mental performance, strength training, ADHD, burnout recovery, or how to build unshakable confidence, this episode is for you.

    Timestamps
    0:00 – Intro: Who is Sandra Bradley?
    1:00 – Getting into strongwoman and lifting odd objects
    8:00 – Historical stone lifting & the Fullsterkur story (154 kg)
    10:00 – Process over outcome: what “success” really feels like
    15:00 – Burnout, World’s Strongest Woman, and shifting her mindset
    18:40 – Daily routines: breathing, ice baths, walking, self-check-ins
    22:00 – From bullying and eating disorder to inner strength
    29:00 – Practical tools: journaling, nature, and body awareness
    33:00 – ADHD, mental noise & using breathwork to self-regulate
    37:00 – Social media, distraction, and taking back agency
    42:00 – Choosing the right people & building a real support system
    44:30 – Coaching: when strength goals become ego goals
    49:00 – Lessons from trophies, titles, and what really matters
    51:00 – Looking back: why she wouldn’t change the hard times
  • Oxygen Advantage

    Season 6 Finale: Nitric Oxide, Nasal Breathing & Ultra Endurance

    15/12/2025 | 52 mins.
    As we close out Season 6 of the Oxygen Advantage® Podcast, this special finale brings together five standout moments that capture the depth and diversity of conversations we’ve had this past few years.

    Featuring:
    • James Nestor on the lost art and power of nasal breathing
    • Dr. Nathan Bryan on nitric oxide and whole-body health
    • Ihor Verys on breath as a tool for world-class endurance
    • Dr. George Dallam on the science of nasal vs. mouth breathing in sport
    • Robin Rothenberg on where pranayama meets modern breath science
    Whether you’re new to the podcast or a long-time listener, this episode is a powerful recap of the ideas shaping the future of breathwork.
    🎧 Enjoying the podcast?
    Tap like, subscribe, and turn on notifications to stay updated when Season 7 drops.

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About Oxygen Advantage

Join Oxygen Advantage creator Patrick McKeown as he talks to breathwork experts, high-achievers, elite athletes, biohackers, yogis and doctors. Learn the science behind Invincible Breathing, and how you can apply simple breathing exercises to optimize physical and mental health, brainpower and sports performance. Get inspired. Get the Oxygen Advantage.
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