How Breathing Shapes Sleep, Stress, Performance, & Longevity | Patrick McKeown

From The Ready State Podcast by Kelly Starrett, Juliet Starrett

May 28, 2026 · 1h 56m · Episode 193

About this episode

Patrick McKeown discusses the impact of breathing on health, sleep, and performance.

View This Week's Show Notes Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush In this episode of The Ready State Podcast, breathing expert Patrick McKeown joins Kelly and Juliet Starrett for a mind-expanding conversation about something you do 20,000 times a day but probably haven’t thought deeply about: your breath. From asthma and anxiety to sleep quality, athletic performance, focus, and recovery, Patrick explains why the way you breathe may be quietly shaping nearly every aspect of your health. The conversation dives into the surprising science of CO2 tolerance, why most people are chronically over-breathing, and how simple shifts – like nasal breathing, breath holds, and slowing your exhales – can dramatically change your nervous system and performance. Patrick also breaks down why women experience breathing and sleep differently than men, how poor breathing affects kids’ development and behavior, and why many sleep disorders may be going undiagnosed. Most importantly, this episode is packed with practical tools you can start using immediately – whether you’re trying to sleep better, feel calmer, improve endurance, or simply function better…

People in this episode

Hosts: Kelly Starrett, Juliet Starrett

Guest: Patrick McKeown

Topics covered

breathing
sleep
stress
performance
longevity
health

Keywords

breathing
sleep quality
CO2 tolerance
nasal breathing
anxiety
athletic performance
stress management

How Breathing Shapes Sleep, Stress, Performance, & Longevity | Patrick McKeown

About this episode

People in this episode

Topics covered

Keywords

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