RECESS: Juliet & Kelly Starrett on Social Connection, School Recess Guidelines, Rachel Entrekin’s Self-Talk, and Prom Maxxing

From The Ready State Podcast by Kelly Starrett, Juliet Starrett

May 21, 2026 · 31 min · Episode 192

About this episode

In this episode, Juliet and Kelly discuss the importance of social connection, school recess guidelines, and the need for more play in adult life.

Welcome back to RECESS — our weekly break from the serious stuff to talk about what we’re learning, what’s making us laugh, and how we’re building more play into real life. In this episode, we unpack why social connection may be the single biggest predictor of healthy aging and longevity, reflect on new pediatric guidelines pushing for more school recess, and talk about how adults desperately need more play too. We also dive into Rachel Entrekin’s mindset during her historic Cocodona 250 win, Kelly’s emotional experience eulogizing his mom, and the rise of “prom maxxing” — and why it gives us the ick. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why social connection may matter more than anything else for longevity How play and movement create stronger communities and healthier adults Why the American Academy of Pediatrics says recess is not optional Rachel Entrekin’s powerful self-talk strategy during her record-setting ultramarathon What Kate Courtney’s career shift teaches about identity and reinvention Why “third places” like gyms, clubs, and community spaces matter so much Juliet and Kelly’s thoughts on “prom maxxing” and modern parenting culture What Kelly learned from giving the…

People in this episode

Hosts: Juliet Starrett, Kelly Starrett

Topics covered

social connection
school recess
healthy aging
play and movement
self-talk
modern parenting

Keywords

social connection
healthy aging
school recess
self-talk
prom maxxing
play
movement

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: American Academy of Pediatrics