Making Sense of Wearables: From Data Overload to Real-Life Recovery with Gary McCoy

In this episode of The Vitality Collective Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Bettle is joined by longtime friend and pioneer in sport performance tech, Gary McCoy. Together, they explore the evolution of wearable technology from elite sports to everyday consumers. They dissect the promises—and pitfalls—of devices that claim to optimize sleep, measure readiness, and monitor performance. This candid conversation is a masterclass on how to interpret health data meaningfully, avoid being misled by numbers, and focus on what truly improves vitality and performance.

Gary McCoy is a leading figure in performance technology and applied sports science. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Gary has worked across the globe with elite organizations including the MLB, NBA, and national teams, playing pivotal roles in injury prevention and athlete performance. He was instrumental in launching Catapult Sports into the U.S. market and has since been involved in AI-based athlete monitoring and advisory roles in wearable tech innovation. Gary blends deep biomechanical expertise with practical, athlete-centered strategies that enhance performance and wellbeing.

• gary@mccoyperformance.com

• Catapult Sports

• Eight Sleep

• CoachMe Plus
  
  

1. Define Your Goal First: Before purchasing any wearable, ask yourself what health or performance goal you’re targeting. This ensures your tech supports your needs, not the other way around.
   
   

2. Trust How You Feel: No data point should override how your body feels. Use wearables as a guide—not a dictator—for your daily wellness decisions.
   
   

3. Track Over Time, Not In Isolation: The most valuable insights come from patterns. Use your data to spot trends, not to judge a single day’s results.
   
   

• 🧠 Data ≠ Truth: More data doesn’t automatically lead to better decisions; interpretation is everything.
  
  

• 🛏️ Actigraphy is Limited: Sleep wearables mostly track movement and may misclassify sleep stages. Don’t obsess over deep sleep metrics.
  
  

• 💡 Data Informs, It Doesn’t Decide: Use wearables to inform decisions, not to make them.
  
  

• 💓 Heart Rate Monitoring Accuracy Varies: Wrist-worn devices often produce unreliable heart rate data during exercise; chest straps or rings are more accurate.
  
  

• 🧘 Mind Over Metric: Emotional and cognitive states play a larger role in performance than many wearable metrics account for.
  
  

• 🎯 Goal Alignment is Key: Choose the wearable that fits your objective—not the flashiest brand.
  
  

• 📉 Placebo Effect is Real: Poorly interpreted data can negatively influence performance through belief alone.
  
  

• 🕵️ AI Isn’t Ready Yet: Inaccurate or inconsistent data limits AI’s usefulness in predicting athlete health or readiness.
  
  

• 🔄 Monitor Trends, Not Snapshots: A single poor night of sleep shouldn’t define your recovery; look for long-term patterns.
  
  

• 🤝 Talk to Your Body: The most advanced readiness score still can’t replace asking, “How do I feel today?”
  
  

In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Jeremy Bettle sits down with renowned sleep physician and researcher, Dr. Cheri Mah, to explore the transformative power of sleep on cognitive and physical performance. From elite athletes to high-performing executives, Dr. Mah shares practical strategies for optimizing sleep to unlock untapped potential. Together, they dive into the science behind sleep stages, circadian rhythms, and the role of sleep in leadership, decision-making, and emotional regulation. This episode is packed with actionable insights for anyone looking to perform—and feel—their absolute best.

Dr. Cheri Mah is a sleep physician, research scientist, and one of the leading experts on sleep and peak performance. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Mah has worked extensively with professional sports teams across the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, and F1, as well as military and corporate executives. Her pioneering work focuses on maximizing recovery, enhancing performance, and translating cutting-edge sleep science into practical strategies. She holds board certifications in internal medicine and sleep medicine and has trained under Dr. William Dement, a founding father of sleep research.

• Website: www.drcherimah.com
  
  

• Instagram, X (Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn
  
  

• Newsletter signup available via her website
  
  

1. Shift Your Mindset: View sleep not as the end of today, but as the beginning of tomorrow. Prioritize it as an investment in your next day’s success.
   
   

2. Start Small: Add just 15 minutes of extra sleep each night or establish a 5-minute wind-down routine to gradually build better sleep habits.
   
   

3. Create a Sleep Support System: Align your sleep goals with a partner or friend for mutual accountability and success.
   
   

• Sleep is an active process essential for cognitive and physical regeneration.
  
  

• Deep sleep promotes muscle recovery; REM sleep is critical for memory and emotional health.
  
  

• Consistency in sleep timing is as important as duration.
  
  

• Morning sunlight and minimizing evening blue light are key strategies for circadian alignment.
  
  

• High performers outside of sports often undervalue sleep’s role in decision-making and emotional regulation.
  
  

• Even small improvements in sleep can significantly boost performance and well-being.
  
  

• Alcohol, even in small amounts, negatively impacts sleep quality.
  
  

• Recovery sleep can effectively pay back short-term sleep debt if managed over weeks.
  
  

• Leadership sleep habits impact team psychological safety and overall performance.
  
  

• A structured approach to managing travel and jet lag can mitigate cognitive declines.
  
  

In this episode of The Vitality Collective Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Bettle sits down with Simon Kearney, a veteran of elite Australian sport and the founder of Readiness. They explore how performance strategies used in professional sports can be applied to everyday life and business, focusing on psychological wellbeing and the power of proactive monitoring. The conversation unpacks the evolution of wellness questionnaires in elite sport, the importance of individualized wellbeing data, and how Readiness is helping organizations build thriving, resilient workforces. If you’re looking to optimize performance through better mental health, this episode is a game-changer.

Simon Kearney is the founder of Readiness, a mental wellbeing and performance platform that brings the science of elite sport into workplaces. With over 20 years in elite Australian sport—including roles in AFL, NRL, tennis, and basketball—Simon specialized in sports science and conditioning, holding senior positions at clubs like Melbourne Storm and St. Kilda. After experiencing burnout, Simon transitioned into corporate wellbeing, founding Readiness with the goal of helping people monitor and manage their holistic health using data-driven tools and evidence-based interventions.

• Website: https://www.readiness.com.au
  
  

• LinkedIn: Readiness on LinkedIn

• Email: simon.kearney@readiness.com.au
  
  

1. Check in with yourself and others regularly – Use a consistent, simple method like a wellbeing survey or brief reflection to stay aware of your mental state.
   
   

2. Treat performance like an athlete would – Understand that every meeting, project, and decision is a performance moment. Optimize your body and mind to show up strong.
   
   

3. Lead with empathy – Whether you’re an employee or employer, recognize the human behind the role. Personalized, compassionate support drives better outcomes.
   
   

• Monitoring psychological wellbeing proactively is just as critical as tracking physical health—especially for sustained performance.
  
  

• The wellbeing questionnaire, born in elite sport, helps capture trends in mood, stress, sleep, and more to make timely interventions.
  
  

• Burnout and stress often arise unnoticed; having data can highlight small changes before they spiral.
  
  

• Organizations that engage employees in mental wellbeing on company time see better engagement and performance.
  
  

• Financial stress, work-life balance, and the ability to handle trauma are the top stressors reported across industries.
  
  

• The buddy system within Readiness creates human connection and support, key to mental health improvement.
  
  

• Employers can use anonymous data to guide strategic decisions—like adjusting work schedules or investing in sleep education.
  
  

• Tech must be paired with human follow-up; data without action leads to disengagement.
  
  

• Legislation in Australia is pushing psychosocial safety, making proactive wellbeing programs not just smart—but required.
  
  

• Performance, whether in sport or business, is built on the same human principles—rest, recovery, preparation, and support.