What do we really know about breathing — and what have we assumed?

In this conversation, Dylan McKay, creator of the Performance Breathing System®, sits down with Dr. Nina Bausek, Chief Scientist at PN Medical, to examine common breathing myths through the lens of physiology and real-world performance.

Rather than promoting techniques or protocols, this discussion focuses on how breathing behavior actually changes under stress, fatigue, and high demand — and why many widely repeated breathing claims fail to account for CO₂ regulation, respiratory muscle work, and system-level tradeoffs.

This discussion is designed for individuals and professionals who want a clearer, more accurate understanding of breathing beyond surface-level advice.

It is especially relevant for:

• Clinicians working with stress-exposed populations
• Performance and human-movement professionals
• Tactical, emergency, and high-demand occupations
• Anyone questioning why common breathing guidance doesn’t always translate

If you’ve ever wondered why breathing advice sounds simple but feels inconsistent in practice, this conversation offers a broader, more grounded lens.

Throughout the conversation, Bruce and Nina explore:

• Common breathing myths and why they persist
• What CO₂ actually reflects in breathing behavior
• Why “slower” or “deeper” breathing is not always better
• How stress reshapes breathing automatically
• What wearable feedback reveals in live environments
• Where breathing fits — and does not fit — in performance conversations

Breathing is often treated as a background function. Under stress, it becomes a performance driver.

When breathing behavior is misunderstood, performance limitations are misattributed to mindset, conditioning, or effort. This discussion reframes breathing as a physiological behavior shaped by demand, exposure, and adaptation — not a universal solution.

Understanding what is real versus assumed allows for clearer observation, better decision-making, and more effective performance support.