- The Playbook
- Posts
- Volume 63 | Achilles’ Heel
Volume 63 | Achilles’ Heel
Micah Parsons spotlights a new device tackling the Achilles injury epidemic, Red Bull turns Navy Pier into an outdoor fitness festival, Eight Sleep raises $100M for its AI sleep agent, and Hyperice drops next-gen recovery tech.
Alec Grawe
August 19, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes
📰 The Pulse
Micah Puts Achilles Elite Recovery Device to the Test (More)
Summary — Micah Parsons recently showcased his recovery routine using Achilles Elite, a new sports recovery device designed to support tendon strength and accelerate healing. Built with athlete-driven tech, the system targets one of the most vulnerable areas in sports—the Achilles tendon—by improving blood flow, mobility, and load tolerance. With Achilles tears spiking across both the NBA and NFL, the device is gaining traction as a preventative and recovery tool.
The Playbook Take — Micah isn’t joining the company—he’s spotlighting a device that could help solve one of the biggest issues plaguing pro athletes right now. With Achilles injuries sidelining stars across leagues, tech like this could shift the conversation from crisis response to proactive protection.
Red Bull Gives Experiential Fitness New Wiings with Sweat the Deck (More)
Summary — On August 17, Red Bull partnered with F45 to transform Chicago’s Navy Pier into a massive open-air fitness arena. “Sweat the Deck” drew thousands of participants for high-intensity group sessions led by F45 trainers, complete with live DJs, Red Bull activations, and recovery lounges. The event is part of Red Bull’s growing push into lifestyle and experiential fitness, creating cultural crossovers between sport, wellness, and community.
The Playbook Take — Red Bull has always owned extreme sports, but this move shows its eyes are on mainstream fitness culture too. If the energy drink giant is putting its wings behind workouts, the convergence of brand, sport, and sweat is only accelerating.
🧬 The Shop
Hyperice | Contrast X 2 Knee + Shoulder
Hyperice just leveled up hot-cold therapy with second-gen contrast recovery devices for knees and shoulders—redesigned for faster treatment cycles, deeper tissue penetration, and pro-level usability.
Cadence | The Race Can
Cadence adds energy to their core hydration RTD that balances sustained energy with no crash. Coming in flavors Peach and Cherry.
Ten Thousand | Foundation Collection
Built from athlete testing, the new Foundation collection - performance essentials engineered to move seamlessly between training and everything that comes after.
COROS | NOMAD
Designed for hikers, anglers, and adventurers of all types who see the outdoors as their home away from home, COROS NOMAD combines GPS navigation, a range of sport modes, safety features, and an all-new Adventure Journal tool to document every step, catch, and summit along the way.
Promix | Watermelon Debloat
Same formula, now in a refreshing Watermelon flavor.
DryWater | Nationwide at Walgreens
Functional hydration brand DryWater is now stocked in 2,000 Walgreens across the U.S.—taking its clean electrolyte blends mainstream.
Vital Proteins | Collagen & Protein Shake
Combining protein power with collagen benefits in a smooth grab-and-go shake—designed for both performance and recovery.
Strive | Hydration Soda
Strive launches its new hydration soda line—functional fizz crafted to deliver electrolytes with a refreshing twist.
🧠 Recover Smarter. Sleep Deeper.
Most athletes train their muscles — but ignore their nervous system. That’s like upgrading your car’s engine but never touching the brakes.
Enter Pulsetto — a wearable that stimulates your vagus nerve to switch your body from “fight or flight” into full recovery mode. In just minutes a day, you can lower stress, boost deep sleep, and improve how your body bounces back after hard training.
NBA All-Star Domantas Sabonis swears by it to speed recovery and get more restorative rest — and now, everyday athletes can get the same edge.
Stay calm under pressure. Sleep like a champ. Recover like a pro.
👉 Get your Pulsetto here.
🎙️On The Podcast
In this episode, we dive deep with neuroscientist Andrés Preschel, founder of Know Your Physio, as he shares his journey from obsession with self-improvement to becoming a high-performance coach.
Discover how he leverages neuroplasticity, physiological intuition, and key performance metrics like VO2 max, HRV, and sleep efficiency to optimize his clients healthspan.
Andres also breaks down his Flow Stack, sharing the tools, practices, and products that help him maintain peak physical and cognitive performance, including:
Sprinting & Social Fitness
Life Cider X
Nic Nac Naturals
Ketone Aid KE4
Vivobarefoot
WYR + Wear Shepherds
RA Optics
Brickd (the social app blocker that protects focus)
If you want to understand how science, lifestyle, and community can unlock your true potential, this episode is a must-list
💰 The Boardroom
Eight Sleep Raises $100M To Develop AI Sleep Agent (More)
Eight Sleep just secured a fresh $100M funding round, with goals to scale its AI sleep agent—an intelligent system that adjusts temperature, tracks recovery, and even explores FDA approval as a medical-grade device. Sleep tech is no longer about mattresses—it’s becoming a regulated performance category.
Tony Robbins’ Fountain Life Lands $18M (More)
Fountain Life, the longevity clinic network co-founded by Tony Robbins, raised $18M to expand its “early detection and peak health” model for affluent clients. Services include advanced diagnostics, biological age testing, and personalized health optimization.
Olipop x Travis Hunter (More)
Olipop tapped Colorado star Travis Hunter for its newest athlete partnership, pushing its gut-healthy soda deeper into sports culture.
Vital Proteins at the US Open (More)
For the first time, Vital Proteins will sponsor the US Open—marking the collagen brand’s move onto tennis’s biggest stage.