Reframing the popular, yet limited narrative about rowing culture by celebrating the expansive array of rowers, coaches, and coxswains in a podcast designed to savor real-life experience from launch to cox seat at every level.
A Long Talk About the Uncomfortable Truth was developed by two black fathers in the wake of George Floyd's murder in May 2020, during a moment of national reckoning. There was a collective national and international outcry, but there was also a gap between intention and action. People wanted to help but didn't know where to start. In light of the Black Lives Matter movement, USRowing came to terms with its own limitations when it came to talking about – and taking action around – diversity, equity, and inclusion. A Long Talk gives space to have the conversations that people are afraid to have. They lead activation experiences designed to empower participants with knowledge and skills to interrupt problematic thinking and behaviors. Kamal Carter and Kyle Williams, founders of A Long Talk, are not rowers, but they are proud to be a USRowing Unity Partner, and working with rowing programs across the country. GUESTS: Kamal Carter, President Kyle Williams, Chief Empowerment Officer FIND OUT MORE www.alongtalk.com FB, IG & X: @alongtalk2020 YouTube: @Alongtalk QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Episode intro 01:50 - Hosts Tara and Rachel talk candidly about policies that led to segregation, and outdated ideas that persist 04:10 - Welcome guests and week on a scale of 1-10 09:15 - The Hot Seat Q&A 17:53 - Kyle and Kamal met in college at Hampton University 20:02 - A Long Talk origin story began in response to a 2020 incident with an NCAA basketball coach 29:45 - Connecting with USRowing started with Matt Logue at TRRA 32:04 - A willingness to learn and progress over perfection 36:10 - Success looks like… 40:56 - Information plus empathy equals action 41:58 - A Long Talk's CPR ( clarify, probe and redirect) training 49:44 - How white women can impact change 52:56 - Are you ready to take your first steps towards interrupting ignorance? 54:50 - Steady State Network news and notes . To get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is hosted and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering, books show guests, and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel writes our scripts and e-newsletter, and manages the website and social media. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper. . SHOP SSN GEAR: www.steadystatenetwork.com/shop SIGN UP FOR THE SSN NEWSLETTER: www.steadystatenetwork.com/newsletter MAKE A DIFFERENCE: www.steadystatenetwork.com/support Check out more Steady State Network here: FB - /SteadyStateNetwork IG - @SteadyStateNetwork BLUESKY - steadystatenetwork.bsky.social FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars Connect on FB and IG with the hosts: Rachel Freedman - @RowSource Tara Morgan - @CmonBarber
At the heart of New Orleans, at Xavier University of Louisiana, two coaches decided to challenge tradition—by bringing an elite sport to an unexpected place and building something that had never existed before: the first co-ed rowing program at a Historically Black College and University. Xavier University Rowing Club is a trailblazing force in collegiate sports, championing diversity and unity on Bayou St. John. Coaches Beth Manley and Chloé Jobin, and rower Victoria Duffey, are at the heart of the grassroots effort fueled by the belief that sports have the power to change minds and communities. Every stroke they take on the water is a step towards breaking barriers and building a more inclusive future for rowing. QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Episode intro 02:05 - Co-Hosts Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan banter 06:14 - The Huddle: A quick get to know guests Beth Manley, Victoria Duffey, and Chloé Jobin 07:41 - Welcome guests and Rowing week on a scale of 1-10: a mixed bag of rain, gators, and flip tests 08:43 - The Hot Seat Q&A 11:18 - For Victoria, the importance of attending an HBCU 14:30 - XULA's location in New Orleans 15:04 - What sparked the idea of starting a rowing program at XU? 16:55 - No blueprint for starting a rowing club at XULA 19:27 - Partnership with New Orleans Rowing Club 22:07- Victoria: from Crossfit to XULA Rowing Club walk-on and beyond 25:50 - Building club culture of accountability, leadership, and building each other up 30:24 - Training, growth, and plans 33:48 - About being the first, motivation and the legacy of XULA. Contextualize what you're doing and the space that you're making for other people 40:23 - Steady State Network news and notes . To see photos of Victoria, Chloé, Beth, and XULA Rowing Club, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is hosted and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering, books show guests, and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel writes our scripts and e-newsletter, and manages the website and social media. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper. . SHOP SSN GEAR: www.steadystatenetwork.com/shop SIGN UP FOR THE SSN NEWSLETTER: www.steadystatenetwork.com/newsletter MAKE A DIFFERENCE: www.steadystatenetwork.com/support Check out more Steady State Network here: FB - /SteadyStateNetwork IG - @SteadyStateNetwork FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars BLUESKY - steadystatenetwork.bsky.social Connect on FB and IG with the hosts: Rachel Freedman - @RowSource Tara Morgan - @CmonBarber
As part of our semi-regular club spotlight series, we head to Conshohoken, Pennsylvania to get to know Whitemarsh Boat Club. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, we check in with Linda Chisholm and Jane Voss – two of the club's Founding Mothers – about the early days of getting the club off the ground in 2005, the growth it's seen in the years since, and what makes this multi-generational club a stand-out. QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Hosts Tara and Rachel banter about pipe dreams and logistics of starting a club 07:02 - Rowing week on a scale of 1-10: planning for a 10 next week! 08:10 - The Huddle: A quick get to know you with Linda and Jane 11:04 - The Hot Seat Q&A 13:53 - Linda and Jane's rowing origin stories: Rowing moms unite! 18:17 - Why start a club in Conshohocken? Why not join a club on Boathouse Row? 21:54 - Early days of borrowed boats and fund raising 22:28 - About Whitemarsh Boat Club and its place on the Schuylkill River 25:56 - Development of Whitemarsh Boat Club programs 30:47 - Not so secret secrets to building club culture 36:13 - 20 years of Whitemarsh Boat Club 39:07 - Linda and Jane's advice for starting a club 42:32 - Steady State Network news and notes . To see photos of Jane Voss, Linda Chisolm, and Whitemarsh Boat Club, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper. . SHOP SSN GEAR: www.steadystatenetwork.com/shop SIGN UP FOR THE SSN NEWSLETTER: www.steadystatenetwork.com/newsletter MAKE A DIFFERENCE: www.steadystatenetwork.com/support Check out more Steady State Network here: FB - /SteadyStateNetwork IG - @SteadyStateNetwork FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars BLUESKY - steadystatenetwork.bsky.social Connect on FB and IG with the hosts: Rachel Freedman - @RowSource Tara Morgan - @CmonBarber
On June 7, 2025, Oar the Rainbow will be one of just five teams losing sight of shore for an unsupported, human-powered, 2800-mile row from Monterey, CA to Kauai, HI. The team, – including the first out transgender person to row across the Pacific – are about two years into their planning and training. Members Taylan Stulting, Julie Warren, and Courtney Farber have inclusion, joy, and kindness at the heart of the team, with the belief that representation in sports matters, while pushing the limits of endurance. We talk about the love of rowing, having something to prove, what to expect out there, and fundraising for Athlete Ally and Doctors Without Borders. Stick around for a bonus Q&A with ocean rower, author, and adventurer Jordan Hanssen. QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Podcast Series Introduction 01:45 - Episode Intro: Rachel and Tara's take on taking on an ocean 08:57 - The Huddle: A quick get to know you 10:39 - Rowing week on a scale of 1-10 11:26 - The Hot Seat Q&A 13:58 - Rowing origin stories: For Courtney the stars aligned in her 30s; Julie got handed a flier as a college freshman; Taylan sought out a college LTR program 19:20 - Most recent training/practical session together 21:09 - The dream of rowing an ocean 26:05 - How Oar the Rainbow came to be 28:40 - Commitment and family sacrifices 30:30 - About the World's Toughest Row 31:20 - The boat named Emma 32:30 - Training 33:37 - Extrapolating personal skills to make the teamwork work 38:03 - The “why” 42:42 - Charities and support 44:14 - Intro to Q&A with ocean rower, author, and adventurer Jordan Hanssen 44:55 - What is so exciting about rowing on the ocean? 45:56 - What piece of equipment or personal gear do you wish that you had with you? 48:25 - How did you feel hitting the halfway point and in the days following that milestone? 49:44 - What was the transition back to life on land like for you? 51:38 - How to plan for something unexpected? 53:10 - Lovely nuggets 56:10 - Steady State Network news and notes . To see photos of Oar the Rainbow, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper. . SHOP SSN GEAR: www.steadystatenetwork.com/shop SIGN UP FOR THE SSN NEWSLETTER: www.steadystatenetwork.com/newsletter MAKE A DIFFERENCE: www.steadystatenetwork.com/support Check out more Steady State Network here: FB - /SteadyStateNetwork IG - @SteadyStateNetwork FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars BLUESKY - steadystatenetwork.bsky.social Connect on FB and IG with the hosts: Rachel Freedman - @RowSource Tara Morgan - @CmonBarber
Neil Bergenroth is an educator and rowing coach whose work with kids has developed successful rowers and students for nearly 40 years in his adopted hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma and across the country. Neil's Rowing STEM curriculum introduces kids to concepts like data analysis, graphing, physiology, precision, and accuracy. And as an online rowing coach, Neil's helping rowers of all ages dial in their rowing technique, and reach new personal milestones. QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Podcast Series Introduction 01:17 - Episode intro: Hosts Rachel and Tara banter about their personal experiences learning about data from the Concept2 monitor 05:27 - Neils's rowing week on a scale of 1-10: 9 (or 10) because a client set a U.S. record on the slides 05:52 - The Huddle: A quick get-to-know Neil's rowing background 07:41 - The Hot Seat Q&A 11:07 - Neil's rowing origin story began at Kingston Grammar School in London 14:00 - Making the decision to attend Boston University 14:41 - When your new wife is from Tulsa ... you move across the Pond and volunteer at Tulsa Youth Rowing Association 18:54 - Aging, making time for family, stepping away from the launch, and deciding what to do next 20:20 - A vision for what online coaching could be: apps 22:37 - Developing the Rowing STEM curriculum and app, and bringing it into the classroom 25:52 - Why rowing is a great way to teach STEM concepts 28:41 - Using the Concept2 RowErg for STEM experiments 32:17 - The future of the Rowing STEM curriculum depends on others stepping up 34:20 - Neil describes the perfect stroke 42:40 - Steady State Network news and notes . To see photos of Neil, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper. . SHOP SSN GEAR: www.steadystatenetwork.com/shop SIGN UP FOR THE SSN NEWSLETTER: www.steadystatenetwork.com/newsletter MAKE A DIFFERENCE: www.steadystatenetwork.com/support Check out more Steady State Network here: FB - /SteadyStateNetwork IG - @SteadyStateNetwork FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars BLUESKY - steadystatenetwork.bsky.social Connect on FB and IG with the hosts: Rachel Freedman - @RowSource Tara Morgan - @CmonBarber
At Peninsula Community Rowing Club, Tongan American coach Anthony Heimuli is making an impact in his San Francisco-area rowing community, providing young athletes a deeper understanding of community and self. And with his eyes set firmly on the 2026 Youth Olympics and 2028 Olympic Games, Anthony is working to establish the Pacific Islander Rowing Association to develop high-performance athletes for international competition. QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Episode Intro 2:16 - Rowing week: On a scale of 1-10, Anthony's was a 9 while prepping two youth for New Zealand Coastal Championships 02:54 - The Huddle: A quick get to know Anthony 03:40 - The Hot Seat Q&A 05:22 - Rowing origin story: A very short-lived football career led to a rowing team tryout 07:55 - Being recruited to – and divorced by – the University of Washington 12:48 - After a 10 year rowing hiatus, coaching middle schoolers was “insane” 17:57 - The Pacific Islander community in San Francisco 20:54 - Working with community partners to introduce Pacific Islander youth to rowing 28:22 - Coaching philosophy: "It's just rowing. Let's have fun!" 31:26 - Working to make the Peninsula Community Rowing Club a recognized member of the Tonga Rowing Association 37:47 - Steady State Network news and notes . To see photos of Anthony, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper. . SHOP SSN GEAR: www.steadystatenetwork.com/shop SIGN UP FOR THE SSN NEWSLETTER: www.steadystatenetwork.com/newsletter MAKE A DIFFERENCE: www.steadystatenetwork.com/support Check out more Steady State Network here: FB - /SteadyStateNetwork IG - @SteadyStateNetwork FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars BLUESKY - steadystatenetwork.bsky.social Connect on FB and IG with the hosts: Rachel Freedman - @RowSource Tara Morgan - @CmonBarber
Olympian Caragh McMurtry gives an unflinching look at living and rowing with a misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder, a follow-on diagnosis of autism, and struggling to fit the standard mold in the GB system. Now retired from rowing and at the helm of Neurodiverse Sport, Caragh champions other neurodiverse athletes, and aims to reshape sports environments so neurodivergent individuals can thrive without needing to mask or compromise their unique needs QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Episode Intro 01:46 - Rowing week on a sale of 1-10 02:25 - The Huddle: A quick get to know you 04:23 - The Hot Seat Q&A 07:52 - Rowing origin story: an outlet for loads of energy and “messing around” 12:13 - A square peg in the GB system, a misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder, the negative impacts of medications, autism diagnosis and a new communication plan 20:18 - Separating negative team experiences from the restorative aspect of rowing 23:08 - learning style: quiet coaching, no word salads 27:43 - Neurodiverse Sport: reducing stigma, and making universally designed coaching the norm 32:20 - when you're asking for help, support, accommodations, it needs to be a two way conversation 34:30 - Defining neurodiversity 37:26 - incorporating neurodiversity training into coaching certs 39:01 - the state of the neurodiversity conversation in sport 42:45 - Steady State Network news and notes . To see photos of Caragh, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper. . SHOP SSN GEAR: www.steadystatenetwork.com/shop SIGN UP FOR THE SSN NEWSLETTER: www.steadystatenetwork.com/newsletter MAKE A DIFFERENCE: www.steadystatenetwork.com/support Check out more Steady State Network here: FB - /SteadyStateNetwork IG - @SteadyStateNetwork FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars BLUESKY - steadystatenetwork.bsky.social Connect on FB and IG with the hosts: Rachel Freedman - @RowSource Tara Morgan - @CmonBarber
From primary school kids to octogenarians, Cool Rowings is introducing diverse populations to rowing in and around London. Founder Weininger Irwin – competitive and confident from a young age – has a community first approach, prioritizing fun and social interaction. And we hear from one of his rowers, 86-year-old Hazel Parkins, who took up indoor rowing after the death of her husband and says she can't do with out it these days. This is an episode about building your own path and embracing lifelong functional fitness. . QUICK LOOK PART 1: Weininger Irwin 00:00 - Episode Intro 04:06 - The Huddle: A quick get to know you 05:20 - The Hot Seat Q&A 06:45 - Growing up a runner 07:58 - Rowing origin story: from Gladiator tryout, to Ford Motor Co. gym erg, and a Concept2 2k training plan 13:16 - Established Cool Rowings to introduce primary school kids and diverse populations to rowing 16:26 - Ageless Teenagers and Weininger's philosophy for coaching seniors 21:23 - Being a beacon for the community PART 2: Hazel Parkins 24:03 - Meet Hazel Parkins, 80+ 2025 BRIC Gold Medalist 24:47 - On a scale of 1-10, Hazel's rowing week was a 9 26:15 - An introduction to the erg during COVID 29:46 - A "lovely" experience at BRIC and Hazel's approach to training and racing 33:12 - The importance of support from family and community 37:08 - Hosts Rachel and Tara post-interview banter 40:54 - Steady State Network news and notes . To see photos of Weininger and Hazel, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper. . SHOP SSN GEAR: www.steadystatenetwork.com/shop SIGN UP FOR THE SSN NEWSLETTER: www.steadystatenetwork.com/newsletter MAKE A DIFFERENCE: www.steadystatenetwork.com/support Check out more Steady State Network here: FB - /SteadyStateNetwork IG - @SteadyStateNetwork FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars BLUESKY - steadystatenetwork.bsky.social Connect on FB and IG with hosts Rachel Freedman at @RowSource, and Tara Morgan at @CmonBarber
Cassandra Cunningham, founder of P3 Physical Education, and coach with Endeavor Racing Alliance, has lived by the philosophy of "prior proper planning." So she knew it had to be the driving force behind her coaching, too. From walk-on at Sacramento State University, to National Team rower, to coach of all levels, Cassandra believes in the power of curiosity to drive success. Our wide ranging conversation for rowers and coaches, touches on the power of sport, positive mindset, being present, trusting the process, and blending with your teammates. . QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Intro 02:43 - The Huddle 03:32 - The Hot Seat Q&A 06:19 - Rowing origin story: To keep her life from unravelling, Cassandra walked on at Sacramento State 09:23 - Navigating her way to success in college came by way of being curious 12:14 - Finding and needing sport 17:00 - Cassandra was inspired to become a coach by her dad who was a coach, and her mom who installed her with common sense 19:04 - Strengths and struggle buses of new coaches, and setting the tone for the team 23:14 - Coaching, connecting with, and being present for the whole athlete 26:49 - Founding P3PE to bring her philosophy of prior proper planning through communication, organization, and professionalism 29:33 - The perfect stroke doesn't exist 30:54 - Trusting the process: consistency, growth, awareness 33:22 - Cultivating a positive mindset starts with self-care, showing up, and reading the room 37:34 - Endeavor Racing Alliance: creating good humans and less chaos, thinking outside the box to “race up” 41:11 - From camp to club and back: sharing ideas, curiosity, and blending 46:18 - Evolution of positive planning mindset 49:04 - Steady State Network news and notes . To see photos of Cassandra, and get links to the people, clubs, events, mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper. . SHOP SSN GEAR: www.steadystatenetwork.com/shop SIGN UP FOR THE SSN NEWSLETTER: www.steadystatenetwork.com/newsletter MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY DONATING TO ALLIES WITH OARS: www.steadystatenetwork.com/allieswithoars Check out more Steady State Network here: FB - /SteadyStateNetwork IG - @SteadyStateNetwork FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars BLUESKY - steadystatenetwork.bsky.social Connect on FB and IG with Rachel at @RowSource, and Tara at @CmonBarber
Holding an old canister in his hands, rower and documentary film producer Lenny O'Donnell's heart skipped a beat when he read the hand-written note “Berlin 1936” on an old piece of athletic tape stuck to its lid. After years in storage, unseen for several decades, Lenny was entrusted to restore and digitize it, along with boxes full of other historic photos, film, and ephemera documenting the University of Washington crew in the early 20th century. To share it all, he created RowingArchives.org and wonders who the next generation of historians will be to carry on the work. QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Intro 02:40 - The Huddle 03:20 - Rowing Week on a scale of 1-10: 7 because of time spent with the Ancient Mariners 05:25 - Tara and Lenny crossed paths in Seattle years ago at Pocock Foundation 07:21 - The Hot Seat Q&A 09:50 - Rowing origin story: Title IX encroached on wrestling, so he walked on to the UW crew 11:45 - After 25 years off the water: carbon fiber oars! 13:05 - Erging + walking the dog = keeping healthy 13:50 - A life in teaching made for an easy transition to coaching 18:35 - Rowing Archives began with research into the 1958 UW crew - the first American athletes to compete in the Soviet Union 24:13 - Working towards a future national rowing museum 26:57 - Holy Grail of archival rowing footage 28:31 - Lucy Pocock competed in coxed singles 29:34 - T & R post-interview banter worth keeping. 30:45 - Steady State Network news and notes . To see photos of Lenny, and get links to the people, clubs, events, and organizations mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper. . SHOP SSN GEAR: www.steadystatenetwork.com/shop SIGN UP FOR THE SSN NEWSLETTER: www.steadystatenetwork.com/newsletter MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY DONATING TO ALLIES WITH OARS: www.steadystatenetwork.com/allieswithoars Check out more Steady State Network here: FB - /SteadyStateNetwork IG - @SteadyStateNetwork FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars BLUESKY - steadystatenetwork.bsky.social Connect on FB and IG with Rachel at @RowSource, and Tara at @CmonBarber.
When Kate Lindgren and award-winning coach Peter Forrest met at Peterborough City Rowing Club, it came with more than a few firsts for these two Brits. While they were both self-proclaimed “late onset rowers" – learning to row later in life – neither could have expected the partnership and bond they've forged. Inspired by Kate, whose blindness doesn't even come close to impeding her rowing in a single, together they are the brains and brawn behind Row the Rhythm, a ground-breaking initiative designed specifically for visually impaired rowers across England. QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Intro 01:55 - The Huddle 04:35 - Rowing Week: 1-10 05:45 - A brief history of PCRC's purpose-built rowing lake 07:45 - The Hot Seat Q&A 09:16 - Rowing origin stories: Pete needed a knee-friendly sport; walking and cycling no longer “cut the mustard” for Kate 13:15 - Kate's retinitis pigmentosa and learning to feel the stroke 17:00 - Mind mapping your stroke 22:35 - Developing the logistics, trust, and respect for a successful blind rower/coach partnership 27:17 - Pete's philosophy: coach the rower in front of you 30:43 - Row the Rhythm, with support from Love Rowing, is bringing rowing to visually impaired athletes across England 39:41 - Pete: British Rowing Inclusive Coach of the Year 2024 40:48 - Advice to clubs on integrating visually impaired athletes 43:36 - Describing the perfect stroke 44:24 - Steady State Network news and notes . To see photos of Kate and Pete, and get links to the people, clubs, and organizations mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper. . SHOP SSN GEAR: www.steadystatenetwork.com/shop SIGN UP FOR THE SSN NEWSLETTER: www.steadystatenetwork.com/newsletter MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY DONATING TO ALLIES WITH OARS: www.steadystatenetwork.com/allieswithoars Check out more Steady State Network here: FB - /SteadyStateNetwork IG - @SteadyStateNetwork FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars Connect on FB and IG with Tara at @CmonBarber, and Rachel at @RowSource
In 1997, just 36% of adults went online. Websites from this era were known as "Web 1.0." Google didn't exist yet. And a guy with information to share about Eastern Sprints decided to cobble together some HTML and get the word out. And so, row2k.com was born. Twenty seven years later, founder and owner Ed Hewitt joins us to talk about how his own rowing journey – from Atlantic CIty High School, to Columbia University rower and coach, to 7x National Team member – influenced the development and success of Row2k, one of the most visited rowing-related websites in the world. . QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Intro 01:45 - Rowing Week on a scale of 1 to 10 02:10 - The Huddle 03:13 - The Hot Seat Q&A 09:05 - Rowing origin story: Football player convinced by “clowns” to row 13:01 - Walking on at Columbia 14:27 - Being young and driven: developing the new women's program at Columbia in the 1980s 21:31 - Launching Row2k with HTML and chutzpah 24:33 - Row2k as archive, scrapbook, news source; and the people behind the scenes 28:34 - On being a Row2k photographer 30:30 - Row2k galleries mold rowers perceptions of themselves, their crews 34:06- Brutal Row2k message boards of the 1990s 35:54 - The necessity of watermarks on photos (aka stop stealing from Row2k) 38:10 - Just how many shots do Row2k photographers take at a regatta? 39:20 - Surviving the dot.com bubble 40:50 - Supporting, engaging with, and being a part of the rowing community 44:22 - Steady State Network news and notes . To see photos of Ed, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper. . SHOP SSN GEAR: www.steadystatenetwork.com/shop SIGN UP FOR THE SSN NEWSLETTER: www.steadystatenetwork.com/newsletter MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY DONATING TO ALLIES WITH OARS: www.steadystatenetwork.com/allieswithoars Check out more Steady State Network here: FB - /SteadyStateNetwork IG - @SteadyStateNetwork FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars Connect with Tara at @CmonBarber, and Rachel at @RowSource
Like many athletes sidelined by injury, Cassi Niemann turned to rowing to see what her body could handle. After walking on as a freshman, she found strength in the community her Georgia Tech crew provided. Cassi never could have known then that her trajectory was about to drastically change. Nearly 30 years later, Cassi's resume is packed with coaching experience and training certs. She's the lead UCanRow2 Master Rowing Instructor with Concept2. She's also a competitive power lifter and the owner of CASstrong, where she blends rowing with her expertise as a strength coach. Cassi not only helps indoor rowers improve their skills and confidence on the machine, but also trains other coaches to effectively integrate rowing into a variety of fitness settings. We got to talk to Cassi about indoor rowing, lifting, and creating sustainable training habits for health, confidence, and community. . Want a training program that combines strength and rowing? Check out BarbellMedicine.com and use code CASSI10 for a discount. . QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Intro 01:38 - Rowing Week: 1-10 02:42 - The Huddle 03:20 - The Hot Seat Q&A 04:53 - Rowing origin story: walking on at Georgia Tech brought community and a focus for success as a student athlete 09:45 - First coaching gig: Georgia Tech novices 12:30 - Developing a coaching style, influences 16:13 - Transition from collegiate rowing to masters rowing 18:18 - Bootcamps, powerlifting, and CrossFit 21:37 - UCanRow2 training verification, coaching other coaches, and talking about indoor rowing without talking about rowing on the water 29:18 - Setting yourself up for winter fitness success with: BAM (bare ass minimum), RAD (really awesome day), auto-regulation 33:58 - Barbell Medicine rowing + strength training program 39:29 - Cassi's “original domino piece” - the thing that's gonna catapult someone into making more changes with just one change 42:15 - Outro . To see photos of Cassi, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper. . SHOP SSN GEAR: www.steadystatenetwork.com/shop SIGN UP FOR THE SSN NEWSLETTER: www.steadystatenetwork.com/newsletter MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY DONATING TO ALLIES WITH OARS: www.steadystatenetwork.com/allieswithoars Check out more Steady State Network here: FB - /SteadyStateNetwork IG - @SteadyStateNetwork FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars Connect with Tara at @CmonBarber, and Rachel at @RowSource
In 2024, Rebel Strength and Rowing was named to Entrepreneur magazine's list of the top 150 independently owned and operated small businesses in the United States. Then in late September – like hundreds of other businesses in Asheville, NC – it was inundated by the flood waters of Hurricane Helene. In this episode, we talk with owner Adam Smith, and member Jason Mogen, about founding a small business, growing meaningful community, and sustaining it all through incredibly challenging times. EPISODE QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Intro 02:00 - The Huddle 04:23 - The Hot Seat Q&A 12:15 - Rowing Week: 1-10 14:32 - Brain surgery, a new perspective on life, and founding Rebel Row 20:03 - Growing the Rebel community and the non-sales pitch pitch 19:55 - Processing the reality of Hurricane Helene 33:45 - Post-hurricane recovery 39:21 - Training non-rowers to use the erg as a conditioning tool 42:56 - Looking forward to getting back to Rebel Row 45:20 - How you can help small businesses in Asheville . To see photos of Adam and Jason, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, iCrew, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper. . SHOP SSN GEAR: www.steadystatenetwork.com/shop SIGN UP FOR THE SSN NEWSLETTER: www.steadystatenetwork.com/newsletter MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY DONATING TO ALLIES WITH OARS: www.steadystatenetwork.com/allieswithoars Check out more Steady State Network here: FB - /SteadyStateNetwork IG - @SteadyStateNetwork FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars Connect with Tara at @CmonBarber, and Rachel at @RowSource
Ever dreamed of rowing on the Nile? Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro? Competing in the World Rowing Indoor Championship? Egyptian Nermine Khenefar found rowing in her 40s when, winded on her ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro, friend and explorer Omar Samra suggested she take up the sport to increase her aerobic capacity. After just a few years, Nermine is an avid masters rower and indoor rowing competitor who is seeking to row everywhere she travels and welcome visitors to row with her on the Nile in Cairo. EPISODE QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Episode intro 01:38 - Nermine's rowing origin story 03:35 - Rowing Week 1-10: training for the 2025 World Rowing Indoor Championships 05:39 - The Hot Seat Q&A 09:24 - Competitive horse riding came to end with a knee injury 11:00 - Rowing as spiritual and sacred time 13:36 - Rowing provided renewed body confidence 14:31 - Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro on her 40th birthday 17:23 - Challenges of racing when there are so few masters women rowing in Cairo 22:53 - Flat water rowing on the River Nile, coastal rowing on the Red Sea 27:53 - Rowing bucket list . To see photos of Nermine, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper. . Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @steadystatenetwork
Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, Mass. is one of the jewels in the rowing crown. In our annual homage to this mega rowing event, we meet the leadership that makes it happen – new HOCR Executive Director Tori Stevens, and Director of Racing Brendan Mulvey. We find out their personal stories of involvement in sport, and what about this regatta attracts 12,000 athletes and a few hundred thousand spectators each year to the waters and banks of the Charles River. EPISODE QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Intro 1:26 - Rachel and Tara talk personal HOCR histories 4:40 - Welcome to Tori Stevens and Brendan Mulvey 5:40 - Rowing Week on a scale of 1 to 10 05:57 - The Hot Seat Q&A 07:02 - Brendan's rowing origin story 08:05 - Tori's life has always been infused with sport, including spectating HOCR as a college student 10:45 - HOCR is about racing, as well as community, tradition, reunion, and celebration 12:25 - What makes HOCR so unique? 14:50 - The importance of volunteers, from local regattas to HOCR's 2000+ volunteer crew 19:45 - Tori's onboaring as HOCR Executive Director, and continuing Fred Schoch's legacy of balancing innovation, growth, and tradition 23:06 - Finding a new audience for HOCR using storytelling, the media, and technology to showcase rowing and help increase engagement and understanding for spectators 27:57 - Survivor Rowing Network and the exhibition Survivor Row 28:50 - Creating an inclusive envionment 30:38 - What's not to be missed at HOCR: everything *else* to do at HOCR 33:52 - Getting Boston, and spectators, prepared for race weekend 35:54 - Brendan's Race Director tip for all crews . To see photos, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper. . Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @steadystatenetwork
Kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Beth Kohl, the President of Rowing Cares and Founder and Executive Director of Survivor Rowing Network; and rower, survivor and Pink Ribbon Row Seattle organizer Angie Gabel. The Survivor Rowing Network is on a mission to create more opportunities for cancer survivors to row. Since launching in 2023, SRN has grown to 27 survivor rowing programs. This year, for the first time ever, the Head of the Charles regatta will host a Survivor Rowing Network event, featuring 11 women's 8s, all of them breast cancer survivors! EPISODE QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Intro 01:40 - The Huddle 03:20 - Rowing Week on a scale of 1 to 10 06:38 - The Hot Seat Q&A 08:32 - Beth's height caught the attention of the Smith College rowing coach 11:57 - Beth's tall children followed in her rowing footsteps 13:46 - Angie found rowing after a divorce and move to Austin, TX 18:58 - Angie's rowing community got her through breast cancer treatment and recovery 19:59 - Angie's motivation to create Pulling for Pink, and involvement with Row for the Cure, Pink Ribbon Row 21:57 - Angie's return to rowing at Head of the Charles 24:46 - Pink Robbin Row by the numbers 25:44 - How Survivor Rowing Network learned lessons from its predecessors, and became a successful grant-making organization 30:15 - First-ever Survivor Row event at Head of the Charles 32:32 - Survivor rows, survivor programs, and creating community 34:54 - Outro . To see photos of the Beth and Angie, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper. . Follow us on FB and IG at @steadystatenetwork
Once upon a time, way back in 2020, we thought of rowing in a very particular way: flat water, racing shells, and seeking the perfect stroke. As coastal rowing and beach sprints has gained some traction here in the U.S., we've broadened our understanding and definition of rowing to bring these disciplines into the conversation, too. On balance, coastal has probably tipped the scales of our conversation in 2024 as we trained for and participated in Race Around the Rock a coastal circumnavigation of Salt Spring Island in British Columbia. If you're a tried and true flat water rower, thanks for exploring these new ideas about rowing right along with us! In case you missed it, the 2024 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals were held September 13-15 in Genoa, Italy and Team USA brought home 3 Gold and 1 Silver medal. Joining us to talk about the rise of coastal rowing and beach sprints are Team USA head coach Marc Oria, and rower Pearl Outlaw, a member of the first ever pararowing women's quad. QUICK LOOK 02:10 - The Huddle 03:15 - Welcome 05:18 - Rowing Week 1-10 07:32 - The Hot Seat Q&A 15:54 - A degenerative eye disease impacted Pearl's sight; learning to row offered her an opportunity to participate in a sport 19:47 - Marc learned to row at age 12 in Spain, and ate humble pie at his first regatta 22:13 - Marc's coaching career began with making sure little kids had fun, and he maintains that philosophy today 28:11 - A brief introduction to coastal endurance and beach sprints 31:43 - Pearl's transition from flat water national team to coastal rowing 33:45 - Adaptive technology for vision impaired athletes 38:58 - Letting go of perfection and embracing chaos 40:49 - Next Level Rowing's role in developing coastal and beach sprint athletes 44:33 - The first pararowing women's quad 45:54 - Opportunities to get involved in coastal are sparse, but growing, in the U.S. 47:29 - Pearl's pursuit of being a dual sport athlete, with success in nordic skiing and biathlon 52:15 - Pearl and Marc's training, racing, and coaching goals for 2025 54:19 - Getting the ball rolling for Youth Olympic Games 2026, and LA Olympics 2028 57:43 - Outro . To see photos of the Marc and Pearl, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper. . Follow us on FB and IG at @steadystatenetwork
After six months of training, Steady State Network's Allies with Oars' first coastal – and first international – race is a wrap! Two Allies With Oars mixed 4x+ crews spent the better part of Aug. 25, 2024 circumnavigating an 88k course around Salt Spring Island in British Columbia, for Race Around the Rock, hosted by Salt Spring Island Rowing Club. We got a little bit of everything: flat water, rolling waves, eddies, boat wakes, seals, massive jellyfish, excitement at the start line, confidence, pain cave suffering, and elation at the finish line. Post-race, and with beverages in hand, the team sat down together to relive some highlights (and low lights) and share what made the experience so meaningful. Thanks to all our family and friends for volunteering to lend a hand throughout race weekend. We couldn't have made it around this rock without you. Thanks to our race sponsors: JL Racing, Live2Row Studios, and Racing Hands. QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Episode Lead-In and Welcome 02:02 - Six months of training with Live2Row Studios 05:20 - Favorite part of the race 08:53 - Challenges of the race 14:45 - Imposter syndrome and getting hooked 16:36 - Race day success was only possible with a lot of help from teammates, friends, and family 20:55 - Race day firsts 22:25 - About the Allies with Oars initiative 26:25 - ”Thank yous” 28:46 - What's up next for Allies? . To see photos of the Allies with Oars crew, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Live2Row Studios, Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper. . Follow us on FB and IG at @steadystatenetwork
As part of our semi-regular club spotlight series, we cross the northern border into British Columbia, Canada to learn more about Salt Spring Island Rowing Club. Steady State Network's own Allies with Oars crews were just on the island for the Club's 88k coastal rowing regatta – Race Around the Rock. Meet Salt Spring Island Rowing Club head coach Stacey Mitchell, RAR race director Zoe Clark, and new(ish) master's sculler Michael Strumberger. Together they embody the enthusiasm, passion, and motivation necessary to build and sustain this small town rowing club. QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Episode Lead-In and Welcome 01:55 - The Huddle 03:37 - Rowing Week on a scale of 1-10 06:40 - The Hot Seat Q&A 11:22 - Stacy's LTR story started with a swimming injury 14:24 - Michael's “very casual relationship with fitness” shifted when he decided to try the gym erg 17:18 - Zoe's rowing journey started with gnarly hands from hours on the monkey bars 20:02 - Why keep coming back to rowing? 26:59 - Salt Spring Rowing Club is small and growing! 32:22 - SSI members 34:08 - A rowing morning on St. Mary's Lake starts with a quiet trip down a dirt road 37:20 - Race Around the Rock 49:50 - SSN's Allies with Oars: ruffling feathers to push the boundary of “mixed” lineups . To see photos of Stacy, Zoe, and Michael, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Live2Row Studios, Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper. . Follow us on FB and IG at @steadystatenetwork
Inspired by his parents from an early age to work hard, Julien Bahain became a 3-time Olympian and an Olympic medalist. He's been involved with rowing for 25 years, taking on multiple disciplines including flat water, coastal, and ocean rowing. Over the years, his involvement in the sport has grown too, from organizing World Rowing Championships and helping establish OARCA, to founding West Coast Rowing Adventures with his wife Katie. Together their goal is to grow coastal rowing and share the beauty of British Columbia. QUICK LOOK 00:11 - Pre-Show Banter 01:08 - Welcome 01:55 - Episode Lead-In 05:08 - The Huddle 06:38 - Rowing Week on a scale of 1-10 09:10 - The Hot Seat Q&A 13:19 - Julien's rowing origin story 15:52 - “Work hard, do it well, and do your best” was instilled from a young age by his parents 18:48 - Coastal rowing in Julien's life from LTR to organizing World Rowing Championships 21:20 - Establishing OARCA 22:52 - Coastal as an alternative access to rowing for people around the world 27:47 - The perfect stroke is found in a perfect moment 30:42 - Honing his Olympic rowing color commentary for the CBC 35:38 - Founding West Coast Rowing Adventures 37:24 - Race Around the Rock 40:38 - Thoughts on the proliferation of ocean rowing races 44:18 - A lifetime of rowing leads to an ever-growing community “family” . To see photos of Julien, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Live2Row Studios, Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.
In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when it was clear that the 2020 rowing season was in jeopardy, we started brainstorming. We were just two masters rowers and coaches who wanted to celebrate the expansive array of rowers, coaches, and coxswains and savor real-life experience from launch to cox seat at every level. We launched Steady State Network in September 2020 with one goal: reframe the popular, yet limited narrative about rowing culture by creating a more inclusive and better represented rowing community. On September 22, 2020 with very little audio production experience, but plenty of big ideas and lots of opinions, we dropped episode 1 of Steady State Podcast and wondered: will anyone notice? Will anyone listen? Join us to look back – and ahead – as we celebrate our 100th episode! QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Episode Intro 01:13 - Re-writing the original show intro, the simplicity of the early scripts, how COVID reshaped our lives, and learning to be brave 07:15 - From Day 1, Steady State Podcast was a COVID project with a long-term mission to challenge the popular yet limited narrative about rowing Training and Racing 10:35 - Williamsburg Boat Club coach Tom Rooks on finding your “why,” and on nerves, anxiety, expectations and visualizing “rear view moments” 14:20 - New Zealand Olympian Eric Murray tells a story about an out of control water bottle during a World Cup race Coaching 16:29 - Live2Row Studios Founders and Coaches Stephen Pryor and Justin Knust on checking yourself 19:33 - Technique spotlight with New Zealand Olympian Eric Murray: finding suspension on the erg Coxing 23:33 - Whitney Powell of the Candid Cox explains taking ownership of the boat 26:24 - Olympian and founder of the 9th Seat Mary Whipple says “less is more” and give space between asks 29:26 - Masters coxswain Mitch King hinges his coxing on being collaborative The Big Issues 32:29 - Coach Libby Boghossian's seasonal SafeSport discussions create a culture for her young athletes where everyone is enlisted in the effort to keep their rowing community safe. 37:48 - Olympian, author, and UVA strength coach Lindsay Dare Shoop worries about the pressure of collegiate name/image/likeness (NIL) deals 41:39 - Non-binary rower David Scherzer on the limiting male/female gender structure 46:04 - Former Tulsa University Women's Head Coach Kevin Harris on USRowing's gender identity policy and the importance of inclusion The Perfect Stroke 49:30 - Setting up the perfect stroke 50:35 - New Orleans Rowing Club accepts the chaos of coastal rowing 53:09 - Joe DeLeo of Science of Rowing and the Leo Training Podcast considers whether the perfect stroke is possible 54:12 - Olympians Mary Whipple and Gevvie Stone on the eternal quest 55:31 - UW Coach Marqus Brown describes a “quiet” prefect stroke 56:48 - Lake Washington Rowing Club boatswain Susan Kinne describes the meditative experience of rowing in the morning 53:55 - Outro . To see photos of our guests, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Live2Row Studios, Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.
In 1984, Kris Thorsness brought home gold in the U.S. women's 8+ from the Olympic Games Los Angeles. Home was Alaska, where she was welcomed with a parade and the distinction of being the first Alaskan to win an Olympic medal. Today she says she's “just a masters rower,” but 40 years after that gold medal Olympic performance, she's also a USRowing Referee and is an Arbitrator for the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the U.S. and Paralympic Committee. Before she heads off to Paris for the 2024 Olympics in her role as an Arbitrator, we talk with Kris about refereeing, which is often glossed over by rowers but is key to ensuring regattas are safe and effectively run, with a focus on sportsmanship. QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Welcome and Episode lead-In 01:34 - The Huddle 03:00 - Rowing Week 04:55 - The Hot Seat Q&A 06:30 - Favorite part of refereeing: the chase boat 08:57 - Favorite place to referee 09:40 - Challenges of referees and a lack of funding isn't helping with bringing new refs down the pipeline 16:59 - Rowing Origin: walking on at the University of Wisconsin (Go Badgers!) 20:04 - Grit, coming back from behind, and being eager to go into the pain cave 23:36 - Accepting the pain and getting gold at the 1984 Olympic Games L.A. 26:04 - Advice for rowers aspiring towards the Olympics 30:44 - A pair of tan pants and a blue Oxford shirt got Kris started as a referee 31:55 - The process of becoming a USRowing referee 35:35 - What you need to understand about race officials 36:11 - Sassing the referees 38:30 - As an arbitrator for the Court of Arbitration for Sport, what types of cases *might* Kris handle at the Olympic Games Paris? 41:54 - Are there any doping concerns in Olympic rowing? 43:10 - As an IOC delegate, Kris has an all access pass to the events … if she has time to go 44:28 - Making the pitch to new potential referees 46:37 - SSN Events & Announcements . To see photos of Kris Thorsness, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Live2Row Studios, Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.
Born and raised on Vashon Island, Washington, Jacob Plihal wasn't super excited to start rowing (ugh, spandex!), but in 2012 a knee injury prompted him to give up his basketball dreams. With prodding from his physical therapist, and then motivated by friend, classmate and Jr. National Team rower Mia Croonquist, he climbed the ladder to Northeastern University team captain, then the U23 National team, and most recently was named to the 2024 U.S. Olympic team in the men's single. At 6'10”, Jacob has a clear view of the world's biggest rowing and athletic achievement: Paris 2024. We really appreciated his honesty about working for over a decade through both success and disappointment. About turning down opportunities because funding wasn't available. And about having to work around limited mobility in his knee. He credits sticking to the grind and figuring out what works (and what doesn't) to being stubborn. For all these reasons, we're rooting for Vashon Island's hometown kid this summer at the Olympic Games Paris. QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Episode Lead-In 01:22 - The Huddle 02:13 - On a scale of 1-10, Jacob's rowing week was a 7 02:37 - The Hot Seat Q&A 03:53 - Growing up with freedom to explore on Vashon Island, WA 05:21 - Rowing origin story: A serious knee injury as a teen changed Jacob's athletic path 08:42 - Rehabbing an injury while you're still growing, and working around limited range of motion today 10:23 - Being a member of the Green Racing Project at Craftsbury Outdoor Center 12:28 - Playing it safe before the big show 14:10 - The idea of making a national team was planted very early 16:55 - What the heck is the Regatta of Death? 21:06 - What's on your mind on the starting blocks in Lucerne? 23:30 - Rowing Fillipi's biggest single and testing out various Concept2 blades 24:15 - Hometown response to qualifying for the Olympics 26:00 - Making the most of being an Olympian in the community 27:47 - Olympic race date/time and getting a new Fillipi in Paris 29:27 - Jacob explains the perfect stroke and a Kris Korzeniowski drill to help you get there 31:50 - Tara and Rachel's move into sculling in 2024 for Race Around the Rock 34:57 - Rowing with Isaiah Harrison (6'9”) vs Don Williams (6'2”) 36:00 - SSN Events & Announcements . To see photos of Jacob Plihal, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Live2Row Studios, Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.
We challenge our listeners to "Ask us Anything." When a very specific question came in about back pain, we didn't feel like we 100% had the authority to answer it. So show co-host Rachel Freedman called up her chiropractor – and former DC Strokes Rowing Club member – Dr. Joe Henderson to get his insights. Together we delve into causes of rowers' back pain, injury prevention, managing expectations, stretching, and considering other pain points like forearms and hip flexors. QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Episode lead-in 00:54 - Co-hosts Tara Morgan and Rachel Freedman talk about their own back pain and experiences with chiropractors 07:35 - Dr. Joe Henderson on managing expectations when working to prevent injury 08:51 - Listener question: "I experience back pain when sweeping but not sculling..." 12:59 - Rachel's journey to chiro care 15:29 - Mitigating pain through stretching and mobility 20:50 - Take time off and see a doctor 22:40 - Steady State Network events and initiatives . To see photos of Dr. Joe Henderson, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Live2Row Studios, Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.
There are many impersonators, but Concept2 RowErgs are the original – and for many the gold standard – indoor rowing machine. It all started in the early 1970s with brothers Dick and Pete Dreissigacker, a bike wheel, and engineering experiments in a barn in Vermont. Dick and Pete know their machines, and rowing, inside and out so we called up Dick to talk about how foot stretcher set up can help both new and seasoned rowers. And because we were really geeking out on erg set up 101, we enlisted Will Ruth, the Green Racing Project Strength Coach and Sculling Camp Coordinator at Craftsbury. Dick and Will help us consider heel height, seat pads, horizontal drive, and finding comfort on the erg. QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Episode lead-in 01:05 - Dick Dreissigacker on erg foot stretcher set up considerations and compromises 06:07 - Seat pads 06:59 - Clip in shoes, raising your heels, and that pair of erging shoes you just can't give up on 09:45 - Heels up or heels down at the catch? 14:36 - Part 2: Will Ruth on setting up the erg for comfort 18:27 - Setting up heel heights for rowers with leg length discrepancies, or significant differences in left/right shoe sizes 19:38 - How adjusting the foot stretcher height effects the stroke 21:18 - Modifying the horizontal seat to heel relationship by using a seat pad - on the erg vs in a boat 22:47 - Rigging solution choices for club boats 25:48 - Foam heel inserts for rowers with small feet 26:37 - Horizontal forces can be good as long as they don't compromise something else 28:05 - SSN events and initiatives . To see photos of Dick and Will, and get links to the people and resources mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Live2Row Studios, Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.
Twenty years after meeting as high school athletes, long time friends Stephen Pryor and Justin Knust are coaching in studio, online, and on the water, as the data-driven founders of Live2Row Studios. While hauling regatta trailers and drinking beers in bars, Stephen and Justin realized that the coaching and training system they'd been developing for youth rowers could be valuable for the larger rowing community. In 2015, they opened the doors to Live2Row Studios in Ocoee, FL, and pivoted during COVID to offer live on-line training. Today, their growing coaching staff uses ErgZone's powerful metrics to provide personalized benchmarks and they are devoted to making a difference for the rowing community. SIDE NOTE: We're grateful to Live2Row for creating a 6-month endurance training plan for our Allies with Oars crews to prepare for Race Around the Rock, an 88k coastal relay race around Salt Spring Island in British Columbia on Aug. 25, 2024. QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Episode lead-in 02:45 - Rowing week on a scale of 1-10 04:28 - Hot Seat Q&A 13:19 - Stephen and Justin's rowing origin stories 15:36 - Early days developing as a rower and coxswain with the Orlando Area Rowing Society 18:10 - The culture of suffering and working to change opinions about erg workouts 21:01 - Approaching the erg and culture around masters coaching 25:21 - Live2Row seeks to impact all levels of rowing from the top down, bottom up 29:34 - “Talking about rowing is becoming a better coach” 34:20 - How Live2Row pivoted (and grew) during COVID 38:22 - Live2Row camps are designed around the on-water training schedule AND with basement erg owners in mind 40:10 - The Live2Row community 44:14 - The guys describe the perfect stroke 47:54 - SSN events and initiatives . To see photos of Stephen, Justin, and Live2Row members, and get links to the people, clubs, events, and resources mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Live2Row Studios, Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.
This is the fifth and final episode in a series on heart attacks and emergency preparedness. In this series you'll hear first hand accounts from rowers who survived heart attacks, teammates and coaches who witnessed these events, and even from widows who reflect on warning signs and “what ifs.” On this episode: Bill Byrd has been rowing for nearly six decades and was a founding member of Willamette Rowing Club in Portland Oregon. One morning in 2018, he suffered a heart attack while training in his single. This is a story about living well, being prepared, the power of having all hands on deck, and survival. We couldn't tell Bill's story without his ex-wife and longtime rowing partner, Jann Byrd, who was also on the water that morning and played a pivotal role in saving his life. Stay tuned at the end for safety tips from US Rowing Director of Safeguarding Tom Rooks and be sure to share the whole series with your boathouse safety committee and coaches. Other episodes in this series: Perspective: One Coach's Lifesaving Efforts Giving and Getting Support: Burnham Boat Slings' Peter Kermond Sue and John Hooten's Mutual Admiration Society For One Heart Attack Survivor, the Beat Goes On QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Episode lead-in 02:55 - Rowing week on a scale of 1-10 04:13 - Hot Seat Q&A 06:31 - Rowing on the Willamette 07:45 - Bill wanted to play football at UW but instead got recruited to row 11:32 - Jann first got in the coxswain seat for mens boats at the Naval Academy 14:25 - Bill's heart attack story, from slipping into the water, to CPR and EMS response 22:48 - Ripple effects on the club and teammates 25:30 - The diagnosis, rehab, recovery, and return to racing 30:10 - Safety precautions: logbook, PFD, cell phone, heart rate monitor 33:51 - What a life of rowing has given Bill and Jann 36:06 - The perfect stroke 38:47 - 2024 season 40:30 - How racing changes as you age up through the categories 42:50 - Top Tips from Tom Rooks, USRowing Director of Safeguarding 47:30 - SSN events and initiatives . To see photos of Bill and Jann, and get links to the people, clubs, events, and resources mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Live2Row Studios, Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.
This is the fourth episode in a series on heart attacks and emergency preparedness. In this multi-part series you'll hear first hand accounts from rowers who survived heart attacks, teammates and coaches who witnessed these events, and even from widows who reflect on warning signs and “what ifs.” On this episode: Damion Winship had only been coaching for the Ancient Mariners Rowing Club for a short while the morning his coaching life changed. A masters rower new to his program had a heart attack on the water. Hear how Damion worked through his emergency checklist, how his CPR training kicked in, and how the crew worked together to try to save a life. Other episodes in this series: Giving and Getting Support: Burnham Boat Slings' Peter Kermond Sue and John Hooten's Mutual Admiration Society For One Heart Attack Survivor, the Beat Goes On QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Episode lead-in 01:25 - What prompted our heart attack and emergency preparedness series 03:40 - Coaching older rowers; Rowing and Aging project 05:58 - Coach Damion Winship details the moment a guest rower suffered a heart attack and the steps he and the crew took to try to save his life 12:38 - Providing CPR on the water, and quick decision making 23:05 - Damion and the aftermath - protocols and more 28:31 - Tara and Rachel post-interview reflections 36:28 - USRowing Director of Safeguarding Tom Rooks' tips for rowers and coaches in an on-water emergency situation 39:47 - SSN events and initiatives . To see photos of Damion, and get links to the people, clubs, events, and resources mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Live2Row Studios, Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.
Bonnie Garmus was a competitive masters rower for years before an offhand comment during a business meeting prompted her to begin writing her first novel, "Lessons in Chemistry," which has been adapted into a hit Apple TV+ series. Everyone wants to talk with Bonnie about the book's main character, Elizabeth Zott, but we turn the tables to ask Bonnie about the role rowing plays in her life – and her book – which has been on the New York Times bestseller list for nearly 100 weeks. . QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Episode lead-in and intro 03:04 - The Huddle: Get to know Bonnie Garmus 03:35 - Rowing Week: erging 05:15 - Meeting the Queen 07:26 - Hot Seat Q&A 08:38 - Cold open water swimming as a kid with her Dad 11:42 - Learning to row at Green Lake Rowing Club in Seattle 15:08 - Feeling a boat pick up and go for the first time 17:34 - Tara explains “the rower life cycle” 19:33 - How rowing effected Bonnie's life 22:50 - Rowing as a character in "Lessons in Chemistry" 22:46 - Rowing as a hardship for Elizabeth to handle 29:14 - Was any of the book's rowing based on Bonnie's personal experience? 30:11 - What Bonnie really thinks about the Apple TV+ adaptation of "Lessons in Chemistry" 32:34 - Learning to never quit 33:19 - About that other book adapted for screen: "Boys in the Boat" 39:01 - SSN events and initiatives . To see photos of Bonnie, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Live2Row Studios, Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons. . This episode was written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.
Peter Kermond has been the face and voice of Burnham Boat Slings since purchasing the business in 1999. When he's not in the shop, or out rowing, he is probably manning a Burnham booth at a regatta. That's where we met him - at Head of the Charles - in 2022, just a month after he survived a widowmaker heart attack. Peter and his wife Carin Reynolds are both successful national team members, masters rowers, and high school coaches. They are also a testament to teamwork, as they navigated Peter's health emergency and rehabilitation, and his return to racing. QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Episode lead-in 02:20 - The Huddle: Get to know Peter and Carin 04:40 - Rowing Week: erg and tank workouts 06:12 - Hot Seat Q&A 10:59 - Peter got hooked on rowing in high school training, traveling, and racing in the summer with Belmont Rowing Club 13:22 - Carin's college sophomore experience with “WRECK” rowing 14:10 - Peter and Carin met in 1984 as members of the US LTWT National Team, reconnected years later as coaches in New Hampshire 15:59 - The day in 2022 when Peter had a widowmaker heart attack 24:12 - Family history, no warning 25:45 - Rehab, getting back in the boat, and feeling better than before the heart attack 31:08 - Support from the rowing community 32:32 - Bringing awareness to friends and rowers about heart health 35:59 - Finding perfect strokes on the Connecticut River in Hanover, NH 39:47 - Burnham coastal products, Blackburn Challenge, and Race Around the Rock 47:10 - Tom's Tips 49:10 - SSN events and initiatives . To see photos of Peter and Carin, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, Live2Row, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons. . This episode was written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.
As part of our club spotlight series and in the lead-up to San Diego Crew Classic, we head to California to get to know ZLAC, the oldest women's rowing club in the world. Established in 1892, ZLAC's unique structure allows for both competitive and social memberships. You don't have to row. New members are added to generational Crews to bolster cross-program and boathouse interaction and provide personal connections to members in a similar age range for support. As far as we know, ZLAC is unique in this offering. Be prepared to take notes and consider what more your club could do to help build and sustain community. Through the years, ZLAC programs have produced U.S. National Team members, Olympians, top college rowers, regional racers, and thousands of recreational rowers. The heart of ZLAC's mission is to support all women and girls through the sport of rowing. We're joined by ZLAC's Masters Head Coach Chris Shannon, Athletic Chair Tanya Ferguson, and recent LTR grad Lee Copson. . QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Episode lead-in 02:17 - The Huddle: Get to know Chris, Tanya, and Lee 02:54 - Rowing Week 05:39 - Hot Seat Q&A 09:56 - Chris got just one sculling lesson, then spent months flipping before being invited to a sweep team 14:49 - Lee was a social member since high school, and learned to row when she became an empty nester 17:38 - Tanya came to rowing after a soccer injury 20:52 - A brief look at ZLAC's 130+ year history 23:18 - ZLAC's generational social crews and the bonds they help create among members 27:06 - Understanding the inner workings that make ZLAC so special 27:55 - Joining, membership, and programs 30:18 - Lee describes San Diego Bay 30:59 - ZLAC's decades-long involvement with San Diego Crew Classic 35:14 - Chris, Tanya, and Lee tell us what's ahead in 2024 41:39 - ZLAC's Legacy . To see photos of Chris, Tanya, Lee, and ZLAC founders, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, Live2Row, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons. . This episode was written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.
HEART ATTACKS & PREPAREDNESS SERIES: PART 2 We're dedicating a multi-part series to heart attacks, emergency preparedness, and response. You'll hear first hand accounts from rowers who survived heart attacks, teammates and coaches who witnessed these events, and even from widows who reflect on warning signs and “what ifs.” On this episode: A member of the first U.S. women's Olympic team and a longtime masters rower, Sue Hooten has a lifetime of rowing memories. She learned to row in California in the early 1970s, really appreciated the boathouse sock box in Philadelphia, and has raced around the world. In March 2018, her husband, former National Team and Vesper Boat Club coach John Hooten, had a medical emergency on the water while training in his 1x. He was out with his training partner, without a coach, and – like most rowers – was not wearing a PFD. Stay tuned ‘til the end. We tapped Tom Rooks, USRowing's Director of Safeguarding, for top safety tips that scullers – who row without a coach present – should consider. . QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Episode lead-in 01:57 - The Huddle: Get to know Sue 05:55 - Sue's Rowing Week… could have been better: arthritis & cataracts 06:37 - Hot Seat Q&A 11:20 - Sue's rowing story began as walk on at UC Santa Barbara 14:29 - Meeting Coach Harry Parker and moving to Boston for National Team selection camp 18:47 - Coach Ted Nash paired Sue with Laura (Staines) Giardano for the 2x 22:27 - Meeting Vesper coach John Hooten 24:36 - About John and his unconventional way of looking at things 29:37 - John's return to rowing in 2016 31:14 - March 5, 2018: The day John didn't make it back to the dock 33:20 - Looking back at warning signs 35:57 - Could a life jacket have helped John? 38:21 - Staying connected with friends after John's death 39:23 - What's ahead for Sue's rowing life in 2024? 41:57 - Tom's Top Tips: USRowing safety guidelines for scullers rowing without a coach present . To see photos of Sue and John, and get links to the people, clubs, events, and resources mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, Live2Row, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons. . This episode was written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.
February is American Heart Month and we're launching a multi-part series on heart attacks, emergency preparedness, and response with Willamette Rowing Club couple David Setter and Sarah Copeland. They're enthusiastic about having learned to row as adults and use the word "fun" to describe their rowing life way more than anyone else we've can think of. But one day in 2018, David had a heart attack. Together, David and Sarah recount that day and why he survived, and delve into recovery and returning to the boat. We also come to terms with erg splits going up as we get older and talk about learning to enjoy rowing for the sake of rowing. We also tap Tom Rooks, USRowing's Director of Safeguarding, for top tips that coaches, rowers, and teammates can use when there's an emergency on the water, or around the boathouse. . QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Episode lead-in 01:21 - The Huddle: Get to know David and Sarah 04:10 - David and Sarah's rowing week was terrible 06:44 - Hot Seat Q&A 17:00 - David's rowing origin story 21:43 - Sarah's rowing origin story 24:41 - David describes his heart attack like “the 1,500m mark of a 2k” 30:27 - Genetics had David thinking he'd be dead by 60 35:39 - Sarah's side of the story: knowing David since they were 16, she was sure he'd survive the heart attack 37:36 - Trusting your body after injury, and your heart after a Widowmaker heart attack 44:18 - The reality of getting older, slower splits, and finding joy in rowing 49:19 - What's ahead for David and Sarah's rowing life in 2024? 53:18 - Tom's Top Tips: USRowing guidelines for responding to a heart attack at your boathouse 57:49 - Behind the scenes with Tara and Rachel . To see photos of David and Sarah, and get links to the people, clubs, events, and resources mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, Concept2, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons. . This episode was written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.
Elizabeth Gilmore has had in insanely meteoric trajectory from indoor rowing newbie to indoor rowing champion and world record holder, to Head of the Charles course record breaker. It all started with getting on the erg to rehab a running injury. Then came the Concept2 Logbook and challenges. Then virtual racing (and winning), before stepping onto the gym floor at Erg Sprints for her first in-person event where she took home two gold medals. She was scouted by Capital Rowing Club where she learned to row sweep on the fly with the competitive women's program, and today is to training for a row across the Atlantic. And all of this in the span of just about two years. . QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Episode lead-in 04:20 - The Huddle: Get to know Elizabeth in a minute 05:07 - Rowing Week on a scale of 1 to 10: 7 - good training, bad weather 05:53 - Hot Seat Q&A 08:44 - When ball sport coordination is lacking, run 10:57- Elizabeth's rowing origin story began while rehabbing a running injury 13:57 - COVID and the rise of virtual indoor rowing training and racing 16:04 - Elizabeth's first in-person indoor rowing event: Erg Sprints 18:54 - Getting scouted by Capital Rowing Club and how learning to row with the competitive women's program was like drinking water from a firehouse 25:35 - Endurance rowing: training to row the Atlantic in 2024; December 2023 erg 100k with friends; passing the time on the erg; Lessons in Chemistry 31:25 - What's next in 2024? . To see photos of Elizabeth, and get links to the people, clubs, and events, mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, Concept2, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons. . This episode was written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.
Teens are super aware of stranger danger from a really young age, but most of them have genuinely never thought about misconduct from known adults. Using SafeSport training as a springboard, Coach Libby Boghossian leads in-depth discussions with her Brookline High School rowers about team policies and the concepts of consent, power imbalance, and coercion. She's helping to create a culture for her young athletes where everyone is enlisted in the effort to keep their rowing community safe. QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Episode lead-in 01:54 - Rachel & Tara talk SafeSport, "when were kids," and "kids nowadays" 07:45 - Key point: the kids are crucial 08:40 - The Huddle: Get to know Libby in a minute 09:22 - Rowing Week on a scale of 1 to 10: 6 09:55 - Hot Seat Q&A 16:28 - Libby's rowing origin story is a doozie 24:25- Libby's first coaching gig while in college, and the quirks of coaching novices 33:07 - A (very) brief intro to SafeSport 34:26 - Why SafeSport and conduct are important to Libby and her rowing community in Boston 38:11 - SafeSport training for teens: making sure the whole team is on the same page 46:38 - Inside the teenage mind when determining unpleasant vs abusive treatment by coaches 49:07 - Kids are critical in terms of being on the front lines and seeing behaviors and activities first 50:13 - Red flags to look out for and a deep dive into Libby's discussion for her junior athletes 58:27 - Feedback from rowers and parents about Libby's curriculum 1:03:10 - What Libby wished she knew as a teenager 1:04:07 - Libby's hope for the future of the rowing community 1:05:43 - Abuse can happen at all levels, getting kids involved in spotting and reporting incidents 1:08:22 - Resources 1:09:14 - Teenagers and maturity 1:10:00 - Sign off . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, Concept2, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons. . This episode was written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.
After providing some basic instruction, coaches often leave coxswains to figure things out on their own. Three-time medal-winning U.S. Olympic coxswain Mary Whipple recognized this gap in the coaching playbook and founded The 9th Seat, offering camps, resources, and community for coxswains. Hear what Mary has to say about lucky breaks and logistics, and why being a motivator isn't at the top of her coxing list. QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Intro 05:07 - Team huddle: Mary's coxing bio 05:45 - Mary's rowing week: Writing the USRowing Coxing Course for athletes and coaches 13:30 - Developing empathy as a coxswain and giving rowers time to make changes 16:48 - Creating a practice environment where coxswain feels safe to fail 23:03 - Hot Seat Q&A 26:45 - What was behind Mary's successful trajectory from high school, to UW, to the National Team? 33:33 - Hitting her stride at the University of Washington 35:15 - Mary's most influential coaches 40:21 - Keeping coxswains engaged and motivated throughout the pipeline from scholastic, to college, to masters 45:27 - On bad days… 46:30 - More talking isn't better. Listen, feel, check-in, fix. 49:05 - The perfect stroke: a feeling that comes from efficiency, suspension, and collaboration 55:38 - Leading the way in coaching coxswains 56:29 - Outro . To see photos of Mary, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, Concept2, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons. . This episode was written, produced, hosted, and edited by Tara Morgan and Rachel Freedman. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.
Jen Huffman gave her son a guilt trip about learning to row. “You would make your great grandpa so happy!” And when your great grandpa is Joe Rantz, 7 seat in the University of Washington crew that took gold at the 1936 Olympics, you learn to row. Jen also took up the challenge and learned to row as an adult, quickly becoming an accomplished masters rower in the Seattle area. Growing up, Jen didn't know much about her Grandpa Joe's rowing history. But late in his life, she found his memorabilia from the crew's trip to the Berlin Olympics. Jen tells us how a scrapbook she made became the jumping off point for author Daniel James Brown's now blockbuster book The Boys in the Boat. Ten years after the book was published, it's become a George Clooney-directed movie. We talk with Jen about the power of rowing and seeing her grandpa brought to life on the big screen. . QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Intro 01:49 - Team huddle: Jen's rowing bio 02:13 - Jen's rowing week rated a 6, and included a “sushi race” in Lake Union in Seattle, WA 05:33 - Hot Seat Q&A 08:34 - Getting to know grandpa Joe 13:18 - Jenn guilt-tripped her son into learning to row, then learned to row herself in 2008 18:24 - Coaching gymnastics, coaching rowing, and taking off your coach's hat when you're rowing 25:56 - Jen's 2023 rowing season 28:45 - The story of The Boys in the Boat book began with a family scrapbook 34:42 - Being a part of Daniel James Brown's writing process, and learning about Grandpa Joe chapter by chapter 39:55 - MOHAI exhibit, Joe's “Amerika” flag, and some Husky Challenger history 43:28 - North Cascades Crew Joe Rantz Boathouse on Lake Stevens . To see photos of Jen, Joe, and 1936 UW memorabilia, and to get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, Concept2, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons.
In this special episode, co-hosts Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan take a look back at 2023. Go behind the scenes of Steady State Podcast to learn more about Rachel and Tara's rowing careers, listen to clips from some of their favorite season 4 episodes, consider their big takeaways from interviews with nearly 40 guests in the past 12 months, and get a peak at what's to come in Season 5 in 2024. . QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Intro / a reflection on the first 4 seasons of Steady State Podcast 03:14 - Get to know co-hosts Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan 08:57 - On a scale of 1-10 ... rating our rowing year 13:28 - Hot Seat Q&A 24:05 - The building blocks of a podcast: awesome audience, supportive Patrons, marketing 26:25 - Favorite moments of 2023: gender identity policy series, Gevvie Stone, Lindsay Dare Shoop, Next Level Rowing, Indianapolis Rowing Club spotlight, Unity Boat Club's Excellence in Black Rowing event 45:05 - Upping our game as a media outlet at USRowing Masters Nationals and Head of the Charles 47:41 - Takeaways: it's time to take beach sprints and coastal rowing seriously; incorporating non-binary athletes into racing is complicated 53:05 - Partnerships 54:29 - Wrapping up Season 4 with Jennifer Huffman, masters rower and granddaughter of Boys in the Boat central character Joe Rantz. 56:07 - Season 5 sneak peek: Olympic coxswain Mary Whipple, on water emergencies and safety, keeping junior athletes safe, indoor world record holder Elizabeth Gilmore, and Lessons in Chemistry author Bonnie Garmus. . To see photos of Rachel and Tara, 2023 podcast guests, and get links to the people, clubs, policies, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, Concept2, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons.
Think of rowing and Boston and there's one name that really stands out: Ellen Minzner. Born and raised in Lawrence, Mass., Ellen has spent more than two decades developing and leading programs in the state, including most recently as the Director of Outreach and then Director of Inclusion and Advocacy at Community Rowing Inc. Ellen also balances being the co-chair of the Head of the Charles Announcing Committee with her full-time position as USRowing Para High Performance Director, a title she's held since 2019. From walk on at Villanova University to 5-time National Team member, to her transition into coaching and program development, Ellen saw the long game: changing the status quo of her clubs, organizations, and communities. In this episode, she also gives a peek behind the curtains of the world's premier annual rowing competition - the Head of the Charles - from her vantage point in an announcers booth on the roof of Cambridge Boat Club. . QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Intro 00:24 - Lead-In Banter 04:45 - Welcome 06:26 - Bio/Olympics Distance Rowing Week is quiet after getting home from Worlds, looking ahead to para rowing in ‘24 and ‘28 11:19 - The Hot Seat Q&A 18:51 - Walking on at Villanova sophomore year, being a part of Boathouse Row, and finding summer rowing in Lowell, MA 23:39 - Coaching at CRI planted the seeds of a National Team dream. A bumpy trajectory across five national teams in the ‘90s was a lesson in playing the long game. 26:24 - Retiring from the National Team and transitioning into college coaching 28:40 - The teaching magic of the pair 31:50 - Returning to Massachusetts to help bring rowing opportunities to her blue collar community 34:36 - Pairing rowing community accessibility with “what is just and equitable” has driven Ellen's career 37:15 - The future of para rowing: developing juniors athletes, and supporting collegiate programs that recruit athletes with disabilities 45:50 - Ellen's early involvement with HOCR, how announcing has changed over the years, and how it makes the sport more inclusive and accessible 49:54 - Watching HOCR from the roof of Cambridge Boat Club, Elliot Bridge, and other great spots 51:58 - Behind the scenes at HOCR 56:56 - Listener Question: "My HOCR coxswain hasn't coxed in several years. Should I be worried?" 58:50 - HOCR meet and greet for para rowers at Noon in the USRowing tent 1:00:04 - HOCR's Ellen Minzner trophy, awarded each year to the winners of the LTA 4+ . To see photos of Ellen and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Barb, Breakwater Realty, Concept2, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons.
In 2002, Lindsay Dare Shoop reluctantly walked-on at the University of Virginia. Within a year she became an NCAA Division I All American. In four years she broke a world record and earned her first World Championship. Within six years her hard work manifested a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Today she seeks to help others remove self-imposed limitations. This Fall, 20 years after it all began, the author of Better Great Than Never returns to UVA as an assistant coach, paying it forward. This thought-provoking conversation considers serendipity, struggle, pressures on student athletes, walk-ons, team-building, rowing for life, Head of the Charles (and being coxed by Mary Whipple), and a whole lot more. . QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Intro 04:50 - How 9/11 indirectly led to Lindsay walking on at the University of Virginia 07:38 - When Rachel met Lindsay at Steeringuwright / Endeavor Racing Alliance Camp; coaching rowers to consider the long timeline 11:30 - The Huddle 12:48 - Coaching CrossFit coaches and developing an indoor rowing curriculum with USRowing 15:31 - Rowing Week 16:00 - Preparing for HOCR, being coxed by 3-time Olympic medalist Mary Whipple 18:14 - Beijing teammate Anna Mickelson on savoring the moment 19:30 - The Hot Seat Q&A 23:23 - Growing up on a farm in Virginia, playing with boys, and trying “all the sports” 25:19 - Early Olympic dreams and the notion of “not being a real athlete” 27:40 - Losing her athletic self and finding it again at the University of Virginia 32:44 - The waning prevalence of collegiate walk-ons, the importance of novice rowing, and optimizing movement patterns 38:48 - How social media, NILs, and the prospect of financial contracts have put additional pressure on college athletes 43:15 - Beyond erg scores: intangibles that make for positive team culture 46:19 - Better Great Than Never, inspiring others, “catching up with the things your parents always said,” and taking it one day at a time 50:49 - “Team” as the tribes of today; and the importance of paying attention, getting and staying connected with people 53:00 - Winning gold in Beijing and the weight of the moment she was handed a medal from Anita DeFrantz . To see photos of Lindsay and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Barb, Breakwater Realty, Concept2, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons.
“Physical limitations only exist if you're willing to find them.” This is the philosophy of Mitch King, a coxswain for River City Rowing Club in Sacramento, CA. Every day he does countless things that doctors said were impossible when he was a kid diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Mitch doesn't call himself a disability advocate, doesn't want to be an inspiration, and would rather folks didn't try to tiptoe around his disability. We talk balancing coxing with graduate school, collaborative coxing, finding tenths of seconds on the erg, and shattering expectations. . QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Intro 02:10 - The Huddle 04:38 - Rate Your rowing week: 1-10… quickly turns into swapping coxing stories 10:05 - The Hot Seat Q&A 15:44 - Coxing origin story 19:24 - How rowing helps student athletes with discipline and time management 21:22 - Erging with the team began as a means to understand what his athletes were going through, and became an outlet for moving beyond internal and external limitations of his Cerebral Palsy 29:18 - Collaborative coxing: getting to know your rowers, giving and receiving feedback, sharing race strategies, leaving your worries on shore 35:08 - Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy as a kid, Mitch wants strangers to assume he, and other people with disabilities, are competent and capable 38:50 - It's okay to ask, and it's okay to say “disabled” 43:21 - Being an inadvertent ambassadors for people with disabilities, how we've been socialized to understand disability, and rebutting the notion of being an inspiration 49:03 - Mitch's rowing pitch 50:00 - What's next and hoping to make it to Head of the Charles 49:56 - Outro 54:48 - Outtakes . To get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Barb, Breakwater Realty, Concept2, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons.
That place a lot of us call a second home – the boathouse – is on land with a long history. And the waterways we dip our oars in once provided sustenance. Know Where You Row is a campaign across the United States and Canada to explore the spaces and places where we row, which have been – and continue to be – the lands of the native peoples who, for centuries, have stewarded them. Know Where You Row encourages rowing clubs to connect with the history of the waterways and land that they use, and the indigenous tribes of the area. The team behind the campaign – Dave Harvey, Julia Gonzalez-Wolf and Steady State's own Tara Morgan – tell us more. . QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Intro 03:15 - The Huddle 03:52 - Rate your rowing week: 1-10 04:35 - The Hot Seat Q&A 06:50 - How rowing came into Dave and Julia's lives, and what keeps them hooked on rowing 11:42 - An intro to Tacoma Rowing's work in the community 13:12 - How Tara and Dave connected 14:20 - Tara's nugget of an idea that led to Know Where You Row began at Lake Stevens 19:10 - About the PacNW, the prevalence of indigenous tribes, and land acknowledgements 22:35 - About the Know Where You Row campaign 28:45 - How clubs and boathouses can move beyond the performative . To get links to the people, clubs, events, and resources mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Barb, Breakwater Realty, Concept2, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons.
The World's Toughest Row is a 2,800-mile race across the Pacific Ocean. On June 12, 2024, more than 20 teams will leave Monterey, CA and race to Kauai, HI in unsupported, man-powered ocean rowing boats. Hannah Huppi (NORC), Phil Doyle (PBC), and Hunter Deuel (OWRC) formed Horizon Racing USA to take on this massive rowing challenge. They are solidly into their planning and training with a goal of breaking the Mixed 4x World Record for rowing across the Mid-Pacific ocean – which currently stands at just over 34 days. We talk about lots of steady state training on the erg, star-gazing and the unknown, competitive drive, Cheez-Its, and fundraising for Laureus Sport For Good USA. . QUICK LOOK 00:00 - intro 02:00 - Welcome and The Huddle 03:20 - Rate Your rowing week: 1 to 10 05:04 - The Hot Seat Q&A 08:33 - Rowing origin stories: Hannah, Phil, Hunter 14:13 - About the World's Toughest Row across the Pacific 15:50 - About their 4-person Ranoch RX45 boat 18:20 - Whose idea was it to row the WTR; finding a fourth crewmate, necessary skills, and the importance of coming together as a competitive unit 28:56 - Supporting their charity partner Laureus Sport for Good USA 31:20 - Sponsorship opportunities and Hannah's hopes for Cheez Its 33:24 - How training started, what they're looking forward to, and what they're nervous about 40:40 - Letting go of flatwater perfection, thinking BIG intervals, and canned peaches for celebrating milestones 46:15 - The adventure of a lifetime and leaving an impact on the next generation 50:10 - Sign Off . To see photos of Hannah, Phil, an Hunter, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Barb, Breakwater Realty, Concept2, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons.
This is the final episode in a four-part special series on gender identity policies in rowing. Since December 2022, World Athletics, World Rowing, USRowing and other national governing bodies, have announced updated gender identity policies. In response, voices across the rowing community have stood up for "fairness for women" and alternatively "inclusion for marginalized athletes." We're taking a closer look. Dr. David Scherzer learned to row with DC Strokes Rowing Club, one of just a handful of dedicated, independent LGBTQ+ rowing clubs in the world. But for many years, even DC Strokes wasn't able to provide answers to David about how they could participate and race as a non-binary athlete. And when Bobbi Kizer, PhD inquired about racing at Head of the Lake as a transgender athlete, the organizing committee worked with them to create an exhibition “mixed” category for all genders. But in general, the current USRowing gender inclusion policy leaves transgender, non-binary, and other gender nonconforming rowers with very few opportunities to race. . QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Rachel and Tara re-introduce the podcast's Gender Identity Policies series 05:40 - Welcome and The Huddle 08:05 - David and Bobbi's rowing week 10:12 - Hot Seat Q&A 12:45 - Rowing origin stories: Bobbi, then David 21:02 - Club community agreements and DEI committees 25:09 - Intro to World Rowing and USRowing gender identity policies 26:55 - Laying the groundwork: sex, gender, and gender identity 29:45 - Bobbi's experiences as a trans rower at SRRA, Head of the Lake, and ZLAC sweep camp 37:50 - David's surprising experiences as a non-binary rower in an LGBT+ club 40:32 - What current USRowing open and mixed racing opportunities mean for non-binary and trans rowers 46:32 - ICONS petition and “fairness for females” 53:21 - As a new member of USRowing's DEI committee, David is ambivalent 56:08 - David and Rachel's perspective on DC Strokes Rowing Club and the challenge of retaining gender non-conforming rowers 1:01:35 - How Bobbi's combining their psychiatry practice with the sport through rowing group therapy 1:06:00 - Sign off . To see photos of Bobbi and David, and to get links to the people, clubs, policies, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Barb, Breakwater Realty, Concept2, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons.
Start your engines! Get to know Indianapolis Rowing Center, host of the 2023 USRowing Masters National Championships. We talk with IRC board President Janet Francis, Masters Head Coach Zach Christopher, and recent LTR grad Lisa Stickley. Developed in the 1980s, the race course at Eagle Creek remains one of the country's premiere venues, host to PanAm Games, World Rowing Championships, NCAA Championships, and a lot more. Get an inside scoop on Vendors Village, course strategy, and IRC, Indy's only rowing club. . QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Intro/Lead-in 02:35 - Welcome and The Huddle 05:06 - Rowing week and local tornado 07:00 - Hot Seat Q&A 12:13 - Rowing origin stories: Zach, Lisa, then Janet 17:50 - Rowing into our 80s 20:19 - Janet's role as IRC president, current challenges and plans/ initiatives 24:13 - A local's perspective on Eagle Creek 27:25 - IRC is the only rowing center in Indy, and offers programs for all ages 30:41 - Volunteering for Masters Nats 31:11 - Recruiting new members 33:18 - Rowers sure do love talking about rowing… 36:46 - the development of IRC at Eagle Creek for a premiere rowing venue 39:55 - committees and community partnerships make big events possible 41:37 - Vendor village, the beach where there shall be no swimming, beer garden, and coxswain tosses are approved. 43:41 - First Masters Nationals experiences 48:51 - IRC Course trade secrets 50:44 - Sign off . To see photos of Janet, Zach, and Lisa, and to get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by RowSource, Barb, EB5 Investors, Concept2, and our Patrons.
GENDER IDENTITY POLICIES: Part 3 Since December 2022, World Athletics, World Rowing, USRowing and other national governing bodies, have announced updated gender identity policies. In response, voices across the rowing community have stood up for "fairness for women" and alternatively "inclusion for marginalized athletes." We're taking a closer look. Kevin Harris's coaching career began in the early 1990s and culminated with 20+ years at the helm of the University of Tulsa women's rowing program. Harris offers an in-depth and thought-provoking perspective on DEI, the importance of boathouses as welcoming spaces, the prevalence of transgender and non-binary rowers in the United States, and gender inclusion policies. ICYMI: Gender Identity Policy Series Part 1 - Dr. Mary O'Connor: Fighting to Save Women's Rowing Part 2 - Coach Anne Strayer on Inclusion and Self-Worth in Rowing . QUICK LOOK 00:50 - Pre-interview banter with Tara and Rachel 04:30 - The Huddle, a discussion of Kevin's early coaching career in D.C. and Virginia 05:30 - Hot Seat Q&A 08:20 - Starting out as a coach, Stonewall Regatta 10:35 - Experience at 2023 Youth Nationals with the USRowing Board of Directors, perspective on FL controversy as a Black man who grew up in the South 19:00 - Welcome mat at T.C. Williams High School when he learned to row 21:30 - The Harris family history in Alexandria, VA and why Kevin's mom asked him why he wanted to get into a “white boy's sport” 29:20 - Kevin's reality as a lightweight hit him when he arrived at the Naval Academy, and then coach bumped him to the cox seat 31:50 - An unexpected early departure from the Naval Academy led him to his first coaching job at T.C. Williams 33:50 - History of Dee Campbell Boathouse in Alexandria, VA 36:10 - The development of USRowing's DEI committee in 2020 45:00 - Intro to Gender Inclusion Policies and the ICONS petition 47:10 - Kevin's inroads to coaching women's programs 50:02 - Title IX, gender policies, the ICONS petition, and DEI from Kevin's unique perspective as an NCAA coach and member of the USRowing Board. 1:00:00 - USRowing's work to accommodate a huge variety of members . To see photos of Kevin, and to get links to the people, clubs, policies, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by RowSource, Barb, EB5 Investors, and our Patrons.
PRIDE MONTH SPECIAL: PART 2 We visit Chicago Rowing Union (CRU), the Midwest's only LGBTQ+ rowing organization, and one of just a few such clubs in the world. CRU member and social media manager Michael Toutloff talks with us about the importance of safe spaces and being yourself, finding community and competition on the water, and proudly flying the flag at regattas. Listen to Part 1 of our Pride month special – a chat with LGBTQ+ DC Strokes Rowing Club and the Melbourne Argonauts. . QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Podcast lead-in 01:37 - Rachel and Tara banter about Pride month 03:30 - Team Huddle: Michael's bio in 45 seconds 04:14 - Tara's out sick! 05:18 - The Hot Seat Q&A 09:35 - “Set the wayback machine” - learning to row at Indiana University with tulip blades and wooden shells 12:30 - Personal and professional changes led Michael back to rowing after many years off the water 17:33 - LGBTQ+ community in Chicago 20:10 - Partnering with other LGBTQ+ sports organizations for networking and club growth 21:00 - CRU – the only LGBTQ+ rowing club in the midwest – was established in 2006 for the Chicago Gay Games 22:43 - Comparing experiences at CRU with other rowing clubs, and CRU as a safe space where LGBTQ+ members can be themselves 26:07 - Flying the flag of inclusion, and acceptance of the local rowing community 30:25 - Supporting DC Strokes' boycott of the 2022 USRowing Masters National Championship in Florida 34:48 - CRU is having a renaissance in 2023 . To see photos of Michael, and to get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, Barb, EB5 Investors, and our Patrons.
A small but growing group of flat water rowers are making a transition to coastal rowing. In 2021, USRowing boated its first-ever Beach Sprints National team and in 2022 Next Level Rowing appeared on the scene, training high performance rowers who have gone on to win medals at domestic and international coastal regattas. The U.S. is just taking on this discipline, which has been raced for generations in Europe. We reached out to coastal rowing rising stars Christopher Bak and Christine Cavallo, and their coach Ben Booth, co-founder of Next Level Rowing. All three wax poetic about giving in to Mother Nature, working through adversity, and why coastal – like indoor rowing – is a perfect cross-training option. QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Podcast lead-in 02:15 - Rachel and Tara banter 03:12 - welcome 05:25 - Team Huddle: Get to know Chris, Christine, and Ben 09:25 - The Hot Seat Q&A 14:09 - What's the hook? Why they keep coming back to rowing season after season. 20:30 - Ben's coaching philosophy: teach a way of being - being present and true to yourself 30:52 - Coastal, like indoor rowing, translates to flat water. Great cross training and it's fun! Working the same sport specific muscle pattern while having a completely different neurological experience 35:08 - Ben's involvement in USRowing's early move into coastal 38:05 - Intro to coastal rowing disciplines: beach sprint and endurance 40:52 - Approach coastal with an open mind 43:40 - Ben couldn't find the coastal boat he wanted so he got into backyard design and build, which evolved into Next Boatworks, the only coastal manufacturer in the U.S. 51:27 - On the coastal rowing horizon for 2023 54:48 - Bringing rowing to non-traditional spaces, marketing, and growing the sport 58:45 - opportunities to try coastal rowing in ME and MA, and check out the boats at some USRowing events . To see photos of Ben, Christine, and Chris, and to get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, Barb, EB5 Investors, and our Patrons.
PRIDE MONTH SPECIAL: PART 1 Only a handful of rowing clubs around the world cater specifically to the lesbian, gay, bi, transgender, questioning and ally community. In Part 1 of our Pride special, we introduce you to DC Strokes Rowing Club's long-time member and coach Lis Fondreist, and president of the Melbourne Argonauts Queer Rowing Club, Josh Lipscombe. They talk with us about rowing and the gay rights movement in the 1990s, safe spaces, and why this part of the diversity issue is still relevant today. Listen to Part 2 of our Pride month special – a chat with LGBTQ+ club Chicago Rowing Union's Michael Toutloff . QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Podcast lead-in 02:05 - Rachel and Tara pre-show banter 13:29 - Welcome 11:40 - Team Huddle with Lis and Josh 15:25 - (Not So) Rapid Fire Q&A 21:29 - Josh was one of the “weird” kids who wasn't good at other sports, until he found rowing 22:58 - Lis was tempted into rowing while watching West Point cadets racing in a regatta 27:12 - The “why” behind a commitment to rowing 29:39 - The rowing and LGBT scene in Melbourne 32:36 - Founded in 1991 and 2001 respectively, DC Strokes and Melbourne Argonauts are safe community spaces AND make waves in their rowing communities 40:23 - Gender inclusion policies 46:27 - Pride activities and participation 50:55 - The importance of LGBT rowing clubs as safe spaces 54:08 - DEI and building an atmosphere of inclusion 56:48 - The year to come 1:02:27 - After the show . To see photos of Lis, Josh, and their clubs, and to get links to the people, policies, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, Barb, EB5 Investors, and our Patrons.
Washington, DC's two rivers – the Potomac and the Anacostia – haven't been swimmable in decades and folks that live in the nation's capital often have no relationship with the rivers. But when one of Rebekah Armstrong's teachers suggested she join Capital Juniors rowing, she found a sport she loved wrapped up in just the right package of diversity and scrappiness. The influence of a great coach prompted Rebekah to check out the University of Wisconsin Madison, where she walked on to the women's crew. Having come from a diverse life and team in D.C., the transition to Wisco was challenging – Rebekah at one point was one of just ten Black female athletes on campus. Rebekah opens up about the (slowly) changing face of rowing in the United States, finding mentors and support, and her drive to help BIPOC athletes as a certified mental performance consultant. . QUICK LOOK 00:00 - podcast lead-in 02:17 - Team Huddle: Rebekah Armstrong's bio in 60 seconds 03:17 - Icebreaker: Washington, D.C., Capital Rowing Club, and USRowing DEI Associate Jess Jackson 05:17 - Rapid Fire Q&A 09:12 - Pre 2k snacks and the mental prep for erg tests 11:35 - Learning to row with Capital Juniors and the influence of a great coach on her decision to row in college 15:15 - The cognitive dissonance of rowing at the Anacostia Community Boathouse 19:35 - Being a “shrimp” and walking on at Wisco 22:27 - Finding balance as a student athlete, prioritizing athletic success over identity 26:50 - Gaining a mentor and being empowered as a member of Student Athletes Equally Supporting Others 30:31 - Support and inspiration at the U23 selection camp in Charlottesville, VA 34:39 - Post-graduation coaching at Wisco, collegiate burnout and what happens next? 38:53 - Nervous about the transition to masters rowing, Rebekah found welcoming teammates and fun on the water at Lincoln Park Boat Club in Chicago 41:19 - What it meant to row in the first all Black Women's 8 at Head of the Charles 44:31 - Landing in Chicago as the Program Director at Chicago Training Center, and pursuing dual masters degrees as a licensed counselor and a certified mental performance consultant 48:20 - Increased visibility of DEI work in recent years . To see photos of Rebekah Armstrong, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, Barb, EB5 Investors, and our Patrons.
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