S5E22: Fusing Innovation and Tradition at the Head of the Charles

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

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To see photos, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

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This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons.

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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.

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