Steady State Podcast

S4E19 - Mitch King: Finding and Pushing Past Limits

“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. 
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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
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To 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 Barb, Breakwater Realty, Concept2, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons.

S4E18 - Know Where You Row Campaign Connects People, Land, and Water

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.
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QUICK LOOK00:00 - Intro03:15 -  The Huddle03:52 - Rate your rowing week: 1-1004:35 - The Hot Seat Q&A06:50 - How rowing came into Dave and Julia’s lives, and what keeps them hooked on rowing11:42 - An intro to Tacoma Rowing’s work in the community13:12 - How Tara and Dave connected14:20 - Tara’s nugget of an idea that led to Know Where You Row began at Lake Stevens19:10 - About the PacNW, the prevalence of indigenous tribes, and land acknowledgements22:35 - About the Know Where You Row campaign28:45 - How clubs and boathouses can move beyond the performative
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To get links to the people, clubs, events, and resources mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.
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This episode was made possible in part by Barb, Breakwater Realty, Concept2, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons.

S4E17 - Horizon Racing USA Seeks Adventure and World Record on the World’s Toughest Row

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.
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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
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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.
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This episode was made possible in part by Barb, Breakwater Realty, Concept2, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons.

S4E16 - Challenging the Binary: Making a New Lane in Rowing

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.
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QUICK LOOK
00:00 - Rachel and Tara re-introduce the podcast’s Gender Identity Policies series05:40 - Welcome and The Huddle08:05 - David and Bobbi’s rowing week10:12 - Hot Seat Q&A12:45 - Rowing origin stories: Bobbi, then David21:02 - Club community agreements and DEI committees25:09 - Intro to World Rowing and USRowing gender identity policies26:55 - Laying the groundwork: sex, gender, and gender identity29:45 - Bobbi’s experiences as a trans rower at SRRA, Head of the Lake, and ZLAC sweep camp37:50 - David’s surprising experiences as a non-binary rower in an LGBT+ club40:32 - What current USRowing open and mixed racing opportunities mean for non-binary and trans rowers46:32 - ICONS petition and “fairness for females”53:21 - As a new member of USRowing’s DEI committee, David is ambivalent56:08 - David and Rachel’s perspective on DC Strokes Rowing Club and the challenge of retaining gender non-conforming rowers1:01:35 - How Bobbi’s combining their psychiatry practice with the sport through rowing group therapy 1:06:00 - Sign off
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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.
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This episode was made possible in part by Barb, Breakwater Realty, Concept2, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons.

S4E15 - Indianapolis Rowing Center: From LTR to National Championships

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.
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QUICK LOOK
00:00 - Intro/Lead-in02:35 - Welcome and The Huddle05:06 - Rowing week and local tornado07:00 - Hot Seat Q&A12:13 - Rowing origin stories: Zach, Lisa, then Janet17:50 - Rowing into our 80s20:19 - Janet’s role as IRC president, current challenges and plans/ initiatives 24:13 - A local’s perspective on Eagle Creek27:25 - IRC is the only rowing center in Indy, and offers programs for all ages30:41 - Volunteering for Masters Nats31:11 - Recruiting new members33:18 - Rowers sure do love talking about rowing…36:46 - the development of IRC at Eagle Creek for a premiere rowing venue39:55 - committees and community partnerships make big events possible41:37 - Vendor village, the beach where there shall be no swimming, beer garden, and coxswain tosses are approved.43:41 - First Masters Nationals experiences48:51 - IRC Course trade secrets50:44 - Sign off
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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.
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This episode was made possible in part by RowSource, Barb, EB5 Investors, Concept2, and our Patrons.

S4E14 - Coach Kevin Harris on the Importance of Embracing Diversity

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 SeriesPart 1 - Dr. Mary O’Connor: Fighting to Save Women’s RowingPart 2 - Coach Anne Strayer on Inclusion and Self-Worth in Rowing
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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
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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.
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This episode was made possible in part by RowSource, Barb, EB5 Investors, and our Patrons.
 

S4:E13 Midwest Pride: Chicago Rowing Union’s Michael Toutloff

PRIDE MONTH SPECIAL: PART 2We 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.
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QUICK LOOK
00:00 - Podcast lead-in01:37 - Rachel and Tara banter about Pride month03:30 - Team Huddle: Michael’s bio in 45 seconds04:14 - Tara’s out sick!05:18 - The Hot Seat Q&A09:35 - “Set the wayback machine” - learning to row at Indiana University with tulip blades and wooden shells12:30 - Personal and professional changes led Michael back to rowing after many years off the water17:33 - LGBTQ+ community in Chicago20:10 - Partnering with other LGBTQ+ sports organizations for networking and club growth21:00 - CRU – the only LGBTQ+ rowing club in the midwest – was established in2006 for the Chicago Gay Games22:43 - Comparing experiences at CRU with other rowing clubs, and CRU as a safe space where LGBTQ+ members can be themselves26:07 - Flying the flag of inclusion, and acceptance of the local rowing community30:25 - Supporting DC Strokes’ boycott of the 2022 USRowing Masters National Championship in Florida34:48 - CRU is having a renaissance in 2023
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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.
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This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, Barb, EB5 Investors, and our Patrons.
 

S4E12 - Letting Go of Perfection: Coastal Rowing

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-in02:15 - Rachel and Tara banter03:12 - welcome05:25 - Team Huddle: Get to know Chris, Christine, and Ben09:25 - The Hot Seat Q&A14:09 - 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 yourself30:52 - 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 experience35:08 - Ben’s involvement in USRowing’s early move into coastal38:05 - Intro to coastal rowing disciplines: beach sprint and endurance40:52 - Approach coastal with an open mind43:40 - 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 202354:48 - Bringing rowing to non-traditional spaces, marketing, and growing the sport58:45 - opportunities to try coastal rowing in ME and MA, and check out the boats at some USRowing events
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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.
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This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, Barb, EB5 Investors, and our Patrons.
 

S4E11 - Community Pride: DC Strokes and Melbourne Argonauts

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
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QUICK LOOK
00:00 - Podcast lead-in02:05 - Rachel and Tara pre-show banter13:29 - Welcome11:40 - Team Huddle with Lis and Josh15:25 - (Not So) Rapid Fire Q&A21:29 - Josh was one of the “weird” kids who wasn’t good at other sports, until he found rowing22:58 - Lis was tempted into rowing while watching West Point cadets racing in a regatta27:12 - The “why” behind a commitment to rowing29:39 - The rowing and LGBT scene in Melbourne32:36 - Founded in 1991 and 2001 respectively, DC Strokes and Melbourne Argonauts are safe community spaces AND make waves in their rowing communities40:23 - Gender inclusion policies46:27 - Pride activities and participation50:55 - The importance of LGBT rowing clubs as safe spaces54:08 - DEI and building an atmosphere of inclusion56:48 - The year to come1:02:27 - After the show
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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.
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This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, Barb, EB5 Investors, and our Patrons.
 

S4E10 - Rebekah Armstrong on Getting and Giving Support

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.
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QUICK LOOK
00:00 - podcast lead-in02:17 - Team Huddle: Rebekah Armstrong’s bio in 60 seconds03:17 - Icebreaker: Washington, D.C., Capital Rowing Club, and USRowing DEI Associate Jess Jackson05:17 - Rapid Fire Q&A09:12 - Pre 2k snacks and the mental prep for erg tests11:35 - Learning to row with Capital Juniors and the influence of a great coach on her decision to row in college15:15 - The cognitive dissonance of rowing at the Anacostia Community Boathouse19:35 - Being a “shrimp” and walking on at Wisco22:27 - Finding balance as a student athlete, prioritizing athletic success over identity26:50 - Gaining a mentor and being empowered as a member of Student Athletes Equally Supporting Others30:31 - Support and inspiration at the U23 selection camp in Charlottesville, VA34:39 - 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 Chicago41:19 - What it meant to row in the first all Black Women’s 8 at Head of the Charles44:31 - 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 consultant48:20 - Increased visibility of DEI work in recent years
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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.
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This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, Barb, EB5 Investors, and our Patrons.
 

S4E9 - Coach Ann Strayer on Inclusion and Self-Worth in Rowing

This is the second episode in a special series on gender identity policies in rowing. We’re getting to know some of the people behind initiatives challenging the notion of fairness and inclusion in our sport.
Since December 2022, World Athletics, World Rowing, USRowing and other national governing bodies, have announced updated gender identity policies. The Biden administration is proposing changes to Title IX. 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.
Ann Strayer, OLY, was a self-described "natural" in a single in high school. She quickly earned a seat on the 1978 Junior National Team, and went on to row at Princeton 1978 to 1982. While at university she made her first National Team in 1981, followed by five more teams in the 1980s, culminating in a spot on the 1988 Olympic squad.
Today, Strayer is the Varsity Women’s Coach at Oakland United Rowing in Oakland, CA. In response to the ICONS petition seeking to define "eligibility for the women’s/girl’s categories to participants born female," Strayer and fellow OUR coach and Olympian Erin Cafaro have written a letter in support of USRowing's gender identity policy. They, along with 50+ Olympians and coaches who have signed the letter, strongly believe that the most important thing for scholastic transgender and non-binary athletes is to welcome them into boathouses, and allow them to row as the gender with which they identify.
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QUICK LOOK
00:00 - Rachel and Tara talk gender identity policies, the ICONS petition fighting for fairness for females, and the letter that Strayer and Erin Cafaro have written in support of gender inclusive policies.
08:15 - Team Huddle: Coach Strayer's bio in 45 seconds 
09:10 - Rapid Fire Q&A
12:40 - Growing up in Cape Cod, MA: sailboats, softball, and basketball. Being a “natural” rower in high school and making the Junior National team.
14:40 - Early post-Title IX experience at Phillips Academy, and how it was different at Princeton
19:10 - Balancing Olympic dreams and rowing for Princeton under Coach Kris Korzeniowksi
23:45 - The transition from coxed quad to straight quad
25:48 - On USRowing’s gender identity policy, Strayer’s own experience coaching trans kids, and the letter of support she and Erin Cafaro penned
32:27 – Contemporary perspective on gender, and why trans women should row in the women’s category
36:10 – Coaching with Erin Cafaro and the search for a media distribution of their letter
43:33 - Strayer's personal experience in the 1980s lining up against Russian, Romanian, and German squads that were doping
47:37 - Early days of coaching in Boston, and getting back into it decades later in California
52:25 - Coaching as a volunteer for OUR out of a passion for the sport
55:07 – A vision for the future of rowing
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To see photos of Coach Ann Strayer, and get links to the people, clubs, events, and policies 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 Group, Concept2, Live2Row, Barb, and our Patrons.
 

S4E8 - Dr. Mary O’Connor: Fighting to Save Women’s Rowing

This is the first episode in a special series on gender policies in rowing. We’ll get to know some of the people behind initiatives challenging the notion of fairness and inclusion in our sport.
Since December 2022, World Athletics, World Rowing, and USRowing (and other national governing bodies) have announced updated gender identity policies. The Biden administration is proposing changes to Title IX. In response, voices across the rowing community have stood up for "fairness for women" and alternatively "inclusion for marginalized athletes." So, we wanted to take a closer look.
Dr. Mary O’Connor, OLY, was a member of the 1976 Yale women’s rowing program that sparked big changes following the passage of Title IX. She went on to become a member of the 1980 U.S Olympic team, an orthopedic surgeon, and a nationally recognized leader for health equity.
Today, Dr. O’Connor is a member of the Independent Council on Women’s Sports – a network and advocacy group “seeking to elevate and empower female athletes by protecting safety, fairness, and opportunity for girls and women.”
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QUICK LOOK
00:00 - Introduction03:10 - Hosts Tara and Rachel talk USRowing gender identity policies and the issue of non-binary inclusion in rowing11:10 - Welcome to Dr. Mary O’Connor12:20 - Rapid Fire Q&A13:50 - Growing up in PA, walking on to the Yale crew, finding role models in teammates Chris Ernst and Anne Warner16:10 - Yale crew early success and stand-outs > the famous Title IX protest > involvement in women’s rights and equity19:55 - Early personal and program goals at Yale?21:00 - Current involvement with the rowing community: rowing parent and ICONS > importance of being able to compete and excel to professional careers26:12 - ICONS mission and leadership28:20 - Title IX, USRowing policy, fairness and competition31:39 - How the rowing pipeline is affected by current policies; sex differences and physiologic advantages, changing categories to Open and female-only34:14 - Working nationally and internationally to uphold the issue of fairness and protecting the female category38:04 - How much are trans and non-binary athletes affecting fairness for females at the collegiate level?40:14 - Change in public perception/acceptance of trans/non-binary > gender affirming care44:48 - ICONS petition seeks to create categories for competition to promote fairness51:35 - How will ICONS know when it has succeeded?50:20 - Mary’s experience  at the ‘79 World Camps placing 3rd behind Russians and East Germans who had all been doping on testosterone
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To see photos of the Dr. Nary O'Connor, and get links to the people, and policies 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 Group, Concept2, Live2Row, Barb, and our Patrons.

S4E7 - The Crew of San Diego Crew Classic

We head to California and go behind the scenes of the San Diego Crew Classic, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Crew Classic Executive Director Bobbie Smith – also a masters rowers and coach in San Diego – for the past year has been planning this event with Associate Director Megan Kalmoe. Megan, who is currently training for an historic fifth Olympic team, began her racing career at Crew Classic as a novice walk-on at the University of Washington. Coxswain and Head Beach Master Lex Switzer also joins the conversation about this West coast regatta that kicks off sprint season in the United States.
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QUICK LOOK
00:00 - Intro01:44 - Episode lead-in02:46 - Team Huddle: get to know Bobbie, Megan, and Lex07:49 - Rapid Fire Q&A17:00 - The guests reminisce about being college walk-ons24:19 - For Bobbie and Megan, Crew Classic was their first 2k race27:48 - Lex explains the diagonal line optical illusion that coxswains see on the Crew Classic course30:30 - What first-timers can expect at Crew Classic32:55 - Tara and Rachel’s Crew Classic memories, 2k vs 1k racing, and making use of a “flutter”37:03 - Celebrating 50 years of Crew Classic and its evolution from collegiate only to today’s inclusion of youth, masters, and novices.45:51 - The work behind the scenes to plan and host Crew Classic50:04 - 50th Anniversary celebrations and special happenings
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To see photos of the Bobbie, Megan, and Lex, 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 is made possible in part by Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, and our Patrons.

S4E6 - The Next Generation of Coaches: Inclusive, Supportive, and Motivated

We believe whole-heartedly in inclusion at all levels of rowing. That’s why we created the Steady State Network Changemaker Scholarship initiative, designed to help up-and-coming leaders of programs, clubs, and small businesses to get the knowledge and skills they need.
To support the development of these leaders in the rowing community, we provided scholarships to three deserving coaches to help them attend RowCon, USRowing’s Annual Convention, held In Atlantic City, NJ Feb. 3-5, 2023.
Thanks to Concept2, Rower’s Dream, and the support of our Steady State Patrons, whose financial support helped make these scholarships possible.
Our third-annual class of Changemaker Scholars to attend the USRowing Annual Convention is a young, diverse group of rowers, coxswains, and coaches, all in the early years of their coaching careers.
Today we’re talking with our 2023 Changemaker Scholarship recipients – Jalen Baldwin, Angelina Koch, and Faby Velazques – to find out what sort of ideas and information they picked up at the Convention, and what they’re exited to put into practice this season.
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QUICK LOOK
00:00 - Intro02:03 - Episode lead-in03:23 - welcome04:11 - Rowing Week 1-1005:52 - Rapid Fire Q&A08:16 - Team huddle: get to know the Changemakers15:22 - The importance of coaching education, and what motivated each Changemaker to apply20:35 - Big “aha” moments from RowCon202326:43 - Jalen’s Networking strategy and fundraising for Row, Sail, Dream30:00 - Putting new coaching concepts into practice36:49 - Coaching the whole athlete39:09 - What would you give a TedTalk about40:20 - Elevator pitches
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To see photos of the Changemakers, 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 is sponsored by the George Pocock Rowing Foundation, and made possible in part by Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, and our Patrons.

S4E5 - RowAlong Founder John Steventon on Rowing, Rubbish, and Racing

The popularity of indoor rowing has exploded since the early days of the COVID pandemic in 2020. A whole new rowing community has come together around the erg, buoyed in large part by people who have never touched an oar.
 
On this episode we talk with John Steventon, a gold medal and world record holding indoor rower who made his way into the sport by way of squash and cycling. He started to make rowing workout videos while rehabbing from an injury during the pandemic lockdown, and today John’s RowAlong YouTube channel boasts nearly 17,000 subscribers and provides hundreds of indoor rowing workouts.
We had a long chat with John and most of it was too good to chop, so we hope you enjoy this extended episode, full of story telling and curiosity.
John explains: "I wanna’ be the rowing buddy talking rubbish to them while they're rowing. And of course I talk technique, but there doesn't need to be another Shane [Farmer of Dark Horse] or another Training Tall because they're really good at what they do. What I found is there was a tiny niche for some idiot Scotsman to fill and I filled it perfectly."
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QUICK LOOK
00:00 - Intro
02:27 - Welcome, regatta t-shirts
07:45 - It’s a 10 out of 10 rowing week for John, who’s back on a “proper training for rowing program” after spending 8 months training for Hyrox
11:27 - Falling in and out of love with rowing; the lines between exercising, putting in effort, and performance training; and finding reasons to row
14:24 - Rapid Fire Q&A
15:13 - John tells a spirited tale of his transition from squash player, to cyclist, to indoor rowing enthusiast
23:42 - First impressions of the indoor rowing scene as someone without on-water experience
26:45 - Finding community with other indoor rowers; how COVID lockdown changed perspective on training on the erg; the recent implosion of indoor competitions in the UK; and the rise of a new class of indoor rowing machines
36:44 - How a kitchen knife accident helped John focus the development of RowAlong, find his niche, and help people have fun and get a good workout
45:28 - After creating 400 videos: a wide variety of content, packaging, green screen use, a vivid imagination, and “talking rubbish” are key
50:22 - Why John is evangelical about the rowing machine
55:50 - John admits he’s never rowed on the water, and we try to convince him to learn to sweep
58:17 - A RowAlong fan calls in to say thanks, and John comes to terms with being recognized as “RowAlong John” in public.
1:01:34 - A non-rower and jiu jitsu practitioner calls in to ask about optimal 60-minute pacing
1:08:10 The psychology of chasing and being chased while racing
1:14:45 - Looking ahead: John’s planning to make a big come back when he hits 50, using micro and macro goals
1:22:55 - bonus outtake
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To see photos of John, 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 is made possible in part by Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, and our Patrons.

S4E4 - Donna Pili Swings Late Nights at Her Bar and Early Mornings Practices

Donna Pili is a San Diego native whose childhood desire to play sports was restrained by the need to help her immigrant Filipino parents. She remembers watching rowing on TV during the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, but it wasn’t until nearly 30 years later, in an effort to retake control of her life, that she committed to learn to row. Since then, Donna’s found community at ZLAC and San Diego Rowing Club, and has traveled the world as a member of Endeavor Racing Alliance.
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Categories: culture, training
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QUICK LOOK00:00 - Intro
02:10 - Rachel met Donna at SteeringUWright camp in Tempe; Lesleh Wright was Donna’s first coach at ZLAC
04:12 - Getting into a pair with a new partner, wet launches, and sharing the water with non-rowers
09:23 - Rapid Fire Q&A
10:55 - Watching the ‘84 Olympic rowing, not having time for sports as a kid, and committing to learning to row as an adult
17:20 - Opening a restaurant to honor her Dad
19:45 - Getting involved with Chinook Performance Racing and Endeavor Racing Alliance
24:19 - Coaches Lesleh Wright and Lindsay Dare Shoop give us the scoop on Donna
26:30 - Raising the bar for masters, and creating supportive environments for masters women
32:18 - Local, national, and international racing plans for 2023; being open to learning in any environment, in any boat, with rowers of all experience levels
36:43 - Considering the possibility of a perfect stroke
40:55 - Finding Karaoke in London between practices for Henley
47:59 - After the show …
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To see photos of Donna, 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 is made possible in part by Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, and our Patrons.

S4E3 - The Freshman (Power) 15 with Corin Wiggins

On today’s show we’re talking with Corin Wiggins. You might remember that we interviewed her back in 2021 for our "next generation of coxswains" episode. At the time, 17 year old Corin was a member of the Atlanta Junior Rowing Association and already had four years of coxing experience. But what really caught our attention was her Instagram account - @TheBlackCoxswain - which she began in an effort to connect athletes of color in the rowing community. Two years later, she’s a recruited member of Hobart College men's crew, and has forged a community of thousands online and on the water, while finding her own coxing voice.
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CATEGORIES: Coxing, Culture
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QUICK LOOK:
00:00 - Intro
02:00 - Southern transplants to NY
05:55 - Learning coxing skills and confidence from coaches at AJRA, and developing the trust of her athletes
09:45 - Rapid Fire Q&A
14:15 - Getting on the water in winter
15:30 - From thinking of quitting to getting addicted to the multi-tasking challenge of coxing
17:55 - HS senior season in the 2V and transition to first year at Hobart College
20:44 - Winter training camp in FL, learning about practice management, and mentoring novice coxswains
26:15 - History of rowing at Hobart College goes back to 1860; alumni visit the crew 
31:10 - Establishing @TheBlackCoxswain IG account, growing a community of thousands, and open the door for networking and recruiting opportunities
37:12 - The importance of mentors
40:47 - Corin’s idea of the perfect stroke begins and ends with rhythm
42:37 - This one time, at ODP HP camp: when everything went right
49:39 - bonus outtake
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To see photos of Corin, 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 is made possible in part by  Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, and our Patrons.

S4E2 - Jess Jackson Brings DEI Perspective to USRowing

A former D1 volleyball player with an M.S. in Sports Administration, Jess Jackson joined USRowing in 2022 as a DEI associate. She hasn't learned to row (yet), but swears by Orange Theory workouts which incorporate indoor rowing. She's honest about her first impressions of rowing as exclusive and white, proud of the steps USRowing is taking around diversity and equity, and hopeful that today's juniors are leading the way in inspiring change for the future of rowing.
We also talk in depth about USRowing’s RowCon2023, which is scheduled to take place two weeks after this episode launches.
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CATEGORIES: Coaching, Culture
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QUICK LOOK:
00:00 - Intro
02:00 - HOCR experience and thoughts on sync in the boat
03:45 - On a scale of 1-10, this week was an 8: travel, Orange Theory
05:14 - Growing up playing a variety of sports
08:00 - Title IX influence on all of us
11:15 - First impressions of rowing: exclusive and white
14:15 - Takeaways from HOCR
17:05 - Code switching, the challenges of overcoming the sport’s exclusive past, and today’s juniors leading the DEI charge
22:46 - Defining diversity, equity, and inclusion
25:08 - The DEI team at USRowing
28:08 - About the TruClusion survey developed to help USRowing formulate its strategic plan
30:40 - RowCon2023's wide variety of content, all with an inclusion lens
37:52 - How RowCon2023 attendees can take ownership of the event and network successfully
46:23 - bonus outtake
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To see photos of Jess, 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 is made possible in part by  Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, and our Patrons.

S4E1 - For Lisa Stone and Daughter Gevvie, a Philosophy of Joy

Seattle has the Pococks. Philadelphia has the Kellys. And Boston has the Stones. We’re really excited to kick off season 4 with mother/daughter Olympians Lisa and Gevvie Stone. Lisa was a member of the first U.S. women’s Olympic rowing team in 1976. She married Gregg Stone (an Olympian and original founder of C.R.A.S.H.-B.s), and went on to a 42-year coaching career at the helm of collegiate and high school programs. 
Gevvie was raised in a competitive environment, and was a natural when she took up rowing in high school coached by her mom. She won Youth Nationals her first year on the team and went on to row at Princeton. Gevvie was a member of the 2012, 2016 and 2021 U.S. Olympic teams – all while in medical school, and then as an emergency medicine resident.
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CATEGORIES: coaching, training, racing
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TIME STAMPS00:00 - Welcome 
02:42 - Tara and Rachel talk about why they’re excited to talk with Lisa and Gevvie
05:00 - What's going on their rowing week
06:45 - Rapid Fire Q&A
11:25 - Lisa’s quick turn from LTR to National Team
16:45 - Gevvie was a natural, winning youth nats her first spring season
20:52 - Gevvie and her siblings were raised to be active and competitive - but not necessarily to be rowers
25:45 - The perfect stroke: is it even possible? There’s always “faster” out there
32:01 - Lisa reflects on being part of the first women’s Olympic squad, doped vs undoped, incremental progress for women in sport
37:47 - Gregg Stone: Rude and Smooth Harvard crew, C.R.A.S.H.-B.s
42:00 - The family dog interrupts and Gevvie ends up telling a story about racing boat slings
43:19 - Leaving a family legacy of joy in rowing in Boston
49:45 - Advice from Gevvie’s coaches 
51:25 - Lisa reflects on her coaching legacy
53:32 - Looking ahead to 2023
58:00 - bonus outtake
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To see photos of Lisa and Gevvie, 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 is made possible in part by the Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, and our Patrons.

S3E26 - CRI Octogenarian 8+ Proves Rowing is for the Ages

If you were at the Head of the Charles in 2022 and stuck around Boston through Sunday afternoon, you might have caught a glimpse of a Community Rowing, Inc. crew with a combined 720 years of rowing experience. Coach Catherine Saarela put together what she calls her dream team – an Octogenarian 8. In this episode we’re talking with Coach Saarela, 86-year-old coxswain Bill Becklean, and 83-year-old rowers Lee Warren and Alan McClennan. They shared insights on lifelong fitness, being relentlessly active, and those moments you can only find after shoving off the dock.
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CATEGORIES: Coaching, Coxing, Culture, Training
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TIME STAMPS00:00 - Intro and welcome04:45 - Rowing week: coaching, sculling, and begrudgingly getting on the erg09:54 - Rapid Fire Q&A16:47 - Learning to row at any age23:55 - Rowing stroke styles, sculling vs. sweep, and caring for your body long term32:35 - Coach Saarela’s idea for an Octo 8 at HOCR35:15 - Coxing, being coxed, and finding swing on the Charles43:25 - Thoughts on rowing as a lifelong sport, the elusive perfect stroke, and why getting out of bed and into a boat each morning is worth it50:23 - Rowing and aging: what’s necessary for continuing to row as long as possible54:15 - What rowing can teach us about: time management, body awareness, seeking perfection, and accepting imperfection
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To see photos of Community Rowing Inc.’s Octogenarian 8, 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 is made possible in part by the Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Lake Washington Rowing Club, and our Patrons.

S3E25 - Liz Winter on Coaching from the Inside Out

When she learned to row in the late 1970s, Liz Winter was excited to have a place be “unladylike.” She fell in love with putting power behind the oar and moving boats fast. After landing in Pittsburgh in the ‘80s, Liz was involved in developing Three River Rowing Association, focusing on creating community. Now retired, she’s combined her experience as a lawyer, social worker, coach, and educator, with a USRowing Level 3 High Performance Coaching Certification. We talk with her about coaching education, trauma-informed coaching, and building trust.
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CATEGORIES: Coach, Train
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TIME STAMPS
00:00 - Intro
04:10 - Rowing week: Winter training means a transition to the erg and resisting the urge to peek at your teammates monitors
11:09 - Rapid Fire Q&A
13:10 - Learning to row at Oxford in the mid-1970s: freedom to be “unladylike” and altering men’s heavyweight equipment for women
16:44 - Seeing a shift in perspective about women’s rowing beginning in the 1980s
20:15 - Leaving a career in London, traveling around the world, discovering Pittsburgh's rivers, and a deep involvement with developing TRRA with a community-first focus
25:38 - Law + social work + coaching education = integrated formula for ”do no harm.” For coaches to earn the trust of their athletes they have to be consistent, have integrity, and be transparent.
31:30 - Trauma-informed, allowing rowers time to learn, and “outside in” coaching
39:00 - USRowing Level 3 High Performance Coaching Certification: every rower, at every level, deserves a high performance coach
42:44 - Team Based Learning approach
46:00 - Coaching rowers with anxiety: start with small, incremental challenges
54:00 - Passion project: Partnering with the Puerto Rico Rowing Federation to establish a coastal rowing program
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To see photos of Liz, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes at www.steadystatenetwork.com/podcast/s3ep25-liz-winter
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This episode is made possible in part by the Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Lake Washington Rowing Club, and our Patrons.

S3E24 - Isaiah Harrison: Blazing His Own Trail

Isaiah Harrison is a huge talent in the next generation of American single scullers. Born and raised in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, he started erging – and setting indoor records in 2016, when he was just 12. Today, this 6’9” 19-year-old currently holds 35 indoor rowing world records across multiple age groups. Isaiah made the transition from the erg to a single, coached by his Dad, and quickly started racking up medals. Independent of a school program or community club, Isaiah climbed the ladder to the Junior National team and now the U23 National team. He was just named the 2022 USRowing Under 23 National Team Male Athlete of the Year and has his sights set on Paris 2024.
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Categories: racing, training
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TIME STAMPS00:00 - Podcast intro02:07 - Before the Show: Rachel and Tara chat about Isaiah07:05 - USRowing Golden Oars08:58 - Isaiah’s rowing week is a 6/7 on a scale of 1- to 10: High volume intensity work with a goal of breaking the overall men’s world indoor 1k record12:14 - First taste of in-person competition: Northwest Ergomania11:08 - Rowing all the distances, and the body knowing how to respond16:48 - Rapid Fire Q&A22:30 - How Arnold Schwarzenegger motivated 12-year-old Isaiah to get on the erg24:48 - Transition from indoor rowing to sculling and his pursuit of excellence from a young age29:28 - How growing up in a large family translates to team boat rowing31:44 - Isaiah’s and his Dad dove into rowing theory and mechanics to create a blueprint outside the box of standard scholastic rowing programs36:20 - Advice for young rowers: set your own goals 41:05 - All in the family - a team effort43:20 - Rowing up a category at HOCR in the Men’s Champ 1x48:35 - Isaiah describes the perfect stroke
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To see photos of Isaiah, and get links to the people and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes at www.steadystatenetwork.com/podcast/s3ep24-isaiah-harrison
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This episode is made possible in part by the Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Lake Washington Rowing Club, and our Patrons.

S3E23 - Baby on Board: Allison Mueller Balances Pregnancy and Racing in 2022

Allison Mueller is many things including: a highly competitive masters rower. A successful business owner. Former communications director for USRowing. Associate Faculty at Columbia University School of Professional Studies. We’ve followed her career trajectory for years, and her most recent marketing campaign has really got us enamored: Allison announced that she and her husband are expecting a baby early in the new year. She wrapped up the 2022 season having rowed seven regattas and 15 races, 14 of them with her +1.
 
Categories: business, coaching, coxing, gear
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TIME STAMPS
00:00 - Podcast intro02:07 - Episode lead-in03:50 - A HOCR unlike any before: five months pregnant09:10 - Camaraderie of team boats in the Basin at the Charles11:04 - Rapid Fire Q&A13:10 - Wrapping up 2022 at Head of the Schuylkill and contemplating modifications for winter erging15:15 - When your spouse doesn’t row … talking about things besides rowing18:20 - Life-changer: getting recruited to row at the University of Iowa25:00 - Moving to Princeton, NJ to work at USRowing, and a debate about Carnegie Lake26:55 - Venue media manager at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics30:05 - Witnessing raw Olympic elation and defeat up close33:20 - What’s ahead? Cheering on friends from the shore35:28 - Coming up next on Steady State Podcast: Isaiah Harrison
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To see photos of Allison, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes at www.steadystatenetwork.com/podcast/s3ep23-allison-mueller
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This episode is made possible in part by the Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Lake Washington Rowing Club, and our Patrons.
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This episode was written, produced, hosted, and edited by Tara Morgan and Rachel Freedman. Tara provides additional audio engineering, and Rachel manages the website and social media. Our theme music is by the Free Harmonic Orchestra.

S3E22 - Brent Keuch’s Course Correction

Before he was the Director of Marketing for King Racing, 13-year-old Brent Keuch was watching TV when rowing came on the screen. That was when he knew he wanted to learn to row. Looking for direction, Brent found a boarding school 120 miles from home where he could study and row. Later, rowing helped him land his first job, and introduced him to the woman who would become his wife. He’s coached juniors and masters. Today his personal and professional philosophy is all about getting more people in boats and sharing the life lessons that this sport holds.
Categories: Business, coaching, coxing, gear
 
TIME STAMPS 00:00 - Intro 02:49 - King Racing preps for off the charts HOCR boat rentals; why boat rental at regattas became commonplace 07:25 - Stories of coxswains gone bad 11:40 - Rapid Fire Q&A 14:52 - Brent’s return to the erg to remedy “Dad Bod” 16:35 - Shipping off to boarding school at 13 to row 17:59 - Rachel & Brent compare experiences coaching in D.C. 21:00 - First season rowing, learning to row in small boats, teamwork in big boats
29:40 - Chinook and Endeavor: clubs of ”nowhere and everywhere” 32:03 - Coaching masters women at Rock Creek Rowing 35:10 - What rowing has meant to Brent, and pitching the sport to parents and adults 39:38 - Rowing’s life lessons for juniors 47:00 - Partnerships and collaborations: Rowing Blazers, Stem to Stern, Detroit Boat Club55:20 - History and legends: UW, Husky Open, Windermere, and building replica hulls for the Boys in the Boat movie.
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To see photos of Brent, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes at www.steadystatenetwork.com/podcast/s3ep22-brent-keuch
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This episode was written, produced, hosted, and edited by Tara Morgan and Rachel Freedman. Tara provides additional audio engineering, and Rachel manages our website and social media. Our theme music is by the Free Harmonic Orchestra.

Bonus: Eric Murray on Hamish Bond’s Famous Mid-Race Hand Dip

In [S3] Ep20 we interviewed New Zealand Olympic gold medalist Eric Murray, known for dominating in the men’s pair with partner Hamish Bond. The wide-ranging conversation covered his terrible novice season, impressive U17 erg splits, World Championship and Olympic training and racing, and a lot more. So much more we couldn't get it all into one episode.
In this 15-minute bonus episode, Eric tells us about racing in the 2014 World Championships when Hamish dipped his hand in the water at 38spm, and the preparation necessary to have the confidence to pull that off.
He also shares a story about an Amsterdam World Cup race nearly sidetracked by an errant water bottle; hydration and chronic sweating; and dialing in heavy pre-race warmups on land.
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Just a heads up: Eric does swear a bit in this episode ...
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This bonus episode is made possible in part by the Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Lake Washington Rowing Club, and our Patrons.
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www.steadystatenetwork.com/podcast
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Steady State Podcast is a production of Steady State Network.
This episode was written, produced, and edited by Tara Morgan and Rachel Freedman. Rachel also manages our website and social media.
Our theme music is by the Free Harmonic Orchestra.