Steady State Podcast

S2E5 - Tracy Falkenthal: Paying it Forward

An introduction to rowing as a teen in California completely changed the trajectory of Tracy Falkenthal's life. She has spent the years since paying it forward as a member of the Army National Guard, a firefighter, a personal trainer, health coach, and rowing coach.
Today she's a member and coach at Texas Rowing Center in Austin, and is working in lock step with the Center's owner to develop and lead DEI initiatives to get "butts in seats."
Her rowing story is one of finding a way up and a way out through rowing and sport, and we’re honored to talk with her.
 

S2E4 - Dammie Onafeko: Losing Sight, Finding Vision

After losing his vision to cataracts in his 30s, Dammie Onafeko wanted to get involved with a specialized sport. He was introduced to Capital Rowing Club’s adaptive program at the Anacostia Community Boathouse in Washington, D.C. where he quickly found success at regattas, and the support of his rowing family. And Dammie is hard to miss around the boathouse: at 6’5”, this Nigerian man is a presence.
Take a listen to our interview with him, which is full of his quietly profound perspectives on rowing and life.

S2E3 - Indoor Rowing: A Community for Fit, Fast, Fun

Part erg review, part coaching advice - this episode is what you need to get connected and get moving on your rowing machine.
If you’re a rower – in a boat, with oars – it’s likely that your introduction to the erg was by way of supplemental workouts for race training and the dreaded 2k test. Most on-water rowers (aka oarsmen) roll their eyes at the mere mention of spending time on the erg.
Sarah Fuhrmann, CEO of UCanRow2 wants to flip the script and reshape the way people think about indoor rowing. She is passionate about sharing the sport with people who can benefit from its total body workout no matter their fitness or competitive athletic goals at any age.
Lisa Weise was a recipient of the Steady State Network Changemaker Instructor Scholarship in April 2021. With the scholarship, Lisa was able to attend a UCanRow2 online instructor certification course.
A note: UCanRow2 founder – and Sarah’s business partner – Terry Smythe, passed away from mucosal melanoma, a rare form of the skin cancer melanoma, in November 2018. While recording this interview it was clear that telling the story of UCanRow2 and indoor rowing was impossible without telling Terry’s story, too. Terry’s legacy lives on through Sarah and Lisa, UCanRow2/Concept2 instructors, fitness professionals, and enthusiasts they have worked with around the world.
GUESTS
Sarah Fuhrmann: CEO, UCanRow2
Lisa Weise: Founder, Rower’s Dream

S2E2 - The Next Generation of Coxswains

When we spotted Corin Wiggins on Instagram (@TheBlackCoswain), we knew we wanted to hear her story. At just 16, this member of Atlanta Junior Rowing Association already has four years of coxing experience and the drive to connect the BIPOC rowing community.
We sat down to talk with Corin and invited two of her coxing influences: Coral Kasden (UCSB/NYAC), and Dustin Mara (UW/Everett Rowing Association).
These three young coxswain share their rowing origin stories, insights on coxing responsibilities and personas, influences and mentors, the importance of getting to know your crew, how to motivate your boat when it's clear you aren't going to win the race, and a whole lot more.
Stick around after the show: Rachel and Tara delve deeper into coxing, coaching the coxswain, evaluations, and motivating masters rowers to take their turn in the coxswain seat.

S2E1 - Rowing Reimagined: Coastal is a Fun Challenge

Steady State Podcast hosts Rachel and Tara together have more than 50 years of rowing, coaching, and coxing experience. That’s all been flat water rowing on rivers and lakes. So what do we know about coastal rowing? A little, but not a whole lot, so we sat down with four coastal rowers to talk wetsuits in winter, beach sprints and endurance races, a groundbreaking new coastal 1x boat design, surfing green waves, and running in the sand.
Coastal is slated to be a part of the 2024 Junior Olympics, and 2028 Olympic Games. USRowing established a coastal rowing committee in 2020 and is looking to identify U19 and U23 athletes for USRowing's upcoming 2021 Beach Sprints National Team Trials scheduled for June 19 in Sarasota, FL.
Besides ALL of that, coastal just looks plain fun and offers up exciting opportunities for experienced rowers and new rowers alike.

S1E17 - Rowing Podcast Roundtable

On March 21, 2021, we brought together some of the biggest names in rowing podcasting for the first time, at one big virtual table to talk rowing past your blades, the quest for the perfect stroke, podcasting, surprising answers from guests, and whether to drink coffee before or after a row.
Note: Due to an unfortunate technical glitch, we were unable to revive the video from the live recording. We've done our best here to bring you a clean audio version of the conversation.
GUESTS
Broken Oars Podcast: Aaron Jackson
End of the Island Podcast: Fergus Mainland
Faster Masters Rowing: Marlene Royal
Girl on the River: Patricia Carswell
Ready Row USA: Charlotte Pierce
Rowing Chat Podcast Network: Rebecca Caroe
Rowing Ireland Podcast: Niamh Hayes
Science of Rowing and LEO Training: Joe DeLeo
The Row Show: Lawrence Brittain and Jake Green
The Candid Cox: Whitney Powell
 
TIME STAMPS
0:00 - Welcome
4:30 - Introductions
14:40 - Roll Call
19:20 - Learning to row well
22:15 - Lightbulb moments in the boat
24:50 - The perfect stroke
30:25 - Rowing origin stories
33:50 - Podcast origin stories
41:55 - Podcasting surprises
47:45 - Dream Guests
53:00 - Rapid Fire Q&A

Audio Postcard: Miriam Nandwa, Kenya

S1E16 - Club Spotlight: Nassau Rowing Club

We’ve begun a semi-regular series spotlighting clubs around the world. On this week’s episode we’re heading South to spotlight Nassau Rowing Club in The Bahamas. With plenty of sunshine, gorgeous water, and social distancing measures, NRC offers learn to row, juniors, collegiate, and masters programs. We admit we’re pretty jealous… and curious.
Joining us are Head Coach and Executive Director KariAnne Kulig; founding member and Board President Kyle Shea; and Emily Morley, a member of the Board of Directors and past-President.
 
TIME STAMPS
0:00 - Intro
4:20 - Rowing origin stories
12:10 - About NRC
20:00 - Coastal rowing
21:53 - Opportunities for Caribbean rowers
27:20 - Inclusion from LTR to masters
32:00 - Looking back at 2020 and ahead to 2021
35:43 - Strategic planning
37:55 - Why club members should join the Board
To see photos of Nassau Rowing Club and links to the people, organizations, and events mentioned in this episode, visit www.steadystatenetwork.com/podcast.
Join our Patreon community, sponsor the podcast, register for our events, and submit your rowing-related writing and art at steadystatepodcast.com. Go Team!

Rachel Audio Postcard March 2021

S1E15 - The Boatanist, Susannah Cass: Adventures in Botany, Biodiversity and Boats

Dr. Susannah Cass learned to row at Cambridge University where she says it was near impossible to make it through your degree without being dragged to a boathouse to give rowing a go. This self-titled accidental athlete is a scientist interested in plants and other wildlife whose love of “messing about in boats” opened her up to adventures like the Celtic Challenge (150km across the Irish Sea), Great Pacific Race (2,400nm), and Row2Rio (London to Rio). COVID-19 has put a damper on her travel, but Susannah is now looking for new ways to link her love of boats and biodiversity.
To see photos of Susannah and links to the people, places, and events mentioned in this episode, visit www.steadystatenetwork.com/podcast.
Join our Patreon community, sponsor the podcast, register for our events, and submit your rowing-related writing and art at steadystatepodcast.com. Go Team!

S1E14 - Aisyah Rafa‘ee: Obsession, Reality, and Finding the ”Why”

In 2016, Aisyah Rafa'ee became the first rower to represent Singapore at the Olympics. She was an athletic and competitive kid, finding her way onto Singapore's national netball team before being handpicked in high school to train in a 2x for the national rowing team. She eventually fell out of love with sculling, retired, and found herself in Boston, rowing sweep with masters women.
Aisyah's honesty about how rough training could be both mentally and physically is humbling, and refreshing. Today she's interested in mental skills and growth mindset, and is pursuing an athletic counseling degree.
See the full show notes at www.steadystatenetwork.com/podcast.
Join our Patreon community, sponsor the podcast, register for our events, and submit your rowing-related writing and art at steadystatepodcast.com. Go Team!

S1E13 - How Rowing Helped Me Take Control of My Anxiety and PTSD

In this episode we talk with Corinne Kazmierczak, who learned as a young rower that managing her anxiety and PTSD came in the form a 1x. We delve into the effects of anxiety on sport performance, the benefits of rowing for the anxious mind, and how well-informed coaches can help rowers with anxiety to approach training and competition with perspective and confidence.
See the full show notes at www.steadystatenetwork.com/podcast.
Join our Patreon community, sponsor the podcast, submit your rowing-related writing and art - all on our website! Go Team!

Ep. 12 (Bonus): Q&A w/Cillian Mullen and Liam Miranda

In Ep. 12: Trans/Athletes, 16-year-old Cillian Mullen and grad student Liam Miranda sat down with us to talk about their experiences as trans male rowers in high school and college, and highlight opportunities for how the rest of us can help make boathouses welcoming and inclusive for all athletes.
In this bonus recording, Cillian takes the mic to survey Liam, 10 years his senior.

S1E12 - Trans/Athletes: Cillian Mullen and Liam Miranda

In the past few years it’s become clear that boat clubs and organizations that have historically catered to binary athletes, are struggling to put out a welcome mat for trans, and gender non-conforming athletes. Scholastic, collegiate, and masters programs – along with USRowing – are slowly adopting new policies and opportunities for trans rowers, but there’s a lot to learn and a long way to go.
We talk with Liam Miranda, a former Division 1 transgender rower. He studies the intersection of access to athletics and physical, mental, and social wellbeing, and has published various reports and policy reviews relating to LGBTQ inclusion in sports. Liam has also extensively presented research as it pertains to transgender inclusion in sports for diverse audiences, including athletic leaders, policy-makers, advocates, and health professionals. He is a current graduate student at the Duke Sanford School of Public Policy and a Sports Inclusion Researcher at Inclusion Playbook. 
And we're joined by Cillian Mullen, a junior at Batavia High School and a member of Chicago Rowing Foundation’s women’s varsity squad. We found Cillian on instagram, where he recently launched the tra.united account with a vision for establishing the non-profit Transgender Rowers Association in 2021.
See the full show notes at www.steadystatenetwork.com/podcast.
Join our Patreon community, sponsor the podcast, submit your rowing-related writing and art - all on our website! Go Team!

Audio Postcard: Joe DeLeo | Limerick, Ireland

Joe DeLeo is the Co-founder of Science of Rowing, host of the Leo Training Podcast, and head strength and conditioning coach for the Portuguese Rowing Federation. A recent transplant to Limerick, Ireland, Joe tells us about being a part of the rowing community, no matter where you are. 

S1E11 - 2020 Changemakers

COACHES AND CLUB/PROGRAM FOUNDERS: This wide-ranging virtual roundtable with our 2020 Changemakers is packed with ideas and first-hand accounts covering everything from entrepreneurship, safety, and goal setting, to inclusion, injuries, body positivity, and the power of positive coaching.
http://www.steadystatenetwork.com/.../episode11...
 
At the table:
Tamara Clayton: Asst. Coach, Lake Las Vegas Rowing Club
Grace Gardner: Founder/Head Coach, Power Ten - Lake Phalen Community Rowing
Sue Koscielski: Founder/Director/Head Coach, Sweeps & Sculls Rowing
Natalie Lecher: Masters rower, Green Lake Crew
Ash Pryor: Founder/CEO, Relentless Rowing Academy
Lisa Russell, DPT: Powerhouse Physio
To support coaching and leadership development we awarded eight scholarships to help people attend USRowing’s Annual Convention, held Dec. 8-13, 2020.
 
Thanks to these businesses for stepping up and supporting the Changemaker initiative: iCrew/Way Enough, Tacoma Youth Rowing, Science of Rowing, Seize the Oar Foundation, and Concept2, Inc.
 
See the full show notes at www.steadystatenetwork.com/podcast.
Join our Patreon community, sponsor the podcast, submit your rowing-related writing and art - all on our website! Go Team!

S1E10 - Women‘s Voices in Rowing

Daniela Nacházelová learned to row at age 10 on the Vltava River in Prague, Czech Republic. She received a rowing scholarship to Washington State University and collected medals at World Cups and world championships, and spent 15 years chasing an Olympic dream. She fell in love with rowing, but also ended up hating it.
Daniela recently wrote and published Women’s Voices in Rowing, a book featuring 14 unique women from around the globe. Each woman has claimed victories and medals, and each has their own forceful, empowering stories to tell.
Joining our conversation are two of these women: Michelle Carpenter, CEO of Rowing Ireland who has been named three times to the list of Women of Influence on Irish Sport; and Judy Geer, 2x Olympian and part of the owner-operator family at Concept2 and Craftsbury Outdoor Center in Vermont.
See the full show notes at www.steadystatenetwork.com/podcast.
Join our Patreon community, sponsor the podcast, advertise in the upcoming magazine and submit your art - all on our website! Go Team!

Audio Postcard: Bill Babonas | Seattle, WA

Bill Babonas, a member of Mt. Baker Rowing Center and College Club in Seattle, WA talks about the exciting and daunting process of learning to scull.

S1E9 - Path to the Olympics: Aquil Abdullah and John Olbrys

Aquil Abdullah became the first Black man to represent the United States at an Olympic rowing event when he qualified in the M2x in 2004. We paired him with Olympic hopeful John Olbrys who has his sights on the 2021 Olympic trials. Both have deep roots in the Washington, D.C. region. 
Aquil’s path to the Olympics started at Woodrow Wilson high school and an offer of a rowing scholarship (and his mother’s influence) brought him to George Washington University. He now lives with his family in Boston, and is working to make the sport more inclusive through several initiatives. In 2019, Aquil joined Hydrow as a featured athlete.
Olympic hopeful John Olbrys learned to row in high school, and found fit rowing into his crammed schedule at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He is currently serving in the U.S. Coast Guard and training for the Tokyo Olympic trials. He is an out and proud LGBT rower at Potomac Boat Club. 
See the full show notes at www.steadystatenetwork.com/podcast.
Join our Patreon community, sponsor the podcast, advertise in the upcoming magazine and submit your art - all on our website! Go Team!

Audio Postcard - Holly Brymar, Atlanta Rowing Club

Atlanta Rowing Club's Holly Brymar – like so many rowers in 2020 – made the move from big boats to a single. Mostly self-taught, she sent us an audio postcard reflecting on her fear, and pride, when it comes to sculling.

S1E8 - Lisa & Matt Weise, Rower‘s Dream

Lisa and Matt Weise are a ridiculously charming couple that met while rowing at Michigan State University. Today, Lisa has more than 30 years of competitive rowing experience, including victories at Head of the Charles, Canadian Henley, and USRowing Masters Nationals. And she balances her time on the water with a career as a high school science teacher. Matt has been coaching for more than 35 years and is currently the head coach for women’s rowing at Humboldt State University. As a coach, he’s led crews to 14 NCAA championship appearances, three Big Ten Championships, and helped develop eight national team rowers.
Recently, the Weises established Rower’s Dream camps and coaching, based on the beautiful Leelanau Peninsula, in Michigan. Because COVID-19 has kept them from offering in-person camps, they’ve pivoted to offering online Zoom workouts and downloadable training plans for novice, intermediate, and advanced rowers.
See the full show notes at www.steadystatenetwork.com/podcast.
Join our Patreon community, sponsor the podcast, advertise in the upcoming magazine and submit your art - all on our website! Go Team!

Bonus: Ep. 7 Best Part of Your Rowing Week

Best Part of Your Rowing Week calls from:
Todd Vogt: Paralympic Hopeful, Portland Boat Club, Portland, OR
Tiffany Hogan: Narragansett Boat Club, Providence, RI
Mary O'Callaghan: www.oldfartrowing.com, Lake MacDonald Rowing Club, Queensland, AUS
Kym Reynolds: Recovery On Water, Chicago, IL
Sue Koscielski: Sweeps & Sculls Rowing, Wauconda, IL
Ashley Pryor: Relentless Rowing Academy, Columbus, OH
Natalie Lecher: Green Lake Crew, Seattle, WA
Ben Hawkes: Minerva Bath Rowing Club, UK. Watch him in "Erg Life" video on YouTube
Lindsay Dare Shoop: Olympian and author of Better Great Than Never

S1E7 - Halifax Rowing Club

We head North of the border to check in with Halifax Rowing Club in Nova Scotia. Despite a global pandemic that wreaked havoc on rowing programs everywhere, the Halifax team spirit remained intact, rowing continued, training pivoted, and they ended the season with a virtual awards ceremony. We're enamored with the club's resilience, motivation, and dedication.
See the full show notes at www.steadystatenetwork.com/podcast.
Join our Patreon community, sponsor the podcast, advertise in the upcoming magazine and submit your art - all on our website! Go Team!

Bonus: Ep. 6 Best Part of Your Rowing Week

Best Part of Your Rowing Week calls from:
Kevin Fuji: rower/coach, Pocock Rowing Center and Pulitzer Prize winning photographer
Lesley Wright: coxswain/coach, Chinook Performance Racing
Linda Muri: rower/coach, Upper Valley Rowing and Rocket Science Rowing
Dave Harvey: head coach women’s crew, Pacific Lutheran University
Gel Greene: rower, founder of Gel Pads
Bill Donoho: rower, Western Reserve Rowing Association
Emma Bennett: head coach, Seize the Oar Foundation

S1E6 - Coach Sara Nevin

Sara Nevin won three varsity 8+ national championships and went undefeated in collegiate competition while at the University of Washington. She’s a three-time Washington Rowing Hall of Famer and two-time U.S. national team member. With 30+ years of coaching high school, masters, and collegiate programs including UC Berkeley, and Mills College, Sara’s a legend.
See the full show notes at www.steadystatenetwork.com/podcast.
Join our Patreon community, sponsor the podcast, advertise in the upcoming magazine and submit your art - all on our website! Go Team!