steady state podcast
Reframing the popular, yet limited narrative about rowing culture.
Celebrating the expansive array of rowers, coaches, and coxswains.
Savoring real-life experience from launch to cox seat at every level.
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SPECIAL SERIES
heart health & Emergencies
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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 month special, we introduce you to leaders at DC Strokes Rowing Club and the Melbourne Argonauts Queer Rowing Club who 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.
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Chicago Rowing Union (CRU) is 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.
GENDER INCLUSION POLICIES
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Dr. Mary O’Connor was a member of the influential 1976 Yale women’s rowing program that sparked big changes following the passage of Title IX. Today, she’s a member of the Independent Council on Women’s Sports – an advocacy group “seeking to elevate and empower female athletes by protecting safety, fairness, and opportunity for girls and women.”
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In this second episode in a special series on gender identity policies in rowing, we talk with Ann Strayer, OLY, Varsity Women’s Coach at Oakland United Rowing. Together with fellow OUR coach and Olympian Erin Cafaro they have written a letter in support of USRowing’s gender identity policy, highlighting the importance of welcoming transgender and non-binary scholastic athletes into the boathouse, and allow them to row as the gender they identify with.
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Gender Identity Policies series, part 3. 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.
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Gender Identity Policies series, part 4. The current USRowing gender inclusion policy leaves transgender, non-binary, and other gender nonconforming rowers with very few opportunities to race. Non-binary rower Dr. David Scherzer, and transgender rower/coach Bobbi Kizer, PhD explore their personal journeys with the sport and what policies and petitions mean for the future of rowing.
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pride
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Willamette Rowing Club couple David Setter and Sarah Copeland are 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.
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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.
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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 widow maker heart attack. Peter and his wife Carin Reynolds are both successful national team and masters rowers and high school coaches. They are a testament to teamwork, as they navigated Peter’s health emergency and rehabilitation, and his return to racing.
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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.
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Fusing Innovation and Tradition at the Head of the Charles
Meet the leadership that helps make HOCR happen – new HOCR Executive Director Tori Stevens, and Director of Racing Brendan Mulvey. 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.
Julien Bahain’s Lifetime of Seeking Perfect Moments
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. Along with his wife Katie, Julien is now the owner and co-founder of West Coast Rowing Adventures, and together their goal is to grow coastal rowing and share the beauty of British Columbia.
100 Episodes: From Launch to Cox Seat at Every Level
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!
Trading Oars for Megaphones: Olympian Kris Thorsness on Life as a USRowing Referee
In 1984, Kris Thorsness brought home gold in the women’s 8+ from the Olympic Games L.A. Forty years later, she prefers sculling, is a USRowing Referee, and an Arbitrator for the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Before heading to Paris for the Olympics, she joined us to talk about refereeing, which is often glossed over by rowers but key to ensuring regattas are safe and effectively run.
Olympian Jacob Plihal’s Lesson in Patience and Persistence
Born and raised on Vashon Island, WA, Jacob Plihal learned to row in 2012 after a knee injury prompted him to give up his basketball dreams. He climbed the ladder to Northeastern University team captain, the U23 National team, and 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.
Sue and John Hooten's Mutual Admiration Society
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.
The Crew of San Diego Crew Classic
San Diego Crew Classic is celebrating its 50th anniversary! Executive Director Bobbie Smith, Associate Director Megan Kalmoe, OLY, and Head Beach Master Lex Switzer share personal stories of their first time down the course, and talk about this historic regatta that kicks of the Spring season.
![[S3] Ep. 3 - Steven Dowd: Pushing Past Paralysis](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f29b735eafca92acb367bb5/8cce2445-023d-4d67-9edd-3d4a21a23515/52A7C1A6-4955-4609-B3D7-5863DDCBB8B6+-+Steven+Dowd.jpeg)
[S3] Ep. 3 - Steven Dowd: Pushing Past Paralysis
In 2016, Steven Dowd suffered a devastating spinal cord injury. With an exceptional personal will and the support of family and friends, Steven today is not only walking, but rowing. We sat down to talk about his journey and motivation, and the EnduRow Challenge, a charity event he launched in 2021.
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