steady state podcast

From indoor rowing, to flat water masters, to coastal and ocean adventurers - together we explore rowing culture.

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SPECIAL SERIES

heart health & Emergencies

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.
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GENDER INCLUSION POLICIES

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

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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Rachel Freedman 11/26/21 Rachel Freedman 11/26/21

[S2] Ep. 16 - Coach Tom Rooks on Vulnerability, Resiliency, and Saving Lives

On [S2] Ep 16 of Steady State Podcast, hosts Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan are joined by Tom Rooks, Williamsburg Boat Club Head Coach. This episode buzzes with authenticity as Tom shares his "fun first" mantra and how he prepares his juniors athletes to be better humans beyond the boathouse. We get philosophical about saving lives, being well-rounded, and finding your calling. We also slide into tangents about Dave Grohl, ultimate frisbee, and vikings.

Rachel Freedman 9/1/21 Rachel Freedman 9/1/21

[S2] Ep. 10 - Club Spotlight: Oak Ridge Rowing Association

ORRA – built on the passion and enthusiasm of its community, coaches, and volunteers – successfully navigated COVID, keeping all of their programs in-tact, healthy, and thriving. Guests: Head Coach JD Davis, Board President Jim Rogers, and masters rower Jen Bon.

Rachel Freedman 6/1/21 Rachel Freedman 6/1/21

[S2] Ep. 5 - Tracy Falkenthal: Paying it Forward

An introduction to rowing as a teen in California completely changed the trajectory of Tracy Falkenthal's life, offering a way up and a way out. She has spent the years since paying it forward.

Rachel Freedman 5/18/21 Rachel Freedman 5/18/21

[S2] Ep. 4 - Dammie Onafeko: Losing Sight, Finding Vision

After losing his vision to glaucoma and cataracts in his 30s, Dammie Onafeko 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.

Rachel Freedman 4/6/21 Rachel Freedman 4/6/21

Rowing Reimagined: Coastal is a fun challenge

Coastal rowing is coming to the Olympics in 2028. To get ready, USRowing is developing a framework to adopt and embrace coastal rowing. Plus coastal just looks plain fun and offers up exciting opportunities for new and experienced rowers. We sat down with four coastal rowers and coaches to talk wetsuits in winter, beach sprints, buoy turns, boat design, green waves, and running in the sand.

Rachel Freedman 3/24/21 Rachel Freedman 3/24/21

Ep. 16: 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.

Rachel Freedman 1/12/21 Rachel Freedman 1/12/21

Episode 9: 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 (Potomac Boat Club) who has his sights set on the Tokyo Olympic trials.

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