steady state podcast

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

Start typing to search the podcast archive. Hitting return sometimes returns zero results.

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.

    LISTEN

  • 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. 

    LISTEN

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.”

    LISTEN

  • 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.

    LISTEN

  • 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.

    LISTEN

  • 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.

    LISTEN

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.

    LISTEN

  • 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.

    LISTEN

  • 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.

    LISTEN

  • 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. 

    LISTEN

culture, coaching Rachel Freedman culture, coaching Rachel Freedman

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.

Read More
business, coaching Rachel Freedman business, coaching Rachel Freedman

[S3]Ep22 - Brent Keuch’s Course Correction

Go behind one of the biggest names in boats to talk with Brent Keuch, marketing director for King Racing. He fell in love with rowing when he was just 13 and looking for direction in his life. Rowing helped get him his first job, and introduced him to the woman who would become his wife. Today, Brent’s personal and professional philosophy is all about getting more people in boats, and sharing life lessons learned from rowing.

Read More
culture, clubs, coaching Rachel Freedman culture, clubs, coaching Rachel Freedman

[S3] Ep. 17 - East Bay Rowing Club Gains Speed in Oakland

A wide-ranging chat with EBRC President Denise Martini, DEI Committee co-chair Carla Jourdan, and Erin Cafaro, new Head Coach of Oakland Tech Men’s Varsity program. We dive into: Growing a rowing club to meet the needs of – and look like – the community; moving beyond standard certs for coaching education; and boycotting USRowing Masters Nationals and hosting Boats Without Barriers regatta as an alternative.

Read More
culture, clubs, safety, coaching, racing & regattas Rachel Freedman culture, clubs, safety, coaching, racing & regattas Rachel Freedman

[S3] Ep. 16 - UPDATE: Tom Rooks, USRowing Health and Well-Being Associate

This wide-ranging conversation with Coach Tom Rooks is funny and philosophical. Learn about creating positive team culture, mentoring new coaches, the importance of vulnerability, handling anxiety, preparing for emergencies, and hear how the 2k erg test has become Tom’s measuring stick for all life’s challenges.

Read More
culture, coaching Rachel Freedman culture, coaching Rachel Freedman

[S3] Ep. 12 - Zoe Vais: Youth Rowing Evangelist

Zoe Vais is the George Pocock Rowing Center’s Middle School Programs Specialist. She’s also a coach for GPRF’s Camp Lucy – a free learn-to-row camp for girls, inclusive of non-binary, trans, and gender non-conforming youth. From being a walk-on at the University of Washington, to leaving a mark on Seattle rowing, Zoe offers a thoughtful look at slowly falling in love with the sport and the important role coaches play in young rowers’ lives.

Read More
culture, clubs, racing & regattas, training Rachel Freedman culture, clubs, racing & regattas, training Rachel Freedman

[S3] Ep. 10: Little Rock Rowing Builds CommuNity in Arkansas

Our club spotlight series takes us to Little Rock, Arkansas, which, according to members of Rock City Rowing, is sorely underrated. Located on a beautiful stretch of water in Little Rock, RCR is home to one of just two boathouses in the entire state offering programs for masters and juniors.

Read More

When we know what our listeners care about,
we can create great podcasts and programming just for you!