Steady State Podcast

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 presen...

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...

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 Associ...

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, surfi...

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. W...

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 Kari...

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), Gr...

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 hone...

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...

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.

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. W...

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. 

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...

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 featuri...

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.

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 m...

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.

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 year...

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,...

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.steady...

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 Ro...

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.steady...

Steady State Network co-founder Tara Morgan's audio postcard on the lesson of the Rower Life Cycle from Coach Sara Nevin.