Jeanette Ottosen Still Has It

Today one of my favorite athletes in the entire world, Jeanette Ottesen. I've followed Jeanette's career from when she first broke through as a teenager in Denmark, straight to world titles and an Olympic medal.

Now at 30 going on 31, married and with a one year old child, she's entering a new chapter of her competitive career. Guys, there is so much for coaches and swimmers alike to learn from Jeanette's story throughout this podcast. I even get schooled late in the pod when I try and guess what made Jeanette doubt continuing her career and fall into the same trap that most of the media does.

I hope you enjoy listening as much as I did:

Sherri Fisher Helps Me Unleash My Epic Self

Today a repeat non-swimming guest drop in from my friend Sherri Fisher. Sherri is the director of Learn and Flourish LLC, and we talk about the work she does with young people, particularly those struggling with executive function challenges.

We also talk about her new journal, which we hinted at in the previous podcast, and some of the content that went in to it.

You know, this business, this blog and this podcast probably would not exist without Sherri’s help, and I hope that it’s obvious when you listen what a big impact she’s had on me. Wait until the end when I tell her one big change she has made my family life. Enjoy.

Find out more about Sherri’s day to day work at Learn and Flourish

Check out the journal we talked about: Unleash Your Epic Self

Grooming: What to Avoid, and What to Look For Instead

Hi All,

Please enjoy this very low-fi, thanksgiving edition of the Swim Brief. Sarah Ehekircher joined me and we talked about three major ways grooming manifests itself in swimming. On a positive note we also talked about what to look for instead.

We also had fun talking about people in our lives who have no idea what we are doing as coaches or as “consultants”.

There is no intro, no ads, just straight into the podcast and straight out. There is some noise in the background that we explain off the top. Have a great holiday and I’ll catch you on the other side:

Should You Take Attendance?

Today I return with Trever Gray to talk about the subject of attendance. It may seem like a little thing, but we got into an interesting conversation with our plans  as we both embark on a high school season next week.

At the end, we both do movie reviews, and mine contains spoilers for the film Pacific Rim Uprising. So you've been warned.

Chris, Sarah and Trever

Today I return with Trever Gray and Sarah Ehekircher, to follow up on our podcast of last week. If you want to read more from Trever go here. If you want to hear more from Sarah her blog is here and she’s active on twitter.

Both Trever and Sarah have new research to bring to the fray this week. We turn from there to a discussion of Steve Lochte and Swimswam beginning to report on interim Safe Sport suspensions. Finally. we discuss Steve Penny, the former head of USA Gymnastics, getting arrested this past week and I go on an extended rant about Tom Brokaw. Enjoy.

Ryan Wochomurka

Today a long awaited chat with the University of Houston head coach Ryan Wochomurka

Ryan is building something in Houston after being a part of the incredible development of the University of Louisville. We talk about his journey in coaching to get to this point, as well as the spirit that makes Houston such an exciting place to live and work.

From there we look to the future to see what he and his team are doing to, in their words, "elevate" the program, and the project we're working to make that a reality. Enjoy. 

Substance Abuse and Coaches Well-Being

Today two world's collide on the Swim Brief: Trever Gray (you know him from Nerd Alert) and Sarah Ehekircher- you know her because we have done a ton of podcasts together.

I'm bringing them both on so we can take a multifaceted look at substance abuse in the swimming world as well as coaches well-being. Sarah and I both noticed (and Sarah experienced) the connection between substance abuse and abusive behavior. Trever did a nice literature review to help, and ultimately we decided to make a three person pod to tackle the issue. Enjoy.

Chris, Sarah and Eva: The Senate Hearings

A few weeks back I teamed up for a podcast with Sarah Ehekircher and Eva Rodansky. This time, we got to talking about the Senate hearings with Olympic sports leaders.

Eva was there and a part of some pretty compelling events outside of the hearing. Sarah watched from home. We talk about whether there is true progress and momentum.

Just one note: this was recorded last Friday, and there is a discussion about the independence of Safe Sport vis-a-vis banning coaches that USA Swimming failed to ban. Later on in the day, Sean Hutchison was banned, which is an interesting test case for this. Although, Sean had already been very prominently exposed and USA Swimming has already admitted some wrongdoing in the way they handled the investigation, specifically with the termination of Susan Woessner.

Also we talked a bit about a rumor that Hutchison had fled the country. News reports quote his lawyers as saying he is still stateside.

Chris and Sarah (7)

Sarah Ehekircher joins me once again for a podcast about the overwhelming amount of things going on in the sport of swimming, and beyond. We talk about reporting, or lack thereof, on the recently added names to Safe Sport's publicly searchable database.

From there we jump to comment moderation, I go on a rant about Brent Rutemiller, and finally I make an appeal to all the people fired up about the WADA/RUSADA mess to team up.

A Year With Bridge Bats

We are coming up on the one year anniversary of when I met today's guest, Dirk Marshall. Since then, we've embarked on a project together to bring Positive Psychology education to the team that he co-owns and coaches, the Bridge Bats.

I talk to him about what he expected and then what has actually happened as we have gone through the year together. What has changed, what has stayed the same and how some of the experiences we’ve had together have helped both of us over the last year:

Take Me To the Clinic With Nico Messer

Today a podcast I promised earlier week with everybody's favorite Swiss Swim coach Nico Messer. Nico has been all around the US for the second year in a row and we talk about what he's learned on his trip, but also get in deep with some listener questions about swimming clinics and continuing education.

If you want to support this podcast and blogs, go here.

Chris, Sarah and Eva

Today a three person pod with both Sarah Ehekircher and Eva Rodansky.

Sarah you should know from my her numerous recent appearances. Eva is a new face- someone that Sarah and I both have started to get to know. She tells some of her story of coming up in the speed skating world when it was in the grips of the infamous Michael Crow.

We talk about the recent Sports Illustrated article that came out on the Lopez Brothers, as well as the recent resignation of Kerry Perry from gymnastics. Finally, we have advice for National Governing Bodies if they want to stop repeating the vicious cycle they are in. Enjoy. 

Here is a way to catch up with some of Eva's story.

After posting, Eva did want to let me and everyone else know that she endorses the "Darkness to Light" training that is also endorsed by Champion Women and Aly Raisman.

Nerd Alert: Supplements

Today I am joined once again by Trever Gray. Trever schools me on a topic that I don't that much about, but should know more: supplements.

We go through the Madisyn Cox case and talk about some of the reasons people take supplements, as well as some of the free resources that are out there for making more informed decisions.

If you want to support this podcast go here.

NutritionFacts.org

NSF for Sport

GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice)

Consumer Labs

Gender Equity in the NCAA with Susan Teeter

Today on the Swim Brief I am joined Susan Teeter. Susan capped off a very successful career as coach of Princeton University a year ago, and since then she's been working with organizations big and small through her company S.S Teeter Associates

I wanted to talk to Susan specifically because of the report that was reported on last week, coming out of the University of Minnesota's Tucker Center that gave NCAA Swimming an "F" grade for gender equity. We both noticed the way the conversation was going online and wanted to see if we could steer it in a better direction. Enjoy.

Three new patrons signed up this past week for my Patreon account, thank you to them!  If you want to join the cause go here.

Telling The Truth with Sarah Ehekircher

Today on the Swim Brief I am joined once again by Sarah Ehekircher. We talk all things related to the abuse in sports, hitting some of the big topics that have been in the news these past few weeks.

Just a preface before you listen- Sarah is someone that I met several months ago. She was sexually abused by her swim coach and I really value having her voice on this podcast. If we're ever going to truly move forward with this problem, I think we need to continue listening to people like Sarah. 

Support the blog and podcast here!

Read Diana Moskovitz excellent piece at deadspin here.

Swim Viking: Race Pace and Michael Andrew

Today on the Swim Brief I welcome back for the second time Shawn Klosterman. We talk about race pace, and what led him to partner with Strive Swim to create an app to track practice performance. We also get into Michael Andrew and his breakout senior summer. 

This week I also made a big announcement about the future of this podcast and this blog. For more information on that click here, or go directly to my patreon page to become a patron today. 

For more information about the app, go here. 

Nerd Alert: Motivation

This week, Trever Gray returns with a nerd alert, where we discussion motivation. Specifically, we go through Deci and Ryan's well known Self Determination Theory.

Trever's written some blogs on the subject (links below), and it's a great discussion to have in the off-season or as you look to the new year:

Trever's Blog

Self Determination Theory

Bob Bowman, Texts and Secrets

This week, Sarah Ehekircher joins me to discuss Bob Bowman in the wake of Scott Reid's reporting that Bowman sent "aggressive" text messages (along with his friend Sean Hutchison) to Caroline Burckle in 2011. We also talk about what wasn't included in the reporting- the actual content of the texts.

Sarah and I get into a lot of the nuance, including Bowman's statement and what USA Swimming had to say on the matter. We also respond to some of the lines of attack that have been used to attack Burckle since she came forward.

All About Emphathy

This week, another solo-cast where I talk about Empathy. I get into several of the false definitions of empathy that I see out there, as well as some talk about practicing empathy inwardly as well as outwardly. In the end, I think empathy is only going to become more important as a skill for both coaches, athletes and people in the future:

#Skillskill with David Rodriguez

This week, we return to our normal schedule and interview somebody very close by. David Rodriguez is the head coach of Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics, also known as AGUA, a club that operates on the island of Manhattan.

David and I talk about his journey and some of the bumps along the way, as well as the #skillskill, having no morning practice during the school year and the other unique aspects of running a big team in the biggest city. Enjoy.