Trever Gray asks a two part question that we take most of the runtime to discuss. What was one of my most-read books as a kid? Why were Duke Kahanamoku and Doc Counsilman ahead of their times? Was a John Naber interview the first time I felt the heat online?
That and more on this 100th episode with Trever Gray asking the questions. Plus, Olympic Darkhorse.
As part of celebrating the 100th episode of the Swim Brief, I allowed former guests to come on and essentially turn the tables. They guided the conversation, they asked the questions and I was on the hot seat.
In this edition, Nico Messer asks me about my recent trip to ISCA and what the whole point of this podcast is. Enjoy:
This week I am joined by Matt Sprang. Matt and I go about a decade back, and we reconnected in Florida last month. He was there to talk about coaching wellness, and I thought that he had a message worth amplifying.
We talk about his own journey to prioritizing his own mental and physical health while dealing with a pretty tough situation in his club:
Today I’m joined by Michael Schuber. The two of us bonded (if you could say that) over a job we both applied to but he ended up getting. Later he shared with me an intriguing theory about behavioral psychology and USRPT.
We also get into his own trajectory as a coach and swimmer, coaching while being a dad, and wanting to call your mom when you can’t. Enjoy:
Hopefully just in time for season start ups, a conversation with Trever Gray about some considerations you should take into account.
Also, a discussion of the wonderful filmography of Gerard Butler:
Welcome back to the podcast Sarah Ehekircher. After a long hiatus, Sarah and I get together to discuss a couple of pretty significant investigative pieces that are in the works.
We then follow that up by discussing conversations she’s had with a USA Swimming Board member, USA Swimming head Tim Hinchey and why neither seems willing to do the right thing.
As promised last week, here’s the podcast recorded with swimming agent and all around sport enthusiast Cejih Yung.
I think Cejih has a clear sense of what swimming is as a business, and I mean that in the most positive way possible. For the sport to thrive, the value of what we’re doing needs to be connected to those who can support it, and Cejih has done just that for a group of top level professional swimmers in the US.
Recovery, what the heck is it? We all know it’s an incredibly important part of any training program. Still, there is a lot of mythology around it, including, but not limited to, the idea of a “recovery” workout.
I get into all of it with Professor Trever Gray. (One note, I reference a post which I unfortunately could not find after recording the podcast. My bad).
Dani Bostick is many things. She’s a teacher, a parent, a former mental health counselor. She was also a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of her swim coach. She’s a passionate voice for reform beyond sports.
We split the podcast into two parts. In the first, we discuss the recently released MAAPP, which Bostick has been sharply critical of. In the back half, we discuss the uncomfortable conversations that are necessary about the culture that enables abusers within an organization.
Last week USA Swimming’s Safe Sport Division released the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP). The release has been controversial, particularly among coaches who have additional responsibilities as a result of the policy.
I begin by assessing the major planks on their own- do they make sense and are they sound policies for preventing abuse? Then I get into a lot of the context surrounding the policies, with questions and commentary.