What was it like to be at Indiana at the dawn of the Ray Looze era? Where did I eat the best Danish æbleskiver of my life?
Those questions and more on this edition of the Swim Brief with Matt Leach, head coach of Washington State Swimming.
Hannah Burandt
Happy holidays, enjoy this podcast with Hannah Burandt. Hannah and I met last year, and since i’ve become a huge fan of what she’s doing. We talk about her journey to becoming the head coach of Cleveland State University, who mentored her and how along the way, and how she learned that too much was good enough:
What is Positive/Negative Feedback?
Today I’m joined by Trever Gray, who serves as a foil for conversation around feedback. What does it mean to give positive or negative feedback? What are some considerations for giving such feedback?
Why do coaches often find themselves trapped within a narrow band of acceptable feedback? Also, a discussion of Pete Buttigieg (just kidding):
Abbie Fish
Happy Thanksgiving! Last week I called up Abbie Fish of Swim Like A. Fish. We talked about how her own experience as an athlete turned her away from the sport before pulling her back in as a coach.
We also talk about inventing a job that doesn’t exist and cover a couple of technique hot topics. Enjoy:
Kim Foster Carlson
This week on the Swim Brief I am joined by Kim Foster Carlson. She’s authored a new book with a great theme that I think really resonates with a lot of people in the swimming world and beyond.
The book is called “Good Enough: How to Overcome Fear of Failure and Perfectionism to Lead Your Best Life” and through the podcast we chart a course through her own life growing up a competitive swimmer to being the mother of two high level swimming athletes as well as a child with special needs:
Kyle Johnson: The Uncoach
Kyle Johnson is a swim coach, I guess. I called him up and tried to get to the bottom of it. Listen to find out how I ended up interviewing who said that his big goal when he got into coaching was to be like Mark Schubert.
Sarah Asks the Questions
Have you ever listened to one of my many podcasts with Sarah Ehekircher and wished that she could ask me the questions? Well then I have the podcast for you. After many times getting her to bare her soul for all of you, this time she is the one probing.
We go all the way back to 2008, the first interactions I had with USA Swimming and what motivated me to pursue the topics I pursue.
100th Episode: Past, Present and Future of Swimming
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.
Nico Turns the Tables
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:
Coaching Wellness
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:
Race Pace is a Skinner Box
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:
Season Start Up Considerations w/Trever Gray
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:
Why Don't They Do the Right Thing?
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.
Swimming Agent Cejih Yung
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 Myths and Educated Guesses
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
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.
Digging in On MAAPP
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.
Michael Andrew, Keto and Race Pace
The lightning rod of international swimming, Michael Andrew, is going on a ketogenic diet. To discuss this startling development, I brought on keto dieter (and race pace trainer) Shawn Klosterman along with resident nerd Trever Gray to hash it out.
We discussed the synergy between the two, and some of the science behind it (and not behind it):
Checking In With Nicolas Messer
Nicolas Messer is always a good hang on the Swim Brief. This time he checks in from a brand new geographic location. We talk about how he ended up there and what his new job entails.
We also get into the topic of streamlines, and I put Nico on the spot on whether he has joined the anti-streamline coalition. Enjoy:
Nerd Alert: Concurrent Training
Nerd Alert is back with Professor Trever Gray, who’s here to school me on concurrent training. What does that even mean? We get into it on the podcast straight off the top.
If you’re a coach and you’re doing any kind of cross-training this is a must listen.