We first met physical therapist Lisa Lowe in fall 2020 when she applied for and received one of our changemaker scholarships that allowed her to attend a US rowing conference. We checked in with her a year and a half later for a season three episode to talk about Lisa's experience with rehab following a car accident.

Today, Lisa is a sought after rowing specialist physical therapist near Boston, and guest author for Science of Rowing. She recently created a course called Keys to Working with Rowers, which is designed to help athletic trainers, strength coaches, physical therapists, and other rehabilitation professionals gain a background knowledge of rowing so that they can be confident in their support of rowers.

In this chat with Lisa, we'll talk high school growing pains, collegiate over training, grumpy ribs and twingy backs, knowing when to take a break, and the importance of having a care team that understands the fundamental movement patterns of the sport you love.

In 2025, the Head of the Charles regatta celebrates 60 years - so we thought it was a perfect opportunity to reflect and look ahead at this event that brings together thousands of rowers and fans to the shores of the Charles River in Boston. We’re incredibly honored to talk with D’Arcy MacMahon, one of three original founders of the regatta AND Fred Schoch, whose tenure as regatta executive director stretched 33 years. We’ve paired these two legends together to explore the vision of the founders and the stewardship of that vision over the last six decades.

QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Episode intro and welcome 03:53 - Rowing Week 05:41 - The Huddle 08:22 - Hot Seat Q&A 13:24 - D’Arcy’s fun childhood racing at CBC was the inspiration for HOCR 16:44 - Fred’s youth was dominated by time at the Princeton boathouse where his Dad was coach 19:22 - D’Arcy and Fred are no strangers to racing at HOCR 22:46 - The true life (and death) story of a made up man: Charles Attager 25:14 - D’Arcy is dumbfounded by the longevity and growth of HOCR 30:23 - On carrying the legacy forward 32:30 - Setting the course in 1965 with D’Arcy’s mom’s bike odometer 36:36 - Volunteer spirit of service (starts with a great t-shirt) 39:12 - Support from the MDC, Massachusetts, and corporate sponsors 42:18 - Getting results: taking a cue from golf’s leaderboards 43:39 - HOCR and the community 45:40 - Growing the international field, and considering travel logistics for all crews 50:38 - Best place to watch the races 52:05 - Head of the Charles Charity 52:49 - Spirit of the regatta: fun! 54:24 - Steady State Network news and notes

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To see photos of D'Arcy, Fred, and the Head of the Charles, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

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This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Supporters.

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Steady State Podcast is hosted and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering, books show guests, and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel writes our scripts and e-newsletter, and manages the website and social media. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.

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SHOP SSN GEAR: www.steadystatenetwork.com/shop

SIGN UP FOR THE SSN NEWSLETTER: www.steadystatenetwork.com/newsletter

MAKE A DIFFERENCE: www.steadystatenetwork.com/support

Check out more Steady State Network here:

FB - /SteadyStateNetwork IG - @SteadyStateNetwork BLUESKY - steadystatenetwork.bsky.social

FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars

Connect on FB and IG with the hosts: Rachel Freedman - @RowSource Tara Morgan - @CmonBarber

Sue Ryan came to rowing through her journey as a breast cancer survivor, and she’s embraced the sport as both a challenge and a source of community. We talk about how the sport helped her move past childhood trauma, how it has shaped her cancer recovery, and the ways she’s found strength on and off the water as a member of Whitmarsh Boat Club, WeCanRow Philadelphia, and the Survivor Rowing Network.

QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Episode intro and welcome 01:59 - Rowing Week 03:58 - The Huddle 04:20 - Hot Seat Q&A 07:28 - Despite being “horribly uncoordinated,” Sue got hooked when she learned to row with WeCanRow Philadelphia 09:45 - Trauma in Sue’s youth led to disassociation from her body but rowing and therapy have helped her reconnect 13:15 - Social network as key to cancer recovery, and finding a welcoming club culture at Whitemarsh Boat Club 17:49 - Recovery: strength training, lymphedema, lifting, asking for help 21:00 - Being a voice of strength for her teammates 22:00 - Working with a sports psychologist, and Sue’s mantra 29:14 - How rowing has changed Sue and paying it forward to help new rowers 33:04 - Sue’s rowing “sales pitch” 33:40 - What Sue wishes someone had told her before she learned to row 34:00 - Sue describes the perfect stroke 36:50 - Steady State Network news and notes

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To see photos of Sue, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

.

This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Supporters.

.

Steady State Podcast is hosted and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering, books show guests, and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel writes our scripts and e-newsletter, and manages the website and social media. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.

.

SHOP SSN GEAR: www.steadystatenetwork.com/shop

SIGN UP FOR THE SSN NEWSLETTER: www.steadystatenetwork.com/newsletter

MAKE A DIFFERENCE: www.steadystatenetwork.com/support

Check out more Steady State Network here:

FB - /SteadyStateNetwork IG - @SteadyStateNetwork BLUESKY - steadystatenetwork.bsky.social

FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars

Connect on FB and IG with the hosts: Rachel Freedman - @RowSource Tara Morgan - @CmonBarber