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

.

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.

.

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

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

.

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

Think of all the companies represented in your boathouse. Maybe it’s boats manufactured by Vespoli, Pocock, or Hudson, and ergs and oars by Concept2. Maybe your coach keeps communications going using iCrew, or you open up the ErgZone app for training workouts. All of these companies – and nearly 20 others – are members of the Rowing Industry Trade Association (RITA).

On this episode we talk with two founding members of RITA – Michael Naughton, the COO of Nielsen-Kellerman; and Glen Burston, the Owner and Operations Manager of Hudson Boat Works. We’ll talk about how the association has opened up communication with World Rowing; about rules and regulations that impact companies and clubs; about what it would take to get more young kids into rowing, and more adults working in the rowing industry.

.

QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Episode intro and welcome 03:19 - Rowing Week on a scale of 1-10 04:25 - The Huddle 06:25 - Hot Seat Q&A 11:23 - Michael and Glen’s rowing origin stories began in high school after turning away from other sports 17:35 - Finding profession in the rowing industry 22:03 - How RITA came to be and the vision for the association 24:48 - Balancing the needs and interests of RITA members 29:22 - RITA’s relationship with NGOs 30:44 - RITA members and member benefits 39:00 - Acknowledging three major disciplines: traditional, coastal, and indoor 41:38 - Considering ways to make rowing more accessible 47:24 - RITA at HOCR, sparking innovation, and industry job shop talk 51:02 - Steady State Network news and notes

.

To see photos of Michael and Glen, and get links to the people, clubs, businesses, 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

Indianapolis Rowing Center was like lots of other clubs, running several small Learn to Row sessions each year but struggling with retention.

Then IRC rower, coach, and brand new Board member Lisa Stickley proposed something big. Really big. She wanted to develop a new type of introduction to rowing program that would get 120 registrants in the boathouse door and on the water all within the month of July.

With the support of the Board and club membership, IRC’s First Strokes program moved from big idea, to social media marketing campaign, to eight sessions a week for four weeks, plus three big social events. As of today, the retention rate is 40%.

Find out from Lisa how she made it happen and how your club can think outside the box to truly use LTR to grow membership and create community connections.

.

QUICK LOOK

0:00 - Intro 05:05 - Lisa’s Rowing Week was an 11! 06:57 - The Huddle 08:37 - Hot Seat Q&A 11:23 - Rowing origin story 15:05 - Transition into competitive rowing, the rower life cycle, and Lisa’s “iron sharpens iron” motto 20:43 - About Indianapolis Rowing Center 23:25 - The idea that became IRC’s First Strokes program 25:39 - Big goal: register 120 new rowers 30:28 - Coaches, volunteers, and operational logistic strategy 39:10 - Phase 2: retention and integration of new rowers into club programs 42:48 - Club culture shifts 47:52 - Considerations for future growth of First Strokes 49:25 - Keys to success: fun and friends 53:31 - Steady State Network news and notes

.

To see photos of Lisa, IRC's huge First Strokes program, and to get links to the people 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

Like plenty of other college rowers, Jordan Hanssen felt he had more to prove on the water. So after graduation he committed to training with a goal of making the National Team. But when he spotted a flier in the boathouse challenging rowers to take on an ocean, the trajectory of his rowing career – and life – changed completely.

We sat down with Jordan to talk about his 2006 World Record-setting Atlantic row, and a second Atlantic crossing that ended with a capsized boat in the Bermuda Triangle. But the story of the boat – named for his late father and outfitted with scientific instruments and satellite communications – didn’t end there.

QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Episode intro and banter

02:04 - Rowing Week

03:19 - The Huddle

03:51 - Hot Seat Q&A

08:39 - Oar the Rainbow de-brief

12:21 - Rowing Origin Story: learning to row in college and a very memorable first head race

15:07 - From National team dreams to pulling together a team for a race across the Atlantic, and creating OAR Northwest

19:31 - Setting a Guinness World Record; rowing the Atlantic a second time with a new purpose

23:31 - CWF Africa to the Americas Expedition: Dakar, Senegal bound for Miami, FL capsized 72 days in

25:56 - The “10 most cowboy days” of Jordan’s life searching for, finding, and retrieving, the boat

28:08 - The boat’s namesake, its last mission and “funeral,” and handling grief

37:36 - Seeking to make OAR Northwest: The Film

39:47 - Connect with Jordan

40:45 - Wrapping up his pandemic project Tiny Boat Sessions

43:04 - Steady State Network news and notes

45:50 - Outtake

.

To see photos of Jordan, his teammates, and their boat the James Robert Hanssen, and get links to the people, organizations, 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 Patrons.

.

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

Lea Park-Kim wanted to row in college, but realized she couldn’t give it the time and dedication she wanted. For her it was all or nothing so she stepped away to focus on academics. Several years later, with her professional life on track, she found her way back to the water. Today Lea is a disciplined, motivated, and insightful rower, coxswain, and coach at River City Rowing Club in West Sacramento, CA.

QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Episode intro and welcome 04:00 - Rowing Week on a scale of 1-10: tendonitis, injury, and “customer relations” 09:40 - The Huddle 13:15 - Hot Seat Q&A 15:28 - Rowing Origin Story 20:29 - Coxing personality: absorb all she can; give rowers what they need in a way they can best receive it 25:16 - Taking a holistic approach to coxing ROWsist 28:34 - Coxing levels I, II, III 32:41 - Chatter in the boat? Absolutely no. But: here are tips for signaling your coach when things aren’t ok. 37:24 - Bringing her professional skills as a communications director to the boathouse, and how rowing time management has made her more efficient at the office 39:23 - About RCRC, Lea’s many rolls, and her transition to coaching with the support of other RCRC coaches 44:30 - The creep of AI into developing training plans and club communications 47:24 - A look back at the season, and a look ahead to growing as a coach and coxswain 50:44 - A consideration of the post-practice huddle 55:47- Lea’s idea of a perfect stroke 57:11 - Steady State Network news and notes 59:52 - Outtake

.

To see photos of Leah 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 Patrons.

.

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

Carolyn Webster-Stratton had been an active masters rower when she flipped over her handlebars while out for a bike ride in 2013. She can’t remember the first two weeks after the accident, but clearly remembers doctors painting a grim prognosis of her future with a traumatic brain injury. With a personal mantra of “keep going” and a dedication to recovery that includes daily long sessions on the erg, Carolyn returned to rowing in July 2025. After 12 years off the water, she's switched from sweep to sculling and is building new neural pathways.

GUEST Carolyn Webster-Stratton  Founder, The Incredible Years  Professor Emeritus, University of Washington Member, Vashon Rowing Club

QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Episode intro 00:25 - Banter 02:25 - Rowing Week 03:45 - The Huddle 07:24 - Hot Seat Q&A 11:11 - Carolyn’s rowing origin story 13:58 - A bike accident, a brain injury, and stubbornly pushing (instead of resting) through recovery 22:54 - The best rowing advice Carolyn ever received 20:28 - The human brain, the simplicity of repetition on the erg, and dealing with feelings of inadequacies when returning to the water 26:00 - Honoring where you’re at in rowing 33:00 - What the rowing life has given Carolyn 36:20 - Steady State Network news and notes

.

To see photos 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, iCrew, RowSource, and our Patrons.

.

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