At the heart of New Orleans, at Xavier University of Louisiana, two coaches decided to challenge tradition—by bringing an elite sport to an unexpected place and building something that had never existed before: the first co-ed rowing program at a Historically Black College and University. Xavier University Rowing Club is a trailblazing force in collegiate sports, championing diversity and unity on Bayou St. John.

Coaches Beth Manley and Chloé Jobin, and rower Victoria Duffey, are at the heart of the grassroots effort fueled by the belief that sports have the power to change minds and communities. Every stroke they take on the water is a step towards breaking barriers and building a more inclusive future for rowing.

QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Episode intro

02:05 - Co-Hosts Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan banter

06:14 - The Huddle: A quick get to know guests Beth Manley, Victoria Duffey, and Chloé Jobin

07:41 - Welcome guests and Rowing week on a scale of 1-10: a mixed bag of rain, gators, and flip tests

08:43 - The Hot Seat Q&A

11:18 - For Victoria, the importance of attending an HBCU

14:30 - XULA’s location in New Orleans

15:04 - What sparked the idea of starting a rowing program at XU?

16:55 - No blueprint for starting a rowing club at XULA

19:27 - Partnership with New Orleans Rowing Club

22:07- Victoria: from Crossfit to XULA Rowing Club walk-on and beyond

25:50 - Building club culture of accountability, leadership, and building each other up

30:24 - Training, growth, and plans

33:48 -  About being the first, motivation and the legacy of XULA. Contextualize what you're doing and the space that you're making for other people

40:23 - Steady State Network news and notes

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To see photos of Victoria, Chloé, Beth, and XULA Rowing Club, 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 Patrons.

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

As part of our semi-regular club spotlight series, we head to Conshohoken, Pennsylvania to get to know Whitemarsh Boat Club. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, we check in with Linda Chisholm and Jane Voss – two of the club's Founding Mothers – about the early days of getting the club off the ground in 2005, the growth it’s seen in the years since, and what makes this multi-generational club a stand-out.

QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Hosts Tara and Rachel banter about pipe dreams and logistics of starting a club 07:02 - Rowing week on a scale of 1-10: planning for a 10 next week! 08:10 - The Huddle: A quick get to know you with Linda and Jane 11:04 - The Hot Seat Q&A 13:53 - Linda and Jane's rowing origin stories: Rowing moms unite! 18:17 - Why start a club in Conshohocken? Why not join a club on Boathouse Row? 21:54 - Early days of borrowed boats and fund raising 22:28 - About Whitemarsh Boat Club and its place on the Schuylkill River 25:56 - Development of Whitemarsh Boat Club programs 30:47 - Not so secret secrets to building club culture 36:13 - 20 years of Whitemarsh Boat Club 39:07 - Linda and Jane's advice for starting a club 42:32 - Steady State Network news and notes

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To see photos of Jane Voss, Linda Chisolm, and Whitemarsh Boat Club, 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 Patrons.

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Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. 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

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

On June 7, 2025, Oar the Rainbow will be one of just five teams losing sight of shore for an unsupported, human-powered, 2800-mile row from Monterey, CA to Kauai, HI. The team, – including the first out transgender person to row across the Pacific – are about two years into their planning and training.

Members Taylan Stulting, Julie Warren, and Courtney Farber have inclusion, joy, and kindness at the heart of the team, with the belief that representation in sports matters, while pushing the limits of endurance.

We talk about the love of rowing, having something to prove, what to expect out there, and fundraising for Athlete Ally and Doctors Without Borders. Stick around for a bonus Q&A with ocean rower, author, and adventurer Jordan Hanssen.

QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Podcast Series Introduction 01:45 - Episode Intro: Rachel and Tara’s take on taking on an ocean 08:57 - The Huddle: A quick get to know you 10:39 - Rowing week on a scale of 1-10 11:26 - The Hot Seat Q&A 13:58 - Rowing origin stories: For Courtney the stars aligned in her 30s; Julie got handed a flier as a college freshman; Taylan sought out a college LTR program 19:20 - Most recent training/practical session together 21:09 - The dream of rowing an ocean 26:05 - How Oar the Rainbow came to be 28:40 - Commitment and family sacrifices 30:30 - About the World’s Toughest Row 31:20 - The boat named Emma 32:30 - Training 33:37 - Extrapolating personal skills to make the teamwork work 38:03 - The “why” 42:42 - Charities and support 44:14 - Intro to Q&A with ocean rower, author, and adventurer Jordan Hanssen 44:55 -  What is so exciting about rowing on the ocean? 45:56 -  What piece of equipment or personal gear do you wish that you had with you? 48:25 -  How did you feel hitting the halfway point and in the days following that milestone? 49:44 -  What was the transition back to life on land like for you? 51:38 -  How to plan for something unexpected? 53:10 -  Lovely nuggets 56:10 - Steady State Network news and notes

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To see photos of Oar the Rainbow, 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 Patrons.

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Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. 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

FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars

BLUESKY - steadystatenetwork.bsky.social

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

Neil Bergenroth is an educator and rowing coach whose work with kids has developed successful rowers and students for nearly 40 years in his adopted hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma and across the country. Neil’s Rowing STEM curriculum introduces kids to concepts like data analysis, graphing, physiology, precision, and accuracy. And as an online rowing coach, Neil’s helping rowers of all ages dial in their rowing technique, and reach new personal milestones.

QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Podcast Series Introduction 01:17 - Episode intro: Hosts Rachel and Tara banter about their personal experiences learning about data from the Concept2 monitor 05:27 - Neils's rowing week on a scale of 1-10: 9 (or 10) because a client set a U.S. record on the slides 05:52 - The Huddle: A quick get-to-know Neil's rowing background 07:41 - The Hot Seat Q&A 11:07 - Neil's rowing origin story began at Kingston Grammar School in London 14:00 - Making the decision to attend Boston University 14:41 - When your new wife is from Tulsa ... you move across the Pond and volunteer at Tulsa Youth Rowing Association 18:54 - Aging, making time for family, stepping away from the launch, and deciding what to do next 20:20 - A vision for what online coaching could be: apps 22:37 - Developing the Rowing STEM curriculum and app, and bringing it into the classroom 25:52 - Why rowing is a great way to teach STEM concepts 28:41 - Using the Concept2 RowErg for STEM experiments 32:17 - The future of the Rowing STEM curriculum depends on others stepping up 34:20 - Neil describes the perfect stroke 42:40 - Steady State Network news and notes

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To see photos of Neil, 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 Patrons.

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Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. 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

FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars

BLUESKY - steadystatenetwork.bsky.social

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

At Peninsula Community Rowing Club, Tongan American coach Anthony Heimuli is making an impact in his San Francisco-area rowing community, providing young athletes a deeper understanding of community and self. And with his eyes set firmly on the 2026 Youth Olympics and 2028 Olympic Games, Anthony is working to establish the Pacific Islander Rowing Association to develop high-performance athletes for international competition.

QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Episode Intro 2:16 - Rowing week: On a scale of 1-10, Anthony's was a 9 while prepping two youth for New Zealand Coastal Championships 02:54 - The Huddle: A quick get to know Anthony 03:40 - The Hot Seat Q&A 05:22 - Rowing origin story: A very short-lived football career led to a rowing team tryout

07:55 - Being recruited to – and divorced by – the University of Washington

12:48 - After a 10 year rowing hiatus, coaching middle schoolers was “insane”

17:57 - The Pacific Islander community in San Francisco

20:54 - Working with community partners to introduce Pacific Islander youth to rowing

28:22 - Coaching philosophy: "It's just rowing. Let's have fun!"

31:26 - Working to make the Peninsula Community Rowing Club a recognized member of the Tonga Rowing Association

37:47 - Steady State Network news and notes

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To see photos of Anthony, 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 Patrons.

.

Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. 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

FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars

BLUESKY - steadystatenetwork.bsky.social

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

Olympian Caragh McMurtry gives an unflinching look at living and rowing with a misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder, a follow-on diagnosis of autism, and struggling to fit the standard mold in the GB system. Now retired from rowing and at the helm of Neurodiverse Sport, Caragh champions other neurodiverse athletes, and aims to reshape sports environments so neurodivergent individuals can thrive without needing to mask or compromise their unique needs

QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Episode Intro 01:46 - Rowing week on a sale of 1-10 02:25 - The Huddle: A quick get to know you 04:23 - The Hot Seat Q&A 07:52 - Rowing origin story: an outlet for loads of energy and “messing around” 12:13 - A square peg in the GB system, a misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder, the negative impacts of medications, autism diagnosis and a new communication plan 20:18 - Separating negative team experiences from the restorative aspect of rowing 23:08 - learning style: quiet coaching, no word salads 27:43 - Neurodiverse Sport: reducing stigma, and making universally designed coaching the norm 32:20 -  when you're asking for help, support, accommodations, it needs to be a two way conversation 34:30 - Defining neurodiversity 37:26 - incorporating neurodiversity training into coaching certs 39:01 - the state of the neurodiversity conversation in sport 42:45 - Steady State Network news and notes

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To see photos of Caragh, 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 Patrons.

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Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. 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

FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars

BLUESKY - steadystatenetwork.bsky.social

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

From primary school kids to octogenarians, Cool Rowings is introducing diverse populations to rowing in and around London. Founder Weininger Irwin – competitive and confident from a young age – has a community first approach, prioritizing fun and social interaction. And we hear from one of his rowers, 86-year-old Hazel Parkins, who took up indoor rowing after the death of her husband and says she can't do with out it these days. This is an episode about building your own path and embracing lifelong functional fitness.

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QUICK LOOK

PART 1: Weininger Irwin

00:00 - Episode Intro 04:06 - The Huddle: A quick get to know you 05:20 - The Hot Seat Q&A 06:45 - Growing up a runner 07:58 - Rowing origin story: from Gladiator tryout, to Ford Motor Co. gym erg, and a Concept2 2k training plan 13:16 - Established Cool Rowings  to introduce primary school kids and diverse populations to rowing 16:26 - Ageless Teenagers and Weininger's philosophy for coaching seniors 21:23 - Being a beacon for the community

PART 2: Hazel Parkins

24:03 - Meet Hazel Parkins, 80+ 2025 BRIC Gold Medalist 24:47 - On a scale of 1-10, Hazel's rowing week was a 9 26:15 - An introduction to the erg during COVID 29:46 - A "lovely" experience at BRIC and Hazel's approach to training and racing 33:12 - The importance of support from family and community

37:08 - Hosts Rachel and Tara post-interview banter 40:54 - Steady State Network news and notes

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To see photos of Weininger and Hazel, 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 written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. 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

FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars

BLUESKY - steadystatenetwork.bsky.social

Connect on FB and IG with hosts Rachel Freedman at @RowSource, and Tara Morgan at @CmonBarber

Cassandra Cunningham, founder of P3 Physical Education, and coach with Endeavor Racing Alliance, has lived by the philosophy of "prior proper planning." So she knew it had to be the driving force behind her coaching, too. From walk-on at Sacramento State University, to National Team rower, to coach of all levels, Cassandra believes in the power of curiosity to drive success. Our wide ranging conversation for rowers and coaches, touches on the power of sport, positive mindset, being present, trusting the process, and blending with your teammates.

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QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Intro 02:43 - The Huddle 03:32 - The Hot Seat Q&A 06:19 - Rowing origin story: To keep her life from unravelling, Cassandra walked on at Sacramento State 09:23 - Navigating her way to success in college came by way of being curious 12:14 - Finding and needing sport 17:00 - Cassandra was inspired to become a coach by her dad who was a coach, and her mom who installed her with common sense 19:04 - Strengths and struggle buses of new coaches, and setting the tone for the team 23:14 - Coaching, connecting with, and being present for the whole athlete 26:49 - Founding P3PE to bring her philosophy of prior proper planning through communication, organization, and professionalism 29:33 - The perfect stroke doesn’t exist 30:54 - Trusting the process: consistency, growth, awareness 33:22 - Cultivating a positive mindset starts with self-care, showing up, and reading the room 37:34 - Endeavor Racing Alliance: creating good humans and less chaos, thinking outside the box to “race up” 41:11 - From camp to club and back: sharing ideas, curiosity, and blending 46:18 - Evolution of positive planning mindset 49:04 - Steady State Network news and notes

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To see photos of Cassandra, and get links to the people, clubs, 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 written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. 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 BY DONATING TO ALLIES WITH OARS: www.steadystatenetwork.com/allieswithoars

Check out more Steady State Network here:

FB - /SteadyStateNetwork IG - @SteadyStateNetwork

FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars

BLUESKY - steadystatenetwork.bsky.social

Connect on FB and IG with Rachel at @RowSource, and Tara at @CmonBarber