This episode was made possible in part by: 
Breakwater Realty, Concept2, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons.

In this special episode, co-hosts Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan take a look back at 2023. Go behind the scenes of Steady State Podcast to learn more about Rachel and Tara's rowing careers, listen to clips from some of their favorite season 4 episodes, consider their big takeaways from interviews with nearly 40 guests in the past 12 months, and get a peak at what's to come in Season 5 in 2024.

QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Intro / a reflection on the first 4 seasons of Steady State Podcast

03:14 - Get to know co-hosts Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan

08:57 - On a scale of 1-10 ... rating our rowing year

13:28 - Hot Seat Q&A

24:05 - The building blocks of a podcast: awesome audience, supportive Patrons, marketing

26:25 - Favorite moments of 2023: gender identity policy series, Gevvie Stone, Lindsay Dare Shoop, Next Level Rowing, Indianapolis Rowing Club spotlight, Unity Boat Club's Excellence in Black Rowing event

45:05 - Upping our game as a media outlet at USRowing Masters Nationals and Head of the Charles

47:41 - Takeaways: it's time to take beach sprints and coastal rowing seriously; incorporating non-binary athletes into racing is complicated

53:05 - Partnerships

54:29 - Wrapping up Season 4 with Jennifer Huffman, masters rower and granddaughter of Boys in the Boat central character Joe Rantz.

56:07 - Season 5 sneak peek: Olympic coxswain Mary Whipple, on water emergencies and safety, keeping junior athletes safe, indoor world record holder Elizabeth Gilmore, and Lessons in Chemistry author Bonnie Garmus.

EPISODE Mentions

CLUBS
Capital Rowing Club
Chinook Performance Racing
DC Strokes Rowing Club
Endeavor Racing Alliance
Indianapolis Rowing Center
Intrepid Rowing
Lake Stevens Rowing Club
Potomac Boat Club
Tacoma Rowing
Unity Boat Club

COACHES
🎧 Ben Booth
🎧 Koen Elbers
🎧 Kevin Harris
🎧 Ellen Mintzner
🎧 Lisa Stone
🎧 Ann Strayer

COXSWAINS
Mary Whipple

EQUIPMENT
CoxBox
Cox Orb

MEDIA
A Most Beautiful Thing
The Boys in the Boat
Good to Great
Lessons in Chemistry

ORGANIZATIONS
Seize the Oar
Survivor Rowing Network

REGATTAS & EVENTS
Chicago River Half Marathon
Head of the Charles
Northwest Ergomania
Race Around the Rock
USRowing Masters Nationals
World’s Toughest Row

RESOURCES
Alliance of Women Rowing Coaches
SafeSport
USRowing Gender Identity Policy

ROWERS
🎧 Aquil Abdullah
🎧 Chris Bak
David Banks
Elizabeth Gilmore
Katie Brennan
🎧 Christine Cavallo
Arshay Cooper
🎧 Bobbi Kizer, PhD
🎧 Dr. Mary O’Connor
Ash Pryor
Joe Rantz
🎧 David Scherzer
🎧 Lindsay Dare Shoop
🎧 Gevvie Stone

This episode was written, produced, hosted, and edited by Tara Morgan and Rachel Freedman. 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.