Boat clubs that have historically catered to binary athletes, are struggling to put out a welcome mat for trans, and gender non-conforming athletes. Scholastic, collegiate, and masters programs – along with USRowing – are slowly adopting new policies and opportunities for trans rowers, but there’s a lot to learn and a long way to go. Cillian Mullen and Liam Mirada share their experiences as trans athletes and how the rest of us can create a welcoming boathouse environment.

Daniela Nacházelová was just 10 when she learned to row on the Vltava River in Prague, Czech Republic. She went on to row at Washington State University and collected medals at World Cups and world championships, and chased an Olympic dream. She fell in love with rowing, but also ended up hating it. We talk with her about her new book Women’s Voices in Rowing, and are joined by two of the women featured: Michelle Carpenter, CEO of Rowing Ireland; and Judy Geer, 2x Olympian and part of the owner-operator family at Concept2 and Craftsbury Outdoor Center.

Daniela Nacházelová was just 10 when she learned to row on the Vltava River in Prague, Czech Republic. She went on to row at Washington State University and collected medals at World Cups and world championships, and chased an Olympic dream. She fell in love with rowing, but also ended up hating it. We talk with her about her new book Women’s Voices in Rowing, and are joined by two of the women featured: Michelle Carpenter, CEO of Rowing Ireland; and Judy Geer, 2x Olympian and part of the owner-operator family at Concept2 and Craftsbury Outdoor Center.

Sara Nevin, at a mere 5’6”, won three varsity 8+ national championships and went undefeated in collegiate competition while at the University of Washington. She’s a three-time Washington Rowing Hall of Famer and two-time U.S. national team member. With 30+ years of coaching high school, masters and collegiate programs including UC Berkeley, and Mills College, Sara’s a legend.

Kevin Goyena and Jason Oliver are Seattle-based masters rowers, entrepreneurs, and rowing evangelists. We find out about their progression from being adult LTR students, to getting hooked on racing, to finding community through developing holistic rowers. Jason tells us his motivation behind bringing a GoPro in the boat and a drone to regattas; and we ask Kevin about creating iCrew, a team management app to make magnet board sign-ins a thing of the past.

Plus, the Best Part of My Rowing Week call-ins from masters rower Sarah Copeland, Coach Claudia Loeber, Team USA para-rower Pearl Outlaw, writer and trainer Will Ruth, and 2-time gold medalist coxswain Mary Whipple.

We chat with Patricia Carswell - aka Girl on the River - about all-in-ones (unisuits), breast cancer, blogging, creative coxswain calls, saving the planet, and unfortunate nicknames. We also hear from Coach AC Chacon (Colgate University) on the best part of his rowing week.

SSN co-founders Rachel and Tara talk rowing during COVID-19, rapid fire Q&A on salt water rowing and the pros and cons of unis, and hear from Coach Ben Steele on the best part of his rowing week.

In this Part 1 of The Launch, meet Rachel and Tara, the founders of Steady State Network and listen in as we talk rowing histories, our big plans for the Network and all things COVID and rowing.