The SwimSwam Podcast

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In the SwimSwam Podcast dive deeper into the sport you love with insider conversations about swimming. Hosted by Coleman Hodges and Gold Medal Mel Stewart, SwimSwam welcomes both the biggest names in swimming that you already know, and rising stars that you need to get to know, as we break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.

Episodes

Saturday Nov 28, 2020

SSPC: Liam Tancock on Knowing How You'll Swim Based Off a Dive-And-Glide

Saturday Nov 28, 2020

We sat down with Liam Tancock, the 2-time world champion and former world record holder in the 50 backstroke. Tancock takes us through his path of unorthodox training with former teammate turned coach James Gibson (now head coach of Energy Standard) as well as his taper meet ritual: a dive-and-glide that told him everything he needed to know about how he was going to swim at that meet.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Friday Nov 27, 2020

SSPC: Maggie Macneil on Converting Short Course Success to a LCM World Title

Friday Nov 27, 2020

We sat down with Canadian world champion and NCAA standout for the Michigan Wolverines, Maggie Macneil. Macneil took us through what her quarantine period looked like from training in London (her hometown in Canada) to Toronto to finally making her way back to Ann Arbor.

Macneil also shares her experience at the 2019 World Championships, where she won the 100 fly individually and helped Canada to 2 bronze medals in the 4x100 free and medley relays. Macneil walks through managing nerves, observing her role models, and how she converted her short course success into the 50m pool.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Thursday Nov 26, 2020

SSPC: Olivia Smoliga Breaks Down Training, Racing in the ISL Bubble

Thursday Nov 26, 2020

We sat down with ISL Champion and FINIS athlete Olivia Smoliga to get the inside scoop into the Cali Condor secret sauce. Smoliga took us through the entire ISL bubble from start to finish, including the learning curve both physically and emotionally. She also shared her hardest workouts in Budapest as well as the energy in which the condors created to be able to go undefeated throughout the entire season.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Wednesday Nov 25, 2020

SSPC: Robert Howard Discusses Where Swimming Goes After ISL Season 2

Wednesday Nov 25, 2020

We sat down with Robert Howard to discuss his ISL experience with the DC Trident in the Budapest Bubble. Howard talked through what the ISL is hoping to accomplish, namely bringing a level of excitement and professionalism to swimming. Howard explains this would require change if the ISL were to become a real model for professional swimming, change like moving away from your college coach to train with your team once you've exhausted your NCAA eligibility, much like football or basketball.

Now, who knows if the ISL will be around for another season and if so what it could evolve into, but it is certainly fun to dream of how a truly professional swimming league could change the whole landscape of what a pro swimmer lifestyle looks like.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Tuesday Nov 24, 2020

SSPC: Katie Hoff Dives Deep with New Book "Blueprint"

Tuesday Nov 24, 2020

"Blueprint" is a candid account of the extraordinary life and athletic journey of one of America's greatest athletes and a champion in every way--the remarkable two-time Olympian Katie Hoff. As a young swimmer growing up in Maryland, I was so fortunate to see first-hand the grace of Katie in and out of the pool. Her honesty and passion about her sporting and personal life shine through the pages of this well-written book, making it a must-read."

November 27th you can buy Blueprint HERE, a great holiday gift for you swimmer, swammer of swim coach!

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Monday Nov 23, 2020

SwimSwam Podcast: Andrew Wilson Talks Training, Racing, and Post-Tokyo Plans

Monday Nov 23, 2020

We sat down with Andrew Wilson, one of America's top breaststroker's to talk about... well a lot of stuff. Wilson takes us through his COVID training when he swam in an 18-yard pool all the way up to the US Open, where he threw down a couple of races that put everyone on notice.

With Wilson's rapid rise to US National Team member, I forget that he went to Emory and is very intelligent. He reminded me of this when he talks about his plans for this fall: going to Oxford for grad school with the idea of working in F1 in some capacity.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Friday Nov 20, 2020

SSPC: The ISL Final Preview with CBS Announcer Bernie Guenther

Friday Nov 20, 2020

We sat down with the voice of ISL Season 2, Bernie Guenther, to talk ISL Final predictions. The bottom line is this: any of the 4 teams in the finale could end up crowned ISL champions by the end of the weekend, depending on a few very important factors. Bernie takes us through each team's strengths and weaknesses and points out what must go right for the Cali Condors, Energy Standard, London Roar, and LA Current if they are to have a shot at earning the title of ISL Champions.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Thursday Nov 19, 2020

SSPC: Nyls Korstanje "Whoever does best in the bad circumstances wins"

Thursday Nov 19, 2020

I sat down with NCAA All-American from NC State Nyls Korstanje, who is currently at home training in the Netherlands. Nyls has gone a few personal bests in his last few competitions and relates to us how his training and racing are going back in the Netherlands. He also tells a story from the European Youth Olympic Festival, a meet that had a big impact on his career.

Nyls said going into the meet, he did not have too many expectations but came out winning the 50 free. He said he was able to do this because the circumstances at the meet were pretty bad, yet in spite of that, Nyls told himself he would still swim his very best. From that, he learned that it's not the best swimmer who always wins, but the best swimmer in the circumstances.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Wednesday Nov 18, 2020

SSPC: Bobby Finke Breaks Down Going 8:59 at the End of 9x1000 in Practice

Wednesday Nov 18, 2020

I sat down with distance savant Bobby Finke to talk about what has been going so right for him in the pool lately. We saw Finke absolutely destroy the American and US Open records last year in the 1,650, registering a mind-blowing 14:12. Well, good news for swim fans: he's only gotten better since then. Finke tells us what his quarantine period looked like and what training has been like since getting back to Gainesville, including a set of 9x1000 where he surprised even himself on the last one.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Tuesday Nov 17, 2020

Olympian Cullen Jones Gets Raw on Highs & Lows: GMM presented by SwimOutlet.com

Tuesday Nov 17, 2020

Four-time Olympic medalist, two-time Olympic champion Cullen Jones gets raw and real in this GMM takeover of the SwimSwam Podcast.

Cullen has enjoyed many highs and some tough lows. In this interview Cullen shares how Coach Bob Bowman, David Marsh and his own mother called him out in brutally honest ways during one of his lows, when, frankly, his grit for training didn't match his talent. Bowman delivered his message - his wisdom - as they watched the final Cullen missed from the stands.