Social Kick • Swim Culture & Stories

Skyler Smith: Breaststroke, Confidence & Racing In-Season Ep. 283

Skyler Smith is swimming some of the best races of her career — right now.

In this episode of Social Kick, the UNC senior and U.S. National Team pool member opens up about finding momentum, building confidence, and racing fast without waiting for the perfect taper. From dropping personal bests at the Pro Swim Series to navigating NCAA pressure and setbacks, Skyler shares what it actually takes to stay dangerous across a long season.

This conversation goes deep into breaststroke — how it works for her body, why technique myths persist, and what matters most when racing at a high level. Skyler also reflects on confidence, consistency, and learning to trust the process after meets don’t go as planned.

Along the way, we get plenty of personality: rapid-fire questions, training war stories, pop culture, and what’s next as she balances elite swimming with grad school and life beyond the pool.

If you’re a swimmer, coach, or fan who wants to understand how elite athletes think, adapt, and keep progressing, this episode delivers.

Andy Donaldson: Ultramarathon Swimming, Purpose & 4 Minutes From a World Record | Ep. 282

What does it take to keep going when you’ve already given everything you have?

In this episode of Social Kick, we sit down with Andy Donaldson — ultramarathon swimmer, world-record holder, fastest man to swim around Manhattan Island, and the first male swimmer to complete the Ocean’s Seven in a single calendar year.

Andy shares the realities behind the swims most people only see in photos: long hours in dark water, brutal conditions, sickness, fear, and the moments where progress feels impossible. He opens up about a swim that nearly ended in defeat — before turning into one of the most meaningful experiences of his life, finishing just four minutes outside a world record on the rocks of Scotland.

This conversation goes beyond times and results. It’s about:

• Defining your “why” when things start to unravel

• Learning that you don’t have to do it alone

• The shift from chasing personal achievement to creating purpose

• Using swimming as a platform to inspire others and elevate communities

From swimming around Manhattan to a groundbreaking relay around Bahrain, Andy reflects on how his motivation has evolved — and why impact now matters more than records.

Sometimes the finish time isn’t the point.
Sometimes the real win is what the journey reveals.

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Eva Okaro on NCAA Swimming, Texas Culture & Breaking Records as a Freshman | Social Kick Ep. 281

British Olympian Eva Okaro joins Social Kick to talk about her breakout freshman season at the University of Texas, adapting to NCAA swimming, and why fun, confidence, and environment have fueled her early success.

Eva shares what it’s really like moving from Team GB to Texas, adjusting to short course yards, handling tougher training, and surrounding herself with athletes who push each other daily. She also opens up about mindset shifts, embracing change, international competition, and what excites her about what’s ahead.

This episode covers:

• Transitioning from UK swimming to the NCAA

• Breaking school records as a Texas freshman

• Short course yards vs meters

• Training mentality, team culture & confidence

• Life in Austin and balancing elite sport with college life

A must-listen for swimmers, coaches, and anyone interested in high-performance environments.

🎧 Follow Social Kick for more conversations with elite athletes shaping the future of swimming.

Dave Durden: How Cal Swimming Builds Champions & Winning Culture. Ep 280

Legendary coach Dave Durden joins Social Kick to talk culture, champions, and what really matters in elite swim training.

As the head coach of the California Golden Bears, Dave has built one of the most successful programs in college swimming history, developing Olympic champions and sustained excellence. In this episode, he breaks down his coaching philosophy, why evaluating how athletes move in the water matters more than times, and how long-term planning shapes winning environments.

We also dive into recruiting, building trust, and why Dave believes social kick might be one of the most important — and overlooked — parts of training.

Whether you’re a swimmer, coach, or fan of the sport, this episode is packed with insight, perspective, and stories from one of swimming’s most respected leaders.

Follow Social Kick and drop a comment with your favorite Dave Durden memory or your go-to social kick set.

Swimming’s Best, Worst, and Weirdest Moments of 2025. Episode 279

Dude, what a year.”

In this year-end episode of The Social Kick Podcast, the full crew — Bryan Lundquist, Dr. John Mullen, and Luke Paddington — gets together to close out 2025 by debating the most unforgettable moments in swimming.

We break down the races that defined the year, from Leon Marchand skipping the 1:53s entirely in the 200 IM to Katie Ledecky breaking the 15-minute barrier at a home invitational. We also dig into the moments that sparked debate and disbelief, including the Florida relay disqualification at NCAAs, the removal of B-Finals from the NCAA format, and a “pool measurement” conspiracy surrounding world records.

The conversation moves from jaw-dropping performances to the hardest training sets of the year — including a Sven Schwarz distance workout that stopped Bryan in his tracks — before wrapping with bold predictions and personal goals heading into 2026.

Topics include:

• Race of the Year debates

• The women’s 800 free and Ledecky’s historic swim

• NCAA controversies and format changes

• The hardest sets of 2025

• Big interviews, breakout moments, and WTF stories

• Bold predictions and goals for 2026

It’s equal parts analysis, opinion, humor, and reflection — a true end-of-year conversation for swimmers, coaches, and fans who lived every moment of the 2025 season.

John Shortt: World Junior Gold, Elite Backstroke Turns, and Ireland’s Breakout Moment. Ep 278

John Shortt is emerging as one of the most exciting young backstrokers in the world.

In this episode of The Social Kick Podcast, the Irish standout and World Junior Champion joins us to talk through his rapid rise on the international stage, including his performances at World Juniors and the European Short Course Championships. Known for his closing speed and elite turns, John breaks down the technical details that separate his backstroke and how years of training in a 20-meter pool shaped his underwater skills.

We discuss his development pathway, confidence-building training sets, and how he balances racing multiple backstroke distances while staying technically sound under pressure. John also shares insight into life at Ireland’s National Training Centre in Limerick, why he chose to stay home rather than pursue U.S. college options, and what’s driving Ireland’s growing momentum in international swimming.

The conversation mixes detailed swimming insight with lighter moments, giving a clear picture of both the athlete and the person behind the results.

A must-listen for swimmers, coaches, and fans interested in elite backstroke, athlete development, and the next generation of international talent.

Will Modglin: American Records, the 20.00 Barrier, and Redefining NCAA Backstroke Episode 277

Will Modglin just delivered one of the fastest backstroke performances in NCAA history.

In this episode of The Social Kick Podcast, we sit down with the new American record holder in the 100-yard backstroke after his 43.26 swim at the Texas Hall of Fame Invite. He also clocked the fastest 50-yard backstroke ever with a 20.00 lead-off split, coming within a touch of breaking one of swimming’s most iconic barriers.

A junior at the University of Texas and a U.S. National Team member, Will breaks down the mindset behind those record swims, the training culture at Texas under Bob Bowman, and how racing in one of the deepest backstroke groups in the NCAA has shaped his confidence.

We also dive into his unusual versatility, including how he went 50.9 in the 100 breaststroke with minimal breaststroke-specific training, how he approaches event selection, and where IM and long-course goals fit into his future.

The conversation wraps with audience questions and a rapid-fire round covering training, competition, and swim culture as Will looks ahead to what’s next in a breakout career.

Sven Schwarz on 100K Weeks, Elite Distance Training, the Rise of Men’s Distance Swimming | Ep. #276

Sven Schwarz is one of the fastest-rising distance swimmers in the world, training up to 100K per week and relying almost entirely on feel to guide his pace. In this episode of The Social Kick Podcast, Sven breaks down the work, the mindset, and the new level of men’s distance swimming.

We talk about training volume, threshold pace, recovery habits, coach communication, race prep, and why he skipped the 2025 European Championships. If you’re into distance swimming or elite training insights, this conversation delivers.

Subscribe for more interviews with the world’s top swimmers.

Todd DeSorbo: Building a Swimming Dynasty at Virginia | NCAA, Olympics, & Men’s New Era | Ep 275

Virginia Head Coach Todd DeSorbo joins The Social Kick to talk about the future of college swimming and the debut of a made-for-TV double elimination dual meet featuring UVA, Tennessee, and Michigan. He shares how new formats, rivalries, and personality can elevate the sport, his philosophy on building winning teams, and what it takes to innovate without losing the joy of racing.

A fast, insightful conversation with one of the most influential coaches in the NCAA.

Matt Kredich: How Tennessee Built Champions, Culture & Olympic Stars | Episode 274

Matt Kredich isn’t just a successful swim coach — he’s a culture builder, a thinker, and a leader whose impact reaches far beyond the pool deck. As the Director of Swimming & Diving at the University of Tennessee, he has developed Olympians, NCAA champions, and stars like Jordan Crooks, Mona McSharry, and Gui Caribe. But what truly makes Tennessee stand out is not just the speed — it’s the chemistry, belief, and connection that everyone can see.

In this episode of The Social Kick Podcast, Matt shares how culture becomes a competitive advantage, why empathy and accountability can coexist in high-performance environments, and how personal loss reshaped his perspective on coaching and purpose. We talk about sprint mechanics, drag reduction, athlete mindset, and how to help swimmers make breakthroughs technically and emotionally.

This is a conversation about coaching, leadership, resilience, and what it really takes to help people become the best version of themselves — in and out of the water.

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Listen now to hear:

• How culture drives performance in elite swim programs

• What makes Jordan Crooks and Tennessee’s sprinters different

• Using empathy, structure, and purpose in coaching

• How personal loss shaped Matt’s approach to leadership

• The technical and human elements behind world-class swimming

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Whether you're a swimmer, coach, parent, or just love great conversations about growth, this episode will leave you thinking differently about what makes people better.