Social Kick

Kara Lynn Joyce

In this episode, we are joined by one of the most bad-ass sprinters in history, Kara Lynn Joyce. Kara Lynn is 3x US Olympian, bajillion time NCAA champion, and Founder/CEO of LEAD Sports Summit. We chat with Kara Lynn about age-group and high school swimming, including her time training with Urbanchek and the Michigan men, her NCAA recruiting experience and career at Georgia, her Olympics and Olympic trials races, being a great puller, and so much more. This episode was recorded on June 4, 2020 during a time of protest over social injustice, and we begin our conversation addressing current events. 

Felicia Lee

In this episode, we are joined by Felicia Lee. Felicia was a USA National Team member and is a multiple-time NCAA Champion. We chat with Felicia about swimming at North Baltimore Aquatic Club with Bob Bowman, at Stanford with Greg Meehan, and what she has been doing after her swimming career.

Leah Smith

We are joined by Olympic medalist and distance superstar Leah Smith. Leah grew up in Pennslyvania and swam for the JCC Sailfish. She continued her swimming in college at the University of Virginia where she excelled and was a multiple-time NCAA champion. Internationally, Leah medaled at the 2016 Olympics and has made numerous international teams for the United States. She currently trains at Tucson Ford Aquatics and represented the LA Current in 2019 of the ISL.

Chad La Tourette

In this episode, we’re joined by American distance swimming star Chad La Tourette. Chad grew up in Southern California, swimming at the legendary Mission Viejo Nadadores under Bill Rose. He had success in high school, making the 2006 Junior National Team and 2007 World University Games. In 2008, he finished 3rd at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the mile. In college, he swam for Stanford University, where he broke the NCAA record in the mile, but finished second to Martin Grodszki of the University of Georgia. In 2012, he finished 3rd in the mile at the U.S. Olympic Trials, for a second time. We chat with Chad La Tourette about his NCAA, International, Open Water, and Masters swimming career.

Dylan Carter

In this episode, we’re joined by the versatile Dylan Carter. Dylan began swimming later than most swimmers in Trinidad and Tobago, then moved to the United States for High School. Dylan was then recruited to USC to swim for the Trojans under Dave Salo. He swam in the 2016 Olympics representing Trinidad and Tobago and is a member of the LA Current. Our conversation with Dylan covers the swimming training in Trinidad and Tobago, moving to the United States as an International Student, college swimming, the Olympics, and the ISL.

Amy Bilquist

In this episode, we’re joined by standout backstroke and freestyler Amy Bilquist. Amy’s been an elite swimmer for a long time. She was one of the top recruits in the country out of high school, where she moved onto Cal and continued to rack up points for the Bears. She’s been on the USA National team, and last summer returned from a knee surgery AND a broken hand to win the 100bk National title and light a spark for the Olympic push. Our conversation with Amy covers the Olympic postponement and current lifestyle during COVID19 shutdown, strength training and learnings from injury recovery, what she’d like to see ISL add to the lineup to drive excitement, and much more plus some laughter along the way.  

Glenn Mills

In this episode, we’re joined by Glenn Mills (1980 Olympian [200br], 1983 NCAA Champion [2br], co-founder of GoSwim, technique and film guru). Glenn has decades of experience in swimming, notably winning the 200 breast at 1980 Olympic Trials in the closest trials 2-breast in history (.01 margin of victory), only to have to sit out those Games as part of the boycott. Glenn rallied to become NCAA champion in 1983 and spent years as one of the top breaststrokers in the world. In 2002, he co-founded GoSwim, the worlds leading provider of technical swimming videos, through which Glenn has worked with countless world-class swimmers and coaches with an up-close perspective of how the very best approach technique and training, and what it takes to be great. In this wide ranging conversation, we cover it all, from Glenn’s early days and the influence his brother’s life had on his swimming career, the legendary Cincinnati Marlins of the late 70s/early 80s, Don Gambril era of Alabama swimming & Jonty Skinner, founding GoSwim and sharing some learnings from the vast network of elite athletes and coaches that have crossed his camera lens.  

Katie McLaughlin

In this episode, USA National Teamer Katie McLaughin joins us. We talk about what Katie’s focusing on now in training to stay fit, areas of focus for her training in general, team dynamics at Cal under Teri McKeever, pro swimming for the LA Current, and how ISL can improve on season 1.  

The Social Kick Podcast #030 - NCAA Champions to Channel Crossings. One tough Breed with Catherine Breed

In this episode of The Social Kick Podcast, the guys chat with open water standout Catherine Breed. The guys chat with Catherine about:
-What she is doing with Covid-19
-Her last swimming pool race
-When she started open water swimming
-How to transition between open water and pool swimming
-Nonobvious differences between open water and pool swimming
-Her biggest mentors and coaches during her career
-Continuing the love of swimming through all the years in the pool

Elite America Sprinter Margo Geer

In this episode, the guys chat with one of the US's top female sprinters, Margo Geer. They discuss Margo's view on: -The Olympics being postponed -Her current training and how her training has adjusted from different programs and coaches over the years -Season 1 of the ISL -ISL expansion for year 2 -ISL solidarity program