Social Kick • Swim Culture & Stories

Elite swimmer Anna Moesch returns to the Social Kick podcast for episode 308 to break down her massive athletic leap over the past year, including winning an NCAA title in the 200 free and clocking a blistering 51-second 100 free. Join hosts Bryan Lundquist and John Mullen as they dive into Anna's behind-the-scenes training journey. Discover how she handles brutal altitude training blocks at the Olympic Training Center, incorporates high-aerobic volume to conquer late-race pain, and utilizes specific stroke and power rack drills to unlock elite front-end speed. Get a front-row seat to the daily culture of excellence...

How does a former 800 freestyler from Fiji become an 18-second 50 freestyler in one of the fastest sprint environments in the NCAA? In this episode of the Social Kick Podcast, Arizona State University's Tolu Young shares his incredible journey from the "no rush, no worries" island culture of Fiji to the highly competitive, smack-talking pool deck at ASU. T olu breaks down his unexpected transition from a self-proclaimed terrible distance swimmer into a pure 50 freestyler after moving to Washington State during the 2020 lockdowns. We dive deep into the cutting edge of sprint training as Tolu explains his role...

How does a multi-sport athlete who trained in the pool just 2 to 4 times a week become one of the fastest freestylers in the NCAA? In this episode of the Social Kick Podcast, we sit down with Indiana University sensation Liberty Clark to unpack her wildly unique path to swimming stardom. Growing up in Chico, California, Liberty balanced club volleyball, judo, and soccer with a low-yardage summer league swimming approach. She breaks down the massive culture shock of moving to IU, where she went from swimming 3,000-yard maximum practices to surviving 5,000-meter long course conditioning sets (and yes...

Australia’s distance freestyle king has returned! Fresh off a historic performance at the 2026 Australian Trials—where he became the first man since Grant Hackett to sweep the 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m Freestyles—Samuel Short joins the Social Kick Podcast to break down exactly how he did it. In this episode, Sam takes us behind the scenes of his elite training block. From brutal high-altitude camps in Flagstaff to managing his sleep and body composition with Oura Rings and dietitians, Sam leaves no stone unturned. He details exactly what he eats in a day to survive massiv...

In this episode of Social Kick, we are joined by the "Father of NIL," Grant House! As the lead plaintiff in the landmark House v. NCAA case, Grant completely changed the landscape of college sports. But he’s not stopping there. Grant is now focused on educating athletes, speaking at universities across the country, and developing his own performance consulting business. We discuss the evolving world of NIL, exploring what brands are actually looking for from Olympic athletes and how swimmers can better monetize their careers. Grant shares his experience attending Athlete Con in Las Vegas and th...

Is Josh Matheny the happiest guy in professional swimming? We caught up with the rising USA breaststroke star after meeting him at the Beyond the Blocks Clinic in Ohio, and he did not disappoint! In this episode of the Social Kick, Josh discusses his unique breaststroke technique—specifically answering the question everyone asks: Why does he open his mouth so wide when he breathes? Josh also opens up about his training philosophy at Indiana University, how he manages the brutal 200m Breaststroke, and the mental battles of breaking through times when you're stuck on a plateau. We al...

How does a 200 Butterfly and IM swimmer completely reinvent himself to become the American Record holder in the 50 Breaststroke? In this episode of Social Kick, we sit down with sprint powerhouse Van Mathias to discuss his incredible and unconventional swimming journey. Van breaks down how stepping away from the pool to focus on heavy lifting (and bulking up to 235 lbs!) ultimately laid the foundation for his explosive sprint speed. We discuss his current training regimen at Indiana University, which defies traditional swimming volume. Van reveals how he hits career-best times on just 8,000 to 10,000 yards a...

What does it actually take to make a living as a professional swimmer? Olympic Silver Medalist and NCAA Champion Anna Peplowski joins Social Kick to pull back the curtain on pro swimming finances, her transition out of NCAA competition, and her road to the LA 2028 Olympics. Anna breaks down the exact numbers behind her professional career, including the $3,750 monthly stipend from USA Swimming, the $15,000 athlete donor program, and how she navigates brand deals with companies like Jersey Mike's, Science in Sport, and DripDrop. She also shares how living on $650/month rent in Indiana helps her budget for...

Is he the best underwater kicker of all time? We think so—and so does Coach Dave Durden! In this episode of the Social Kick Podcast, Olympic Gold Medalist and Cal Bear legend Tom Shields joins the crew to talk about his life post-retirement, his new swimming clinics, and his life in Santa Cruz, California.   Tom takes us through his incredible career, revealing the exact moment he realized his underwaters were world-class and how he used his turns to dominate the sport. But Tom’s next chapter goes far beyond the pool. He details his new t...

Remember the fun of summer league swimming? The relays, the snacks, and hanging out with your friends by the pool? Brian Robbins is bringing that exact energy back to the sport with Grown-Up Swimming, a recreational summer swim league designed specifically for adults.   In this episode of the Social Kick Podcast, Brian, John, and Luke sit down with Brian Robbins to discuss the massive, rapid growth of Grown-Up Swimming—expanding from just 7 leagues in 2023 to over 45 cities nationwide today. We dive into the hilarious origin story behind the league's name (and why Turner Broadcasting's "Adult Swi...

The UVA Men’s team has officially arrived. We are joined by the powerhouse freshman duo of Thomas Heilman and Maximus Williamson to recap a historic NCAA season that saw the Virginia men jump into the Top 10. Maximus takes us behind the scenes of his legendary 200 Freestyle win from Lane 8 (and the secret tattoo deal he made with Todd DeSorbo), while Thomas breaks down the "stacked" 100 Butterfly final and the intense rivalry and camaraderie at the heart of the Cavalier culture. We dive into the controversial NCAA "No B-Final" format, the reality of swimming relays in the mo...

In this episode of Social Kick, Bryan and the crew sit down with one of the hottest "free agents" in NCAA swimming: Julian Koch. After an explosive sophomore season at Pitt that saw him jump from a non-qualifier to a top seed in the 100 Freestyle A-Final, Julian has officially entered the transfer portal. Julian breaks down the "overwhelming" 48 hours after his name hit the portal, his recent visits to powerhouses like Texas, Florida, and Tennessee, and the 20-pound muscle transformation that fueled his 40.4 100 Freestyle. We also dive into his international background—growing up in Dubai, Pa...

In this episode of Social Kick, Olympic swimmer David Johnston opens up about his recent decision to transfer from Texas to Florida, diving deep into the realities of navigating the transfer portal, and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals in collegiate swimming. He candidly shares his struggles with a debilitating shoulder injury, his relentless drive to return to the sport he loves, and his ultimate goal for the 2028 Olympics. They discuss everything from what it means to “outwork” the competition, adapting to a new coaching style, and the mindset needed to overcome intense physical and mental setbacks. List...

In this episode of Social Kick, Bryan Lundquist and Dr. John Mullen sit down with Indiana University’s breakout freshman sensation, Josh Bey. After a monster first year that saw him drop 5 seconds in his 200 breaststroke to become the #8 all-time performer (1:48.9) and win the Big 10 title in the 400 IM, Josh pulls back the curtain on the mental and physical grind of elite college swimming. Josh opens up about his "cannon event"—a heart-to-heart meeting in December that saved his season—and how he moved past crippling superstitions to finally trust his gut. We dive deep into the IU bre...

In this episode of the Social Kick Podcast, we welcome back NCAA Champion and Polish Olympian Kacper Stokowski. Known for his legendary celebrations and underwater dominance at NC State, Kacper is now pivoting his competitive drive into the world of sports business. We discuss his new venture, Level Up Mentorship, a platform designed to bridge the gap between young athletes and elite mentors. Kacper shares his personal journey from a young swimmer in Poland with unanswered questions to an elite athlete realizing the power of a one-on-one connection. We also get Kacper’s takes on the current state of sw...

In this episode of the Social Kick Podcast, we sit down with Sean Kao, the founder and mastermind behind Aquatic Sports Performance (ASP). Sean has revolutionized the way elite swimmers approach the weight room, training some of the fastest athletes on the planet, including Caleb Dressel and Michael Andrew. Sean takes us through his journey from being a sprinter at Arizona State University under the legendary Bob Bowman to building a world-class training facility from a garage. We discuss his "Rate Limiting KPI" philosophy, the reality of "neural load" in sprinting, and the grit required to build...

The 2026 NCAA Swimming & Diving season is officially in the books! Bryan and John are back from Atlanta (Georgia Tech) to recap a wild week of record-breaking performances and controversial format changes. From the Virginia Women securing an epic 6th straight title to the Texas Men going back-to-back, the dynasties are alive and well—but the sport is changing. We dive deep into the "no B-finals" experiment, the decision to open the meet with the 1650 Freestyle, and why Josh Liendo and Hubi Kos setting NCAA records in the morning was met with "crickets" in the stands. We also di...

What happens when a top-tier athlete hits a plateau after five years in the same environment? Isabelle Stadden joins the crew to discuss her "reset" move from Cal to the University of Virginia. After nearly walking away from the sport last summer, Isabelle is back and faster than ever, dropping a massive 2:05 200 Backstroke at Westmont. We dive deep into the differences between the Dave Durden and Todd DeSorbo training styles, the "trauma" of training with Ryan Murphy at altitude, and why she’s suddenly swimming with the endurance of her high school self. From specific caffeine protocols to...

What happens when you’re the first alternate for an Olympic final and get the call only 40 minutes before the blocks? Israeli star Anastasia Gorbenko joins the Social Kick crew to break down the "Paris Drama," her transition from the professional ISL ranks to the Louisville Cardinals, and the story behind the most famous flip turn in breaststroke history. Anastasia discusses the intensity of the "American way" of training, the emotional weight of representing Israel during a time of war, and how she maintains range from a 29.3 50 breaststroke to a world-class 400 IM. Whether you're here fo...

Daniel Wiffen and Nathan Wiffen join the Social Kick Podcast to discuss the training, mindset, and recovery behind elite 1500m freestyle swimming. Olympic champion Daniel Wiffen, one of the fastest distance swimmers in the world, shares the unusual recovery routine—including a famous 15-hour nap cycle—that helped power his rise in Olympic swimming. In Episode 288 of the Social Kick Podcast, Daniel Wiffen and Nathan Wiffen break down their journey from Loughborough’s high-volume training environment to the marginal gains philosophy at Cal Berkeley swimming. The Wiffen brothers explain how distance swimmers manage brutal training weeks, how race t...