Podcast
The Swim Brief
Hosted by Chris DeSantis · EN
A swimming podcast featuring natural conversations about the sport. Chris DeSantis brings the poolside conversation to the podcast form.
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How Do Great Programs Stay Great? | Todd DeSorbo
1w ago00:54:06Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailTodd DeSorbo has built one of the most dominant programs in college swimming history—but he says there was never a master plan.In this conversation we explore what it actually takes to sustain excellence year after year, why coaching elite athletes is more about what you do with the data than long term planning. Listen for how he thinks about recruiting, athlete development, emotional control, and building a culture that keeps producing world-class performances.Todd also shares why he believes plateaus are often a sign that an athlete is about to break through, how he coaches Olympic champions differently (and not differently), and what surprised him most about leading a dynasty.Topics include: Building a championship program without a fixed blueprint Why planning matters—but flexibility matters more Coaching world-record holders Why female athletes continue improving at Virginia Recruiting beyond times Managing emotion as a coach Creating a culture where athletes compete with each other rather than against each other
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Leadership, Responsibility, and Shame in The Odyssey
2w ago00:35:14Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhat can The Odyssey teach us about leadership when every available choice carries consequences?Chris is joined by Juliet Seuss for a different kind of episode: a conversation about Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and the questions it raises about responsibility, power, guilt, and shame. They examine whether Odysseus accepts responsibility for the people who follow him, how Penelope exercises power within an unjust system, and what Sinon’s story reveals about the shame society places on marginalized people.Along the way, they explore one of leadership’s hardest realities: sometimes there is no good decision—only the least-bad one. What matters is not whether a leader can prevent every bad outcome, but how they respond to circumstances they cannot fully control.This conversation contains major spoilers for The Odyssey.
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We Protect Athletes. Who Protects Coaches? | Sophie Parr
2w ago01:02:14Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailFor years, conversations about athlete welfare have rightly transformed the way we think about coaching. But there's another side of the equation that receives far less attention:Who protects coaches?This week I'm joined by coach Sophia Parr (@swim.coach.sophie) for one of the most vulnerable conversations we've ever had on The Swim Brief.Sophie shares the story of being removed from a high school coaching position after months of conflict, isolation, and feeling unsupported by leadership. Rather than focusing on a single moment, we explore the culture that can push good coaches to their breaking point—and why so many talented coaches quietly leave the profession.Together we discuss:• The emotional toll of coaching under constant scrutiny• Parent dynamics and organizational support• Why female coaches often face a different standard than men• The unintended consequences of well-intentioned safeguarding systems• How coaches can establish healthy boundaries without losing compassion• What schools, clubs, and parents can do to create healthier coaching environmentsThis isn't a conversation about avoiding accountability. It's about recognizing that healthy coaching environments require healthy support systems for everyone involved.Whether you're a coach, parent, athletic director, or athlete, I hope this episode encourages you to think differently about the people who dedicate themselves to developing others.If you enjoy conversations like this and would like to support The Swim Brief, you can do so at ChrisDCoach.com.Want to tell your story to Sophie? Click belowhttps://storiesfromthedeck.base44.app/Follow Sophie:Instagram: @swim.coach.sophieFollow Chris:Instagram: @chrisd_coachWebsite: ChrisDCoach.com
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The Parent Pressure Trap: Why Giving In Makes It Worse
3w ago00:28:17Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhy do parents keep intervening in coaching decisions—and why does giving in usually make the problem worse?In this solo brief, I describe the fear underneath parent pressure: the belief that failing to secure every possible opportunity means failing their child. I explore how coaches unintentionally reinforce that anxiety, why concessions invite more intervention, and how proactive communication can prevent conflict before it begins.The episode offers a practical framework for defining the roles of coach, parent, and athlete—allowing parents to support their child meaningfully without feeling they need to control coaching decisions.
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The Most Important Thing a Coach Can Say After Failure | Dave Salo
3w ago01:13:59Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailDave Salo has coached at every level of the sport—from NCAA championships to Olympic medals—but this conversation isn't about workouts or sets.Instead, we explore the decisions that define great coaching.We discuss why process matters more than outcomes, how a single sentence can change the way an athlete experiences failure, the transition from assistant coach to head coach, what it means to lead people instead of simply managing performance, and the lessons Dave has learned from both success and adversity throughout his career.Whether you coach swimming, another sport, or simply lead people, this episode is a reminder that the impact of coaching extends far beyond results.In this episode we discuss:Why athletes remember what coaches say long after races are overThe language that changes how athletes process failureThe difference between being an assistant coach and leading a programHow coaching philosophy evolves over decadesNavigating criticism, setbacks, and career transitionsWhat separates great coaching from great instructionIf you're interested in becoming a better coach—not just producing better performances—this conversation is for you.More episodes, resources, and coaching:https://www.chrisdcoach.comAbout The Swim BriefThe Swim Brief explores the thinking behind great coaching through conversations with world-class coaches, sport scientists, and leaders in swimming and beyond. Each episode is designed to help coaches improve the quality of their thinking so they can improve the quality of their coaching.
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Debrief: Jeana Kempe
4w ago00:56:53Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailThe head coach of Swimming and Diving at the University of Illinois Jeana Kempe joins to talk influences and the path of her coaching career.
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Debrief: David Marsh
Jul 601:26:21Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailDavid Marsh tells all about what his retirement actually looks like, and what he had planned if he was National Team Director. Debrief: David Marsh Chris DeSantis Download
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Debrief: Tracy Menzel
Jun 2900:58:09Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailTracy Menzel joins to talk GAIN, Diversity and why she’s back coaching in her hometown. Debrief: Tracy Menzel Chris DeSantis Download
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Bonus Pod: A Day With Greg Meehan
Jun 2500:25:07Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailRecapping the day I spent following around USA Swimming National Team Director Greg Meehan at last week’s Indy Pro Series event. Bonus Pod: A Day with Greg Meehan Chris DeSantis
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Debrief: Dave Durden
Jun 2201:00:41Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailDave Durden joins to discuss how he approaches his unconventional start at Cal and his approaches to recruiting and hiring. Debrief: Dave Durden Chris DeSantis
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