Best Swim Coach Mike Podcasts (2025)

1
Working Hard - Chapter One - The Myth And The Basics - Part 2

1h ago

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It takes hard work to get ahead in your professional life. As you progress into more demanding roles, more is expected of you. To climb to the top, if that is what you aspire to do, takes an incredible amount of work. But it is a MYTH that “working hard” simply means working more hours. In fact, working more hours, in the long run, is NOT the way t…

1
#847 – Think Inside Out 1:00:10

4d ago1:00:10

1:00:10

Do you chase the process or the excitement of race as the cure? Today we look going inside yourself as the solution. Topics: Lawn talk Door to door sales Early season power Don’t make a race feel too hard Ironman growth stats Obstacles and barriers to entry Worried about how you look Judging others and yourself Body builder cuts No mirror experimen…

1
#846 – Fresh and Confident on Race Day 52:29

6d ago52:29

52:29

Pre-Race nerves. How do we get ahead of them in training? Today, we look into many things we've learned as athletes and coaches to prepare for the race ahead of time. We talk about tough condition training, fueling, and getting locked into a headspace that you'll need to perform. There shouldn't be a lot surprises on race day, and if there is how d…

1
Amy Van Dyken-Rouen on Olympic Swimming Gold Medals and Life-Changing ATV Accident 40:59

6d ago40:59

40:59

Amy Van Dyken-Rouen grew up in Colorado and started swimming to combat her asthma. She soon excelled at the sport and just missed out on making the 1992 US Olympic Swim Team. She swam collegiately at Arizona for 2 years before transferring to Colorado State where she almost quit the sport. Instead, Van Dyken-Rouen swam for the Rams and broke the US…

1
Working Hard - Chapter One - The Myth And The Basics - Part 1

7d ago

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It takes hard work to get ahead in your professional life. As you progress into more demanding roles, more is expected of you. To climb to the top, if that is what you aspire to do, takes an incredible amount of work. But it is a MYTH that “working hard” simply means working more hours. In fact, working more hours, in the long run, is NOT the way t…

1
#845 – Type A vs. Type B Athletes 51:05

11d ago51:05

51:05

Today we look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of personality traits :) Well, not really. The goal here was to look for common ground and how qualities on both sides can help the other. There’s a lot of labeling in this world, so we look at ways of bringing good together from a training and personality habit side. What can we learn from being a l…

1
#844 – Be Ready For Anything on Race Day 53:18

12d ago53:18

53:18

Race conditions can be unforgiving and downright brutal (see Texas 70.3). Today, we look at how training can help us prepare for the unexpected on race day. Topics: Texas 70.3 Rough Race Conditions Early season on the trainer to outdoors for races The decision to create more stress on purpose A look at “outside stress” Preparing for unfamiliar situ…

1
Introducing The Effective Senior Manager Conference

14d ago

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Learn about our Effective Senior Manager Conference: its purpose, its agenda, its topics. If you’re a manager and are thinking about your career as a Senior Manager and even Executive, you need to learn why the job is different, and how to succeed.By Michael Auzenne and Mark Horstman

1
Marc Mero on Wrestling for WCW and WWE, negotiating with Vince McMahon, Working with Ric Flair, and his INSPIRATIONAL Lifestyle 50:24

16d ago50:24

50:24

Marc Mero was born in Buffalo before moving to Liverpool, NY where he gravitated to the contact sports of hockey, lacrosse, football and boxing. He was a 4-time state champion boxer, but when an injury ended his dream of boxing in the Olympics, Mero turned to drugs and odd jobs to fill the void. After watching pro wrestling on TV, Mero gave the spo…

1
#843 – Intensity vs. Aerobic 53:01

18d ago53:01

53:01

The argument for a weekend of RPE. Topics: Taking it outside to the streets 25 yards vs. 50 meters Watt Ranges Intensity vs. Aerobic Different ways to fill stress buckets Understanding ranges Specific watts Things we can’t know as a coach The spirit of the workout ERG mode How to use feel with analytics When your Zone 3 is different day to day Elem…

1
Episode 76: Open Water Olympian Mariah Denigan on NCAA Champs, Open Water Nationals 35:36

19d ago35:36

35:36

Paris Olympian Mariah Denigan joined Kick Set podcast fresh off of her senior-year performance at NCAA Championships. She discusses what it is like swimming at that meet, as well as some insight on open water swimming and her outlook towards Open Water National Championships. Send us a textBy USA Swimming

1
#842 – Pacing Your Season 56:42

20d ago56:42

56:42

Triathlon is all about pacing and this goes for workouts, races, and your entire season. Today we look at how the phases of a year can affect you mentally, emotionally, physically and even spiritually. Are you expecting too much from yourself too soon? Do you overthink every little metric? Are you working on getting better in the right ways? TSS sc…

1
Internal Hiring Process - Chapter 1 - Development Feedback

21d ago

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Interviewing internal candidates is different than interviewing external candidates. Internal interviews are not just efforts to fill positions, but also part of professional development for your organization.By Michael Auzenne and Mark Horstman

1
#841 – Things We've Learned From 10 Years of Coaching/Casting 1:00:43

25d ago1:00:43

1:00:43

Today we sort of cut through the clutter of complicated training and use examples of things we’ve learned to be most effective for your triathlon journey. We talk about our early races and what we learned from them and share core principles that have never changed. We look at trends in triathlon and why old philosophies always seem to come back aro…

1
#840 – Crafting Your Training Week 59:13

27d ago59:13

59:13

Are you good at recognizing the levels of fatigue? Today we look at different ways to stack your week to take advantage of the type of athlete you are. More or less days off? Bigger but fewer days? What hits your sweet spot and is it really true? We look at training stress score, training with fatigue, and why a lot of this just depends. Is it ment…

1
Swimming Upstream - Chapter One - Your Boss's Calendar - Part 2

28d ago

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Part 2 of our guidance on Swimming Upstream introduces executive-level insights into our Manager Tools content to help managers become more effective by understanding organizational dynamics beyond their role, ultimately preparing them for greater leadership opportunities.By Michael Auzenne and Mark Horstman

1
#839 – How To Not Suck At Swimming #15 53:25

1M ago53:25

53:25

Today, we look at how you can be faster by being more efficient. We breakdown using your arms as levers and look at how and where to enter the water. We talk about the power of using paddles in the RIGHT way. We get into why you have limited mobility, why you have a stiff neck and why your shoulder hurts. We’ll give you the swimming like “a house” …

1
Herm Edwards on Life Lessons from Playing and Coaching in the NFL 52:27

1M ago52:27

52:27

Herm Edwards was born on an Army base with a dad who was a World War II veteran and a German mom. Edwards grew up in Seaside, CA and took to football against his mother’s wishes. He played cornerback at nearby California Berkeley for 2 seasons along with one season at Monterey Peninsula College and San Diego State where he would graduate in 1976 wi…

1
Swimming Upstream - Chapter One - Your Boss's Calendar - Part 1

1M ago

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Our guidance on Swimming Upstream introduces executive-level insights into our Manager Tools content to help managers become more effective by understanding organizational dynamics beyond their role, ultimately preparing them for greater leadership opportunities.By Michael Auzenne and Mark Horstman

1
#838 – Swim Like A Swimmer 45:36

1M ago45:36

45:36

Today is a little rant about swimming. We look at a few easy ways for you to improve your stroke, body position, and economy in the water. It it really as simple as being a better breather? What about head position? Are you in survival mode while in the water or calmly going about your business. Today is about efficient swimming without hesitation.…

1
#736 – Exploring Your Discomfort Zone 56:18

1M ago56:18

56:18

Today we start with why 70.3's are gaining popularity and roll that into training with more intensity. We look at how to explore higher zones and how to work that into your overall training. We talk about why it’s important to remind yourself what it feels like and why you have to train it to truly know it. We get into why it can be more stressful …

1
Why Scheduling Is The Most Important Component of One On Ones - Part 2

1M ago

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Scheduling your One On Ones is surprisingly the most important component of One On Ones. Too many managers mistakenly believe that they are “too busy” to do One On Ones becuase of their full calendars. But scheduling them is actually more important than having weekly One On Ones. Why is that? Our data show why. And directs tell us why when we ask t…

1
#836 – Work Smarter for Better Stimulus 54:14

2M ago54:14

54:14

Today we look at ways to work on little things that matter instead of always grinding yourself to the core. Better economy and efficiency go a LONG ways in this sport, so how do you get better inside a typical training session. We look at different ways you can work the swim, bike, and run to keep your HR in a solid place, but create more stimulus.…

1
#835 – 10 SIMPLE THOUGHTS ABOUT TRAINING 55:18

2M ago55:18

55:18

Today we run down a list of ideas generated from our athlete comments in Training Peaks. We look at 10 ways to simplify training by a shift in perspective about how you approach your day. We get into time wasting, weight loss, building speed and the frame to hold it, sleep, bad moods and bad days, balance, flexibility, strength, core, and how to pu…

1
Why Scheduling Is The Most Important Component of One On Ones - Part 1

2M ago

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Scheduling your One On Ones is surprisingly the most important component of One On Ones. Too many managers mistakenly believe that they are “too busy” to do One On Ones becuase of their full calendars. But scheduling them is actually more important than having weekly One On Ones. Why is that? Our data show why. And directs tell us why when we ask t…

1
Herman Moore on NFL Pro Bowl Career, Barry Sanders and the Curse of Bobby Layne 35:35

2M ago35:35

35:35

Herman Moore was born and raised in Danville, VA where he was a three-sport athlete playing basketball, football and running track. After decommitting from Virginia Tech, Moore played for rival Virginia becoming an All-ACC and All-American wide receiver under Hall of Fame coach George Welsh. The Detroit Lions drafted Moore 10th overall in 1991 and …

1
Episode 75: Georgia Associate Head Coach Mike Norment on Coaching Tips, Philosophy, Sets, and Stories 48:36

2M ago48:36

48:36

After growing up swimming for legendary PDR Swimming coach Jim Ellis, and eventually coaching the Olympic talents of Nic Fink and Luca Urlando, University of Georgia Associate Head Coach Mike Norment has a wealth of knowledge, experiences, and stories across all levels of the sport. Send us a textBy USA Swimming

1
#834 – Tapping Your Deep Motivation 54:26

2M ago54:26

54:26

How do you tap that “positive group motivation” when you’re by yourself? Today we look into how training can be more motivating, positive, and effective when you might not be feeling it. We explore the positive group mindset and how that can translate into simple decision making that lets you get more out of your training. We look at endorphin dump…

1
Why Is Negative Feedback So Hard? - Part 2

2M ago

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Lots of managers - hundreds of thousand, and perhaps millions by now - start doing Manager Tools One On Ones, and they love them. They love them because they work, and they’re not as hard as the manager thought they would be. And very few managers who do Manager Tools One On Ones never stop.By Michael Auzenne and Mark Horstman

1
#833 – Keep Showing Up 49:53

2M ago49:53

49:53

It’s the time of year when we all need a little pep talk to keep showing up. Just when things seem like they’re getting too tough is usually when you’re about to make a breakthrough, so stick with it. In this case that breakthrough might be Spring and a revitalized energy. Stay in the ballpark. We get into the monotony of endurance training, being …

1
Why Is Negative Feedback So Hard? - Part 1

2M ago

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Lots of managers - hundreds of thousand, and perhaps millions by now - start doing Manager Tools One On Ones, and they love them. They love them because they work, and they’re not as hard as the manager thought they would be. And very few managers who do Manager Tools One On Ones never stop.But feedback is a different story. We would guess that aro…

1
#832 – Train Harder Than You Race (sometimes) 45:08

2M ago45:08

45:08

If you watch the Bobby Knight 30 for 30 it brings up a lot of questions and today we explore some of them and what it must have been like playing for Coach Knight. What drives a coach to be that intense? It inspired a discussion today about practicing harder than the game. We look at ways to turn your solo training into something that will have a d…

1
#831 – Experimenting With Your Training and Fueling 1:03:49

2M ago1:03:49

1:03:49

Today, we look at some of the things we learned from doing hard things at Run Camp. The body always seems to be more capable than we understand, and even on less fuel than we think. We look at stress and the effect on our body and mind and performance. We talk about carb loading and get into dopamine loading. Is carb renting for real? Does good fit…

1
The Simple Quarterly Performance Review

2M ago

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Most managers think that performance reviews are their most significant contribution to performance management and improvement. But that’s wrong. Frequent feedback is the greatest tool we managers have to improve performance. In fact, performance reviews aren’t even really part of the performance improvement efforts managers engage in. Performance …

1
Astronaut Leland Melvin on Travelling to Space, NFL, and His New Book "Space Chasers" 40:56

3M ago40:56

40:56

Leland Melvin was born and raised in Lynchburg, VA in the 1960s during the time of the moon landing in 1969. But, instead of wanting to be the next Neil Armstrong or Buzz Aldrin, Melvin wanted to be the next Arthur Ashe. While tennis didn't become his sport, football did, and Melvin earned a scholarship to the University of Richmond. Playing for th…

1
The Purpose of Feedback - Part 3

3M ago

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Almost every Non-Manager Tools manager thinks feedback is hard. And yet every year thousands of managers start giving feedback successfully. These managers have discovered that not only is it NOT that hard, but it’s well received, it works, and frankly, it’s easy to get addicted to giving it.By Michael Auzenne and Mark Horstman

1
#830 – How Good Can You Possibly Feel? 58:08

3M ago58:08

58:08

There’s always a point of diminishing marginal returns, but how do we know what’s not enough and how much is too much? What kind of athlete and person are you creating on a daily basis? Volume is relative and there is more power in not rushing the steps. Are you swimming upstream or going with the flow. It’s always best to make consistent and manag…

1
Episode 74: U.S. National Junior Team Director Brendan Hansen Gives Advice To Next Generation 46:31

3M ago46:31

46:31

New U.S. National Junior Team Director Brendan Hansen shares some advice for emerging athletes and coaches on the latest episode of Kick Set podcast. Along with general swimming tips, he shares about the recent USA Swimming National Select Camp, how he came into his role as National Junior Team Director, and what his hopes are for the program and c…

1
#829 – Sometimes We Need A Lil Kick In The A** 54:02

3M ago54:02

54:02

Today, we go to therapy to give each other a kick in the ass. It’s easy to fall into a rut and today we look at examples that we’ve done and seen as coaches that can get us moving the right direction. We look at things like mood, injuries, illness, and how we shift our mindset to get things moving the right direction. We all about the challenges of…

1
The Purpose of Feedback - Part 2

3M ago

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Almost every Non-Manager Tools manager thinks feedback is hard. And yet every year thousands of managers start giving feedback successfully. These managers have discovered that not only is it NOT that hard, but it’s well received, it works, and frankly, it’s easy to get addicted to giving it.By Michael Auzenne and Mark Horstman

1
#825 – Listener Questions 56:14

3M ago56:14

56:14

Is it important to do your long run the day after your long rides? What are the best smart trainers for your budget and success. Should you refrain from sex before a big race? We get into all that and more, along with a pretty good tangent discussion about how to work on really understanding and executing your pace and effort. We look at technology…

1
The Purpose of Feedback - Part 1

3M ago

—

Almost every Non-Manager Tools manager thinks feedback is hard. And yet every year thousands of managers start giving feedback successfully. These managers have discovered that not only is it NOT that hard, but it's well received, it works, and frankly, it's easy to get addicted to giving it.By Michael Auzenne and Mark Horstman

1
#827 – Own Your Inner Narrative 45:44

3M ago45:44

45:44

The way we talk with ourselves matters. Today, we look how triathletes can get caught in a trap of doubt and negative talk for the wrong reasons. We look at healthy and productive perspectives, especially at this time of the year when training can be more difficult. We look at ways you can learn and build and have a great perspective on peaking at …

1
#826 – Your REAL Why 50:03

3M ago50:03

50:03

It's hard to pull logs out once they're on fire. Today, we looking at some parts of triathlon from a different perspective and finding your Real why. We talk about why burnout is usually a choice and how you can avoid it and attack triathlon from a long term perspective instead of a short lived dream. What is your real why? This is a great time to …

1
Chucky Brown's Epic Journey: From NC State to 13 Years and 12 NBA Teams! 38:02

3M ago38:02

38:02

Chucky Brown was born and raised in New York City before moving to Southeastern North Carolina his sophomore year in high school. He was a standout at North Brunswick High School in Leland, NC and was named the 1985 North Carolina Mr. Basketball along with All-State and All-America. Although he grew up a North Carolina Tar Heel fan, Brown chose NC …

1
A Basic Team Culture Model For Managers - Part 2

3M ago

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In this guidance, we share what we think the base culture ought to be for all managers. You may wish to add more - that can be fine. Just be careful you don't have too many culture touch points - at some point they'll start conflicting with each other.By Michael Auzenne and Mark Horstman

1
Lessons From A Dog - #825 57:06

3M ago57:06

57:06

Not many notes today as Mike talks with Robbie about the loss of his dog. Mattie lived a good life and left behind a lot of lessons for all of us. Mike Tarrolly - [email protected] Robbie Bruce - [email protected] c26triathlon

1
A Basic Team Culture Model For Managers - Part 1

3M ago

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In this guidance, we share what we think the base culture ought to be for all managers. You may wish to add more - that can be fine. Just be careful you don't have too many culture touch points - at some point they'll start conflicting with each other.By Michael Auzenne and Mark Horstman

1
Boubacar Aw on playing for John Thompson at Georgetown, rooming with Allen Iverson and coaching girls basketball 45:19

4M ago45:19

45:19

Boubacar Aw was born and raised in Sengela in West Africa. Like most Senegalese children, he played soccer and loved the sport. However, a growth spurt led to basketball and a new love. Georgetown assistant coach Craig Esherick helped discover Aw along with fellow Senegalese player Ya-Ya Dia. In 1993, at age 17 and speaking only French and Wolof, A…

1
#824 – It's Time To Be Yourself 46:27

4M ago46:27

46:27

The saying goes, “new year, new me,” but should it be, “new year, real me?” Today, we look at goals from a perspective of picking ones that will actually align with who you are as a person and athlete. We talk about why being healthy is a great ideal, but it can also be vague without diving in a little deeper. We look at building a strong foundatio…

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