

Inside with Brett Hawke
Brett Hawke
Take an intimate look inside the minds of swimming's highest achievers with one of the world's best swim coaches, Brett Hawke.
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Apr 5, 2021 • 47min
#149 Kim Vandenberg
Kim Vandenberg won an Olympic bronze medal as part of Team USA's 4x200 Free Relay at the 2008 Games in Beijing. She qualified and swam at 5 straight US Olympic Trials, capturing the dreaded 3rd place in the 200 Fly 2 times.
Kim is a mentor for Rise Athletes, a Fitter & Faster coach, a serious Yogi, world traveler, and small business owner. On top of all that, she is a graduate student studying Psychology at Pepperdine University with aspirations of receiving her doctorate and opening up her own practice in the future.
She once won French Nationals and believes the 200 Free is way harder than the 200 Fly.
Enjoy!
00:00 Intro
00:15 Destro Swim Towers
00:45 Swimnerd Live Virtual Scoreboard
01:18 Kim Vandenberg where are you coming from
02:10 LA vs. NY
02:45 How'd you get into swimming?
04:00 Doubles at 12 Years Old
06:00 You were a 50 Freestyler!?
06:45 Ron & Don Heidary
07:15 Why UCLA? Cyndi Gallagher.
08:30 Freshman Year
09:00 Greg Meehan, Assistant Coach
10:40 Dana Kirk, Mary Decenza, & Kaitlin Sandeno
11:10 Going Pro After College
12:15 Training with Club Wolverine, Bowman, Phelps
12:45 Won 200 Fly at Nationals, signed with Speedo
13:15 Klete Keller
15:25 Competing in 5 Olympic Trials
21:50 Qualifying in 2008 for the Olympics
23:30 200 Free
25:20 3rd Place in 200 Fly
31:30 All these different coaches
32:45 2012 Olympic Trials Heartbreak
37:20 Was the 200 Fly your baby?
39:45 Being a Mentor
42:15 Proud Olympian
43:15 Kim's Future
44:20 Team USA Invincibility
45:45 Favorite Place
46:15 Favorite Food
Destro Swim Towers: use code "brett" at checkout to save $150 per double tower!
Connect:
Find | Brett Hawke
On Instagram @hawkebr
on Twitter @insidewithbh
On Facebook @insidewithbh
Find | Kim Vandenberg
On Instagram
On Twitter
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Produced by: SWIMNERD
Sponsored by: Destro Swim Towers: use code "brett" at checkout to save $150 per double tower!
Supported by: Fitter & Faster

Apr 1, 2021 • 43min
#148 Todd DeSorbo
Todd DeSorbo is the Head Coach of the Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving Teams at the University of Virginia. The UVA Women just took home their first ever NCAA Championship while the Men's team placed 9th.
A tax accountant before getting into coaching, Todd has gone from UNCW to NC State to UVA. Brett and Todd discuss taking the leap to become a head coach, what UVA is doing the very best at, the art of double tapering, and Eddie Reese's retirement.
00:00 Intro
01:20 Welcome
02:00 Congratulations
04:00 Todd's Vision of UVA
06:45 How'd you know it was time to leave NC State?
09:00 Management Component
11:30 Work Life Balance
14:07 What is UVA doing the best?
18:00 Not coaching Paige Madden
21:00 Balancing 2 Teams: Men & Women
22:15 The Art of Double Tapering
32:00 Recruiting is the Life Blood of Any Program
34:50 Eddie Reese
39:05 Next Head Coach of Texas?
40:00 Todd's Goals
Connect:
Find | Brett Hawke
On Instagram @hawkebr
on Twitter @insidewithbh
On Facebook @insidewithbh
Find | Todd DeSorbo
On Instagram
On Twitter
Subscribe & Listen:
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Produced by: SWIMNERD
Sponsored by: Destro Swim Towers: use code "brett" at checkout to save $150 per double tower!
Supported by: Fitter & Faster

Mar 29, 2021 • 58min
#147 Roland Schoeman
Roland Schoeman is a 4-time Olympian from South Africa. At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Roland won a Bronze (50 Free), a Silver (100 Free), and a Gold (4x100 Free Relay). Regarded as having the best start in swimming, Roland was the first human to break 23 in the 50 Fly LCM.
00:00 Intro
00:15 Destro Swim Tower
00:45 Swimnerd Pace Clocks
01:15 Roland Schoeman Intro
02:45 How'd you get into swimming?
08:30 Gavin Ross
10:45 ASU, Iowa State, Arizona
15:00 Transitioning to America
17:20 Backed into a Corner
19:35 Losing his Father
23:25 Summer with Mike Bottom & Nort Thornton
24:15 "There's more than 1 way to skin a cat." - Frank Busch
25:15 Tough conversation with Frank
27:50 Brett could never beat Roland
29:00 Commonwealth Games 2002: The Ready Room
34:00 2004
39:55 Gary Hall Jr.
42:30 2005 Montreal; 50 Fly World Record
47:15 Rivals
47:30 Ryk Neethling
50:20 Why are you still swimming?
55:15 "My Worst Enemy"
56:15 Life After Swimming
57:45 Write a Book
Connect:
Find | Brett Hawke
On Instagram @hawkebr
on Twitter @insidewithbh
On Facebook @insidewithbh
Find | Roland Schoeman
On Instagram @roland_schoeman
On Twitter @rolandschoeman
Subscribe & Listen:
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Produced by: SWIMNERD
Sponsored by: Destro Swim Towers: use code "brett" at checkout to save $150 per double tower!
Supported by: Fitter & Faster

Mar 25, 2021 • 40min
#146 Sarah Dunleavy
Sarah Dunleavy is currently the college recruiting director for the Sierra Marlins Swim Team. Sarah's collegiate experience includes stints at Kentucky, Pitt, and California. She swam at Purdue. Brett and Sarah discuss in depth about women in swim coaching, their struggles, and how we can do a better job retaining women coaches.
00:00 Intro
00:15 Destro Swim Towers
00:40 Swimnerd Live: the best way to live stream your swim meet
01:00 Sierra Marlins
03:00 Sarah Dunleavy Bio
04:15 Why coaching?
06:00 Swimming at Purdue
07:00 John Klinge's Influence
09:10 What challenged you?
10:15 Trial & Error at Illinois State
11:45 What do you gain from listening to this podcast?
14:30 Having a woman on your coaching staff
15:40 Shortage of women in coaching
22:45 University of California
23:40 Roles at Cal: Compliance, Recruiting, Coaching
25:00 Struggling Personally, Mental Health
32:00 The Cost of Coaching College Swimming
34:00 College Recruiting
37:00 Plans to get back into college coaching?
This episode is sponsored by DESTRO SWIM TOWERS.
Use code "BRETT" at checkout and save $150 on a double swim tower!
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Connect | Brett Hawke
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Connect | Sarah Dunleavy
On Twitter
Produced by: SWIMNERD
Sponsored by: Destro Swim Towers: use code "brett" at checkout to save $150 per double tower!
Supported by: Fitter & Faster

Mar 24, 2021 • 33min
NCAA's with Cathy Durden (CAL) & Maxime Rooney (TX)
A special episode talking about NCAA Division I Swimming Championships featuring Cathy Durden (Senior VP of Fan Acquisition for Cal Men's Swimming) and Maxime Rooney.
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Produced by: SWIMNERD
Supported by: Fitter & Faster

Mar 22, 2021 • 57min
#145 Chad Le Clos
Chad Le Clos is one of the greatest racers of our lifetime. At 20 years old, he shocked the world by taking down Michael Phelps in the 200 Fly at the 2012 Olympic Games. He is a 4x individual Olympic medalist in 3 separate events including a Silver in the 200 Free behind Sun Yang.
00:00 Intro
01:30 Stuck in South Africa
02:30 Training at 4 Facilities
06:00 Specialize in 1 Event?
07:45 Olympic Inspiration: 2004 4x100 Free Relay
08:55 Michael Phelps
10:00 Coach Graham Hill
11:15 Bert Le Clos
14:20 Winning 2010 Commonwealth Games
16:15 How'd you beat Michael Phelps?
20:00 Toughness
23:45 50's Fly with a Sponge
25:25 200's Fly in Practice?
27:05 Looking Around During the Race
29:50 Responding to L's
34:05 Life After Winning Gold
36:30 Energy Standard
37:45 Phelps is Back
38:40 Silver in 200 Free
39:50 Sun Yang
40:30 Ryan Cochrane
43:15 Shadow Boxing in front of MP
45:30 Sport shouldn't be personal
48:30 Mentality in the Ready Room
50:30 Keep on Swimming
51:15 Behind the Blocks
53:20 James Gibson
54:30 2021 Tokyo Olympics
55:45 Chad Le Clos Swim Academy
57:00 Mare Nostrum 2009
This episode is sponsored by: Destro Swim Towers! Use code "brett" at checkout to save $150 per double tower!
Subscribe, Review, Share!
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Connect | Brett Hawke
On Instagram @hawkebr
On Twitter @insidewithbh
On Facebook @insidewithbh
Connect | Chad Le Clos
On Twitter
On Instagram
Produced by: SWIMNERD
Sponsored by: Destro Swim Towers: use code "brett" at checkout to save $150 per double tower!
Supported by: Fitter & Faster
Artwork photo courtesy of Mine Kasapoglu. Follow her on Instagram.
Also, watch her interview on Episode 134! She can rip down a mountain on skis or a snowboard...Turkish national champion!

Mar 18, 2021 • 49min
#144 Bill Kirby
Bill Kirby is an Olympic gold medal winning swimmer from Australia. He was part of the 4x200 Free Relay that won in 2000. They broke that relay's World Record 3 different times (1998, 2000, 2001).
Bill has recently moved back to Perth and opened up a swim school & swim team: Kirby Swim.
This episode is chuck full of amazing stories -- Bill has an outstanding memory. Test sets, kick sets, Alexander Popov, Michael Klim, Ian Thorpe, Grant Hackett, Todd Pearson, Don Talbot, and on and on!
Enjoy!
This episode is sponsored by: Destro Swim Towers! Use code "brett" at checkout to save $150 per double tower!
00:00 Intro
01:45 Where are you coming from?
02:00 Kirby Swim in Perth
02:30 How was/is COVID?
04:20 How'd you get into swimming?
05:00 First love was Surf Life Saving
06:05 The backyard swim school instructor
07:00 City of Perth Swimming Club: Shelley Taylor-Smith, Neil Brooks, Dean Peters
08:50 100 Fly National Champ at 17
09:30 Trip to Sweden
10:30 Don Talbot: "You don't think you can win a medal here do you?"
14:30 Where did you see yourself?
16:58 Test Set: 7x200's
19:30 What were your strengths?
21:00 Leading up to Sydney
23:00 Gennadi & Popov Story Time
28:00 Breaking the 4x200 Free Relay World Record
32:15 2000 Sydney Trials
34:30 Leaving Hackett off the Relay
37:00 Swimming is Objective
39:00 Anchoring
40:45 What's Ian Thorpe like in the Ready Room?
42:00 Did winning Gold change your life?
43:45 2001 Final Year of Swimming
46:30 Don Talbot: Australia Can Be the Best
48:15 Wrapping Up
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Connect | Brett Hawke
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Connect | Bill Kirby
Kirby Swim
Produced by: SWIMNERD

Mar 15, 2021 • 47min
#143 Arthur Albiero
Arthur Albiero has been the Head Coach of the Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving Teams at the University of Louisville since 2003. When he took the job, the men's team had half of a scholarship. The pool was in a basement. The team had no culture of winning. Fast forward 18 years and all that has been turned around.
Born and raised in Brazil, Coach Albiero has an amazing swimming story. At 12 years old he got the opportunity to attend Don Gambril's swim camp at the University of Alabama. He walked on at Cal State Bakersfield, swimming for the legendary Ernie Maglischo. His first job coaching was at Kenyon College under Hall of Fame Coach Jim Steen.
Arthur has had major success at U of L, recently winning the Men's ACC Championship by just 2 points. According to Coach Albiero, those two points were years in the making.
He was named to Team USA's coaching staff for the 2016 Rio Olympics and served as Head Coach for Pan Pacs in 2018.
Up next: Tokyo.
Enjoy!
This episode is sponsored by: Destro Swim Towers: use code "brett" at checkout to save $150 per double tower!
00:00 Intro
01:06 Arthur Albiero 18th Season at Louisville
03:00 Fastest ACC Meet in History
03:50 How with a restricted season did you swim so fast?
05:45 Guys Stepping Up
07:15 Why this team, why now?
08:45 2 Points Built on Years of Points
09:55 Coaching Your Kids
15:45 How did you get to America?
16:00 Don Gambril Swim Camp
18:00 Cal State Bakersfield & Ernie Maglischo
19:10 Oakland University
19:40 1st Job: Kenyon College & Jim Steen
20:45 Louisville Head Coach at 29 yrs old
24:00 How do you take down Cal & Texas?
29:05 21x50's LCM going SC Goal Time
33:10 Representing Team USA
36:20 What Brazil is missing: YOU!
41:00 Why Louisville?
This episode is sponsored by: Destro Swim Towers! Use code "brett" at checkout to save $150 per double tower!
Subscribe, Review, Share!
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Connect | Brett Hawke
On Instagram @hawkebr
On Twitter @insidewithbh
On Facebook @insidewithbh
Connect | Arthur Albiero
On Twitter
On LinkedIn
Produced by: SWIMNERD
Sponsored by: Destro Swim Towers: use code "brett" at checkout to save $150 per double tower!
Supported by: Fitter & Faster

Mar 11, 2021 • 55min
#142 Teri McKeever
Teri McKeever is in the 29th year of being the Head Coach of the Women's Swimming & Diving Team at the University of California. She served as the Head Coach of the U.S. Olympic women’s swim team at the London Olympics. Teri is, "regarded as one of the most accomplished swimming mentors in the United States, if not the world."
00:00 Intro
01:20 Teri McKeever Bio
02:30 How have you been so successful for so long at 1 place?
05:10 Early Struggles
08:15 Be the Best Teri McKeever
09:00 Asking for help is a sign of strength.
12:45 Women's Summit
13:35 What makes a great swimmer?
17:00 Sarah Dunleavey
17:15 What's changed the last 10-15 years?
20:10 Being a Female Coach of a Female Team
22:45 "If I was a female I'd be going to swim for Teri."
24:45 Authenticity
25:15 Time Management Lessons
28:40 No Scholarship Increases?
30:00 Common Courtesy From Recruits
32:55 What things do you do for yourself?
37:40 What separates you?
40:20 Training to Perform not Training to Train
41:45 What separates Dana Vollmer and Natalie Coughlin?
43:40 What's the thing that is driving you?
47:00 Congrats on your Pac 12 Championship
47:15 How do you feel about NCAA's?
51:15 How do we keep women in coaching?
This episode is sponsored by: Destro Swim Towers: use code "brett" at checkout to save $150 per double tower!
Subscribe, Review, Share!
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Connect | Brett Hawke
On Instagram @hawkebr
On Twitter @insidewithbh
On Facebook @insidewithbh
Connect | Teri McKeever
On Instagram
Produced by: SWIMNERD
Sponsored by: Destro Swim Towers: use code "brett" at checkout to save $150 per double tower!
Supported by: Fitter & Faster

Mar 8, 2021 • 45min
#141 Zach Apple
Zach Apple is one of Team USA's premier 50/100/200 Freestylers. He won the 100 and 200 Free at the World University Games in 2019 and was part of Team USA's World Champion 4x100 Free Relay in Gwangju that same year.
Corona came. Zach didn't touch the water for 3 months. Then he ripped a 48.5 in practice after just 2.5 months of doing singles.
Zach's story is very much about being a late bloomer -- not realizing tech suits were a thing until he was 16 years old...
00:00 Sponsors
01:20 Intro
02:30 Where did it start for you?
04:15 Making Districts as a Sophomore in HS
05:25 Greater Miami Valley YMCA in Ohio
07:00 College Recruiting Process
07:50 Western Kentucky, Claire Donahue
08:30 20.3/44.5/1:38 Senior Year
09:00 Western Kentucky Suspends Swimming Program
09:45 Kirk Grand the Auburn connection
10:40 Walking on Auburn's deck for the first time
12:00 Take Advantage of Your Situation
13:15 Coach Chris Bushelman: Set Lofty Goals
14:20 "I think you can go 1:31, 1:30 point."
15:45 "I value the effort."
18:15 Kyle Darmody and lengthening your stroke
20:10 How do you swim the 50, 100, and 200 equally well?
21:35 "I didn't ask a lot of questions about training."
22:25 100 LCM Free is just the bread and butter.
23:20 100 Free Race Strategy
24:05 Back End 50's
24:55 2016 Olympic Trials/2017 US Nationals Breakout Meet
26:15 Beating Caeleb Dressel and Ryan Held in Prelims
28:45 Winning 100 Free at WUG's
29:30 What have you done to improve since going 47.6?
31:00 Didn't touch the water for 3 months
32:45 Going 48.5 after 10 weeks of singles
33:30 Improving his underwater dolphin kick
34:45 Doing things with intention
35:45 Buying in 100%
37:20 The 100 Free is a 2 Horse Race
38:10 How to split the 100 Free to go 46
39:10 How do you balance your freestyle out?
40:30 Don't over kick the first 50
42:30 Mental Work, Visualization
This episode is sponsored by: Destro Swim Towers: use code "brett" at checkout to save $150 per double tower!
Subscribe, Review, Share!
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Connect | Brett Hawke
On Instagram @hawkebr
On Twitter @insidewithbh
On Facebook @insidewithbh
Connect | Zach Apple
On Twitter
On Instagram
Produced by: SWIMNERD
Sponsored by: Destro Swim Towers: use code "brett" at checkout to save $150 per double tower!
Supported by: Fitter & Faster