Published by Chris DeSantis
A swimming podcast featuring natural conversations about the sport. Chris DeSantis brings the poolside conversation to the podcast form.
Listen on Apple PodcastsSend us Fan Mail Todd 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
Send us Fan Mail What 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 .
Send us Fan Mail For 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 environments This 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 below https://storiesfromthedeck.base44.app/ Follow Sophie: Instagram: @swim.coach.sophie Follow Chris: Instagram: @chrisd_coach Website: ChrisDCoach.com
Send us Fan Mail Why 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.
Send us Fan Mail Dave 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 over The language that changes how athletes process failure The difference between being an assistant coach and leading a program How coaching philosophy evolves over decades Navigating criticism, setbacks, and career transitions What separates great coaching from great instruction If 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.com About The Swim Brief The 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.
Send us Fan Mail The head coach of Swimming and Diving at the University of Illinois Jeana Kempe joins to talk influences and the path of her coaching career.
Send us Fan Mail David 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
Send us Fan Mail Tracy Menzel joins to talk GAIN, Diversity and why she’s back coaching in her hometown. Debrief: Tracy Menzel Chris DeSantis Download
Send us Fan Mail Recapping 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
Send us Fan Mail Dave Durden joins to discuss how he approaches his unconventional start at Cal and his approaches to recruiting and hiring. Debrief: Dave Durden Chris DeSantis
Send us Fan Mail Megan Devito, a high school swim coach and performance mindset coach, joins to talk shop on the value of coaching. Debrief: Megan Devito
Send us Fan Mail The CEO of USA Swimming joins to share what he’s learned in his nine months on the job and what he thinks is possible for the future. Debrief: Kevin Ring
Send us Fan Mail Former National Team and World Champion rower Cara Stawicki joins to talk shop and even turns the tables on me. Links for Cara: Website: https://carastawicki.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carastawicki/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-stawicki-6059196/ Book a Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/carastawicki/discovery?month=2026-04 Debrief: Cara Stawicki
Send us Fan Mail Organizing my big picture reflections on the stupidest event in swimming history, and all the losers who tried to make it work. riverside_christopher_swim_brief (1)
Send us Fan Mail Big shout out to the IDGI Podcast with Nate McKay and Kyle Johnson for helping me out with this week’s pod. Listen to hear me get interviewed by the guys, plus some thoughts on the top about the Loser Olympics. riverside_christopher_swim_brief
Send us Fan Mail Glenn Mills, the owner and founder of Goswim, 1980 Olympian and all around man about the sport, joins to talk about what he sees in the swimming world. Debrief: Glenn Mills Chris DeSantis
Send us Fan Mail An old friend of the podcast, Kyle Johnson, returns to share his wisdom. Kyle also has a podcast, which you can follow for me to be on soon. Debrief: Kyle Johnson Returns Chris DeSantis
Send us Fan Mail James Marshall of GAIN and Excelsior Athletic Club joins to talk how he came to coach three sports, knowledge sharing and the athletic insights of Nassim Taleb. Check out his website: https://excelsiorgroup.co.uk/ Link to James’ substack newsletter. Debrief: James Marshall Chris DeSantis
Send us Fan Mail First podcast of the book club, featuring USA Swimming’s Corey Manley. We discuss previous guest Kristoffer Henriksen’s book All You Need to Know About Talent Development. The book was co-authored with Carsten Hvid Larsen and Louise Kamuk Storm. Book Club: All You Need to Know About Talent Development w/Corey Manley Chris DeSantis
Send us Fan Mail In preparation for book clubbing with Corey Manley, I break down how I communicate about talent with coaches and athletes. Solobrief: How to Talk About Talent Chris DeSantis
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