Explore every episode of the podcast The Swim Brief
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leadership, Responsibility, and Shame in The Odyssey | 31 Jul 2026 | 00:35:14 | |
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. | |||
| We Protect Athletes. Who Protects Coaches? | Sophie Parr | 27 Jul 2026 | 01:02:14 | |
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 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: Follow Chris: | |||
| Debrief: Kevin Ring, USA Swimming CEO | 08 Jun 2026 | 00:56:28 | |
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 | |||
| Greg Meehan | 21 Oct 2024 | 01:04:05 | |
Greg Meehan talks Olympic coaching, Torri Huske’s magical year and harmonizing your coaching and personal life. Greg Meehan Chris DeSantis | |||
| Nathan Lavery | 14 Oct 2024 | 01:01:23 | |
Nathan Lavery and I talk Georgia Tech job opening, dogs and Brett Hawke’s Sprint Revolution. Nathan Lavery Chris DeSantis | |||
| Trever Gray Nutrition Coaching | 07 Oct 2024 | 01:21:47 | |
Coach Trever drops by to coach my wife, Kate, to prepare for her ultra marathon and to help me improve my over all fitness. You can sign up for coaching at his website Trever Gray Nutrition Coaching Chris DeSantis | |||
| USA Swimming's Joel Shinofield | 30 Sep 2024 | 01:01:13 | |
Joel Shinofield joins from USA Swimming’s annual business meeting to answer listener submitted questions. USA Swimming's Joel Shinofield Chris DeSantis | |||
| Paul Donovan | 23 Sep 2024 | 01:07:36 | |
| Kate Lundsten | 16 Sep 2024 | 00:56:21 | |
| Kyle Goller | 09 Sep 2024 | 00:52:25 | |
| Stephen Andersen | 02 Sep 2024 | 01:01:36 | |
| Alessio De Rosi | 26 Aug 2024 | 00:44:59 | |
| Jess Book | 19 Aug 2024 | 00:52:50 | |
| Debrief: Cara Stawicki | 01 Jun 2026 | 01:10:05 | |
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 | |||
| Six Things: Paris Olympics | 12 Aug 2024 | 00:50:54 | |
| Charlie Kennedy | 05 Aug 2024 | 00:53:50 | |
| Chris Sheppard | 29 Jul 2024 | 01:03:07 | |
| US Paralympic Coach John Payne (JP) | 22 Jul 2024 | 00:54:06 | |
| The 80/20 Rule | 15 Jul 2024 | 00:48:46 | |
| Ego | 10 Jul 2024 | 00:29:52 | |
| The Full Life Cycle of a Swim Parent | 02 Jul 2024 | 00:54:09 | |
| Olympic Trials Review | 25 Jun 2024 | 00:28:43 | |
| Coaching for Coaches Ft. Rob Fox | 17 Jun 2024 | 01:12:21 | |
| Is Success About Sacrifice? | 11 Jun 2024 | 00:24:39 | |
| Solobrief: My Thoughts on the Loser Olympics | 27 May 2026 | 00:29:15 | |
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) | |||
| Where are the coaches? | 05 Jun 2024 | 00:26:28 | |
| Did Grant House End Swimming? | 29 May 2024 | 00:31:52 | |
| Rude Awakening | 22 May 2024 | 00:22:52 | |
| The Purpose of Doubt | 10 May 2024 | 00:28:47 | |
| Emergency Podcast: Act Now! | 08 May 2024 | 00:10:43 | |
| Garrett McCaffrey and I Reminisce | 07 May 2024 | 00:59:29 | |
| Heads up Approach to Doping | 30 Apr 2024 | 00:30:15 | |
| Bullet Dodged | 24 Apr 2024 | 00:23:46 | |
| Changing Sport Culture with Jon Little | 15 Apr 2024 | 01:11:06 | |
| (Mental) State of the Sport | 10 Apr 2024 | 00:41:45 | |
| Crossover Pod: IDGI and the Swim Brief | 25 May 2026 | 01:26:26 | |
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 | |||
| Bob Bowman: Why I Didn't See It | 04 Apr 2024 | 00:14:42 | |
| Nerding Out with Trever Gray | 01 Apr 2024 | 01:01:12 | |
| Ashley Eckermann | 26 Mar 2024 | 00:45:24 | |
| Who Do You Trust on Nutrition Pt 2 | 19 Mar 2024 | 01:21:57 | |
| #Grindset? Maybe not | 19 Mar 2024 | 00:24:34 | |
| What's Next? | 05 Mar 2024 | 00:27:55 | |
| Who Do You Trust on Nutrition? Part 1 | 20 Feb 2024 | 01:11:09 | |
| Does (Club) Size Matter? | 13 Feb 2024 | 00:45:15 | |
| Doing Your Homework | 07 Feb 2024 | 00:31:04 | |
| Kate DeSantis: The Silent Partner | 31 Jan 2024 | 01:13:38 | |
| Debrief: Glenn Mills | 18 May 2026 | 01:00:26 | |
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 | |||
| Don't Train Alone | 23 Jan 2024 | 00:25:48 | |
| Containers for Your Thoughts | 15 Jan 2024 | 01:03:06 | |
| Nikki Kett Returns | 09 Jan 2024 | 01:05:42 | |