Rowing in Color

Happy New Year! 2023 and Aisyah Rafaee Jan 05, 2023

#052 - Aisyah Rafaee is interviewed by Rowing in Color host, Denise Aquino. They chat with them to share Olympic level goal setting practices for 2023.

In this episode, we talked about:

Looking back on 2022 [2:10]
Who is Aisyah Rafaee? [5:53]
Goal setting tips [8:45]
How to get in touch with Aisyah [22:44]
One thing to watch out for when making goals [23:22]

… and much more.
To get in touch with Aisyah Rafaee, please find her on Instagram at @ariesyah

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Alia Komsany, Ph.D: Breaking Barriers for Muslim Women in Rowing, interviewed by Sadia Moumita Apr 07, 2022

#051 - Alia Komsany Ph.D is interviewed by Sadia Moumita. Rowing in Color host, Patricia Destine, chats with them to share Alia’s story.

In this episode, we talked about:

How Alia got into the sport [3:04]
When Alia felt like she didn’t belong in the sport [4:36]
The depth of Alia’s commitment to rowing, which is balanced with cancer research [8:00]
Changing the narrative regarding stereotypical thinking with girls’ women’s participation in sport [12:07]
What Alia’s visibility meant for Sadia [16:08]
Alia’s message for girls wearing hijabs & how wearing a hijab has shaped how she is as an athlete [16:36]
Alia’s long term goals in rowing [23:13]
Talking about barriers to rowing [24:48]
The push for women in sports in Saudi Arabia [26:22]
How Sadia got into rowing [29:04]
Advice for getting parents on board with rowing [33:20]
Advice for coaches to build an inclusive environment for Muslim rowers [37:26]

… and much more.
To get in touch with Alia Komsany, please find her on Instagram at @aliakomsany

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Chicago Training Center: Representation Matters, Representation Happens Mar 24, 2022

#050 - Chicago Training Center’s leadership team at all women: Staci Brown is the Executive Director, Rebekah Armstrong is the Program Director, and Sam Reyes is the Head Coach. Rowing in Color hosts, Denise Aquino and Patricia Destine, chat with them to share their story.

In this episode, we talked about:

Introductions & how Chicago Training Center achieved racial diversity at the highest staffing level [1:50]

From alumna to head coach, Sam shares her experience [13:45]

CTC goals for recruiting new rowers and effective methods you can use for diversifying your youth program [16:37]

What challenges and value having a diverse staff has had [24:53]

Challenges in diversifying their program & sharing really good advice on this process [34:53]

How to get in touch [40:54]

… and much more.
To get in touch with Chicago Training Center, please find the on Instagram at @ctc_rowing or visit their website at chicagotrainingcenter.org

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Baylor Henry, Founder of @BlackGirlsRow, Interviewed by Keira Gotrell & Sophia Gupta Mar 17, 2022

#049 - Baylor Henry, the founder of @blackgirlsrow, shared her story with us in December 2020. Tune in to listen to her conversation with then fellow high schoolers, Keira Gotrell and Sophia Gupta.

In this episode, they talked about:

Their reaction to the offensive rowing memes that we reposted on Instagram in December 2020 [1:15]
Talking about how they processed the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement [9:30]
“How have you felt the rowing community has changed since…?” [13:49]
Talking about creating @blackgirlsrow [18:38]
Advice for Juniors coaches [28:09]
Did you ever feel like you didn’t belong? [33:11]
The joy of proving them wrong and “working twice as hard” [44:10]
Black and non-Black person of color perspectives on “working twice as hard” [45:28]
Advice to young people of color [53:49]
(Oops) Introductions? Outroductions [57:48]

… and much more.
To get in touch with Baylor Henry, please find her on Instagram at @blackgirlsrow

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

The Black Coxswain Interviews Patricia Destine about Accessibility in Rowing Mar 10, 2022

#048 - Corin Wiggins aka @theblackcoxswain invited us for a chat on Instagram Live to discuss Accessibility in Rowing during Black History Month. Tune in to listen to her conversation with Patricia Destine.

In this episode, we talked about:

How Patricia got into the sport [2:30]
Cost / Price as a barrier [6:19]
How representation in coaching (or lack thereof) acts as a barrier [7:50]
Solutions to increase more representation in coaching [11:47]
Coaching education as a barrier and Patricia's personal experience [14:46]
Gatekeeping in rowing [25:00]

… and much more.
To get in touch with Corin Wiggins aka @theblackcoxswain, please find her on Instagram at @theblackcoxswain

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Team Antigua Island Girls, the first all Black team to row across the Atlantic Ocean Mar 03, 2022

#047 - Team Antigua Island Girls represented Antigua and Barbuda for the Talisker Whisker Atlantic Campaign in 2019. They rowed 3000 miles from La Gomera to Antigua. They are the first all black and all female team to complete this challenge.

In this episode, we talked about:

How did they get into rowing across the Atlantic [1:55]
First impressions of rowing [4:26]
Challenges of crossing the Atlantic [10:05]
What impact did rowing the slave trade route have [ ]
What advice do you have for others [ ]

… and much more.
To get in touch with Team Antigua Island Girls, please email them at teamantiguaislandgirls@gmail.com or check out their website: http://antiguabarbudaislandgirls.com/

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Live from Head of the Charles Regatta with Seattle Masters Rower Nov 25, 2021

#046 - Annie, a masters rower from Seattle, stopped by the Rowing in Color tent at Head of the Charles Regatta and talk about her experience as a Colombian masters rower based in Seattle.

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Where was Rowing in Color? & Head of the Charles Introduction Nov 18, 2021

#044 - Denise Aquino and Patricia Destine are respectively the Founder and CEO of Rowing in Color. In this episode, listen to them reflect on their silence in 2021, and also introduce the short episodes recorded live from Head of the Charles Regatta on October 23-24, 2021.

In this episode, we talked about:

4:06 The real reason why we haven’t published in 2021
“When someone’s trying to oppress you, you have to stand up.”
10:44 Thank you Patreon family!
13:08 “Whether or not that is the first threat or the last threat, we’re gonna keep going.”
14:03 What we’re not “supposed” to say on Rowing in Color, according to a funder
15:13 What happened to the other recorded episodes?
17:30 Thoughts on HOCR 2021 tent
22:24 Words of wisdom for young rowers of color from Patricia
25:52 Who Denise is afraid of getting a phone call from

… and much more.

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Live from Head of the Charles Regatta with Patrick Johnson & Brook Yimer of Athletes Without Limits Nov 18, 2021

#045 - Patrick Johnson and Brook Yimer (Athletes Without Limits) stop by the Rowing in Color tent at Head of the Charles Regatta and talk about their experience as two Black coaches.
In this episode we talk about:

0:48 Who and what orgs are represented is on the episode
1:30 What was today like for two successful coaches at Head of the Charles
4:37 Advice for coaches to create successful athletes of all demographics
7:30 Brook shares an example for how to create a unified culture
9:20 A message to the rowing world from Patrick Johnson and Brook Yimer

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Reflecting on 2020, with Denise & Patricia Dec 31, 2020

#043 - Denise Aquino and Patricia Destine are respectively the Founder and CEO of Rowing in Color. In this episode, listen to them reflect on 2020, answer questions from the RIC community, and talk about what's in store for 2021.

In this episode, we talked about:

Reflecting on 2020
Questions submitted via Instagram
Plans for Rowing in Color in 2021

… and much more.

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

How to Respond to Rowing Related Microaggressions (and How to Be an Ally) with Jorlui Sillau Dec 10, 2020

#042 - Jorlui Sillau is a mental health professional based in New York City with experience rowing through a veterans rowing program.

In this episode, we talked about:

How can we better respond to microaggressions [6:51]
Ask clarifying questions (and why) [8:00]
An example of how to respond [11:49]
Nonverbal microaggressions [15:00]
Fear of Retaliation [17:26]
Trauma [18:50]
Powerlesness [25:38]
Is there a time limit to respond to microaggressions?
What recorded videos of erging have to do with this

… and much more.
To get in touch with Jorlui, please email him at jorlui.sillau@gmail.com

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Jennifer Fitz-Roy: Rowers with Disabilities Are Not Going Anywhere, Katherine Valdez Guest Hosts Dec 03, 2020

#041 - Jennifer Fitz-Roy is a black PR2 rower at the Community Rowing, which is also the USRowing Para Training Center.

In this episode, we talked about:

What PR2 means and what classifications of pararowing there are [2:18]
How she got into rowing [9:02]
The one person who convinced her she didn’t belong in the sport [15:15]
Race [ ]
Colorism [ ]
Advice to younger rowers of color or younger rowers with a disability [ ]

… and much more.

To get in touch with Jen, please reach her on Instagram @fitzroyj

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Michael D. Green: Subjectivity and Unpacking Inequities in Rowing Nov 26, 2020

#040 - Michael D. Green is of Jamaican descent and a Senior heavyweight rower at Dartmouth College.

In this episode, we talked about:

How he got into rowing [4:18]
His thoughts on authenticity [13:22]
Michael’s insight on access-related inequities as a result of program cuts on diversity within rowing [16:32]
Advice for younger rowers of color [21:04]
Code switching [24:45]
Advice for coaches to understand social issues about race [30:28]
Ever feeling like the go-to race person for his rowing team [34:42]
The biggest takeaway for YOU, the listener [43:00]

… and much more.

To get in touch with Michael, please reach him on Instagram @michael_d_green or on Twitter @thoughts_by_mdg
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Beata Coloyan & Jasmine Howard: How They Built a Diverse and Competitive Public School Girls Rowing Program at Boston Latin School Nov 19, 2020

#039 - Beata Coloyan and Jasmine Howard coached the Boston Latin School Rowing team to a nationally competitive public school team. As coaches of color themselves, both have worked to make the teams’ demographic make up match the percentage of students of color at the school.

In this episode, we talked about:

How have various experiences impacted you are a coach? [ ]
Describe your work with the Boston Latin Rowing team and making it more accessible.
Describe the racial makeup of your coaches [56:55]
Do you think there’s something women of color can do to invite more women of color to be coaches? [1:05:00]
Given their legal and political backgrounds, are their thoughts on politics in rowing? [1:11:39]
What are your next goals for your team and for yourself? [1:18:15]

… and much more.

To get in touch with Jasmine or Beata, please reach them at coaches@kannaracing.com

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Diego Baugh: Stanford Senior Shares Thoughts on Program Cut & Advice for Coaches Nov 12, 2020

#038 - Diego Baugh is a Senior on the Stanford Men’s Rowing Team and alumn of Saugatuck Rowing Club.

In this episode, we talked about:

How Diego got into rowing [4:13]
What Diego brought up that has never been brought up before on the Rowing in Color podcast [9:50]
Times he witnessed racism in rowing [13:07]
How have coaches addressed instances of racism in general? [16:0 3]
Thoughts on recruiting and inclusion [23:30]
His reaction to the Stanford program being cut [25:30]
Advice for a coach who wants to recruit an athlete of color [32:07]
A success story! [38:06]

… and much more.

To get in touch with Diego, please reach him on Instagram @diegobaugh or diego.r.baugh@gmail.com

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Kyley Jones: "Being Here is Enough" Oct 29, 2020

#037 - Kyley Jones is a black rower who just finished a 7-year rowing career rowing at UC San Diego. She shares powerful insight on inclusion, intersectionality, and community through her anthropological lens. With mere days before the 2020 election and days just following another murder of a black man, her words are what we need to hear right now.

In this episode, we talked about:

How Kyley started rowing [ ]
What advice she would give to other young rowers transitioning from high school rowing to collegiate rowing [ ]
What Kyley meant when she said “…” [ ]
“Diversity Without Inclusion is Exclusion” [ ]
“Whitewashed” [ ]
What teams should do when one of their teammates is called the n-word

… and much more.

To get in touch with Kyley, please reach her on Instagram @joneskyley

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Eva Walker-Outlaw: African American Breast Cancer Survivor Highlights Experience with Rowing Oct 22, 2020

#036 - Eva Walker Outlaw is a breast cancer survivor and African American rower at an organization called Recovery on Water.

In this episode, we talked about:

Eva’s diagnosis [2:26]
When Recover on Water came into her life [28:12]
Benefits of rowing [30:32]
Her experience with subtle racist moments in rowing [31:22]
Another reason why visibility is important in rowing [38:01]
What advice she would give to those recently diagnosed with cancer and those who are just seeing themselves in the sport [47:03]

… and much more.

To get in touch with Eva, please reach her on Instagram @nd_sometimes or via email at evajoyoutlaw@gmail.com

To learn more about Recover on Water, visit www.recoveryonwater.org or find them on Instagram @recoveryonwater
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Latinx Rowers Speak Out, Part 1 Oct 15, 2020

#035 - During Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month we invited many members to join for a group conversations relating to the Latinx/Hispanic-American rowing experience. This is one of those conversations.

In this episode, we talked about:

How they got into the sport
How language has played a part in the boathouse
Code switching
Giving away your own culture in order to fit in [1:04:48]
Why rowing is perceived as a white sport [1:15:46]
What we’re doing wrong [1:36:40]

… and much more.

To get in touch with Katherine, please reach her on Instagram @katvaldez72

To get in touch with Luis Prado, please reach him on Instagram @hellriser1100

To get in touch with Miguel Gonzalez, please reach him on Instagram @onemigzy

To get in touch with Ángela, please reach her on Instagram @angelaoriach

To get in touch with Estefani, please reach her on Instagram @fefeayres
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Hannah Diaz: Peruvian American Coxswain Shares Recruitment Tips for Coxswains and Coaches Oct 08, 2020

#034 - Hannah Diaz is a Peruvian American coxswain and the only recruited person of color on the openweight women’s team at Princeton University.

In this episode, we talked about:

Advice for high school coxswains who are aspiring to be recruited for college [4:12]
Hannah’s flex [12:35]
Her experience as a biracial person [13:12]
What a non-Spanish speaking person may *unintentionally* do that might make someone feel awkward [22:10]
What it meant to be surrounded by other coxswains of color [33:22]
What advice she would give to coxswains [36:07]
One lasting message for coxswains [40:52]

… and much more.

To get in touch with Hannah, please reach her on Instagram @hannahhdiaz

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Camila and Isa Shana Darvin: What Does a Latina Rower Look Like? Oct 01, 2020

#033 - Camila and Isa Shana Darvin are both sisters and rowers for the University of Wisconsin. Camila is a Freshman rower on the lightweight women’s team while Isa is a Senior on the openweight women’s team.

In this episode, we talked about:

What hooked them into rowing [6:09]
Experiences being Latina on a collegiate rowing team [9:17]
Moments of not feeling belong in rowing [13:07]
Steps being taken (and obstacles in the way) to move the conversation forward [16:49]
An example of barrier to access within rowing during COVID [23:38]
Advice for coaches on how to promote inclusivity [30:34]
More advice [35:29]
Advice for younger Latina rowers [44:08]
What does a Latina look like [46:42]

… and much more.

To get in touch with Camila, please reach her on Instagram @camila.darvin
To get in touch with Isa, please reach her on Instagram @isadarvin

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Manny Valentin: Stress Points and Athletic Performance for Rowers of Color Through the Lens of Sports Psychology Sep 24, 2020

#032 - Manny Valentin is the Head Boys’ Rowing Coach at Saratoga Rowing Association and identifies as an American with Puerto Rican lineage.

In this episode, we talked about:

How he identifies [1:22]
Books Manny recommends for fellow Americans with Puerto Rican heritage [7:48]
How Manny got into rowing [9:24]
Advice for younger coaches [14:45]
What was it like to be the only coach of color in various spaces [18:20]
The role anxiety plays in sports psychology as it relates to non-white athletes in predominantly white spaces [20:40]
Manny’s philosophy on athletic performance and sports psychology as it relates to triggers and racial events of 2020 [24:15]
Onee way Manny prepares his rowers for peak athletic performance [28:30]
His approach to increase diversity in our sport [31:05]
Discussing “you can’t be what you can’t see” through the lens of sports psychology [38:36]

… and much more.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

The War Against All Puerto Ricans, by Nelson Denis
Fantasy Island, by Ed Morales
New York Young Lords and the Struggle for Liberation, by Darrel Wanzer-Serrano

To get in touch with Manny, please reach him on Instagram @coach.valentin

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Mayfield Vashti-Roberts & Keira Gotrell: What Happens When 2 Black High School Rowers Talk About Race in Rowing Aug 13, 2020

#031 - Mayfield Vashti-Roberts and Keira Gotrell are both black high school rowers from Washington and New Jersey, respectively.
In this episode, they talked about:

What made Mayfield stay with rowing [3:57]

Mayfield’s response to going to regattas and not see others that look like you [7:07]

What would Mayfield tell coaches to improve the experience of rowers of color [13:41]

What Mayfield says to other HS rowers who are thinking of leaving the sport [18:35]

… and much more.

To get in touch with Mayfield, please email him at msavr.mvr@gmail.com

To get in touch with Keira, please reach her on Instagram @keiragotrell

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Jo Victorio: Philippine American NYU Rowing Head Coach Believes You Belong Here & Rowing is for Everybody Aug 06, 2020

#030 - Jo Victorio is a Philippine American and the Head Coach of the NYU Rowing Team.

In this episode, we talked about:

How she got into rowing [2:00]

Her team’s powerfully inclusive team culture [4:31]

Advice for youth coaches on how to create a culture of inclusivity [7:13]

How she got into coaching [16:02]

Advice for collegiate coaches on how to create a culture of inclusivity [18:46]

The biggest challenge she experienced as a coach of color [29:06]

Advice to other Filipinx Americans in rowing [39:09]

… and much more.

To get in touch with Jo, please reach her on Instagram @joannevictorio

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Kadee Sylla: “We Need to Diversify the Sport” Jul 30, 2020

#029 - Kadee Sylla is a black college rower at University of San Diego and 2019 U23 rower for Team USA.

In this episode, we talked about:

An obvious takeaway for collegiate coaches who want to diversify their team [11:15]

What Kadee meant when she called her experience “interesting” [14:37]

Kadee’s thoughts on being acknowledged as a person of color who rows versus just being treated as a rower and not having to worry about skin color [18:20]

When she felt oppression within the sport of rowing [21:00]

What it feels like to be hyperaware [29:00]

Where Kadee’s drive comes from [32:58]

What’s really a most beautiful thing [40:00]

Kadee’s advice for younger rowers [42:37]

Why we need to diversify our sport [46:35]

… and much more.

To get in touch with Kadee, please reach her on Instagram @kadeesylla

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Xavier Aniton: Starting from the Bottom to Build Strong Team Culture Jul 23, 2020

#028 - Xavier Aniton is an 8-year rower, who served as team captain at both Shaker Heights High School in Ohio and Jacksonville University in Florida.

In this episode, we talked about:

Saying no to basketball and yes to rowing [1:35]
Building a strong team culture on a boys high school team [7:23]
Juggling rowing and academics in the role of a student-athlete [19:33]
Did support differ when coming from a more demographically diverse team than from a less diverse team? [28:56]
“Do you feel like your team was treated any differently because of who you were or how you looked?” [34:25]
Advice for younger rowers of color [38:59]

… and much more.

To get in touch with Xavier, please reach him on Instagram @xaniton2024
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Gabi Heard: Black and Puerto Rican Collegiate Rower Shares Importance of Visibility Jul 23, 2020

#027 - Gabi Heard is a Black and Puerto Rican rower at Jacksonville University.

In this episode, we talked about:

Gabi’s journey quitting and then returning to rowing [1:09]
What the transition was like between college rowing and high school rowing [5:15]
Tips for any high school athletes to keep focused on training during COVID [10:35]
“Has being a rower of color strengthened you to be a better rower?” [12:14]
Gabi’s advice for younger rowers of color [16:03]
Why you should hire Gabi! [22:22]
On stereotypes in rowing [25:04]

… and much more.

To get in touch with Gabi, please reach her on Instagram @gabi_heard
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Francine Chew: Jamaican American Yale & Harvard Alumna Talks About Access to Rowing & Being What You Can (and Can't) See Jul 16, 2020

#026 - Francine Chew is a Jamaican American whose mother was a housekeeper, who attended Phillips Exeter, and who rowed as an undergraduate on the Yale Women’s Rowing Team in the 1990s and in Harvard in the early 2000s while she earned her MBA. In this episode, we talked about:

How she got into rowing from Jamaica to Brooklyn to Phillips Exeter to Yale [7:00]
How rowing laid the foundation for success in life [12:00]
How rowing at Yale taught her to stand proudly with her body, celebrate her strength, and not hide [14:07]
Being proud of putting yourself out there, especially if you don’t see yourself in this sport [16:10]
Barriers to entry for rowing [19:58]
Advice for other “non-traditional” rowers [25:19]
Advice for future black and brown board members [31:53]
Advice on for black and brown rowers of color on how to deal with racism [38:48]

… and much more.

To get in touch with Francine, please email her at francine@aya.yale.edu
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Kevin Harris: Tulsa Rowing Coach and T.C. Williams HS Alumus Shares 30 Years of Coaching Experience with Guest Host, Keira Gotrell Jul 09, 2020

#025 - Kevin Harris is the Head Women’s Rowing Coach at The University of Tulsa and T.C. Williams HS Alumus. In this episode he talks with Patricia and guest co-host, Keira Gotrell, on the best advice for recruitment, social issues like race, and many more.

Episode Tips:

- For recruiting high schoolers, get people who are going to bring in their friends (and their parents!), and make recruiting fun! Make it something they'll want to tell their friends about and want to give a shot.

- As a rowing coach, listen to your athletes.

- If rowing unfamiliar to you, give it a try.
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Katherine Valdez: Ecuadorian American PR1 Para-Rower Teaches us to "See the Able, Not the Label" Jul 02, 2020

#024 - Katherine Valdez is an Ecuadorian-American PR1 rower, which means she is an adaptive rower who rows using only her arms and shoulders. In this conversation she talks about how she started to row, moments she didn’t feel welcome outside of the boathouse, and advice for any future adaptive rowers.
Tips: Learn the language

Use people-first language;
- Say "person with disability" not "disabled person"
- Say "person with wheelchair" not "wheelchair-bound person"
Ask respectful questions regarding ability; don't assume you know what someone with a disability can or cannot do.
If you don't understand someone's accent, then ask (don't dismiss). Someone's accent is part of their identity.

To follow Katherine on her journey, find her on Instagram @kat.valdez72

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Pride Episode #4: Trans and Non Binary Visibility Matters Jun 29, 2020

#023 - Lyss Villablanca returns to interview Jena Thompson and Char Rendon who are both members of the trans and non binary community. In this conversation they talk about coming out in the rowing world, toxic masculinity, and advice for rowing clubs to make their culture more inclusive.
Hint: Start with language

Offer a place to state pronouns on the registration form/waiver
Use "folks" or "y'all" instead of "you guys"

To follow Jena on their journey, find them on Instagram @_itspikacxu_

To follow Char on their journey, find them on Instagram @crendon_26, @charrscrafts, or crendon26@gmail.com
To follow Lyss on their journey, find them on Instagram @bidalyss.
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Collegiate Rowers of Color Speak Out Jun 25, 2020

#022 - Four members of the Collegiate Rowers of Color met and discussed how they are doing at this time, what it's like being the only or few people of color on their team, and what they are doing (or wish they were doing) on their collegiate teams to face anti-blackness in rowing. Listen to their stories and learn from what they have to share with regard to what has created progress versus what has caused pain.
To follow Kadee on her journey, find her on Instagram @kadeesylla.

To follow Trinity on her journey, find her on Instagram @daholytrinity.
To follow Rebekah on her journey, find her on Instagram @rebs_strongarmz.
To follow Ricardo on his journey, find him on Instagram @sub7ric.
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Pride Episode #3: Asian-American Queers Unpack Privilege, Discrimination, and Black Lives Matter Jun 22, 2020

#021 - Imran Malik and Tina Trinh join Denise Aquino in an uninentionally all-Asian-American pride episode. Here we talk about privilege, discrimination, positive stereotypes, and what we as Asian Americans should do to support black lives.
To follow Tina on her journey, find her on Instagram @awkwatinaa.

To follow Imran on his journey, find him on Instagram @ohheyimran.
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

David Banks: Two-Time Olympic Rower and Role Model Talks Importance of Diversity with Daphne Martschenko and Tymir Green-Ellis Jun 18, 2020

#020 - David Banks competed as an Olympic rower in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. In addition, he is a Stanford graduate and has represented the US at the World Rowing level 2008-2014. Needless to say, he is someone that most black rowers look up to when rowing at the elite level. As such, his interviewers are those who have looked up to him as well. Daphne Martschenko (Episode 4) and Tymir Green-Ellis (Episode 6). Tune in to find out his thoughts on diversity in the sport of rowing and just who could be your next board member to help make these changes.

If you are an Executive Director looking to add black rowers to your board of directors, please reach out to David Banks and Daphne Martschenko (and many other folks).

To get in touch with David Banks, reach out to him via email davidbbanks@gmail.com or via phone (240) 506-2726.

To reach out to Daphne Martschenko find her @daphmarts on Instagram.

To reach out to Tymir Green-Ellis, find him @tymiryasin on Instagram.

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Pride Episode #2: Unpacking Homophobia, Stereotypes, & Coming Out as "Bisweptual" Jun 15, 2020

#019 - Amilia Rosa, Lyss Villablanca, and Gustavo Diaz return for their second half of their conversation in Episode 019. In this episode, they cover the topics: overheard homophobic comments in the boathouse, the power of stereotypes, among many more.
To get in touch with any of the guests, below are their Instagram handles:

@averageamilia for Amilia Rosa
@bidalyss for Lyss Villablanca
@itsthegeese for Gustavo Diaz

We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Richard Butler: Diversity and Inclusion in Rowing, and Making the Boathouse a Home Jun 11, 2020

#018 - Richard Butler is the Former Executive Director for Three Rivers Rowing, former Inclusion Manager for USRowing, and Indoor Rowing coach since 1983. His experience is the type that you don't want to ignore! In this episode he shares tips, best practices, and expertise on how to diversify our sport of rowing.
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Michelle Sosa: Afro-Latina Hydrow Athlete Brings Midwestern Strength, Vulnerability, and Compassion to the Indoor Rowing World Jun 11, 2020

#017 - Michelle Sosa is a popular Hydrow athlete who is a proud Afro-Latina. In this interview, she shares her complex background growing up in the Midwest and journey to the rowing world. She talks about her complex background, growing up in the Midwest and going to school in Michigan. We hear a lot about Midwest culture through Michelle, with her strength, compassion, and vulnerability, to aim to break barriers through our sport of rowing.
Follow her journey at @yocoachsosa on Instagram.
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Emergency Episode #2: Beyond Black Squares Jun 11, 2020

#016 - On Tuesday, June 2, 2020, organizers and advocates for the Black Lives Matter movement called for people to show solidarity for black lives by posting a black square on folks' social media accounts, specifically Instagram. Within the American rowing community, this was done by many. Now, many are wondering what the next steps are for moving the needle forward with regard to the dialogue surrounding race in rowing
On Wednesday, June 10, 2020, Denise Aquino and Patricia Destine presented a webinar for USRowing under the same title, "Beyond Black Squares." This episode is similar but shorter than that presentation.
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Pride Episode #1: Stonewall was a Protest Jun 08, 2020

#015 - Amilia Rosa, Lyss Villablanca, and Gustavo Diaz are all part of the queer community and are rowers of color. In this episode, they cover the topics: if they were out when they were rowing (and why?), having a coxswain who identifies as trans, and coming out on a podcast episode, among many more.
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Emergency Episode #1: Black Lives Matter Jun 04, 2020

#014 - Rowing in Color’s mission is to amplify the voices of color in rowing.

Following George Floyd’s murder as a result of police brutality, there has been unrest like no other in our recent history. So much so, that our rowing world - including its white and nonwhite rowers - is feeling the unrest now more than ever.

As a result, we created an Instagram story that called for voices of color to share their reactions to current news and/or moments in rowing that might be mundane to our white teammates, but unsafe, uncomfortable, and life-threatening for people of color. Seven people of color, some of whom are black, answered the call to share their stories for the
episode.
All seven stories are amplified here in this episode:

1:11 - Voice 1
3:10 - Voice 2
8:50 - Voice 3
12:29 - Voice 4
15:19 - Voice 5
18:08 - Voice 6
19:00 - Voice 7

In order to make a positive change to create more inclusion and equity in our sport, Step 1 is to listen.
So, listen. Now.
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

Gel Greene: Small Business Owner of GelPads and Former Rower Talks Entrepreneurship and Rowing May 28, 2020

#013 - Gel Greene is a black entrepreneur and small business owner of GelPads. She is a former Division I rower for Southern Methodist University and former coach for University of Rochester. Her passion for inclusivity stems from her ability to integrate both rowing and art. In this episode she shares stories of inclusion success in addition to the genesis for her business idea - custom seat pads for rowers.
Follow her journey at @gelpads and @gellifts on Instagram.
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe and enjoy.

Aquil Abdullah: Hydrow Athlete talks Olympic Trials and Being a Trailblazing African American Rower May 21, 2020

#012 - Nowadays, Aquil Abdullah is a known athlete for the Hydrow indoor rowing machine. Before that, he was the first African-American rower to qualify for the Summer Olympics, the first African-American rower to win the Diamon Sculls race at Henley Royal Regatta in 2000, and first African-American rower to win a national championship in the single sculls in 1996. His accomplished rowing career spans across decades and shows no signs of stopping.
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe and enjoy.

Amaris Hinton: Baltimore Community Rowing Alumna talks High School and Collegiate Rowing May 14, 2020

#011 - Amaris Hinton is unlike many rowers, regardless of age or race. She talks about her 9-year rowing career starting as a 5’ 8” sixth grader at the Reach High program of Baltimore Community Rowing, which led to an elite rowing career on the 2015 U.S. Rowing Junior National Team, 2015-2016 Youth National Championships, and 2016 Henley Women’s Regatta. Now, she's a sophomore at Rutgers University rowing on the Women's Crew Team. What's unique about her experience is that she goes from a mostly black high school rowing team to a mostly white collegiate rowing team. Regardless, her experiences and accomplishments say that neither age nor race are an obstacle for achieving greatness in rowing.
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe and enjoy.

Maurice Scott, Jr.: On Diversifying Rowing and Being a Kid from Philly Who Never Gave Up May 07, 2020

#010 - Maurice Scott, Jr. was born and raised in Philadelphia and grew up seeing boats on the Schuykill River. As someone whose path led him to rowing, he has worked to give back to the sport by coaching at Philadelphia City Rowing and Row New York. Additionally, he brings visibility to people of color within the sport through his story, his performance as an athlete, as well as his role as a JL ambassador.
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe and enjoy.

Marqus Brown: 2020 CRASH-Bs Indoor Rowing Winner talks about Being Black and Being Fast May 07, 2020

#009 - Marqus Brown finished first place in the Open Men's Event of CRASH-Bs this past March 2020. With humble beginnings in Fairmount Park, Marqus has over 10 years of Philadelphia-based rowing and coaching experience. His rowing career on Boathouse Row is nothing short of what is the American rowing tradition. Marqus is now training full time at Pennsylvania Athletic Club (Penn AC), while also serving as Assistant Coach at BLJ Community Rowing. In this episode you will hear about the mindset to be the fastest rower in addition to his experience being black in the white-dominated sport of rowing.
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe and enjoy.

Trinity Billingslea: Recent Under 23 Selection Camp Invitee Shares Philosophy on Fear and Rowing Apr 30, 2020

#008 - Trinity Billingslea is the strongest womens rower in the history of Santa Clara University Rowing and 2020 invitee to USRowing's Under 23 Selection Camp. We hope her confidence and her catchphrase (which you'll hear during the episode!) will inspire you and those who might also feel they don't "see" themselves in the sport.
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe and enjoy.

"What's one thing you want your white coach to know?" Anonymous Rowers Respond, Pt. 1 Apr 23, 2020

#007 - At the end of March, we asked podcast listeners to send us responses to the following question: what's one thing you want your white coach to know? Because rowing is a pricy sport that also requires access to bodies of water, it inherently has socio-economic barriers that make the sport inaccessible to those who aren't able to access bodies of water or afford the sports' costs. As an unfortunate result, there aren't many rowers of color, and even fewer coaches of color. With the growing number of rowers of color in the sport, we thought it was important to ask this question.
And well, let me tell you, we got some responses. This extended episode features just five of the many responses that we received, along with Denise and Patricia's reactions and thoughts to the responses. Here are the time stamps for each anonymous response:

00:57 Anonymous Voice #1
13:50 Anonymous Voice #2
29:59 Anonymous Voice #3
39:06 Anonymous Voice #4
57:32 Anonymous Voice #5

We hope you'll help us continue this important conversation as we simultaneously launch this Facebook group for the Rowing in Color Community. This wasn't an easy question to ask, but we're not here for "easy." And let's be honest, it is a question that needs to be asked if anyone is serious about diversifying the sport. We recognize the good intention of white folks who are dedicated to diversifying the sport -- let us make that very very clear. With that we still have the freedom to explore the racial dynamics (and the positional authority) that well-intentioned white coaches have when trying to diversify their team. Because despite the best intentions, actions do not always reflect intentions. We hope that the discussion in this podcast helps us all -- no matter our skin color -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe and enjoy.

Tymir Green-Ellis: Going For it and Being a Boathouse Sports Ambassador (among many other things!) Apr 16, 2020

#006 - Tymir Green-Ellis is a Philadelphia-native and Senior rower at Johnson & Wales University where he is currently the only black rower on the team. In this interview he talks about his aspirations after college, as well as his experience being a Boathouse Sports Ambassador, coaching for Philadelphia City Rowing, and coaching for BLJ Community Rowing with Brannon Johnson. He shares what it feels like to have your collegiate rowing career cut short, as well as what it feels like to have other people who look like you on your rowing team — and what it feels like to not. To learn more about Tymir, follow him on Instagram @tymiryasin

Arshay Cooper: Promoting Diversity in Rowing with Hope Apr 09, 2020

#005 - Arshay Cooper brings his message of hope when talking about the power of diversity in rowing. On March 27, 2020, his documentary “A Most Beautiful Thing” was scheduled to premiere. However, it was postponed due to the shelter in place which was placed in an effort to flatten the curve against coronavirus. In our conversation, we talk about his story which highlights what it was like to be in the first public high school all-black boat and how that story has changed the lives of young people who have gone onto row in college. Furthermore we talk about the "comeback race" and what it was like to be coached by Mike Teti. We also talk about the film, which is directed by former Olympian Mary Mazzio and produced by 9th Wonder, Grant Hill, Dwayne Wade, and narrated by Common. It was also made with support from the Winklevoss twins, USRowing, row2k, Hudson Boat Works, Anita DeFrantz, David Banks, and many others. Arshay’s new book with the same title as the film is due to release on June 30, 2020. For more on Arshay, check out his website at https://www.arshaycooper.com/ or find him on social media @arshay_cooper

Daphne Martschenko, Ph.D: First Person of Color to Row The Boat Race Apr 02, 2020

#004 - Daphne Martschenko is a London-born American rower, who holds the title of being the first person of color to compete in The Boat Race since its inception in 1856. Not only does she hold the title of being a Stanford University rowing alumna, but she also holds a Ph.D in Education from the University of Cambridge. Currently, She resides in Chicago where her work is focused on how teacher perceptions of students are influenced by the public facing materials about behavioral genetics. Through the lens of diversity in rowing, we briefly discuss the potential idea: how a coach’s perceptions of athletic ability might relate to athlete’s performance. Hosts, Denise and Patricia, talk to Daphne about her 12-year career in rowing as well as the advice she has for younger rowers of color. Hit subscribe and enjoy!

BONUS: Amplify your voice! Mar 26, 2020

Denise and Patricia want to hear from you! We want your questions, comments, interviewee nominations, interview requests, just everything. Click https://www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor to send a message and to amplify your voice. During this time of social distancing, we want to bring our Rowing in Color community closer together. We see the downloads and follows, and we see the emails and comments. Most importantly, we see you and we appreciate you.
Together, let's amplify the conversation on diversity in the rowing. Click the link above to amplify your voice.

Dr. Chierika “Coco” Ukogu, M.D.: Orthopedic Surgeon talks COVID-19 and Being Nigeria's First Olympic Rower Mar 19, 2020

#003: Chierika “Coco” Ukogu is a recently graduated orthopedic surgeon, Stanford University rowing alumna, and American-born Nigerian professional rower. To top that all off, she competed as Nigeria’s first ever rower in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro… Pause. Re-read the previous two sentences again, more slowly, and for dramatic effect. Yes, now please. Did I mention that we spoke to her during match week? Moving on, she talks about taking part in youth sports in Philadelphia (where she grew up) and the one very specific factor that led her to choose rowing over other sports. Additionally, we quickly discuss what we should be doing during this time of quarantine and social distancing as COVID-19 takes a strong presence in New York City, where she is currently based. To hear more on her journey and her continuing accomplishments, follow her story on Twitter and Instagram @cukogu

Patricia Destine: Black & Human Mar 10, 2020

#002: While recorded during Black History Month, we will amplify Black voices anytime and every time. The interviewee of our second episode is Patricia Destine, who is the co-host of Rowing in Color. She is a Haitian American coxswain turned rower turned rowing coach who lives in Brooklyn, New York. Her experiences chronicle what it was like to learn how to row in a sports based youth development setting. With co-host Denise, Patricia recalls her experiences at the boathouse, at regattas, with racist teammates, with white coaches, and what it feels like to be black - and human.

Dwayne Adams, Sr: A Man Who Breaks Barriers Mar 04, 2020

#001: Welcome to Rowing in Color, where we publish interviews from Black History Month only a month later. We kick the season off by interviewing Dwayne Adams, Sr. He is the founder and executive director of Breaking Barriers Rowing & Fitness, which is a non profit organization located in Delaware. Its mission is to help youth (both with and without disability) and senior citizens through the sport of rowing. As a teenager, Dwayne was shot in the head, leaving him legally blind. He went on to become an elite adaptive rower, winning a bronze medal in the World Rowing Championship in Seville, Spain, in 2002. Hosts, Patricia and Denise, talk to Dwayne about his journey to rowing, advice to young rowers, and what it means to be a black man in a white sport. For more on his organization, check out www.breakingbarriersde.org

Coming Soon: Rowing in Color Feb 09, 2020

Rowing in Color is a podcast that amplifies the voices of color in rowing. Hosts, Patricia Destine and Denise Aquino, are passionate about promoting diversity in rowing. Two former rowers turned coxswains turned coaches share one mic while recording in a bar. Not only do they break the rules of podcasting, but they also break their silence and what is know to be a white-dominated sport.

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