Social Kick • Swim Culture & Stories

In this episode of Social Kick, we are joined by the "Father of NIL," Grant House! As the lead plaintiff in the landmark House v. NCAA case, Grant completely changed the landscape of college sports. But he’s not stopping there. Grant is now focused on educating athletes, speaking at universities across the country, and developing his own performance consulting business. We discuss the evolving world of NIL, exploring what brands are actually looking for from Olympic athletes and how swimmers can better monetize their careers.

Grant shares his experience attending Athlete Con in Las Vegas and the surprising truth about how many brands and athletes still don't fully understand the NIL landscape.

But it's not all business—we also tackle some hot topics! Grant gives his unfiltered take on the highly controversial Enhanced Games, discussing why athletes deserve fair compensation and why the swimming community needs to stop shutting down new opportunities. We also debate the ethics of sports betting, propose a new "World Record Lottery" system to pay swimmers millions, and discuss the optimal temperature for a sauna recovery session.

Is Josh Matheny the happiest guy in professional swimming? We caught up with the rising USA breaststroke star after meeting him at the Beyond the Blocks Clinic in Ohio, and he did not disappoint!

In this episode of the Social Kick, Josh discusses his unique breaststroke technique—specifically answering the question everyone asks: Why does he open his mouth so wide when he breathes? Josh also opens up about his training philosophy at Indiana University, how he manages the brutal 200m Breaststroke, and the mental battles of breaking through times when you're stuck on a plateau. We also get into some hilarious stories, including his absolute nightmare Halloween set (400 IM, 500 Free, and Butterfly?), getting chewed out for almost missing a final at the Sacramento Pro Swim Series, and the rigid unwritten rules of "Social Kicking" at IU.
Plus, we put him in the hot seat during our Rapid Fire segment! Whether you're a breaststroker trying to figure out your race strategy or just a fan of elite swimming, Josh is one of the most grounded and insightful athletes in the sport.

How does a 200 Butterfly and IM swimmer completely reinvent himself to become the American Record holder in the 50 Breaststroke? In this episode of Social Kick, we sit down with sprint powerhouse Van Mathias to discuss his incredible and unconventional swimming journey.

Van breaks down how stepping away from the pool to focus on heavy lifting (and bulking up to 235 lbs!) ultimately laid the foundation for his explosive sprint speed. We discuss his current training regimen at Indiana University, which defies traditional swimming volume.

Van reveals how he hits career-best times on just 8,000 to 10,000 yards a week, utilizing intense resistance pulley training, high-lactate bursts, and almost zero "easy" swimming. He also opens up about the reality of balancing life as a professional swimmer with a full-time job, why changing his mindset was the real secret to dropping times, and exactly how he trims his iconic mustache for maximum hydrodynamics.

If you're a swimmer wanting to transition into the sprint group or looking for fresh insights into high-intensity training, this episode is a must-listen!

What does it actually take to make a living as a professional swimmer? Olympic Silver Medalist and NCAA Champion Anna Peplowski joins Social Kick to pull back the curtain on pro swimming finances, her transition out of NCAA competition, and her road to the LA 2028 Olympics.

Anna breaks down the exact numbers behind her professional career, including the $3,750 monthly stipend from USA Swimming, the $15,000 athlete donor program, and how she navigates brand deals with companies like Jersey Mike's, Science in Sport, and DripDrop. She also shares how living on $650/month rent in Indiana helps her budget for the future!

Beyond the business of the sport, Anna discusses the insane depth of the Women's 200 Freestyle, the mindset shift that keeps her motivated during grueling threshold sets, her borderline-obsessive coffee hobby, and the absolute hardest set she’s ever done at IU (40x75s!). Plus, stick around for the Rapid Fire segment where Anna flexes an unbelievable hidden talent: singing every single US President in under 15 seconds.

If you want an honest, transparent look at the life of an elite swimmer, you don't want to miss this one.

Is he the best underwater kicker of all time? We think so—and so does Coach Dave Durden! In this episode of the Social Kick Podcast, Olympic Gold Medalist and Cal Bear legend Tom Shields joins the crew to talk about his life post-retirement, his new swimming clinics, and his life in Santa Cruz, California.

 

Tom takes us through his incredible career, revealing the exact moment he realized his underwaters were world-class and how he used his turns to dominate the sport. But Tom’s next chapter goes far beyond the pool. He details his new three-pronged approach to giving back: high-level swimming clinics, partnering with local surf instructors for a holistic "waterman" experience, and his passion project—launching a foundation to bring mental health first aid to age-group swimming clubs.

 

From dodging sea lions while spearfishing and respecting local surf culture to breaking down why underwater breath-holding contests are useless for competitive swimming, this episode is packed with stories and actionable advice from one of the sport's greatest technicians.