Social Kick • Swim Culture & Stories

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.

Remember the fun of summer league swimming? The relays, the snacks, and hanging out with your friends by the pool? Brian Robbins is bringing that exact energy back to the sport with Grown-Up Swimming, a recreational summer swim league designed specifically for adults.

 

In this episode of the Social Kick Podcast, Brian, John, and Luke sit down with Brian Robbins to discuss the massive, rapid growth of Grown-Up Swimming—expanding from just 7 leagues in 2023 to over 45 cities nationwide today. We dive into the hilarious origin story behind the league's name (and why Turner Broadcasting's "Adult Swim" forced their hand), the wildly creative team names, and why this format is acting as the "pickleball" of the swimming world by making the sport more accessible, relaxed, and fun.

 

Whether you are a former elite athlete looking to casually race a 25 freestyle or someone swimming in your very first competitive meet, Grown-Up Swimming has a lane for you. Grab a mystery-flavored Airhead, crack a cold one, and tune in to learn how you can join the adult summer league movement!

The UVA Men’s team has officially arrived. We are joined by the powerhouse freshman duo of Thomas Heilman and Maximus Williamson to recap a historic NCAA season that saw the Virginia men jump into the Top 10.

Maximus takes us behind the scenes of his legendary 200 Freestyle win from Lane 8 (and the secret tattoo deal he made with Todd DeSorbo), while Thomas breaks down the "stacked" 100 Butterfly final and the intense rivalry and camaraderie at the heart of the Cavalier culture. We dive into the controversial NCAA "No B-Final" format, the reality of swimming relays in the morning, and how this "best recruiting class ever" is handling the massive expectations of the UVA shadow.

From 1v1 snipers-only video games to "drippiest coach" awards and chasing Gretchen Walsh's 100 fly times in practice, this episode covers the grit and the fun behind the rise of UVA Men’s Swimming.

In this episode of Social Kick, Bryan and the crew sit down with one of the hottest "free agents" in NCAA swimming: Julian Koch. After an explosive sophomore season at Pitt that saw him jump from a non-qualifier to a top seed in the 100 Freestyle A-Final, Julian has officially entered the transfer portal.

Julian breaks down the "overwhelming" 48 hours after his name hit the portal, his recent visits to powerhouses like Texas, Florida, and Tennessee, and the 20-pound muscle transformation that fueled his 40.4 100 Freestyle.

We also dive into his international background—growing up in Dubai, Paris, and Qatar—and why he represents Germany on the international stage. Whether it’s discussing NIL value, his newfound obsession with Hacky Sack, or the 800 IM "worst set ever" from his club days, Julian provides a raw and insightful look at the life of a modern elite collegiate swimmer.