Social Kick • Swim Culture & Stories

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.

In this episode of Social Kick, Olympic swimmer David Johnston opens up about his recent decision to transfer from Texas to Florida, diving deep into the realities of navigating the transfer portal, and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals in collegiate swimming. He candidly shares his struggles with a debilitating shoulder injury, his relentless drive to return to the sport he loves, and his ultimate goal for the 2028 Olympics.

They discuss everything from what it means to “outwork” the competition, adapting to a new coaching style, and the mindset needed to overcome intense physical and mental setbacks. Listen in as David gets honest about what’s next and why he believes his best swimming is still ahead of him!

In this episode of Social Kick, Bryan Lundquist and Dr. John Mullen sit down with Indiana University’s breakout freshman sensation, Josh Bey. After a monster first year that saw him drop 5 seconds in his 200 breaststroke to become the #8 all-time performer (1:48.9) and win the Big 10 title in the 400 IM, Josh pulls back the curtain on the mental and physical grind of elite college swimming.

Josh opens up about his "cannon event"—a heart-to-heart meeting in December that saved his season—and how he moved past crippling superstitions to finally trust his gut. We dive deep into the IU breaststroke culture, the technical "pause" trick that changed his turns, and why he responds best when coaches get in his face.

In this episode of the Social Kick Podcast, we welcome back NCAA Champion and Polish Olympian Kacper Stokowski. Known for his legendary celebrations and underwater dominance at NC State, Kacper is now pivoting his competitive drive into the world of sports business. We discuss his new venture, Level Up Mentorship, a platform designed to bridge the gap between young athletes and elite mentors. Kacper shares his personal journey from a young swimmer in Poland with unanswered questions to an elite athlete realizing the power of a one-on-one connection. We also get Kacper’s takes on the current state of swimming, including: The 19-Second Barrier: Why we haven't seen a 19-second 50 backstroke yet and who he’d bet on to do it. The "Wolfpack" Culture: Lessons learned from Braden Holloway and how swimming for "the Diamond" shaped his business philosophy. Monetizing the Sport: How mentorship can create revenue streams for non-revenue collegiate sports to prevent program cuts. Injury & Comeback: Kacper opens up about his recent back struggles (the "old man problems" of underwater specialists) and his excitement to return to the water with a smarter, higher-intensity training approach. Whether you're a parent navigating the NIL era, a young swimmer looking for a pro's perspective, or just a fan of the sport, this episode is packed with insights on how to "Level Up." 0:00 - Intro: Remembering Kacper’s epic block celebration 2:08 - The 19-second 50 Backstroke: Why is it so elusive? 5:24 - Discussing the "Swim Inflation" and 42-second backstroke times 7:12 - Audience Questions: The art of the celebration—authentic vs. choreographed 14:31 - Breaking the unwritten rules of swimming "decorum" 17:05 - What is Level Up? Solving the lack of resources for young athletes 23:38 - Moving beyond "doom scrolling" to real mentorship 35:30 - The challenges of being an international recruit in the NCAA 41:54 - The most common question: "How do I become a pro?" 44:36 - The long-term goal: Saving collegiate programs through revenue sharing 52:10 - Recovery update: Dealing with bulging discs and the return to the pool 56:47 - Rapid Fire: Pull-up goals, bench press stats, and Masters predictions

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In this episode of the Social Kick Podcast, we sit down with Sean Kao, the founder and mastermind behind Aquatic Sports Performance (ASP). Sean has revolutionized the way elite swimmers approach the weight room, training some of the fastest athletes on the planet, including Caleb Dressel and Michael Andrew. Sean takes us through his journey from being a sprinter at Arizona State University under the legendary Bob Bowman to building a world-class training facility from a garage.

We discuss his "Rate Limiting KPI" philosophy, the reality of "neural load" in sprinting, and the grit required to build a media brand and an elite pro group simultaneously. Whether you’re a coach, an athlete, or a swimming nerd, Sean Kao’s insights on the business and biology of fast swimming are a must-watch.