Dave Durden: How Cal Swimming Builds Champions & Winning Culture. Ep 280

Legendary coach Dave Durden joins Social Kick to talk culture, champions, and what really matters in elite swim training. As the head coach of the California Golden Bears, Dave has built one of the most successful programs in college swimming history, developing Olympic champions and sustained excellence. In this episode, he breaks down his coaching philosophy, why evaluating how athletes move in the water matters more than times, and how long-term planning shapes winning environments. We also dive into recruiting, building trust, and why Dave believes social kick might be one of the most important — and overlooked — parts of training. Whether you’re a swimmer, coach, or fan of the sport, this episode is packed with insight, perspective, and stories from one of swimming’s most respected leaders. Follow Social Kick and drop a comment with your favorite Dave Durden memory or your go-to social kick set.

Dude, what a year.” In this year-end episode of The Social Kick Podcast, the full crew — Bryan Lundquist, Dr. John Mullen, and Luke Paddington — gets together to close out 2025 by debating the most unforgettable moments in swimming. We break down the races that defined the year, from Leon Marchand skipping the 1:53s entirely in the 200 IM to Katie Ledecky breaking the 15-minute barrier at a home invitational. We also dig into the moments that sparked debate and disbelief, including the Florida relay disqualification at NCAAs, the removal of B-Finals from the NCAA format, and a “pool measurement” conspiracy surrounding world records. The conversation moves from jaw-dropping performances to the hardest training sets of the year — including a Sven Schwarz distance workout that stopped Bryan in his tracks — before wrapping with bold predictions and personal goals heading into 2026. Topics include: Race of the Year debates The women’s 800 free and Ledecky’s historic swim NCAA controversies and format changes The hardest sets of 2025 Big interviews, breakout moments, and WTF stories Bold predictions and goals for 2026 It’s equal parts analysis, opinion, humor, and reflection — a true end-of-year conversation for swimmers, coaches, and fans who lived every moment of the 2025 season.

John Shortt is emerging as one of the most exciting young backstrokers in the world. In this episode of The Social Kick Podcast, the Irish standout and World Junior Champion joins us to talk through his rapid rise on the international stage, including his performances at World Juniors and the European Short Course Championships. Known for his closing speed and elite turns, John breaks down the technical details that separate his backstroke and how years of training in a 20-meter pool shaped his underwater skills. We discuss his development pathway, confidence-building training sets, and how he balances racing multiple backstroke distances while staying technically sound under pressure. John also shares insight into life at Ireland’s National Training Centre in Limerick, why he chose to stay home rather than pursue U.S. college options, and what’s driving Ireland’s growing momentum in international swimming. The conversation mixes detailed swimming insight with lighter moments, giving a clear picture of both the athlete and the person behind the results. A must-listen for swimmers, coaches, and fans interested in elite backstroke, athlete development, and the next generation of international talent.

Will Modglin just delivered one of the fastest backstroke performances in NCAA history. In this episode of The Social Kick Podcast, we sit down with the new American record holder in the 100-yard backstroke after his 43.26 swim at the Texas Hall of Fame Invite. He also clocked the fastest 50-yard backstroke ever with a 20.00 lead-off split, coming within a touch of breaking one of swimming’s most iconic barriers. A junior at the University of Texas and a U.S. National Team member, Will breaks down the mindset behind those record swims, the training culture at Texas under Bob Bowman, and how racing in one of the deepest backstroke groups in the NCAA has shaped his confidence. We also dive into his unusual versatility, including how he went 50.9 in the 100 breaststroke with minimal breaststroke-specific training, how he approaches event selection, and where IM and long-course goals fit into his future. The conversation wraps with audience questions and a rapid-fire round covering training, competition, and swim culture as Will looks ahead to what’s next in a breakout career.

Sven Schwarz is one of the fastest-rising distance swimmers in the world, training up to 100K per week and relying almost entirely on feel to guide his pace. In this episode of The Social Kick Podcast, Sven breaks down the work, the mindset, and the new level of men’s distance swimming. We talk about training volume, threshold pace, recovery habits, coach communication, race prep, and why he skipped the 2025 European Championships. If you’re into distance swimming or elite training insights, this conversation delivers. Subscribe for more interviews with the world’s top swimmers.

Virginia Head Coach Todd DeSorbo joins The Social Kick to talk about the future of college swimming and the debut of a made-for-TV double elimination dual meet featuring UVA, Tennessee, and Michigan. He shares how new formats, rivalries, and personality can elevate the sport, his philosophy on building winning teams, and what it takes to innovate without losing the joy of racing. A fast, insightful conversation with one of the most influential coaches in the NCAA.

Matt Kredich isn’t just a successful swim coach — he’s a culture builder, a thinker, and a leader whose impact reaches far beyond the pool deck. As the Director of Swimming & Diving at the University of Tennessee, he has developed Olympians, NCAA champions, and stars like Jordan Crooks, Mona McSharry, and Gui Caribe. But what truly makes Tennessee stand out is not just the speed — it’s the chemistry, belief, and connection that everyone can see. In this episode of The Social Kick Podcast, Matt shares how culture becomes a competitive advantage, why empathy and accountability can coexist in high-performance environments, and how personal loss reshaped his perspective on coaching and purpose. We talk about sprint mechanics, drag reduction, athlete mindset, and how to help swimmers make breakthroughs technically and emotionally. This is a conversation about coaching, leadership, resilience, and what it really takes to help people become the best version of themselves — in and out of the water. Listen now to hear: How culture drives performance in elite swim programs What makes Jordan Crooks and Tennessee’s sprinters different Using empathy, structure, and purpose in coaching How personal loss shaped Matt’s approach to leadership The technical and human elements behind world-class swimming Whether you're a swimmer, coach, parent, or just love great conversations about growth, this episode will leave you thinking differently about what makes people better.

Just the guys this week! Luke, Bryan, and John are back in classic Social Kick mode — no guests, no script, just pure swim talk. The crew catches up on everything happening across the swim world: new records in China and Russia, Summer McIntosh’s big move to Arena, college season chaos, and even a few triathlon and high school highlights. It’s the kind of episode that feels like hanging out with your swim buddies after practice — full of takes, laughs, and real conversation about the sport we love. In this episode: Yu Zidi breaks a 13-year Asian Record 🇨🇳 Egor Kornev’s 44.99 lights up Russian SC Nationals Summer McIntosh signs with Arena — what’s that deal worth? Cal vs. Stanford, NC State’s “Raleigh Rumble,” and the Power 4 Dual Meet Challenge Ironman 70.3 Worlds and swimmers leading the way High school phenom Luka’s blazing times and Bolles’ new relay record 🎧 Dive in for the latest swim news, wild speculation, and plenty of good vibes — it’s all part of The Social Kick Podcast.

Ukraine’s next great sprinter joins The Social Kick! 🇺🇦 Nikita Sheremet is the World Junior Champion and Record Holder in the 50 freestyle (21.75) — tying Michael Andrew’s World Junior Record last summer. Now racing for the University of Louisville, he’s already made waves in the NCAA with a 19.28 freshman record and big goals for the European Championships. In this episode, Nikita shares his remarkable journey from Ukraine to Poland to escape the war, his move to the U.S., and how he built world-class sprint speed at such a young age. We break down sprint training, mindset, dryland work, and a few fun rapid-fire questions from fans. If you love fast swimming, big goals, and the next wave of sprint talent — you’ll love this one. 🎙️ Highlights: Training for a 21-second 50 freestyle Building power & explosiveness as a young sprinter From Ukraine to Louisville: a swimmer’s journey Rapid fire Q&A: pull-ups, Fortnite, favorite food & more Goals for 2025 Europeans and NCAAs 💬 Connect & Subscribe: Follow The Social Kick on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Spotify. Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review to support the show!

Former Cal swimmer Greg Harper is now one of the best swimmers in triathlon — leading out the swim at the 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships and chasing the Kona swim course record next year. In Episode 271 of The Social Kick Podcast, Greg joins us to talk about his journey from NCAA swimming to pro triathlon, what triathletes often get wrong about swim training, and how fatherhood has changed his approach to training and racing. We dive into: The biggest lessons from racing at the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona What swimmers need to know to make a successful jump into triathlon Greg’s unfiltered thoughts on triathlon culture, prize money, and sponsorships Whether it’s ever OK to wear a watch in swim workouts Hot takes on the Enhanced Games, the T100 Series, and the future of the sport Known for his honesty and humor as a co-host on The Triathlon Hour, Greg brings the same energy here — mixing insight, candor, and a swimmer’s perspective on the multi-sport world. Whether you’re a triathlete, swimmer, or just love a good endurance sports story, this episode’s for you. 🎙️ The Social Kick Podcast — where swimming meets the rest of the world.