Van Mathias on Sprint Swimming, Heavy Lifting & Balancing a Full-Time Job | Episode 301

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.

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.

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 Special Thanks to our Sponsors: TheMagic5: Experience the world's only custom-fit goggles, designed to eliminate leaks and pressure marks for a more comfortable swim: https://themagic5.com/ Grown-Up Swimming: Why let the kids have all the fun? Join the summer league for adults and rediscover the joy of racing: https://www.grownupswimming.com/ TriHard: Protect your skin and hair from chlorine. Use code SOCIALKICK for 20% off your order: https://www.trihard.co/ SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/socialkickswim/

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.