It's time to talk about rowing culture.

We will open the creaky doors of boathouses in Seattle, Dublin, Aberdeen (UK) and Oxford. We'll talk about rowing culture, glory, honor, power and privilege. Who belongs? Who doesn't? This isn't The Boys in the Boat.

Music: Gone Goofy, by The Sixteen Wheelers (Epidemic)

Article: Megan Sheppard, Seattle Time, November 25, 2008

https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/it-all-started-in-the-seattle-area-for-es-king-of-snark-joel-mchale/

Thank you to the University of Aberdeen Alumni for photo permission.

Keywords: Rowing, University of Aberdeen, University of Washington, Oxford Rowing, team culture, rowing culture, high performance teams, Oxford Brookes, St Andrews, Social Mobility, Class conflict, hazing

When George Clooney came to town, the rowing communities both here and Britain were having some pretty serious conversations about rowing culture. Did George or MGM Amazon know? Does it matter?

Trevor Lensmeier, Moira MacDonald, "George Clooney talks 'Boys in the Boat' on the Seattle 'red' carpet," The Seattle Times, December 8, 2023.

https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/movies/watch-george-clooney-talks-boys-in-the-boat-on-seattle-red-carpet/

Gus Garcia-Roberts, "A coach accused, again and again," The Washington Post, July 13, 2023

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2023/07/13/conal-groom-rowing-coach-allegations/

Music: Gone Goofy, by The Sixteen Wheelers (Epidemic)

Keywords: Rowing, University of Aberdeen, University of Washington, Oxford Rowing, team culture, rowing culture, high performance teams, Oxford Brookes, St Andrews, Social Mobility, Class conflict, hazing, Culture mystery

Listener -

Some of these stories will be fun - Some may not be. These stories span a lot of humans, and thus the human experience. We will cover history on both sides of the atlantic and talk to people from many different crews. It is possible that we will discuss: Sexual Assault, Racial conflict, Hazing and Attempted Suicide.

If these topics are harmful for you to listen to, please sit this series out. There are so many other fun podcasts to listen to. It can be hard to remember this for some rowers, but rowing is just a sport after all.

- JB

Music: Gone Goofy, by The Sixteen Wheelers (Epidemic)

Keywords: Rowing, University of Aberdeen, University of Washington, Oxford Rowing, team culture, rowing culture, high performance teams, Oxford Brookes, St Andrews, Social Mobility, Class conflict, hazing, Culture mystery

Transcript:

Before we get started, We need to talk about safety and ethics.

I'm not sure exactly where some of these stories will end up as they are still unfolding. Some of these stories I tell because they are triumphant, hilarious or provide insight to the cult-like world of rowing. But some of these stories are tough. These stories do span a 50 year time period, 4 nations, 9 different crews, and a lot of human beings. We will almost certainly talk about sex, hazing, racial conflict, sexual assault and attempted suicide. When possible I will avoid gory details, because I just don't want to go there. It's my podcast. If these topics are hurtful to you, please sit this out. This is just a sport, after all.
If you are the kind of person who reads content warnings to find out if things get exciting.... well... I will throw in organized crime, drugs, and guns.

I mean well when I ask the questions I ask, and I realize that talking about culture and loyalty can be complicated and uncomfortable. Rowing is a multi-generation affair for many of us. Sometimes rowing has been a part of our careers and our families. Mine included. At the same time, if it's part of the story and public knowledge I'm not going to step around it. There are some great histories written about rowing. My hope is that these stories and the questions I ask will add to the conversation and maybe even be helpful to someone.

There are stories I would like to tell very much. They are not mine. and it is too soon to tell them. Some stories are asking to be told and it's important that we talk about them. And some of the other stories I feel an urgency to at least record them. We won't all be around forever.

And if you are a US college rower from the 90's and worried that I will unleash a personal me too revelation, don't worry. When I was in college boy rowers were way too intimidating for me so I stayed clear. And I only have fond memories of the times we crossed paths. If you have regrets about hooking up with a rower back in the day it wasn't this one.