For Stars Podcast

The Quaker Chronicles (feat. Al Monte)

On this week’s episode of the For Stars Podcast, Hudson brings on Head Coach of Penn Heavyweight Rowing, Al Monte, a man who lives and breathes Philadelphia. Entering his third season this year with the Quakers, Al is back in the boathouse and ready to take on this next year. Hudson and Al discuss the 2023-2024 season where the team went neck and neck with Northeastern, inches apart from one another at the IRA National Championship closing in with nearly the same time to end the year. Al calls it somewhat of a rivalry, so we shall see how this year unfolds for both of the teams out East. The two talk about what makes Penn Rowing so unique, the maturation of the squad since his arrival, upgrades to the boathouse, what the process looks like of bringing on the right guys to the team, and more.  Xeno Müller - Elite Rowing Coach [https://eliterowingcoach.com/] Make your rowing dreams real! Use Code “FORSTARS” for $200 OFF on your desired training package! Vespoli USA [https://www.vespoli.com] Whether you need one boat or a fleet, Vespoli USA has you covered, providing stability and comfort. Vespoli USA [https://www.vespoli.com] Whether you need one boat or a fleet, Vespoli USA has you covered, providing stability and comfort. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Rowing in Tiger Town (feat. Greg Hughes)

On this week’s episode of the For Stars Podcast, Hudson brings on Head Coach of Princeton Heavyweight Rowing, Greg Hughes, a staple in collegiate men’s rowing. Entering his 16th season this year, Greg is ready to get back in the coaching launch and drive his team to another amazing season. Hudson and Greg discuss the 2023-2024 season where the team went undefeated in the regular season, and the unbelievable race at the Eastern Sprints that lead up to the IRA National Championship in New Jersey. The two talk about recruiting, land training, facilities, erging in the winter, the team’s principles, media in the sport and where it’s leading, the power of student-athlete development, what it means to row for Princeton, and more! Xeno Müller - Elite Rowing Coach [https://eliterowingcoach.com/] Make your rowing dreams real! Use Code “FORSTARS” for $200 OFF on your desired training package! Vespoli USA [https://www.vespoli.com] Whether you need one boat or a fleet, Vespoli USA has you covered, providing stability and comfort. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Coaching Character (feat. Jake Coert)

Welcome everyone to Episode 100 of the For Stars Podcast, where we bring you an individual who has impacted the lives of countless student-athletes, Jake Coert, Former Head Coach of Channel Islands Rowing Club, a junior rowing program nestled in Southern California. Hudson was under the tutelage of Jake in his early years as a coxswain, and only felt that it was right to bring on the coach that changed his life forever. Jake was a rower on the 2012 US Junior National Team before making his way over to row at Cal. He spent time coaching the Men’s Team at UCLA, and shortly after began coaching on the Channel Islands Harbor where he helped start the Channel Islands Rowing Club (CIRC) in 2018.  On this episode we discuss the importance of student-athlete development and how crucial it is for coaches to prioritize growth in a program. The two discuss what it takes to be an elite athlete and how many sessions on average that will take per week, in order to compete with the best of the best in the sport. We touch on the reality of small boat-clubs and competing against programs that suit a larger roster of athletes, with more financial support and better boats and equipment. In addition to that, suiting coxswains in programs that have a limited amount of rowers, and what to do with that predicament. Jake gives a plethora of advice to coaches out there from his personal experience coaching juniors and how rewarding it is to see his athletes continue to prosper in the collegiate sphere as well as post-rowing. Be sure to tune into this episode and reach out to him on Instagram @jakecoert with any questions or comments.  Xeno Müller - Elite Rowing Coach [https://eliterowingcoach.com/] Make your rowing dreams real! Use Code “FORSTARS” for $200 OFF on your desired training package! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

The Secret Sauce (feat. Bryan Volpenhein)

There are very few people in this sport that continuously impact the lives around them, and fortunately, Hudson was able to speak with an icon in American Rowing, Mr. Bryan Volpenhein. The 10-time National team member, Bryan rowed the US Men's 8+ to two medals at the Olympics. Alongside his boatmates, Volp broke records like no other. He stroked the US Men's 8+ to a Gold Medal in 2004, while breaking a world-record time, and Team USA Rowing's first Gold Medal in nearly 40 years. His boat in 2008, got Bronze at the Summer Olympic Games, with an ambition to get back on the medal stand once again.  To close out the month, Hudson brings Volp on the show to talk about his experience as an Olympic Oarsman and the realities of what it takes to be an elite athlete. Not only is Bryan a genetically-gifted individual, but he spends his free time cooking up five-course meals to suit his athletic endeavors and feed his family quality eats! Hudson and Volp make their way over to answering the Q&A, reflecting back on the training program for the Olympics, and to remember the importance of always being a solid teammate. Bryan explained his reasoning for feeling so removed from the sport since he left UPenn, the Olympics in 2000, as well as common misconceptions when pertaining to that cycle, and ultimately, what got him back into coaching, as it was recently announced that he was appointed Head Coach of the Men's and Women's Rowing team at Oklahoma City University, an NAIA school, home to the OKC High Performance Club. Be sure to tune into this episode, and hear about how one of the Greatest Walk-On's in American Rowing, never forgets the brotherhood that he had while rowing for the United States at the highest stage in sports. Xeno Müller - Elite Rowing Coach [https://eliterowingcoach.com/] Make your rowing dreams real! Use Code “FORSTARS” for $200 OFF on your desired training package! Pocock Racing Shells [https://www.pocock.com/] Pocock Racing Shells has been building boats for America’s fastest crews since conception in 1911. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Boys in the Boston Basin (feat. Billy Boyce)

Welcome everyone to another episode of the For Stars Podcast, featuring Head Coach of Harvard Men’s Lightweight Rowing, Billy Boyce. Coming off of an undefeated dual season, winning the Eastern Sprints and the IRA National Championship, the H150’s made history this past season.  Boyce shares his testimony with Hudson on what went into the season, his overall method to excellence and recruiting athletes to join the Crimson, managing a college lightweight rowing team, recent renovations to the historic “Newell Boathouse” home to the Men’s Heavyweight & Lightweight teams, and the excitement for what’s in store for the future of the program. Billy answered some of the questions in our Q&A, but made it clear of how proud he really is of his team, commending their success this season to hard work and pure discipline. The competitive culture of the squad, prompted each individual to reach their highest potential both on the water and off the water, setting some record-breaking standards across the team. Be sure to listen to this episode and hear more from Head Coach, Billy Boyce, as the squad makes their way over to the 2024 Henley Royal Regatta across the Atlantic. Xeno Müller - Elite Rowing Coach [https://eliterowingcoach.com/] Make your rowing dreams real! Use Code “FORSTARS” for $200 OFF on your desired training package! Pocock Racing Shells [https://www.pocock.com/] Pocock Racing Shells has been building boats for America’s fastest crews since conception in 1911. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.