For Stars Podcast

9 Episodes
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By: Hudson Forster

For Stars Podcast © is the prime location to vibe, learn, and inspire others on the sport, lifestyle, and world of rowing. The name of the podcast... "For Stars" symbolizes the individuals who have shined a light on others around them, whether that be teammates, friends, family, coaches, etc. Known around the globe as the “ultimate team sport”, rowing or "crew" is primarily observed at the Olympic Games, but also in the collegiate and youth communities as well. Rowing is the oldest sport known to mankind, ranging back to when the Ancient Egyptians took some oars and propelled a boat. Although rowin...

Be A Champion Today! (feat. Martin Stone)
#93
Yesterday at 7:00 AM

One week out from the 2024 San Diego Crew Classic, and we bring you another episode here at FSP, featuring the Head Coach of Notre Dame Women's Rowing, Martin Stone, a coach for the Fighting Irish since 1997.

Hudson and Martin cover the prep for SDCC, events that happened last year at the event, and outlook for this year, along with the recent changes with conference realignment, and how he sees Cal, SMU, and Stanford being three great teams to compete against starting in the Fall throughout the season on a conference level, leading up into NCAA's. Stone has...


No Crack'in Me! (feat. Chase Graham)
#92
03/08/2024

Spring is here, and so is another FSP episode, featuring the new Head Coach of SMU Women's Rowing, Chase Graham. The former Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator of the Duke Blue Devils made his way over to the Hilltop in July of 2023, where he now sits at the helm of the program coaching the Mustangs in Dallas, Texas.

Hudson and Chase elaborate more on the move from North Carolina to Texas and recent changes with conference realignment, and how he sees the role that SMU will play in the Atlantic Coast Conference, better known as the "...


Mic’d Up with McGee (feat. Luke McGee)
#91
02/29/2024

From Mic’d Up in the Erg Room to the podcast, Head Coach of Syracuse Women’s Rowing, Luke McGee, joins us here at the For Stars Podcast for some fun. 

To close out the month of February, Hudson & Luke dive into the upcoming spring season, going over conference realignment and the three new powerhouses (Cal, SMU & Stanford) being added to the ACC next fall. We talk all things Syracuse Women’s Rowing, answering a plethora of recruitment questions, going over how imperative strong team culture means to a squad, touching on the static and dynamic erg, and ult...


The 4th Generation Yankee (feat. Trevor Michelson)
#90
02/25/2024

As we approach the tail-end of the month of February, we bring you an episode with the Head Coach of Dartmouth Men’s Lightweight Rowing, Trevor Michelson, who is also apart of the coaching staff for the United States Under-23 Men’s Sweep Group. 

Hudson & Trevor get into several topics surrounding the team, overall team culture, recruitment for lightweight rowing, and the unfortunate cut of the program several years ago. Be sure to tune into this episode, especially if you are passionate about lightweight men’s rowing at the D1 level and the upcoming season for the D150’s...


AllWithCruickshank (feat. Rory Cruickshank)
#89
02/20/2024

On this week's podcast we bring you the Co-Founder of AllMarkOne, Rory Cruickshank, former coxswain at Oxford Brookes University. We touch on the overall backstory behind the brand and taking the lessons learned from rowing into the inner workings of running a business. Rory's impact on UK Rowing has been monumental through creating more exposure (no pun intended) in his team's photography and media content as a whole. 

Cruickshank made his way through the Oxford Brookes Men's circuit (2018-2021) and coxed his crews at some of the largest regattas in the world, coming on top during his l...


The American 9th Seat (feat. Mary Whipple)
#88
01/29/2024

All eight, sit ready… ROW! A call you may hear from one in the 9th seat. Hudson decided to bring on one of the best and most successful coxswains in the history of American Rowing, Mary Whipple! 

On this week’s episode on For Stars Podcast, we dive deep into the connection one has with their crew, taking the lessons you learn from crew into your family life and the workforce, but most important, truly loving what the sport has to offer to it’s participants, and fighting for what you want both in sports and ordinary life. <...


Gritty Like Grady (feat. Mike Grady)
#87
01/22/2024

A little over 26 weeks away from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Hudson sat down with Mike Grady, a 2020 Tokyo Olympian competing on the US National Team.

Grady graduated from Cornell University in 2019, where he rowed under Todd Kennett ‘91, on the Men’s Heavyweight team. The connection that he shares with his teammates is evident when surrounded by each other… brotherhood, as some coin it. Nonetheless, the bonds he has created with the guys that he’s been able to row with along the years, whether that be at Central Catholic, Cornell, the U19, U23, and even Senior National Team, is...


Catching Fish Barehanded (feat. Todd Kennett)
#86
01/12/2024

Two years of FSP, and we want to wish you all a Happy New Year! 2024 is going to be filled with exciting content and expansion! On today's episode, Hudson brings on Head Coach of Cornell Men's Heavyweight Rowing, Todd Kennett '91. Coach Kennett, currently in Orlando on his team's Winter Training Trip, dives deep into recruiting and scouting talent along with the search for coxswains, along with reminiscing on the talent of athletes he has coached, even assembling a roster of guys who could assemble an exceptional eight! We answer the questions from the supporters in our Q&A...


America Was Available (feat. Josy Verdonkschot)
#85
12/13/2023

Embarking on another episode here at For Stars Podcast, we bring you an insightful pod featuring USRowing's Chief High Performance Officer, Josy Verdonkschot, a highly-touted rowing coach leading boats to Gold on the Olympic stage. Starting coaching in 1987, Josy grew up in the Netherlands, but came to the United States in 2022, working full-time for USRowing. He oversees all of the high performance clubs such as, California Rowing Club (CRC), Princeton Training Center, and all others in the US, even including the Under-19 and Under-23 National Teams.

Hudson & Josy discuss several topics, including the rowing stroke, current role...