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.

The 2026 NCAA Swimming & Diving season is officially in the books! Bryan and John are back from Atlanta (Georgia Tech) to recap a wild week of record-breaking performances and controversial format changes. From the Virginia Women securing an epic 6th straight title to the Texas Men going back-to-back, the dynasties are alive and well—but the sport is changing. We dive deep into the "no B-finals" experiment, the decision to open the meet with the 1650 Freestyle, and why Josh Liendo and Hubi Kos setting NCAA records in the morning was met with "crickets" in the stands. We also discuss our Social Kick Afterparty at Margaritaville with Olympic Champ Daniel Wiffen and our vision for turning the NCAAs into a 6-day combined "festival" of swimming.

What happens when a top-tier athlete hits a plateau after five years in the same environment? Isabelle Stadden joins the crew to discuss her "reset" move from Cal to the University of Virginia. After nearly walking away from the sport last summer, Isabelle is back and faster than ever, dropping a massive 2:05 200 Backstroke at Westmont. We dive deep into the differences between the Dave Durden and Todd DeSorbo training styles, the "trauma" of training with Ryan Murphy at altitude, and why she’s suddenly swimming with the endurance of her high school self. From specific caffeine protocols to the psychology of "Social Kick," this is a masterclass in elite athlete longevity.