August 09, 2025

S5E16: Send it! With RCRC’s Lea Park-Kim

1 hour

Lea Park-Kim wanted to row in college, but realized she couldn’t give it the time and dedication she wanted. For her it was all or nothing so she stepped away to focus on academics. Several years later, with her professional life on track, she found her way back to the water. Today Lea is a disciplined, motivated, and insightful rower, coxswain, and coach at River City Rowing Club in West Sacramento, CA.

QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Episode intro and welcome

04:00 - Rowing Week on a scale of 1-10: tendonitis, injury, and “customer relations”

09:40 - The Huddle

13:15 - Hot Seat Q&A

15:28 - Rowing Origin Story

20:29 - Coxing personality: absorb all she can; give rowers what they need in a way they can best receive it

25:16 - Taking a holistic approach to coxing ROWsist

28:34 - Coxing levels I, II, III

32:41 - Chatter in the boat? Absolutely no. But: here are tips for signaling your coach when things aren’t ok.

37:24 - Bringing her professional skills as a communications director to the boathouse, and how rowing time management has made her more efficient at the office

39:23 - About RCRC, Lea’s many rolls, and her transition to coaching with the support of other RCRC coaches

44:30 - The creep of AI into developing training plans and club communications

47:24 - A look back at the season, and a look ahead to growing as a coach and coxswain

50:44 - A consideration of the post-practice huddle

55:47- Lea’s idea of a perfect stroke

57:11 - Steady State Network news and notes

59:52 - Outtake

To see photos of Leah and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons.

Steady State Podcast is hosted and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering, books show guests, and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel writes our scripts and e-newsletter, and manages the website and social media. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.

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