Rowing in Color

Denise Aquino & Patricia Destine

Denise Aquino and Patricia Destine are two women of color who are dedicated to promoting diversity within the sport of rowing. Both are former rowers turned coxswains turned coaches in the sport. Together they have almost 25 years of experience on the erg, at regattas, in the launch, or at the boathouse. No stranger to navigation or microphones, these former coxswains amplify what it’s like to navigate the topic of race within the white-dominated sport of rowing. Like most bodies of water, the tide is changing; there are more American rowers of color than there has ever been. You’ll hear from people who represented the U.S. in international races to folks who just started to row this year. Tune in to listen to a mix of interviews, special co-hosts, and tag-team shows from hosts, Denise and Patricia. Whether a rower or not, you’re not going to want to miss. Hit subscribe and enjoy.

  1. Alia Komsany, Ph.D: Breaking Barriers for Muslim Women in Rowing, interviewed by Sadia Moumita

    04/07/2022

    Alia Komsany, Ph.D: Breaking Barriers for Muslim Women in Rowing, interviewed by Sadia Moumita

    #051 - Alia Komsany Ph.D is interviewed by Sadia Moumita. Rowing in Color host, Patricia Destine, chats with them to share Alia’s story. In this episode, we talked about: How Alia got into the sport [3:04]When Alia felt like she didn’t belong in the sport [4:36]The depth of Alia’s commitment to rowing, which is balanced with cancer research [8:00]Changing the narrative regarding stereotypical thinking with girls’ women’s participation in sport [12:07]What Alia’s visibility meant for Sadia [16:08]Alia’s message for girls wearing hijabs & how wearing a hijab has shaped how she is as an athlete [16:36]Alia’s long term goals in rowing [23:13]Talking about barriers to rowing [24:48]The push for women in sports in Saudi Arabia [26:22]How Sadia got into rowing [29:04]Advice for getting parents on board with rowing [33:20]Advice for coaches to build an inclusive environment for Muslim rowers [37:26]… and much more.       To get in touch with Alia Komsany, please find her on Instagram at @aliakomsany We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.      If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.     Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.     We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

    54 min
  2. Chicago Training Center: Representation Matters, Representation Happens

    03/24/2022

    Chicago Training Center: Representation Matters, Representation Happens

    #050 - Chicago Training Center’s leadership team at all women: Staci Brown is the Executive Director, Rebekah Armstrong is the Program Director, and Sam Reyes is the Head Coach. Rowing in Color hosts, Denise Aquino and Patricia Destine, chat with them to share their story. In this episode, we talked about: Introductions & how Chicago Training Center achieved racial diversity at the highest staffing level [1:50] From alumna to head coach, Sam shares her experience [13:45] CTC goals for recruiting new rowers and effective methods you can use for diversifying your youth program [16:37] What challenges and value having a diverse staff has had [24:53] Challenges in diversifying their program & sharing really good advice on this process [34:53]  How to get in touch [40:54] … and much more.       To get in touch with Chicago Training Center, please find the on Instagram at @ctc_rowing or visit their website at chicagotrainingcenter.org  We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.      If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.     Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.     We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

    45 min
  3. Baylor Henry, Founder of @BlackGirlsRow, Interviewed by Keira Gotrell & Sophia Gupta

    03/18/2022

    Baylor Henry, Founder of @BlackGirlsRow, Interviewed by Keira Gotrell & Sophia Gupta

    #049 - Baylor Henry, the founder of @blackgirlsrow, shared her story with us in December 2020. Tune in to listen to her conversation with then fellow high schoolers, Keira Gotrell and Sophia Gupta. In this episode, they talked about: Their reaction to the offensive rowing memes that we reposted on Instagram in December 2020 [1:15]Talking about how they processed the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement [9:30]“How have you felt the rowing community has changed since…?” [13:49]Talking about creating @blackgirlsrow [18:38]Advice for Juniors coaches [28:09]Did you ever feel like you didn’t belong? [33:11] The joy of proving them wrong and “working twice as hard” [44:10] Black and non-Black person of color perspectives on “working twice as hard” [45:28] Advice to young people of color [53:49] (Oops) Introductions? Outroductions [57:48]… and much more.    To get in touch with Baylor Henry, please find her on Instagram at @blackgirlsrow We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.  If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor. Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot. We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

    1 hr
  4. 11/18/2021

    Where was Rowing in Color? & Head of the Charles Introduction

    #044 - Denise Aquino and Patricia Destine are respectively the Founder and CEO of Rowing in Color. In this episode, listen to them reflect on their silence in 2021, and also introduce the short episodes recorded live from Head of the Charles Regatta on October 23-24, 2021. In this episode, we talked about: 4:06 The real reason why we haven’t published in 2021 “When someone’s trying to oppress you, you have to stand up.”10:44 Thank you Patreon family!13:08 “Whether or not that is the first threat or the last threat, we’re gonna keep going.”14:03 What we’re not “supposed” to say on Rowing in Color, according to a funder15:13 What happened to the other recorded episodes?17:30 Thoughts on HOCR 2021 tent 22:24 Words of wisdom for young rowers of color from Patricia25:52 Who Denise is afraid of getting a phone call from… and much more. We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.     If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.     Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.     We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe.

    28 min
5
out of 5
49 Ratings

About

Denise Aquino and Patricia Destine are two women of color who are dedicated to promoting diversity within the sport of rowing. Both are former rowers turned coxswains turned coaches in the sport. Together they have almost 25 years of experience on the erg, at regattas, in the launch, or at the boathouse. No stranger to navigation or microphones, these former coxswains amplify what it’s like to navigate the topic of race within the white-dominated sport of rowing. Like most bodies of water, the tide is changing; there are more American rowers of color than there has ever been. You’ll hear from people who represented the U.S. in international races to folks who just started to row this year. Tune in to listen to a mix of interviews, special co-hosts, and tag-team shows from hosts, Denise and Patricia. Whether a rower or not, you’re not going to want to miss. Hit subscribe and enjoy.