Mercantile Radio

Mercantile Radio features stories, insights and voices from the heart of Rowing, hosted by Olympic Gold Medallist Drew Ginn OAM. Sponsored by Choice Capital and 776BC.

Mercantile Radio is a sports podcast hosted by Mercantile Rowing Club, with 56 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Mercantile Rowing Club hosts Mercantile Radio, a sports show with 56 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #56

  Mitch Salisbury: Back Yourself - Episode 56

  Sep 27, 202657 minS1

  From finding his place in rowing to stroking the Australian Eight on the world stage. Fresh from an extraordinary 2026 World Championship bronze medal in the Australian Men’s Eight, Mitch Salisbury joins Drew to discuss one of the fastest eight races ever contested, his journey from school rowing in Queensland to the Australian senior team, and the confidence that has seen him take responsibility in the stroke seat. Mitch provides a fascinating insight into stroking an Australian Eight at World Championship level: staying relaxed at extraordinary speed, trusting the preparation, keeping the rhythm simple and resisting the temptation to overthink the moment. It is also the story of an athlete who didn't necessarily fit the traditional picture of an international rower. Mitch talks openly about not being the biggest athlete, struggling to match some teammates on the erg, and learning to back what he brings to a boat. Who is Mitch Salisbury? Mitch Salisbury is a 23-year-old Australian rower and World Championship medallist whose rise has been built on boat-moving ability, rhythm, persistence and a genuine enjoyment of the sport. Growing up in Central Queensland, Mitch asked to start boarding school early so he wouldn't miss rowing season. He wasn't always the standout athlete and often found himself outside the first crew. What kept bringing him back was simple: he enjoyed rowing with his mates. After school, an unexpected Queensland State Championship result was followed by second at Nationals in the Under 21 pair and eventually the opportunity to represent Australia at Under 23 level. Now part of the senior team, Mitch has developed into a confident stroke-seat athlete. This season, he told coach Nicolo he wanted the opportunity to stroke the Eight at the World Championships — something he admits he wouldn't have had the confidence to do a year earlier. Why Is This Conversation Important? 1. You Don't Have to Look Like the Obvious Athlete Mitch's story will resonate with rowers comparing themselves with bigger, stronger athletes. Rather than accepting he was simply “no good on the erg”, Mitch saw the gap as an opportunity to improve while valuing his ability to move a boat. One measure doesn't have to define you. 2. Confidence Is Something You Build Mitch didn't always see himself as an Australian rower. His confidence developed through racing, coaching and people who believed in him. Eventually, he reached the point where he could say: “I think I'd like to give the stroke seat a crack.” That progression from uncertainty to ownership is one of the strongest themes of the episode. 3. Preparation Creates Freedom to Perform The Australian Eight rehearsed its rhythm, second-half speed and race plan so consistently that by the World Championship final, the crew knew what it could produce. Rather than searching for something new on race day, Mitch could trust the work and race. 4. Great Coaching Doesn't Have to Be Complicated Across his experiences with Scott Rowe, Randall Martin and Nicolo, Mitch returns to simplicity, belief and clarity. He describes coaches who keep messages simple, recognise potential, provide individual feedback and communicate their belief in their athletes. 5. High Performance Needs a Life Outside the Sport While living in Brisbane, Mitch played in a band, giving him a different community and an opportunity to switch off from high-performance rowing. Music remains a creative outlet and a way of maintaining perspective alongside elite sport. You Can Quote Us On That “You have to back yourself in at the end of the day.” “I never really thought I would be rowing in the Australian team.” “Every day is thinking about rowing long. Every stroke.” “There’s so much room for me to improve.” “I’m a boat mover.” Hosted by: Drew Ginn OAM Guest: Mitch Salisbury Produced by: Nicholas Finster Presented by: Mercantile Rowing Club Sponsored by: Choice Capital and 776BC

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #55

  Ben Dodwell: The Battles You Remember - Episode 55

  Sep 20, 20261h 38mS1

  From Mercantile to the Olympics and the races that mattered most In this episode of Mercantile Radio, Drew Ginn OAM sits down with his former rowing partner Ben Dodwell for a wide-ranging conversation about Australian rowing, Olympic competition, coaching, club culture and the lessons that remain long after the racing stops. Ben reflects on competing at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, taking on Steve Redgrave’s legendary British Four, the disappointment of Atlanta 1996, and why he chose to continue towards a home Olympics. He also shares stories from Mercantile, the King's Cup, Henley and some remarkable crews and coaches who shaped his career. Who is Ben Dodwell? Ben Dodwell is an Australian Olympian, former elite rower, business leader and former Rowing Australia board member. His international career included the Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, while domestically he was part of a hugely successful era of Victorian King's Cup rowing and came through the strong club culture of Mercantile Rowing Club. Across his career, Ben worked with some of Australian rowing's most influential coaches, including Tim McLaren, Reinhold Batschi, Brian Richardson and Noel Donaldson. Today, he draws heavily on those experiences in business, leadership and his perspective on the future of Australian rowing. Why Is This Conversation Important? Ben's story is about much more than Olympic results. It explores what athletes learn through disappointment, persistence, teamwork and great coaching. After Atlanta 1996, Ben seriously considered walking away from rowing. Instead, with Tim McLaren's encouragement, he rediscovered his enjoyment of moving a boat and ultimately earned the opportunity to race at a home Olympics. Ben also provides an important perspective on the future of Australian rowing, particularly the need to support athletes beyond a single Olympic cycle, strengthen pathways, maintain vibrant clubs and make rowing accessible as a sport for life. You Can Quote Us On That “You’ve got to leave it all in the water.” “The longer you're in the sport, the more likely you are to win a medal.” “You sign on to rowing, you sign on to being an affiliate of a style of person which is extraordinarily valuable in later life.” “If you're thoroughly enjoying something, it becomes really easy.” “How lucky are we?” Why You Should Listen This is a conversation about rowing, resilience, friendship and perspective. Ben provides a fascinating window into a golden era of Australian rowing while also exploring lessons that remain highly relevant for today's athletes and coaches: surround yourself with great people, learn from disappointment, be patient, enjoy what you're doing and recognise the opportunities sport gives you. For anyone connected to Mercantile, Australian rowing, coaching, leadership or Olympic sport, there is plenty in this episode to enjoy. Hosted by: Drew Ginn OAM Guest: Ben Dodwell Produced by: Nicholas Finster Sponsored by Choice Capital and 776BC Presented by Mercantile Rowing Club

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #54

  The Courage to Go Solo: Lauren Henry - Episode 54

  Sep 13, 20261h 39mS1

  In this episode of Mercantile Radio, Drew Ginn sits down with Great Britain’s Lauren Henry, fresh from a remarkable World Championships where she became the first British woman to win the World Championship single sculls title. It is a fascinating conversation about racing, resilience, training, belief and the willingness to back yourself. Who is Lauren Henry? Lauren Henry is one of the outstanding young athletes in international rowing. Having progressed through the British Junior and U23 pathway, Lauren made a rapid transition into the senior British team. Her move into the women’s quad proved pivotal, giving her the opportunity to learn how to race and win at the highest level. That journey culminated in Olympic gold in the Women’s Quadruple Sculls at Paris, in one of the most dramatic finishes of the regatta. Lauren has since returned to the boat she always wanted to race; the single scull and established herself at the very top of the event. Her World Championship victory was particularly significant, making her the first British female rower to win the world title in the single scull. Why This Conversation Is Important Lauren's story is about much more than winning Olympic and World Championship gold medals. It is about backing yourself when others are uncertain, learning from setbacks, finding the training approach that works for you and developing the confidence to pursue your own path. Her openness around fuelling, injury, training load and the pressures of elite sport also makes this an especially valuable conversation for young athletes, coaches and parents. And perhaps most importantly, Lauren demonstrates that extraordinary performance doesn't have to remove the enjoyment from sport. Behind the work, kilometres and relentless pursuit of improvement is an athlete who clearly loves rowing — and is determined to find out just how good she can become. In this episode Lauren takes us inside the World Championship final and explains the self-belief required to stay composed when her major rival established an early lead. Rather than panic, Lauren trusted one of her greatest strengths; her ability through the middle and back end of the race. Her season-long goal had been simple: be in front by 1500 metres and leave nothing to chance. A Powerful Conversation About Athlete Health One of the most important parts of the episode is Lauren's openness about nutrition, fuelling and injury. As a younger athlete, Lauren believed being lighter would make her faster. She describes experiencing repeated rib stress injuries before changing her approach to nutrition and becoming stronger and more robust. The result was not simply improved health, her performances improved dramatically because she could finally train consistently. Her message is particularly important for young athletes: being leaner does not necessarily mean performing better; fuelling sufficiently to train, recover and stay healthy matters. The Andy Randell influence Lauren also provides a terrific insight into Australian coach Andy Randell and the environment he has created within the British program. For Lauren, that relationship has become particularly important since moving into the single: although she races alone, she describes Andy as essentially her teammate. Looking towards LA Lauren is already thinking about the next Olympic Games and the shift to 1500-metre racing in Los Angeles. Her ambition extends beyond simply winning. She wants to arrive at the Olympic Games knowing she can manage the pressure, execute her best race when it matters and deliver her performance on the biggest stage. Hosted by: Drew Ginn OAM Guest: Karsten Forsterling Produced by: Nicholas Finster Sponsored by Choice Capital and 776BC Presented by Mercantile Rowing Club

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #53

  Karsten Forsterling: Never, Ever, Ever Give Up - Episode 53

  Sep 6, 20261h 41mS1

  From Olympic heartbreak to World Champion and two-time Olympic medallist. In this episode of Mercantile Radio, Drew Ginn OAM sits down with Australian Olympian and World Champion Karsten Forsterling for a wide-ranging conversation about persistence, belief, great crews and a remarkable career in Australian rowing. Karsten’s journey was anything but straightforward. After emerging as a talented junior, he spent years pushing towards his Olympic dream, missing selection, serving as an Olympic reserve and moving between sweep rowing and sculling before finally making his Olympic debut at London 2012 at the age of 32, winning bronze in the Men’s Quadruple Scull. Four years later, he returned at Rio 2016, winning silver in the quad after an undefeated World Cup season. Along the way came a dramatic 2011 World Championship victory in Bled, countless lessons about crew dynamics and some of the most influential coaches and athletes in Australian rowing. At the heart of the conversation is a simple question: what keeps an athlete going when success takes longer than expected? Who is Karsten Forsterling? Karsten Forsterling is an Australian Olympian, World Champion and one of the most persistent athletes of his generation. His international journey began in the late 1990s, including junior and Under 23 representation. After years of near misses, he transitioned from sweep rowing into sculling and became an integral member of Australia’s highly successful quadruple scull program. His career highlights discussed in the episode include: 2011 World Champion – Men’s Quadruple Scull, Bled 2012 Olympic Bronze – Men’s Quadruple Scull, London 2015 World Championship Silver – Men’s Quadruple Scull 2016 Olympic Silver – Men’s Quadruple Scull, Rio 2008 Olympic reserve – Beijing Member of the Australian Men’s Eight that qualified for the Tokyo Olympic cycle in 2019. Why Is This Conversation Important? Persistence Matters Karsten’s first Olympic medal came at 32 after years of selection disappointments and setbacks. His story challenges the idea that athletes need immediate results to justify continuing. His message is particularly relevant for young rowers: development takes time, and sometimes the athlete you become later is very different from the athlete you were at 20. Great Crews Need More Than Great Athletes Karsten reflects on the importance of emotional maturity, sacrifice and understanding what each person contributes to a boat. “It’s not just about you.” The episode explores why successful combinations require athletes to understand one another, embrace different personalities and spend enough time together to work through challenges. Belief Needs to Be Tested Karsten talks about the people who encouraged him—but also those who challenged whether he was good enough. One pivotal moment came when he was told he may not be among Australia’s top scullers. Rather than walking away, he used the challenge as motivation and soon after won the selection trials in the single. Great Coaching Can Be Simple The influence of John Driessen features strongly. Karsten describes a coach who combined simplicity with experimentation and innovation. Their technical philosophy centred on allowing the boat to run, continuing its acceleration and avoiding unnecessary movements that interrupt speed. The lesson extended beyond technique: even when something is working, great performers remain prepared to experiment, learn and occasionally fail. You Can Quote Us On That “You get better and better with age.” “It’s not just about you.” “Never, ever, ever give up.” “You also need your resolve tested.” “You’ve got to be prepared to fail.” “I didn’t stick at it for any other reason because I loved it.” And perhaps the line that best captures Karsten’s reflection on a lifetime in rowing: “How lucky am I?” Hosted by: Drew Ginn OAM Guest: Karsten Forsterling Produced by: Nicholas Finster Sponsored by Choice Capital and 776BC Presented by Mercantile Rowing Club

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #52

  Pam Westendorf: The River Is My Happy Place - Episode 52

  Aug 30, 20261h 26mS1

  From Dimboola to Moscow, World Championship silver and a lifetime in rowing. From a country-town beginning in Dimboola to becoming part of the first Australian women’s rowing crew to compete at an Olympic Games, Pam Westendorf’s story spans an extraordinary period in Australian rowing. Pam joins Drew Ginn OAM to reflect on Moscow 1980 and the Olympic boycott, her World Championship silver medal in 1990, the challenges of lightweight rowing, and more than four decades as an athlete and coach. Above all, it is a conversation about pioneering women’s rowing, resilience, belonging and a lifelong love of the river. Who is Pam Westendorf? Pam Westendorf is an Australian Olympian, World Championship medallist and rowing coach. She represented Australia in its first women’s Olympic rowing crew at Moscow 1980, finishing fifth in the Women's Coxed Four. Ten years later, she won silver at the 1990 World Championships at Lake Barrington in the Lightweight Coxless Four. Pam has since dedicated decades to coaching and developing young rowers, guided by a simple philosophy: help athletes love the sport. Why Is This Conversation Important? Pam’s story captures a pivotal period in the development of Australian women’s rowing. She competed at a time when female rowers had limited funding, support and opportunities, and when some coaches still refused to coach women. Her experience at Moscow also reveals the human impact of the 1980 Olympic boycott, Pam’s crew flew to Europe without knowing whether they would be allowed to compete and returned home without the recognition normally afforded Olympians. Her candid reflections on lightweight rowing also provide an important perspective on athlete health and wellbeing, while her transition into coaching demonstrates the lasting impact great sporting experiences can have across generations. Episode Highlights Starting rowing at Dimboola at 15—and initially hating it. Australia's first women's World Championship crew in 1978. Becoming part of Australia's first women's Olympic rowing crew at Moscow 1980. Finding out two hours into the flight that the team could compete. The impact of the Olympic boycott and finally receiving recognition decades later. The transformation of women's rowing from 1000m to 2000m racing. The difficult realities of becoming a lightweight athlete. Winning World Championship silver at Lake Barrington in 1990. The "one dirty stroke" Pam still remembers from that final. Moving from international athlete to lifelong coach. Why attitude is one of the most important qualities she looks for in young rowers. Why the river remains her "happy place." You Can Quote Us On That “There was no welcome home. There was no send-off. There was no anything.” “We had one dirty stroke. And it was enough.” “I just like helping the girls love rowing. That's my main purpose.” “I think the acceptance of women as rowers is the number one big thing.” “It's my happy place.” Hosted by: Drew Ginn OAM Guest: Pam Westendorf Produced by: Nicholas Finster Sponsored by Choice Capital and 776BC Presented by Mercantile Rowing Club

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on Mercantile Radio. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.