2000 Stories from the Dolphin Club

There's an art to swimming, and Michael Tschantz-Hahn brings his painterly eye to every stroke — whether he's doing it himself or teaching others. He's tackled the English Channel in record time, hacked through the ice to swim in Lake Michigan, coached teens across the Molokai Channel, and taught Dolphins in Aquatic Park. But first and foremost, Michael is a Dad who raised two children and enjoyed (almost) every moment of it. Hear about his many lives as a parent, artist, surfer, swimmer, adventurer, member of both clubs, and more.

It all started with a fish. A big fish. And before long, Julie Pan added free diving to her list of dopamine driven sports. To hear her describe it, free diving is equal parts pushing limits, managing fear and feeling quite Zen. Swimming in the bay scratches that itch, too. Now, after an 8-year career as a software engineer at Google, she's stopped "babysitting AI" and is looking to fill her life with new projects, goals, and adventures.

Madeleine Crow joined the Dolphin Club just three years ago, but she has dived in head first to everything -- in and on, and even off the water. From swimming to paddling to ERGing, she needed what the Bay and this community had to offer and wanted to be brave in its presence. Hear about her love for the water, the club, and her work at the San Francisco SPCA.

What do an MIT-trained computer scientist, public school teacher, non-profit professional, and reluctant cold water swimmer have in common? Get to know Ben Chun and you'll learn how head and heart and happiness unite. Ben is smart, and kind, and thoughtful, and giving -- both in his career and at the club. He believes in the endless creativity of humans and the indomitable nature of the human intellect and spirit -- perhaps because he lives his life that way.

Rebecca Handler has one of those laughs that is truly contagious. And better yet, she's so darn funny that she gets you laughing, too. Whether chatting about the joy she gets from swimming with her brother Daniel or her very unpleasant year dealing with breast cancer, she somehow finds humor in it all. We talk about identity, becoming a writer, and how the Dolphin Club women helped her heal.Most importantly, her second novel, In the Round, is coming out in Fall of 2026 and you can pre-order it today, wherever books are sold...online and off.

Like many young swimmers, William Pryor got scared when he couldn't touch the ocean floor. As an adult he found a way to understand it by combining his passion for drones and technology with art that maps the actual depths of the water. William took me out on the bay in a rowboat to chat about his fears, love of sailing, robots, and how he's found peace on the water and community at the Dolphin Club.You can see some of his art at www.ultra-marine.net

Ryan Dalton's mind is always working. And he's got a lot to think about — parenting, partnering, writing, olfaction, neuroscience, cancer, AI, fear, swimming, beer, and a whole lot more. His mind is rarely at rest, and he finds peace only when he's in motion. Zen gardens are not for him. With all that going on inside, he is deeply concerned about staying true to his values and being in community with family, friends and fellow Dolphins. What a fun and fascinating conversation we had.

Many people come to the Dolphin Club to swim and end up staying for the people. Emily Nogue did the opposite. She joined the club following the death of her husband John Nogue to feel his presence where he felt most at home. Now, Emily has made this place her own. Emily shares stories about John, their relationship, the incredible support they received from fellow Dolphins, the Swim for Science that bears John's name, her unimaginable grief, and how she's learning to live on with joy.

Keith Howell has traveled the world, starting in Manchester, England and eventually finding his way to San Francisco. He edited publications all along the way until he retired and took up the mantle of editing the Dolphin Log. Still in print after all these years, it's a piece of our history and a way for our entire community to stay connected. Although he's passed the torch, he's still telling stories and dreaming of his next destination.

Not many Afghan refugees from their landlocked country grow up to be passionate cold water swimmers. But Humaira Ghilzai breaks all the rules. Her passions include helping to educate young girls (and boys) from her native country, writing plays, going on pilgrimages, and making body butters to keep Dolphin women well moisturized. She's lived and lives an extraordinary life and — no surprise to anyone who knows her — has great stories to tell.

Some people set goals. Far fewer actually get them. Lauren Au Brinkmeyer does both. With speed, humility, a huge smile, and a hearty laugh. She credits the Dolphin Club community, and her extraordinary organizational skills, for helping her achieve those goals. She juggles a demanding career, two young kids, a husband who also loves to swim, and an ongoing quest to complete marathon swims, like the English Channel, Manhattan, and next up the length of Tahoe. It's a lot! But she seems to love (almost) every minute of it.

Nathaniel Berger feels most at home when he's either in or on the water. Whether swimming or leading others to safety, he's a natural born pilot and coach — both on land and water. Learn about how Dolphin Club swims are organized to keep us all safe, what he loves about wine, how he uses conflict resolution skills on the daily, and why we should be thanking his grandfather, a professional water skier, for teaching Nathaniel how to drive...a boat, that is.

Members of the Dolphin Club always have a lot to teach us...and swimming and boating are usually the least of it. Theresa Kolish, who has been living with ALS for three years, teaches us all with humor, honesty, and grace. Using a text to speech app since she can no longer use her voice, she talks about the disease, why she still feels lucky , what she's learned about herself and others, and how swimming in the Bay, with a little help from her friends, makes her feel amazing.

Amanda Ernzer is certainly not the only Dolphin to have swum the English Channel...but in 2025 she was the fastest American to complete the feat. Amanda tells us how and why and what it took — physically, emotionally, and mentally — to succeed. No surprise, she does it with great humility and a few tears. Amanda credits her friends, family, and most of all fellow Dolphins for helping her train to make the legendary swim from England to France. Learn about Amanda's life, work, motivation, and what she learned about herself and others during her two and a half years of training.

It took Thad Carhart a long time to believe he could be a writer. He worked a whole slew of jobs from State Department interpreter to Apple marketer before he found his true love. During a self-imposed sabbatical in Paris, he wrote his first memoir, The Piano Shop on the Left Bank, and much to his surprise, it became a New York Times bestseller. Thad tells us stories of life as a military brat, why he became a lawyer but never practiced, his undying love of San Francisco, and why the Dolphin Club will be the subject of his next book.

Maggie Lonergan got her start swimming at night and she still prefers nocturnal swims in the bay. Only problem: the sauna isn't open late enough...and she might just love the sauna more. Hear about winning the official Sauna Squares contest, her quest for a co-ed sauna, how and why she loves piloting swimmers, what intrigues her about fires, and how she found her spirit animal.

In just a few days, on October 25th 2025, Phil Gaal will swim across the Golden Gate for the 16th time. That's a feat for anyone, of any age, but at 90, it's truly golden. Phil exudes a joy for life and endless curiosity about everything from telomeres to technology. His mental attitude and physical fitness are inspiring beyond measure.

You may know him as the Dolphin Club's manager, but John Ingle is far more than the job title. He's also a professional musician, nature lover, chef, traveler, friend, spouse, proud Dad, and I'm sure I left out a few. Working in the place where most of us go to escape work has its challenges. And John is honest about that, as well as his love of the club, its members, and swimming in the Bay...despite a rather disastrous start.

Some siblings squabble. The Kirk siblings swim! And they've intentionally created a home away from home at the Dolphin Club where they can enjoy their passion for open water swimming and be together as adults in their 20s. Mackensie, Patrick, and Dominic share family stories, laugh at each other's traits, discuss what it's like to become friends vs. siblings, and what the club means to them.

Some people collect marble polar bear bricks. Others like Jon Nakamura prefer belt buckles -- especially brass ones with the Escape from Alcatraz logo on them. It's an iconic race and he's an iconic, lifetime Dolphin member. Learning about how and why he swims, bikes, and runs year after year tells you more about the man than the race itself. His passion, kindness, and commitment to the club, his friends, and family are what make him a real winner.

Lindsay Stripling is an artist in more ways than one. Yes, she paints and illustrates as a passion and profession. But she also is honing the art of teaching, helping college students and adults to discover their creativity and develop their practice. At the Dolphin Club, she wears a completely different hat as a volunteer (!) swim commissioner. Lindsay talks about the existential crises inherent in being an artist, why she started swimming in the bay, and just how hard it is to pull off an out of cove Dolphin Club swim.

We are quite a lucky bunch to have an urban swimming oasis at Aquatic Park. But there is still much of the San Francisco Bay where access is limited and swimming is forbidden. That's what Rebecca Groves is committed to changing with Swimmable San Francisco Bay, starting in her neighborhood of Dogpatch and Crane Cove. Hear why urban swimming captures her imagination and what intrigued her about The Nocturnists podcast.

Ever been on Wikipedia? Got thoughts on the Dolphin Club brand? Are there spirits in the wooden boats? What are young fathers thinking about? 15 or so minutes was nowhere enough time to cover the life and loves of Zack McCune. I left the interview with a smile a mile wide as we discussed his career, rowing, film, and fatherhood.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. With photojournalist Laura Morton it may be worth a whole lot more. Laura sees the world through her view finder and tells us all captivating stories about what many of us don't see -- the hidden community of tech workers, her love of Fisherman's Wharf, and why she finds San Francisco so weird and wonderful. Hear about the joys and trials of working as a documentary photographer and why she finds respite in rowing on the Bay. Then take a look at her photographs at http://www.lauramortonphoto.com/

At every opportunity, including her current job at the Bay Area Ridge Trail, Marie Sayles encourages deeper and more meaningful connections to nature -- on land or in water. She's always inspiring others to get outdoors be it to a local park, your backyard, the Criss Cross trail, the bay, or the entire Bay Area Ridge Trail, which when complete will be 550 miles long. Hear how the water clears and calms her mind, why she joined the club at 50, and what she learned at "sauna university".

There's no such thing as a typical Dolphin Club member and Peter van der Sterre is a case in point. A recent octogenarian, Peter hung out in San Francisco during the Summer of Love before becoming a Zen Buddhist priest and general contractor. He finds the practices of sitting (meditation) and swimming very complimentary and approaches them with the same feelings of challenge and possibility. Both are hard he admits. Hear about his fascinating, philosophical and untraditional journey through life.

Just shy of 30 at this recording, Trina Garry's life can make your head spin. She's spent her career teaching college students and athletes about consent and Title IX rights. Now, she's studying to become a lawyer, running like crazy, swimming fast, loving San Francisco...and her fiancé and fellow Dolphin Club member. Their wedding is in just a few days...on June 6th, 2025. Congratulations Trina and Joey. Like everything with Trina, it's a whirlwind conversation about ending sexual misconduct, lifeguarding in Montauk, the proposal at China Beach, and her goals as the new running commissioner.

Actor, mime, journalist, author, magazine publisher, policy advocate, aspiring jazz pianist, husband, father, Dolphin. I hope I didn't leave anything out. Todd Oppenheimer is living a full life, exploring the woes of technology, the wonders of craftsmanship, and the joys of community he's found at the Dolphin Club (including his wife).

We Dolphins love our historic tall ships, even if they're currently on hiatus from our cove. KC Crowell takes that love a step further, sailing them and preserving them for others to enjoy. We talk about being a good shipmate, the importance of national parks, rowing on the bay, Burning Man, and why sailors used to get a pig and chicken tattooed on their feet.

Most parents in San Francisco complain about the public schools. Even if they've never stepped foot in them. Sandra Halladey, decided to do something about all the myths and misconceptions. From her leadership role at Parents for Public Schools to her new passion for creating radio stories, she's become a fierce advocate and storyteller for what's going right in public education.

From journalist and editor of leading magazines to singer and actor, Mark Robinson has become a master of second acts. And he's doing it with gusto. He's performing in plays and singing in clubs with the same passion he gives to everything. Hear about his past and current career and how they have both nourished his heart and soul.

From the ripe old age of 12, Felicia Lee thought swimming could be more than just a passion. She moved away from her family home, trained with the best (yes, we're talking Michael Phelps), swam at Stanford, and became a professional swimmer seeking to win an Olympic medal. While the medal didn't happen, her journey in and out of the pool is heroic, humbling, and heartfelt.

Some of us are optimists, and then there's Andrew Jordan Nance. He's a man of many talents and careers who has found himself on the stage, behind the stage, on runways, and in classrooms teaching mindfulness to kids. It's a life well lived and loved, because he's approached it with a "what's the best that can happen" attitude. We talk about growing up as a CODA (child of deaf adults), being gay in a straight world, and what makes his hands tingle in and out of the water.

Gabriella Cross and Aniko Kurczinak are awesome individuals in their own right, but, as sisters, their kindness, humor, wisdom...and bossiness really shine. Their experiences growing up with Hungarian immigrant parents, dealing with the untimely death of a husband, and swimming together have created bonds that are tighter than anything I've seen or heard. It's a joy to behold.

What do yoga and swimming have in common? Can you get to know someone after 28 years of knowing them? Why is the Dolphin Club a second home for so many? Anne Barbaret, with the wisdom of a teacher and her famously French accent, opens up about her life on and off the mat.

There are many artists at the Dolphin Club, but I think Marty Machado may be the only one who draws inspiration from his time spent working on container ships and fishing for salmon in Alaska. Hear about the joys and challenges of living at sea for up to six months at a time and trying to make a living as an artist while raising a family in the city.

Jeff Hanak is the consummate San Francisco restaurateur with a host of successful restaurants on his resumé like Chow, Park Chow, Nopa, Nopalito, Liholiho Yacht Club, and Good Good Culture Club. It's not been an easy road, but he finds joy in making sure hospitality is always on the menu. Learn how he got into the business, why he's stayed, and how swimming in the Bay helps him cope with the chaos.

Laura Vartain Horn served for 12 years in the U.S. Attorney's Office as a federal prosecutor before moving to the private sector -- reluctantly because she absolutely loved her job, but not her public service salary. Her final case: prosecuting the assault on Nancy Pelosi's husband. Hear about Laura's life in the courtroom, swimming from the Farallons, the challenges of working very full time and raising three boys with her husband, and why she relies on the Dolphin Club, and the sauna, in particular, for support and sanity.

Ask Joe Omran how he is on any given day and he'll always reply: "It's the best day of my life." Joe is truly living by those words, even in the midst of sorrows, struggles, the war in Palestine, and the chaos (especially during Covid) of running a revered Nob Hill grocery store, Le Beau Market. In this episode of 2000 Stories from the Dolphin Club, hear how and why Joe has managed to stay so positive and feel so lucky day after day.

Interviewing a therapist is no easy task, and a Jungian analyst at that, but luckily I had more than 50 minutes to get to know Rusa Chiu's amazing life story. It began in China and moved to Taiwan, Japan, Berkeley, Paris, San Francisco, and her current home, the Zen Center at Green Gulch Farm. In this episode of 2000 Stories you'll hear about her chaotic childhood, attending Berkeley in the sixties, becoming a therapist, living at the Zen Center, and how she's now learning to age with grace and gratitude.

Peter Molnar doesn't just swim in the Bay, he helps keep it clean through his work as a board member of San Francisco Bay Keeper. And he takes it one step further, combining his non-profit work with his career in wine by creating Rose for the Bay. Hear about Peter's thoughts on the state of the Bay, his parents crazy story of immigrating from Budapest to San Francisco, and why he loves wine and the Dolphin Club.

Kalani Leifer doesn't take his luck in life for granted. That's why he has spent the last 10 years building COOP Careers, a nonprofit working to overcome underemployment for first generation college students. In this episode of 2000 Stories, you'll hear more about his own career path and life outside of work — from caring for his dad with dementia, coming out, navigating mental health issues, swimming fast, and the joys of being a gay Dolphin.

Is the tide ebbing or flooding? Thanks to Deb Sullivan, the Dolphin Club's resident tide chart keeper, it's easy to find out. But that's just one small aspect of Deb's rich life, filled with painting, bar owning, swimming, mothering, music, and more. Hear about Deb's artistic life and what it's like to be on the other side of the bar — and what she still loves about both pursuits many decades later.

It's election time, so who better to profile than Joby Bernstein who, at the ripe old age of 28, had the crazy idea to run for Congress. He didn't win...this time...but he's winning in lots of other places in his life, including the bay. In this episode of 2000 Stories hear about the causes he's most passionate about and why community is what matters most.

Margaret Keenan makes the most of the Dolphin Club and the Bay, swimming, rowing, paddling, piloting and volunteering, always with a smile on her face. It's her happy place. In this episode of 2000 Stories hear about her life in and out of the Bay, and why handing out trinkets makes her so darn happy.

Charlie McIntyre loves rowing. But a spate of injuries means he can no longer pull like he used to. So, he's moved to the coxswain seat of the Wieland wooden boat and for the last 18 years or so has been motivating women to row with passion and speed...so they can beat the South End team in the annual Tri race. Hear about his career as a prosthetist and his life in rowing. Don't know Charlie? Catch a glimpse here.

In this episode of 2000 Stories you'll meet the indomitable Diane Campbell. She spent her career coaching and teaching others — in the pool and in the classroom — and now in the Bay where she runs the incredibly popular swim clinics for members. Every story reveals her passion for swimming and never giving up in the face of adversity. After you listen, take a look at Diane on the Dolphin Club website.

Vini Johnson is a musician, a comic, a tech entrepreneur, and now a bay swimmer. In this episode of 2000 Stories, Vini shares his diverse passions and how he's figuring out how to balance his creative and business sides. He even brought his guitar and plays a little U2 for us. If you don't know Vini, you can put a face to the name right here

In this episode of 2000 Stories we head to London to reunite with Katie White. While Katie only spent a year with us, her connection to the Bay and the club runs deep. Hear how she found the club, what it's like to be without it now that she's returned home, and how her new company, Enough, is aiming to deter the crime of rape. To see a picture of Katie, visit ⁠https://dolphinclub.org/community/#2000-stories-id⁠

In this bonus episode of 2000 Stories, we get a musical treat from Mike Weiner who tickles the ivories and talks about how he fell in love with jazz.