Mercantile Radio

About Mercantile Radio

Mercantile Radio is an Australian rowing podcast hosted by three-time Olympic Gold Medallist Drew Ginn, featuring Olympians, Paralympians, World Champions, coaches, athletes and leading voices in international rowing and elite sport. From Olympic rowing and coaching to technique, athlete development and high-performance sport, each episode explores the people, ideas and experiences that drive performance on and off the water. Mercantile Radio | Stories, coaching and high-performance insights from across rowing and elite sport.

Publisher

Mercantile Rowing Club

Category

sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Sept 2025

Latest episode

4 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

58 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   4 Oct 2026

   Sports Nutrition for Rowers: Fuelling Performance with Siobhan Crawshay

   How should rowers fuel for training, racing and recovery? In this episode of Mercantile Radio, sports dietitian Siobhan Crawshay explores rowing nutrition, athlete fuelling, carbohydrates, protein, recovery, energy availability, young rowers and high-performance sport, providing practical advice for athletes, parents and coaches. Three-time Olympic Gold medallist Drew Ginn OAM OLY sits down with Siobhan to discuss what athletes really need to support the demands of rowing. With more than 20 years working in sport and her own experience as a former Mercantile and lightweight rower, Siobhan explains why good sports nutrition isn't about following one formula. It starts with understanding the athlete, their physiology, stage of development, training demands and performance goals. Who is Siobhan Crawshay? From lightweight rower to experienced sports dietitian, Siobhan Crawshay understands athlete nutrition from both sides of the equation. Siobhan has spent more than two decades working with athletes across high-performance sport. Her connection with rowing is also personal. She rowed at school before joining Mercantile Rowing Club, where she was coached by Bill Tait and David “Chipper” Colvin and experienced first-hand the training, competition, culture and community of club rowing. While studying dietetics, Siobhan competed as a lightweight rower, giving her the opportunity to apply what she was learning about nutrition to her own training and performance. That combination of professional expertise and lived experience has shaped an approach centered on understanding the individual athlete. Listeners hear why the science of sports nutrition matters, but also why knowing the athlete, their sport and their goals is essential to putting that science into practice. In this episode Drew and Siobhan explore: Rowing nutrition and athlete fuelling; what rowers need to support training, racing, adaptation and recovery. Fuelling young rowers; balancing the substantial energy requirements of growth and development with a demanding training program. Carbohydrates and rowing performance; why carbohydrates remain an important source of fuel, particularly around bigger training sessions. Protein and supplements; separating genuine nutritional needs from the marketing surrounding high-protein foods and supplements. Energy availability; recognising fatigue, poor recovery and stalled progression as potential signs that an athlete may not be adequately fuelled. Individualised sports nutrition; why athletes in the same boat can require different approaches based on physiology, training history and goals. Growth and development; why school-aged rowers should not simply follow nutrition practices designed for adult high-performance athletes. Sleep and recovery; why nutrition is only one part of the performance equation. Working with athletes; how trust, relationships and understanding the demands of rowing help turn nutrition advice into sustainable behaviours. Siobhan's rowing journey; from school rowing and Mercantile to lightweight competition and a career in sports nutrition. Above all, Siobhan's message is straightforward: fuel the work you are asking your body to do. More training does not automatically produce more improvement. Athletes need sufficient energy, appropriate carbohydrates and protein, quality recovery and sleep to adapt to the work they are doing. An important conversation for rowers, parents and coaches about sports nutrition, athlete health and building sustainable high-performance habits. Hosted by: Drew Ginn Guest: Siobhan Crawshay Produced by: Nicholas Finster Presented by Mercantile Rowing Club Sponsored by Choice Capital and 776BC

2. 

   27 Sept 2026

   Mitch Salisbury: Back Yourself - Episode 56

   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

3. 

   20 Sept 2026

   Ben Dodwell: The Battles You Remember - Episode 55

   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

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