Season 1 of Heavy Or Not proves that swimming isn’t just about laps; it’s a dynamic ecosystem where mindset, technology, community, and history intertwine.
By applying these 50 lessons / episodes / jump-cuts about training the brain, fine‑tuning the kick, welcoming AI, building inclusive programs, and defending our pools, you’ll elevate not only your athletes’ performance but also the entire swimming culture around you.
So the next time you’re planning a practice, remember: every stroke, every supplement, and every conversation can be a step toward a stronger, smarter, and more resilient swim community. Listen and react.
ChatGPT Prompt 1:
Can you make a prompt for ElevenLabs and its new song feature for me? I was hoping to get an example song that would be a bit of a summary of all of the topics we covered in the first 50-episodes of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide. One of the best web summary pages is here: https://sites.libsyn.com/492626/site
Very good. I don't like the "Deep dive" expression. We could do something else there. And, can you give me four more verses so that more of the depth of the 50 topics are covered?
Great catch—“deep dive” can feel a bit overused, especially for a show that prides itself on being original. Let’s rewrite that first line and then expand the song with four more verses that showcase even more of the Heavy Or Not themes. Here’s a refined version:
🎵 ElevenLabs Song Prompt:
Voice & Style:
Folk-acoustic with a storytelling tone — think somewhere between Jason Isbell and John Prine, with a splash of Mister Rogers warmth. Mid-tempo. Reflective but hopeful.
Verse 1 (revised)
We started with a whistle and a waterproof pen,
Talked about coaching, and what it means to mend.
From lap lanes to leadership roles,
It’s more than splits—it’s shaping souls.
Chorus
Heavy or not, we swam through it all,
Tech, teamwork, healing after the fall.
With water’s wisdom, coaches stand tall—
Heavy or Not, we surf life’s call.
Verse 2
When pools were shuttered, the mission got loud,
Equity, safety—we challenged the crowd.
Talked about strokes, and skwimming with grace,
And bringing joy back to the training space.
Verse 3
Olympic twists and event design,
We questioned progress and drew the line.
How much yardage is too much pain?
Let’s train for health—and long-term gain.
Verse 4
Mental reps and taper plans,
We cheered the try-hards and quiet fans.
Hyperbaric dreams and rescue gear,
Kept it real but kept it clear.
Verse 5
From honeybees to NIL games,
To lost facilities and shifting lanes.
Tech tools, balance, burnout fears—
The OG Swim Guide through 50 ears.
Final Chorus (lifted)
Heavy or not, we stayed in the lane,
Shared the stories, shared the pain.
From pool deck chatter to tech and rain—
Heavy or Not, we coach again.
Let me know if you want to wrap it with a short spoken outro or a call-to-action lyric about becoming an ISCA member or visiting the Read.SwimISCA.org site. Ready when you are!
Prompt to Eleven Labs:
Wishing for a tune with guy voice and back-up harmony with a big base run and beat but in an acoustic folk, 4/4 up-tempo style. This is a theme song for the first 50-episodes of the podcast, Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide. A storytelling tone. The suggested lyrics can be changed. Think somewhere between Jason Isbell and John Prine, with a splash of Mister Rogers warmth. Mid-tempo. Reflective but hopeful. Verse 1 (revised) We started with a whistle and a waterproof pen, Talked about coaching, and what it means to mend. From lap lanes to leadership roles, It’s more than splits—it’s shaping souls. Chorus Heavy or not, we swam through it all, Tech, teamwork, healing after the fall. With water’s wisdom, coaches stand tall— Heavy or Not, we surf life’s call. Verse 2 When pools were shuttered, the mission got loud, Equity, safety—we challenged the crowd. Talked about strokes, and skwimming with grace, And bringing joy back to the training space. Verse 3 Olympic twists and event design, We questioned progress and drew the line. How much yardage is too much pain? Let’s train for health—and long-term gain. Verse 4 Mental reps and taper plans, We cheered the try-hards and quiet fans. Hyperbaric dreams and rescue gear, Kept it real but kept it clear. Verse 5 From honeybees to NIL games, To lost facilities and shifting lanes. Tech tools, balance, burnout fears— The OG Swim Guide through 50 ears. Final Chorus (lifted) Heavy or not, we stayed in the lane, Shared the stories, shared the pain. From pool deck chatter to tech and rain— Heavy or Not, we coach again.
Notes:
Include styles
- acoustic folk
- up-tempo (4/4)
- male lead vocal
- back-up harmony
- big bass run
- organic percussion
- storytelling tone
- reflective
- hopeful
- Mister Rogers warmth
Exclude styles
- electronic
- synth heavy
- slow ballad
- orchestral strings
- distorted guitars
Next, get greedy. One more verse and a call to action.
Let’s honor that with a closing verse and call-to-action lyric that feels respectful, warm, and inviting — like a gentle handshake from a fellow coach with a shared past. Here’s the final verse + outro call-to-action tailored just for ISCA’s new Grey Level Membership:
Verse 6 (Grey Level Callout)
To the legends with silver hair and gold-heart grit,
Your stories still guide—this fire's still lit.
Join the circle, no whistle required,
Just wisdom, laughs, and lives inspired.
Spoken/Outro (gentle fade or soft melody)
Grey Level Members—$20, lifetime.
No agenda. Just connection.
Monthly meetups with folks who’ve walked the deck.
Access to our vault at Read.SwimISCA.org
and insights from giants like Dr. Ernie Maglischo.
Because your story still matters.
And this sport still needs you.
[pause]
Come sit poolside with us.
Let me know if you’d like this recorded as a sample or with musical notations. Ready to turn this into something that sings—literally. #PREACH
Blurbs:
Artificial Intelligence is starting to play instruments and add background vocals we didn’t expect.
On Heavy Or Not – The OG Swim Guide, we are pushing the limits for content that reaches your ears, and eyes. See what happens when AI writes a folk tune for episode #50, the rewind to close out season one.
The result is AI Tune #1 and #2.
- Both are pulled from Episode #50 Rewind,.
- Both dropped into the RSS feed as a musical experiment.
It’s not just about the melody. It’s about asking:
- Can AI carry the heart of a genre like folk, which has always been about people, stories, and community?
- Do we measure music by how it sounds, or how it connects?
- When sport, culture, and technology collide… what new things can emerge?
I’d love to hear your perspective: Does this AI track strike you as Heavy (worth keeping) or Not (leave it behind)?
Listen to both versions. Heck, listen and subscribe to the podcast too!
#HeavyOrNot #TheOGSwimGuide #AITunes #FolkMusic #ArtificialIntelligence #CoachingCulture