The Diving Pod

Episode #250 Avery Lommel (Augustana)

In this powerful episode, Augustana University All-American diver Avery Lommel shares a journey defined by resilience, courage, and an unwavering love for the sport. Avery opens up about how she first found diving, the joy and identity it quickly gave her, and the unimaginable challenge that followed when she lost vision in one eye.

Facing depth perception changes, spatial awareness challenges, and the mental hurdles that come with a life-altering injury, Avery made the decision to stay in the sport she loved. She walks through the rebuilding process — relearning skills, adjusting technique, and trusting herself again on the board — all while navigating the doubts of whether elite diving was still possible.

What followed was nothing short of remarkable. Avery not only returned to competition, she rose to the top — capturing a state championship and ultimately becoming an NCAA All-American at Augustana. Her story is a testament to adaptability, perseverance, and the power of belief from the athlete-coach support system around her.

This conversation dives into identity beyond adversity, redefining limits, and what it truly means to pursue excellence when the path changes. Avery’s journey will resonate with athletes, coaches, and anyone facing obstacles that seem impossible to overcome.

Episode #249 Tobie Stiles (Northern Michigan)

This episode features Tobie Stiles, senior diver at Northern Michigan, as he walks through the full arc of his diving journey—from the early days of learning to compete to becoming a leader at the collegiate level.

Tobie reflects on the moments that shaped him most as a diver: the grind of daily training, the setbacks that forced him to grow, and the small breakthroughs that added up over time. He talks candidly about what it’s like developing in a program where consistency, accountability, and trust in the process matter more than shortcuts. As a senior, Tobie shares how his perspective has shifted from just chasing scores to understanding preparation, discipline, and the responsibility of setting the tone for younger teammates.

Episode #248 Ryan Campbell (Colorado Mesa)

In this episode of The Diving Pod, we sit down with Ryan Campbell, senior diver at Colorado Mesa, to talk about a path a lot of athletes can relate to—but don’t always hear enough about. Ryan walks through his time at junior college, the lessons he learned there, and how that experience shaped him both as a student and a diver before making the jump to a four-year program.

Ryan opens up about the transfer process, what he was looking for in a school, and how important it was for him to find a degree he could genuinely be passionate about—not just something that fit around diving. He shares how getting clarity academically helped him buy in even more fully to his training and growth in the sport.

From a diving standpoint, Ryan talks about continuing to push himself later in his career, taking on harder dives, and embracing the challenge of raising his degree of difficulty. He breaks down the mindset required to keep improving as a senior, the patience needed when progress isn’t linear, and what it takes to stay hungry in the pool.

This episode is a great listen for junior college divers, transfers, and anyone trying to balance long-term athletic development with finding the right academic fit—proof that there’s more than one way to build a successful college diving career.

Episode #247 Jan Lanser

In this episode of The Diving Pod, we sit down with Wisconsin diver Jan Lanser for a real, honest conversation about commitment, growth, and resilience. Jan opens up about his decision to stay home and be part of building Wisconsin diving into the program he knows it can be—choosing development, loyalty, and long-term vision over easier paths.

He also dives deep into his mindset as an athlete: a constant desire to improve, to learn, and to be coached. That perspective becomes even more powerful in light of the severe injury he recently suffered off 10-meter. Jan shares how that moment has reshaped his outlook, tested his patience, and reinforced his love for the sport and the process.

This episode is a must-listen for young divers navigating adversity, recruits thinking about fit and culture, and anyone who values growth through the hard moments. Jan’s story is a reminder that progress isn’t always linear—but the best athletes keep showing up, even when it’s tough.

Episode #246 Olivia Nelson (West Florida)

In this episode of The Diving Pod, we sit down with Olivia Nelson, senior diver at West Florida, to talk about her experience being part of an all-women’s swimming and diving program and what that environment has meant for her growth as both a diver and a person.

Olivia shares how the culture at UWF pushed her to take ownership of her development, build confidence, and lead alongside a tight-knit group of women who support each other daily. We also dive into her decision to graduate early.

This episode is a great listen for athletes who want to understand what it looks like to fully commit, grow within a strong team culture, and set themselves up for success after college.

Episode #246 Kalina Ceglinski (Northern Michigan)

In this episode of The Diving Pod, we sit down with Kalina Ceglinski, junior diver at Northern Michigan, to talk through her diving journey and continued growth at the collegiate level. Kalina opens up about what it was like arriving at NMU and fully embracing the challenge of developing on 3-meter once she got to college, highlighting her coachability, curiosity, and willingness to learn something uncomfortable in order to get better.

She also shares just how much NMU means to her, from the team culture to the daily environment that’s helped her thrive both as a diver and as a person. The conversation finishes with Kalina laying out her future goals, including her drive to compete at the highest level and her long-term vision of winning an NCAA title. A great listen for athletes who believe in trusting the process, buying into development, and committing fully to the work.

Episode #244 Sophie Verzyl (South Carolina)

In this upcoming episode of The Diving Pod, Heath and Aaron sit down with South Carolina diver Sophie Verzyl to talk through her diving journey and the mindset that has shaped her career. Sophie shares her experiences competing at a high level, how she’s grown as an athlete over time, and the mental approach she brings to training and competition. From handling pressure on the boards to staying consistent through the ups and downs of a collegiate season, this conversation offers insight into what it takes to develop confidence, resilience, and long-term success in the sport of diving.

Episode #243 Max Flory Demo & Quick Hitter

In this episode, Heath and Aaron give their perspective on last chance meets and share their opinions on how athletes and coaches should approach them. They also discuss feet-first entries, why they matter, and common things they see on deck that can impact scoring.

Everyone should also head over to The Diving Pod YouTube channel to watch the Max Flory mentor demo, where Max breaks down key concepts that can help divers improve their performance and preparation.

Episode #242 Winter Nationals Review

In this episode of The Diving Pod, we break down everything that stood out from the recently completed USA Diving Winter Nationals. From breakout performances by young athletes to veterans showing why they continue to raise the standard, Winter Nationals once again proved to be one of the most important checkpoints in the domestic season.

Episode #241 Manny Pollard

This week’s episode features Manny Pollard, a name that carries real weight in the diving world. Manny’s journey has taken him from being a standout diver at Minnesota, to sharpening his coaching craft as an assistant diving coach at Texas, and now back home where he’s building something special.

Manny joins the pod to talk about launching and running a Minnesota-based program with one clear mission: developing divers the right way and preparing them for the biggest stages in the sport. We dive into his philosophy on long-term athlete development, what he learned coaching at an elite collegiate program, and how he’s using those experiences to shape the next generation.

This episode is packed with insight for young divers, parents, and coaches who care about growth, consistency, and doing things with purpose.