Jak Kazmarek: The Comeback Before the Crossing
Long before Jak Kazmarek joined Team Moar Than Us for the World’s Toughest Row Pacific, there was a moment when survival – not ocean rowing – was the goal. They made the phone call home: “The doctors don’t think I’m going to make it. You need to be on the next plane.”
Years of surgeries and recovery followed as Jak battled diverticulitis, a debilitating disease of the colon. And step by step, they rebuilt their life: from a wheelchair to an erg, from Learn to Row to the Head of the Charles. Now, Jak is taking on an extraordinary adventure – rowing more than 2,800 miles across the Pacific Ocean from Monterey, California, to Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi.
We also brought back Oar the Rainbow (S6E10) from the 2025 World's Toughest Row Pacifc, now the current record holders for the fastest triple to go across the ocean. Team members Courtney Farber, Julie Warren, and Taylan Stulting talk about the reality of rowing in the dark in the middle of the ocean, the freedom of having a singular focus, and finding yourself when you return to shore.
GUESTS:
Jak Kazmarek | Team More Than Us, World’s Toughest Row Pacific 2026
IG: @jakhammer510 / @MoarThanUS
moarthanus.org
Team Oar the Rainbow | World’s Toughest Row Pacific 2025
Courtney Farber - IG: @courtneyfarbercpt
Julie Warren - IG: @awildjolie
Taylan Stulting - IG: @thetranstraveller
This episode was made possible in part by RowSource and our Supporters.
QUICK LOOK
00:00 - Introduction
01:48 - The Huddle
03:19 - The Hot Seat
08:07 - Jak’s rowing origin story began by using the erg for rehabilitation
14:18 - From novice to ocean rowing in just six years
15:58 - Team Moar Than Us
18:30 - Welcome Team Oar the Rainbow
19:20 - Checking in with Oar the Rainbow one year later - physical and mental health
28:29 - Jak’s Question #1 for OtR: The benefit of bringing flatwater experience and knowledge of mechanics to the ocean
32:54 - Courtney - Don’t chase perfection, and be flexible
35:39 - Jak’s Question #2 for OtR: The most unexpected things that happened during the crossing
38:33 - What To Bring/Not To bring
40:37 - Jak’s Question #3 for OtR: So, would any of them row another ocean race?
41:11 - Jak’s Question #4for OtR: Getting through the difficult times
43:31 - Post OtR chatter
44:42 - The charities Moar Than Us is supporting
48:34 - Steady State Network news and notes
Episode Mentions
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Steady State Podcast is hosted and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering, books show guests, and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel writes our scripts and e-newsletter, and manages the website and social media. Our theme music is Open Mind by Soundroll.
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