Meet Thad Carhart: Writing About Place

Meet Thad Carhart: Writing About Place

Author: A Julie Sunshine Production November 20, 2025 Duration: 16:03

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.


The cold, swirling waters of the San Francisco Bay are a character in themselves, but the true heart of this place beats within the 2000 Stories from the Dolphin Club. This podcast, an intimate production from A Julie Sunshine Production, isn't about athletic feats, though they happen daily. It's about the people. Each conversation pulls back the curtain on a unique, saltwater-stung community, revealing the personal histories and unexpected motivations that draw individuals to this iconic, challenging stretch of water. You'll hear from lifelong rowers with hands like weathered driftwood and newcomers confronting their fears one stroke at a time. The stories collected here form a mosaic of human experience-tales of loss, resilience, quirky routines, and quiet camaraderie forged in the fog. It’s a deep dive into the journals of daily life, exploring how a shared, almost ritualistic engagement with the natural world shapes culture and identity. Listen to this podcast for unvarnished, often humorous, and profoundly human accounts from inside the clubhouse and out on the open bay, where every member has a tale worth hearing.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 59

2000 Stories from the Dolphin Club
Podcast Episodes
Meet Sharon Wong: Rowing in Retirement [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:38
Sharon Wong may be a new member, but she's always had the Dolphin Club in her sights. Now she's rowing out of Aquatic Park and finding retirement anything but retiring. She plays the ukulele, fights City Hall, sings in a…
Meet Denise Sauerteig: The Unofficial Sauna Commissioner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:40
Denise REALLY loves the sauna. Which is why once she gets in it takes her forever to leave. The conversations that ensue range from the serious to the silly. That's Denise for you. In this episode of 2000 Stories, Denise…
Meet Michael Collett: Finding Community on the Handball Court [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:24
At 6'7" and black, Michael Collett is probably a rare sight on the handball court...or anywhere in the club for that matter. But he's fallen in love with the sport and the community who have welcomed him with open arms.…
Meet Dave Zovickian: 40 Years of Volunteering [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:06
It's hard to imagine finding a Dolphin Club member who cares more about the club. From Locker Room Captain (a post he's been serving in for 25 + years) to Swim Commissioner to President, and now Secretary, there's hardly…
Meet Madhuri Yechuri: Always Learning, Always Smiling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:05
It's amazing to meet someone who turns a fear into a passion. That's Madhuri for you. From swimming at night to starting her own tech company, she exhibits true joie de vivre. Madhuri shares her journey from India to Ind…
Meet Ryan Hedum: Grateful for Everything [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:53
What does an aspiring professional rugby player do when his dreams are dashed due to injury? Ryan Hedum shares his journey — the highs and lows — and how finding the Dolphin Club gave him a sense of place and purpose in…
Meet Mimi Osborne, the Dolphin Club's Oldest Active Swimmer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:03
At 89 1/2, Mimi Osborne makes aging look easy. But she warns us that it's anything but. A Dolphin Club member since 1979, she still swims twice a week, even after a full ankle replacement. Mimi has what you might call hi…
Meet Suzie Dods, Creator of the 24 Hour Relay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:59
Suzie Dods is a Dolphin Club lifetime member, swim coach, English Channel relay and solo finisher, and Greece lover. Oh and in her spare time she created the 24 hour relay, thanks to her two unsuccessful attempts and one…