Our fourth podcast of this SwimOut season is all about diving in with our swim Buddies, the people who keep us coming back for another dip. These are the swimmers that push us, inspire us and look after us when the swims don't go to plan, the pals who become part of your swimming journey.

We catch up with Hunter, my English Channel swimming and podcasting buddy. We have a fun morning with Girly Dips enjoying Pilates as well as a welcome splash and some giggles in the heatwave. We meet Naomi who tells us about all the groups she is part of which inspire and drive her to success in sport. I have a luscious dip at West Reservoir with a fabulous group who support each other through their mental health challenges. I go on a swimcamp in Jersey with Sal Minty-Gravett and record the delighted thoughts of my swim buddies for the week at the end of the trip. Finally I chat with Monica who will be my support swimmer for my Catalina challenge.

Find out more: ⁠@swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠⁠swimout.net⁠

#swimming

#openwaterswimming

#doverchannelswimming

#iceswimming

#Channelswimming

#EnglishChannel

In this edition of the SwimOut podcast we celebrate New Yorker Gertrude Ederle who swam the English Channel 100 years ago this month. Gertrude was a pioneer, trailblazer and inspiration to women everywhere. We examine her achievement and look at her legacy, including a message from her niece Mary Ederle Ward.

My guests include Elaine Howley who sets the historical scene. Then we hear the story of the big swim from Glenn Stout who reads from his book, Young Woman and the Sea, upon which the movie of the same name was based. We also hear from Halani Moss-Vete who writes about how we, as swimmers, follow in the wake of Ederle. Then we delve into the legacy that she left hearing from Diana Nyad who met Ederle in person. I also interview Bryony Rowe who hopes to cross the EC possibly on the day of the Ederle swim, as well as chatting to Jaimie Monahan who, as a New Yorker, is a big fan of her swimming compatriot. We also round up various events happening in celebration of the swim this summer.

Find out more: ⁠@swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠⁠swimout.net⁠

#swimming

#openwaterswimming

#doverchannelswimming

#gertrudeederle

#Channelswimming

#EnglishChannel

In this edition of the SwimOut podcast we are finding out all about Nutrition and swimming, especially in longer swims. We explore what to use for fuel during training periods and also on event day, and look at what can go wrong and why!

In a round table format we have guest Emily Javon @emilyjevonsnutrtion who has a PHD in Metabolism and Nutrition, and is a registered Nutritionist, specialising in endurance sports including swimming. Emily outlines the principles and the basics for us. We also have Bryony Rowe @bryony.eve.swims who is training for the English Channel and is an enthusiast about Nutrition. Finally, we have my wife, Oonagh, who is in charge of my feeds on the big event day.

Products we talked about

Styrkr carbohydrates and rice bars

Glucose Tablets - Dextrose

SIS (Science in Sport) - Rego recovery range

Find out more: ⁠@swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠⁠swimout.net⁠

#swimming

#openwaterswimming

#doverchannelswimming

#iceswimming

#Channelswimming

#EnglishChannel

This episode celebrates Jane Asher - an extraordinary swimmer who, at age 95, is still breaking records in Masters swimming competitions. Jane, who swam as a young person, only returned to competitive swimming in her 50’s and now holds over 100 world records. She particularly dominates in frontcrawl, backcrawl and the individual medley - which is all four strokes! This year, as she reaches the age of 95, she moves into a new age group, so is starting on her mission to break or set records in the 95-99 age group. She has also completed a number of open water swims including the Hellespont from Europe to Asia.

Described by a fellow swimmer and competition host as “The true definition of an ELITE swimmer” * she has inspired many swimmers. She has heaps of awards and has been a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame since 2006 as well as being awarded a British Empire Medal in 2018. Last year she entered the Swim England Hall of Fame too. As well as swimming and breaking world records she also coached and taught swimming. Although not strictly an open water swimmer, she is a truly inspiring person with many great swimming stories to share.

*From Ian Woollard, Barnet Copthall SC

Find out more: ⁠@swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠⁠swimout.net⁠

This special edition of the SwimOut podcast pays tribute to Captain Matthew Webb who, in 1875, made history as the first person to swim the English Channel. Our dramatisation brings his story to life: A village lad who ran away to sea, saw the world and was inspired to make the impossible happen.

The story recounts the many challenges he had to overcome - from shifting tides to jellyfish. It details what kept him going during his gruelling feat of valour, from beef tea to brandy and more importantly, his friends and family onboard the support vessel. His motto “ Nothing great is easy” is testament to his grit, endurance and bravado. Join us on this heroic swim to France, with Captain Webb, The Channel Conqueror.

Find out more: ⁠@swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠⁠swimout.net⁠

Vicki facilitates a conversation between experts and swimmers planning to do the swim. Expert Kevin Murphy is acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest open water swimmers. He has 28 solo Channel swims and three doubles to his credit. He has also swum the North Channel three times and is known as King of both the English and North Channels. Also with bags of expertise is Kathy Batts who has completed many relay crossings of the English Channel and a solo, as well as many other swims across the globe. She and Kevin also look after the paperwork for a large number of the Channel swims and lead the The King’s Swimmers which runs swim camps and regular training in Dover. Our aspiring swimmers are Bryony Rowe who swam as child then took up triathlons and now has refound her love of sea swimming, and Christophe Donot who loves to swim and make ceramics and as a French man is keen to swim to France, although London is now very much his home.

Find out more: ⁠@swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠⁠swimout.net⁠

⁠@ The King Swimmers⁠

@christophe_ceramics

@Bryony.eve.swims

Vicki explores why so many Indian swimmers come to swim the English Channel. She starts by chatting to Anshuman Jhingran who she met on the beach in Dover in 2025 when he was waiting for his Channel crossing and who now has 6 of the 7 Oceans Severn Swims. Next up we hear from Bula Chowdhury who swam the English Channel twice in 1989 and 1999 making her the 21st Indian swimmer to achieve this feat. Sal Minty-Gravett talks about her work helping Indian swimmers to acclimatise for their cold water swims. Lastly we talk about swimming many Channels with Prabhat Koli and his father and coach Koli Koli. Prabhat was the youngest swimmer to achieve the Oceans Seven challenge in 2023. We also delve into the history and future of Openwater swimming in India.

Find out more: ⁠@swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠⁠swimout.net⁠

Link to Podcast is in the Bio

@Anshuman Jhingran

@Bula Chowdhury

@Sal Minty-Gravett

@Prabhat Koli

#swimming

#openwaterswimming

#doverchannelswimming

#iceswimming

#Indianswimmers

#indianlongdistanceswimmers

Vicki sets out to follow in her father’s footsteps and swim down the River Avon from Bath to Bristol. She is joined on this adventure by her wife Oonagh. Along the way she meets up with her family for some reminiscing about her father, and talks to Johnny Palmer, a passionate swimmer and “disrupter” who inspires and enables many swims around Bristol. We also discuss swimming in the Avon with Luke and Charlie from All-Aboard Watersports who organise swimming in the Bristol docks. Vicki gets help from CK SUP and Paddle at Newbridge outside Bath, and then has a refreshing swim with Bart, one of her father's rowing friends. Becca Drazin from the group Conham Bathing tells us about how much she likes her swim spot on the River Avon. To end we hear a beautiful poem about the river by Mrs Meg Avon. Find out how the swim goes….

Find out more: ⁠@swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠⁠swimout.net⁠

@johnny palmer

@all-aboard watersports

@conhambathing

@CK Sup &Paddle

@mrs_meg_avon