An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast
39 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 24 ratings“Chartable” #1 UK Swimming Podcast
Just Giving Page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/williamhellis
Outdoor swimming is one of the fastest growing activities in the world, the benefits of which are well documented across many platforms and media.
Each episode of this podcast I (Will Ellis) will be asking the same set of questions to my guests in order to hear their swim story, find out what the water means to them, and in doing so find the common ground between us all: the love of the water itself.
@owswimpod (Insta / Twitter)
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Episodes
3.12 Martyn Webster
March 25, 2023 06:00 - 53 minutes - 49.2 MBThe final episode of Season 3 is with the Triple Crown and Original Triple Crown Swimmer, Martyn Webster. Martyn has completed numerous marathon swims over his illustrious time in the sport and is someone I am about to share a swimming holiday with in a matter of weeks... It was great to close the season chatting to someone who knows so much and had a plethora of knowledge to impart! Enjoy!
3.11 Andrew Donaldson
March 18, 2023 06:00 - 1 hour - 69.2 MBToday’s guest is one of the nicest guys you are ever likely to come across in the world of Marathon Swimming… a former top elite swimmer who ended up taking a little time away form the sport entirely; when he returned he embarked on his marathon swimming journey - he won the famous 25km Rottnest Swim in Australia, and then decided that he would aim to complete the famous Ocean 7 in one calendar year… for those who might not know, the Ocean7 is a set of seven ultra marathon swims across the g...
3.10 Mark Andrews
March 11, 2023 06:00 - 49 minutes - 46.2 MBI have been wanting to record today’s guest for quite some time… about 18 months ago I developed a shoulder issue outside of the pool which prevented me from swimming. Having never had any issues with my shoulders before in the pool and also having booked Jersey Solo and English Channel Swim attempts, I needed to fix it properly. I found a place many a Sussex-based swimmer has found solace before and he is a bit of local legend in getting broken swimmers back into the water. He is himself a ...
3.9 Niklas Heddegard
March 04, 2023 06:00 - 55 minutes - 51.2 MBMy guest today is a former elite swimmer - having held Danish and Nordic Records in the pool and representing Denmark at various European and World championships over the years; but you may know him more from a new brand of goggle that is being seen more and more on pool-side: he launched The Magic 5 with his business partner a few years ago and they are going from strength to strength - a custom bespoke moulded goggle that fits your face and your face alone. It was my pleasure to welcome to ...
3.8 Kate Steels
February 25, 2023 06:00 - 49 minutes - 45.9 MBEpisode 8 is with the super human Kate Steels. Kate is widely regarded as one of the toughest and most skilled OW swimmers on the planet. She was the third person to complete the Ice Seven (an ice mile on all seven continents); she is also a Triple Crown Swimmer and was WOWSA Woman of the Year 2021, and nominated again in 2022... Kate has overcome a number of devastating significant challenges in her life and yet continues to be a trailblazer in the sport. It was a real privilege to have her ...
3.7 Lorraine Candy
February 18, 2023 06:00 - 51 minutes - 47.6 MBI loved talking to today’s guest - she is an author, editor and podcaster. She co-hosts the "Postcards From Midlife" podcast and her first book 'Mum what's wrong with you: 101 things only the mothers of teenage girls know" was a Sunday Times top 10 best seller. She is a former editor of Cosmo, ELLE and Sunday Times Style and a mum of four children aged 10 to 19. She is currently writing a new book about the experiences of women in midlife… and she is an avid swimmer and cold water dipper; an...
3.6 Cliff Golding
February 11, 2023 06:00 - 1 hour - 77.8 MBToday’s guest is a bit of a legend in the English Channel Swimming Community. A runner, who still professes that he isn’t a swimmer despite successfully crossing The English Channel (twice), Jersey to France, Round Jersey, Windermere and Lake Zurich among other significant swims… He also completed his first successful crossing of The English Channel on his seventh attempt: talk about perseverance!! He regularly gives talks about his swimming experiences to aspirational marathon swimmers… It w...
3.5 Jessica Hepburn
February 04, 2023 06:00 - 56 minutes - 52.3 MBEpisode 5 is with the incredibly inspirational Jessica Hepburn. This was such an awesome chat and I really don't want to give too much away on here. Jessica is an author ("In Pursuit of Motherhood" and "21 Miles") ... She is a Channel Swimmer and her swim story is a thing of beauty, that resonated with me on a very personal level. Enjoy!!
3.4 Mark Sheridan
January 28, 2023 06:00 - 1 hour - 55.8 MBEpisode four of Season three is with the awesome Mark Sheridan. Mark came to outdoor swimming later in life and then proceeded to break the door down with his marathon swimming feats. Among his multitude of achievements he is one of only a few people to have completed the entire British Long Distance Swimming Association calendar; he is a triple crown swimmer (including three EC crossings) and he became the first British athlete to complete a 69 km crossing of Lake Geneva, taking 33 hours 6 ...
3.3 Steven Munatones
January 21, 2023 06:00 - 57 minutes - 53.4 MBI so enjoyed this talk with the legendary Steven Munatones: he has written about the sport since the 60’s and is one of the most influential people in the world of Open Water Swimming. He founded the World Open Water Swimming Association, the Oceans Seven and is a marathon swimmer, water polo player, commentator, race director, coach and recent winner of the annual SCAR race held in Arizona (more of that anon in the chat). He needs no introduction to anyone connected to the sport. It’s an ho...
3.2 Shannon Keegan
January 14, 2023 06:00 - 54 minutes - 50.3 MBEpisode Two of Season Three is with fellow podcaster and marathon swimmer Shannon Keegan. Shannon is the host of the awesome "Marathon Swim Stories" so it was terrific to be able to interview her as opposed to her asking all the questions! Shannon is also a swim coach and has completed a gruelling 22 hour lake swim... I hope you enjoy this one! Happy Swimming!
3.1 Professor Greg Whyte O.B.E.
January 07, 2023 06:00 - 1 hour - 61 MBSeason 3 kicks off with the truly excellent Professor Greg Whyte O.B.E. Greg is a passionate OW Swimmer - having swam the length of the Thames: TWICE... He is a double Olympian; he won European bronze and World Championship silver medals, representing Great Britain in the Modern Pentathlon. He is a world renowned sport scientist and Physical Activity Expert and is a preeminent authority on Exercise Physiology and Sports and Exercise. I so enjoyed this chat and it was a fab way to kick start ...
2.14 Bonus Episode 2 Sally Minty-Gravett M.B.E.
August 27, 2022 19:17 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MBBonus Episode for the final time off the back of Season 2... I caught up with Sally to ask her about her recent historic Channel Swim, which means she has crossed the Channel in every decade of her life from teens to now (six); obviously including her historic double crossing in 2016. She is an utter inspiration and I was thrilled she was able to come on and share her experience - all for charity in memory of her dear late husband Charlie, please find the link to donate here: https://sports...
2.13 Sally Minty-Gravett M.B.E.
May 28, 2022 05:00 - 49 minutes - 45.9 MBSeason 2 Bonus Episode!! I had the pleasure of speaking to Sally Minty-Gravett (M.B.E.), who this year is embarking on her sixth decade of solo Channel Swimming, having swam The English Channel in her previous five decades. She is the oldest person to have completed a double English channel solo, and has swam Catalina, Manhattan and much much more... she has a long list of swimming achievements, and was inducted into the Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame as a result. Enjoy!! Sally is swimming...
2.12 Chloe McCardel
March 19, 2022 06:00 - 55 minutes - 50.9 MBIt's the final episode of the season and what better way to close it than with one of the most well known marathon swimmers, Chloe McCardel. Chloe has swam The English Channel 44 times, surmounting Alison Streeter's record last year, in 2021 (those swims included a triple crossing and three double crossings!!) She also holds the record for the longest Ocean Swim at 124km in 42 hours, and is a total inspiration. It's Chloe McCardel!!
2.11 Thomas Lurz
March 12, 2022 06:00 - 47 minutes - 43.6 MBEpisode 11 of Season 2 is the one and only Thomas Lurz... a total hero of mine and I was honoured that I got to be able to speak to him. He has won a staggering 39 medals at Europeans / Worlds and Olympic Races. He is by far and away the most decorated Open Water Swimmer of all time, and certainly one of the most decorated swimmers of all time. We chat about not living in the past; the fact that every race starts at point zero and a fear of Catfish... Enjoy!!
2.10 Caroline Saxon
March 05, 2022 06:00 - 1 hour - 59.4 MBIt's Episode 10 of Season 2, and I have the brilliant Caroline Saxon to share with you. She is a former GB swimmer turned GB Ice Swimmer... in fact, after we recorded this podcast she went to the Ice Swimming World Champs in Poland where she won medals and broke records. She has her own podcast "The Swimmer Tribe Podcast", where she may air this chat too. We talk about the Journey rather than the goal: "Becoming is better than Being", swimming being the glue that holds some relationships tog...
2.9 Ray Gibbs
February 26, 2022 06:00 - 43 minutes - 40 MBEpisode 9 of Season 2 is with the awesome Ray Gibbs of "Swim Canary Wharf" Fame... Ray set up his coaching facility in response to watching GB swimmers swim at his local club and the lack of really concise technique coaching available to swimmers - especially distance swimmers. As a swim coach he teaches a whole range of swimmers and top athletes, and also competes as a distance swimmer himself. We chat about never regretting a swim, how fear can help you . . . and also the Posidonia 10km ra...
2.8 Sophie Etheridge
February 19, 2022 06:00 - 1 hour - 77.8 MBEpisode 8 (S2) of An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast, with Will Ellis... today's guest is known as "The Adaptive Athlete", having lost full use of her legs in a cycling accident on her way to swim training as a triathlete. Not to be deterred, she began swimming again and recently completed a double Windermere crossing (similar distance to The English Channel). She also is a force advocating change in our sport to make Open Water abets more inclusive, and there are some important conversations t...
2.7 Jonathan Cowie
February 12, 2022 06:00 - 42 minutes - 39.4 MBEpisode 7 (Season 2) of "An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast" and it was a real treat to chat to everyone's favourite editor Jonny Cowie. We chat about Cold Water Swimming being a bit daft, getting your fix behind Dulwich Picture Gallery, Windermere in the winter and lots of other things... Loved this one: Enjoy!!
2.6 Alice Goodridge
February 05, 2022 06:00 - 55 minutes - 51.8 MBEpisode 6 (S2) of An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast; and it was my pleasure to chat to Alice Goodridge... Alice set up Swim Wild in 2018 as a way of sharing her passion for Open Water with those around her. She has tackled the English Channel and is quietly working her way through he cold lochs of the Scottish highlands, where she is now based. I loved this chat as Alice had so much passion for what she does which really shines through. Enjoy...!!
2.5 John Doolittle
January 29, 2022 06:00 - 1 hour - 63.7 MBEpisode five of An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast and I was honoured to chat to former Navy Seal John Doolittle. John swam The English Channel in memory of his friend Neil Roberts who was the first Seal killed in combat after 911; John continues to raise money for fallen and injured servicemen and their families through swimming. We chat about all sorts on this one including shallow water blackouts, hammerhead breeding grounds and boxing Eagle Rays... a man who has been around the world many t...
2.4 Cath Pendleton
January 22, 2022 06:00 - 44 minutes - 41.6 MBEpisode 4 (Season 2) of An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast... It was awesome to be able to fire the six questions at The Merthyr Mermaid, Cath Pendleton. This episode was recorded during full lockdown in February 2021 and hearing it back, the episode is full of hope that we might actually get to swim again... one day... Anyway, Cath has a Guinness World record for the furthest northerly swim inside The Antarctic Circle and is on her way to conquering the Ice Seven; which is an Ice Mile on all s...
2.3 Chris Bryan
January 15, 2022 06:00 - 58 minutes - 53.7 MBIt's Series 2 Episode 3 of "An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast" with me Will Ellis. I have a professional athlete for you today, and he answers quite beautifully the six questions; he raced on the FINA circuit for a number of years in the marathon 10km event and went to World Championships representing Ireland in that event for the first time. We chat about all sorts on this one, from having your own superpower to the temptations to swim The English Channel (and the temptation to do a fast time...
2.2 Anna Wardley
January 08, 2022 06:00 - 1 hour - 90.4 MBIt’s Episode Two / Season Two of An Open Water Swimmer’s Podcast with me Will Ellis. I’ve got a great chat for you today… My guest for episode this episode is an endurance swimmer, a Churchill Fellow on a mission to improve support for Children after suicide, a swim coach and a really inspiring woman. She took up swimming later in life - deciding to swim the channel with virtually a year’s notice having only ever swam a kilometre before. We talk about swimming through grief, self-worth and lo...
2.1 Colin Hill
January 01, 2022 06:00 - 45 minutes - 42.1 MBI got to open Season 2 with this fantastic chat with Colin Hill, one of the most important people in the Open Water Swimming world here in the UK. He set up ChillSwim in 2013 which hosts swims all across the beautiful Lake district; he also worked closely with FINA (world swimming federation) bringing the elite marathon swimming events to Social Media and TV channels. He has a long list of swimming accolades (including dodging blue sharks in Madeira); he was the 1st official UK male ice mile...
Season Two Promo
December 12, 2021 21:04 - 1 minute - 2.6 MBJust a little promo for Season Two for those of you maybe not following the Social Media channels... S2/E1 will be out on 1/01/22. (Make sure you follow @owswimpod on Instagram and Twitter for all news). Until next year, Happy Swimming. Will
1.12 Sarah Thomas
March 13, 2021 01:00 - 49 minutes - 45.9 MBIt's Episode 12 of "An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast" . . . this is the final episode of the Season and it was a privilege to be able to speak to Sarah Thomas. Sarah became the first and only person to have completed a four way English Channel crossing in 2019, a swim that took her 54 hours. She also holds the record for the longest unassisted swim: in 2017 she swam the 168.3km across Lake Champlain, in a staggering 67 hours and 16 minutes. Sarah was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breas...
1.11 Eddy Temple-Morris
March 06, 2021 01:00 - 1 hour - 77.6 MBIt's Episode 11 of "An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast" . . . it was an absolute joy to be able to chat to DJ, Radio Broadcaster and Wim Hoff devotee, Eddy Temple-Morris. Not only is Eddy a passionate advocate of the sea and all that lives within it, he is also a patron of the charity "My Black Dog"; a charity close to his heart that deals with anyone who needs help with their mental wellbeing. He started Wim Hoff a number of years ago as a way to improve his mental state, and now he is an arde...
1.10 Paul Newsome
February 27, 2021 01:00 - 58 minutes - 53.7 MBIt's Episode ten of "An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast" . . . it was a real treat to be able to speak to Swim Smooth founder Paul Newsome from his base in Perth, Australia. If you are interested in improving your stroke at all, then I can highly recommend Swim Smooth as being able to assist (although you won't have to travel to Perth to do so, I promise). We chatted about winning Manhattan, David Walliams, "Men's Sheds" and Sunday swims with Chris amongst other things... Enjoy!!
1.9 Tim Donovan
February 20, 2021 01:00 - 50 minutes - 46.3 MBIt's Episode nine of "An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast" . . . this week I fire the six questions at all round nice guy Tim Donovan. He's a Triple Crown Swimmer (English Channel / Catalina / Manhattan), having grown up in Perth, Australia. We talk about finishing swims when they go bad, friendship, consistency, doing the things you love and having zero fear... apparently that's a thing! Enjoy...
1.8 Karlyn Pipes
February 13, 2021 01:00 - 1 hour - 61.1 MBEpisode eight of "An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast" . . . today's guest is one of the most decorated swimmers of all time having set 233 FINA World Records at Masters Level (33 of which still stand). She was inducted into the Swimming Hall of Fame in 2017 and is the author of "The Do Over": her autobiography telling the story of her struggles with addiction while at the same time being a swimming prodigy and Olympic hopeful. Her recovery and subsequent swimming accolades are riveting to read ...
1.7 Simon Griffiths
February 06, 2021 01:00 - 50 minutes - 47.2 MBEpisode seven of "An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast" . . . It was so lovely to chat to 'Outdoor Swimmer' magazine founder Simon Griffiths; he is not only a very rapid Masters Swimmer, but has also recently taken up river swimming all year round during the pandemic. He set up the magazine ten years ago in response to the fact that Open Water Swimming was growing at a rate of knots, and ten years later his publication is going from strength to strength. We talk Africa, Google (you'll see) and how...
1.6 Tommy Kay
January 30, 2021 01:00 - 36 minutes - 33.9 MBEpisode six of "An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast" ... This episode's guest is a conservationist, surfer, swimmer and all round ocean lover. Tommy Kay is arguably the nicest man you will meet to set up a (cold water) surf brand. He set up his brand 'Finisterre' to marry this love of the sea with everything the brand encompasses. He has never deviated from his core values despite being tempted to do so by big business along his 15 year journey with Finisterre. The romanticism he has with the oc...
1.5 Jaimie Monahan
January 23, 2021 01:00 - 51 minutes - 47.3 MBEpisode five of "An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast"... it was such a treat to be able to speak to Jaimie Monahan from her home in NYC. She has completed the 28.5mile swim around Manhattan 27 times, including the only quadruple (in 45hours 24m) - just a few weeks after swimming it seven times in seven days. She is known as the "Queen of Manhattan" as a result. She is also known as the "Queen of the Ice" having become the first person to swim an Ice Mile on all seven continents, including one of...
1.4 Kath Ferguson
January 16, 2021 01:00 - 55 minutes - 51.1 MBEpisode four of "An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast", and it was a delight to be able to interview the wonderful Kath Ferguson. Kath set up "Sea Birds" in 2017 as a Community Interest Company to take people into the water and make swimming accessible to all. Kath's work using the sea as a way to improve both her own and other's mental wellbeing has generated waves of support from all who dive into the "Sea Birds" world ... either in person or via her online blog. The pandemic has only increased...
1.3 David Walliams
January 09, 2021 01:00 - 45 minutes - 42.3 MBEpisode three of "An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast". I was very lucky to be able to chat to actor, comedian and best selling children's author: David Walliams... We spoke about James Bond's flippers & mask, swimming with Pilot Whales, sea-sick parents, unaffordable houses along the Thames and Sport Relief (among other things). Enjoy...!
1.2 Simon Murie
January 02, 2021 01:00 - 45 minutes - 42.2 MBEpisode two of "An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast! In this episode I talk to Swim Trek founder, Simon Murie... Simon has travelled much of the world as a swimmer both inside and outside of work. Simon set up Swim Trek in 2003: for swimmers who want to combine a holiday with their love of the open water. We talk Byron, Leander, Ghana, Suez, dodging crocodiles & sharks and swimming across volcanic lakes... As you do.
1.1 Keri-Anne Payne
December 22, 2020 21:33 - 41 minutes - 38.1 MBEpisode one of "An Open Water Swimmer's" Podcast...! In this episode I chat with Olympic Silver Medalist and double world champion Keri-Anne Payne. We talk about South Africa, The Midmar Mile, serendipity, warming up for the Olympic 10km swim in Beijing, Sea Turtles and Swim Coaching. Enjoy...