SwimOut

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 i...

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...

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 de...

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 com...

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....

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 Luk...

In this episode Vicki meets musician and singer BE who has written the beautiful song Swim Through. The song is inspired by the women BE met whilst swimming, and hearing their stories. Vicki has a dip with BE at Hampstead Ladies Pond and a chat about how swimming helps us to get through stuff. We also hear from the women who helped to make the video of the song. Find the song, it's very catchy...

In this episode Vicki meets Neil Agius , an ultra endurance marathon swimmer who has set world records with his swims near his home in Malta. Vicki and Neil go for a swim at West Reservoir and discuss how you get from swimming a 400 meter race in the Athens Olympics to a 142 kilometer swim round Malta, Gozo and Comino. We talk about how you can manage such long swims physically and mentally and co...

Vicki explores pollution in our rivers and swim spots and how this affects us as swimmers. It's quite a grim tale. The episode gives you heaps of great information about identifying and dealing with pollution, so you can be better prepared for your swim. Yvette Tetteh who has swum down the River Volta in Ghana, talks about her swim, the river and the clothing waste from the global north that i...

Vicki explores the glorious world of older women swimmers, highlighting their achievements, dreams and passions. Sal Minty-Gravett MBE , who has swum the English Channel in each decade of her life since she was a teenager, talks about her Channel swims and co-hosts the programme. Almost Synchro, open water synchro swimmers, try to set a World Record for the longest cold water routine. Deborah Vine...

Mikey and Vicki go down Deep, diving under the water, swimming in it and listening to its sounds. Halani Moss-Vete tells us about her epic swim across the Molokaʻi Channel in Hawaii, where the water is very deep and the currents are strong. Dee Newell tells the story of her swims under the ice in Päijänne In Finland. This piece was created by Dominique Ferraton for SwimOut. Charlie Stewart tells u...

Vicki tells the story of how she swam around Manhattan Island. She talks about how she prepared, including talking to Jaimie Monahan - who has swum around it more times than anyone else. She heads down to Brighton Beach to swim with CIBBOWS the Coney Island and Brighton Beach Open Water Swimmers . Through recordings from the day made by Oonagh Gormley , her crew and wife, and her own memories from...

Vicki delves into History in this edition and also finds swimmers who are making history today. She meets Sarah Thomas who made history most notably with her 4-way English Channel crossing. Anna Maria Mullally shines a light on Irish swimmers at the turn of the last century. Todd Balf , whose book Three Kings explores the lives of 3 unlikely Olympic heroes, tells us the stories he has uncovered. G...

Mikey and Vicki discuss Pride and open water swimming. Olympian, Peter Prijdekker , shares how he has swum with Pride throughout his life. Vicki has a chat with team-mates from Out To Swim , her LGBTQ+ swimming club. Kerry Andrew reads from their haunting book Skin about a non-binary swimmer looking for their father. Then we find out about swimming with Pride around the country starting with Brigh...

The topic of this episode is grief and how the open water can help to soothe you at this time of crisis and turmoil. Vicki starts by chatting with Shannon House Keegan from Marathon Swim Stories about their stillborn sons. Then Dr Catherine Kelly shares with us the turmoil she felt after her mother died and talks about her book Blue Spaces that explains why and how water can help with grief. Kate...

Mikey and Vicki discuss the wonderful world of swimming communities. They chat with Rachel Jones who edited Toes in the Water - stories of lives changed by wild swimming. Vicki goes to Mamma Swim and finds out all about their group for mothers who want to swim in the open water. Mikey talks to fellow swimmers at Brighton Swimming Club - the oldest swimming club in England. Bill and Jeff share with...

Amy Ennion and Vicki explore training for the big swim. They discuss their approaches to training and talk to Shannon House Keegan who works with people remotely. Vicki goes to meet Ray Gibbs who films you in his tank Swim Canary Wharf . Amy discusses training camps with Anna McCarthy , a regular at the infamous Irish swim camps and Mandy Bodemeaid from Dover Channel Training tells us all about th...

This season has seen a bumper crop of swimming records, so Vicki and Amy have sought out the record-breakers. We have Andy Donaldson who swam all seven of the Seven Oceans in just one year and Sophie Etheridge chats with Jackie Cobell having taken her Longest English Channel Swim mantle away. Jasmine Harrison , who has two Guinness world records, talks about her adventures. We grab a chat with Ans...

Mikey and Vicki bring you a cornucopia of tales about Mercedes Gleitze , the first British woman to swim the English Channel. With a dramatized section and interviews with her grandson Andrew Pember and bathing historian Anna Maria Mullally the program celebrates this iconic swimmer. We also find out all about the “Swimming a Long Way Together” project, a tribute to Mercedes created by Vanessa Daw...

In this edition of the SwimOut podcast we explore how swimming can boost our wellbeing and soothe our worries. Join  Mikey  and  Vicki  with special guest  Amy  – AmySwims  as they talk about the challenges they have with how they look. We speak to  Gill  – Stoma Chameleon  about her Channel crossing and  Jamie  from  Blue Mind Men,   a mental health swim for men. We find some great swimsuits whic...

In this episode Vicki meets Chloe McCardel who is the Queen of the Channel - she has swum the English Channel forty four times which is more times than any other person. Also she holds the record for the longest ever sea swim at 124.4 kilometers, taking 41 hours in the Bahamas. She is swimming royalty but also a passionate supporter of Women's rights, always ready to call out injustice.   Vick...

In this edition of the SwimOut podcast we explore the joys of swimming in a Relay team. Join  Mikey  and  Vicki  as they talk about Relay swimming and the fun of it. Observer  Deborah Vine  answers listeners’ questions about the big day and the rules of the swim and  Team Bits Missing  discuss their North Channel relay swim. Plus we hear from  Catherine Stefanutti ,  Dirk Gewert  and more listener...

In this edition of the SwimOut podcast we explore the challenge of swimming in cold water. Join Vicki and Jonathan as they talk about thier swimming exploits in Morocco and Cheltenham. Vicki talks to Ger Kennedy about swimming in Antarctica and how it feels to be in water that cold and how to recover. Plus Jonty Warneken and Michelle Lane talk about competing in Team Ice GB.

In this edition of the SwimOut podcast we explore the people behind the big swim, the unsung heroes of open water who enable swimmers to undertake their amazing feats. Join Vicki Carter and Jonathan Cowie as they chat to Padraig Mallon - North Channel Pilot from Infinity Channel swimming, Ros Bailey partner of Hells Mouth Swimmer Frank Chalmers and Elaine Howley who likes to give back to the open...

Our latest offering is a very special edition of SwimOut all about Peace. We welcome new presenter Jonathan Cowie from Outdoor Swimmer magazine spreading his podcasting wings for the first time. We are joined by the legendary swimmer and writer Lynne Cox. She first rose to fame when she broke the English Channel record aged 15, and went on to break many more. Her mission to broker peace between Ru...