SwimScape - the podcast

Send us Fan Mail Scott Rice is a former New Zealand representative swimmer who represented New Zealand at the 1995 World University Games and the 1999 Pan Pacific Championships, before going on to found the New Zealand Ocean Swim Series, Ocean Swim Fiji, and the Manu World Champs.  But Scott is much more than an event organiser. He's a familiar voice on the microphone as one of New Zealand&ap...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the SwimScape Podcast — where we dive into the stories of open water swimmers pushing the boundaries of endurance, mindset, and adventure. In this episode, we’re joined by Kiwi-born, Canada-based ultra swimmer Charlotte Brynn — a woman whose journey through cold water and long distances is defined by persistence, humility, and an ever-present smile.   She’s failed, she’...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s guest is an extraordinary woman whose story is one of resilience, purpose, and finding strength through the ocean swimming and the swim community. Kenzie's Gift was founded by Nic following the loss of her three-year-old daughter, Kenzie. Rather than allowing tragedy to define her, Nic has dedicated herself to supporting families facing childhood trauma and serious il...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s guest is someone who perfectly represents what’s possible when you back yourself and just start. Kylie Frost is the driving force behind the Twisted Sisters Club here in Auckland offering coaching for swimming, biking and running. What makes Kylie’s story so relatable — and so inspiring — is that she didn’t come from a lifelong elite sporting background. She started later...

Send us Fan Mail Today on the podcast, we’re joined by one of the key figures in New Zealand’s open water swimming scene — Euan Acket. A former elite pool swimmer and triathlete, Euan is now best known as the race director of the iconic 5 Bridges River Swim in Hamilton. These days he balances life as a husband, a dad to three kids, and a passionate advocate for river swimming and community-driven...

Send us Fan Mail Born in Ireland, Gráinne Moss discovered her love for open water early, completing the English Channel swim in 1987. Now based in New Zealand, she’s a mother of four, a respected CEO, and an endurance swimmer on a mission to swim in as many of the world’s oceans as she can. Gráinne is the only swimmer known to have had a shark encounter while crossing the Cook Strait, a story she...

Send us Fan Mail This episode of Clever Dicks dives into the story of a man whose journey has taken him from the dance floors of Russia to the deep, cold waters of New Zealand. Ivan Polyntcev is one of those rare people who embodies both grace and grit, always with a smiling face. A former dancer in Russia in his youth, he made the bold move to New Zealand and found a whole new rhythm — in the oce...

Send us Fan Mail Today's special guest is Stacey Balich - an open-water and ice swimmer from New Zealand, a passionate educator and volunteer who swims everything from coastal crossings to sub-5°C lake swims. Stacey joins us to talk about the physical side of endurance swimming — the training, the breath, the cold — and the quieter, deeper benefits it brings to the mind including resilience,...

Send us Fan Mail This week we sit down with Auckland swimmer Dean Madsen — a man who knows what it means to push limits in and out of the water. Dean’s journey started in the world of triathlon and Ironman, where endurance and grit became part of his DNA. These days his focus is on two of New Zealand’s greatest open water challenges: the 40km Lake Taupō crossing and the legendary Cook Strait swim....

Send us Fan Mail This chat is about a remarkable Kiwi story of grit, brains, and a touch of madness.  We welcome back Brian Gray – a Kiwi Master Swimmer with a heart as big as the Waikato River itself. Brian recently swam an astonishing 150 km's down that very river, the one he grew up beside, in honour of his dad. It took him 24 hours straight – no sleep, battling the tide, and pushing throu...

Send us Fan Mail Today on the show we’re joined by an incredible duo – Stephen Moore and his wonderful wife Jo. Stephen, at 62, is still one of the fastest men in the water, but his story goes far beyond speed. He grew up learning to swim in the very same pool as Jo back in England – a connection that has lasted a lifetime. From ice swimming at the world championships, to weekend training sessions...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, we’re heading to the icy waters of Saint Bathans, where a remarkable group of swimmers braved temperatures of less than five degrees Celsius. Under the guidance of Ice Swimming President Roger Soulsby, these athletes pushed the very limits of physical endurance in one of the most breathtaking – and brutal – environments in New Zealand. But this challenge wasn’t...

Send us Fan Mail Today we’re joined by a man whose story will make you laugh, make you think, and maybe even make you tear up a little. He’s a Kiwi swimmer, a fighter, a smiler, and a guy who’s learning how to navigate life with a whole lot of heart – and with multiple sclerosis tagging along for the ride. Duncan Grant has spent years in and around the water, but these days, the real challenge isn...

Send us Fan Mail He’s one of New Zealand’s most loved, straight-talking comedians, a mental health advocate, and the force behind I AM HOPE – the movement that’s changing the way Kiwis think about mental health. He’s been on stages around the world, behind the mic, in schools, in parliament – and now, he’s with us… a sort of honorary Clever Dick.  Today, we’re sitting down with Mike King – to hear...

Send us Fan Mail Hey legends, welcome back to The Clever Dicks Open Water Podcast — where we dive deep into the minds of swimmers, coaches, and salty sea legends from around the world. Today, we’ve got an absolute ripper of a guest. She’s fast, she’s fierce, and she knows her stuff — it’s the amazing Merle Maud! Merle’s not just your average lane cruiser — she’s a certified Swim Smooth Coach, a se...

Send us Fan Mail Shannon House Keegan is an American marathon swimmer whose open water accomplishments stretch across many different bodies of water. From the mighty SCAR Challenge, to Lake Memphremagog to Lake George, Shannon has swum through some iconic and challenging waters. And when she’s not swimming, she’s talking – as the host of Intrepid Waters, a podcast where she explores the mental, ph...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we dive into the life of Peter Gibbs—a spirited adventurer from Nelson, New Zealand. Peter's journey from triathlon to the open waters of Abel Tasman National Park showcases his enduring passion for endurance sports. As a seasoned writer, he shares tales of his aquatic escapades and the vibrant community that surrounds them. Join us as we explore Peter's...

Send us Fan Mail  After four and a half years of relentless training, countless setbacks, and a swim dream rooted in childhood memories, Mark finally conquered the mighty Cook Strait. What started off as a tribute to long summer days at the Te Awamutu Swimming Baths—run by his late father, Cor—evolved into a powerful personal journey of resilience, love, and legacy. Pushed by a deep family connect...

Send us Fan Mail Today we’re diving into a fantastic tool designed to help everyday Kiwis enjoy our beautiful beaches more safely - Safeswim.  Safeswim has had some bad press within the Open Water Swimming Community, but when you remember that it was built for the general public — families, casual swimmers, and anyone heading to the beach — giving clear, accessible information so you can make safe...

Send us Fan Mail Today we dive deep into the mind of an extraordinary human pushing the limits of what’s possible. Our guest is not just swimming in uncharted waters — he’s owning them. From the sun-soaked shores of Malta to the icy depths of world records, Neil Agius has redefined what it means to go the distance. A former Olympian turned ultra-endurance marathon swimmer, Neil etched his name in...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the Clever Dicks Swim Podcast, where we dive into the stories of passionate open water swimmers who push the limits of endurance and determination. Today, we’re talking to Jan Steenkamp, an inspiring swimmer based in Auckland.  Jan’s journey in the water began in high school, but it was eight years ago when he decided to get back into the water with a mission. In one of...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we dive into the swim journey of ultra-marathon swimmer Jono Ridler, whose relentless determination took him from a debilitating shoulder injury to one of the most awe-inspiring endurance feats in New Zealand’s waters—his 99km, 33-hour swim from Great Barrier Island to Takapuna. Jono shares the mental and physical battles he faced, from hallucinations to the disci...

Send us Fan Mail Today, we’re  a little late in flying the flag in support of Nick Edwards , who made a gallant effort for 13 hours swimming across this massive stretch of water called the Cook Strait, battling fierce currents, icy temps, and unpredictable conditions.  Unfortunately the ocean was not working with Nick today and the cold and huge currents put an end to his swim. But, he was not out...

Send us Fan Mail Milton Brest is not just a businessman from Johannesburg—he’s a force of nature. A former karate athlete, he has taken on some of the world’s most extreme open-water challenges, from braving the icy waters of the Bering Strait to swimming the treacherous currents around Alcatraz and Robben Island, meeting Eskimo's and swimming at the Base Camp of Everest. Training just steps...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 35 sees the Clever Dicks chat with a true force in the world of open water swimming, Wellington’s very own Corrina Connor. She’s conquered the relentless currents of Foveaux Strait, battled the unpredictable Cook Strait, and taken on the vast, stunning Lake Taupō - completing New Zealand’s prestigious Triple Crown of Swimming. But Corrina is much more than just an enduranc...