DunkersPodcast

Some landscapes are beautiful. Others are built on sacrifice. Some places whisper their history. Others make you work to hear it. Beyond the mountains of North Wales lies a world carved not by machines, but by hands… by families… by generations whose lives were measured in slate, sweat and silence. Today we’re not simply talking about quarries. We’re stepping inside them. Through the eyes of a qua...

Not a Sailor, Not a Reporter… Until He Was. What Could Possibly Go Wrong? Preparing to cross oceans with some of the most remarkable amateur sailors in the world and joining me is the Abersoch Dunkers own Ocean sailor - Andy Teague. Let's untie the ropes and see where this takes us.

When a Building Becomes a Community — and why does this place matter so much to people? Welcome back to DunkersPodcast, and today we continue our Voices of the Land series — exploring the people, places and stories that make this part of Wales so special. Our journey takes us to the shores of Llanbedrog, to a building that has never simply been a building. It has a personality, a memory, and a lif...

Today our DunkersPodcast comes from above the Clouds; up a mountain, on a railway and somewhere that, along the way, feels strangely freeing. Welcome to our second 'Voices' Podcast reaching the People, Power and Places who make North Wales and Llyn Peninsular so special. This railway timetable isn't yours anymore. You surrender to the 7.6km climb, the noise, the weather and the mountai...

“When you sit in the roundhouse, something shifts… time slows, voices soften, and suddenly you’re part of something much older than yourself.” At Canolfan Felin Uchaf , myth, craft, and community come together — not as something to observe, but something to take part in. Here, in a roundhouse built in the old ways, stories are told as they always have been — by voice, by firelight, and by memory A...

A curated audio portrait of North Wales — told by its mostauthoritative voices. North Wales is more than landscape. It is resilience, language, industry, myth and community. This series creates a lasting audio archive of the peoplewho; Protect its Mountains, Safeguard its seas, Preserve its history, Shape its future These are evergreen stories with long-term cultural value DunkersPodcast is honour...

Whether you're seeking resilience, calm, community or simply the joy of being immersed in nature,  The Beauty of Cold  offers a life-affirming path back to yourself in simple, achievable and lasting steps. At a time when we all need to escape the noise, this is the perfect cold water antidote and allows a path to return to being more human. Let's meet Gilly, the UK's 'Ice-lady'.

One paddleboard. One reason that mattered more than quitting. This is Kevin Bell’s  #thehometownpaddle  - and it’s not what you think. Kevin is the man for all seasons in Abersoch and in 2019, Kevin set off from Abersoch - his new hometown - on a paddleboard, heading over 230 miles across sea, river & canal to Poynton - his old hometown - where this story began. With the help of friends old &a...

Blue Bloods is a men‑only wild swimming community using cold water, nature and regular meet‑ups to create connection, confidence and better mental wellbeing. This episode explores why men‑only spaces matter , what makes Blue Bloods different, and how shared experience lowers barriers to conversation. We also explore the community, the humour and the connections which emerge because of the group. O...

“A bob hat, bought whilst cold water Welsh Dunking, helped fund Christmas — and a future — for children in Kenya.” Abersoch DunkersPodcast is thrilled to participate in this 4th edition of Podcasthon ! PODcasthon 2026 , is a global podcast event speaking to and featuring charities and good causes across the world, and DunkersPodcast wanted to tell a story that starts in cold water… but ends somewh...

SEASON ONE THANKS to our Stars and listeners for being part of, and responding so well to, our successful 1st series. The water’s gone quiet… but the stories haven’t. As we dry off from Series One, we’re already looking ahead to DunkersPodcast Series Two, landing Spring 2026 — and this time, we want to hear from you . Yes, dunking started as a cold-water thing. A bracing splash. A sharp intake of...

Cold. Hot. Repeat. 🔥❄️This week on DunkersPodcast , we turn up the heat… then run straight into the sea. We’re joined by Ben Wright , Oxford Brookes exercise physiologist, who’s been digging into the science behind why a cold plunge followed by a proper sweat might be one of the smartest things you can do for your body and mind. Alongside him is Tom , joint founder of Porth Poeth Sauna on Abersoc...

🌊✨ Surf, song & salty air — meet Annabelle Lee , where yoga mats meet ocean waves. From Abersoch beaches to the Salzburg stages and to far flung places which enchant visitors and audiences alike. Annabelle brings a unique blend of music, yoga & surf vibes . This is the world according to Annabelle — and you’re about to step right into it."

Dave Quartermain joins us to talk wild swimming, community magic, and why dipping together changes everything - this one is sure to give you a giggle! From Manchester’s docks to Wales’ wild coasts, in this episode, Mark chats with the team behind USwim , the UK’s leading open-water community that’s making waves in health, wellbeing, and fun. We talk about the early days of building a grassroots sw...

Our guest, Phil Ellison , spent 20 years in the NHS, helping people recover legs, joints and lives. As a triathlete, he chased finish lines from St Helens to the World Championships in Kona. But a cold morning dip with his wife in 2022 changed everything. One breath. One plunge. One shift in purpose. Now Phil leads Adapted Life — a mission built on five pillars anyone can embrace: 🏃 Movement 🌙 S...

Welcome to The Swim & Thrive Series — a special three-part journey from the Dunkers Podcast, where we dive deeper into the benefits of cold water, community, and the kind of lifestyle that keeps you moving, sleeping, and smiling better. Swimming might seem simple — it’s as natural as walking — yet for many, water can be daunting. These episodes are here to change that. We’ll explore how techni...

From ice cream beginnings in 2018 to today's coffee perfection, Jack and Laura have turned Two Islands into one of Abersoch’s most loved spots. With Welsh-roasted beans, minimalist charm, and cakes worth swimming an extra mile for, their story is one of craft, community, and cinnamon. Expect laughs, sweet secrets, and maybe even the recipe for happiness (spoiler: it might be a cinnamon bun or...

Mark & Debbie Baker bring beer, banter, and bold dips to Abersoch – a duo who truly make waves... What happens when a triathlete brewer and a sea-loving chef join forces in the cold waters of Abersoch? You get a duo who mix fun, flavour, and a fearless approach to life – that's Mark and Debbie Baker. From synchronised swims to North England IPAs,this episode dives into what makes this couple s...

This special episode of the Dunkers Podcast is dedicated to Jeff Taylor — a friend, a fellow Dunker, and the man whose famous words, “We must be bloody mad!” , still echo across Abersoch’s shores. A year on from his passing, we celebrate Jeff’s spirit with stories, laughter, and reflections especially recorded for this Podcast and from those who knew him best. More than just a tribute, the podcast...

Gwynedd Council in North Wales added a 150% Council Tax premium on second homes, hoping to make housing more affordable for locals. Instead, homes are still too expensive for first-time buyers, the money raised isn’t being spent on housing, and locals worry it’s both not being deployed for the purposes it was claimed to be raised for, instead, sitting in council reserves. For this episode, we have...

Today’s guest isn’t just a lawyer—she’s a lifeboat skipper, a marathon runner, and a fierce defender of Abersoch’s charm. Meet Elissa Williams, the storm-force spirit behind causes, rescues, and adventures that keep our coast alive. On this episode of the DunkersPodcast, Mark sits down with Elissa — a powerhouse of energy and community spirit. From pulling ropes in Abersoch’s legendary tug-o-war t...

Today’s guest has swum the English Channel, conquered ice swimming world championships, and spends her days studying exactly what cold water does to our bodies and minds. Dr Heather Massey, from the University of Portsmouth’s Extreme Environments group, has found that wild swimming can do far more than give you a shiver—it can calm anxiety, lift mood, ease menopausal symptoms, and even help with d...

From child protection to clay spinning, today’s guest swims wild waters and sculpts soulful stories — her journey, to date, will appeal to many Dunkers and non Dunkers alike and may, especially as a female, even inspire your adventurous side so join us for a meandering, magical conversation with one of Abersoch’s most intriguing Dunkers.

From Vodafone boardrooms to the Porthdinllaen (Nefyn) lookout post, Andy's story is one of innovation, dedication, and watching over the sea when no one else does. DunkersPodcast is out from the kitchen studio into its first venture to rugged coastlines in a live recording at an active Coastwatch station.

Birmingham’s hustle to Abersoch’s charm, Charlotte Chandler made the leap from city grit to village hit. Whilst Charlotte’s swapped traffic jams for tide charts, she hasn’t slowed down. Now firmly rooted in village life — dunking daily, laughing loudly, and navigating it all with sparkle and sass — Charlotte proves that no matter where you’re from, it’s the people (and a bit of cold water) that tr...