The UltraSwimming Podcast

Episode 8: Discerning Discomfort from Danger, with Courtney Paulk, First to Complete Double Triple Crown How can you tell if the discomfort you are feeling is something to ignore and push through, versus important information signaling danger? When is the right time to end a swim, even if you haven’t yet achieved your goal? And how do you cope with the disappointment that goes with emotionally inv...

Every ultraswimmer knows there are sharks in the ocean, but what happens when one makes a cameo during a 24+ hour swim attempt? Co-hosts Evan Morrison and Jessica Kieras do a deep dive into Jessica’s recent swim along Florida’s Gulf Coast. We discuss self-organized swims as a way of customizing one’s form of challenge, what it’s like to have a route with no fixed finish point, and the importance o...

In 2023, Leslie Hamilton became the first woman to swim around Staten Island, and in 2025 completed an unprecedented crossing of the 26.3 mile length of Lake Norman. She likes to tackle swims that make her feel “a little crazy”, ventures off the beaten path, has nothing to prove and everything to love about this sport. Internally driven by a passionate sense of adventure and insatiably hunger for...

Episode 5: California Channel Islands with Karina Garcia Most ultraswimmers have heard of swimming from Catalina Island to the mainland, but what about the other seven islands that make up the California Channel Islands? These islands offer startlingly clear water, dramatic rocky cliffs, an iconic arch, and frequent visits from resident dolphins. Routes have been charted across the channel, around...

Episode 4: Training with Charlotte Brynn, Joe Zemaitis & Sidney Russell So what’s the best way to train for an ultraswim? In this episode we welcome [Charlotte Brynn](https://ultraswimming.org/database/p/charlotte-brynn), [Joe Zemaitis](https://ultraswimming.org/database/p/joe-zemaitis) and [Sidney Russell](https://ultraswimming.org/database/p/sidney-russell), renowned ultraswimmers who are also e...

In this mini-episode, Jessica and Evan dive into a major new MSF project that’s just been launched: - Our new website, ultraswimming.org which combines resources which were previously under three separate websites (marathonswimmers.org, longswims.com, and track.rs). - Our new Member Portal app, in which MSF members can submit Documented Swims for ratification, set up GPS tracking pages, vote in th...

Some links to resources that were mentioned during the episode: MSF Documented Swims program (2014 – present), Marathon Swimmers Federation Repeatable Swim Routes, by Evan Morrison MSF documentation of Sarah Thomas’ Lake Champlain swim MSF documentation of Jessica Kieras’ Waldo Lake swim Link to episode on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1clFSao74XyWPBAaiNo7U3?si=6edf9581296a476b Link to...

Recorded September 27, 2025. In this episode we discuss how Karen Zemlin envisioned, planned and completed a new 22.9 km (14.2 mile) route on Lake Superior, from Isle Royale, Michigan to Pigeon Point, Minnesota in 6 hours and 12 minutes on August 13, 2025. We talk about how this route differs from the already established east and west routes and what makes it an excellent addition to the options f...

A few links to projects mentioned in the episode: Marathon Swimmers Federation (MSF): marathonswimmers.org Long Swims Database profiles: – Jessica Kieras – Evan Morrison MSF Documented Swims: https://marathonswimmers.org/swims/ MSF News Blog: https://news.marathonswimmers.org/ Link to episode on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-0-introductions/id1845817729?i=1000731656...