SwimOut

SwimOut Podcast

I believe swimming is more than just a past-time, it's about ecology, creativity, conquering personal demons and redefining the limits of endurance. Presented by Vicki, a London based outdoor swimmer who has swum the English Channel and around Manhattan. The podcast is about the heroes, the eccentrics, the spaces, the untold stories and all adventures of wild swimming.

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20 episodes
Updated April 3

Episodes20

Newest first

April 3 · 55 min
Feed to Succeed: Expert Nutrition Advice
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 in endurance sports including swimming. Emily outlines the principles and the basics for us. We also have Bryony Rowe @bryony.eve.swims who is training for the English Channel and is an enthusiast about Nutrition. Finally, we have my wife, Oonagh, who is in charge of my feeds on the big event day. Products we talked about Styrkr carbohydrates and rice bars Glucose Tablets - Dextrose SIS (Science in Sport) - Rego recovery range Find out more: ⁠@swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠⁠swimout.net⁠ #swimming #openwaterswimming #doverchannelswimming #iceswimming #Channelswimming #EnglishChannel
March 20 · 48 min
Jane Asher: The World Record Breaker
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 of 95, she moves into a new age group, so is starting on her mission to break or set records in the 95-99 age group. She has also completed a number of open water swims including the Hellespont from Europe to Asia. Described by a fellow swimmer and competition host as “The true definition of an ELITE swimmer” * she has inspired many swimmers. She has heaps of awards and has been a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame since 2006 as well as being awarded a British Empire Medal in 2018. Last year she entered the Swim England Hall of Fame too. As well as swimming and breaking world records she also coached and taught swimming. Although not strictly an open water swimmer, she is a truly inspiring person with many great swimming stories to share. *From Ian Woollard, Barnet Copthall SC Find out more: ⁠@swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠⁠swimout.net⁠
Dec 4, 2025 · 39 min
Captain Webb: The Channel Conqueror
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 details what kept him going during his gruelling feat of valour, from beef tea to brandy and more importantly, his friends and family onboard the support vessel. His motto “ Nothing great is easy” is testament to his grit, endurance and bravado. Join us on this heroic swim to France, with Captain Webb, The Channel Conqueror. Find out more: ⁠@swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠⁠swimout.net⁠
Nov 19, 2025 · 48 min
English Channel - Ask the experts
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 completed many relay crossings of the English Channel and a solo, as well as many other swims across the globe. She and Kevin also look after the paperwork for a large number of the Channel swims and lead the The King’s Swimmers which runs swim camps and regular training in Dover. Our aspiring swimmers are Bryony Rowe who swam as child then took up triathlons and now has refound her love of sea swimming, and Christophe Donot who loves to swim and make ceramics and as a French man is keen to swim to France, although London is now very much his home. Find out more: ⁠@swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠⁠swimout.net⁠ ⁠@ The King Swimmers⁠ @christophe_ceramics @Bryony.eve.swims
Nov 6, 2025 · 46 min
Indian Channel Swimmers
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. Sal Minty-Gravett talks about her work helping Indian swimmers to acclimatise for their cold water swims. Lastly we talk about swimming many Channels with Prabhat Koli and his father and coach Koli Koli. Prabhat was the youngest swimmer to achieve the Oceans Seven challenge in 2023. We also delve into the history and future of Openwater swimming in India. Find out more: ⁠@swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠⁠swimout.net⁠ Link to Podcast is in the Bio @Anshuman Jhingran @Bula Chowdhury @Sal Minty-Gravett @Prabhat Koli #swimming #openwaterswimming #doverchannelswimming #iceswimming #Indianswimmers #indianlongdistanceswimmers
Oct 23, 2025 · 48 min
My River Avon Swim
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 Luke and Charlie from All-Aboard Watersports who organise swimming in the Bristol docks. Vicki gets help from CK SUP and Paddle at Newbridge outside Bath, and then has a refreshing swim with Bart, one of her father's rowing friends. Becca Drazin from the group Conham Bathing tells us about how much she likes her swim spot on the River Avon. To end we hear a beautiful poem about the river by Mrs Meg Avon. Find out how the swim goes…. Find out more: ⁠@swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠⁠swimout.net⁠ @johnny palmer @all-aboard watersports @conhambathing @CK Sup &Paddle @mrs_meg_avon
Jun 12, 2025 · 29 min
Swim Through: S6E4
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 and has a great rhythm if you want to sing along as you Swim Through your swim. Find out more at ⁠SwimOut.net⁠ and ⁠@swimoutpodcast⁠ Find the video and song @Creating_Be BE - Swim Through (Official Music Video) Link to song on Spotify
May 29, 2025 · 30 min
Neil Agius and Vicki swim and talk: S6E3
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 cope with the doubts and the jellyfish. He talks about his swims and the mental framework called the Ocean Mindset, which he has developed. This combines strategies like breathwork, ice immersions, and community to build resilience and focus and get him through his super long swims. He also talks about how a plastic bag gave him a big idea and a new charity. Find out more at SwimOut.net and @swimoutpodcast
May 22, 2025 · 45 min
Pollution in our rivers and swim spots: S6 E2
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 is clogging it up. She also talks about her charity The OR Foundation which is campaigning for change. Rebecca Duncan from The Rivers Trust talks about different types of pollution, how to spot them and what action you can take. Henry Shepherd from the charity River Action and Honor Teare from Friends Of The Thames meet up with me to test the river Thames and talk about testing and how the data is key for campaigning. Lastly I talk to Claire Robertson from Thames 21 in Oxford about how to get Designated Bathing Water Status for your swim spot. Find out more: ⁠@swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠swimout.net⁠
May 15, 2025 · 50 min
Magnificent Vintage Women: S6 E1
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, a Team GB Ice swimmer, explains her love of cold water swimming. Listener Nickie Gore discusses the extra challenges of swimming with Parkinson's disease and Laura Reineke tells us about her love of the River Thames and her challenge to swim the Oceans 7. Kari Furre shares how she loves to teach Butterfly and her passion for teaching older swimmers. Find out more: ⁠@swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠swimout.net ⁠
Nov 27, 2024 · 52 min
Deep
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 us all about why he loves scuba diving and the peaceful world he finds down there. Amorina Kingdon, in contrast, shares with us the songs of fish singing under the water, which led her to write her book Sing Like Fish. We also discuss the TV programmes that ignited our love of swimming. Find out more: ⁠@swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠swimout.net⁠
Nov 10, 2024 · 52 min
My Manhattan Swim
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 the swim, a rich aural story is woven. From the event organisers New York Open Water we meet the kayaker, observer and boat captain. Plus we hear from family and friends at home following the unfolding story via the gps tracker and WhatsApp. Find out more: ⁠@swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠swimout.net⁠ @Jaimie Monahan @CIBBOWS @New York Open Water @wildswimmingsocks @wen_swim_the_channel @20 Bridges #swimming #openwaterswimming #doverchannelswimming
Aug 23, 2024 · 50 min
Historic swim stories
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. George Townsend looks at the history of river bathing in Oxford. Vicki and Kathryn Ferry discuss how Billy Butlin got involved in Channel relay races in the 1950’s. We also find out about a historic reservoir featured in the film Wild Water and meet Wen Erh Hsu, the first Taiwanese swimmer to cross the English Channel. There’s heaps of historic action! Find out more: ⁠@swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠swimout.net @sarahswims04 @seasideferry @time_for_a_bath @alphacarla @wen_swim_the_channel @wildwaterfilm @jojodaleo ⁠
Jun 17, 2024 · 51 min
Pride in open water swimming
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 Brighton where we discuss a new idea. We move to Kendal, where Jonathan Cowie explores how Pride is celebrated in the Lakes. Finally, Vicki goes to the Royal London Docks for the first in a new series of Pride Swims rolling out across the country. Find out more: ⁠@swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠swimout.net
May 5, 2024 · 48 min
Grief - solace through swimming: S5E3
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 Steels joins Vicki to talk about the son she lost to suicide and how swimming the Ice Sevens Challenge helped her to recover. Lastly Vicki talks to Cat Joy White about her beautiful film 54 Days and how taking up open water swimming was a major solace to her after the death of two people she loved. Find out more ⁠@swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠swimout.net⁠ @catherinejoywhite @fiftyfourdaysfilm @international_ice_swimming_association @bluespaces_uk @intrepidwater
Mar 30, 2024 · 48 min
Community: S5E2
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 us about their project iSwim4 which is for people recovering from substance addiction and Vicki finds out about a film called Rave On For The Avon and its maker Aggie Nyagari and star Meg who decided to become Mrs Avon. Find out more @swimoutpodcast or swimout.net
Feb 29, 2024 · 41 min
Training for your big swim: S5E1
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 their training weekends. Plus we hear from Mark Sheridan about a pool based group which provides support and inspiration and Jonathan Cowie tells us about his struggles with his sofa.
Nov 23, 2023 · 48 min
The Record Breakers: S4E6
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 Anshuman Jhingran, the "Little Boy from Mumbai", who snapped up two records in his first year of marathon swimming and we join it all up with Julian Critchlow who gathers in all the English Channel facts and is himself a record holder. It's going to be a smashing episode.
Oct 10, 2023 · 38 min
Mercedes Gleitze: S4E5
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 Daws. We bring Mercedes' story to life and delve deeper into who she was and the legacy she has left.
Jul 13, 2023 · 49 min
Can you swim yourself happy? S4E4
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 which bring us joy, made by Usual Objections and for the more environmental feel-good factor we talk with Angela from Swim Wild Wye who campaigns to keep her river pollution free.