An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast

(Available to subscribers, episode free to play 14th March)

This episode is with Francesco Cavliere, he is an Italian marathon swimmer, who swims totally self supported and his approach to swimming is often referred to as "Swim & Explore”. Francesco likes to emphasise the environmental and historical context of the places he swims, treating swimming as a means of discovery rather than just a sport… he runs swimming excursions throughout the Mediterranean and he has designed his own fibre glass tow boats - called “barquinos” that obviously carry all his gear. He has swam the coastlines of all 44 of the Italian islands in an epic 13 year feat… and needless to say he has endless stories to tell about the beautiful Mediterranean. I am just sad we couldn’t get more into the episode… I hope you enjoy!

(Subscribers only from 28th Feb, free to play 7th March)

I have been wanting to get Brenton on the podcast for some time - I am a big fan of his YouTube channel “Effortless Swimming” and he pops up very regularly across social media showing off his coaching talents. He very nearly made Olympic trials as a swimmer - as an Australian, a huge achievement, where competition is more than fierce; and not that long ago swam the 20km of the famous Rottnest swim… He is a National Masters Record Holder and was Australian National Masters Coach of the Year in 2012. He is now a full time coach, running clinics, camps and a masters group, and his story is about staying in something you love, helping others achieve their goals; how difficult it is to heed your own advice as a coach, and building a brand and business around our sport. Brenton Ford!

(Subscribers only from 28th Feb, free to play 7th March)

I have been wanting to get Brenton on the podcast for some time - I am a big fan of his YouTube channel “Effortless Swimming” and he pops up very regularly across social media showing off his coaching talents. He very nearly made Olympic trials as a swimmer - as an Australian, a huge achievement, where competition is more than fierce; and not that long ago swam the 20km of the famous Rottnest swim… He is a National Masters Record Holder and was Australian National Masters Coach of the Year in 2012. He is now a full time coach, running clinics, camps and a masters group, and his story is about staying in something you love, helping others achieve their goals; how difficult it is to heed your own advice as a coach, and building a brand and business around our sport. Brenton Ford!

Available to subscribers only until 28th February.

In 2024 Vassos Alexander set his sights on swimming the English Channel. Not one to shy away from a challenge - being an ultra distance runner, he gave himself a matter of months to prepare… he also decided to write a book - journalling his training for the channel and his love and passion for open water swimming. Vassos didn’t quite make the start line on Shakespeare beach - becoming one of 2024’s delayed successes - however, his book is an ode to his delight and and love of all things open water. Of course, his successful day in the English Channel will come in the coming years and I was fortunate enough to get to chat to him in 2025, when his book had been published and he was reflecting on the both the previous years training and the community he threw himself into… such a delight to chat to: Vassos Alexander.

(Available to subscribers only from 14th Feb. Episode free to play 21st Feb).

This episode is sort of the second part to episode 6, the chat with Andy Cornish, as on the same day and exactly the same time, Dani Wallwork set off to also complete the 70km of Lake Geneva. Both swimmers went through some of the most apocryphal conditions I have ever seen at night, and, like Andy, Dani called time on her swim at approximately 17 hours and roughly 55km in. Dani is no stranger to lake swimming, holding the world record for the fastest one way, two way and three way Windermere swim in a wetsuit. She has also completed Lake Zurich, and is fair to say is a rapid swimmer… I loved this episode as although I wasn’t on her boat for her Lake Geneva attempt, I was of course on the water at the same time, so I saw first hand the conditions she had to battle through. I hope you enjoy listening to Dani Wallwork!