It all started with a fish. A big fish. And before long, Julie Pan added free diving to her list of dopamine driven sports. To hear her describe it, free diving is equal parts pushing limits, managing fear and feeling quite Zen. Swimming in the bay scratches that itch, too.

Now, after an 8-year career as a software engineer at Google, she's stopped "babysitting AI" and is looking to fill her life with new projects, goals, and adventures.

Madeleine Crow joined the Dolphin Club just three years ago, but she has dived in head first to everything -- in and on, and even off the water. From swimming to paddling to ERGing, she needed what the Bay and this community had to offer and wanted to be brave in its presence. Hear about her love for the water, the club, and her work at the San Francisco SPCA.

What do an MIT-trained computer scientist, public school teacher, non-profit professional, and reluctant cold water swimmer have in common? Get to know Ben Chun and you'll learn how head and heart and happiness unite. Ben is smart, and kind, and thoughtful, and giving -- both in his career and at the club. He believes in the endless creativity of humans and the indomitable nature of the human intellect and spirit -- perhaps because he lives his life that way.

Rebecca Handler has one of those laughs that is truly contagious. And better yet, she's so darn funny that she gets you laughing, too. Whether chatting about the joy she gets from swimming with her brother Daniel or her very unpleasant year dealing with breast cancer, she somehow finds humor in it all. We talk about identity, becoming a writer, and how the Dolphin Club women helped her heal.

Most importantly, her second novel, In the Round, is coming out in Fall of 2026 and you can pre-order it today, wherever books are sold...online and off.

Like many young swimmers, William Pryor got scared when he couldn't touch the ocean floor. As an adult he found a way to understand it by combining his passion for drones and technology with art that maps the actual depths of the water. William took me out on the bay in a rowboat to chat about his fears, love of sailing, robots, and how he's found peace on the water and community at the Dolphin Club.

You can see some of his art at www.ultra-marine.net

Ryan Dalton's mind is always working. And he's got a lot to think about — parenting, partnering, writing, olfaction, neuroscience, cancer, AI, fear, swimming, beer, and a whole lot more. His mind is rarely at rest, and he finds peace only when he's in motion. Zen gardens are not for him. With all that going on inside, he is deeply concerned about staying true to his values and being in community with family, friends and fellow Dolphins. What a fun and fascinating conversation we had.

Many people come to the Dolphin Club to swim and end up staying for the people. Emily Nogue did the opposite. She joined the club following the death of her husband John Nogue to feel his presence where he felt most at home. Now, Emily has made this place her own. Emily shares stories about John, their relationship, the incredible support they received from fellow Dolphins, the Swim for Science that bears John's name, her unimaginable grief, and how she's learning to live on with joy.

Keith Howell has traveled the world, starting in Manchester, England and eventually finding his way to San Francisco. He edited publications all along the way until he retired and took up the mantle of editing the Dolphin Log. Still in print after all these years, it's a piece of our history and a way for our entire community to stay connected. Although he's passed the torch, he's still telling stories and dreaming of his next destination.

Not many Afghan refugees from their landlocked country grow up to be passionate cold water swimmers. But Humaira Ghilzai breaks all the rules. Her passions include helping to educate young girls (and boys) from her native country, writing plays, going on pilgrimages, and making body butters to keep Dolphin women well moisturized. She's lived and lives an extraordinary life and — no surprise to anyone who knows her — has great stories to tell.

Some people set goals. Far fewer actually get them. Lauren Au Brinkmeyer does both. With speed, humility, a huge smile, and a hearty laugh. She credits the Dolphin Club community, and her extraordinary organizational skills, for helping her achieve those goals. She juggles a demanding career, two young kids, a husband who also loves to swim, and an ongoing quest to complete marathon swims, like the English Channel, Manhattan, and next up the length of Tahoe. It's a lot! But she seems to love (almost) every minute of it.