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 breath. But somewhere along the way, it became… more.Dunking is what happens when people immerse themselves fully — in the sea, in a passion, in a community, in a mad idea that somehow works.

In Series Two we’re looking for:

• Sea stories and saltwater habits

• Daily rituals, wild routines, and joyful obsessions

• People who’ve dunked into new lives, new challenges, or unexpected adventures

• And those who quietly (or noisily) make Abersoch, Pen Llŷn and the greater Wales, what it is

You don’t need to be famous. You don’t need to be fearless.You just need a story — because everyone has one, and dunkers tend to capture the best.

If that’s you…If it’s someone you know…If it’s a tale that starts with “this might sound odd, but…”

👉 Get in touch. Say yes. Come dunk with us.

Spring 2026 is warming up nicely.

— Mark (The Hoff)DunkersPodcast 🌊

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 Abersoch’s Warren Beach — proving that beach saunas aren’t just a feel-good trend, but a brilliantly placed, beautifully run business built around community, movement, and feeling better.

From sea dips to steam, science to sand, we ask:Why does hot help? Why does cold shock? And have Dunkers been ahead of the research all along?🎧 Listen now and find out why “feeling alive” hasnever felt so good.

🌊✨ 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 swimming revolution, the joys (and occasional jellyfish encounters) of open water, and how communities like Abersoch Dunkers and USwim share one mission: helping people rediscover themselves — one chilly dip at a time.

Please like, follow and share - your friends will love you for it!

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
🌙 Sleep🌿 Nature🫶 Emotional Wellbeing🥗 Healthy Eating

Our Dunkers know better than anyone: the right community can transform you. So what happens when cold water… becomes a warm awakening?

The Hoff asks the big questions. Phil brings the honest answers.
This one’s personal — for every listener craving more from life.

Phil has a real gift for cutting through the noise of health and lifestyle science, turning the overload of info out there into something simple, practical and achievable. His mission is all about raising awareness, demystifying the science, and helping people make real change with the support of community.

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 technique, confidence, and a splash of courage can transform not just how you swim, but how you live.

In this first episode, we’re joined by Rebecca Wetten from Catch Swim, who shares simple, game-changing ways to find your flow — in the pool, in the sea, and in life.

So take a breath, take the plunge… and let’s swim and thrive together.

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 even a 'Dunker Styled' tasty!).

If our episode brings you listening happiness, please like, share and comment about any experience or vist you've enjoyed at Two Islands .

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 such a bright spark in the Dunkers crew – with a few splashes of beer foam and sea spray along the way! Mark will also tell us how, in his excitement of being a star on DunkersPodcast, he overlooked telling us about yeast!  I guess he’s in good company as the original German beer purity law, the Rheinheitsgebot, in the 15th century also missed out yeast – but that’s because they really didn’t know it existed as the 4th ingredient for its role infermentation of sugars (i.e., making into alcohol).

Hope you enjoy, hic! and let’s make a splash!

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 is more like a celebration, and this is a reminder of the joy, community, and connection that Jeff embodied every time he stepped into the sea. 🌊💙

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 invited Mr John Brybour- Hughes (Abersoch local councillor and business proprietor), Mrs Angela Russell (Leader of Independent party on Gwynedd Council representing Mynytho and LLanbedrog) and Mr Rhys Elvins (experienced and well know local estate agent) to explore the impact and what's it really like 'on-the-ground'.

This is our second Roundtable episode and our Roundtables are always keen to hear from our listener and to chat about any issue which impacts locals and a wider audience in our area. Abersoch Dunkers are from all walks of life and have a real love of growing the success of all the communities in the area (in addition to daily cold water Dunking!).

Do let us have your thoughts in the poll below, or via the episode comments or directly to [email protected].