Go to find out more about this Half Mermaid initiative go to: halfmermaid.com.au

If you would like to learn more and try ceremonial cacao go to:

https://www.halfmermaid.com.au/ceremonial-cacao-by-creation-cacao

You can find Broken River Quilts at:

Website:

https://brokenriverquilts.com.au/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/brokenriverquilts/

FaceBook:

https://www.facebook.com/brokenriverquilts

If you are interested in Ceremonial Cacao and would like 10% off every order go to:

https://www.halfmermaid.com.au/ceremonial-cacao-by-creation-cacao

Season 1. Episode 4.

Maryse swimming between poles in Seaford on a winters day , June 2024

This conversation was such a treat, on many levels. After a long run of rainy days affecting the quality water in the bay, we were so grateful to be sitting on a bench on the pier our favourite swim spot, overlooking clear shimmering waters….and seals in the distance.

It was also a treat because I got to spend some time with the gorgeous Maryse Meale. One of many warm hearts that make up the wonderful swimming community at Seaford, her beaming smile and giving nature, be it in her prior career as a mid wife or as a community member are only matched by her good feel energy, musical talent (we love her daily conditions report delivered with adaptations to popular songs); and her much appreciated birthday celebration co - ordinating efforts for all the swimmers in the community; and her prolific water photography hobby.

It was also a treat because I absolutely loved our conversation which felt so organic (background noises included as we were in the open) and we touched on so many real things……what pulls us to the water, how the water releases what the body holds on to, body image, and tips for cold water swimming and so much more.

I hope you enjoy Maryse’s story and that it resonates with aspects of your life and helps you with your water practice.

Without further delay, please enjoy my conversation with Maryse Meale.

Maryse, under water through the light

Maryse and I after our awesome conversation.

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Season 1. Episode 3.

A little bit about Half Mermaid and me.

Half Mermaid is about sharing the incredible gifts the open water offers. Being in the water has the capacity to move me and you, just like powerful questions can. This podcast is about sharing stories that can move our heart and soul. It is about the ways we can find and reconnect with ourselves. It is about meeting others on this journey and sharing the things that bind us - open water, stories, joy and sorrow, happiness and suffering- as we walk together and alone in search of self and meaning.

Water is a place where nothing else matters. Where earthly demands and constraints have no hold. Being in the water is about finding the self we lost, long time ago when we were told who to be and how to behave. It is about recognising there is a side to us, a part of us that is free, un restrained, wild, undefined and waiting to find expression, no matter how old we are.

I hope you join me and swim with me, no mater where you are in the world.

Liz is an accredited Structural Dynamics, NLP, and Personal coach, writer, avid swimmer and lover of all things ocean.

Photo by Margarita Breed

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It is an absolute pleasure to share with you our conversation with Fiona Basile, a journalist, author, photographer, explorer and definitely, Half Mermaid. Fiona calls the bayside suburb of Seaford in Melbourne, Australia home, which is where I have shared several swims with her, but her life and work have taken her around the world. Originally from country Victoria, her studies in the field of Journalism and Photography have been the medium through which her passion for story-telling and world travel come to life. From her Malawi assignment to capture the work of non-physician clinicians who care for women (and babies) with urgent obstetric care, to International World Youth Day events, to exhibiting Australian outback photographs in Sweden and her reflections on time spent with David Whyte’s Walking Tour in Ireland, Fiona’s work captures the very sense of place and time perfectly, in a very rich way. Immerse, Fiona’s latest book brings the ocean to you, in a very welcoming and warm collection of stories of swimmers and ocean photography. We recorded our conversation in the Frankston Arts Centre, where some of Fiona’s photographic art was displayed until very recently. We cover lots of ground, but no matter where she is in the world, Fiona shares how important being in the water is, how it not only feeds her work but also her own sense of wellbeing and presence. The backdrop in our conversation is one of Fiona’s favourite photos ‘Swimmer in inky purple water’. The light in the video does not do this justice.

If you are watching this on You Tube, you will find the last 5 min of our interview is ok for audio but video was lost due to an error of mine. We replaced this time with wonderful images of Fiona's photos.

To take a closer look at Fiona’s beautiful work, head to Head to Fiona’s website, instagram and FB accounts. Details below.

You can find Fiona at:

https://www.fionabasile.com

https://www.instagram.com/fifilepiu/

https://www.facebook.com/fionabasilephotography

Season 1. Episode 1.

Show notes:

A warm welcome to all to the very first Half Mermaid Podcast.

Stories and Water are the most powerful mediums connecting people in place and time. The intention of these interviews is to reach, connect, empower and inspire women, by sharing personal stories of challenge and growth; and the role being in the water has played in their life and wellbeing holistically.

This is our very first podcast. We bring it to you with all our love and much less perfection. Please bear with us as we elevate our tech skills to the same level as our cold water swimming ones.

We are so humbled to be able to share with you our conversation with the most amazing and courageous half mermaid, Lisa Schmidt. My first memory of Lisa was meeting her in the water at Seaford and what stayed with me was her infectious smile. I have got to know her a little more since then and I love her smile even more for all she carries in her healing journey. I will let Lisa share more of her story.

If you are listening to the podcast or watching the video there are prob some things we need to explain, and this will make sense as you listen. Firstly we don’t actually swim from Melbourne to Hobart. There are 4 poles we swim out to in Seaford about 100 metres out from shore. The southernmost pole is named Hobart by the appropriately named group of swimmers there - The pole dancers. Further, you will hear us refer to Bob. Bob is very much loved as much as one can love one of the large yellow buoys out in the open water. Yes Bob is a buoy marker.

Our conversation calls out groups and people that are doing some amazing work or are just wonderful humans. We name a few here:

Cancer council and all those participating in the shitbox rally.

https://www.instagram.com/shitboxrally/ and https://www.boxrallies.com/

Breathe into Life where Barney’s breathwork and coaching has helped many like Lisa.

https://www.instagram.com/breathe.into.life/

Operation Soul Surf and the wonderful work they do to support first responders & veterans w/ PTSI.

https://www.instagram.com/operationsoulsurf/

Dr Wallace J Nichols’s work and the Blue Mind Movement that have opened up a whole new world for Lisa and thousands of others.

https://www.instagram.com/wallacejnichols/

https://www.instagram.com/thebluemindmovement/

Fiona Basile with her beautiful contribution to the swimming communities through her book Immerse.

https://www.instagram.com/fifilepiu/

Groups who bring people together in the water like Submerge in Phillip Island and Dawnstalkers in the UK to name only two of hundreds that exist all over this blue planet.

https://www.instagram.com/dawnstalkers/

https://www.instagram.com/submerge_phillipisland/

A call out to Anthony Hodgson https://www.instagram.com/anth.danae/ or advocating and coordinating the very generous contributions from:

Remedy Drinks https://www.instagram.com/remedydrinks/

First Press Coffee https://www.instagram.com/firstpresscoffee/

Health Lab https://www.instagram.com/healthlab/

Charlies fine foods https://www.instagram.com/charliesfinefoodco/

Dash Water https://www.instagram.com/dashdrinks/

Aussie Multi Brands

$500 cash for fuel in addition to the $100 donated by the Roolife Group.

If you wish to donate to Lisa’s and Yvette’s incredible fundraising effort you can find out more and do so in the link provided in the show notes.

Here’s the link to donate:

https://winter2024.shitboxrally.com.au/lady-drivers?fbclid=IwAR1qumT6g7i4WQtHyHgHS0lYB8Fooj3RFX-5SzBO7rqxoPb2Q4_z9m-9KdA_aem_AXfUI8k1uQfmOR8nONHfBn4u6FdT8bC2XgAYMd44GsNICKUrklLM6bqI96CSMb65Wkw

If you would like to support the ladies with supplies, funds for petrols and other running costs, DM Lisa at https://www.instagram.com/liseschmidt/
I hope you enjoy our conversation.

You can also hear it on Spotify!