SwimOut

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.

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.

In this episode Vicki meets Chloe McCardel who is the Queen of the Channel - she has swum the English Channel forty four times which is more times than any other person. Also she holds the record for the longest ever sea swim at 124.4 kilometers, taking 41 hours in the Bahamas. She is swimming royalty but also a passionate supporter of Women's rights, always ready to call out injustice.  

Vicki spends a day with Chloe in Weymouth finding out about her swimming, her past and what she is up to in Dorset this summer with her new boat Channel Queen.

In this edition of the SwimOut podcast we explore the joys of swimming in a Relay team.

Join Mikey and Vicki as they talk about Relay swimming and the fun of it. Observer Deborah Vine answers listeners’ questions about the big day and the rules of the swim and Team Bits Missing discuss their North Channel relay swim. Plus we hear from Catherine Stefanutti, Dirk Gewert and more listeners about the joys of Relay swimming.

For more information and longer versions please go to SwimOut.net

In this edition of the SwimOut podcast we explore the challenge of swimming in cold water.

Join Vicki and Jonathan as they talk about thier swimming exploits in Morocco and Cheltenham. Vicki talks to Ger Kennedy about swimming in Antarctica and how it feels to be in water that cold and how to recover. Plus Jonty Warneken and Michelle Lane talk about competing in Team Ice GB.

In this edition of the SwimOut podcast we explore the people behind the big swim, the unsung heroes of open water who enable swimmers to undertake their amazing feats.

Join Vicki Carter and Jonathan Cowie as they chat to Padraig Mallon - North Channel Pilot from Infinity Channel swimming, Ros Bailey partner of Hells Mouth Swimmer Frank Chalmers and Elaine Howley who likes to give back to the open water community and crewed for Sarah Thomas on her 4 way crossing. Plus listener and all round amazing swimmer Jaimie Monahan tells us where she likes to swim as does Fiona McDonald, previous presenter of SwimOut.

Our latest offering is a very special edition of SwimOut all about Peace. We welcome new presenter Jonathan Cowie from Outdoor Swimmer magazine spreading his podcasting wings for the first time. We are joined by the legendary swimmer and writer Lynne Cox. She first rose to fame when she broke the English Channel record aged 15, and went on to break many more. Her mission to broker peace between Russia and the USA by swimming the Bering Strait in 1987 remains a groundbreaking achievement. Still actively engaged with swimming she has just published a book about swimming with dogs as well as setting up a swim in April to help the people of Ukraine. We also discuss Ukraine and peace with the ever passionate Jackie Cobell who is raising money to help Ukrainians. And Vicki and Jonathan share their favourite swim spots.

In the final episode of this series Hunter and Vicki are joined by the founder of WOWSA, Steven Munatones, and Gareth Jones who recently completed an EPIC 60 kilometre swim over Wales' wildest water. We're also joined by the the legendary Jackie Cobell who has the impressive (if undesirable) accolade of the longest ever channel swim. Plus, we catchup with our favourite fan Rick Cipolla. 

This month Hunter is joined by guest presenter Omie Dale to discuss access and inclusion in aquatics. 

We hear from bathing historian George Townsend about sociological barriers, such as gender and race, in the 19th century. Omie talks to the founder of Swimunity, whose mission is to make the joy of swimming accessible to all communities following the Grenfell Tower disaster. And Vicki has a special report on the state of disability in open water aquatics. 

Hunter and Vicki delve into The Mind. The mind can be your best friend and your worst enemy on a long swim. It can soothe and wash away your troubles; it can also disrupt and ruin your flow.

In this episode we meet Cliff Golding; after 5 years and 6 failed attempts Cliff finally tamed his demons and successfully crossed the English Channel - he tells us his secret. Sarah Kennedy Norquoy lives in the Orkney isles and tells us how swimming helped her recover from grief and we catch up with Mental Health Swims about raising mental health awareness. Last but not least, we speak to two Paralympian's about their mental health journeys in the lead-up to Tokyo.