Plans are underway to return Hobart to being a Swimmable City. For thousands of years the Derwent's been used by people for swimming, bathing and fishing. In the 1800s there were a string of public pools in the the river with convicts and the gentry encouraged to bathe regularly. What is the plan? Why do it? Blueroom host Sabra Lane interviews the two people leading the campaign to return Hobart into a Swimmable City.

Allison Anderson works in Tourism and swimming is a part of her life, from being a child swimming in the Derwent. Mat Hinds is an architect - who can not imagine his life without regular emersion.

Guests:

Allison Anderson - Director, episteme.

Mat Hinds - Architect.

Swimmable Cities Hobart information:

https://www.episteme.com.au/swimming/project-one-f5w4d-tlljgpdf

Swimmable Cities Melbourne Information:

https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/news/return-river

The Swimmable Cities Movement:

SwimmableCities.org 

Tasmanian Rob Peart recently swam the English Channel. It is a remarkable feat. Rob started swimming as an adult and he admits, he struggled to swim 100 metres. But, this channel attempt almost failed right at the end, with Rob battling tides and time - though he was blissfully unaware, and curious about why everyone on his boat was screaming their lungs out for him to swim faster.

In this episode we discuss the swim, the preparation, how Rob started swimming, what he thought about during the swim, the family of dolphins that showed up mid-channel... and the dramatic climax. He also talks about his love of swimming with his Tassie tribes.

Podcast creators Sabra Lane and Julia Mansour visit the Tasmanian north-west coastal town of Burnie and take a Sunday morning dip with the Burnie Sunrise ocean swim club. They're a creative, inspiring, courageous, brave and fun-loving ocean group who 'bobble' and swim.

This tribe formed in early 2025, but already it's drawn a big, local following. Local GP, Dr Anastasiia Nikitina (Messieh), set the group up and now swims most days, and on weekends brings her famous home-made ginger tea to share. Anastasiia also introduces us to the concept of "collective effervescence". Teeny Brumby talks about her introduction to swimming with the group, and how she managed to get the Governor-General of Australia, Sam Mostyn, to wetsuit up and join the group for an autumn swim. We also hear from Vas Harris. Vas sold her family home after her husband died in 2024 and decided to move back to the mainland. But the plans were binned after joining the Burnie Bobblers.

This episode neatly captures what makes community swim groups so special; the connections, courage, conversations and fun.

Features:

Dr Anastasiia Nikitina (Messieh) - founder of the Burnie sunrise ocean swim club.

Teeny Brumby - swimmer and Burnie City Council mayor.

Vas Harris - swimmer and amateur photographer VasHarris https://www.instagram.com/vasharris?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=Z3VwM2MxdXp0bXk5

The Blue Room has traveled to Boat Harbour on the north-west coast of Tasmania for a weekend away.

Podcast co-founders Sabra Lane and Julia Mansour head out for an early morning swim, to find themselves unexpectedly joined by a pod of curious dolphins. A local woman watched them from the shore and unexpectedly joined us in a swim de-brief, to explain what she saw and what makes this little village so special.

We also discuss the swimming themed books, movies and documentaries that Sabra's consumed during the past year.

It's an exilerating and uplifting episode talking about our own incredible experience, and the gritty, tough and influential ocean swimmers who've caught our attention.

Books mentioned:

"Winter Swimming; the Nordic way to a happier and healthier life" - Dr. Susanna Søberg.

"Chill - the cold water swim cure" - Mark Harper.

"How to wild Swim: what to know before taking the plunge" - Ella Foote.

"The Little book for wild swimmers" - Laura Silverman.

"Dr Rip's Esssential Beach Book - everything you need to know about surf, sand and rips" - Dr Rob Brander.

"Why we swim" - Bonnie Tsui.

"Waterlog" - Roger Deakin.

"Dawn" - Dawn Fraser.

"Lisa, a Memoir - 60 years of life, love and loss" - by Lisa Curry.

"Tumble Turns' - by Shane Gould.

Films:

Nyad - a 2023 film about Diana Nyad's attempts to swim from Cuba to Florida, and her successful crossing in 2013.

The Young woman and the Sea - a 2023 film about Trudy Ederle's 1926 record swim across the English Channel.

Vindication Swim - 2024 film about Mercedes Gleitze who became the first British woman to swim the English Channel in 1927.

Documentaries:

The Deepest Breath, 2023 - documentary about Italian free diver Alessia Zecchini.

Hold your breath - 2022 - a doco following free diver Johanna Nordblad as she attempts to break the world record for distance traveled under ice with one breath.

The Blue Room podcast founders Sabra Lane and Julia Mansour talk about how to prepare for swimming in cold water. They offer their tips, tricks and advice. For some, swimming in cold water is not just a winter pastime, it's something they do year-round. How to prepare, what to bring with you before and after you swim. Note: cold water swimming is not for everyone, as with other activities, there's a risk of injury and it's not suitable for everyone.

The book referenced in this episode is Winter Swimming; The Nordic Way Towards a healthier and happier Life by Dr Susanna Søberg (publisher MacLehose Press).

Other mentions:

Merry People clogs:

https://merrypeople.com/collections/billie-clog?srsltid=AfmBOoo8SWG9qb4isL-zdRKXeBpx5Kv1SkLj3ig49AsCRg-3ITImYhvR

Dry Robe:

https://dryrobe.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoq1LwKHBkJwlmjGw9MhT3yOYO4c01znsc-dtLmHnMl0G61TpuN2

Julia's fog-free goggles:

www.viewswim.com.au

Tasmanian Ivan Cunningham celebrates 1000 consecutive days of ocean swimming by holding a fundraiser for Pankind, Pancreatic Cancer Australia.

Ivan's chosen that charity as his old coach and now dear friend, Chris Wedd, has pancreatic cancer. But it is a special occasion for Chris, he's also marking five years living with stage four pancreatic cancer, a rare feat.

Features:

Ivan Cunningham - counsellor and ocean swimmer.

Chris Wedd - former swimming coach.

For more information about Pankind:

https://fundraise.pankind.org.au/home

Ranya Alkadamani is a WOW and a member of the Bold and Beautiful Swim Squad at Manly, in Sydney.

Ranya started swimming in 2019 and tells us how she got into the water and why she can't do without it or the WOWs - the Women of the Wall. These women were crucial in helping Ranya through some tough times after the birth of her first son.

Ranya founded her own business, Impact Group International, she's a communications strategist with experience in corporate Australia and also federal politics. She worked with former PM and Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd.

Features:

Ranya Alkadamani

WOWs - Women of the Wall and the Bold and Beautiful Swim Squad at Manly: https://www.boldandbeautifulmanly.com.au/

Rob Woodhouse is an Olympic champion winning bronze in the 400m Men's Individual Medley at the 1984 games. But he's also just conquered what he says was the 'hardest swim of his life'. Rob is Swimming Australia's CEO.

He talks with the Blue Room about the Oceans Seven and discusses the very serious challenge of turning around the rate of drownings in Ausrtralia, what can be done?

This episode features:

Rob Woodhouse, chief executive officer of Swimming Australia.

National Drowning Report 2025 (pdf)

https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/118273/National-Drowning-Report-2025-V2.pdf

Swimming Australia

https://www.swimming.org.au/

This episode is about three Melbourne mates and one of the world’s toughest open-water swims. 36 kilometres of salt, sweat, and setbacks. Join us as we dive into the training, the incredible 'butterflies' and unexpected chaos—like the support boat that kept breaking down. This story is more than a marathon swim, it’s a tale of mateship, endurance, and the chase for a shared dream.

Features:

Professor Andrew Steer

Dr Adam Deacon and

Professor Alex Thompson.

The Capri to Napoli website:

https://web.caprinapoli.com/

Podcast co-founders Sabra Lane and Julia Mansour record this episode on a Turkish Gulet. Swim Guide Noah Canby takes the team on a special swim. We also hear from a fellow swimmer Cerian Mellor - who sometimes commutes by swimming on the Thames.

In this episode:

Sabra Lane and Julia Mansour.

SwimTrek guide Noah Canby.

Cerian Mellor

The tow device Cerian uses while commuting on the Thames is the RuckRaft.