The Joy of Swimming

Katie Richards is a cold water swimmer based in Newquay, Cornwall. In this entertaining and informative conversation we discuss the growth of the activity in and around Cornwall, the community that has developed around it, swimminwimmin, and the benefits swimming in the sea brings her physically, mentally and emotionally.

Episode Topics

• Episode introduction [0.40]
• Why swimming? [4.20]
• Starting a Group of Swimmers [8.30]
• The energy of the group [13.44]
• Pat's first swim [16.40]
• The freedom of having few rules [20.00]
• The psychological and emotional benefits of sea swimming [23.00]
• Swimming for Charity [35.30]
• "The Twelve Bays of Christmas" [42.45]
• Katie's conclusion [51.25]
• Pat's Episode summing up [54.05]

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Swimminwimmin Instagram Page
• Twelve Bays of Christmas JustGiving Page
• Mental Health Swims
• Newquay RNLI

If you have enjoyed this episode, please:

• Subscribe to the podcast
• Sign up for my newsletter
• Join the The Joy of Swimming Discussion Group on Facebook

A preview of the new swimming podcast "The Joy of Swimming" hosted by Pat Kelman. The podcast is a series of conversations with open water and sea swimmers, capturing the atmosphere and the excitement of cold water swimming.

In this episode we hear extracts from 6 forthcoming episodes.

Pippa Best from Sea Soul Blessings joins Pat Kelman today for a wide-ranging conversation about the experience of connecting emotionally and spiritually with the water.

In addition to all the wonderful resources Pippa gives for free, she has just launched monthly subscription for sea souls to "a year of sea and kindness"

As Pippa says: "I'm so excited to bring everything I've learnt and created together in one beautiful compassionate space."

You can find out more on Sea Soul Blessings

Topics covered in this episode

• Episode introduction [0.44]
• Pippa's background [3.00]
• Pippa's start in sea swimming [4.10]
• The first time experience [6.05]
• The sea gives you what you need [9.00]
• Losing self-consciousness [12.00]
• The origin of Sea Soul Blessings [17.00]
• Being connected with nature [27.40]
• Pippa shares a Sea Soul Blessing with us [29.25]
• Pippa's advice for first time cold swimmers [32.35]
• How to find Pippa [35.17]
• Pat's Episode conclusion and news [36.45]

Resources mentioned in the episode

• Sea Soul Blessings website
• Sea Soul Blessings on Instagram
• Sea Soul Blessings on Facebook

If you have enjoyed this episode, please:

• Subscribe to the podcast
• Sign up for my newsletter
• Join the The Joy of Swimming Discussion Group on Facebook

This episode is positively bursting with swimming goodness. Pat Kelman is joined by Pauline Barker, known as Mama Bear to her numerous UK Facebook tribes, who is the creator of the hugely popular Polar Bear Challenge.

In this conversation she talks about long distance cold water swimming, the origins of the challenge, the amazing communities she has created online and also shares invaluable tips on staying safe and enjoying cold water swimming all the year round.

We also have our regular Review of the Week slot.

• Episode introduction [0:45]
• Review of the Week [2:00]
• Pauline's start in cold water swimming [3:35]
• First experience in cold water [7:10]
• Siberia at -10 degrees [9:50]
• Pressing the Reset button [12:00]
• The Polar Bear Challenge [14:00]
• Swimming as relaxation [22:20]
• Safety and Newcomer advice [25:30]
• The popularity explosion [31:55]
• Finding Pauline [33.10]
• Closing remarks [34:00]

• The Polar Bear Challenges website
• Polar Bear Challenges on Instagram
• Pauline Barker website
• Polar Bear Challenge on Facebook

• Subscribe to the podcast
• Sign up for my newsletter
• Join the Joy of Swimming Discussion Group

Subscribe, share and review this podcast to enter a competition to win one of five copies of Sarah Norquoy's beautiful memoir, "Salt on my Skin". (ends Jan 31, 2021)

In this inspirational and exciting episode Pat Kelman is joined by Business Coach and cross-channel swimmer Claire Brumby. During a far-ranging conversation they talk about confidence, breaking out of comfort zones, swimming in a relay team from Dover to Calais, and Pat comes to terms with allowing listeners to hear more of "him" in the conversations.

We also hear a letter from a listener in Minnesota and our Review of the Week.

• Episode introduction [0:45]
• Listener's Letters [2:45]
• Review of the Week [4.55]
• Claire's start in cold water swimming [5.50]
• First experience out of a wetsuit [9:20]
• Getting out of our comfort zones [17:50]
• Pat's podcast "existential crisis"[20:20]
• Recapturing the feelings [25:25]
• Swimming the Channel [28:00]
• What the experience has done for Claire [38:35]
• Contacting Claire [43:00]

• Claire Brumby website
• Claire Brumby on Instagram

• Subscribe to the podcast
• Sign up for my newsletter
• Join the Joy of Swimming Discussion Group

Subscribe, share and review this podcast to enter a competition to win one of five copies of Sarah Norquoy's beautiful memoir, "Salt on my Skin". (ends Jan 31, 2021)