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]

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]

In this powerful and moving episode Pat Kelman is joined by Imogen Tinkler from Whitstable Blue Tits. During a far-ranging conversation they talk about travel, Imogen's swimming experiences, and also how her relationship with the water helped her deal with the loss of her daughter.

• Episode introduction [0:45]
• Welcome to Imogen [2:50]
• Swimming after Essex nightclubs [8:30]
• Swimming when a Camp Counselor [10:00]
• Swimming's role in her life now [10:45]
• Grieving  [13:20]
• Safety Lesson from Father [16:20]
• Essex ladies [17:00]
• Whitstable Bluetits[22:30]
• Tips for new swimmers [28:40]
• Contacting Imogen [35:00]

A double interview episode featuring conversations with Sharky Sian, organiser of the Cornwall OWLS group, and with Kathy King from Wild Wonder and Wisdom.

Recorded on location at Porthpean Beach in Cornwall, the conversations cover community building, using swimming to cope with illness, the Polar Bear Challenge, and using open water swimming as a component of working with young people.

• Episode introduction [0:45]
• Sharky Sian and Cornwall OWLS [2:40]
• Sian's inspiration [3:40]
• Physical Benefits [5:30]
• Emotional Benefits [10:50]
• Preparing for the Polar Bear Challenge [12:20]
• Advice for New Swimmers [20:10]
• Kathy King [26:00]
• The Wildness Weekend [26:30]
• Wild Wonder and Wisdom [27:00]
• How Kathy started swimming [32:40]
• Kathy's favourite swims [38:00]

Sarah Kennedy Norquoy is the author of the swimming memoir "Salt On My Skin", and she joins Pat Kelman in a compelling and entertaining conversation about cold water swimming, the process of writing, and processing emotion and grief. 

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."

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

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, launching on January 2nd, 2021