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Artwork for Stories from the Water
Swimming
Open Water Swimming
Marathon Swimming
English Channel
Triathlon
Outdoor Swimming
Cold Water Swimming
Personal Growth
Epic Bill
Water
Ocean Swimming
Swim Mastery
Lake Tahoe
Mighty Memphre
Self-Improvement
Effective Communication
Fear Of Water
Mental Health
Winter Swimming
Molokai Channel

Where land meets water, an invitation lingers—not just between elements, but between versions of yourself. You could remain on shore—where it's safe, familiar, predictable. Or you could cross into the unknown.

Stories from the Water is where we dive into the courage it takes to begin, the resilience that keeps us moving forward, and the wisdom that only emerges in the space between.

If you have ... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes209Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SwimmingEducationSelf-ImprovementSports

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Artwork for Stories from the Water

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​Chris is a journalist and the author of five books. The latest, The Plunge: Maverick Swimmers, an Unlikely Quest, and the Transformative Power of Cold Water, it is a globe-trotting narrative about swimmers, the science of discomfor... more

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Lev Goldberg (he/him) became the first openly transgender person to swim across Lake Ontario or any Great Lake on September 3, 2025, finishing his crossing in 24 hours 25 minutes and 15 seconds. He is currently working towards becom... more

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This episode is one story. The Water’s Edge is where stories like this turn into lived experience. Feeling inspired? Find Meaning in the Monotony or subscribe to my Substack for Lessons from the Water 

Want to watch? Episodes now a... more

YouTube

Send us Fan Mail

This episode is one story. The Water’s Edge is where stories like this turn into lived experience. Feeling inspired? Find Meaning in the Monotony or subscribe to my Substack for Lessons from the Water 

Want to watch? Episodes now a... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Lev Goldberg
Marathon swimmer aiming to cross Lake Ontario; transgender athlete and advocate
Independent athlete
Episode: Lev Goldberg's Swim Story
Heidi Shafford
Open-water swimmer and lifelong water enthusiast
Independent/open-water swimming community
Episode: Heidi Shafford's Swim Story
Leslie Hamilton
Open-water swimmer with a background in pool racing
Independent athlete
Episode: Leslie Hamilton's Swim Story
Anna-Carin Nordin
Swedish open-water swimmer and Ocean's Seven athlete
Independent athlete
Episode: Anna-Carin Nordin's Swim Story
Amy Ennion
Open-water swimmer
Episode: Catch up with Marathon Swimmer Amy Ennion
Veruska De Vita
Freediver and author of Deep Blue, Why We Love the Sea
Author, Deep Blue
Episode: Veruska De Vita's Swim Story
Kelsey Maloney
A passionate swimmer sharing her journey and relationship with water.
Episode: Kelsey Maloney's Swim Story
Hilary Topper
Triathlete and author
Episode: Hilary Topper's Swim Story
Bernhard Hengl
Former water polo player turned open water swimmer, raising awareness for rare illnesses.
NF Kinder (NF Children)
Episode: Berhard Hengl's Swim Story

Host

Shannon Keegan
Host of Stories from the Water. Guides conversations around open-water swimming, coaching, and community building.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 46 ratings
  • Excellent

    I just love listening to this podcast. When Shannon’s intro starts, I feel myself relaxing and anticipating a good listen, just like I do when I get in the water and anticipate a good swim. I always learn something and enjoy hearing her guest’s background and adventures in the water.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DrayaCarp
    United Statesa year ago
  • Just what I needed

    It’s been a very long time since I swam competitively. This podcast is the perfect inspiration / motivation as I try to reacquaint myself with swimming. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    zoos47
    United States2 years ago
  • Love to hear the stories behind the athletes

    The accomplishments are great. Their stories are better.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    My Name Is Pokey
    United States3 years ago
  • A must for marathon swimmers

    Such an invaluable resource for swimmers. A great way to connect the community and learn more about other swimmers experiences, tips and advice. So many inspiring stories.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Melina Turtle
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • I loved hearing about this swim story. The message shared by the swimmer and by the interviewer were both amazing messages. I came away wanting to jump in the water and go tell others about my experiences.

    Audible
    5
    Joelle Beard
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the calming intro and insightful guest stories that motivate and educate.
A valuable resource for swimmers seeking tips, stories, and motivation to keep going.
Community-focused and inspirational for swimmers pursuing endurance goals.
Shows the human side of athletes, making long swims feel achievable and inspiring.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Lev Goldberg's Swim Story
Q: How did your transgender identity shape your early experiences in swimming and competition?
Locker room experiences and changing room environments were challenging, but once I felt comfortable with top surgery and found supportive spaces, open-water communities became welcoming and the sports community largely embraced me, especially in endurance contexts.
Lev Goldberg's Swim Story
Q: What drew you back to the pool after years away from formal athletics?
A runner in my early 20s and exposure to ultramarathon ideas sparked a fascination with long, endurance-based challenges, and rediscovering water opened a path to combine running and swimming into a long-term goal.
Anna-Carin Nordin's Swim Story
Q: How did you handle the mental aspect of training for and executing these long swims?
She combined physical drills with mental preparation like boxing to build focus, used routine feeding and pacing plans, and relied on a supportive crew to manage fear, pain, and moments of doubt.
Anna-Carin Nordin's Swim Story
Q: What motivated you to pursue open-water challenges after starting in a pool as a child?
A mentor and a desire to push beyond conventional pool swimming led her to long-distance, real-world swims, culminating in the Ocean's Seven. The conversation emphasizes curiosity, long-term planning, and the support of coaches and captains.
Kelsey Maloney's Swim Story
Q: What is your relationship with the water?
Kelsey describes her relationship with water as friendly, wild, and connective.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Stories from the Water

What is Stories from the Water about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A narrative-driven show centered on open-water swimming, endurance challenges, and personal growth through movement and community. Episodes spotlight real people—from elite ocean swimmers to educators and authors—sharing their journeys, training philosophies, resilience, and the healing power of water. The format often blends storytelling with practical insights on mindset, training, and navigating burnout, injury, and life changes, making it appealing to athletes, coaches, and curious listeners who value personal development and community support in and around water.

Noteworthy angles include the emphasis on community belonging, mindful practice, and sustainable training, as well as guests who tie athletic effort to broader themes like cl... more

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How many listeners does Stories from the Water get?

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How many subscribers and views does Stories from the Water have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Stories from the Water has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Stories from the Water?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Stories from the Water:

1. An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast
2. The Effortless Swimming Podcast
3. Outside Podcast
4. Ologies with Alie Ward
5. The Rich Roll Podcast

How many episodes of Stories from the Water are there?

Stories from the Water launched 6 years ago and published 209 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Stories from the Water?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Stories from the Water from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Stories from the Water?

Recent guests on Stories from the Water include:

1. Lev Goldberg
2. Heidi Shafford
3. Leslie Hamilton
4. Anna-Carin Nordin
5. Amy Ennion
6. Veruska De Vita
7. Kelsey Maloney
8. Hilary Topper

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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