Rephonic
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
Ice Swimming
Effective Communication
Fear Of Water
Mental Health
Winter Swimming

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 monthlyEpisodes216Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SwimmingEducationSelf-ImprovementSports

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Artwork for Stories from the Water

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Joe Zemaitis is a marathon swimmer, coach, and endurance athlete who has spent decades pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in open water. A former professional triathlete, Joe has completed more than 130 marathon swims across ... more

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Emma Levy swam competitively as a child, and since then has continued swimming either in the pool or in open water, depending what’s available.  This year it finally occurred to her that for the purposes of open water swimming she i... more

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If these stories and questions resonate with you, there are a few ways to swim alongside me:

Join my email list for occasional updates about coaching, clinics, gatherings, and opportunities to get in the water to... more

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Margarethe Denk is a SwimMastery High Performance Coach, Marathon and Ice Swimmer. After years of competing in the pool I discovered Open Water swimming. When the pandemic hit the only chance to swim was outdoors throughout the wint... more

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Joe Zemaitis
Open-water swimmer and SwimNeptune coach
SwimNeptune
Episode: Joe Zemaitis' Swim Story
Emma Levy
Coach colleague, open-water swimmer with adaptive strategies
Swim coaching / adaptive swimming community
Episode: Emma Levy's Swim Story
Michella Thomas
Open water swimmer and coach who shares her journey from the Philippines to Catalina and the English Channel
Swimmer and coach
Episode: Michella Thomas' Swim Story
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

Host

Shannon Keegan
Host of Stories from the Water with a focus on open-water swimming, endurance, and community building.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 49 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 States2 years 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 States3 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 States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Episodes are seen as depthful resources for learning about training, mindset, and resilience.
Listeners find the show inspiring and grounding, with meaningful guest stories and practical takeaways.
The community around open-water swimming is highlighted and valued by fans.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Joe Zemaitis' Swim Story
Q: What motivates you to push for increasingly difficult swims and double up events?
A mindset of making things harder to keep growing, staying goal-oriented, and showing athletes—especially kids—that with the right preparation and teamwork you can push beyond what seems possible, whether it's doubling a distance, swimming in cold water, or tackling multiple swims in a short period.
Joe Zemaitis' Swim Story
Q: When did you first realize you could turn your passion for swimming into a coaching career, especially with kids?
Coaching started in college summers, running a summer team and trying to bottle the energy and fun of that environment into a year-round program for Arizona, which evolved into SwimNeptune and the open-water connections that led to Alcatraz and beyond.
Margarethe Denk's Swim Story
Q: How did coaching change your relationship with swimming?
She explains that coaching broadened her view beyond personal performance to understanding body mechanics, strokes, and how to pass on sensations and efficient techniques to swimmers.
Margarethe Denk's Swim Story
Q: What sparked your initial love of water?
Margarethe describes growing up near a river and learning to swim in a local pool, with the water revealing different textures and currents that drew her in; this seeded a long-term engagement with swimming and water-based exploration.
Michella Thomas' Swim Story
Q: Will you tell us about your relationship with the Water?
I described a lifelong, evolving relationship: from early experiences in the Philippines and the safety-minded start with my mom to a deep engagement with open water, long-distance swims, and coaching, which has become a central part of my identity.

Audience Metrics

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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?

This show centers on open-water swimming, endurance challenges, and personal growth through water-based exploration. Across interviews and solo episodes, conversations highlight training discipline, mindset, community support, and the spiritual pull of the water. Notable throughlines include resilience in the face of fear, balancing ambitious swims with well-being, and the ways swimming shapes identity, leadership, and purpose. The format often blends memoir, technique, and practical guidance, making it a compelling resource for athletes, coaches, and curious listeners who value self-improvement and outdoor adventure.

Where can I find podcast stats for Stories from the Water?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Stories from the Water. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Stories from the Water and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

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. The Effortless Swimming Podcast
2. Ageless Athlete — Healthy Aging for a Strong, Capable Life
3. Ologies with Alie Ward
4. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
5. The Dirtbag Diaries

How many episodes of Stories from the Water are there?

Stories from the Water launched 6 years ago and published 216 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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Stories from the Water?

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What guests have appeared on Stories from the Water?

Recent guests on Stories from the Water include:

1. Joe Zemaitis
2. Emma Levy
3. Michella Thomas
4. Lev Goldberg
5. Heidi Shafford
6. Leslie Hamilton
7. Anna-Carin Nordin
8. Amy Ennion

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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