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Artwork for Swim Chats

Swim Chats

Shona Riddell
Swimming
Ocean Swimming
New Zealand
Wellington
Sharks
Open Water Swimming
Cook Strait
Marine Biology
Outdoor Swimming
Marine Conservation
English Channel
Conservation
Marathon Swimming
Cold Water Swimming
Swimming Safety
Sir Bernard Freyberg
Shark Attacks
Shark Species
Jellyfish
The Big Swim

Every swimmer has a story to tell. Writer and swimmer Shona Riddell chats to adventure swimmers, winter dippers, marathon swim coaches, marine conservationists and more to find out how they got started and the lessons they've learned along the way. Whether you’re a swimmer yourself, or just interested in stories about the sea and people expanding their comfort zones, you'll enjoy these swim chats.... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes52Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SwimmingSports

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Artwork for Swim Chats

Latest Episodes

Congratulations to Gráinne on her Oceans Seven!!!!

Gráinne Moss is an ultramarathon swimmer from Wellington, New Zealand who recently completed the Oceans Seven, a series of gruelling swims around the globe. It's been a 39-year odyssey for Gráinne, ... more

Tracey Baumann is the co-founder and head coach at SwimMastery, which uses evidence-based methods to teach the correct, connected body position in the water – helping us to swim smoother and faster, with more joy and less struggle.

Tracey has 30 yea... more

YouTube

The Scarborough Dippers began with a bet between four friends in a coffee shop on a winter's day: who would take the plunge into the cold sea? Ten years later, the group now has dozens of year-round dippers who meet at 7am at Scarborough Beach in Chr... more

YouTube

Timon Wilkinson is the co-owner of Bonobos gym for kids and adults in Wellington and runs weekly Bonobos Swim Squads at Freyberg, WRAC, Te Ngaengae, and Te Huia Pools.

Timon was a competitive swimmer from nine to 15 and started coaching kids while ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Tracey Baumann
Head coach and founder of Swim Mastery
Swim Mastery
Episode: Swim smarter, not harder with SwimMastery coach Tracey Baumann
Timon Wilkinson
Swim coach and gym owner
Bonobos Swim Squads / Bonobos Gym
Episode: Squad coach and gym owner Timon Wilkinson on making lessons fun for kids and adults
James Bell
Professor of Marine Ecology at Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Episode: Diving into the world of sea sponges with Professor James Bell
Corrina Connor
Adventurer swimmer; long-distance and open-water swimmer
Independent swimmer
Episode: Corrina Connor on swimming NZ's Triple Crown, extreme ice miles, and having fun in inhospitable conditions
Sinéad Kehoe
Returning guest, poet and swimmer
Episode: Swimming and sea poems with special guest Sinéad Kehoe
Zoe Studd
Co-founder and executive director Mountains to Sea Wellington
Mountains to Sea Wellington
Episode: Mountains to Sea Wellington’s Zoe Studd on the joys, challenges and possibilities of connecting people with the water
Nicola McCloy
Author of Jump In: An Insider's Guide to New Zealand's Best Beaches, Lakes, Rivers, Pools and Hot Springs
Independent author and swimmer
Episode: ‘Jump In’ author Nicola McCloy on NZ’s best swimming spots – and how she found them
John Hancock
Wellington Ocean swimmer, marathon swimmer, organizer of the annual Anzac Day swim
Wellington Open Water Swim Community
Episode: RE-RELEASE – Sir Bernard Freyberg's heroic wartime swim and our ANZAC tribute (with special guest John Hancock)
Wen Erh Hsu
Open-water swimmer and coach from Taiwan
Wen's Swimming Club
Episode: Triple Crown swimmer Wen Erh Hsu on the importance of enjoying every stroke

Host

Shona Riddell
Host of Swim Chats; writer and swimmer from Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 32 ratings
  • Great podcast

    This is a great new initiative- awesome interviews.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    picton34
    New Zealanda year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners find the interviews engaging and informative.
The show covers a broad mix of open-water swimming topics and community stories.
Strong sense of New Zealand swimming culture and conservation themes resonates with audiences.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Swim smarter, not harder with SwimMastery coach Tracey Baumann
Q: What are the core breathing tips to manage stress while swimming?
Breathing should be controlled and diaphragmatic, with emphasis on exhaling to maintain buoyancy and posture, and using nose breathing to calm the system before and during laps.
Swim smarter, not harder with SwimMastery coach Tracey Baumann
Q: How can someone swim faster without stressing the body or losing technique?
The answer is to stop trying to accelerate blindly; focus on turning the body into a connected, streamlined vessel and allow speed to emerge as a byproduct of improved technique and body connection.
Swim smarter, not harder with SwimMastery coach Tracey Baumann
Q: Why do you think so many people find it hard to learn or improve at swimming?
Tracey explains that recognizing we're not meant to be in water helps people acknowledge discomfort and normalize gradual exposure, allowing a patient, step-by-step progression rather than forcing speed or distance.
'Wet July' with the Scarborough Dippers and their cold-water community
Q: How has the group impacted individual members beyond the physical aspect of dipping?
Beyond fitness, the group fosters a strong sense of belonging and support, with members helping each other, baking for one another, and organizing social activities; it has created a diverse, welcoming community that extends across ages, genders, and backgrounds.
'Wet July' with the Scarborough Dippers and their cold-water community
Q: What does a typical Wet July look like today, in terms of participation and activities?
Wet July now attracts about fifty participants during the peak, with daily dips around seven in the morning, fundraising activities like quizzes and community events, and donations to local causes; the community also embraces a range of themes and social gatherings beyond swimming.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Swim Chats

What is Swim Chats about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on open-water swimming, endurance challenges, coaching, and marine conservation, blending practical training insights with human-interest stories and community-focused discussions. Episodes range from coaching methods and event organization to extreme swims, environmental issues, and even poetry and literature inspired by the sea. A standout thread is the strong sense of place in New Zealand and the emphasis on community, inclusivity, and making water activities accessible and enjoyable for a broad audience. Listeners likely gain actionable tips on training, safety, and preparation, alongside inspiring tales of perseverance and sea-connected passions.

Where can I find podcast stats for Swim Chats?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Swim Chats. 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 Swim Chats and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Swim Chats get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Swim Chats, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Swim Chats?

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How many subscribers and views does Swim Chats have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Swim Chats 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 Swim Chats?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Swim Chats:

1. SwimOut
2. The Effortless Swimming Podcast
3. Conversations
4. The Rest Is Entertainment
5. The Blue Room

How many episodes of Swim Chats are there?

Swim Chats launched 2 years ago and published 52 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 Swim Chats?

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 Swim Chats?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Swim Chats from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Swim Chats?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Swim Chats. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Swim Chats?

Recent guests on Swim Chats include:

1. Tracey Baumann
2. Timon Wilkinson
3. James Bell
4. Corrina Connor
5. Sinéad Kehoe
6. Zoe Studd
7. Nicola McCloy
8. John Hancock

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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