The Effortless Swimming Podcast

In March of 2024, Dean Summers set out to break the record for Australia's longest ever unassisted swim. Leaving from Newcastle's Nobbys beach and planning to land at Palm Beach, Sydney for a total of 95.6km. Battling blue bottle jellyfish, hallucinations and less than perfect conditions, Dean had a challenge ahead of him. The swim had been unsuccessfully attempted by two other swimmers in the 1980's and 90's, including well known Australian swimmer Des Renford whose shark cage sunk off the coast after treacherous conditions. In this episode, you'll hear the story of an expedition into waters that have never been swam in. 00:00 Introduction 03:52 The Origin of the Newcastle to Sydney Swim 08:44 Building the Dream Team: Finding the Right Support 11:59 The Commitment and Preparation for a Long Swim 14:08 Navigating 07Whirlpools and Tides 16:45 Feeding Strategy : Carbohydrates and Protein 20:11 The Constant Sting: Battling Bluebottles in the Ocean 23:15 Bioluminescence and the Milky Way 29:44 The Final Stretch: Locking in on the Goal and Reaching the Beach 34:35 Post-Swim Reflections: Burnt and Hungry 38:44 Lessons Learned from a Grueling Swim 44:15 The Connection Between Family and the Love of Water 50:30 What's next?

Dan Eisenhardt, CEO and Founder of FORM Swim, shares his journey of creating the world's first augmented reality swim goggles. Discover how real-time data can enhance your training sessions, the most useful features of the goggles, and the challenges faced during development. If you're looking to forge your own path in your professional life, Dan also provides valuable insights on getting started and three essential considerations for starting a business. Tune in to this episode for all this and more. 02:05 The Light Bulb Moment 04:49 The Evolution of Technology in Swimming Goggles 06:23 Testing the Prototype 07:52 The Complications of Delivering Low Latency Heart Rate Sensing in Water 12:47 The Indispensable Tool for Swimmers 13:56 Taking Areas of Interest and Experience to Create Something Different 16:13 Serendipity and the Right Place, Right Time 20:17 The Importance of Learning from Competitors 24:13 Acting with Conviction: Getting Things Done 29:00 Favourite Features in Form goggles 32:44 The Value of Premium Offerings 38:36 The Three Key Factors in Business Success 43:02 Form Goggles: A Game-Changer for Low-Tech Swimmers

In today's episode, I'll be sharing some of the mistakes I made in coaching and the valuable lessons I learned along the way. I believe these lessons can help you avoid similar pitfalls and succeed in your coaching journey. Additionally, I'm excited to announce the launch of our new course, the Freestyle Coaching Masterclass. Be sure to tune in! 00:30 Coaching Masterclass 04:02 Be Firm And Not Their Friend 06:52 Setting Minimum Standards 10:37 Energy is Transferred 13:28 Being Memorable 15:53 4 Hours Workweek : Mexican Fisherman and the Banker

Australian freediving athlete and instructor Jarrod Briffa discusses the importance of CO2 tolerance in breathing, strategies for improving breath control, benefits of nasal breathing for swimmers, mental strategies for increasing breath length, and the impact of proper breathing on recovery and performance in sports.

In this episode, I'll share ten ways to increase your swim speed and become a better swimmer. So, let's dive in and explore these effective strategies. 00:29 Train Another Stroke 01:50 Change The Way That You're Training 03:04 Being Diligent With Your Skills 05:06 To Become Supple 05:53 Joining a Squad Or a Group of Swimmers 09:08 Occasionally, Don't Track Anything 10:40 Keeping Calm Under Pressure 12:58 Commit To A Swim Block 14:03 Pick One Thing And Stick To It For Three Months 15:50 Get Professional Help

Hollie Buerckner, an osteopath and swimmer, shares tips on preventing and rehabilitating shoulder injuries in a podcast episode. She suggests specific exercises to address shoulder issues and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between strength and mobility. Tune in to learn more. 00:00 Introduction 02:38 Understanding Shoulder Injuries in Swimmers 03:25 Four Causes of Shoulder Pain in Swimmers 05:13 Relationship Between Shoulder Pain and Range of Motion 09:51 Effective Shoulder Exercises for Swimmers 14:36 Common Mistakes Leading to Shoulder Pain in Swimmers 18:02 YTA Exercise for Scapular Strength 20:06 High Intensity vs. High Volume Training 22;34 Importance of Addressing Shoulder Pain Early 24:32 Balancing Mobility and Strength Training for Busy Athletes 27:42 The Stubbornness of Swimmers in Dealing with Pain 29:44 Motivation to Take Care of the Body 35:11 Get in touch with Hollie!

An emergency doctor shares his swimming journey from exhaustion to 1:06 in 100m freestyle, discussing shoulder pain relief, rotation, and body awareness. From slow swims to rapid progress through drills and mindset shifts, learn about his transformation and lessons learned in the water.

Join Frank Sole, an experienced triathlon coach and author of 'The 5B Method to a Successful Triathlon Swim,' as he shares insights on enhancing swim technique through breathing and body position. He emphasizes the significance of mental strength in sports and practical coaching strategies for masters athletes. Discover how breath control on land translates to improved in-water performance and learn fun drills to build aquatic skills. Frank also discusses the importance of trusting your instincts in the water and celebrating incremental progress.

Sharon Van Rouwendaal, an Olympic gold medalist and world champion in open water swimming, opens up about her impressive training, including a grueling 110km week. She shares insights on building mental toughness, adapting from pool to open water, and overcoming injuries. Sharon also discusses her coaching journey, emphasizing the importance of effective communication and simplicity in technique. With an eye on future competitions, she reflects on the constant pursuit of learning and improvement, both as an athlete and a coach.

James 'Iron Cowboy' Lawrence is best known for his world record attempts at completing multiple Ironman events over consecutive days. Firstly, in 2015, he successfully completed 50 Ironmans in 50 days in 50 US states. Then in 2021, he decided to double this and complete 100 Ironmans in 100 days, going on to do this and one more to finish 101. The documentary on this challenge is coming out in March 2024. James is also a public speaker who was given the gift to 'suffer' and now helps provide hope to others and teach mental toughness through voluntary suffering. This episode is not to be missed. 00:00 Introduction 03:21 The Good, the Bad, and the Funny Moments 10:19 Lessons Learned in 50 Ironmans and Conquer 100 14:20 Pushing Limits and Ignoring Pain 15:52 Building Mental Toughness and Resilience 19:13 Mindfulness: Cultivating Inner Peace Amidst Distractions 21:15 How Disconnecting Can Improve Your Mental Health 23:22 Finding Mental Clarity Through Physical Activity 26:25 The Impact of Community and Shared Experiences 34:43 Embracing Difficulties: The Path to Growth and Wisdom 38:22 The Power of Physical Activity and Discomfort 39:48 The Motivation Behind the 50 and 100 Challenges 44:25 The Importance of Hope and Giving Back 47:07 Living Unapologetically and Without Fear of Judgment 50:16 Prioritizing Family Over Others' Opinions 51:55 What's next for James?