In this captivating podcast episode, Duncan and Jim sit down with Phillip Rush, a remarkable New Zealand swimmer. Phillip’s aquatic journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Let’s dive into the highlights of his life: Background and Achievements: His claim to fame lies in conquering the English Channel in both two and three-way swims. In 1987, he achieved the world record for the fastest three-way swim, completing the grueling challenge in an impressive 28 hours and 21 minutes (with the...

In this episode we (well mainly Duncan) talk to Shamima. Shamima is the mother of Shazeel, a swimmer with autism and reduced mental capacity. We hear what water means to Shazeel and how it has always calmed him down, and the challenges of teaching him how to swim.  Shazeel & Duncan have swum together for 4 years now, training swims, short (2km) races all the way up to a 20km chopper challenge swim. Shamima tells us what it is like to see her son swim off when she is on-shore and Duncan...

In this episode Duncan & Jim talk to Ryan Stramrood from his home in South Africa. Ryan has done some amazing swimming in cold water. He has swum in the Arctic and the Antarctic as well as doing 140 Robben Island crossings. Robben Island was famously where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for many years. Ryan has written a book called 'Push Past Impossible' where he challenges people to go beyond their own 'impossible'. This was a great chat and he has some wonderful stories to tell. Web:...

In this episode Duncan & Jim talk to James Hanson-Chong. James is the Special Operations Manager for Event safety New Zealand and has been looking after swimmers in events large & small for years now. We cover a number of areas: Safety - equipment, skills, information sources, what to look for and even what happens when sharks are around.The safety team & lifeguardsCosts and the rules & regulations around running eventsThe types of events he has worked at: surf lifesaving,...

In this episode Duncan & Jim talk to Sue & Leigh Sherwin, just after Sue had swum 15km in Lake Taupo. We talk about her early swimming career, and then picking it up later in life, swimming the length of Taupo, the Cook strait and the Foveaux strait to complete the New Zealand triple crown. Sue has also got involved in Ice swimming. Not only does she organise a lot of ice swimming, but she has set age group world records, and represented NZ at the world champs. She is a super granny...

In this episone Duncan & Jim talk about the various swim characters that (probably) exist in all swim groups. Are you a organiser, a navigator, slow coach or a fast follower? How does people in your swim group get into cool/cold water, do you have 'soldiers', and maybe the occasional dinosaur?

In this episode Duncan & Jim were lucky to get this interview with Caitlin. Caitlin is a shy athlete but we got to hear about some of her amazing swims and her intentions for the future. Caitlin swam the Cook straight when she was 12 years old and went on to complete the New Zealand triple crown. Since then she has successfully completed another 4 of the Oceans 7's swim, with just 2 to go. She also did a double Taupo crossing (80km) as covid interupted her ocean 7's plan. But we also...

In this episode Duncan & Jim discuss tow floats, those little bright coloured floats that ocean swimmers sometimes use.  We discuss what they are and why people use them.  We talk about different uses, visibility, carrying things and the types of tow float. We also talk about the downsides & why some swimmers don't use them.

In this episode Duncan & Jim talk to Jacques de Reuck. Jacques has been involved in water activities his whole adult life, sailing internationally, free diving & swimming. We talked about many aspects of his life including some of his amazing swim stories showing us that getting older does not need to slow you down. We finish with the tough part of his story, getting a cancer diagnosis, that is most likely going to mean he can't swim again. But despite this his amazing positivity...

In this episode Jim & Duncan talk to Brian Gray.  Brian has done some epic swims, including a 55km trip around Waiheke island in the Hauraki gulf close to Auckland, New Zealand. We cover a number of areas including: his moustache; his big swims; his approach to training as well as feeding/nutrition and swimming for charity. If you want to follow Brian he has an Instagram account, link is here: https://www.instagram.com/bmiester_gray?igshid=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg==  As always, comments &...

In this episode Duncan & Jim discuss the pros & cons of swimming in wetsuits v swimming without, just in togs (swimming costume). They also talk about swimming aids, a wetsuit is an aid, so why can't swimmers use paddles or other aids in races where some swimmers are in wetsuits.

In this, the Clever Dicks first interview, we (Duncan & Jim) talk to Roger Soulsby. Roger is well known in the Auckland openwater swimming community and has a heap of experiences to share with the audience. We talk about his start to swimming and why he keeps on swimming at 77 years of age. We cover his involvement in Ice swimming, the Fur Seals swim group, the occasional nude swim, his amazing swims (he swam 20km a few years ago) and his approach to feeding.

In this episode Duncan & Jim discuss whether swimming is too expensive and only available to richer people. Swimming pool access is not great in some parts of the world, and where it is available is not a cheap thing.

In this episode Duncan & Jim introduce themselves and explain what this podcast will be all about.