Swim Wild Podcast launches! Episode 1 – Nicola Griffiths (NG001) - a podcast by Karen Parry outdoor swimming

It was great talking to Nicola on Saturday – the first interviewee for my podcast.

It’s taken 5 months from the first thought about creating a podcast about wild swimming to actually publishing the first episode. Along the way I’ve worried about not understanding the technical side of things, struggled to develop a brand and build a website, and poured loads of emotional energy into wondering when the right time was to launch the idea with the various wild swimming groups I am a member of, to seek out willing volunteers to be interviewed.

Most days over the past five months I’ve woken up and my first thought has been ‘you might as well give up now, you probably won’t be any good at this’. But unusually for me, I’ve ignored this super critical inner voice and carried on regardless. I’ve taken the bravery and positive adventurous attitude that I draw on when I sign up to do swimming challenges I’m not sure I’m capable of, and I’ve applied it to a different part of my life. I’ve never failed at any outdoor adventure challenge I’ve set myself. Why should this podcast be any different?

So I find myself with two interviews under my belt. No doubt when I look back in six months or a year’s time, I’ll cringe at how naïve and amateurish I sound. Hopefully I’ll have learned a lot and will be much improved. But I’ve been brave, got on and done it, and here it is.

I couldn’t have interviewed a better first guest than Nicola from Fuelled By Fun. She talked to me about the group that she set up with her friend Nic, which is all about encouraging people to take the first step out of the front door and to start moving more, focussing especially on the mental health benefits of this. Part of their strategy is to create virtual challenges – things people can sign up to do in their own time – logging mileage with the group every week and chipping away at individual or group goals. As Nicola says, there are no mass starts or other people in ‘all the gear’ to frighten you off. Instead there is an online community of super friendly, fun looking people posting pictures of their achievements, however small, which other group members then celebrate with you. It’s like having a team alongside you cheering you on.

This got me thinking about my own mental health, and the way my own demons threatened to hold me back and stop me doing something which I know will bring me loads of joy and will introduce me to some of the most fun, inspiring, creative, brave, adventurous people it is possible to meet. The fear of failure sits as a spectre on my shoulder and more often than not threatens to ruin all the fun by preventing me even participating.

I’m in absolute awe as Nicola prepares for the Bwrlwm Bermo 10km next weekend. The longest swim she’ll ever do, so she thinks, and laughing as she tells me the tide will help give her a great time. So with an unbeatable PB, she’ll retire from the distance on the same day! Brilliant! I envy what I see as carefree confidence. 

I can also relate to her motivation to get into wild swimming – it sounded like something no-one else in her family would do! She’d already been the first to do a marathon, then found than everyone was doing them, so wild swimming seemed like another step into something that wouldn’t appeal to just anyone. I too like the slight exclusivity in our sport. It’s only a certain ‘type’ of person – hard to pin down and describe, but many of us probably recognise what we mean by this.

Nicola and I also share a strange love of shivering. That uncontrollable shake that overtakes us after a particularly cold swim, where we have to have a lid on our flask or cup to prevent us spilling more tea than we drink. As Nicola says “you’re absolutely buzzing for the rest of the weekend.” She then went on to rave about the insulating qualities of her Dry Robe – nominated as her favourite bit of kit!

And on reflection, I’ve been buzzing all weekend.

Further episodes of Swim Wild Podcast

Further podcasts by Karen Parry outdoor swimming

Website of Karen Parry outdoor swimming