When was the last time you stopped to notice the plants around you while you swam? This week's guest is Leif Bersweden, botanist and author of Where the Wildflowers Grow. We spoke about aquatic plants, where to find them and how to care for them.

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Buy Where the Wildflowers Grow: amzn.eu/d/dP1mS6W

Pre-order The Tidal Year: amazon.co.uk/dp/1399709674/ 

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This week’s guest is the author of one of my favourite books of 2021: Small Bodies of Water. Nina’s writing is lyrical and poetic. She blends memoir with powerful writing on the natural world. I’m not the only one who thinks so as she’s the winner of the Nan Shepherd Prize. We spoke about nature writing in multiple languages, pools from our childhood and transitioning through the seasons by swimming. Oh and the bird we’ve spotted at Hampstead Ponds is a Mandarin duck! 

Our chat becomes a little bit of a swimming book club, so I hope you’re looking for some reading recommendations including work by: Jessica J Lee, Mary Jean Chan, Hannah Lowe, Elizabeth-Jane Burnett, Polly Atkin and Robin Wall Kimmerer. 

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You can buy Small Bodies of Water wherever you normally get your books.

Pre-order The Tidal Year: amazon.co.uk/dp/1399709674/

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This week’s guest is the author of Lido, a stunning book that celebrates the history, design and social aspects of outdoor pools. I spoke to Christopher about the three-acts of lido history, pioneering female swimmers and how booking your lido slot is like trying to get Glastonbury tickets!

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You can buy Lido wherever you normally get your books.

Pre-order The Tidal Year: amazon.co.uk/dp/1399709674/

Thanks to this episode’s sponsor TRIHARD. Say goodbye to chlorine and shop their skin and hair products at 15% off with the code Tidal at trihard.co

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This episode is with British photographic artist Mark Vessey. He lives in Brighton and sea swimming has been a big part of his journey with both creativity and sobriety. We talked about coming out, collecting things, being an outsider and how swimming in cold water feels like a hug. 

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Explore Mark’s artwork: markvessey.com 

Pre-order The Tidal Year: amazon.co.uk/dp/1399709674/ 

Thanks to this episode’s sponsor TRIHARD. Say goodbye to chlorine and shop their skin and hair products at 15% off with the code Tidal at trihard.co

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Welcome back! I'm delighted to kick off a new series with a very special swimmer. Jessica Hepburn is an adventure activist and the author of 21 Miles. 

After a decade of trying to become a mother Jessica Hepburn stopped her fertility journey and decided to swim the English Channel. As the training began, she learned you need to put on weight to stave off the cold so Jessica decided she would meet and eat with inspiring women to answer the question: does motherhood make you happy?

In this episode, we look back on her adventure and chat about being an endurance swimmer who doesn’t feel at all like one. Plus, we chat about one of my favourite places: Hampstead Ponds! 

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21 Miles by Jessica Hepburn is available wherever you buy your books. 

You can pre-order The Tidal Year here: amazon.co.uk/dp/1399709674/

Thanks to this episode’s sponsor TRIHARD. Say goodbye to chlorine and shop their skin and hair products at 15% off with the code Tidal at trihard.co

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It’s the finale of Series 1! In 1988 Tom Gregory swam the English Channel. And he was only 11 years old! He was the youngest person in history to complete the 32 mile swim and as regulations have changed since then, it’s a record that will never be broken. 

A Boy in the Water is a heartwarming memoir about his experience. In this episode, we spoke about adventures with his swimming club, endurance swimming at such a young age, the coach who guided him through it all and the impact he had on his life. We also spoke about memories, writing, 80s nostalgia and his reflections on how times have changed with the way we parent, encourage and trust. 

In this episode, we chat about 

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A Boy in the Water by Tom Gregory is available wherever you buy your books. 

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