Bryn Williams is a Wellington ocean swimmer and is a great person to swim with. He helps nervous newbies (like me, a few years ago) and encourages us to have fun in the water whether it's jumping off the pontoons or doing handstands in the shallows. He's full of fun and lifts everyone's spirits just by showing up.

Bryn moved to NZ from Wales in the late 1970s, at the age of 14. When Bryn was young his uncle Tommy, who was in the Navy during WW2 and witnessed multiple drownings, taught his dozens of nephews and nieces to swim in the fresh, choppy Irish Sea. Bryn learned to navigate the waves and the jelllies. and as an adult he finds peace and joy in the sea, calling it his "Prozac". No wetsuit, no goggles, and sometimes accompanied by his golden retriever Ruby, a competitive harbour swimmer.

Bryn and I recorded this episode at his house and it's a great chat, so grab a cuppa and enjoy!

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At the time of recording this podcast (Feb 9, 2026), Danielle Falconer was preparing to swim the length of Lake Taupō (40.2km) in late February to raise awareness and support for those affected by dementia. Through her swim she is fundraising for Dementia NZ – visit her Givealittle page for more details.

In this episode we talk about:

• Danielle’s personal reasons for wanting to grow awareness and support around dementia and fundraise for Dementia NZ. We talk about the impact of dementia on the tens of thousands of Kiwis affected by it, as well as on their families, caregivers, and community.

• The nuts and bolts of planning and training for an ultramarathon swim: having a swim programme, nutrition, support crew, and a feeding plan.

• The need for flexibility and adaptability in the lead-up to a big swim: once the training is done, having to accept things (like weather!) that are out of our control.

• Working with ultramarathon swim coach and world record holder Phil Rush (who has his own episode of Swim Chats).

• The crucial support and encouragement of family and friends, and training around other life commitments (work, kids, life admin … ).

• Swimming in Wellington: the community, the locations, the pool squads, and the fresh and choppy open water.

• Follow Danielle on Instagram (@swim_taupo) or via her Swim Taupō website for updates on her swim

• Visit Danielle's Givealittle page to donate to Dementia NZ (make a one-off donation, pledge an amount per hour or km of Danielle's swim, or complete a free ‘brain booster' activity)

• Visit the Dementia NZ website to learn more about dementia and find support

  
  

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Laura Quilter is a Masters and Ice Swimming world record holder, a competitive sprint swimmer, and runs a strength and swim coaching business called Aura Move.

Laura retired from competitive swimming (butterfly and freestyle) in 2016, in her mid-20s. Eight years later she discovered that she was faster than ever and qualified for her first World Aquatics Championships. Unusually for a competitive swimmer, she coaches herself. Laura's how-to videos on Instagram have inspired a following of 70K and led to her offering virtual and in-person strength and swim coaching via Aura Move.

In this episode we talk about returning to competitive swimming in her 30s, her strength training, her experiences at the NZ Ice Swimming Champs (breaking four world records in 2024), coaching her dad in his first competitive swim event, and approaching swimming with a spirit of curiosity, adventure, and fun.

Visit Laura's Aura Move website

Follow Laura @Auramovenz on Instagram

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Support the podcast via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/SwimChats⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Thanks for listening! :-)