The Blue Room

The Blue Room visits the 2026 Devil of a Swim, relocated this year from Bicheno to Coles Bay. Also visiting the tourist hotspot, the Coledale Oysters from NSW. The Oysters heard about the swim on the Blue Room in 2025 and made a pact to join this year's competition. Afterwards they joined podcast host and swimmer Sabra Lane for a special 'live' recording of the episode at Coles Bay to talk about the 5km swim, how they started ocean swimming, what they get out of being in the water - and importantly swimming with their buddies. Features:Lawrence Stubbs, Coledale Oysters.Mel Berry, Coledales Oysters.Rob Balmer, Coledale Oysters.Themes:ocean water swimming, open water swimming, inspiration, competition, 2026 Devil of a Swim, Bicheno, Coles Bay, Kingston Beach Surf Life Saving Club, inspirational swimming, nature swimming experiences, resilience, community sports podcast, fun in the water, Loch Ness.

Tasmanian Rob Peart recently swam the English Channel. It is a remarkable feat. Rob started swimming as an adult and he admits, he struggled to swim 100 metres. But, this channel attempt almost failed right at the end, with Rob battling tides and time - though he was blissfully unaware, and curious about why everyone on his boat was screaming their lungs out for him to swim faster.In this episode we discuss the swim, the preparation, how Rob started swimming, what he thought about during the swim, the family of dolphins that showed up mid-channel... and the dramatic climax. He also talks about his love of swimming with his Tassie tribes.

The Blue Room has traveled to Boat Harbour on the north-west coast of Tasmania for a weekend away. Podcast co-founders Sabra Lane and Julia Mansour head out for an early morning swim, to find themselves unexpectedly joined by a pod of curious dolphins. A local woman watched them from the shore and unexpectedly joined us in a swim de-brief, to explain what she saw and what makes this little village so special.We also discuss the swimming themed books, movies and documentaries that Sabra's consumed during the past year. It's an exilerating and uplifting episode talking about our own incredible experience, and the gritty, tough and influential ocean swimmers who've caught our attention.Books mentioned:"Winter Swimming; the Nordic way to a happier and healthier life" - Dr. Susanna Søberg."Chill - the cold water swim cure" - Mark Harper."How to wild Swim: what to know before taking the plunge" - Ella Foote."The Little book for wild swimmers" - Laura Silverman."Dr Rip's Esssential Beach Book - everything you need to know about surf, sand and rips" - Dr Rob Brander."Why we swim" - Bonnie Tsui."Waterlog" - Roger Deakin."Dawn" - Dawn Fraser."Lisa, a Memoir - 60 years of life, love and loss" - by Lisa Curry."Tumble Turns' - by Shane Gould.Films:Nyad - a 2023 film about Diana Nyad's attempts to swim from Cuba to Florida, and her successful crossing in 2013.The Young woman and the Sea - a 2023 film about Trudy Ederle's 1926 record swim across the English Channel.Vindication Swim - 2024 film about Mercedes Gleitze who became the first British woman to swim the English Channel in 1927.Documentaries:The Deepest Breath, 2023 - documentary about Italian free diver Alessia Zecchini.Hold your breath - 2022 - a doco following free diver Johanna Nordblad as she attempts to break the world record for distance traveled under ice with one breath.

Tasmanian Ivan Cunningham celebrates 1000 consecutive days of ocean swimming by holding a fundraiser for Pankind, Pancreatic Cancer Australia. Ivan's chosen that charity as his old coach and now dear friend, Chris Wedd, has pancreatic cancer. But it is a special occasion for Chris, he's also marking five years living with stage four pancreatic cancer, a rare feat.Features:Ivan Cunningham - counsellor and ocean swimmer.Chris Wedd - former swimming coach.For more information about Pankind:https://fundraise.pankind.org.au/home

Rob Woodhouse is an Olympic champion winning bronze in the 400m Men's Individual Medley at the 1984 games. But he's also just conquered what he says was the 'hardest swim of his life'. Rob is Swimming Australia's CEO. He talks with the Blue Room about the Oceans Seven and discusses the very serious challenge of turning around the rate of drownings in Ausrtralia, what can be done?This episode features:Rob Woodhouse, chief executive officer of Swimming Australia. National Drowning Report 2025 (pdf)https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/118273/National-Drowning-Report-2025-V2.pdfSwimming Australiahttps://www.swimming.org.au/

Podcast co-founders Sabra Lane and Julia Mansour record this episode on a Turkish Gulet. Swim Guide Noah Canby takes the team on a special swim. We also hear from a fellow swimmer Cerian Mellor - who sometimes commutes by swimming on the Thames.In this episode:Sabra Lane and Julia Mansour.SwimTrek guide Noah Canby.Cerian MellorThe tow device Cerian uses while commuting on the Thames is the RuckRaft.

The Blue Room is taking a trip through Ireland and we visit the famous Blackrock Dive Tower at Salt Hill, Galway. Local Laura Browne coaxes Julia into jumping into the Atlantic from the famous tower, we also meet the "King of Blackrock" Paddy McNamara as he prepares for an evening of yowling, while dishing up strawberries and cream.The movie referenced in this chat is "The Young woman and the Sea" (2024) - about long-distance swimmer Trudy Elderle.