The Effortless Swimming Podcast: Recent Episodes

Brenton Ford

Faster times and better technique aren't a guarantee when you train hard. What really makes a difference to your speed and efficiency in the water? The Effortless Swimming podcast helps make a complex sport really simple to better your swimming. We cover open water swimming, triathlon swimming and pool swimming. Hosted by Australian National swimmer and coach Brenton Ford.

Discover the nutrition secrets that could make or break your next long swim—are you fueling properly?

Swimmers and endurance athletes often overlook crucial aspects of fueling, leading to fatigue, poor recovery, and even injury. In this eye-opening episode, registered sports dietitian Eliza Kelly shares behind-the-scenes insights from a 55-kilometer open water swim, revealing how altitude, heat, and unexpected challenges demand real-time nutritional adjustments. Her experience coaching elite swimmers and triathletes will change how you approach long training sessions and races, ensuring you stay energized and perform at your best.

00:11 Introduction to the episode and guest 01:12 Eliza's background and work with swimmers 04:23 Details of the 55 km swim in the Kimberley 05:38 Managing nutrition and hydration during hot swims 07:27 Electrolyte and sodium considerations 09:20 Adapting nutrition in real-time during a swim 12:13 Lessons learned from the Kimberley swim 14:39 Common nutrition mistakes athletes make 19:06 When and what to eat during long sessions 22:45 The importance of fueling and avoiding hunger 29:59 Iron deficiency in swimmers and endurance athletes 31:06 Testing and optimizing iron levels 32:26 How to connect with Eliza for nutrition support

https://www.fluidperformancenutrition.com.au/ fluid_performancenutrition

Want to swim freestyle with less effort while moving faster through the water? In this episode, Brenton shares the three key principles that make freestyle feel smooth and effortless: improving your balance and body position, using rotation to maximize efficiency, and timing your stroke and kick so your whole body works together. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced swimmer looking to conserve energy, these simple technique adjustments can help you swim farther, faster, and with much less effort.

00:35 The #1 Secret: Let the Water Hold You Up

01:12 Head Position for Better Balance

02:48 Use Your Lungs to Improve Buoyancy

04:18 Step 2: Rotate for an Effortless Stroke

05:04 Relax Your Recovery

07:29 Step 3: Master Your Stroke Timing

11:42 Beginner vs Faster Freestyle Programs

Tracey Baumann is back! Learn how better arm recovery can improve your balance, protect your shoulders, and help you swim with less effort. She breaks down the most common mistakes that lead to shoulder pain, dropped hips, and extra drag, then shares simple drills to help you swim smoother and more efficiently. We'll also share details about the Melbourne swim clinic we're running together on October 25. Tune in now!

00:33 Meet Tracey Baumann 01:47 Why Recovery Matters 05:24 Common Recovery Mistakes 08:54 One Unit Recovery Cue 11:23 Elite Examples: Sam Short13:26 Fixing High Elbow Myths19:11 Wetsuit Shoulder Tips22:15 Connection Through the Core 34:01 Build Length From the Wall 34:43 Clinic Announcement Melbourne36:18 Where to Find Tracy

In this episode, I join the TriVelo Podcast to share my approach to swimming faster and more efficiently in open water. We discuss where to focus first when improving your stroke, the differences between galloping and balanced swim styles, why I believe many triathletes kick harder than they need to, and practical ways to stay calm and confident when racing in open water.

We also dive into my thoughts on the Enhanced Games and the journey behind developing NanoClear anti-fog goggles to solve one of the biggest frustrations swimmers face.

A big thanks to Gerard Donnelly and Jordan Donnelly from TriVelo Coaching for having me on the podcast. If you're a triathlete looking to train smarter and race faster, be sure to check out TriVelo Coaching.

0:11 – The starting priority for your stroke 2:09 – Analyzing Open Water galloping action 5:21 – Why you shouldn't swim like a speedboat 6:59 – The secret to fixing dragging legs 8:27 – Which Pro Athlete Has The Style To Copy? 11:33 – The kicking mistake costing you more time 15:00 – How to simulate open water in the pool 24:13 – How to sight without breaking your rhythm 27:50 – The recovery adjustment for choppy water 31:04 – Where to apply power in the pull 36:14 – Threshold sets to build raw durability 39:41 – Overcoming physical panic and hyperventilation 45:15 – Shifting your mindset on the beach 51:38 – Our honest thoughts on the Enhanced Games 56:13 – Designing a fog-free goggle

Most marathon swimmers would overlook the critical role of mental resilience—until they're fighting waves, exhaustion, and doubt in real time. Tim Denya, an elite coach with over 250 English Channel crossings, reveals the unspoken truth: mental strength is just as vital as physical endurance in conquering ocean swims.

In this episode, Tim unpacks the training secrets behind his staggering success rate, emphasizing how strategic mental preparation and clear communication turn tentative swimmers into ocean conquerors. Discover why long-distance swim training isn't just about logging kilometers but about pushing the mind and body to new limits—all while maintaining focus, confidence, and calm amidst chaos.

00:00 Introduction to Marathon Swimming and Tim Denya 02:51 Training Camps: Preparing for Marathon Swims 05:17 The Balance of Physical and Mental Training 08:25 Technique vs. Conditioning in Swimming 11:20 The Importance of Trust in Coaching 14:20 Managing Expectations and Anxiety in Swimmers 17:01 The Role of Purpose in Endurance Swimming 20:03 Adapting Training to Individual Needs 22:48 Evolution of Coaching Philosophies 25:43 The Importance of Nutrition in Training 28:19 Documentary Insights and Storytelling in Swimming 36:27 The Importance of Connection in Coaching 39:14 Empathy and Trust in Coaching 44:17 Navigating Challenges During Long Swims 50:30 The Art of Coaching: Balancing Emotion and Objectivity 57:35 Learning from the Best: Insights from Elite Swimmers 01:06:11 Continuous Learning and Adaptation in Coaching

What separates the fastest triathletes from everyone else in the water?

In this episode, I share the seven biggest swimming lessons I've learned from coaching professional triathletes over the past decade. We dive into body rotation, kicking, using your lats effectively, increasing stroke rate, breathing strategies, and the open water skills that can help you outperform faster pool swimmers. Whether you're training for your first triathlon or chasing a new personal best, these practical coaching insights will help you swim faster while saving energy for the bike and run.

00:25 Rule #1 – Rotate Enough for an Easy Recovery 01:59 Rule #2 – Your Kick Matters More Than You Think 03:31 Rule #3 – Your Lats Are More Important Than Your Catch 06:32 Rule #4 – Increase Stroke Rate the Right Way 08:11 Rule #5 – Learn to Swim Hard for Longer 10:52 Rule #6 – Your Hips Are the Engine Room 11:44 Rule #7 – Breathe as Often as You Need 13:09 Bonus Rule – Open Water Skills Beat Pure Speed 14:56 Free Freestyle Technique Checklist

Most people assume ice swimming is just for the crazy or extreme athletes — but what if it's really a gateway to resilience, mental clarity, and community? In this episode, journalist and ice swimming champion Chris Ballard reveals how daring to step into freezing water can transform your mind, body, and life. Whether you're skeptical or curious, Chris shares mind-blowing stories of how cold water exposure can push you past perceived limits and build unshakeable confidence. From the early days of cold showers to competing in the UK's elite ice swimming events and even becoming a national champion — Chris demystifies the science and psychology behind this ancient practice. You'll discover: the surprisingly simple ways to get started with cold plunges, how mental toughness overrides fear, and the powerful benefits that extend far beyond the water. He breaks down the core principles that help seasoned swimmers keep pushing, and reveals how this challenging ritual is a 'quick fix' for mental health, emotional regulation, and resilience—especially for those facing trauma or life's hardships. This isn't just about cold water — it's about how you can use the cold to unlock a more resilient, focused, and connected version of yourself. If you've ever wondered what it takes to turn discomfort into a catalyst for growth, or if you're searching for a community that's as committed as you are to doing the hard things, listen now. Perfect for anyone curious about the transformative power of cold water, or eager to break free from comfort zones—this episode may just redefine what's possible for you. Chris Ballard is a renowned journalist, author of The Plunge, and a competitive ice swimmer who's shattered stereotypes and myths along his journey. His insights into endurance, community, and mental health offer invaluable lessons for both beginners and seasoned athletes alike. Get ready to shiver, learn, and be inspired to dive into your own personal plunge. The cold isn't the challenge — it's the doorway to a stronger, calmer, and more fearless you.

00:00 The Journey into Cold Water Swimming 09:34 The Historical Context of Cold Water Swimming 15:03 Community and Mental Health Benefits of Cold Water Swimming 20:29 Personal Reflections and Future of Cold Water Swimming 20:37 Cold Water Therapy and Its Benefits 23:41 Getting Started with Cold Exposure 27:21 The Challenge of Open Water Swimming 28:39 Swimming Technique and Injury Prevention 34:54 The Journey of Writing and Swimming

How do you break through a swimming plateau when it feels like you've already tried everything?

In this episode, I sit down with Sandra Surkamp to discuss her incredible swimming journey—from struggling to swim 25 meters without stopping to swimming comfortably in open water and dropping her pace by nearly 50 seconds per 100 meters.

Sandra shares the key lessons she's learned over the last few years, including how revisiting the fundamentals, improving body position, refining her catch, and finding the right coaching cues helped unlock a major breakthrough in her swimming. We also talk about the frustrations that come with progress, why improvements don't always happen in a straight line, and what it takes to make lasting technique changes.

Whether you're stuck at a plateau, learning to swim more efficiently, or looking for motivation to keep improving, Sandra's story is packed with valuable insights and practical takeaways.

00:00 Introduction to Sandra's Swimming Journey 01:18 Overcoming Initial Challenges in Swimming 03:24 The Importance of Technique and Coaching 05:48 Experiencing Breakthroughs and New Goals 08:33 Key Insights on Swimming Technique 11:06 The Role of Mindset in Performance 14:42 Navigating Setbacks and Maintaining Progress 18:21 The Value of Video Analysis in Improvement 20:55 Revisiting Basics for Continued Growth 23:43 Current Focus and Future Goals

Join Adam Wilkie as he embarks on a year-long challenge to honor his Olympic champion father by attempting to match his legendary 2:15 record in the 200-meter breaststroke. Despite limited swimming experience, Adam has quit his job to train full-time, proving that dedication can make the impossible possible. Discover his intense training regimen, the emotional journey of honoring a legacy, and the mindset driving his pursuit of greatness. Follow Adam's inspiring story on Instagram at Wilkie Swims and support his fundraising for SportsAid at inmyfatherslane.com. What's your 215?

00:12 The Challenge Begins: Honoring a Legacy 08:38 Training Regimen: The Path to 2:15 18:55 The Decision to Commit: Quitting the Job 22:24 Lessons from Dad: Life Beyond Swimming 25:24 Inspiration and the Journey Ahead

Stuck at the same swimming speed? In this episode, we break down how to smash through your training plateaus by fixing the "bottlenecks" in your technique. Drawing from 19 years of coaching experience, we share the exact step-by-step checklist to optimize your stroke: reducing drag through perfect head and body position, mastering breath control to avoid fatigue, and engaging your lats for a more powerful, effortless pull. Stop just training harder—learn how to swim smarter and finally unlock your next breakthrough.

00:00 Why swimmers plateau and the concept of stroke "bottlenecks."

01:11 The simple formula for speed: Reducing drag vs. increasing propulsion.

01:35 Step 1: Head position, posture, and why you need an "open chest."

03:22 The "Iceberg" rule: Balancing head weight to keep your hips up.

04:05 Posture secrets: How correct body position lets the water support you.

05:08 Step 2: Breath regulation and how improper exhaling causes CO2 buildup.

06:51 Step 3: Catch and pull mechanics (using the catch as a setup, not for power).

08:17 Mastering gradual stroke acceleration instead of pulling too hard early.

08:58 Muscle activation: Engaging your lats and triceps to prevent shoulder injuries.

10:01 Using video analysis to find your bottleneck and build a 3-to-6-month plan.

In this episode, I sit down with Grant to share what I've learned over nearly two decades of coaching and racing in both pool and open water environments, including qualifying for Open Water Nationals as an adult.

We explore the gap between pool-perfect technique and what actually works in real race conditions like chop, fatigue, and contact. I break down why swimmers often struggle when they try to carry over overly rigid pool habits into open water, and how that leads to overthinking and breakdown under pressure.

We also get into how I now approach stroke rate, breathing, sighting, and recovery in a more adaptable way, depending on conditions.

A key theme is simplicity, learning to stay relaxed, trust feel, and avoid constantly chasing technical changes. We also cover what truly transfers from pool to open water, and why consistency and mindset matter more than constant technique overhauls.Timestamps

03:51 – Why pool technique doesn't always translate to open water 07:40 – Stroke rate, sighting, breathing patterns, and adapting to rough conditions 12:19 – Common mistakes swimmers make with technique and body awareness 16:55 – How Brenton simplifies coaching and decides what not to change 21:49 – Why some swimmers improve long term while others stay stuck 28:29 – Overthinking technique and finding the "feel" for swimming 32:40 – Qualifying for Open Water Nationals and improving later in life 37:20 – Strength, mobility, VO₂ sets, and training after 40 41:50 – Drafting tactics, "effortless swimming," favorite swim sets, and final advice

I recently joined the That Triathlon Show Podcast with Mikael Eriksson for a deep dive into freestyle technique and what I call the "swim technique hierarchy of needs."

In this conversation, we break down the key elements of efficient swimming including breathing, body position, rotation, catch mechanics, timing, and how to adapt your stroke for open-water racing. We also discuss some of the most common mistakes triathletes make in the water, how to fix them, and why many swimmers plateau even when their technique looks good on video.

We also get into topics like kick timing, front-quadrant swimming, stroke rate, drills that actually transfer to faster swimming, open-water skills, and what it really takes to become a strong swimmer as an adult-onset triathlete.

If you're looking to swim faster, feel more efficient in the water, or better understand how to prioritize your technique work, this episode is packed with practical coaching insights you can apply right away.

03:37 A hierarchy of needs for freestyle technique

07:50 Building the frame of the body

12:20 Kick tempo and stroke rate

17:05 Training the Kick for racing options

18:40 Rotation

23:30 The catch and pull

29:32 YMCA Drill

35:10 Timing and creative freedom in racing

38:20 Speed versus stroke appearance

41:15 The importance of purposeful drills

46:05 Capturing your technique on camera

48:00 The nature of swim talent

52:46 Swim frequency and distance

57:00 Structuring swim workouts

59:01 Intensity distribution across swim sessions

01:03:30 Open water versus pool technique

01:07:20 The importance of drafting

01:08:36 Drafting and preparation for open water

01:15:50 - Racing bravely in the swim

01:18:42 -The Goggles

01:23:50 - Choosing the right lens for conditions

Why does swimming feel so hard after just a short break from the pool? In this episode, we talk about the importance of consistency in swimming and why regular time in the water is the key to feeling faster, smoother, and more comfortable. We also cover how drills like front scull can help improve your feel for the water and regain confidence after time away from training. If you're searching for the "secret" to better swimming, this episode breaks down why consistency beats shortcuts every time.

00:11 – Why consistency matters so much in swimming 01:04 – How regular swimming helps you feel comfortable in the water 02:35 – Using front scull drills to improve feel for the water 03:17 – The real secret to swimming faster: consistency

What if the key to swimming faster is actually ignoring your watch? In this episode, we explore how constantly checking pace, splits, and stats can take swimmers out of the moment and disconnect them from the feel of the water. Learn why being present during training can improve technique, effort control, and overall performance — and why taking a break from your swim watch might be the reset you need.

From Strava habits to flow state training, this episode challenges swimmers to focus less on data and more on awareness in the pool.

Accurate Timestamps

00:14 – The cliff road analogy and being present

01:06 – Why swimming is all about feel for the water

01:56 – Watches vs using the pace clock at the pool

02:38 – Manually tracking swims instead

In this episode, we sit down with professional triathlete Steph Clutterbuck to break down the real secrets behind efficient freestyle swimming. Instead of grinding harder in the water, Steph explains how better technique—especially rotation, body position, and connection—can dramatically improve your speed.

We dive into why many swimmers struggle with a flat, disconnected stroke and how that leads to wasted energy. Steph shares practical tips on how to stay long in the water, engage your core, and create a smoother, more powerful stroke.

If you're stuck at a plateau or feel like swimming faster requires exhausting effort, this episode will completely change your approach.

0:11 – Introduction Overview of freestyle technique and common mistakes swimmers make

0:20 – Why swimmers struggle to get faster.

1:10 – The problem with swimming "flat".

2:10 – Why a flat stroke wastes energy.

3:15 – Importance of body rotation.

4:20 – Timing and coordination.

5:30 – Catch vs whole stroke.

6:40 – Staying long in the water.

7:45 – Using your core in freestyle.

9:00 – Common beginner mistakes recap.

10:10 – How to swim faster with less effort?

In this episode, Brendan Cullen recounts his remarkable transformation from a non-swimmer to successfully completing the demanding English Channel swim. He reflects on how mental resilience, disciplined training, and a strong sense of community support helped him overcome one of the world's toughest endurance challenges. Brendan also shares how his rural upbringing shaped his mindset, and how personal motivation and strategic preparation played key roles in pushing beyond perceived limits.

00:50 Introduction to Brendan Cullen: The Desert Swimmer 01:50 Brendan's Unique Background and Journey to Swimming 05:27 The Decision to Swim the English Channel 06:55 Training and Preparation for the Channel Swim 10:48 The Day of the English Channel Swim 24:17 Reflections on the Journey and Lessons Learned 24:40 The Impact of Open Water Swimming on Life 30:37 The Release of Brendan's Book: The Desert Swimmer

One of the most common things I see in newer swimmers… is how flat they are in the water.

Their hips are flat, their shoulders are flat — and what ends up happening is they just spin their wheels.

They're putting in a lot of effort with the arms, kicking hard with the legs… but nothing is really connecting.

It feels like hard work — but it doesn't translate into speed.

So in today's episode, we're going to break down why swimming flat is holding you back… and how to start linking everything together so your stroke actually works as one powerful, efficient system.

You've probably heard it before — your freestyle catch is everything.

And maybe you've been working on it. You've improved the position, you feel stronger in the water, and technically… it looks better.

But here's the frustrating part — you're still not getting any faster.

So what's going on?

Today, we're breaking down exactly why improving your catch doesn't always translate into speed… and what you need to do to actually get the benefit from it.

Because recently, I worked with a swimmer who had done everything right. He sent in underwater footage, we reviewed it closely, and his catch position? Nearly perfect.

From the setup… to the moment he begins to press back and generate propulsion — everything was there.

And yet, his times hadn't improved.

When we dug deeper into the footage, we found the real issue — something subtle, but incredibly common.

He was rushing into the catch.

And that one mistake was costing him speed.

Let's break it down.

If you feel like getting faster in the water means you just have to work harder… push more… suffer more… there's a good chance you're taking the wrong approach.

Because here's what most swimmers think: if you're stuck swimming 1:45 or 1:50 per 100 freestyle, and you're aiming for 1:30… the only way to get there is by getting fitter, stronger, and grinding harder every single session.

But what if that's not true?

What if the real reason you're not getting faster isn't about effort at all… but about how you're swimming?

Today, we're breaking down the biggest misconception holding swimmers back—and how shifting your approach can unlock speed without burning yourself out.

00:27 Do You Need To Get Fitter To Get Faster? Tendency To Cross Over The Center Line 01:57 Out Of Timing 02:21 Front Quadrant

So what does he do that 99.999% of swimmers don't? How is he able to swim this fast?

I've spent my career analyzing the best swimmers in the world, but watching Sam swim up close is a completely different experience. I've never seen anyone hold as much water as he does, even at world-record pace.

What stands out the most isn't just the speed. It's the relaxation. His recovery looks effortless, and the way he reaches forward into the catch is incredibly fluid—almost calm—despite the intensity of the pace he's holding.

When Sam shared some of his training with me, one thing surprised me. He's consistently swimming up to 80 kilometers a week. Massive volume. Huge power in the stroke. But when you ask him what really matters, he often comes back to the basics—simple things like rock-solid head position and clean fundamentals.

If you're a triathlete or an open water swimmer, Sam's power stroke isn't just impressive to watch. It's actually a blueprint for efficiency.

So today, we're breaking it all down—the sets, the technique, and the mindset around recovery that helped take him to the very top of the sport.

01:27 Sam Short Intro 01:30 How Do You Describe Your Stroke When You Race? 01:47 Developed Overtime? 2:00 Mobility And Flexibility 02:20 What Does Swimming Fell Like When You Are Swimming Well? 02:39 Any Particular Part Of Your Stroke That You Are Working On? 02:53 400 Free v.s. 10k Openwater Swim 03:12 Kicking Sets 03:28 Cues And Phrases 03:45 Stroke Rates 04:03 Head And Body Position 04:43 When Body Position Is Not Where It Should Be 05:06 Good Feel For The Water 05:28 Breathing Pattern 05:54 Rotation 06:19 Openwater 06:47 Favorite Sets 07:26 Hardest Set 07:50 Distance per Week 08:10 Taper 08:28 Sessions Per Week And Gym 08:48 Being A Smarter Athlete

Six months of consistent training. You're showing up to the pool. You're doing the sets. You're putting in the work.

But your times… haven't moved.

You're still sitting at 1:50, maybe two minutes per hundred, and no matter how hard you train, it just doesn't seem to change. And that can be one of the most frustrating places to be as a swimmer or triathlete.

Because it feels like you're doing everything right.

You're consistent. You're committed. You're following the program.

But you're not getting faster.

So what's actually going on?

In this episode, I'm going to show you why swimmers get stuck at the same pace for months, even when they're training consistently—and more importantly, what you can do to finally break through that plateau and start dropping your times again.

00:56 Plateau of Okay 01:33 Fixing Everything At Once 01:57 Stroke Raste Too Slow 04:04 Fixing The Foundation Of The Stroke 06:13 What To Do?

Last month, a 39-year-old swimmer joined our weekly coaching members call. She was training for her first Ironman. She'd been swimming for about a year—consistent, disciplined, three sessions a week, following her program exactly as written.

But there was a problem.

She was exhausted after every session. And her pace hadn't improved in four months.

In this episode, we unpack what was really going on—because when you're doing all the "right" things but not getting faster, it's rarely about working harder. It's about working smarter. We'll talk about why consistency alone isn't enough, the hidden mistakes that keep adult swimmers stuck, and how small technical and structural changes in your training can unlock real progress.

If you're training for an Ironman—or any long-distance event—and feel like you're spinning your wheels in the water, this episode will show you what to look at, what to adjust, and how to start moving forward again.

01:19 From 2:10 to 1:55 Per Hundred 01:43 What Was Happening? 03:04 Getting A Good Catch 04:10 Think Of The Catch As The Set Up 05:53 Connect With The Water 06:54 What To Do?

Transform your freestyle to be effortless and smooth with online video analysis: https://effortlessswimming.com/courses-membership/

Try the new Nanoclear Anti-fog Goggles: https://bit.ly/nanocleargoggles

What would drive someone to voluntarily swim through the most dangerous ocean channels on the planet — no wetsuit, no cage, no way out except forward?

In this episode, we sit down with Mark Sowerby, one of the few athletes in the world to complete the Ocean's Seven — often described as the Everest of open water swimming — a feat achieved by just 36 swimmers.

His new film, Don't Be Prey, captures a decade-long pursuit across five continents and seven of the most brutal channels on Earth. From the freezing Irish Sea to the shark-patrolled waters of Hawaii, it's raw, unfiltered man versus nature — no protection, no shortcuts.

But this isn't just a story about distance or danger.

After a life-changing event leaves him searching for direction, Mark channels his anguish into purpose with the help of coach Tim Denyer. Together, they build a mindset around one simple but powerful mantra: keep the stroke steady, don't splash, keep the heart rate down — don't be prey.

We go beyond the film to explore the swims that nearly broke him, the unseen moments of doubt, and what the ocean taught him about fear, patience, resilience, and staying calm when everything around you is chaos.

This is a conversation about endurance — not just in the water, but in life.

Let's dive in.

There's a timing pattern that separates fast swimmers from slow swimmers—and most people never see it.

You can watch someone swim in real time and miss it completely. But slow the video down, frame by frame, and suddenly it's obvious. Every fast swimmer has this. A lot of slower swimmers don't.

And when you fix this one timing detail, it doesn't just make you smoother—it feels like someone just switched the engine on in your stroke.

In today's episode, I'm going to break down exactly what that timing pattern is, why it matters so much, and most importantly, how you can actually feel it in the water so it shows up in your own swimming.

00:52 Waiting Too Long To Begin The Catch 02:29 Begin Catch Earlier 03:22 Back Off The Power 04:10 Early Connection 05:31 How Do We Fix It? 08:09 What To Do?

I watched a swimmer fix one breathing mistake and drop 12 seconds per 100 meters—not in four months, but in four weeks.

No extra fitness. No added training volume. Just one specific change in how she breathed.

That single adjustment took her from 1:48 per 100 down to 1:36 per 100.

In this episode, I break down exactly what she changed, why it worked so fast, and how you can apply the same breathing fix in your very next swim—whether you're training for endurance, speed, or just want to stop feeling rushed every time you turn your head to breathe.

If your breathing feels like the limiter in your freestyle, this episode will change how you swim.

01:45 Head Lifted Forward Out Of The Water 03:49 Correction No. 1 Your Head Should Be Like An Iceberg 04:32 Correction No. 2 Exhaling Ender Water Mostly Through Your Nose 05:14 Correction No. 3: Breathing Every 2 or 3 Strokes and Learn To Breathe On Both Sides.

At 20 years old, I missed qualifying for the National Championships by three hundredths of a second in the 50 backstroke. Fast-forward 18 years, and at 38, I qualified for Nationals in the five-kilometer open-water swim—training mostly just three times a week.

In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly how I did it in my late thirties: the one thing an Olympic gold medalist taught me that helped me generate more power with less effort, why getting injured before the race actually worked in my favor, how just five minutes with one coach changed my technique in the final two months, and the single workout I repeated every week that built my endurance and helped me finish fast.

01:19 Missed Out Again 01:53 Stroke Analysis 3:41 Olympic Gold Medalist Secret 5:48 Swimming Workout 7:17 Injured 8:22 Race Day 8:48 The Best Anti-Fog Goggles 9:42 My 5km Time (Qualified)

.Today, we are talking about the 5th and final Core Principle of Fast Freestyle: find your rhythm and timing.

00:36 The Dancing Part Of Freestyle 01:13 Kick Timing 04:35 Use Different Types Of Kick 10:33 Serape Effect 13:35 Hand Speed 14:07 Split Tempo 17:54 Drills 19:22 8 Week Faster Freestyle Course

Join the 5 Day Catch Challenge Join the Effortless Swimming Membership Effortless Swimming Freestyle Clinic

01:40 No Need To Overpower The Catch 03:07 Teaching The Four Key Positions 04:00 Start Of The Catch 06:00 High Elbow Catch 07:35 Power Diamond Position 10:20 Exit Of The Stroke 11:36 YMCA Drill Progression 14:38 More Drills To Work On Your Catch 15:07 Setup Phase 16:35 Path Of The Hand 17:57 Hand Speed

Today, we are talking about the third core principle of Fast freestyle which is Rock, Return And Align.

00:36 Rock v.s. Rolling 02:15 Return 03:24 Correct Entry 06:08 Align

01:46 Proud Posture 05:06 Taut Core 9:00 Effective Kick

The 5 Core Principles Of Fast Freestyle: https://effortlessswimming.com/5-core-principles-of-fast-freestyle/

01:45 Use Your Diaphragm 02:29 Breathing Exercises Out Of The Water 03:42 Box Breathing 04:04 Relax Your Chest And Upper Back 05:38 Having The Right Posture 06:52 Letting Go When You Exhale

In this episode, I'll share ten ways to increase your swim speed and become a better swimmer. So, let's dive in and explore these effective strategies.

00:35 Train Another Stroke 01:56 Change The Way That You're Training 03:10 Being Diligent With Your Skills 05:12 To Become Supple 05:59 Joining a Squad Or a Group of Swimmers 09:06 Occasionally, Don't Track Anything 10:25 Keeping Calm Under Pressure 10:43 Commit To A Swim Block 13:48 Pick One Thing And Stick To It For Three Months 15:35 Get Professional Help

Imagine holding a 1:05 pace per hundred for nearly two hours—no walls, no turns, just pure precision. Every stroke efficient, every breath controlled. How do you sustain that kind of speed without breaking down? What should your catch feel like? And how do you stay smooth when the ocean, the pack, and your own heartbeat are all working against you?

In this episode, we dive into the story of Nick Sloman. He's not the biggest guy on the start line, and he wasn't a childhood prodigy. But over 12 years, he turned sheer efficiency into his competitive edge. After missing Tokyo, he rebuilt himself—not by training harder, but by learning how to swim smarter. His insights on feel for the water might just reshape the way you think about endurance, technique, and what it really takes to go the distance.

01:07 Head position 01:46 Posture And Body Position 02:20 Kick for balance 03:29 Breathing Pattern In Training And Racing 03:54 Catch and cross-body connection 05:20 Video analysis 06:02 Stroke rate 06:22 Open water swim technique 06:48 Stroke changes in open water 07:30 Sighting 08:03 Drafting 08:27 80km a week! 09:13 Hard swim workouts 11:52 Hardest race 13:30 Rest when you're ___

If you're someone who avoids flip turns—or you're completely out of breath every time you try one—chances are, it's not your fitness holding you back. It's your technique. In this episode, I'm breaking down a simple, step-by-step method to help you master the tumble turn, so you can actually save energy on your turns, move faster off the wall, and keep up with the swimmers beside you.

By the end, you'll know exactly how to execute a smooth, controlled flip turn without getting dizzy, without gasping for air, and with way more rhythm and confidence. Let's dive in.

00:48 Approach The Wall Smoothly 01:50 Set Yourself Up On The Last Stroke 03:29 Initiate The Flip Into The Wall 05:24 Landing The Right Distance 06:34 Streamline 08:08 Eyes Down Into The Water 11:01 Breakout

Struggling with your arm dropping whenever you take a breath in freestyle? You're not alone—and there are five common reasons this happens. In this episode, we break down each cause, show you exactly how to fix them, and help you transform your breathing technique. By the end, you'll swim farther with less effort and finally feel like you have all the time in the world to take a smooth, controlled breath. Dive in and level up your freestyle.

00:38 Breathing 04:17 Rotation 05:57 Hand Entry 07:31 Exit Of The Opposite Hands 08:59 Starting Catch Position And Reach 09:54 Where Is Your Shoulder As You Reach Forwards 10:54 Quick Fix

There are so many different things you can do to get faster in your freestyle. In this episode, I'm gonna break down five proven ways that you can swim faster for less effort. Let's get into it.

00:26 Point Your Toes Inwards (42% Faster)

2:07 Dont Pat A Cat

3:19 Press On Your Chest To Bring The Hips Up

4:24 Reach And Extension

7:15 Increasing Your Distance Per Stroke

8:41 Accelerate Through Each Stroke

If you're taking 50 strokes a lap but should be in the low 40s, the issue might be your body connection — not your strength. In this episode, we explore how elite swimmer Becca Mann fixed her "shoulders and hips not connected" problem, dropped her stroke count by nearly 20%, and became a record-breaking open-water athlete.

You'll learn what shoulder-to-hip connection really means, how to tell if you're disconnected, and the simple posture cues and drills (like 6-1-6 and side-kick rotation) that instantly improve your distance per stroke.

A quick, practical guide to swimming farther and faster with less effort.

If you've ever been confused about the different types of freestyle kicks — two-beat, four-beat, and six-beat — this episode is for you. I'll break down what each kick pattern means, how to do them correctly, and when to use each one in your own freestyle to improve efficiency, rhythm, and speed in the water.

00:48 What Do Beats Refer To? 00:59 2-Beat Kick 05:31 4-Beat Kick 07:38 6-Beat Kick

Get your HydroClear goggles here and get 15% off from your first purchase. Code: PODCAST https://shop.effortlessswimming.com/

Grab the freestyle checklist here: https://effortlessswimming.com/freestyle-checklist/

Work with us (stroke analysis coaching): https://effortlessswimming.com/es-training-and-membership-page/

Join a camp: https://effortlessswimming.com/camps

5-Day Catch Challenge ➡ https://members.effortlessswimming.com/c/5daycatchchallenge/ The easiest way to improve your catch and shave 5 seconds off your 100m free.

Transform your freestyle in 33 minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ignysw4pFO0

Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PreNoGOEUE&t=7s

Two years ago, Brian Hans was swimming 2:00 per 100 yards—struggling to find rhythm and wondering if he'd ever feel smooth in the water. Fast forward to now, he's cruising under 1:30s and just placed 9th out of 171 in his Half Ironman swim. How did he make that kind of jump? What changes in his stroke made the biggest difference? And what nearly stopped him along the way? In this episode, Brian shares the breakthroughs, setbacks, and lessons from his two-year transformation—proving what's possible when you combine patience, feedback, and the right focus in training.

01:43 Introduction to Brian Hans and His Background 04:36 The Journey from Recreational to Competitive Swimming 07:06 The Importance of Technique and Video Analysis 10:06 Experiencing Breakthroughs in Swimming Performance 13:01 Navigating Open Water Challenges 15:57 Training Consistency and Session Structure 18:29 The Role of Flip Turns in Swimming Efficiency 21:39 Current Focus and Future Goals in Swimming 24:11 Patience and Long-Term Progress in Swimming

Bob Bowman — the legendary coach behind Michael Phelps and Leon Marchand — was recently on the Exponential Athlete Podcast, and listening to that episode completely changed the way I think about swimming. In today's episode, I'm going to share with you 12 powerful ideas I learned from that conversation — insights that can help you take your swimming to the next level.

00:53 Consistency Beats Perfection 01:40 Practice Performing Under Pressure 02:43 Process Over Outcome 03:35 Relax And Focus Under Pressure 04:02 The Power Of Underwaters 05:08 Different Approaches Can Work For Different People 06:97 Training Volume And Breaks 08:04 Visualization 11:52 Making Deposits To Your Swimming Bank Account 13:04 Creating An Environment Where Success Is Inevitable 14:09 Always Be Willing To Experiment 15:20 Importance Of Feedback And Data

If you find yourself gasping for air after just one lap in the pool, this episode is for you. After coaching nearly 10,000 swimmers over the past 19 years, I've discovered that mastering your breathing is one of the quickest ways to transform your swimming.

In this episode, I'll show you how to regulate your breathing so you can swim lap after lap without feeling exhausted — like taking an evening stroll in the water instead of fighting to stay afloat. You'll also learn the number one mistake most beginners make that can stall their progress for months, and how to fix it fast.

Plus, if you're new to swimming, don't miss our free 7-day email series that breaks down every key part of your stroke to help you swim more efficiently and confidently.

01:14 Why Does Your Breathing Matter? 01:42 Breathing In 02:16 Are You Exhaling Enough? 05:36 Time Your Breathing Correctly With Your Stroke 06:53 Breath In The Correct Position 08:20 Breathing Patterns 10:14 Keeping The Heart Rate Down 10:54 Drills 12:00 Adapting To Openwater

The freestyle catch is one of the most confusing parts of the stroke — and that's exactly why so many swimmers either avoid it or get it completely wrong. In this episode, we'll break down what the catch actually is, how to do it right, and why it's the key to real propulsion in your freestyle.

If you've been swimming for a while but not seeing much progress, this might be the missing piece. I'll share what I've learned from watching thousands of swimmers, coaching nearly 10,000 people in our freestyle clinics here in Australia, and studying what truly makes a great catch work.

By the end, you'll understand how the freestyle catch ties into your whole stroke — and how to use it to swim with more grace, speed, and efficiency the next time you hit the pool.

01:20 Parts Of The Stroke 2:00 Anchor Your Arms In The Water 02:46 Beginning Of The Catch 03:17 Fingers Below The Wrists, Wrists Below The Elbow 4:57 Catch-Slow To Fast 05:33 Initiating The Catch 7:23 Pulling Straight Back 11:43Angle At The Elbow 12:16 Rotation 12:50 Pull/ Press Phase 13:29 Power Diamond 14:37 The Exit 17:30 Recovery 18:20 Skinny "S"

In this episode of the Effortless Swimming Podcast, Brenton Ford and Tas discuss the key takeaways from their recent training camp in the Maldives. They cover essential themes such as identifying bottlenecks in swimming technique, the importance of community support, overcoming self-doubt, and the significance of consistency in training. The conversation emphasizes practical strategies for improvement, including the use of simple cues, the power of reframing concepts, and the benefits of practicing techniques on land. The hosts also highlight the value of rhythm in swimming and the effectiveness of contrast drills to enhance performance.

00:57 Identifying and Focusing on Bottlenecks 04:13 Simplifying Drills and Progression Sets 07:26 The Importance of Community in Swimming 11:23 Believing in Yourself and Overcoming Doubts 15:37 Consistency Over Perfection 19:54 Process and Feel Over Data 23:54 Simple Cues Unlock Big Changes 26:11 Breaststroke Technique Insights 28:08 The Importance of Reframing Concepts 29:56 Rhythm in Swimming: The Waltz Analogy 33:13 Practicing Technique on Land 36:18 Using Contrast Drills for Technique Improvement 40:04 Sighting and Pack Swimming Strategies

In this episode, I’ll show you the 5 key steps to swimming freestyle with ease, so you can save energy, improve your speed, and feel confident every time you dive in.

If you’re an adult swimmer or triathlete who gets tired quickly, this is a must-watch. You’ll discover how to finally relax in the water, connect your stroke together, and build a freestyle that feels natural.

00:42 Good Body Line and Balance 02:05 Good Head Position 03:22 Setting Up the Catch Position 07:30 Recovery Not Working Against You 09:53 Check The Timing Of Your Breathe 11:42 Rhythm and Kick Timing In Place

Sam Short recently went a 3 41 for his. 400 freestyle. Let's take a look at what he does really well in his freestyle technique and he uses a galloping style of freestyle. So let's take a look at this style and how this kind of technique might benefit you. And I think it can be a very effective way to swim open water for a lot of people because in the open water you've got a bit more buoyancy with the waves and the chop.

This sort of technique can go a long way, and you do see this with a lot of the good. Triathlon swimmers, and a lot of open water swimmers as well. So let's take a look from the underwater shot to begin with.

00:50 Head Position (Shoulders Near The Cheeks) 1:48 Elbow-The Widest Part Of The Arm (Power Diamond) 3:26 Galloping Stroke 4:07 Timing 8:17 Catch

What does it really take to swim the English Channel or any marathon swim? My guest today, Craig Lewin, is a triple crown marathon swimmer and coach who's helped athletes tackle some of the toughest swims on the planet. We talk about how to train for hours in cold, rough water. How to stay motivated over years of preparation and the mental tricks that can carry you through the tough times when you feel like quitting.

If you've ever wondered how ordinary people achieve extraordinary swims, this episode will show you how and if you're already into long distance swimming. Myself and World Record Holder, Andy Donaldson will be running two long distance retreats next year. One in the wit Sunday is in June. And one in Tahiti in September.

So if you'd like to enhance your open water skills, learn from the best, and also have one of the best holidays of your life, this is a chance to join myself and Andy Donaldson on a long distance Swim retreat. I'll include the link in the show notes below.

02:26 Starting Your Journey: The English Channel Swim 05:39 Training Plans for Long-Distance Swimmers 10:57 Maintaining Motivation Over Long Training Periods 16:11 Nutrition and Fueling for Endurance Swims 21:20 Acclimatization to Cold Water Swimming 27:50 Pacing Strategies for Long Distance Swimming 31:48 Overcoming Challenges in Training 36:41 Mental Strategies for Endurance Swimmers 39:11 Choosing Your First Marathon Swim 43:15 Addressing Fears: Sharks and Open Water Swimming 47:27 Safety Tips for New Open Water Swimmers 50:59 Upcoming Events and Resources for Swimmers

Recently, Australian swimmer Lani Pallister made history by becoming the third-fastest woman ever in the 1500-meter freestyle. In this episode, we’re diving into her stroke to see exactly what makes her technique so effective and what we can all learn from it.

00:25 2-Beat Kick 01:01 Head Position/ Breath Timing 02:26 Have The Head Turn In Time with the Shoulders 03:30 Catch Position 08:31 Kick Timing 10:01 Rotation 12:38 Recovery

How does an Olympic medalist take 19 seconds off her 800 meter time and nearly beat Katie Ledecky? In this episode, I'm joined by Jaimie Fuller from EO Labs, the creators of the Swim Better Handsets, a company I've worked closely with since their early days to share how this breakthrough tech is transforming performance from helping Paige Madden make that jaw dropping improvement to giving triathletes a way to measure swim power in Watts, sync with training peaks, and use AI to pinpoint exactly where they're losing speed.

EO is changing the way we understand the swim leg from Olympic podiums to your local pool. This could change the way you approach every stroke.

00:00 Introduction to Elite Swimming Technology 02:50 Transitioning to Triathlon Focus 05:34 Integration with TrainingPeaks 08:20 Gamifying Swimming Data for Triathletes 11:08 Membership and Data Analysis 13:52 Understanding Technique and Power Dynamics 17:01 Visualizing Swim Data and Performance Metrics 24:53 Analyzing Swim Performance Data 28:37 The Role of AI in Swim Training 32:23 Understanding Swim Technique and Efficiency 37:45 Learning from Other Sports 39:56 Case Studies of Elite Athletes 45:39 Implementing Changes and Measuring Outcome

This episode is taken from our latest Feedback Friday video. We have a triathlete from Sydney who holds 1:30/100m on his Ironman swims. Let's take a look at his strokes and see where he can find additional speed.

Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kEXXSc9eac

00:37 Head Position 01:04 Body Position 04:10 Reach And Extension 06:13 Arm Angle

Grab the freestyle checklist here: https://effortlessswimming.com/freestyle-checklist/

Work with us (stroke analysis coaching): https://effortlessswimming.com/es-training-and-membership-page/

Join a camp: https://effortlessswimming.com/camps

Have you ever walked away from a swim thinking, "Why does this still feel so hard?"

You're not alone. Most adult swimmers struggle with the same few challenges—again and again—and it’s usually because no one ever showed them how to fix it the right way.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into the most common mistakes adult swimmers make—and more importantly, how to finally fix it.

Let’s get started.

00:17 Mistake #1: Holding Too Much Tension

04:07 Mistake #2: Looking Forward the Whole Time

06:12 Mistake #3: Overkicking or Stiff-Leg Kicking

07:38 Mistake #4: Beginning Your Catch Before You Finish Reaching Forward

09:28 Mistake #5: Rushing the Breath

Most swimmers think a harder kick equals more speed. But for adult swimmers and triathletes, it usually means more effort and less progress. So, if your legs feel heavy, your breathing feels rushed, or you’re constantly tired after short swims, it might be your kick that’s holding you back. Let’s fix it.

00:32 Mistake #1: Kicking From the Knees

02:33 Mistake #2: Too Much Kick

06:16 Mistake #3: Stiff Ankles

08:29 Mistake #4: Using It For Propulsion

09:15 Bonus Cue: Fishtail Feet

Do freestyle tips from the 1960s still hold up today? In this episode, I’m diving into some notes I took from a DVD created by 1960 Olympic gold medalist in the 1500m freestyle, John Conrad. About ten years ago, I was deep into studying freestyle technique—trying to learn everything I could—and John and I actually had a few back-and-forth discussions about our different approaches. We didn’t always agree, and today I want to revisit some of his ideas, share what I took away from his teachings, and talk about where I see things differently.

If you’re working on improving your own freestyle technique, I’ve also put together a free checklist to guide you step-by-step—you’ll find the link in the show notes. Let’s dive in!

00:49-Apply Energy Only When Needed 01:29-Swim At Floatation Depth 02:18-Anxiety Is Number 1 Priority 02:48-As You Relax, Your Body Increases In Volume 03:22-Swimming Efficiently Means You're Relaxed And Loose 03:49-Look Forward When Learning. Look Down When More Comfortable 04:39-Pivot Your Body 05:08-Relax Your Kick. It Is Not Worth The Effort 05:44-Kick On Your Back Instead Of Your Front 06:36-Both Arms Don't Go At The Same Speed 07:19-Delay The Pull 08:01-Learn By Exageration 09:12-The First Component Of Swimming Is Relaxing. The Second Is Catch Up. The Third Is Almost Catch Up 10:16-Don't Confuse Arm Speed With Swim Speed 11:05-Don't Rush The Breath 11:49-Exhale All The Time From The Nose And Mouth 12:45-Breathe Every 2 But Change Every 25 Meters Or So 13:26-Kicking On The Side Is Good For Developing Your Breathing To The Opposite Side 14:05-Keep Your Hand Loose In The Recovery 14:41-Use Body Roll To Bring Your Elbow Through The Recovery 15:25-Pull Harder Not Sooner To Go Faster 16:36-Don't Pull Too Early, Extend And Push Down Slightly

Grab the freestyle checklist here: https://effortlessswimming.com/freestyle-checklist/

Work with us (stroke analysis coaching): https://effortlessswimming.com/es-training-and-membership-page/

Join a camp: https://effortlessswimming.com/camps/

In today’s episode, I’m sharing 10 things I wish I knew when I first started swimming. Whether you’re just beginning or have been in the water for a while, these lessons can help you take your swimming to the next level.

Let’s face it—most beginners train too hard, focus on the wrong details, and waste a lot of time and energy. That not only slows progress but can lead to frustrating plateaus or even injuries like shoulder pain.

These 10 key insights will help you avoid those common mistakes. We’ll break down what truly matters when it comes to gear, technique, training, and mindset—so you can swim smarter, stay injury-free, and start seeing real improvement in the pool.

2:00 Essential gear only 3:24 Basics first 4:56 Training 6:40 Open-water challenges 8:09 Interval training works 11:56 More Than The Pool 12:56 Drills Equals Fast Swimming 13:57 Staying Consistent 15:02 Persistence pays off 16:13 The Real Reward

In this episode, we’ll break down that key insight—how chasing speed can hold you back, why real progress comes from subtle adjustments, and the shift in perspective that turns resistance into flow. If your stroke has ever felt more like a struggle than a rhythm, this episode is for you.

1:10 Progress Isn't Linear 2:18 Video Yourself Early 3:12 Control The Mental Side 4:23 Consistency 5:52 The Clock 6:49 Your Stroke Does Not Have To Look Like The Pros 9:26 Comfortable Gear Matters More Than Fancy Gear 10:24 Have A Goal Even A Small One 12:05 How To Stay Calm In the Chaos 13:37 Swimming Beyond The Pool

In this episode, I'll give you the exact issues that hold swimmers back at each pace from beginner swimmers at two 30 per hundred or slower, all the way to advanced swimmers at one 15 per hundred for a kilometer. And I'll also give you actionable drills and strategies to help you progress to the next level.

02:10 – Drill 1: Horizontal body posture 03:30 – Drill 2: Balanced tempo 05:00 – Drill 3: Efficient breathing 06:20 – Drill 4: Catch & pull mechanics 08:00 – Kit/gear suggestions 09:30 – Putting it all together 11:00 – Programming & progression 12:30 – Real-life example 14:00 – Summary & tips to keep improving

Hey, Brenton here. If you ever find yourself uncomfortable in the open water and not feeling that calm when you've got other people around and not knowing where to sit or where to draft off people to be most effective at it. This episode's for you. I joined the Low Tide Boys, Chip and Chris on a podcast, and they asked me all about the science of drafting.

So on this episode, I get stuck into that so you know exactly where to sit. In a pack or with other people around to maximize the draft, as well as how to prepare for this stuff if you don't have much access to the open water. So I hope you enjoy this episode. There's a lot of value for anyone who's training for open water swims or doing any sort of triathlon racing.

This episode is filled with things that will help you maximize your next open water race. Just to give you a heads up, we've added some dates for our 2026 camps for the Maldives and also for Thailand. I haven't released this anywhere else yet, but I'm just giving you the heads up on the podcast. If you wanna join me next year on one of those camps to work on your swimming, then there's a few dates that we've added@effortlessswimming.com slash camps.

02:57 General Consideration Around Open water Swimming 05:58 Sighting In Open water 12:58 Optimal Way To Draft 18:06 The Closer The Better 21:01 Keep It Tidy 22:16 Mindset For People Who Is Leading The Swim 29:03 Overtaking In Open water 33:11 Surging In Open water 36:59 Gears When Swimming

Have you ever realized you’re spending thousands on supplements that do little more than clutter your cabinet? One athlete was on the hook for $6,500 a year—until Taryn Richardson helped her strip it back to what truly makes a difference. In this episode, Taryn breaks down how to use simple blood tests to guide your choices, and spot the supplements worth keeping (and those you can dump). Stick around—you’ll finish this show knowing exactly which pills, powders and potions deserve a place in your daily routine.

00:00 The Supplement Dilemma: What's Worth It? 03:06 Blood Tests: A Key to Personalized Nutrition 07:07 Iron and Vitamin D: Essential Nutrients for Athletes 11:25 Creatine and Protein Powders: The New Norm? 15:26 The Multivitamin Myth: Are They Really Necessary? 19:11 Electrolytes and BCAAs: When to Use Them? 21:11 The Strategic Approach to Supplements

Taryn Richardson https://www.dietitianapproved.com/academy

Want to really transform your swimming? Join us on a swim camp in 2025 in the Maldives, Galapagos Islands, or Thailand: https://effortlessswimming.com/camps/

Change your technique and swim a smoother, easier freestyle with the Effortless Swimming membership: https://effortlessswimming.com/training-and-membership-plans/?el=blog

This a rebroadcast from the Get Fast Podcast with Jordan and Gerard Donnelly from TriVelo Coaching Trivelo Coaching: https://www.trivelocoaching.com.au/

Welcome to this week's episode of the Effortless Swimming Podcast. This is a rebroadcast of an episode where I was a guest on the Get Fast Podcast with TriVelo Coaching with Jordan and Gerard Donnelly. On this episode, I'll talk about how triathletes can swim minutes faster in any races that they're doing.

So if you're a triathlete or you're interested in triathlon or open water swimming, there'll be a lot here that can help you improve your swim speed and ultimately make it easier. And a lot more enjoyable. Let's get into this episode on the TriVelo Coaching Get Fast podcast.

01:15 - Why Swimmers Get Stuck 03:30 - Are Athletes Doing It Wrong After Coaching? 06:50 - How Long Does It Take To Change Swim Habits? 10:05 - Is A Lack Of Fitness Holding Your Technique Back? 13:30 - Overcoming the 2nd Plateau 19:45 - The Ultimate Swim Technique Overhaul Plan 23:50 - Ideal Time Ratio For Swim Technique Vs. Fitness 28:00 - Why Elite Swimmers Avoid Long, Slow Training 32:50 - Why Adult-Onset Swimmers Struggle To Improve 36:40 - Overcoming The Mental Barrier Of Going Slower To Get Faster 39:00 - The Best Tests For Swim Fitness And Speed 43:30 - Pool Vs. Open Water: Understanding The Differences 46:40 - Swimming Myths Debunked 51:31 - When To Push Through Bad Form (And When To Stop) 55:30 - Swimming Is A Technique Thing

Get your HydroClear goggles here and get 15% off from your first purchase. Code: PODCAST https://shop.effortlessswimming.com/

Want to really transform your swimming? Join us on a swim camp in 2025 in the Maldives, Galapagos Islands, or Thailand: https://effortlessswimming.com/camps/

Change your technique and swim a smoother, easier freestyle with the Effortless Swimming membership: https://effortlessswimming.com/training-and-membership-plans/?el=blog

Imagine a group of busy parents hesitating in front of a pair of 25 pound dumbbells, unsure, even a little intimidated. Fast forward two years and those same people are confidently pressing 75 pounds, moving through life with more energy and far less pain. That's the kind of change Kate Galliett creates.

Kate works with moms, dads, and everyone in between to build lasting strength without burning out. In today's conversation, we'll talk about why tiny consistent steps matter more than all out efforts. How tuning into your body can help you avoid injuries, and a simple morning habit. No fancy gear required that can boost your energy and sleep.

Whether you are juggling family work or a swim routine, I think you'll come away with at least one idea to try on your next workout. Let's get into today's podcast with Kate Galliett.

00:00 Introduction to Sustainable Fitness 04:51 Empowering Moms Through Strength Training 7:47 Dads and the Importance of Listening to Their Bodies 10:42 Fundamentals of Exercise Programming 14:43 The Importance of Patience in Training 17:42 Client Success Stories and Transformations 24:42 Personalizing Health Approaches 27:29 Finding Balance and Diet Exercise 30:57 The Anti-Challenge Challenge 33:36 Four Pillars of Health 36:58 Understanding Circadian Rhythms 41:56 Connecting with Nature and Gardening

I recently joined Rich Bolus on the Dad Mindset podcast, and we had a great chat about something I see all the time. Especially with triathletes and parents, you're fit. You've got a big engine from the bike in the run, but in the water it doesn't translate. And that's usually down to technique. We talked about why swimming is so different from the other two legs of a triathlon.

How to help your kids develop strong fundamentals in the pool without the pressure of high level competition, and why the shape of your boat. Matters more than the size of your motor. We also got into things like helping your kids fall in love with swimming, without burning them out. The role of video feedback and cues to fast track your technique, what to do when your kids start tapping your toes in the pool, and one piece of advice that can completely shift how you approach your next swim.

Whether you are a parent, a triathlete, or someone who just loves the water, I think you'll get a lot out of this one. Here's my conversation with Rich on the Dad Mindset Podcast.

02:15 Swim Coaching Background 04:42 Common Frustration 06:14 Creating An Environment for Kids to Get a Good Swimming Technique 10:26 Building Foundation 13:17 Getting Out Of Your Head 15:38 Seeing How You Swim and Visualization: Video Feedback 18:11 Swimming Queue 22:02 Legs Dropping 25:44 Effotless Swimming Clinics and Online Course 27:48 Success Stories 30:09 Swim Camps 34:33 Takeaway

On this episode, we've got a guest who’s been at the sharp end of elite performance for over 50 years — Robin Williams.

Robin’s a former Cambridge rower and the coach behind multiple Olympic gold medal crews. He was actually recommended by one of you — a fellow listener — and once I dug into his story, I knew we had to get him on the show.

This episode kicks off with a promise: We’re going to uncover the lessons Robin has learned from decades of turning raw athletic power into smooth, relaxed efficiency — and show you exactly how to apply those insights to your stroke in the pool.

We'll dive into his athlete-centered coaching philosophy, how to give and receive feedback without offense, and even explore some over-speed training hacks — no speedboat required.

A few standout moments to listen for: 🟡 The "spoonful of sugar" analogy that helped an Olympic champion transform clumsy pulls into effortless power. 🟡 A game-changing moment in Lucerne 2012, where one of Robin’s crews found an extra half second — and turned silver into gold. 🟡 And yes… the brutally honest feedback that once branded him “a gerbil on steroids.”

Plus, Robin shares three no-talent-required habits that any coach or swimmer can start using today to supercharge their training culture.

Let’s dive into this powerhouse conversation with Robin Williams.

Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:03 Evolution of Coaching Philosophy 02:13 The Importance of Feedback in Coaching 05:10 Coaching Techniques and Communication 08:15 Power, Relaxation, and Efficiency in Rowing 13:08 The Connection Between Power and Rhythm 17:18 Finding the Balance: Tension and Relaxation 20:43 The Role of Technique and Performance 23:29 Optimizing Performance for All Athletes 28:16 Breathing Patterns and Oxygen Efficiency 31:10 The Importance of Aerobic Training in Rowing 35:13 Drills for Enhancing Rowing Technique 39:41 Exploring Speed and Performance in Rowing 45:41 Mental Toughness and Team Dynamics in Rowing 48:28 Building a Positive Culture in Sports Coaching

In this episode, Carl, our go-to strength and conditioning guru joins us again to finally demystify core engagement for swimmers.

We're unpacking the Pilates inspired Halloween technique. Versus Stuart McGill's bracing method and revealing simple land drills. Think step ups, carries and hip rotations that make your core switch on automatically. Once you hit the water, Carl will share why loosening your hips could be the missing link in your freestyle.

How to balance front, back and side core work. And one posture tweak that instantly transforms your catch. If you've ever felt your hips sink, or your kicks play, or your back start to ache mid set, this episode is for you. Grab your goggles and maybe a chair, because by the end of this, you'll know exactly how to build a swimming core that's strong, supple, and effortless.

Let's get into the podcast.

Timestamps:

01:51 Introduction to Core Strength 04:32 Understanding Core Engagement Techniques 07:20 Common Mistakes in Core Control 10:27 Exercises for Core Strength in Swimming 15:30 Bracing vs. Automatic Core Engagement 18:19 Posture and Its Impact on Core Function 21:22 Strengthening the Back for Core Stability 24:22 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

What if the secret to crushing your next open water swim isn't just logging more miles, but learning to embrace the chaos, drafting like a pro, taking the occasional hit, and then surging ahead with confidence. Today on the Effortless Swimming Podcast, I'm joined by Damien from Flow State Swimming it's premier open water coaching squad.

Damien didn't learn to swim in a pool. He learned to survive and thrive in choppy conditions. Mastering tactics from course recon to aggressive positioning so that you never have to feel like a victim out there. In this episode, we'll dive into the mental shift from passive paddler to assertive racer.

While your catch and glide sweet spot might unlock explosive speed, exactly how to build the suffer tolerance that makes hard efforts feel effortless. Hands-on coaching hacks for feeling the water and finding flow. And whether you are gearing up for your first triathlon or hunting a personal best in an open water race, stick around.

By the time we're done, you'll know how to swim hard, swim smart, and swim free. Know what's required. Let's jump in.

02:07 Introduction to Flow State Swimming 04:08 The Tactical Side of Open Water Swimming 06:22 Coaching Strategies: Propulsion vs. Glide 12:46 Finding the Sweet Spot 17:19 The Importance of Feel Over Pace 23:39 The Hell Set: Pushing Limits in Training 34:04 Success Stories: Progress in Swimming 41:38 Conclusion and Contact Information

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Andrew Sheaff—coach, educator, and the author of A Constraints-Led Approach to Swim Coaching. We dive into one of the most important skills for adult swimmers and triathletes: learning how to self-coach.

Whether you're swimming solo, training without feedback, or stuck on a plateau, Andrew shares a practical roadmap to finally break through. You’ll learn why progress isn’t about doing more drills—but choosing the right ones. We talk about how to create built-in feedback loops, what to do if you feel like nothing’s changing, and why slowing down and being intentional could be your fastest path forward.

Andrew also shares one of his favorite drills—“power pulls”—and how it reveals exactly what’s working (and what’s not) in your stroke. If you’re someone who trains alone, or you’ve been working hard without seeing results, this episode could be the turning point.

If you enjoy this conversation and want to dive deeper, Andrew’s Stroke Fundamentals course is a fantastic next step. It breaks down the key elements of freestyle technique in a simple, actionable way—and as a listener of the podcast, you can get 50% off. Click this link to get Stroke Fundamentals for 50% off

—> www.coachandrewsheaff.com/effortless

01:58 Self-Coaching In Swimming 04:06 Setting Clear Goals For Improvement 06:22 Effective Drills For Feedback 10:35 Understanding Pressure and Technique 14:30 Improving Rotation in Freestyle 21:00 Identifying and Solving Problems in Training 23:43 Mastering Breath Timing in Swimming 26:03 Identifying and Addressing Common Mistakes 28:30 Challenging Drills for Skill Improvement 31:01 Integrating Skills and Training Effectively 36:16 Creating Engaging and Purposeful Workouts 38:57 The Importance of Consistency in Skill Developtment 41:24 Fundamentals of Effective Swimming Techniques

Struggling to keep your legs from sinking in the water—no matter how hard you kick or how low you keep your head? You're not alone. But why do some swimmers maintain a perfect body position even when they're looking forward and barely kicking?

In this episode, after coaching over 6,000 swimmers, I break down the real reason your legs are sinking, what you can do to fix it (even if you feel like a natural sinker), and share one powerful tip that can help you float more easily—something most coaches never talk about.

We’ll look at how your body’s weight distribution affects your position in the water, and the key adjustments that can transform your technique.

01:40 Extend Arms Out Infront Of Head 02:33 Breathing 04:47 Be Tall And Proud 06:09 The Way Your Kicking Can Make A Big Difference 10:48 High Elbow Recovery 12:17 Catch 13:55 Head Position: Like an Iceberg 15:20 Tension

What happens when a veteran swim coach, who's spent years refining adult swimmers and triathletes, returns to coaching high school kids? In this episode, Frank Sole—coach, educator, and lifelong student of the sport—shares how “water is water” no matter your age, and why the principles of balance, buoyancy, and body awareness remain timeless. Frank dives into the biggest crossover lessons he’s bringing from Masters swimmers to juniors, the importance of teaching athletes to “own their technique,” and why he tells even his fastest swimmers to slow down and swim well, not fast. We also explore how Frank’s coaching philosophy has evolved over decades, the power of habit over outcome, and the surprising results his athletes are getting—not just in the pool, but in their lives. Whether you're a coach, a swimmer, or someone who's passionate about getting better, this episode is packed with wisdom, stories, and the kind of gold you can take straight to your next session.

05:16 Focus on Process Not On Outcome 19:17 Mastering Breathing: A Coach's Perspective 21:01 Mastering Breathing Technique 21:59 Coach Check In Routine 37:03 Evolvong Coaching Philosophy 39:16 18 Minute Rule 40:36 Embrace Ignorance Seek Growth 41:15 Evolving Mindset: From Close To Collaborative

In this episode, we sit down with Sharon Van Rouwendaal, Olympic gold medalist in the 10 km open water marathon at Rio 2016 and Paris 2024, to talk all things freestyle—especially how adults can improve their technique in and out of the water. Whether you're getting back into swimming or looking to sharpen your technique, this episode is packed with actionable tips and deep insights from one of the best in the world.

01:16 – Transitioning From Competitive Swimmer To Coach 04:27 – Learning From Previous Coaches 08:20 – Slow Stroke, Take A Step Back 12:38 – Warm Up Is Important 13:36 – If You Can't Do It In Dry Land, You Can't Do It In The Water 20:07 – Sets 22:55 – If You Lose The Kick, You Lose The Rest Of Your Stroke 26:56 – Using Stronger Muscles 31:35 – The Back End Of The Stroke 33:34 – Hip, Ribs, Shoulder Connection

Today, we have a powerhouse guest—Greg Harper, the fastest swimmer in Ironman 70.3!

Greg shares his key lessons from the pool to open water, how to develop speed and endurance, and the mental strategies that set top swimmers apart. From the snowball effect of smart training to the secrets of holding a faster stroke rate, this episode is packed with actionable insights for triathletes and swimmers alike.

01:53 Transition From Pool To Openwater 05:05 Getting More Comfortable In Openwater 09:27 Snowball Effect In The Right Way 11:50 Openwater Is So Much About Awareness 17:25 Don't Stop When It Gets Difficult 20:40 Short Intervals And Speed Focus 23:50 Paddles Size 29:59 Favourite Set 36:53 Change Of Belief 42:07 Developing The Ability To Hold Faster Stroke Rate 56:12 Working On My Stroke 1:00:18 Be A Student Of The Sport

Over the years, I've had the opportunity to analyze the strokes of over 8,000 swimmers and triathletes, ranging from beginners to elite professionals. Throughout this experience, I've discovered the key factors that set fast, efficient swimmers apart from those who struggle to improve.

In this video, I'll be sharing the most valuable lessons I've learned from analyzing swimmers of all backgrounds worldwide. I'll debunk common myths and misconceptions often heard around the pool deck and reveal what truly makes the difference between a smooth, efficient swimmer and someone battling their way through the water.

1:07 Strava Is A Lie 02:47 Ignore Most Advice 04:01 Most Adults Overthink 05:28 Swimming Is Not Running Or Biking 06:27 The Harder You Try To Force Speed, The Further Away It's Going To Get 07:01 Confidence Comes From Seeing Small Improvements 08:24 Your Catch Is The Same In All Your Strokes 09:04 Look At The Things That Will Actually Move The Needle 12:36 We Are Own Harshest Critic-Nobody Cares 14:08 Swimming Is As Much Mental As It Is Physical 15:37 Swimming Is Like Watering Seeds 16:49 From Aerobic To Muscular To Aerobic 17:43 You Just Need To Do The Work 18:21 We Need Reminding Of Things More Than We Need To Learn New Things 20:31 Focus On Fundamentals 21:16 It Will Take Longer Than You Think

What if you could go from struggling at 2:20 per hundred to cruising at 1:55? Today's guest, Fraser Hill, did exactly that, and he's sharing exactly how he did it. Fraser started swimming as an adult, dabbled in triathlons, and eventually found himself diving deep into the world of technique, training, and open water swimming.

From joining an effortless swimming camp in the Maldives, to refining his stroke using simple but powerful cues, Fraser has transformed not only his speed, but his entire approach to swimming. In this episode, we talk about the key changes that made the biggest impact on his speed. The mental battles of open water swimming and how small tweaks like fixing body position and connecting the stroke led to massive breakthroughs.

If you've ever felt stuck in your swimming progress, Fraser's story will give you some practical takeaways to help you break through your own barriers.

01:48 Swimming Background 04:25 From 2:20 to 1:55 06:42 You Need Someone Else Giving You Feedback 09:48 Small Changes, Big Differences 13:19 Openwater Swimming 18:29 Next Big Improvement 27:06 Drills 31:48 Advise For Swimmers Who Are Struggling To Break The 2-Minute Mark

Imagine standing behind the blocks knowing that everything, years of training, sacrifice, and your Olympic dream, comes down to this one race. That was the reality for Brianna Throssell at the 2016 Olympic Trials, where she had just one shot to make the team. In this episode, Brianna takes us behind the scenes of her Olympic journey, what it felt like to step onto the world's biggest stage for the first time, the nerves, the lessons, and the moments that shaped her career.

From grueling training camps in Thailand To the mindset shifts that helped her break through. She says an honest and inspiring look at the highs and lows of elite swimming. Plus we dive into what's next for her as she steps away from the pool for now and explores life beyond full time training. If you're looking for insights into what it takes to compete at the highest level and the mental resilience that fuels champions, you won't want to miss this one.

Let's get into the podcast.

01:59 Most Nerve Wracking Race 3:58 Rio, Tokyo and Paris 05:46 Pivotal Moments 09:03 Change In Environment 12:28 Hardest Training Sets 20:57 Training Camp Schedules 22:23 Social Media During Training 24:16 Visualization/ Mental Rehearsal 27:14 Developing Technique 28:59 Increasing The Power of Kick 30:18 Character Traits and Skills 33:36 Being Able To Say Yes To Opportunities 35:45 Future Plans 36:45 Core Lessons: Resilience

Imagine teaching yourself how to swim, never having a coach, never training in a pool, just figuring it out by watching others. That was Alex Roman's reality for most of his life. He swam to survive, but certainly not to thrive. But one day, a swimmer effortlessly glided past him in the open water. And it sparked something, curiosity, what made them so fast, and what was happening beneath the surface that he had never considered.

That moment sent Alex on a journey of discovery. One that transformed him from a struggling swimmer with inefficient technique, Doing slower than two minutes per hundred into someone now who competes at national meets and swims a 50 meter sprint in under 30 seconds. His improvement wasn't just about training harder.

It was about training smarter. And in this episode, Alex shares the pivotal moments that fueled his rapid progression. The techniques and the drills that made the biggest impact and why understanding the science behind swimming changed everything for him. If you've ever felt stuck in your swimming or wondered if it's possible to make huge gains as an adult, this episode is packed with insights that could change the way you approach your own training.

So let's dive into it.

10:58 What Are The Big Things That Should Be Improved? 13:38 Tuning On How Your Body Feels 25:35 Controlled Chaos 30:55 The Importance of Warm Up 36:28 Building Strength 37:42 Getting Feedback 39:53 Drills

Welcome to the podcast. This is a rebroadcast of another podcast called the Human Endurance Podcast with two friends of mine, Bruna and Fabi. I was a guest on there recently, and I wanted to share this episode with you because I feel like a lot of key things were covered that if you're a swimmer or a triathlete, this is going to help you improve.

Whether you want to get better at open water swimming, making sure you fuel correctly, how you should train, what are some common mistakes and foundational skills

01:28 Meet Brenton Ford: Founder of Effortless Swimming

11:24 Common Mistakes and Foundational Skills for Swimmers

18:56 Improving Swimming Technique and Training Tips

29:16 The Importance of Drills and Effective Training

39:45 Skills in Open Water Swimming vs. Pool Swimming

44:02 Increasing Stroke Rate vs. Distance Per Stroke

47:47 Choosing the Right Wetsuit

58:15 Fueling for Long Swim Sessions

01:03:14 The Journey of Effortless Swimming

01:15:12 The Future of Swimming

01:20:38 Fire Questions

Have you ever felt like you know what to do, but you're just not sure how to make it happen? Whether you're an athlete looking to unlock better performance or a coach wanting to make lasting impact. Today's episode is for you. Our guest is Nick Winkelman, author of The Language of Coaching, a groundbreaking book on how the right words can transform how you move.

Train and perform. Nick has worked with elite athletes and coaches around the world. And today he's sharing the secrets of using cues, analogies, and storytelling to spark real lasting change. In this episode, we'll cover how the words you hear or tell yourself can supercharge your improvement. Why using the right cues can make your stroke smoother, your technique sharper, and your training more effective, and the power of storytelling to break down barriers, shift mindsets, and help find your edge.

And it's not just for coaches. This is about understanding your own journey. Nick's insights will help you spot what's holding you back and how to focus your energy where it really counts. Whether you're looking to shave seconds off your swim, find more confidence in the way that you're moving or performing, or learn to enjoy the process of getting better.

This episode is packed with a heap of takeaways that you can use in the pool and beyond.

The Start Of Language of Coaching How My Role As A Coach Is Making An Impact Internal And External Cues How Often Do You Repeat The Analogy? Nothing Seems To Stick Storytelling Technique Writing The Book

I'm thrilled to bring back Bobby McGee, a legendary endurance coach with a knack for unlocking an athlete's full potential. But before we dive in, let me tell you a story about one of Bobby's transformative experiences.

Imagine this, a room filled with some of the world's top Olympic coaches from sports as diverse as gymnastics, field hockey, and bobsledding. Bobby found himself immersed in conversations that challenged his perspective and sharpened his skills. And it wasn't just about technique or training plans. It was about understanding people on a deeper level.

And this experience opened Bobby's eyes to the power of emotional intelligence in coaching and performance. It's something he's applied ever since. And in today's episode, Bobby shares some of the lessons he learned in that room. How understanding yourself and your coach can unlock new levels of performance and trust, and why mastering pacing strategies is crucial for success, and how fine tuning your mechanics can help you move more efficiently.

It's a fascinating conversation filled with a lot of actionable advice, and whether you're a swimmer, a runner, a triathlete, I've got no doubt you'll take away a lot from this episode with Olympic run coach, Bobby McGee. Let's get into it.

Coaching Concepts Athlete Profiling: Understanding Each Individual Athlete Emotional Analysis Building Trust Coaching Philosophies Coaching Olympic Level Athletes and Mid-Range Athletes Hardness Factor Thrive Mentality You've Got To Have That Killer Mentality Identifying Inefficiency Looking More Into Conditioning in Swimming Breathing Technique In Running Stroke Length and Stroke Rate Pacing and Energy Conservation Visualization

In today's episode, I'm speaking with Dudley Duncan, a seasoned coach and author of The Art of Swimming and The Game of Racing. Dudley has spent years refining his approach to swimming and he's sharing some incredible insights that will help you improve both your mindset and your technique in the water.

We cover stroke mechanics, the power of visualization to boost your performance, and strategies to build confidence so that you feel stronger and more capable every time you swim. Dudley also talks about how to balance hard work with mental toughness, giving you practical tips to stay motivated and achieve your goals.

Whether you're training for a big race, or just looking to swim smoother and faster, this episode is packed with ideas to help you take your swimming to the next level. Let's dive in.

02:22 How Did You Get Into the World Of Swimming 05:40 Philosophy in Developing Personal Growth of Swimmers 08:02 Setting Standards 09:00 Pulling People Back In The Line 11:28 Pushing Athletes To Their Limit 14:20 Philosophy in Developing Good Technique 19:59 Kayak Analogy 21:43 Drills 26:42 Visualization 35:22 Developing Confidence 38:13 Dealing with Failure 40:48 Advise to New Coaches

Welcome to this week's episode of the Effortless Swimming podcast. My guest today is four time guest, Tracey Baumann. On this episode, we're talking about the speed equation, your combination of stroke length and stroke rate, and how to find that sweet spot for whatever distance or whatever effort you're doing.

This is really the art of it. This is the art of swimming where we want to develop good technique, but then in order to swim faster, we need to make sure that we maintain that technique. but we consider the stroke rate side of the equation. So on this episode, Tracy and I talk about how to find that sweet spot, some sets and some ways that you can practice this and find this in training and some ways that you can develop gears in your swimming.

If you find that you're stuck and you can't get faster and you've only got this one speed that you're always stuck in, how can you actually go about developing those different gears? So let's jump into the episode with Tracey Baumann.

02:58 Everybody Can Learn Something 04:48 Direction of Energy 06:44 Purposeful Exageration 08:42 Remembering Knowing Where To Look 09:50 Fingernails Forward 12:21 Flattening Out A Tablecloth (Breast Stroke) 13:31 Speed Equation 17:18 What is the Magic Number? 19:53 Sets 21:25 Fast and Slow Tempos 26:42 Having Different Gears 34:54 For Intermediate Swimmers 36:18 What People Should Know 38:31 Intention Setting

This week, we are featuring some of the best bits from 2024. We had dozens of different guests on, and we've picked out what we think are some of the highlights, some of the best bits from some of those episodes. So it's like a highlights reel for 2024.

And if you have listened to this show once or a hundred times, If you haven't left us a review in the Apple app store or on Spotify, it would mean a lot to me. If you could do that, it helps us out and helps us get in front of more people. I'm looking forward to 2025. We've got some big plans for the podcast, our YouTube channel, and then also the clinics and the camps that we run.

So if you haven't joined us on any of those things and you'd like to, you can head to effortlessswimming.com. If you're in Sydney, we've added a bunch of more clinic dates for freestyle and fly back and breast. Through late December and early January. So if you are in Sydney at that time, come and check us out there.

And you can find that on our website as well at effortlessswimming.com. Let's get into this week's episode highlights from 2024.

01:18 James Lawrence 02:44 Sharon Van Rouwendaal 05:11 Hollie Buerckner 06:49 Jarrod Briffa 08:55 Dan Eisenhardt 10:07 Dean Summers 13:18 Tracey Baumann 14:44 Nick Jankovskis 17:04 Jaimie Fuller 18:17 Craig Lewin 20:02 Sharon Van Rouwendall and Moesha Johnson 22:32 Bek Keat 23:56 Sandra Harrell 26:09 Laura Quilter 28:18 Kat Matthews 30:39 Ryan Evernden

Are you struggling with the unpredictability of open water swimming? I used to hate every second of it, until I learned these tips, which completely changed the way that I thought and went about open water swimming. In this episode, you'll learn how to transform your swimming from feeling anxious and uncomfortable in the open water, To feeling confident and at ease.

00:00 Introduction 00:52 Don't be a victim 01:42 Sighting 04:01 Course Recon 04:50 Goggles 05:25 Stroke Changes 09:19 Stroke rate 10:21 Why am I Slower in open water? 11:57 Drafting 14:41 Pack swimming 17:41 Wetsuits 20:24 Bi-Lateral Breathing 21:20 Dealing with cold water 22:28 Tides and currents 24:00 Entry and exit 25:33 Dealing with panic 27:20 Practice in the pool 29:39 Race Day Strategy 31:35 Swim camps

Ryan Evernden is the founder of Formidable Strength and Conditioning, a coaching service that’s reshaping how swimmers integrate strength training into their routines. Ryan isn't just any strength coach; he specializes in tailoring strength and conditioning programs specifically for swimmers, helping them power through the water with more speed and resilience while safeguarding against injuries. Today, Ryan will share his insights on the essential strength exercises for swimmers, how to prevent common swimming injuries, and some truly inspiring success stories from the athletes he’s worked with. Whether you’re a competitive swimmer looking to enhance your performance or a recreational swimmer aiming to swim smarter and stronger, Ryan’s expertise is sure to provide valuable guidance.

02:19 Veering towards Strength Training for Swimmers 03:11 Trying to Create Swimmers For Life 04:14 Preventing Injuries 04:32 Coming Right Back Around The Basics 06:14 Assessing Mobility and Range of Motions 07:20 Improving Overhead Range of Motions 11:18 Starting Inside Out 12:13 Finding The Balance 14:51 Strength Required For Long Distance Swimmers 21:38 How Do I Fit My Strength Sessions 29:00 Common Misconceptions 35:33 Age Group Strength and Conditioning

What does it take to finish second at the Ironman World Championships? In this episode, I'm joined by professional triathlete, Kat Matthews, who's not only a fierce competitor, but also a source of inspiration for anyone looking to elevate their performance. Kat opens up about the strategies and habits that helped her climb to the top, from staying consistent with her swim training, even while traveling, to making small technique tweaks that delivered massive results.

We talk about her mental approach to open water swimming, How she tackles the swim to bike transition, and the mindset required to thrive in tough race conditions. Kat also shares her journey of recovering from injury, and how it transformed her mental resilience. We discuss why creating a stable training environment, and dialing in proper nutrition, and learning to fuel correctly during workouts can make all the difference.

Not just in racing, but in life. Whether you're a triathlete, a swimmer, or someone looking to gain a competitive edge, This episode is packed with actionable tips and powerful insights to help you achieve your best. So dive in and let Kat's story motivate you to push past your limits.

03:02 Leading up to the World Championship. Keeping the consistency and structure.

06:59 Vo2 Sets.

09:13 Travel and Training Calendar.

10:44 No Pressure Swims.

12:48 Change of Pace, Feeling of Control.

17:02 Swimming From Inside Out.

19:14 Race Conditions.

24:52 Don't Be A Victim

26:50 Openwater Stroke.

28:04 Bike Transition

33:00 Creating a Stable Training Environment

39:54 Fueling Correctly.

Mitch Kibby is a professional triathlete who's placed 16th in the 70.3 World Championship. He began his triathlon career without a swimming background, and has gone on to compete with some of the strongest swimmers in the pro field. This is how he did it.

00:22 Introduction 00:57 Favourite cue 01:56 Kick 03:03 Breathing both sides 05:11 Catch and pull 08:38 Developing speed 09:57 Long-term approach to improvement 10:33 Finding the right company and support

With experience coaching over 8,000 swimmers, I'm sharing what really works to improve your freestyle—from finding a relaxed, efficient stroke to mastering the catch and pull. Tune in now!

00:34 Introduction 00:59 The Importance of Relaxation and Breathing 02:54 Reducing Drag for Better Swimming 04:41 Achieving the Perfect Body Position 06:04 Effective Leg Movement and Core Engagement 09:56 Mastering Rotation 13:21 Breathing Techniques 17:01 Recovery and Entry Position 23:40 Perfecting the Catch and Pull 30:55 Finish of Stroke 32:43 Rhythm and the Timing of the Stroke (the dance)

In this episode, we sit down with Tracey Baumann to explore swim stroke synchronization and body connection for a more efficient swim. We discuss six key synchronization points, the importance of feeling the water, and the role of joint mechanics in creating a powerful stroke. Tracy shares her coaching evolution toward focusing on technique and sensory cues, emphasizing the benefits of short-interval training. Tune in now!

00:08 Introduction 01:12 Upcoming Swimming Camps 01:34 Meet Tracey Baumann 2:23 Starting with Stroke Synchronization 3:17 Building the Stroke from the Inside Out 6:45 Avoiding Dead Spots in the Stroke 10:12 Six Key Synchronization Points 17:37 Transferring Pressure and Connecting with the Water 22:52 Softening the Hands for Better Connection 27:00 Effective Coaching Language 29:40 Grounding and Body Awareness 36:00 Short Interval Training 38:40 The Impact of Bones and Joint Mechanics 42:37 Get in touch with Tracey!

Kiah Melverton, an Olympian, former world record holder, and World Championship silver medalist, joins us in this episode. Kiah offers advice on improving freestyle technique, highlighting key areas swimmers should focus on to achieve a faster, more efficient stroke. Tune in now!

00:30 Meet Kia Malverton 00:5 Head and Body Position 01:26 Kicking 04:01 Recovery and Catch 05:24 Breathing Techniques and Rhythm 07:17 Racing Cues and Technique Focus 09:15 Reflecting on Career Highlights 10:12 Advice and Training Insights 11:56 Challenging and Favorite Sets

I’ve spent 25 years helping adults become better swimmers, from beginners to pro triathletes. In this podcast, I’ll share what really works to go from feeling slow and frustrated to swimming fast, efficiently, and effortlessly.

00:00 Introduction 00:54 Balancing Tension and Relaxation 01:34 Reality vs Perception 02:24 Finding Your Unique Swimming Style 03:34 The Importance of Technique Over Effort 04:48 Kick Supports NOT Propels 05:57 Overthinking vs Feeling the Water 07:35 Swim Softer to go FASTER 08:42 Consistency is KING 11:14 Don't train like a runner! 13:26 Using Swimming Aids 15:09 Developing Your Stroke Step-by-Step 16:37 Long-Term vs Short-Term Goals 18:34 Strength and Mobility 20:08 Slow to Fast 21:14 Stroke Length vs Stroke Rate 23:26 Training for Specific Events 24:39 Open Water Swimming Tips 25:45 Turn off distraction!

Today, we’re joined by Craig Lewin, founder of Endurance Swimming, who discovered his passion in the open water. Though he started as an average swimmer in the pool, Craig found his stride in marathon swimming, where endurance and mindset matter more than speed. In this episode, he shares his journey and insights on tackling challenging open water swims. Tune in now!

01:24 Journey into Marathon Swimming 06:01 Building a Support Network and Mentors 13:05 Training and Recovery Strategies 15:25 Patience in Progress: The Long-Term Training Mindset 18:15 Embracing the Flow: Letting Go of Pace in Long Swims 20:45 Tempo vs. Stroke Length 22:30 Mental Preparation and Long Swims 27:35 Building Confidence Through Repetition 28:36 Finding the Right Coach for Long Swims 31:05 Get in touch with Craig!

In this episode, we sit down with Ash Delaney, coach of Olympic Gold Medalist and 100m freestyle world-record holder Kyle Chalmers. Ash shares his approach to coaching freestyle and offers valuable insights into how swimmers can improve their speed and technique in the water. 00:13 Introduction 00:37 Body Position and Kick Mechanics 01:58 Coaching Kyle Chalmers 03:01 Recovery and Entry 04:41 The Importance of Video Feedback 04:47 Setting Up Your Catch 5:46 Favorite Drills 7:56 Breathing Techniques 10:05 Coaching Philosophy and Common Mistakes 12:25 Challenging Training Sets 13:50 Memorable Races: Best and Worst 15:27 The Best Advice

Jaimie Fuller is the founder of EO, the creators of the SwimBetter device, which measure the force and direction of a swimmer's hand movements. These devices were used by gold and silver medalists in the 100m freestyle, Pan Zhang Lee and Kyle Chalmers, in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics. Tune in now!

00:00 Introduction 02:08 Top Swimmers Using eo SwimBETTER 05:55 Downward Force in Swimmers: What the Data Reveals 9:34 Measuring Force and Direction for Stroke Improvement 16:31 Remote Coaching and Real-Time Feedback 20:29 Analyzing Brenton's Swim 25:40 Finding Your Unique Handpath 28:04 Understanding Force vs. Time 39:04 The Role of Hand Size in Performance 40:27 Launching a New Program

The women's 10km open water race at the Paris Olympics was a thrilling and grueling event that saw Sharon Van Rouwendaal of the Netherlands and Moesha Johnson of Australia showcase extraordinary endurance and strategy. Taking out the gold and silver medals, Sharon and Moesha put together a race for the ages. In this episode, we dive into the details of the race and how it played out.

00:00 Introduction 01:45 Race Strategy 07:24 Preparation and Training 10:43 Adapting to Different Race Conditions 18:24 Navigating the Final Laps 24:06 Crossing the Finish Line 25:30 Moesha's Makes History for Australia in Open Water 27:50 Finding Strength in Loss 34:59 The Mindset of Champions 36:09 Post-Race Experiences: Media Attention and Future Plans 41:37 Get in touch with Sharon and Moesha!

Join former 6x Ironman Distance Champion and high-performance triathlon coach, Bek Keat, as she shares her insights on adapting your swimming stroke from the pool to the open water. Discover the changes triathletes must make to swim effectively in challenging conditions such as chops, waves, and crowded environments. Beck also reflects on her journey as a professional triathlete, discussing the lessons she learned and the transition into coaching. Tune in now!

00:00 Introduction 02:43 The Differences Between Open Water and Pool Swimming 05:48 The Importance of an Open Arm Recovery 11:40 Back to Basics: The Fundamentals of Breathing 17:52 The Impact of Changing Stroke Techniques 25:21 Bilateral Breathing and Breathing Patterns 29:58 Mobility, Flexibility, and Triathlon Training 35:09 The Pitfalls of Following Fitfluencers 39:21 The Accuracy of Metrics and Electronic Devices 41:51 Using Perceived Effort and Tuning into the Body 44:59 Getting Out of a Rut in Swimming: Ditch the Tech and Just Swim 49:07 Wetsuits and Buoyancy Shorts 51:30 Getting in Touch with Bek!

In today's episode, Dr. Sandra Harrell, a former 5-time NCAA All-American swimmer and physical therapy expert, shares her insights on injury prevention, strength training, and performance optimization. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Harrell covers the importance of consistent strength training, nutrition, and recovery. Her tips are valuable for athletes and those looking to stay fit as they age. Tune in now!

00:00 Introduction 02:05 The Importance of Proper Treatment and Care for Injuries 06:06 Lessons Learned: How I Would Approach Swimming Injuries Differently 08:58 Common Mistakes in Nutrition for Athletes 12:02 When and How to Start Strength Training 16:46 The Importance of Progressive Loading 20:32 The Timeframe for Seeing Results in Strength Training 22:33 The Role of Nutrition in Muscle Building and Recovery 26:50 How to Make Nutrition and Training Effortless 29:14 Customized Programs: Tailoring Training for Athletes' Goals 33:28 Finding the Right Balance: Training vs. Recovery 38:19 Success Stories: Overcoming Injuries and Improving Performance 42:46 Lifting Weights for Longevity: The Key to Enjoying Activities as We Age 48:33 How to Get in Touch with Sandra!

We're thrilled to have Chipper and Chris, the powerhouse duo behind the Löw Tide Böyz, join us. Based in Northern California, this dynamic SwimRun team is on a mission to grow the sport of SwimRun and bring it to the forefront of endurance athletics. In this episode, we'll explore why many endurance athletes are making the transition to this sport. We discuss the reasons behind its rapid growth and provide valuable insights for those interested in getting started with SwimRun. Tune in now!

00:54 Introduction to Chipper and Chris, the Löw Tide Böyz 06:27 What is SwimRun? The Basics and Origins 08:29 The Evolution of Equipment and Gear in SwimRun 13:55 Training and Strength Requirements for SwimRun 16:55 The aha moment: falling in love with SwimRun 20:36 Unexpected Challenges and Overcoming Obstacles in SwimRun 26:35 The Success of the Löw Tide Böyz Podcast: Building a Global Community 29:41 The Future of SwimRun: Innovations and Changes 35:04 Your Guide to Starting SwimRun: Resources and Tips 36:38 Get in touch with the Löw Tide Böyz!

James Anderson is an Australian-based international speaker, author, and educator passionate about helping people become better learners. In today’s episode, we cover how to fast-track our improvement as swimmers, when and how to use feedback on our technique, as well how to develop the skill of learning for better results in our swimming, work and family lives. Tune in now!

02:53 Introduction to Learning and Learnership 04:27 Understanding the Difference: Being Taught vs. Learning 26:41 Different Levels of Learners 08:57 Differentiating Between Acceptable and Unacceptable Mistakes 12:05 Active Learning and Intentional Practice 14:56 Developing a Growth Mindset and Embracing Feedback 18:42 Transforming Feedback into Actionable Advice 24:32 Changing How You See Feedback 34:32 Comfort Zone vs. Learning Zone 38:25 Frustration as a Sign of Growth 45:43 Why Some Swimmers Get Faster Immediately, While Others Get Slower 47:20 Cultivating Habits of Mind 50:28 Get in touch with James!

Today, we’re excited to welcome Tracey Bauman back to the podcast! She was a hit on episode 338, where we discussed making swimming more comfortable and efficient. In this episode, we’ll dive deeper into building a strong connection between your torso, legs, and arms, and the importance of good posture and alignment. We’ll also explore the benefits of experimenting with different kicking techniques, how body rotation affects propulsion, and finding the right balance between stroke rate and stroke count. Tune in now!

01:33 Building the Body from the Inside Out: The Key to Connection and Timing 5:35 Breaking Down the Catch 11:00 Visualizing the Ideal Arm Position for Faster, Safer Swimming 14:38 Understanding the Role of the Kick 19:56 Choosing the Right Kick Type and How to Execute It 30:00 Finding Balance and Power through Body Rotation 37:23 Stroke Rate and Cadence 43:32 Why Chasing Times Isn't Always the Answer 46:45 Get in touch with Tracy!

In today’s episode, we’re diving into a Q&A session where I will answer your questions submitted on Instagram! Tune in for helpful tips and insights on how to improve your swimming.

00:48 I tried adjusting my head position, but my legs still sit too low. Do you have any recommendations? 02:42 How do you keep your hand up and gliding during the reach phase? 05:26 How do I ensure I feel my lats during a workout rather than my traps and upper back? 06:47 I went from a 1:45 to a 1:32 pace in four months, thanks to you. Now I'm hitting a wall. Any advice? 09:04 Can you explain the timing for rotation in catch phase? 13:18 How long does it take to go from being a leisurely swimmer to a highly competent swimmer? 15:48 How do you improve the skill of feeling the water? 19:20 When I push hard on the pull, it speeds up my entire process. How do I keep the cadence regular? 22:20 First focus priority, kick or catch? 23:25 Why is swimming focused on rep time cycles instead of work-to-rest ratios? 24:38 My stomach drops, but my head and legs are up, resulting in this weird U-shaped form. How do I fix it? 26:31 Send your questions!

In today's episode, we have Laura Quilter, a New Zealand swimmer and coach who has previously been the national champion in the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle. Laura has achieved a lifetime PB at the age of 31, with only a third of the training she was doing in her earlier years. She’s also ventured into the sport of ice swimming (water under 5 degrees celsius) and is coaching through her platform at Aura Move. Tune in now!

02:14 Introduction and Background 04:33 Training Changes and Mindset Shift 06:55 Understanding the Sprint Stroke: Differences and Techniques 10:03 Coaching Middle to Long Distance Swimmers: More Time to Work Through 14:56 Paralysis by Analysis: The Pitfalls of Overthinking in Swimming 16:39 The Importance of Fun and Play in Swimming and Racing 20:42 Shifting Competitive Focus to Skill Execution 23:37 Curiosity as a Key Element in Consistency 29:27 Ice Swimming: Challenges and Experiences 34:24 The Recovery Process: Stripping off wet clothes and getting warm 35:47 Adapting Coaching Techniques for Individual Swimmers 40:22 Get in touch with Laura!

In this episode, we welcome back Nick Jankovskis, a sports scientist and endurance performance coach at METS Performance Consulting. Nick is an expert in improving endurance performance through accurate analysis of physiological testing. We dive into fueling and how to test physiology for endurance sports, particularly focusing on Ironman events and long-distance races. Nick shares insights on the new equipment at METS Performance that allows for more detailed testing and provides better numbers for fueling requirements. Tune in now! 00:49 Introduction and Upgrade in Equipment 03:37 Understanding the Breakdown of Fuel Utilization 08:35 Common Issues with Fueling 14:01 Timing and Frequency of Fuel Intake in Training Sessions 18:38 The Importance of Flexibility in Fueling 25:40 How Proper Fueling Can Improve Performance in Long Swimming Sessions 29:30 Challenges of Testing for Swimmers 39:41 Understanding Individual Differences in Fueling 52:12 The Power of Implementing Basic Fundamentals 53:18 Get in touch: Testing and Consultation Services

I'll share some helpful tips from the clinics and sessions we run that will improve your swimming speed and efficiency on today's podcast. I'll also discuss some new equipment I've purchased that has improved my strength, made swimming more enjoyable, and boosted my overall performance. 00:18 Introduction 00:47 Avoiding Early Breathing in Freestyle: Head vs. Shoulder Rotation 02:37 Exploring Different Kick Techniques 06:09 Addressing Fatigue and Comfort in the Water 09:07 Improving Balance and Efficiency in the Water 13:37 The Game-Changing Custom Earplugs for Swimming 15:32 How a Chin Up Bar Helped Improve My Upper Body Strength 18:07 The Benefits of Anti Fog Goggles 20:10 How This Magnesium Powder Transformed My Sleep 21:25 ES Squad: Level Up Your Swim Workouts 24:25 Exciting Camps Planned for Next Year Try PILLAR today, head to pillarperformance.shop and enter code EFFORTLESS for 15% off, or for any North American listeners, enter the same code at TheFeed.com.

Join us on this episode as we sit down with Tracey Baumann, the co-founder of SwimMastery and author of 'The Swim Mastery Way'. With over 20 years of teaching and coaching experience, Tracy has worked with swimmers of all levels, from beginners to English Channel swimmers. In this podcast, Tracey shares her expert insights and cues from her book, offering valuable tips to help you become a faster and more efficient swimmer.

00:15 Introduction and Background 04:01 Breath Management and Overcoming Fear exchange and calmness 09:18 Teaching Swimmers to Breathe Using Their Diaphragm: Challenges and Solutions 12:18 How Often Should You Breathe? 18:20 The Role of Bones and Joints in Achieving Proper Body Position 21:58 Exploring the Relationship Between Hip Flexors and Body Position in Water 26:04 Teaching Effective Kicking Techniques 28:00 Over-Rotation and Losing Position: Common 33:35 The Trident Analogy 35:16 Shoulders and Scapula Mechanics in Swimming: Debunking Common Misconceptions 38:33 Tapping into Natural Joint Mechanics for a Better Catch 42:44 Developing a Sensory Connection to the Water 47:11 The Power of Tactile Feedback in Swim Coaching 48:56 The Physics Behind a Correct Arm Recovery 55:00 Get in touch with Tracey!

Felipe Telles broke the magical 60-minute barrier in his first ever Ironman swim, coming in at 56 minutes with an average of 1:28/100m. When he first started swimming a few years ago, Felipe struggled to go faster than 2:00/100m. So how did he manage to increase his speed by that much? Find out in today’s podcast episode.

00:56 Swimming Background 03:34 The Impact of Learning the Right Technique 07:09 How Relaxation Transforms Your Swim 09:50 The Benefits of Incorporating Drills in Swim Workouts 13:18 Structured Sessions: Warm-ups, Technique, and Intense Training 16:46 Finding the Balance: Consistency vs. Pushing Too Hard in Training 20:35 How to Get the Most Out of Your Swim Training 24:23 How Observing Others Can Improve Your Technique 31:20 Catch and Pull: Finding the Right Amount of Power 37:23 Swimming Tips for Triathletes: Small Changes, Big Results 41:24 Follow Felipe on Instagram for Inspiring Content

In this episode, Marquest Meeks shares his inspiring journey of transforming from a non-swimmer to comfortably swimming over 1000 yards without stopping. He opens up about the mental and physical obstacles he had to overcome along the way. Join us as we dive into this episode!

01:02 Swimming Background 9:00 Doing Half Ironman 09:30 I Gotta Start With Something 16:52 But Swimming 25:53 Signing Up For The Stroke Analysis 35:53 Kicking Hard 44:18 Climbing Up A Mountain 47:10 It's Not Comfortable But I Am Not Dying

In this episode, we have Carl Reader, a functional movement coach with a background in exercise physiology and Pilates. We will discuss the connection between hamstring strength, mobility, and how it can improve swimming performance. Carl has extensive experience working with swimmers to improve their movement and strength training. Join us as we delve into his research and practices in today's episode.

00:00 Introduction 00:59 Techniques and Tips from a Functional Movement Coach 01:59 The Role of Hamstrings in Maintaining Speed and Efficiency in Swimming 05:21 Exploring the Relationship Between Hamstrings and Calf Muscles 08:14 Factors Affecting Hamstring Strength 11:20 Strengthening Techniques for Better Posture and Muscle Activation 13:39 Squats: One of the Best Ways to Strengthen the Hamstring 17:43 Signs to Look Out for: Indicators of Hamstring Issues 21:08 Core Engagement in Squats: Finding Balance

Prescott Balch is an ironman triathlete who started at 2:10/100m, and is now able to consistently swim under 1:30/100m. He recently broke through a plateau in his swim times by focusing on one change to his swim technique. In this podcast we delve into what change Prescott made and some unique approaches he took to fixing these areas of his stroke.

00:00 Introduction 01:09 Overcoming Plateaus and Finding Speed 05:27 Weak Core, Weak Performance 12:02 Body Awareness Challenges for Adult Onset Swimmers 16:35 How Dead Hangs and Handstands Improve Upper Body Strength 21:14 Executing a Well-Planned Race: Negative Splits and Smooth Pacing 30:45 How a Good Swim Sets the Tone for the Rest of the Race 34:57 What's next for Prescott? 38:27 Exploring the Concept of "Swimming Downhill"

In today's episode, we will talk about the BEST WAYS to look good when swimming.

02:00 The Base Position 03:35 Have The Right Amount Of Rotation 04:48 Keep The Kick Fairly Narrow 05:53 Good Recovery 09:05 Soft Hands 10:20 Good Looking Freestyle Is Never Hurried Or Rushed 11:41 Slow To Fast 12:06 Skinny S Shape 12:31 The Breathing 14:00 The Kick 14:41 Style Is Important 15:36 Visualize Yourself Swimming Like A Pro

In this episode, we discuss three ways to generate more propulsion without getting tired, along with a drill that will help you practice each of these methods.

00:16 Generating propulsion 01:31 The Size of the Paddle 03:44 The Power Phase of the Stroke 08:31 Accelerate through the Stroke. 11:01 Keyhole Drill 12:58 Building Power and Speed in Your Stroke

In this episode, we have a special guest, marathon swimmer Andy Donaldson, who is a three-time world record holder. Andy shares his insights on freestyle technique and how he is able to maintain an impressive pace of 1:12 per 100m for 4 hours. This episode focuses solely on technique, as we delve into Andy's thought process and approach to his stroke. Tune in now!

00:00 Introduction and Background 2:31 Where is your head position? 2:58 How often are you breathing? 4:30 How do you use your kick? 5:23 What does your recovery look like? 8:09 What is the end of your stroke like? 9:07 What is your rotation like? 9:47 How did you develop your catch? 11:13 How much power are you putting into each stroke? 11:54 What do you do to increase your swim speed? 13:11 How do you like to train? 14:20 What pace are you aiming for? 14:49 What stroke rate are you aiming for?

In March of 2024, Dean Summers set out to break the record for Australia’s longest ever unassisted swim. Leaving from Newcastle’s Nobbys beach and planning to land at Palm Beach, Sydney for a total of 95.6km. Battling blue bottle jellyfish, hallucinations and less than perfect conditions, Dean had a challenge ahead of him. The swim had been unsuccessfully attempted by two other swimmers in the 1980’s and 90’s, including well known Australian swimmer Des Renford whose shark cage sunk off the coast after treacherous conditions. In this episode, you’ll hear the story of an expedition into waters that have never been swam in.

00:00 Introduction 03:52 The Origin of the Newcastle to Sydney Swim 08:44 Building the Dream Team: Finding the Right Support 11:59 The Commitment and Preparation for a Long Swim 14:08 Navigating 07Whirlpools and Tides 16:45 Feeding Strategy : Carbohydrates and Protein 20:11 The Constant Sting: Battling Bluebottles in the Ocean 23:15 Bioluminescence and the Milky Way 29:44 The Final Stretch: Locking in on the Goal and Reaching the Beach 34:35 Post-Swim Reflections: Burnt and Hungry 38:44 Lessons Learned from a Grueling Swim 44:15 The Connection Between Family and the Love of Water 50:30 What's next?

Dan Eisenhardt, CEO and Founder of FORM Swim, shares his journey of creating the world's first augmented reality swim goggles. Discover how real-time data can enhance your training sessions, the most useful features of the goggles, and the challenges faced during development. If you're looking to forge your own path in your professional life, Dan also provides valuable insights on getting started and three essential considerations for starting a business. Tune in to this episode for all this and more.

02:05 The Light Bulb Moment 04:49 The Evolution of Technology in Swimming Goggles 06:23 Testing the Prototype 07:52 The Complications of Delivering Low Latency Heart Rate Sensing in Water 12:47 The Indispensable Tool for Swimmers 13:56 Taking Areas of Interest and Experience to Create Something Different 16:13 Serendipity and the Right Place, Right Time 20:17 The Importance of Learning from Competitors 24:13 Acting with Conviction: Getting Things Done 29:00 Favourite Features in Form goggles 32:44 The Value of Premium Offerings 38:36 The Three Key Factors in Business Success 43:02 Form Goggles: A Game-Changer for Low-Tech Swimmers

In today's episode, I'll be sharing some of the mistakes I made in coaching and the valuable lessons I learned along the way. I believe these lessons can help you avoid similar pitfalls and succeed in your coaching journey. Additionally, I'm excited to announce the launch of our new course, the Freestyle Coaching Masterclass. Be sure to tune in!

00:30 Coaching Masterclass 04:02 Be Firm And Not Their Friend 06:52 Setting Minimum Standards 10:37 Energy is Transferred 13:28 Being Memorable 15:53 4 Hours Workweek : Mexican Fisherman and the Banker

In this episode, we sit down with Jarrod Briffa, an Australian freediving athlete, instructor, and online coach trained in the Oxygen Advantage. Jarrod's expertise lies in the power of breath and how it can enhance performance, reduce stress, and aid in recovery. As the founder of Drifters Freediving, he offers courses and private coaching to help individuals improve their breathing techniques. He has been the Australian Men's Champion at The Pool Freediving National Championships and has represented Australia in pool freediving at international competitions. Join us as we explore the importance of proper breathing in sports and everyday life.

00:00 Introduction 02:37 The Importance of CO2 Tolerance in Breathing 04:57 Understanding CO2 Tolerance and Breathing Patterns 08:12 Assessments and Exercises for CO2 Tolerance 9:52 Diaphragmatic Awareness for Swimmers: Techniques and Benefits 16:57 Building CO2 Tolerance 20:28 Benefits of Nasal Breathing for Swimmers 23:00 The Science of Breath Holding: Understanding Your Body's Responses and Limits 30:15 Breathing Easy in the Water: Effective Exercises and Techniques for Swimmers 38:40 Mental Strategies for Increasing Breath Length 39:43 Race Day Breathing Strategies for Swimmers 42:29 The Relationship Between CO2 Tolerance and Lactic Tolerance 47:37 The Impact of Proper Breathing on Recovery and Performance 51:09 Get In Touch with Jarod for Coaching!

In this episode, I'll share ten ways to increase your swim speed and become a better swimmer. So, let's dive in and explore these effective strategies.

00:29 Train Another Stroke 01:50 Change The Way That You're Training 03:04 Being Diligent With Your Skills 05:06 To Become Supple 05:53 Joining a Squad Or a Group of Swimmers 09:08 Occasionally, Don't Track Anything 10:40 Keeping Calm Under Pressure 12:58 Commit To A Swim Block 14:03 Pick One Thing And Stick To It For Three Months 15:50 Get Professional Help

Hollie Buerckner, an osteopath and swimmer, shares tips on preventing and rehabilitating shoulder injuries in a podcast episode. She suggests specific exercises to address shoulder issues and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between strength and mobility. Tune in to learn more.

00:00 Introduction 02:38 Understanding Shoulder Injuries in Swimmers 03:25 Four Causes of Shoulder Pain in Swimmers 05:13 Relationship Between Shoulder Pain and Range of Motion 09:51 Effective Shoulder Exercises for Swimmers 14:36 Common Mistakes Leading to Shoulder Pain in Swimmers 18:02 YTA Exercise for Scapular Strength 20:06 High Intensity vs. High Volume Training 22;34 Importance of Addressing Shoulder Pain Early 24:32 Balancing Mobility and Strength Training for Busy Athletes 27:42 The Stubbornness of Swimmers in Dealing with Pain 29:44 Motivation to Take Care of the Body 35:11 Get in touch with Hollie!

In this podcast episode, we hear from Jay Mueller, an emergency doctor who started swimming 16 months ago after injuries led him to take up the sport, as he could no longer run or ride. When Jay first started, he was averaging 2:15-2:30/100m and finding he was exhausted after a few hundred meters. Fast forward to today, where he is consistently swimming between 1:20-1:30 in training, with a personal best of 1:06 in the 100m freestyle. Tune in to learn about his transformation and the lessons he has learned along the way.

00:00 Introduction and Background 4:21 Initial Pace and Improvement 7:21 From Fast Swims to Sustainable Laps 9:38 The Science Behind Shoulder Pain Relief through Static Hangs 15:27 Improving Rotation and Reach 18:22 Strategies for Maintaining Buoyancy and Momentum in the Water 23:15 The Challenges of Learning a New Skill 28:28 Importance of Body Awareness in Swimming Technique 34:09 Drills for Technique Improvement 37:47 Impressive Swimming Progress in a Short Time 38:34 Being Patient and Kind to Yourself

In today's episode, we dive into a conversation with Frank Sole, the author of 'The Five "B" Method to a Successful Triathlon Swim.' We discuss Frank's evolution as a coach since writing the book, his key lessons for new athletes, and the importance of terminology in training and team dynamics. Frank also shares insights on leveraging breathing techniques for improved performance in the water, drawing from his training with a world-renowned expert. Tune in now!

00:00 Introduction 02:01 Challenges and Rewards of Coaching Retired Athletes 05:47 Elevating Your Swimming Sessions 09:59 Empowering Athletes Through Coaching: Building Trust and Value 16:04 The Science and Art of Mental Strength in Sports 20:21 Overcoming Setbacks and Staying Committed to Swim Training 22:21 The Power of Developing Good Habits 25:42 Breath Control and Body Position 30:33 Breath Work for Athletes: Building Lung Capacity and Endurance 36:47 Back to Basics: The Fundamental Role of Breathing in Coaching 43:09 Enhancing Swimming Skills through Play and Exploration 46:46 Swimming Without a Watch: Embracing the Feel of the Water 51:12 Embracing the Suck and Enjoying the Journey 55:40 Finding Creative Ways to Convey Instructions to Athletes 57:47 Celebrating Progress: Recognizing Improvements in Swimming 1: 01:11 Lessons Learned from Coaching Older Athletes 1:02:47 Get in touch with Frank Sole!

Join us in today's episode as we interview one of the best open water swimmers in the world, Sharon van Rouwendaal. We will delve into her recent double win at the world championships, her intense training regimen, and the mental fortitude that drives her success. She will be sharing insights on her transition from pool to open water swimming, managing injuries, and the importance of technique and kick in her training. Uncover Sharon's unwavering commitment to greatness, and her relentless pursuit of improvement. Tune in now!

01:41 The Double Win 05:56 The 110 Kilometer Week 08:23 Building Mental Toughness and Confidence 11:16 Training Environment and Culture 14:10 Understanding Open Water Racing 16:35 Transitioning from Pool to Open Water 18:35 Overcoming Shoulder Injury 22:11 Mastering the 6-beat kick 24:54 Learning from a New Coach 26:04 Coaching Others and Sharing Knowledge 30:46 Effective Communication in Coaching: Simplifying Techniques 32:56 5 Different Levels of Speed and Heart Rate Zones 37:34 Challenging Sets and Progression in Swim Training 41:10 Analyzing Training Sets and Building Confidence 44:05 Managing Training Load and Sleep 49:07 Challenges of Transitioning from Running to Swimming 50:34 Exploring Hobbies Beyond Sports 52:52 What's next for Sharon?

James ‘Iron Cowboy’ Lawrence is best known for his world record attempts at completing multiple Ironman events over consecutive days. Firstly, in 2015, he successfully completed 50 Ironmans in 50 days in 50 US states. Then in 2021, he decided to double this and complete 100 Ironmans in 100 days, going on to do this and one more to finish 101. The documentary on this challenge is coming out in March 2024. James is also a public speaker who was given the gift to 'suffer' and now helps provide hope to others and teach mental toughness through voluntary suffering. This episode is not to be missed.

00:00 Introduction 03:21 The Good, the Bad, and the Funny Moments 10:19 Lessons Learned in 50 Ironmans and Conquer 100 14:20 Pushing Limits and Ignoring Pain 15:52 Building Mental Toughness and Resilience 19:13 Mindfulness: Cultivating Inner Peace Amidst Distractions 21:15 How Disconnecting Can Improve Your Mental Health 23:22 Finding Mental Clarity Through Physical Activity 26:25 The Impact of Community and Shared Experiences 34:43 Embracing Difficulties: The Path to Growth and Wisdom 38:22 The Power of Physical Activity and Discomfort 39:48 The Motivation Behind the 50 and 100 Challenges 44:25 The Importance of Hope and Giving Back 47:07 Living Unapologetically and Without Fear of Judgment 50:16 Prioritizing Family Over Others' Opinions 51:55 What's next for James?

In today's podcast episode, professional triathlete and coach Mitch Kibby shares his journey from having little swimming background as a child to becoming a front pack swimmer in the pro field. He is the head coach and founder of i4 Coaching and has worked with Effortless Swimming at our clinics and camps. Mitch discusses his strategies for improving swimming performance and offers valuable insights and tips for swimmers and triathletes looking to improve their skills. Tune in now!

00:00 Introduction 02:39 Swimming Background 07:51 Long Journey to Success 11:01 Lessons Learned from Early Days of Training 16:55 Refining Coaching Cues 17:51 Tips from Elite Triathletes 23:36 Front End Speed Training 27:55 The Power of Training in Challenging Environments 29:22 Shorter Sets, Greater Gains 34:12 Improving Performance through Specific Training 36:15 The Value of Training Partners and Squad Training 39:12 The Hardest and Best Things About Being a Pro Triathlete 42:23 The Benefits of a Flexible Lifestyle 44:00 Transforming Negative Self-Talk into Positive Motivation 49:04 Maintaining Emotional Stability and Setting Realistic Goals 52:06 What's next for Mitch Kibby?

In today's episode, triathlon coach and author Joe Friel returns to discuss swimming and open water techniques, as well as his latest edition of The Triathlete's Training Bible. Joe addresses common challenges triathletes face when transitioning from pool to open water. He emphasizes the importance of patience in making lasting improvements and offers tips for pool training to enhance open water swimming skills. Tune in now!

00:00 Introduction and Previous Episode Recap 2:56 Updates in the Book 4:42 Different Methods for Establishing Intensity Zones 8:49 The Role of Rest and Recovery in Athletic Performance 12:54 Debunking Swimming Myths: The Death Move That Kills Your Progress 16:05 The First Step to a Strong Catch 17:51 Reaching Over the Water in Open Water Swimming 22:50 How Open Water Swimmers Adapt to Rough Conditions 25:10 Teaching Open Water Swimming: The Three Key Words 26:40 Why Intervals Might Not Be Effective for Triathletes in the Pool 32:27 Importance of Focusing on Technique and Patience 36:18 Hardest Swim Workout Prescribed 40:34 Empowering Triathletes to Stick to Effective Swimming Methods 42:28 Most Memorable Triathlon Race 45:04 Golf as a Hobby and Lessons Learned 48:12 Problem-solving and Coaching Methodology 50:15 Triathletes Training Bible: A Must-Have Resource for Athletes

Matthew McElroy is a professional triathlete with 9 World Cup podiums and 1 World Triathlon podium. He was selected as an alternate for the Tokyo Olympics. With a background in cross country and track and field, Matthew had to work hard to develop his swim to get it to an elite level to compete with the best on the world stage. In this podcast, we’ll dive into how he radically transformed his swimming stroke over the last 10 years.

00:00 Introduction 01:56 Swimming Background 05:45 Transitioning from Running to Swimming 11:25 Building Upper Body Strength and Progressing in Triathlon 17:32 Working on Speed and Underwater Techniques 23:49 Balancing Distance per Stroke and Cadence 28:04 Training Strategies for Improving Stroke Rate and Speed 32:33 Explaining Stroke Technique and Focus Areas 34:02 The Importance of Consistency in Swim Training 36:54 Why Video Analysis and Having a Coach Are a Must 41:18 The Power of Mindset: How it Impacts Your Performance 42:52 Overcoming Doubt: Harnessing the Power of Positive Thoughts in Racing 46:16 Superhero Posture: Boosting Confidence in Races 47:42 Situational Awareness in Open Water Swimming: 49:32 Handling Frustration in Open Water Races 51:19 Qualifying for the Paris Olympics

We have an extraordinary guest, Gerrard Gosens, who is a three-time Paralympian and has an impressive list of accomplishments. From competing in running to representing Australia in triathlon at the Commonwealth Games, Gerrard has proven himself as an exceptional athlete. But his achievements don't stop there. He has climbed Mount Everest, completed a 2000km run from Cairns to Brisbane multiple times, and even appeared on Dancing with the Stars.

However, what makes Gerrard's story truly remarkable is his current endeavor to become the first blind person to swim across the English Channel. In this episode, Gerrard shares his journey, the training involved, and the importance of teamwork in achieving such a groundbreaking goal. Tune in now!

02:01 Training to be the First Blind Person to Cross the English Channel 05:21 Overcoming Limitations in Different Training Environments 06:57 Swimming Long Distances with Guide Swimmers 08:48 Swimming with a Tether: The Experience and Benefits 12:15 Listening to the Depth of the Water 13:23 Meet the Guides Taking on the UK Swim 14:55 From Running to Swimming: Embracing Solitude in Training 18:44 Focusing on the Journey, Not the Time 19:56 Overcoming the Quandaries of Swim Technique 24:07 Finding the Balance: Training and Time Management 25:36 Using Emotional Carbohydrates 31:52 Jellyfish, Sea Lice, and Stingrays: Unexpected Encounters in the Water 36:52 Lessons Learned Through Sport 39:52 198 Days to Gerrard's English Channel Swim

In today's episode, we have a fascinating story of transformation. Our guest, pro triathlete Will Draper, started his swimming journey with poor technique and average performance. However, through dedication and hard work, he has completely transformed his swimming abilities. From being unrecognizable in his stroke analysis video in 2019 to becoming a pro triathlete in 2021, Will's progress is truly remarkable. Join us as we dive into Will's journey, exploring the strategies and mindset that fueled his transformation. Discover how Will bridged the gap from a non-swimming background to now swimming strongly, only seconds away from the front pack. Tune in now!

02:04 Introduction and Background 03:46 The Key Moment: Choosing Triathlon Over Cycling 05:52 Training Regime and Approach to Swimming 08:29 Benefits of Training in a Squad vs. Training Alone 10:43 Viewing Swimming as an Infinite Game 12:48 Overcoming Mental Barrier 15:52 Diversifying Workouts: Incorporating Longer Intervals for Speed Work 20:44 Lessons Learned from a Challenging Race 24:35 Transformation from Poor Swimmer to Competitive Triathlete 28:02 Swimming Confidence and Appearance 31:27 Advice for Non-Swimmers in Triathlon 37:25 Triathlon Goals: Aiming for the Front Pack 40:50 Importance of Video Analysis and Making Small Changes 42:47 Follow Will Draper on Instagram

In today's episode, we catch up with professional triathlete Amelia Watkinson, who has achieved remarkable success in her career. With over 17 wins and numerous podium finishes, Amelia shares her secrets to consistency and staying at the top of her game. We dive into her favorite swim training sessions, and the best advice she's received from her coach, and explore various topics related to training, racing, and the mental aspect of being an athlete. Amelia also opens up about overcoming challenges, managing pressure, and finding perspective in the sport. Whether you're a swimmer or a triathlete, this episode is packed with valuable insights that can elevate your training, regardless of your skill level. So join us as we uncover what it takes to compete at the top level and apply those lessons to your own athletic journey.

00:00 Introduction 01:36 Limited Spots Left! Don't Miss Out on Our 2024 Swim Camps 02:37 Taking Control of Your Time: How Blocking Out Dates Led to Personal Growth 04:10 Taking Regular Training Breaks Can Help Prevent Burnout and Improve Performance 05:55 Swimming Background and Improvement 08:22 The Benefits of Training in a Squad Environment 11:29 Finishing Strong and Overcoming Challenges 15:08 Words of Wisdom from Coaches and Mentors 16:03 Tips for Managing Time Differences and Stress while Traveling for Racing 17:27 Helping Age Groupers and Amateur Triathletes Feel More Comfortable 19:17 Lessons Learned and Evolving as an Athlete 20:43 Prioritizing Training Over Screen Time 24:15 Training Solo vs. Training with Others 24:46 Standout Races and Moments in the Last 10 Years 27:24 Managing Pressure: A Privilege and a Challenge 30:47 Upcoming Races and Goals

Get ready to dive into the world of triathlon with our guest, Clayton Fettell, a former professional triathlete turned full-time coach. With 15 years of racing experience under his belt, Clayton has a wealth of knowledge to share. Join us as we explore the key lessons he learned at the pro level and how he passes them on to his athletes. Discover the traits and habits that lead to improved speed and technique, and gain insights into Clayton's favorite training sets that he uses to help his athletes excel. Tune in now!

00:00 Introduction and Background 01:09 Highlights from Pro Racing Career 07:07 The Impact of Parenthood on Perspective 09:04 Transitioning from Athlete to Coach13:28 Challenging the Fastest: A 1K Race in Noosa 14:31 Importance of Technical Focus in Swimming 19:07 Recognizing and Addressing Your Own Swimming Weaknesses 22:48 The Impact of Wetsuits on Swimming Performance 25:40 The Need for Technical Emphasis in Triathlon Swimming 30:14 Why is Video Analysis Important For Swim Improvement? 36:21 Tips for Swimming in Choppy Conditions 42:58 Setting Paces and Gauging Effort 48:18 The Calming Effect of Disconnecting: How Technology-Free Swimming Can Improve Results 54:31 The Unconventional Technique of Olympic Champion Runners 58:51 Get in touch with Clayton!

Ready to level up your swimming game this year? In this episode, we're letting loose a treasure trove of ideas that will make your swimming better than ever before. Whether you've been swimming for a long time or are just starting out. Tune in now!

00:00 Introduction 00:25 Infinite Games in Swimming: Finding Joy in the Process 03:09 The Concept of Play: Incorporating Fun into Swimming 05:06 Investing in Experiences: Rethinking Financial Planning for a Fulfilling Life 10:35 How to Be Honest About Your Strengths and Weaknesses in Training 12:09 The Power of Habits: Transforming Your Life as an Athlete 14:09 Training Solo? Effortless Swimming Membership Has You Covered 16:13 More Exclusive Interviews with Pro Triathletes: Insights and Inspiration

In this episode, Carl Reader, an expert in exercise physiology and Pilates, discusses exercises that can improve movement patterns for swimmers. He focuses on the modified squat, which enhances mobility and activates the hip flexors, and the sumo squat, which targets inner thigh muscles and aids in knee stabilization. Carl emphasizes the importance of addressing imbalances and discusses the electrical system of the body. Tune in to learn how to enhance your swimming performance through improved movement patterns.

00:00 Introduction and Background 2:11 Modified Squat 4:53 Using Slant Boards and Rolled Mats for Better Squatting and Hip Flexor Activation 6:29 Sumo Squat 8:15 Understanding the Depth of Squats: Finding Comfort and Avoiding Back Strain 12:55 Common Movement Patterns in Swimmers 16:29 The Importance of Addressing Shoulder Imbalances in Swimming 19:49 Barefoot: Exploring the Connection Between Movement and Grounding 23:03 Muscle Warm-Up and Understanding the Body's Electrical System 24:48 Why patience and dedication are important for building strength and mobility 26:01 Get in touch with Carl!

Join me today as we sit down with Andrew Sheaff, a highly accomplished coach and author of the book "A Constraints-Led Approach to Swim Coaching." In this episode, Andrew shares his expertise on various aspects of swimming, including breathing techniques and innovative methods for improving catch and pull development. Whether you're a competitive swimmer or simply looking to enhance your swimming skills, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone seeking valuable insights and practical tips from a true expert in the field.

00:00 Introduction 01:22 Improving Breath Awareness and Technique for Swimmers of All Levels 04:45 Mixing Up Breathing Patterns in Swim Training 07:25 Breaking Comfort Zones: Exploring the Benefits of Breathing to the Non-Preferred Side 09:03 A Drill to Improve Breathing on Both Sides 12:15 Common Mistakes in Breathing 18:00 Visual Tricks for Improving Breathing 20:20 Developing a Strong and Effective Catch and Pull 26:39 Knowing When to Push and When to Stop in Training 30:36 Don't Skip the Basics: The Significance of Body Position 34:31 Addressing Low Hips and Legs in Swimmers: Key Factors to Consider 36:44 Learn more about Andrew Shaeff and his work

Have you ever wondered what makes certain podcast episodes stand out, becoming favorites among listeners? Join us as we explore the most impactful episodes from this year on the Effortless Swimming Podcast. From overcoming mental barriers to training secrets of Olympic athletes, each episode has left a lasting impression on our listeners. Reflecting on these conversations, we'll uncover the wisdom and experiences shared by our guests and the valuable life lessons they offer. Gain insights into what made these episodes popular and discover the secrets that set them apart from the rest!

00:32 EP #267: How To Adapt Your Stroke For Triathlons with 70.3 World Champion Tim Reed 05:55 EP #272: Swim Softer To Go Faster with Brant Best 10:37 EP #279: How Swimming Instills Lifelong Discipline with Pro Triathlete Joshua Lewis 17:14 EP #286: What It Takes To Win Olympic Gold And Break Worlds Records with Ryan Murph 25:19 EP #278: Using Stroke Rate, DPS and Consistency To Transform Your Swimming with Brian Johns 30:19 EP #263: A Simple Guide To Finding The Cause Of Your Technique Errors (Not Just The Symptom) 32:52 EP #275: Mental Hack for Marginal Mental Gains with Dr Jim Taylor 37:05 EP #288: How Olympians Use Underwater Filming And Analysis with Kyle Chalmers 41:35 EP #276: On A Mission To Complete The Oceans Seven in One Year with Andy Donaldson 44:48 EP #293: Swimming Secrets With 4x Olympian Brent Hayden 50:22 EP #298: Maintaining Your Competitive Edge For Life with 5x World Champion Craig Alexander

In this episode, professional speaker and author Glenn Capelli shares his expertise on learning better and making better decisions. He focuses specifically on how to improve swimming skills and mindset. Glenn discusses various topics he has studied throughout his life that can be applied to swimming, including getting into flow, maximizing the fun factor in training, using magic words to change approach, and developing small habits that lead to significant results. Tune in to this episode to gain valuable insights and tips for becoming a better swimmer!

01:45 Swimming for Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Health 04:08 The Essence of Flow: Finding Mental and Metabolic Flexibility 07:14 Finding Flow in Swimming: When Time Becomes a Blur 09:51 Discovering Flow in Other Aspects of Life 12:54 Flow and the Power of Whole Brain, Whole Body Engagement 15:01 What is Autotelic? 20:13The Power of Shifting Language: Instead of 'Have to', Say 'Get to'" 24:09 The Endless Journey of Learning: Upping the Challenge, Upping the Skills 27:50 Finding Beauty and Challenge in Swimming and Life 29:12 How Small Changes Can Lead to Success 31:09 Improvement of Life and Training: More, Less, Get Rid of, Throw In, Instead Of 34:45 Swimming is More Than Just a Sport, It's a Path to Friendship and Social Circles 35:57 Connecting with Glenn!

Join us in this inspiring episode as we talk to professional triathlete Kat Matthews. Despite a major setback in 2022 when she was hit by a car before the Kona Ironman World Championships, Kat found inspiration and made a triumphant comeback the following year. We discuss her journey of overcoming adversity and her impressive second-place finish at the Ironman World Championships. Whether you're a seasoned swimmer or just starting out, this episode offers valuable insights. Tune in now!

01:59 Swimming Background 05:12 The Battle of Overthinking 08:20 Recognizing the Difference Between a Good and Bad Swim 11:48 How Head Position Can Impact Swimming 14:53 The Connection Between Kick and Body Position 18:16 Choosing the Right Fins: DMC Elite vs. Arena Powerfins 21:06 Ballerina in a Bucket Cue 22:39 Navigating Loss and Grief: Kat's Journey After the Accident 29:27 The Clues Trauma Leaves: Understanding the Psychological and Physical Effects 31:38 The Double-Edged Sword: Putting Emphasis on Race Results 34:43 Setting Achievable Goals and How Breaking Down Objectives Can Boost Motivation 39:12 The Importance of Translating Training Performance to Race Results 41:42 The Trap of Overdoing Training for Numbers 45:34 The Rewards of Following a Structured Training Routine 51:45 Swimming Advice for Beginners

In this episode, we welcome back Dr Jim Taylor, a renowned psychologist specializing in sports and performance. Dr Taylor shares his insights and strategies from his recent experience at the World Championships in Spain. We discuss topics such as adjusting intensity based on race distance, effective focus and mindset for training and racing, and the importance of being brutally honest with oneself for improvement. Tune in for an enlightening conversation with Dr Jim Taylor.

03:34 Balancing Athletic and Professional Life 04:50 The Range of Physical Intensity in Swimming and its Impact on Performance 08:27 Finding the Balance Between Relaxation and Intensity 15:13 How to Clear Your Mind for Better Performance and What Happens When You Overthink in Races 18:14 Focusing on Higher Cadence and Intensity in Training 20:17 Progressing through Different Levels of Swimming 22:11 Developing a Mindset Plan for Racing 25:49 Tapping into Physical Fuel with the Mind 27:45 Practicing Mental Imagery for Race Preparation 29:20 Applying a Reality Check to Race Results and Performance Evaluation 31:46 The Value of Testing and Assessing Performance 36:44Having a Coach Analyze Data and Provide Insights 38:23 How to Get in Contact with Dr Jim Taylor

Join us on today's episode as we interview Flynn Southam, a talented young Australian swimmer who has already achieved remarkable success at the age of 18. He's been in the Commonwealth Games team and won numerous gold medals at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships. We delve into Flynn's unique perspective on technique, exploring the key aspects he focuses on and the mindset he maintains during training and races. Discover the one phrase his coach told him that completely transformed his training approach, turning him into a dedicated and determined athlete. Tune in now!

02:12 Representing Team Australia at a young age 03:13 Australian Team Wins Gold in 4x100m Freestyle Relay at World Champs 07:05 Breakfast with Michael Phelps at the hotel 08:27 Chasing Olympic Dreams: Why Not? 10:22 The Moment Flynn Realized He Could Compete with the Best 11:53 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Making a Comeback 14:46 The Role of Mindset in Achieving Flow State in Competitive Swimming 16:10 Creating Art on Race Day: The Power of Rituals 17:27 Mastering Body Position and Front Catch 22:14 Core and Functional Movement Workouts 24:32 Flynn's Favorite Training Set 27:29 The Power of Anaerobic Conditioning 30:00: The Use of Swim Parachutes for Drag and Resistance Training 34:19 Training with a Great Group of Mates 35:20 Mentoring Young Swimmers: Common Struggles and Advice 41:13 What's Coming Next for Flynn?

In this podcast episode, we have the privilege of sitting down with Leigh Nugent, one of the world's top technical coaches. With his extensive experience as the National Youth Coach for Swimming Australia and former Head Coach, Lee shares valuable insights on improving freestyle technique. He also discusses the champion mindset and shares stories of swimmers who have overcome injuries and achieved great success. Whether you're a swimmer, coach, or simply interested in the sport, this episode is packed with tips and stories that will engage and motivate you.

02:10 Achieving Success in the Olympics: Lee Nugent's Coaching Journey 08:21 Coaching Beyond Performance and Creating a Welcoming Environment 10:58 The Challenges of Coaching Talented but Uncommitted Swimmers 12:44 The Impact of Swimming on Personal Growth 14:13 Leigh's insight from the 2012 Olympics 16:24 The Best Olympics for Coaches and Athletes: Tokyo 2020 19:24 The Unbreakable Mindset of Elite Swimmers 22:31 Stories of Swimmers Pushing Their Limits 23:34 Key Elements of Great Freestyle Technique 34:32 Maintaining Front Quadrant in Increasing Stroke Rate 39:10 Lessons and Realizations from 10–20 Years of Swimming 42:03 Developing the Next Generation of Athletes

Join us on this podcast episode as we sit down with Brian Johns from Form Goggles. Brian discusses the exciting new features of Form Goggles and how they can help swimmers improve their technique. From measuring efficiency to providing real-time feedback on head and breathing position, these goggles are a game-changer for swimmers of all levels. Tune in now!

01:03 Exploring Form Score: A Universal Measure of Swimming Efficiency 09:10 Head Coach Skills: 5 Key Areas to Help Improve Efficiency 09:35 #1 Peak Head Roll 16:59 #2 Head Pitch 18:45 Finding the Sweet Spot: Head and Breathing Position 20:14 The Similarities in Technique Cues for Swimmers of Different Ages and Levels 23:21 #3 Interval Pacing 24:30 #4 Set Pacing 27:45 #5 Breathing Time To Neutral 31:39 Exciting Future Developments for Form Goggles 34:11 Downloading Workouts to Form Goggles for Easy Access

Welcome to the podcast with our special guest, RJ Boergers, the author of 'Finish Strong: Resistance Training for Endurance Athletes.' RJ is a certified athletic trainer with a doctorate degree in Movement Science. In this episode, we will discuss the positive impact of strength training on performance and well-being, misconceptions regarding strength training, and the importance of mobility. Tune in now, as this episode offers valuable insights and practical tips for athletes looking to enhance their swimming and triathlon performance.

01:22 Passion for Resistance Training and its Benefits 05:41 Common Mistakes and Misconceptions in Strength Training 9:17 The Importance of Strength Training for Endurance Athletes: Maintaining Form and Improving Performance 20:18 Strength Training Success Stories: Injury Reduction 26:34 Effective Exercises to Strengthen Obliques 28:54 Must-Do Exercises for Swimmers: Targeting Core, Glutes, and Scapular Stabilizers 31:28 Why Mobility Training Is Crucial for Athletes 39:38 Key Takeaways for Effective Strength Training 44:16 Get in Contact with RJ

In this episode, I will share the story of a pro triathlete who achieved a remarkable breakthrough in his swimming performance, transitioning from a second pack swimmer in triathlons to consistently making it to the front pack. How did he accomplish this feat? By making an important change in his training routine. Tune in now! 00:20 Triathlete Transforms Swim Performance 02:26 Going Hard and Recovering Quickly 06:23 Recognizing Elite Athletes as Normal People 07:49 Importance of Pacing and Specific Training 09:14 Targeting Weaknesses in Training 11:06 New Swim Camps Coming Up!

Join us for a podcast episode with Taryn Richardson, where we explore the world of diet and nutrition for athletes. Discover the key principles to fueling your body for optimal performance and recovery. Get ready for eye-opening insights and practical tips that will revolutionize your training approach. Don't miss out on unlocking your full potential as an athlete.

01:18 The Importance of Protein in Exercise and Recovery 05:10 Timing Protein Intake for Optimal Recovery 06:35 Sources of Protein: Exploring Options and Recommendations 09:04 Kangaroo Meat and Red Meat Consumption 14:41 Meal Prep: Saving Time and Eating Well 20:10 Common Mistakes and Misconceptions in Triathlete Nutrition 27:14 Carb Phobia: Understanding the Importance of Carbohydrate Intake for Endurance Athletes 31:07 The Shift in Body Composition and Nutrition for Triathletes 32:42 Triathlon Nutrition and Bike Fuel Masterclass with Taryn

Join me on a wild journey where I accidentally became the subject of a search party while swimming with friends in Melbourne. From helicopters to firetrucks, this rescue operation had it all. But it's not just a cold-water mishap; it's a story about finding answers right in front of us. Learn the lessons from this unforgettable experience and how they apply to our everyday struggles.

00:21 Swimming in the Cold Water 02:04 Lost Swimmer in Red Cap 06:39 Miscommunication in the Cold Water 11:40 Improving Back Strength for Better Performance 13:40 EO SwimBETTER 14:30 Swimming Insights: Finding Obvious Solutions

Join us on this podcast episode with Andrew Sheaf, author of "A Constraints-Led Approach to Swim Coaching." Andrew shares valuable insights and strategies for swim coaches and swimmers. His systematic training and skill development approach helps swimmers achieve tangible results by avoiding the pitfall of abandoning techniques too quickly. This podcast is a must-listen for coaches and swimmers looking to enhance their methods and training.

01:24 The inspiration behind the book "A Constraints-Led Approach to Swim Coaching" 04:16 How to Be the Most Effective Coach When You Manage a Big Swim Team 06:39 Techniques for Teaching Swimmers That Are Both Fun and Effective: Contrast Drills and Feedback Exchange 09:02 Simplifying Swim Technique Analysis for Effective Coaching 11:26 . Improving Body Alignment and Kick Effectiveness in Adult Swimmers 14:57 Reversing Swimming Misconceptions 16:39 The Nuances and Challenges of Providing Individualized Swimming Instruction 18:05 Effective Coaching Language and Analogies for Swimmers 22:48 The Power of Questioning in Coaching and Training 28:08 Efficient Skill Development for Swimmers with Limited Time: Making the Most of Short Workouts to Improve Technique 34:48 Common Mistakes and Challenges in Increasing Speed while Maintaining Stroke Rate 39:28 Measuring Progress in Remote Coaching: The Importance of Testing and Consistency 42:01 How to Get a Copy of Andrew's Book and Contact Him

Join us today with Tom Barton, fresh from the US with Australia's A team! Tom is the founder of the Q Swim app and works as a physiotherapist at The Health Collab. He's your go-to expert for keeping swimmers and triathletes moving smoothly and injury-free. Today, we're focusing on how triathletes can step up their range of motion and overall movement. Don't miss out!

01:17 Trip to the US for a Swimming Competition
03:44 Standout Performances in Swimming at the US Open
05:14 The Importance of Mobility Testing for Swimmers and Triathletes
8:10 The High Elbow Test and Combined Elevation Test
13:03 Improving Combined Elevation and High Elbow Test: Strengthening Antagonist Muscles
17:06 Strengthening the Back and Nervous System for Optimal Performance
20:23 Incorporating Swimming Exercises into Pre-Swimming Routines
23:08 Tips for Overhead Pressing
27:11 Improving Hip Flexibility and Activation for Triathletes
32:18 Q Swim App and Working with Swimmers in Queensland
35:35 Why How You Swim and How You Move in the Water Are Crucial

I'm excited to introduce our guest today, the legendary triathlete Craig Alexander. He's a three-time world Ironman champion and a two-time Ironman 70.3 world champion. Craig shares insights on resilience, perseverance, and the importance of a supportive community. He also talks about how visualization helps in triathlon training and racing, along with a personal mantra that guided him throughout his career. Plus, he provides valuable advice for young triathletes to help them reach their full potential. Tune in now!

01:05 Racing Through the Ages and the Pandemic Pause 03:57 Motivation, Resilience, and the Coach's Journey 08:17 Transitioning from Athlete to Coach: Sharing Knowledge and Inspiring Others 11:38 The Guiding Mantras for Triathlon Success 14:31 Surrounding Yourself with Good People 15:20 The Power of Living in the Present Moment and Making Split-Second Decisions in Races 21:21 Visualization and Its Effect on Athletic Performance 25:52 Advice for Young Triathletes: Train with Better Athletes and Seek Help from Great Coaches 33:28 Motivations Beyond the Finish Line: Family, Community, and Coaching 39:12 Growing Old is Not for Sissies 40:04 Get in Touch with Craig!

Get ready for an amazing Andy Donaldson episode! He's done something amazing: finished the Ocean 7 challenge faster than anyone ever has before. In just one year, he completed all seven swims in a total of 63 hours. And the best part? Andy's doing all of this to bring attention to mental health. We'll chat about the tough parts of those swims, how he tackled the tricky currents, and what lessons he took away from the whole experience.

02:24 Navigating Challenges In The Molokai Channel Swim
05:51 The Team's Vital Role in Distance Updates And Support During The Swim
11:02 Mindset Shift: From Competition To Channel Swims
13:19 The Controversy Surrounding The Tsugaru Strait Swim
20:40 Andy's Difficult Swim Through The Tsugaru Strait
27:33 Overcoming Obstacles, The Team Succeeds in Breaking the Ocean 7 World Record
33:11 Promoting The Ocean 7 Sport, Mental Health Awareness, And Message Of Hope And Teamwork
36:50 Moving Over Disappointment And Finding Greater Purpose
40:00 Lessons From The Open Water Swims: Perseverance, Self-Determination, And Lasting Connections
41:58 Life After Reaching The Goal And Embracing New Opportunities
46:00 Media Attention And Impact Of Open Water Swimming
48:23 What's Next For Andy Donaldson?

Join me in this engaging episode as I chat with Sandra Schenkel, an elite duathlete from Spain who overcame swimming frustrations during the pandemic. We'll dive into her journey of making incredible progress through focused training and coaching. Discover how Sandra regained her swimming skills and achieved her best level ever. We'll also explore the significance of relaxation, breathing exercises, and technique in swimming. Get ready for valuable tips on mobility work, rest intervals, and maintaining a healthy diet.

01:56 Overcoming swim frustrations and developing skills
03:32 The Impact of breathing exercises on stroke improvement
04:18 Breathing exercises can help improve relaxation and body position in the water
08:05 Focusing more on the process than the result
11:49 Improving technique through the catch, breathing, leg posture, and head position
13:19 The importance of mobility and flexibility in swimming and how to improve them
19:07 Advice for those who are frustrated by their swimming
21:45 What's the next goal?
22:58 Interval Rest is Vital for Athletes
30:20 Work on technique, breathing, and the things you can control, and do not always train at maximum intensity

Joining me today is Gerard Donnelly from Trivelo Coaching, an Australian champion and podcast host. His podcast is a go-to for triathletes seeking insights from his seasoned journey in the sport. We'll dive into life lessons from triathlon, smart training with technology, race focus, and the balance between short intense sessions and longer technique-focused ones. And, of course, get advice for those training for half or full Ironman events.

01:29 How the sport has changed in the past 30 to 40 years due to various evolutions
05:00 Getting ahead in technology helps coaches train athletes better
12:55 We've plenty of technology to test and train smartly, aiming for peak performance in races
15:44 Athletes should understand their body's feelings along with data for better decisions during races and training.
22:01 What does perceived exertion look like for most athletes?
27:15 Form goggles provide solo training feedback, crucial for refining swimming technique
29:54 Avoid drifting and losing concentration during races
37:55 Key habits for faster triathlon swim times
41:57 The fitness component is the key to holding the form
49:20 Shorter intense sessions VS Longer technique-focused ones
53:10 What advice would you have for someone training for a half or full ironman?
58:10 A focused race plan lead to a positive experience and a more fulfilling life journey

Today, we're thrilled to have triathlete Josh Salley sharing exciting updates on his technique and swimming breakthroughs. You can learn from his journey and find out the secret to his success. Get ready for an inspiring conversation!

02:33 Josh's Swansea Half Ironman Experience: Calmer and Faster!
07:21 Open Water vs. Pool Impact On Awareness?
10:32 Build Confidence In Open Water. Fear Fades With Time
12:34 Josh Shares His Progression And Coaching Insights
20:36 Consistency, Feedback, And Patience Led To Progress
21:51 Find What Works Best For You, Avoid Overthinking
24:09 Having Strong Foundation And Better Habits In Swimming
27:27 Believing In Yourself And Taking Your Place In The Race Leads To Better Results
31:56 Advice For Triathletes Struggling To Improve Their Swim
35:23 Focus On Progress, Not Pace. Be Obsessed With Improvement, And Use Feedback To Refine Your Technique.
37:43 Consistent Practice Helps Your Body Learn What Works

I'm excited to welcome Brent Hayden, a true legend, back to the podcast after nearly five years since our last conversation in 2018. A lot has changed since then, including his return to swimming and competing in the Tokyo Olympics. We'll also explore how he stays in shape during retirement, his coaching approach, and his thoughts on coaching through Skillest. Tune in now!

02:25 What was the origin or starting point of your comeback for the Tokyo Olympics?
07:27 Did you engage in strength training or any other fitness activities to stay in shape during your retirement?
13:02 Why do you believe the Canadian swimming community was supportive in encouraging your comeback?
14:24 Could you talk me through or discuss the details of the relay event?
21:15 During your retirement, as you coach and run clinics, what are the core aspects you like to pass on to the groups that you're coaching?
33:55 What are your thoughts on coaching through Skillest?
51:22 Did the attention and media spotlight from winning bronze in the 100 free in 2012 impact your intense focus on achieving results in the 2016 Olympics?

Today, I'm excited to have Tom Hofnadel as my guest. Tom is a committed triathlete who is focused on improving his swimming in Ironman races. In this episode, we'll explore the benefits of video analysis and receiving feedback, as well as the technique changes he has made in the past few years to enhance his swimming. We'll also discuss how he keeps track of his progress over time. Tune in now!

03:23 Performance over appearance
03:56 Did the video analysis teach you something new?
07:52 What's your swimming background?
09:48 Has your progress been quite gradual, or did you make significant gains and then plateau for a while?
11:47 What technique changes have you made in the past few years?
15:10 Did you learn by observing or naturally gravitate towards certain swimming techniques?
16:45 How often are you recording yourself with the GoPro?
19:56 Is there anything that you use to measure where you're at or measure your progress over time?
24:00 Have you noticed variations in your swimming times and factors like leading the lane or drafting affecting your performance?
26:15 Are you training with a squad or doing solo sessions?
31:36 Based on your experience in triathlon, particularly in swimming, what advice would you give someone new to the sport?
35:32 Brief structure for analyzing your own stroke

In this episode, I'll discuss CSS training to enhance your swimming's aerobic capacity, enabling you to maintain faster times over longer distances. We'll explore its definition, and application, and suggest effective sets to boost your aerobic capacity and overall performance. Tune in now!

01:32 Aerobic Capacity And Technique
04:02 What Is CSS Training?
05:36 How Frequently Should The CSS Test Be Conducted?
07:16 Structured Sets to Enhance Aerobic Performance
13:15 12 CSS Workouts Inside The Effortless Swimming Membership
14:17 Develop Stroke, Technique, And Aerobic Fitness For Incredible Gains.

In this episode, we delve into the concept of challenges and how they transform over time. Using my own experiences as a surfer and swimmer, I look back on the challenges I've encountered and how they've influenced my journey. Tune in now!

00:17 Triumph and Mishap in the Waves
02:18 Ups and Downs: Progress and Challenges
03:21 Finding Joy in the Journey of Improvement
04:55 Next episode: Unlocking Aerobic Fitness!

Today, I have the pleasure of chatting with Joe Friel, an exceptional endurance sports coach, renowned for his expertise in triathlon and cycling. Not only is Joe a highly respected coach, but he's also an accomplished author, having written multiple books, including his most popular work, the Triathlete's Training Bible. In this episode, we will discuss swimming techniques, including the PDLC method for improving skills, the 5-2 training methodology, and many more. Tune in now!

03:41 What stands out in people's swimming skills when working with them in person?
06:54 What is a PDLC method? How does it contribute to swimmers becoming faster?
20:18 Open water swimmers don't swim the same way pool swimmers do.
28:08 Going back to the fundamentals
34:08 Could you explain the 5-2 training concept and its origin?
42:15 What mental advice would you give someone transitioning from the 40s and 50s into the 60s and 70s?
52:43 What has recently piqued your curiosity?
56:24 Current projects and where to find your books and learn more about you?

My guest today is Kyle Chalmers, an Olympic gold medalist and one of the world's top swimmers. I've featured him in some of my YouTube videos, highlighting his excellent freestyle technique. I'm excited to discuss his training and technique in depth. Tune in now!

01:47 After clinching the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, how did you experience changes in both your personal and professional life?
05:25 Do you have any rules for yourself regarding social media, particularly during competition time?
08:49 How has feedback shaped your career and consistently contributed to your improvement?
11:45 Have you applied the knowledge gained from skill acquisition coaches to work with younger kids and pass on those teachings?
15:25 What contributed to your maturity? Did you develop it early due to the level of competition in swimming, where you joined a team without knowing any of the swimmers?
17:42 Coming towards the end of your career, do you feel like that's given you more freedom to choose the path you want to take?
21:35 Can you share any unexpected benefits or silver linings that emerged from the challenges you faced during your recovery from injuries and surgeries?
23:32 Can you provide insights into your training approach?
25:09 Could you share your experience with aerobic training and explain why you enjoy it?
29:00 Do you hold any unconventional beliefs or practices that might seem counterintuitive to others in the swimming community?
34:56 What are the key factors you consider during your training?
38:39 Are you changing your stroke from 50 to a 100 and then from 100 to 200?
41:04 What motivated you to join Skillest?

My guest today is Seb Wichmann, who attended one of our clinics in 2022. He was averaging around a 2:05 to 2:10 per hundred and said he was happy to survive a 1K swim at the pool and has now got himself down to around a 1:45. Tune in to the episode now!

01:02 What challenges did you face transitioning from cycling to triathlon and swimming? 02:02 In the beginning, did you teach yourself or did you have a coach to help you? 02:59 What techniques did you learn from the clinic that you can apply to improve your performance going forward? 05:52 How often have you been getting in the water? 07:00 How long did it take you to start seeing results with those changes? 10:27 What motivated you to persevere and not give up, 11:14 Did you initially believe that you could develop a love for swimming, or did you find it to be a less enjoyable activity compared to cycling? 17:33 Did you have moments of success followed by setbacks, or were there variations in performance across different training sessions? 20:15 Do you feel any different when you go to the pool now compared to 12 months ago? 24:13 What sort of advice would you give to someone who was in your shoes 12 months ago? 30:00 How to apply "squeezing the butt cheeks" as a beginner?

My guest today is American swimmer Ryan Murphy, who has achieved incredible success in the Olympics Games, winning multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals. Ryan discusses how his motivation and training have evolved over the past decade, enabling him to stay competitive. We explore his unconventional beliefs, the obstacles he has overcome, including an injury before the Olympic trials, and the rituals that have aided his success in major events.

01:29 Do any of those experiences stand out as your most memorable achievement? 04:20 What do you attribute your sustained success and longevity in swimming to? 06:15 Have you ever had a season where you didn't perform well and struggled to pinpoint why that is? 12:02 How has your motivation evolved in the past decade as you've continued to compete in swimming? 14:19 Can you explain more about the success-focused lifestyle you mentioned earlier, especially regarding areas outside of swimming? 16:48 As you get older and there's up and comers nipping heels, how do you maintain your confidence and mindset when you’re one of the older guys in the field? 19:20 Which up-and-coming swimmer has caught your attention and impressed you the most recently? 21:50 Did you encounter any unexpected surprises in your professional swimming career that were different from what you expected or imagined as a teenager? 24:24 What are the key fundamentals you would focus on while coaching backstroke technique to a 15-year-old swimmer? 27:27 What are the main differences between your swimming technique or style and that of Mitch Larkins? 29:05 Did you get a lot of feedback on your swimming technique as a teenager, or did you develop your stroke naturally? 36:34 Can you share a memorable or transformative experience from your swimming career that has had a lasting impact on you? 42:01 What things beyond swimming motivate and excite you the most at the moment?

For those interested in receiving coaching from Ryan, check out Skillest.

I'm excited to introduce my guest, Ben Geard, from Element Swimming. Ben and I go way back as great friends, and he was one of the coaches during the Maldives Camp last year. At Element Swimming, Ben offers lessons for beginners and helps swimmers progress from beginners to an intermediate level. That's what we will talk about today—strategies and techniques for individuals who are complete beginners or relatively new to swimming, aiming to reach that intermediate level.

01:41 Swimming And Coaching Experience 03:35 Programs For Beginners Are Hard To Find 05:39 Level I: Building Water Confidence 08:49 Different Styles Of Coaching 11:20 Beginner's Swim Camp On September 14:15 Level II: Feel For The Water 16:02 "aha" Moments During The Process 19:56 Biggest Mistakes With Skull 23:51 Training Sessions Per Week 25:20 Consistency Is Key 27:44 Level III: Putting Together And Achieving The Goal 31:73 Causes of Exhaustion In Swimmers 34:29 Vertical Kick 36:3 Visit The Element Swimming Website Check out the Maldives Camp here.

Our guest today is Marc Evans, a former National USA Triathlon team coach. In this episode, we will introduce the M25 Lift Paddle. We will discuss the paddle's purpose and why it differs from others in the market. Specifically, we will focus on how it helps improve the catch, which is an essential part of the swimming technique.

00:49 Kickboard Is A Great Tool 04:02 Skinny S 4:42 Pass or Fail Coaching 5:59 Learning Engages Additional Muscle Groups 8:19 Learning New Things Takes Time 11:17 The Invention Of The M25 Lift Paddle 17:55 The Is Purpose Of The Paddle? 20:18 Seeking Help To Launch M25 23:47 Product Design Is Based On The Fundamental Of Movement 28:28 Persistence Is The Key

My guest today is Mark Evans, who is returning to the podcast after eight years. He is a former coach for the National USA Triathlon team and is widely recognized as one of the most knowledgeable and extensively researched individuals in this field. In today's episode, we will explore the catch and techniques for continuous improvement. (Listen to the PART 1). Link in bio.

03:54 Triathlon and Swimming Background 07:32 Triathletes in Motion 08:38 Turning Vision into Reality 12:48 High Elbow Catch Is Essential For Improved Swimming 16:18 Correcting Straight Arm Pull 19:08n Combining Good Technique With Volume And Consistency 20:42 Backstroke Is An Amazing Way To Learn Freestyle 21:14 Vertical Kicking Is An Amazing Tool For Swimmers 24:22 Magic Bullets Are In Fundamentals 27:25 Applying Less Force And Holding Less Water 29:15 Ladder Cue

My guest today is Mr. Sam Ashby, a coach who has trained swimmers to national medals. In this episode, we will talk about the benefits of practicing different swimming strokes. It helps the body move differently and can aid in recovery and developing swimming skills. We will also discuss common mistakes that occur during clinics for butterfly, backstroke, and breaststroke.

03:58 Swimming Background 10:00 Refining Your Knowledge 13:18 Visual Learning in Swim Clinics: An Advantage for Kids 15:04 What is The Key to Good Butterfly Stroke? 21:02 Improving Rhythm in Butterfly Stroke 26:26 Common Mistakes in Backstroke: Lifting the Head Too Much 33;53 Common Mistakes in Breaststroke: Maximizing Drag Reduction 38:19 How Simplicity Leads to Better Results 43:01 Simple Cues/tips for Mastering Breaststroke

My guest today is Scott Dickens, a two-time Olympian. And now director of Business Development at Form, who is one of our sponsors of the podcast. We will talk about the 8-Week Faster Freestyle course, how you can ensure you're making progress and the improvement you would want to see. Tune in now!

01:02 Technique Change 09:51 Change Doesn't Feel Good 12:18 Long Dog Paddle Drill 16:15 The Kick 21:05 8-Week Course Is now in Form Goggles 22:02 Week: 2 Posture, Head Position, And Kick 25:10 The Base Position In Freestyle 27:12 Using A Kickboard? 30:16 Wearing Fins 32:57 Week 8 - Stroke Rate 35:03 Hold Your Rating 41:24 What's The Biggest Benefit of Using Form 46:10 Small Incremental Change In Pool Can Be Very Impactful 47:18 What Happens When You're Learning A New Skill 48.34 The Optimum Goal Is To Be Able To Relax 49:58 What's Coming Out Next?

00:30 The Greatest Analysis Tool 02:32 Why Was The Skillest Created? 06:48 A Marketplace That Allows You To Be Discoverable By Students 12:18 How Do You Film Yourself? 15:02 Student-coach Relationship 16:39 24-hour Access 19:05 There's No Pressure To Perform On The Spot 23:27 The Best Tools In Skillest 24:51 The Visual Is Everything 27:17 Analyzing The Stroke 33:14 Join the Skillest Now!

In today's episode, I got professional triathlete Joshua Lewis to talk about swimming, training sessions, and most importantly, opening yourself up to opportunities and experiences.

01:10 Swimming background 06:21 You've got to be able to prioritize correctly 10:34 Switching to Pro Triathlon 15:18 Coaching role 16:40 Putting yourself out there 18:49 Getting into a sport like swimming can be a big decision for people 21:07 Taking the first step is important 22:56 If you're self-conscious, remember people don't care 23:42 Efficiency in the water for the best speed 25:57 Have you found yourself going too hard in the swim? 28:33 Learn how to race 30:20 Training session 32:55 Start small, make it doable 34"42 Consistency is king 37:25 Get in touch with Josh!

My guest today is Brian Johns who is a three-time Olympian former world record holder in the 400 IM and, the head of coaching science at FORM. In this episode, we will talk about improving your technique using FORM goggles and how important reliability and consistency are to transform your swimming.

00:47 Best achievement: Coming back from injuries 03:52 Focus on the process and getting better every day 07:18 Get yourself in a squad environment 11:55 Understanding how DPS and SR lead to increase speed 17:34 How can you find the sweet spot with stroke rate and stroke length? 22:24 Applying progressive overload principles to Workouts 30:53 Applying race results to training and improvement 33:56 Changes to stroke rate and effort are very incremental 40:58 Has anything been interesting regarding the swim data that the FORM collected? 43:10 Knowing the fundamentals and the basics goes a very long way 44:06 Reliability/consistency are the key 45:25 Be mentally switched on

In this episode, we talk about magic words and how you can use the power of language to become a faster swimmer.

00:23 Swim Camp 01:41 Identify Yourself As A Swimmer 04:50 Cues 06:41 Replace Can't With Don't 08:10 Replace Should With Could

My guest today is Andy Donaldson who recently came back from breaking the Cook Strait World Record. In this episode, we will talk about his experience before and during the swim and his goal to complete the Ocean Seven in a year to raise money and awareness for mental health.

02:40 What's your headspace going into this swim? 04:58 How long into the swim did you realize things are going well? 09:30 Completion Is Key 10:22 The goal is to do the ocean seven within 365 days 14:19 How are you keeping yourself mentally ready for the swim? 17:19 Swimming Background 20:12 What is it about the sport that you think drew you back? 26:10 What's your training? 36:30 What's your routine like? 38:31 What sort of stuff are you doing to keep your shoulders strong? 41:16 How long would your strength and conditioning sessions go for? 41:53 What do you love to do outside of swimming? 43:28 What's surprised you about your quest to do the ocean seven in a year? 44:54 Follow Andy on Social media to follow his journey

Joining us today is Dr Jim Taylor, who specializes in Sports psychology and is the author of Train Your Mind for Athletic Success. In this episode, we will talk about useful mind hacks that you can implement into your training.

01:51 The Concept Of Marginal Gains 07:47 Words Impact How We Perceive The World 11:16 "I Choose To Push My Limits" 16:07 Unfamiliarity, Unpredictability, And Lack Of Control 19:43 Smiling Is A Powerful Mental Tool 25:45 Fun Is A Powerful Mind Hack 28:39 Flow Not Force 31:46 Take Control Of Your Breathing 35:38 Celebrating The Daily Victories 40:14 Get In Touch with Dr Jim Taylor

Welcome to the third and final part of this three-part podcast with Brant Best. We worked together on a product called SwimBETTER by EO, which helps athletes swim faster. Tune in now!

02:50 More isn't BETTER 05:27 Elbow is too high for too long 10:43 Extreme high elbow catch 13:17 "Ladder" cue 16:28 More episode with Brant coming soon!

Brant Best will be joining us for a three-part podcast. We worked together on a product called SwimBETTER by EO, which helps athletes swim faster. This episode will discuss how it's valuable to be able to quantify data and drills that he loves and hate.

00:33 Do you have a standard process when looking at the data? 08:38 Force Field 12:14 Should you have more power on one arm if you're just breathing every two? 13:20 I'm not a big fan of breathing three 14:12 I'ts super valuable to be able to quantify data 17:01 Drill that I love and hate! 20:31 Thumb Drag Drill

Brant Best will be joining us for a three-part podcast. We worked together on a product called SwimBETTER by EO, which helps athletes swim faster. This episode will discuss what he learned from working with elite athletes. Watch out for the next episodes!!

00:58 Canberra Camp 02:27 How To Swim A Good 100 Freestyle At The Elite Level? 05:40 Kyle Chalmers Is A Beast 06:12 Tension Needs To Be Optimal Rather Than Maximal 10:59 EO Swim Better 13:01 Soften Up, To Go Quicker. 16:00 Putting Too Much Force On The Water 19:14 What Is It That We Should Be Focusing On?

What is stopping you from getting any faster? Tune in to this episode now!

1:52 How You Hold Your Body 3:12 Head Position 3:45 Kick 4:40 Breathing In The Right Position 7:08 Building A House 7:21 Tension 8:41 Not Sighting In The Right Way 10:32 The 5 Core Principles Of Fast Freestyle

I've got John Hancock to join me again on the podcast. He recently returned from having a successful crossing of the Cook Straight and is here today to share his experience and some of the preparations he did for the swim.

00:57 Where did this goal come from? 04:28 What are the preparation that you did? 09:33 17 hours of swimming in one week 12:46 How many Ks a week were you doing? 12:33 It's a very tidal crossing 17:59 Grateful to have a team of people supporting you 19:51 Covering yourself with grease 21:40 "If the swells on your side then surf across" 26:24 Was there anything that surprised you about the swim? 28:35 All about preparation and execution. 29:10 Surround yourself with people who want you to be successful 29:54 Do you feel like your achievement changed you as a person? 34:14 What's next for John?

Carl joins us again on the podcast. He has a background in Exercise Physiology and Pilates but primarily in Functional Movement. In this episode, we will talk about how Carl has helped many swimmers with their pain and injury and understand the root cause of some of the injuries that they're having.

01:26 What Injuries Do You Usually See Among Swimmers 05:16 Working On The Posture 07:55 Getting Blood Flow To The Injured Part Of Your Body 10:41 "Voltage Is Healing" 12:27 From Hauling To Floating 14:39 Trying Too Hard Puts Tension In The Body 16:17 Swim From Inside Out 18:20 Learn How To Hold Your Body Correctly 18:42 Squatting 20:36 Don't Brace Too Much In The Pool 24:00 Connection Improves The Whole Mobility 26:29 Get In Touch With Carl Read

In today's episode, I will talk about the equipment and pool toys that I recommend to the athletes that I coach.

00:41 Have A Good Pair Of Fins 03:38 Paddles 05:51 Pull Bouy 06:45 Kickboard 07:20 Snorkel 08:15 Noseclip 08:38 Goggles 10:56 Heart Rate Monitor 11:50 Powermeter/Analysis

My guest today is Tim Reed, an Australian coach, and triathlete, who has had multiple Ironman and IM70.3 wins. I wanted to get Tim's perspective regarding swimming and coaching and discuss the struggles of transitioning from a professional athlete to a full-time coach. 01:15 Biggest Success In Racing 03:30 There Was No Overnight Success 04:51 Connecting With Athletes 06:38 A Powerful Combination 11:02 Pulling Back From Squad 14:13 Having The Evidence/Data 16:50 You Don't Need To Look Pretty 20:14 Stop Swimming Like Ian Thorpe 27:07 Correct One Thing At A Time 28:00 Swim Like No One Is Watching 29:17 Differences In Technique For People Getting Into A Wetsuit 32:02 Open Water Skills 35:13 Surrounded By Other Swimmers 37:27 Transitioning To A Full-time Coach 43:48 Training Sessions 47:55 What's Next? 50:02 Get In Touch With Tim

In today's episode, we have Dr. Jim Taylor, a sports psychologist and author of Train Your Mind for Athletic Success. We will talk about the strategies for dealing with pain and figuring out what your motivations are. Tune in to this episode now.

00:58 Competed In The Super Sprint And Olympic Distance Triathlon 03:03 Strategies For Dealing With Pain 06:02 Exertion Pain And Injury Pain 08:51 Identity Plays A Role In How You Manage Pain 14:32 Discomfort VS Pain And Suffering 17:13 Associating Negative Emotions With Pain 18:51 Pride And Inspiration 21:51 What's Real Suffering? 23:38 Key Phrase: Long And Loose 26:11 Do A Long Warm-up 28:27 Distractions 30:28 Motivation: Less Ra Ra, More Insight 36:36 Constantly Remind Yourself Of What Your Goals Are 37:11 90% Of Success Is Just Showing Up 39:59 Don't Look At The End Of The Workout 41:57 Get In Touch with Dr. Jim Taylor

I want to have this episode to direct and help people determine what course will help them get better as a swimmer going forwards.

01:13 5-Day Catch Challenge 02:53 The Beginner Freestyle Course 04:25 8-Week Faster Freestyle Cours 8:15 Video Membership 09:08 Monthly Live Call 10:17 Stroke Analysis Membership 13:02 The Swim Camp

My guest in today's episode is Melissa Hughes from Tasmania. We will talk about her remarkable journey into the world of triathlon.

01:19 I swim like a runner 02:30 Arms are a bit wide 04:17 How many swim sessions a week? 06:08 What is YMCA Drill? 08:43 Building Confidence in the race 11:44 I've got to overtake all the heroes! 13:08 Diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis 17:30 Thinking about doing the triathlon 19:19 Do you think you can continue training without doing any long-term damage? 20:29 What are you working towards or focusing on with your swimming?

In today's episode, we are looking at why you should look for the cause, not look at the symptom.

00:22 Itchy eyes? 02:30 We Need To Find The Cause 03:05 Leigh Nugent-Coming soon? 04:02 First Thing To Look At Is the Body Position 05:44 Head Position 05:53 Making Sure The Kick Is Effective 06:04 Rotation 06:13 Great Way To Analyze The Stroke 08:05 We Don't Often See The Cause

I wanted to talk about a different approach to achieving your goals in today's episode. It might be something you haven't heard before, but it can be a helpful way to achieve what you want. Tune in to the episode now!

00:43 Think of your perfect day and write that down 2:56 What does your ideal day look like? 5:39 Atomic Habits: A must read book

In today’s episode, we sat down with Brigetta Hamilton to talk about her impressive improvement over the last 6 months. Brigetta attended one of our clinics in May starting at 2:20 pace per 100. She got her time down to 1:48 and now she is at 1:39. Find out what she did to improve!

00:51 Swimming background 01:17 Were you able to swim comfortably without stopping when you started swimming? 03:02 Does your cycling background help with your swimming? 05:10 When you are working on going faster, what do you usually think? 11:15 Developing Intuition 14:34 Your feel for the water looks so much better 15:59 Rocking side to side and recovery 18:35 What's your next goal? 20:35 Try the sight and breathe method 21:23 When you relax, you swim better and quicker

My guest today is Taryn Richardson, an advanced sports dietitian, and a triathlon nutrition specialist. In this episode, we will talk about triathlon and swimming nutrition and what you can do to make better choices to get fitter and healthier.

1:08 What are the common mistakes working with age group triathletes/swimmers 3:58 Coming back to the fundamental things 6:12 Eating before swimming 12:11 Why does swimming make you hungry 14:05 Dietary periodization and why it's so important 17:39 How individualized are the nutrition plans that you provide for people? 19:27 How to lean up and still maintain energy for training 23:19 Improving Your Eating Habits 29::55 Recovery nutrition 34:35 Lighter is not necessarily better 37:14 Get in touch with Taryn

In today's episode, we will discuss the best ways to go about improving how you look when you swim.

02:00 The Base Position 03:35 Have The Right Amount Of Rotation 04:48 Keep The Kick Fairly Narrow 05:53 Good Recovery 09:05 Soft Hands 10:20 Good Looking Freestyle Is Never Hurried Or Rushed 11:41 Slow To Fast 12:06 Skinny S Shape 12:31 The Breathing 14:00 The Kick 14:41 Style Is Important 15:36 Visualize Yourself Swimming Like A Pro

In today's episode, I wanted to get Victoria Smith, who recently joined the Maldives Camp, to share her swimming improvements over the 12 months. Tune in now!

01:11 What got you into swimming?
9:23 Have there been any frustrations that you've experienced with your swimming since you began?
10:48 What helped to make your coordination better?
11:47 Do you come from a dancing background?
13:34 What did you change to have yourself feel stronger in the water?
20:14 What is it that you love about swimming?
23:14 Being Aware Of Your Body
25:37 How long did it take you to get that feeling of being able to hold the water?
27: Did the Maldives camp help improve your open-water swimming?
31:10 What advice can you give to someone who just started swimming?

So thrilled to have Ironman World Champion Gustav Iden in today's podcast episode. Tune in now as he shares his inspiring journey toward success!

02:02 What’s changed for you after winning Kona?
03:06 What is about the sport you love?
04:17 How did you manage the front-pack swim after not as well in some races leading up to it?
05:28 Did you do any race simulation in training in the open water?
10:15 What's been your journey with swim technique over the years?
12:22 In swimming, it's different strokes for different folks
15:41 What do you most age groupers could do to improve their swim?
17:03 How often are you doing lactate testing in the pool?
17:38 Do you feel you gain fitness from swimming which helps in bike and running?
18:24 How many kilometers do you swim a week?
19:00 At what point in the race did you start hurting?
19:54 What’s the most important advice you got in your career and why?
21:03 Do you take in the same grams of carbs in swim practice as you do the bike and run?
21:32 What’s your stand-alone marathon time?
22:34 What setting do you use on your form goggles?
23:35 What’s the best of tech from Santaratech for a mid-pack AG
24:44 What is your least favorite thing about triathlons?
25:33 Does your stroke rate or kick change between different distance events?
28:16 What's next for Gustav Iden?

My guest today is Dan Atkins who is the Queensland National Performance Center Head Coach in Australia and has been working with top-end athletes. We will talk about some of Dan's coaching philosophies and strategies and how they can help everyday swimmers and triathletes.

01:01 Swimming To Triathlon Coaching
03:09 Using Cues, Trigger Words, Or Nursery Rhymes
06:01 Making It Simple And Less Complicated
07:08 Different Levels Of Swimmers
10:14 Setting Up A Triathlon Club
12:23 It Is A Very Challenging Sport!
15:18 Always Thinking One Step Ahead
17:34 Learning Important Skills
2206 Trying Out New Things
26:49 We Need To Go Easier
30:08 We Now Have A Smarter Approach To Training
33:47 Psychological Reciprocity
35:25 What's Next?

My guest today is Josh Salley who is based in Wales and has recently completed his first half Ironman. Josh and I have been working for the last couple of months doing some stroke analysis and technique coaching. Tune in to this episode now!

00:49 Swimming Background
02:46 Improving Quickly
03:45 Focused More On Technique
04:38 Overcoming Open Water Swimming
07:18 Treat It As A Training Session
09:10 Swimming Consistently
09:54 This Made The Biggest Difference To My Stroke
11:45 Overrotation
13:26 Look At The Cause The Symptoms
13:58 Very Narrow Kick
15:57 Start with a 6-beat Kick
16:55 Warm Up The Leg and Get The Kick Going
17:50 8-Week Faster Freestyle Course
19:08 Determination And Hard Work
20:06 This Is An Absolute Game Changer
21:03 What's Your Setup For Recording?
22:44 Video Feedback

My guest today is Frank Huisman. He's a swim coach based in the Netherlands. Tune in to this episode to learn more about becoming a faster and more efficient swimmer.

01:08 Working With Kristian Blummenfelt
01:52 Developed A Wetsuit For Kristian
03:27 What Is Impulse Time?
06:17 Speed Is Determined By Two Major Things
08:49 Get Your Swim Efficient
11:03 Keep Your Drag Low
12:10 Stroke Length
13:08 What Are The Things Impacting Body Position
15:52 The Swimmer's Superman
18:31 Perform The Kick In The Right Way
22:11 3 Reasons Why You Have Kick
26:12 Simplify The Swim Technique
27:00 Swim Stroke Chart
31:32 To Bring Awareness
36:38 What If The Stroke Rate Is Too Low?
39:12 Get In Touch With Frank!
39:27 What's Next?

In this episode, I will talk about stroke count and how to use it to your advantage to become a faster swimmer.

01:29 What Is A Stroke Count?
04:18 How Can You Use Your Stroke Count To Become A Faster Swimmer?
06:20 How To Reduce Drag And Increase Propulsion
09:43 Best Average Time Across The Whole Set
11:55 Maintaining The Best Technique And Form
13:45 The Best Athletes In The World Are The Most Consistent Athletes
17:09 New Clinic Schedules!

Gerry Rodrigues is coming back as a guest in today’s episode. He is one of the world’s leading open-water swimming coaches and the founder of Tower 26. We will talk about swimming techniques and tips for triathletes. Tune in now!

01:33 Ironman Kona
03:54 The Game Has Changed
05:06 The Four Key Things
07:56 Blend Between Technical Work And Hard Work
09:51 Get Feedback Immediately
12:16 It's A Giant Puzzle!
14:40 Training In The Pool For The Open Water
21:03 Swimming With/Without A Pool Buoy
27:08 Learn How To Filter The Information You Receive
30:07 Kicking
33:47 Treat The Problem, Not The Symptom
36:24 Going Back To The Fundamentals Of The Stroke
38:53 Feel For The Water
43:00 Catch VS Setup?
48:02 I Want People To Get Good Results

In today's episode, I wanted to talk about some of the key things I got from the other coaches and swimmers at the Maldives Camp.

01:13 Rotation
03:04 Front Kick Rotation Drill
04:45 S-Shaped Pull
08:39 Front Scull Drill
09:36 Kick Timing And Connection
12:29 Are You Swimming Enough?
14:02 Long-Term Goals
16:01 The Next Maldives Camp

My guest today is Oke Büll. He's a triathlete located in Germany and recently had some great success in Ironman Copenhagen. We will talk about how he was able to improve his swimming. Tune in to this episode now!

01:00 Getting Started In Triathlon
02:39 Swimming Background
05:15 Ironman Swim Distance
06:43 Breaking Down The Stroke
09:15 Relaxed Swimming
10:15 Changes In Speed
11:37 Quality VS Quantity
13:30 Training Sessions
15:21 Open Water Training
19:40 YMCA Drill
22:51 Maintain Consistency In Training
25:26 Relax And Focus On Your Technique
26:33 Have A Weekly Plan
27:26 Having Patience Is Very Important

My guest today is Oke Büll. He's a triathlete located in Germany and recently had some great success in Ironman Copenhagen. We will talk about how he was able to improve his swimming. Tune in to this episode now!

01:00 Getting Started In Triathlon
02:39 Swimming Background
05:15 Ironman Swim Distance
06:43 Breaking Down The Stroke
09:15 Relaxed Swimming
10:15 Changes In Speed
11:37 Quality VS Quantity
13:30 Training Sessions
15:21 Open Water Training
19:40 YMCA Drill
22:51 Maintain Consistency In Training
25:26 Relax And Focus On Your Technique
26:33 Have A Weekly Plan
27:26 Having Patience Is Very Important

In today's episode, my guest is Suzanne Nottage. We will talk about the progress in her swimming over the last couple of years. Tune in now!

00:57 Swimming Background
02:10 Joining Ironman
03:28 When Did You Start To Enjoy Swimming?
04:01 Hang Around With The Right People
07:22 5-Day Catch Challenge
10:19 Go Slow Before You Go Quicker
12:44 Two Important Takeaways
14:45 Doing Less VS Doing More
15:40 Timing Of The Kick And The Catch Together
17:33 One-Arm Freestyle Drill
19:02 Big Improvement
21:24 Training Sessions
23:48 Have A Much Better Feel For The Water
25:29 Started the 8-Week Faster Freestyle Course
26:50 Film Yourself

In today's episode, my guest is Suzanne Nottage. We will talk about the progress in her swimming over the last couple of years. Tune in now!

00:57 Swimming Background
02:10 Joining Ironman
03:28 When Did You Start To Enjoy Swimming?
04:01 Hang Around With The Right People
07:22 5-Day Catch Challenge
10:19 Go Slow Before You Go Quicker
12:44 Two Important Takeaways
14:45 Doing Less VS Doing More
15:40 Timing Of The Kick And The Catch Together
17:33 One-Arm Freestyle Drill
19:02 Big Improvement
21:24 Training Sessions
23:48 Have A Much Better Feel For The Water
25:29 Started the 8-Week Faster Freestyle Course
26:50 Film Yourself

In today's episode, I wanted to talk about the five common mistakes I've seen from around 6,500 analysis videos I did over the years. Tune in now!

01:34 Breath Timing
02:56 Having The Cue Of Pulling To The Breath
04:30 Over Rotation
05:34 Rocking Side To Side
08:13 Recovery
10:37 Deep Catch
12:40 Head Position
15:43 Slightly Higher Position In The Water

In today's episode, I wanted to talk about the five common mistakes I've seen from around 6,500 analysis videos I did over the years. Tune in now!

01:34 Breath Timing
02:56 Having The Cue Of Pulling To The Breath
04:30 Over Rotation
05:34 Rocking Side To Side
08:13 Recovery
10:37 Deep Catch
12:40 Head Position
15:43 Slightly Higher Position In The Water

Excited to have Dr. Jim Taylor back to talk about the mental aspect of the race and some excellent practices for approaching races in a healthy way.

02:43 How To Get Mentally Prepared Before The Race
05:03 Three Key Goals To Follow
06:48 Embrace The Suck
10:56 Physical Intensity
13:05 Music Is A Powerful Mental Tool
13:28 Have A Pre-Race Routine To Ensure Total Preparation
15:48 Review Your Race Plan
18:19 Perceived Effort Sets In Training
20:47 Don't Be A Victim In The Race
21:45 You Can't Finish Strong If You Don’t Have The Fitness
24:32 Make Sure To Fuel Well
28:36 User Power Words/Phrases
29:58 Smile And Make Fart Noises
33:49 Post-Race Reflection
37:06 Start With A Positive Attitude
38.33 Get In Touch With Dr. Jim Taylor

In today's podcast episode, I want to talk about a book I recently listened to on Audible, The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter. I wanted to share some learnings from this book that I thought were really good. I hope you enjoy this episode!

00:23 The Comfort Crisis
00:48 Problem Creep
02:44 Remind Ourselves To Be Grateful
03:02 Toughening Theory
03:47 Misogi
06:07 Doing Challenges
07:23 Better Perspective On What's Important
07:54 Creating Your Rites Of Passage
09:06 Being In Nature
10:14 Conversations Are More Meaningful
11:02 The Way To Combat Loneliness
12:19 Ditching Unnecessary Comfort

Carl Reader is joining us again in today's podcast episode. He is a Functional Movement Coach with a background in Exercise Physiology and Pilates. We will talk about the importance of upper and lower body connections and an exercise that can help you achieve better posture and mobility.

03:56 One Of The Best Ways To Get Your Body Connected
07:26 Case Study 1: Chronic Hip And Hamstring Problems
10:58 Case Study 2: Muscle Imbalance
12:08 Rotational Balance
13:41 Hip Flexor Tightness
17:45 Tight Hip Flexors Can Affect Breathing
18:53 Lack Of Shoulder Mobility
20:39 A Simple Exercise That Can Help You A Lot
21:55 Functional Movement Course
22:33 Get In Touch With Carl!
22:49 Coaching Online

My guest today is Dave Halantas. He came to our clinic in 2019 and went through our 5-Day Catch Challenge course. We will talk about what he's changed over the last 12 months to see a big improvement in his swim times in the Ironman swim distance.

01:29 Swimming Background
02:58 Shoulder Rotation
04:45 Take Away From The Freestyle Clinic
06:45 The Benefit Of Having A Swim Coach
09:35 Ironman Swim
10:56 Relaxed And Confident In The Water
14:01 Starting In Zone 1
15:13 5-Day Catch Challenge
16:24 Frequency And Consistency
19:00 Having A Better Mindset
19:53 What's Next?

My guest today is Kate Galliett, who has a degree in Exercise Science and has been a strength and fitness coach for 21 years. In this episode, we will talk about ways to achieve an unbreakable body. Tune in now!

01:13 Got A Degree In Exercise Science
02:47 What Does An Unbreakable Body Mean?
03:20 Adopting The Signal Response Principle
06:36 Explorer's Mindset
07:47 Three Main Tenants To The Explorer's Mindset
12:27 Focus On Things That Are Working
13:01 Six Pillars Of An Unbreakable Body
14:37 Strong Feet
15:48 Hip Mobility
16:35 Strong Glutes
17:38 Strong Torso
18:30 Shoulder Mobility
19:11 Strong Posture
22:50 Digging Deep Into Posture
25:15 Do This To Improve Neck Range Of Motion And Mobility
28:15 Having Issues With Shoulder Pain?
26:38 Internal Rotation And Shoulder Blade
32:45 What Exercises Can You Do For Your Shoulders?
38:47 We Need To Believe In Our Bodies
40:39 Too Old Is A Myth
41:11 Have A Short Daily Routine For Our Signals
42:54 Longer Workout Is Not Better
43:49 Theory Of Zones Of Tissue Tolerance By Scott Dye
46:09 Maintain Your Zone Of Homeostasis
47:53 Keep Up With Kate!

In today's episode, my guest is Dr. Jim Taylor, who specializes in the psychology of sport and is the author of Train Your Mind for Athletic Success. We will talk about the mental side of sport, swimming, and triathlon. Tune in now!

01:38 Helping Athletes To Be Mentally Prepared
03:18 Is Mental Training Similar To Physical Training?
05:13 Develop A Mental Toolbox
07:00 Be In A Place Where Your Mind Works With You
7:44 Don't Force It!
09:00 Fear Of Open Water Swimming
10:13 Mental imagery Is The Most Powerful Mental Tool
15:54 The Ultimate Goal
18:25 Overcome Conditions And Competitors
20:47 Every Race Is A Learning Experience
21:56 Mental Muscles To Focus On
23:23 Motivation And Confidence
29:02 What Motivates You?
32:00 How You Perceive Yourself
33:34 Healthy Perspective Is Important
37:00 Get Your Mind On Course
39:00 Consistency Of Mind
40:50 Train Your Mind Daily
43:10 Awareness Of What You're Doing With Your Mind

In today's episode, my guest is Dr. Jim Taylor, who specializes in the psychology of sport and is the author of Train Your Mind for Athletic Success. We will talk about the mental side of sport, swimming, and triathlon. Tune in now!

01:38 Helping Athletes To Be Mentally Prepared
03:18 Is Mental Training Similar To Physical Training?
05:13 Develop A Mental Toolbox
07:00 Be In A Place Where Your Mind Works With You
7:44 Don't Force It!
09:00 Fear Of Open Water Swimming
10:13 Mental imagery Is The Most Powerful Mental Tool
15:54 The Ultimate Goal
18:25 Overcome Conditions And Competitors
20:47 Every Race Is A Learning Experience
21:56 Mental Muscles To Focus On
23:23 Motivation And Confidence
29:02 What Motivates You?
32:00 How You Perceive Yourself
33:34 Healthy Perspective Is Important
37:00 Get Your Mind On Course
39:00 Consistency Of Mind
40:50 Train Your Mind Daily
43:10 Awareness Of What You're Doing With Your Mind

My guest today is Gary Wheeler from New South Wales. He has gone through our online courses and seen great results! We will talk about his progress over the last couple of months.

00:48 Joining The 8-Week Faster Freestyle Course
01:51 Swimming Background
04:41 Going Through The Course For The Second Time!
06:15 Finding The Rhythm
07:35 Get Faster By Improving Technique
08:35 Swimming Tall And Proud
09:29 Tune In To How You're Feeling
12:58 It's A Challenge!
13:59 Swimming Solo
16:12 Using Tempo Trainer
18:17 Going Straight To The Catch?
21:13 Focus On The Fundamentals

My guest today is Bronwen Stacey who attended one of our freestyle clinics a few years ago. We will talk about the progress she has made since doing the clinic. Tune in to the episode now!

00:55 Three Sessions A Week
01:54 What Is A Towel Session?
03:30 Bronze Medallion Course
05:23 Noosa Triathlon
07:34 Thoughts On Core Shorts
09:09 Learning Something New Is A Struggle But...
10:42 Key Takeouts From Swim Clinic
14:15 Follow-Up Filming And Analysis
15:08 There's Always Something To Learn And Improve
16:05 Front Quadrant Timing
17:54 Stay Relaxed To Get Faster
19:03 Wearing Form Goggles
20:40 What I Love About Swimming
21:27 Swimming In The Ocean During Covid
22:13 Consistency And Technique
23:51 Have A Good Coach

In today's podcast episode, we are talking about five ways that you can get into a flow state while you swim.

00:24 Why It's Important
02:06 Eliminate Distractions
02:32 Take Off Your Watch
03:42 Get Into It With A Clear Mind
04:09 Box Breathing
05:00 Meditation
05:17 Journaling
06:57 Listening To Music
08:28 Single-Task Focused
9:16 Using Trigger Words/Cues

This episode is a repost from a podcast that I recorded on the Get Fast Podcast with Jordy and Gerard Donnelly from TriVelo Coaching. Check out this episode now!

01:02 Who Is Brenton Ford? - Effortless Swimming
02:47 The Most Common Mistake Triathletes Need To Fix
04:30 Why You Should Aim To Be “front quadrant”
05:39 Stop Leading With Your Head
07:05 How To Get The Right Timing in Your Stroke (sweet spot)
08:26 Timing Is Key To Improving Speed
10:01 The “Slow to Fast” Principle For Timing
10:59 It’s Not About Strength
12:34 How To Know If You’re Breathing Too Late
15:42 How To Time Breathing In Open Water With “sighting”
17:37 Should Sighting Be Part Of Your Pool Sessions?
20:23 Brenton’s Best Starting Breathing Drill
23:42 Are Swim Drills As Important As We Keep Saying
25:53 Adequate Time VS Frequency In Doing Drills
28:27 Technique Matters Most
29:41 Understanding The Complexity Of Hydrodynamics And Reducing Drag
31:57 Buoyancy: How To Get Yourself Higher In The Water?
34:40 Getting Your Head Down To Get Your Legs Up
36:00 Should Endurance And Speedwork Be Combined?
39:29 What Are The Optimal Rest Periods For Different Training Sessions?
42:26 Frequency And Total Volume Of Swimming Throughout The Week
46:27 Discussing The Norwegian way Of Training
52:31 Off-Season Approach To Swim Training
54:26 Brenton and Gerard’s Advice For Overcoming Anxiety On Race Day

My guest in today's podcast episode is Kenneth Graham. Kenneth is currently the lead scientist at EO. I've been working with Kenneth along with Brant Best on a device called SwimBetter. We will talk a little more about the device and the effective ways you can swim better.

00:42 Working As A Sports Scientist
02:19 MAD System
03:24 What Is Exciting About The SwimBetter?
04:36 Producing Force At The Right Time And Direction
07:09 Refine Your Stroke
07:43 Technique vs. Fitness
08:44 When Do You Use The SwimBetter?
10:57 How To Swim Faster
14:23 Using Pool Buoy
15:43 Increasing Proprioception
17:44 Doing Sessions On Your Own
18:57 Swimming Speed
22:34 Learning To Apply Strength And Power To Your Propulsion
26:33 Workout For Endurance Swimming
27:43 Direction Of Forces And Consistency
31:47 Make Your Stroke Consistent
32:45 Get Out Of Your Head And "feel"

I've got Ioannis Aliazis on today's podcast episode. He has recently been through the 8 Week Faster Freestyle course and is here to share his improvements over the last couple of months. Ioannis is also a freediving instructor, and we will talk a little bit about some of the crossovers from freediving to swimming.

01:01 Swimming Background
01:23 The Best Exercise For Freediving
02:03 I Found Your Channel
02:25 Going Through The 8th Week Freestyle Course
03:39 Kick Timing
06:16 2-Beat Kick In Open Water Swimming
06:53 Following A Structure
07:40 Getting Your Questions Answered
09:34 Swimmers To Freedivers
13:31 Keep Calm & Don't Panic
16:05 Build Your Confidence
19:22 Friendly Competition
20:58 Practice More And Get A Good Coach
22:00 Find The Reason To Enjoy Swimming
23:10 Listen To Your Body
23:58 Swimming Is A Feeling Activity

Today, my guest is Anthony McDonald, who has been going through some of our online courses and made such incredible improvements over the last couple of months. Tune in to this episode now!

01:01 There's Always Room For Improvement
01:34 Swimming Background
04:45 Focusing On One Or Two Things At A Time
07:38 Going Through The Highs And The Lows
11:38 Swimming On Top Of The Water
14:05 Breathing Position
18:41 Goldilocks Approach
19:23 Posture
21:05 Swimming Long Distance
24:14 Being On The Right Headspace
25:24 What Is Your Long Term Approach?
27:57 A Little Bit Of Direction

My guest today is Brant Best. We've been working together on a product called SwimBETTER by EO which helps swimmers swim faster. Check out this episode now!

00:22 The SwimBETTER
02:10 Working With Elite Athletes
04:34 Too Much Length Is Not Good
07:45 Overreaching
13:04 Why Your Hips Need To Be In The Right Position
18:30 Breath Timing
27:31 Build Up Awareness
29:32 Speak To Your Coach
32:49 Core Fundamentals
41:02 Moving Efficiently
44:49 Avoid Distractions And Increase Your Focus

Glad to have Dan Smith back in today's podcast episode! Dan is a former Olympic swimmer and now the founder of Worldwide Speaking. Join us as he shares his journey in helping parents and athletes all over the world.

00:29 It's A Fantastic Video
01:46 Retiring From Swimming Sport
05:59 Helping Parents And Athletes
09:06 Parental Pressure On Athletes
12:29 Sporting Strategy For Parents
13:38 Results Are Powerful
18:45 Developing People Skill
20:48 Worldwide Speaking & Courses
21:53 Parent Program
23:56 Small Habits Have A Big Impact

In today's episode, I wanted to get Scott Harpham from New Zealand to share his swimming improvements over the last couple of years. We talked about going back to fundamentals, consistency, and more.

00:53 Swimming Background
03:08 Starting Training
06:04 Finding Effortless Swimming
08:05 8 Week Faster Freestyle Course
09;23 Seeing A Big Difference
13:11 Constant Reinforcement To Relax
16:40 More Effort Does Not Equal More Speed
18:26 Going Back To Fundamentals
23:58 Getting The Body Position Right
27:52 Consistency Is The Key

So excited to have Eney Jones back again as our guest in today's podcast episode. Eney is an open-water swim champion and a former triathlete. In this episode, we'll talk about coaching, drills, split tempo, and ways to swim faster.

01:22 Online Analysis
05:43 Power Phase - Power Diamond
07:18 Your Catch Is Dependent On Your Body Type
10:05 Scapular Mobility Is Important
10:43 Superhero Posture
12:50 Office Chair Swivel Drill
22:53 Split Tempo
27:55 Galloping Stroke
29:17 Breathing
33:46 Eney Bouy
34:55 Using Resistance Band
39:29 Get Your Mermaid Resistance Band
44:58 Contact Eney

In today's episode, I will dive into a book called Atomic Habits by James Clear. I wanted to explain some of the concepts that I found incredibly helpful for achieving the goals that I set myself.

00:46 Maldives Swim Camp
02:31 Understanding How Habits Are Formed
03:54 Favorite Quotes From The Book
05:19 Habits Need To Be Effortless
06:40 Make A Habit Attractive
10:00 Less Friction
11:36 Make Your Habit Satisfying
13:24 It Takes Time To Build A Habit
16:33 Make Good Habits A Part Of Your Identity

Today, my guest is Paul Mackinnon, a professional running technique coach who helped many runners and triathletes worldwide. We discussed running cues, how to improve your running skill, and more about coaching. I hope you enjoy this episode!

01:16 Coaching Athletes
03:07 Nike's latest shoes
05:54 Running Cues
11:13 Common Mistakes For The Average Runner
12:26 Arm Swing Is Important To Running
13:52 Asking The Right Questions
19:57 Self Awareness
23:48 Is There Not Much Technique To Running?
27:46 Different Paces
32:16 One Cue At A Time
36:27 Focus On One To Two Things
40:03 The Balanced Runner Membership
45:14 What's Next?

I've got another guest on today's podcast. He is someone who I started working with recently to help improve his swimming, and he's gone from around 205 pace per 100 and down to the low 140s. I hope you enjoy it!

01:31 Swimming Background
04:14 Started Triathlon
05:25 I Found Effortless Swimming
06:38 5 Day Catch Challenge
08:37 Joining The Membership
12:50 Coaching And Feedback
19:57 First Race Win
22:06 Impressive Improvement
25:01 I Don't Hate Swimming Anymore
27:00 What's Next?

Today, my guest is Katherine Starr, a former Olympian, and Commonwealth Games athlete. Katherine advocates for a safe and abused-free environment for athletes. Join us as she shares her incredible and inspiring story.

00:55 Becoming an Olympic Athlete
9:00 Not Speaking Up
14:54 I Started Missing Practice
16:47 Athlete Integrity Coaching
20:54 Conflict Delayed Is Conflict Multiplied
22:29 You Are The Power
29:27 Working With Athletes And Coaches
33:14 Win From Within
36:13 Creating A Safe Team Environment
38:00 Relationship With Time
44:01 Rescue Me
47:28 Get In Touch

Carl Reader is coming back as our guest in today's podcast episode. We will talk about case studies of swimmers dealing with body pain and the best way to help them.

01:30 Neck and Shoulder Pain
04:56 Building That Core Strength
06:54 Body Awareness
09:27 Hamstring Injury
12:47 Rock And Roll Movement
14:33 Knee Injury
16:26 The Body Is Designed To Move
17:31 Lunge Exercises
20:16 The Beauty Of Functional Movements
22:41 Does Deep Tissue Massage Work?

In today's episode, I wanted to get Matthew Tones on the podcast to talk about how the 5-day catch challenge and 8-week faster freestyle course helped him get from 2:20 to 1:22 for 100 yards.

00:55 Swimming Background
03:10 Training Sessions
06:30 Started The 5 Day Catch Challenge
08:16 Immediate Results
10:15 Better Entry
11:02 Feel For The Water
12:05 Swimming With A Purpose
18:23 Training For A Triathlon
21.09 Gold Coast Open Water Swimming Club
21:54 8 Week Faster Freestyle Course
23:48 Swimming Knowledge
26:08 Power Diamond
32:27 What's Next?

In today's episode, I have a swimmer whom I worked with over the last few months. I have done some stroke analysis and coaching together for a while and he has been getting some good results I thought that's a good thing to talk about in the podcast.

01:18 Swimming Background
05:41 I Was Getting In-shape Aerobically But I wasn't Getting Faster
07:36 I Wanted To Be More Effortless
11:45 Spinning And Slipping
14:34 "Think Of It As Skating"
22:56 Awareness
28:12 Pulling Too Hard Too Fast
31:10 Catch and Pull, Comin Under The Body
35:13 There Are So Much More To Learn

Today, my guest is Abbie Fish, who is the founder and technique coach at Swim like A. Fish. In this episode, we talked about coaching kids adults and some things that will help them become more successful and better swimmers later on.

01:20 Swimming Background
04:05 What I learned When I Began Coaching
06:27 Coaching Relationship is Important
11:04 Keeping It Simple As Possible
13:00 Starting With Your Bodyline
19:51 Breathing
26:10 Ironman Training
31:52 What Should A Beginner Swimmer Learn
38:51 Push Yourself
41:24 What's next?

I was recently a guest on Kieser’s Healthy to 100 podcasts to talk about exciting topics regarding training, swimming equipment, and much more. I hope you enjoy it!

01:59 Swimming Equipment Must-Haves
04:48 Get Yourself A Good Wetsuit
07:20 Buoyancy Shorts
10:37 Training Sessions: What You Need To Know!
19:43 Training Mistakes For Swimmers
23:20 Doing Drills
27:27 Breathing

In today's episode, I want to talk about five things that helped me break out of the swimming rut. For the last three months or so, since coming to the pool from our recent lockdowns, it's taking me ages to get back, much longer than what it had in the past. I want to share a couple of things that helped me finally get back down to the times that I was doing prior to the lockdowns.

01:06 Blow-Out Session
02:53 Sprint Session
04:00 Hard Massage
05:30 Kicking
06:29 Tune In To The Rhythm Of The Stroke

My guest today is Craig Bryan. A year ago, he attended our clinic, and recently, I had the chance to do another swim analysis with his swimming and saw a huge improvement. I got him on the podcast to talk about the improvement that he made and what he did to 18 seconds off his 2 km swim.

01:08 Swimming Background
04:34 Attending The Effortless Swimming Clinic
05:23 Difference In Swimming After The Clinic
07:04 Increasing The Stroke Rate
10:27 Using The Tempo Trainer
11:59 Swimming Goals
13:07 Training On Your Own
14:43 Main Drivers

My guest today is the Queen Of English Channel, Chloe McCardel who has successfully swam across the English Channel for a record-breaking 44th time. Join us as Chloe talk about her experience in achieving this record-breaking feat.

01:47 Keeping Eye On The Price
02:45 Has It Got Any Easier?
04:28 Unsuccessful Crossing
06:15 More Channel Crossings?
08:04 Last Swim
13:43 92 km Relay Swim

https://chloemccardel.com/

On this episode, I was recently a guest on Kieser's Healthy to 100 podcasts. I was a guest there for two episodes. I thought it would be great to publish it in our own podcast because I think you will thoroughly enjoy the things we talked about in this podcast. It's pretty much going to basic with freestyle, with swimming and we looked at what really matters, what's worth knowing, what's worth doing when it comes to freestyle. I hope you enjoy this episode.

00:36 Background
02:13 Peak Of Swimming Career
04:35 Swimming Sessions
05:57 Training Sessions
06:52 Consistency
07:44 Load Management
08:27 Technique
10:02Common Technique Problems
13:26 Head Position in Pool And In Openwater
14:36 Alignment
17:13 Ripping the Band-Aid Off
20:53 Catch And Pull
21:35 High Elbow Catch
24:50 Shoulder Pain
32:43 Lower Back Pain

My guest today is Chris Natterer from Ultraworking. He is a Lead Product Manager at Ultraworking.com. In this episode, Chris will talk about what we can do to be more productive to make sure we stick to habits and also to talk about nutrition as well. All of these things tie in really well in what we do. my job is to help people be consistent with their swimming but also change their motor patterns and develop different muscle memories which really comes down to sticking to habits. So I thought this would be a good topic to talk about and why not get someone who is experienced in that area to chat about it.

01:05 Ultraworking Background
02:27 Implementing Best Practices (Work Cycle)
10:12 Debriefing
11:28 Reason Behind 30 minute Time Cycle
14:12 "Very Easy Not To Do Planning"
17:16 Consistency
23:15 Baseline and Stretch Goal
32:00 Joint Health
36:28 Nutrition

https://www.ultraworking.com/swimming
https://clockworknutrition.com/

Form Goggles
https://www.formswim.com/?sscid=b1k5_hkrgn&
Check out the Effortless Swimming membership for online coaching options:
https://effortlessswimming.com/member/membership/
View our freestyle clinic schedule around Australia:
https://effortlessswimming.com/freestyle-clinics
Click here to subscribe:
https://www.youtube.com/user/EffortlessSwimming
Follow us on Social media:
https://www.facebook.com/effortlessswimming/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/effortlessswimming/

My guest today is Aidan Booth who is over at New Zealand. Aidan mentioned in one of his emails that he hit a PB on his hundred freestyle after going through the 8-week Faster Freestyle Course. Listen as Aidan shares his experience and how he broke the 1:15 Barrier.

00:51 Goal
3:11 Power Diamond
4:33 Stroke Rate
6:38 Measuring Stroke Rate
8:04 Hold Of The Water
11:19 Technique Checklist
17:38 What Keeps You Coming Back?

My guest today is Michael Riber. I contacted him a couple of weeks ago because I would love to have him on the podcast to talk about his improvement after finishing the 5-Day Catch Challenge. Enjoy

00:54 Swimming Background
09:37 Swimming Injuries
10:56 Accept What You Are And Do Something About It
16:17 Sky Diving And Swimming
18:09 Improvement After The Course
27:38 Patience
35:21 Life Is Long

My Guest today is Zac Turner, he is a physio at Kieser Australia. I have met Zac through a clinic that I was running in Melbourne, he invited me to try Kieser Gym that he worked at. I have been going there for a couple of months now, I have really enjoyed it, got a lot out of it, and now that I have come back to swimming, I've found that my shoulders have been really good as a result of strength training there. So I thought it would be good to get him into the podcast to talk about Strength Training.

01:34 Physio Background
03:16 Training Approach
06:55 Internal And External Rotation Strength Link To Swimming
10:26 Injury Prevention
14:51 Combined Elevation Test
17:11 How Can People Improve Their Overhead Range
20:36 How Often You Do Strength Training
23:57 Tapering Up

https://www.kieser.com.au/

Kieser are happy to offer this deal to listeners who want to try a Kieser strength program.
It includes:
●Initial physio session
●6x supervised strength training sessions
●6 week Kieser membership
●All for $180
Mention they listened to the EffortlessSwimming Podcast when they call up to book to access the offer.

Terms and Conditions: Only available to new Kieser clients. Must
reference the Effortless Swimming podcast when booking to redeem. Offer ends 31st of Jan 2022.

Form Goggles
https://www.formswim.com/?sscid=b1k5_hkrgn&
Check out the Effortless Swimming membership for online coaching options:
https://effortlessswimming.com/member/membership/
View our freestyle clinic schedule around Australia:
https://effortlessswimming.com/freestyle-clinics
Click here to subscribe:
https://www.youtube.com/user/EffortlessSwimming
Follow us on Social media:
https://www.facebook.com/effortlessswimming/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/effortlessswimming/

Marquest joins us in this podcast episode to talk about his early struggles when he started swimming.

01:02 Swimming Background
9:00 Doing Half Ironman
09:30 I Gotta Start With Something
16:52 But Swimming
25:53 Signing Up For The Stroke Analysis
35:53 Kicking Hard
44:18 Climbing Up A Mountain
47:10 It's Not Comfortable But I Am Not Dying

My guest today is Ari Klau and he is a professional triathlete who started only at the beginning of this year. He essentially came from no swimming background at all and he is gotten to a point now where he swimming very well for someone who doesn't have a background in swimming. His background is running, he was an NCAA runner and that is particularly his strength but he is a very good cyclist as well. On this podcast, we explore what he is going through in the last year in terms of how he started with his swimming, where 's is he at now, and some of those things he has worked on and focused on with his technique to get to where's he at now. Enjoy!

3:15 Swimming Background
7:27 Start Of Training
9:38 Training Mindset
13:25 First Half Iron Man
16:04 Feel The Water
18:52 Finding The Balance
19:48 Making Some Changes
24:00 Video Analysis
26:35 Focusing On The Catch
30:21 Reaching The Minute Mark
42:21 "Feel For The Water"
46:44 Breathing

My guest today is David Tilbury-Davis. You might know him, you might not. He is the former coach of Lionel Sanders, he coaches a number of professional triathletes, he is one of the most highly successful, highly experienced triathlon coaches out there at the moment. He has been coaching for the last 26 years, he has worked with Olympic athletes, Commonwealth Games athletes, and a lot of age-group and professional triathletes. Enjoy.

04:54 Coaching Long-Term Athletes

08:26 Neurological Fatigue

13:42 Descending Set

19:30 Testing Overall Improvement

24:01 Resilience

29:25 Developing Technique

39:39 Openwater Swimming

41:15 Developing Openwater Swimming Skills

43:14 Safety

51:16 Risk Assessment Instincts

http://www.tilburydavis.com/
https://www.instagram.com/coachtilburs/

My guest today is Phil Clayton. Phil was a professional Ironman, Surf Ironman Competitor from 1992 to 2004. In 2000, he won the World Ironman Championships. He has a lot of experience as a Surf Ironman Coach and as a swim coach. His main thing is helping people get comfortable, get experience to become open water swimmers.

05:06 Swimming Background
06:55 Where Do You Start?
12:48 Swimming In The Ocean
15:23 The Story That You Are Telling Yourself
17:34 "Marine Creatures"
28:38 Breathing Cycle
29:28 Bilaterral Breathing
33:32 Creating A Community

https://www.philclaytonandco.com/

My guest today is a fellow coach, a competitor, a triathlete who has done a huge amount of racing. He has done one of the longer distance triathlons that there is, the Ultraman.

01:50 Competition/ Coaching Background
03:58 Training From Ironman To Ultraman
06:37 Not Too Much Running
07:28 Swim Training
08:33Swim Techniques
09:59 Open Water Swimming Skills
15:07 Coaching Triathletes
17:45 Changes In Coaching Approach
23:24 Focused On Mature Athletes
29:36 They Are Not Going To Remember All These Things Straight Away
30:56 Upcoming Events
32:39 Swimming Is A Great Body Maintenance

My guest today is an elite athlete who won an incredible 5 World Championships in paddle boarding and holds the course record for the Molokai to Ohau race in Hawaii. Won his first full Ironman series in 2018 and the Coolangatta Gold Ironman in 2019. Join us as Matt talks about his training sessions, visions, and upcoming races.

02:48 Loving The Sport From The Getgo
04:35 Becoming A Tougher Competitor
06:47 What I Love About The Sport
09:30 The Ultimate Humility Teacher
11:57 Training Environment
14:14 Transition From Pool To Openwater
19:36 Favorite Swim Training Sessions
27:16 Upcoming Calendar Events
28:32 Train, Train, Train And Compete
32:43 What Sets You Apart
36:36 Winning The Coolangatta Gold
43:20 Visualization And Mental Imagery
46:13 Knowing The Purpose Of Drills

My guest today is Alex from AB Physiology. Take a listen as Alex talks about the importance of breathing, shares some breathing exercises, and how we should prioritize exhale.

04:32 Strategies Used To Help People Stay Calm
06:44 Level OF Awareness Towards Breathing
09:39 Breathing Exercise
14:28 Breathing In A Highly Stressed Situation
16:16 Prioritize Your Exhale
19:40 CO2 Tolerance
29:59 Keep Your Mouth Shut And Slow Down

My guest is Olympian Tristan Hollard. I wanted to get him into the podcast to talk about his experience in qualifying, his training, and racing at the Olympics.

01:42 Holy Hollard!!
05:36 Reaching The Potential
04:01 Developing Discipline And Routine
07:56 It's Not Easy
09:43 It Changed My Life Completely
11:51 Is This What's Best For Me?
14:14 Changing The Attitude Towards The Program
18:45 Changing Your Headspace
20:37 Making It To Team
24:33 After Qualifying For The Olympics
28:38 Lessons From The Olympics
30:00 Expectations
32:44 Having The Best Swimmers In The World Around You
38:51 Mentally Reflective/Overthinking
40:58 Future Plans

My guest today is Irene Cats from Swimfitforlife based up in far north Queensland. I find a lot of similarities between me and Irene as a coach, we normally coach adults, and a lot of adults that haven't got any swimming backgrounds or adults who just learned how to swim. In this podcast, I want to talk about the things that help these swimmers be more efficient, enjoy the water more, and become better swimmers.

01:21 Swimming Principles
04:11 Starting Point
05:13 Body Position
08:39 You Can't See Yourself
10:43 Snorkels
12:34 Understanding Water And Finding Your Grip
18:37 Drills/ Bending Of Elbows
22:39 Timing
25:35 Breathing
30:39 Follow A Swimming Program/ Get Some Help
35:20 Swimfitforlife Swimming Camps

Seeing some incredible improvement with his swimming time, I want to get Chris into the podcast to get his take on what's made the difference for him and with experiences like this, a lot of listeners will surely have a lot of takeaways that could help them in their swimming journey.

01:36 Swimming Background
04:14 Training Plan For Triathlon
07:47 First Swim Analysis
04:15 Saw An Effortless Swimming Video Online
16:21 5-Day Catch Challenge
16:52 Slower With The Masters Club
18:23 Areas OF Improvement
20:14 Doing The Drills
23:09 Variable Pace Training
26:15 Not All Sunshine And Rainbows
34:45 What's Ahead
36:51 Recording Swim Videos

I have been working with Chris for a little bit over a year and recently had a good result in his Ironman swim. I thought it would really good to get him into the podcast to talk about what he has done to improve his swimming.

01:09 Swimming Background
02:40 Swimming In The Dark
04:18 Reluctant To Record A Video
06:02 Ripping The Band-Aid Off
08:03 Get Over That Fear And Talk About It.
09:42 Ironman Race
15:57 Focusing Technique and Drills
17:50 Training Solo
18:42 Confidence In The Pool
20:32 Areas Of Improvement
24:16 Sprinting Faster

r

My guest today is Prescott Balch. Prescott was recently featured in one of our YouTube videos where we are looking at how can someone can go from 2:10 minutes per hundred down to 1:30. I want to get him into the podcast to talk about his experience and frustrations when it comes to open water and how he was able to manage it.

02:03 Swimming Background
04:19 Don't Try To Work On Too Much
05:44 Steady Progress
08:21 Terrible Race Results
10:34 Frustrations
13:51 8 Week Faster Freestyle Program
15:13 Open Water v.s. The Pool
20:19 Half Ironman
25:23 Starting Slow In Triathlon Swim
26:45 Easy Speed
28:28 You'll Never Know What Race Day Brings
31:51 Always Be Humble Enough To Go To Basics
33:21 Breathing And Relaxation
34:10 Learn To Like Open Water Swimming

Our guest today is Ben Kent who had recently made some big improvements with his swimming time. I like to get people who have gone through some of our programs and mage improvements just to show that it is possible and with the right focus and know how you can really make changes to your times by improving your technique.

00:54 Swimming Background
01:50 They Told Me I Could Not Run Anymore
02:38 Doing The 5 Day Catch Challenge
04:58 I feel Like Going Slower And Swimming Easier
06:46 Contrast Drills
08:00 Motivated After Seeing Improvements

Our guest today is Neil Agius who recently broke the World Record for the Longest Non-Stop Swim in the Ocean which is 125km over 52 hours. Join me as Neil talks about his incredible swim.

01:53 After The Swim
02:47 How Much Time To Train And Prepare For The Big Swim
03:33 Week Structure/Scheduling
04:16 Managing Emotions And Energy
06:26 Strategy For Dealing With Long Swims
07:26 Swimming Conditions
10:29 Cadence And Conserving Energy
12:15 Raising The Level Of Capacity
13:34 The Team
20:47 Energy And Spirituality
22:28 Self Realization
24:47 Turning Negative Into Positive
25:50 Race For A Cause: Wave Of Change
30:43 Getting Back To The Water
32:42 Future Swims

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/neilagius.official

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/neil.agius/

Today, we are talking about the 5th and final Core Principle of Fast Freestyle: find your rhythm and timing.

00:36 The Dancing Part Of Freestyle
01:13 Kick Timing
04:35 Use Different Types Of Kick
10:33 Serape Effect
13:35 Hand Speed
14:07 Split Tempo
17:54 Drills
19:22 8 Week Faster Freestyle Course

In today's episode, we will be discussing the core principle number four of Fast Freestyle, which is developing an effective catch and pull.

01:40 No Need To Overpower The Catch
03:07 Teaching The Four Key Positions
04:00 Start Of The Catch
06:00 High Elbow Catch
07:35 Power Diamond Position
10:20 Exit Of The Stroke
11:36 YMCA Drill Progression
14:38 More Drills To Work On Your Catch
15:07 Setup Phase
16:35 Path Of The Hand
17:57 Hand Speed

Today we are talking about the third core principle of Fast freestyle which is Rock, Return And Align.

00:36 Rock v.s. Rolling
02:15 Return
03:24 Correct Entry
06:08 Align

In today's episode, we're looking at Core Principle Number 2. This principle is all about minimizing drag. Here are the three things that we covered on this principle.

01:46 Proud Posture
05:06 Taut Core
9:00 Effective Kick

The 5 Core Principles Of Fast Freestyle:
https://effortlessswimming.com/5-core-principles-of-fast-freestyle/

In this week's episode, I want to cover the foundation on how we teach technique and the structure that we follow when we analyze stroke which is the 5 Core Principles of Fast Freestyle.

01:45 Use Your Diaphragm
02:29 Breathing Exercises Out Of The Water
03:42 Box Breathing
04:04 Relax Your Chest And Upper Back
05:38 Having The Right Posture
06:52 Letting Go When You Exhale

The 5 Core Principle Of Fast Freestyle:
https://effortlessswimming.com/5-core-principles-of-fast-freestyle/

My guest today is Frank Sole who is a fellow coach from Arizona and the author of "The Five 'B' To A Succesful Triathlon Swim. Reading through his book, I found so many similarities about how we coach. I want to get him to the podcast because I think there will some good discussion about it and I would love to learn from other coaches.

01:14 Coaching Approach
03:16 Working With Masters And Triathletes
04:31 When Do You Expect To See Results
08:34 The Ability To Relax
15:11 Teaching The Right Posture
20:14 It's Always About The Swim But It's Not Always About The Water
24:57 Either You Got Or You Don't?
34:53 Multitasking
40:58 SR X SL=Velocity
52:41 More Mentally Tired Than Physically Tired
56:39 Opportunity To Improve
1:01Even Out Of Chaos Comes A Blessing

My guest today is Simon Hearn, a professional triathlete whom I've known for a couple of years now. He turned pro in the last two years and I want to get him in the podcast to talk about that journey and a little bit about his journey in swimming.

01:49 Start Of Triathlon Journey
03:35 Turning Pro
05:54 Impostor Syndrome
08:16 Placing 4th On A Full Distance Ironman
09:27 Swimming Background
14:16 Training Surges
16:42 Prescribed Pace
18:23 The Gap Between Effort Levels - Developing Gears In Between
26:02 As A Physio
30:44 Mobility And Stability Work
37:37 Being Conscious In The Water
39:29 Motivation
41:35 Begin To Be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

My guest today is Nic Owens who is based in Sydney. Nic mentioned that he has been stuck with his time for over a year and now recently has made a significant improvement with his time. I want to get him into the podcast so that he can share what he did to achieve this huge improvement

01:14 Reaching 17 Minutes Per Kilometer
03:21 Does It Feel Different?
04:34 Needing To Stretch Time Between Each Stroke
05:48 It Made A Lot Of Sense
08:33 Take-Aways From The 5 Day Catch Challenge
10:57 Enjoyment In Swimming
13:25 Technique and Consistency
15:37 Room For Improvement

My guest today is Brett Hawke. Brett is a former Australian swimmer, two-time Olympian, and Commonwealth Games, medalist. He has competed and coached at the elite level and has a number of athletes who did very well at the recent Olympics. In this episode, Brett talks about his coaching, as well as some of the methods he likes to use and how likes to train sprinters.

01:42 Significant Race in 2020 Tokyo Olympics
03:58 Bruno Fratus Winning His First Medal
05:14 From Elite Swimmer To Coaching
07:38 Sometimes You Need To Stop And Let It Go
08:52 Talents In The Australian Team
13:09 Fundamentals Of Sprinting
15:51 Beating World Records
18:08 We Tend To Put Limits With Ourselves
19:29 Favorite Things About Coaching
21:36 Psychology Of Sports
27:48 Coaching Style

My guest today is Kiah Melverton who has just returned from Tokyo. She recently placed 6th in the 800m and the 1500m Freestyle. Join us as she talks about her experience during the trial, leading up to the Olympics and the Olympics.

1:33 Racing With No Crowd
4:31 Leading To Trials
5:40 5 Weeks Between Trials And Olympics
6:59 Is It Harder To Hit PBs in the Olympics?
7:50 First Race
9:02 Making The Finals
9:57 Fake Crowd Noises?
10:41 Sleeping At Night Before The Finals
11:40 Olympics Being Postponed For A Year
12:28 The Australian Team
15:55 Leadership Group
17:16 Watching It Live
19:32 Typical Week Of Training
21:30 Being A Distance Swimmer
24:54 Technique And Drills
28:24 Tension Is The Enemy Of Fast Swimming

Joining us again is Carl Reader. He has a background in Exercise Physiology and Pilatesbut primarily working in Functional Movement. We recently created a course together which is Functional Movement for swimmers. in this course, Carl teaches you how to do some of the primary movements correctly that is going to help you as a swimmer.

3:47 Scientific But Not Functional
5:04 Injuries are Caused By Movements That Are Not Functional
6:16 Serape Effect
8:35 Shoulder Issues
10:07 How Much Does It Take For Someone To Make The Change
14:55 Core Strength And Squatting
18:24 Squatting Is The Body's Power Position
20:02 Swimmers And Squatting

https://www.effortlessswimming.coach/functional-movement/
https://carlreadercoaching.com/

Joining us in this podcast is Brad Beer who is an APA Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist, Founder of POGO Physio, best-selling author of 'You CAN Run Pain-Free!', podcast host of The Physical Performance Show, and also an experienced runner and triathlete.

1:08 Working with Elite Athletes
2:28 Common Trend in Injuries Among Athletes
5:05 Avoiding Injuries When you are Coming From Off-Season
7:57 Strength Versus Mobility
10:49 The Importance Of Fueling
16:37 Swimming Background
20:45 Why Does Under Fueling Leads To Bone-Stress Injuries
24:50 Swimmers With Shoulder Injuries
30:06 Injury Rehabilitation And Recovery
32:48 Capacity Testing

Amy recently did the Cairns Ironman. She had a pretty big PB. She went from 1:18 down to 1:09. I invited her to the podcast to chat about what she did to make such a big improvement on her swimming speed.

01:05 What Inspired You To Work On Your Swimming
02:26 Take Away From The Effortless Swimming Clinic
03:08 It Takes Patience
04:20 Making Changes Permanent
05:46 Clinic Expectations
07:59 Noticing Changes On The Stroke
08:44 Keeping Those Changes In The Openwater
11:00 Few Things At A Time

Julie McDonald is one of Australia’s most celebrated Swimmers. She’s competed in 2 Commonwealth Games and 2 Olympics. Julie held the Commonwealth Record for the 800m freestyle for 21 years, the longest standing record for any Australian. Join me as Julie talks about her experience competing in the Olympics.

00:46 Exciting Swimming Events Going On
06:00 Is It All About The Gold?
10:10 Going To My First Olympic
13:08 Getting Your Head Into The Right Space
16:47 Olympic Flashback
19:52 Best Swim
22:17 Second Olympic Performance
27:39 Listen To Your Body
28:51 Using Logbooks
30:50 Hardest Week Of Training
34:43 Transition From Athlete to Working
39:51 Positive Mindset Is A Daily Activity
46:27 Consistency

Abe Goldberg has recently been through the 5-Day Catch Challenge. He knocked 7 seconds per hundred of his 1000 yeard time trial. I thought it would be great to get him on so that he can share what he changed about his stroke and about his swimming because I think it's going to be relevant to a wider audience and I am sure there's going to be some learning that people can take away from this and will apply it to their own swimming.

2:10 Open Recovery Versus High Elbow Recovery
4:10 Doing It Consistently
5:49 Being Mindful Of Front Quadrant
8:58 Using Bouyancy Shorts
11:46 Swimming Downhill
12:30 It's Okay To Come Up With Your Way Of Doing Things
14:50 Ongoing Commitment
17:07 Using Numbers

My guest today is Sam Laidlow who is considered one of the best triathletes in France today. He is born in the UK and was raised in French Pyrénées. Join us as Sam talks about his training, beliefs, and goals.

00:46 Working Hard And Working Smart
01:59 Dad As A Coach
03:39 Swimming 3X A Week
05:22 Big Part of Success In Swimming Is How Much You Enjoy It
06:06 There Is No One Way OF Swimming
08:18 Swimming With Stones
09:56 Strength Development
12:41 Go-To Sets
15:03 Should I Learn How To Flip Turn?
16:32 If You Don't Use It, You Will Certainly Lose It
17:47 Spending Too Much Time Running And Biking
19:16 Main Goals
22:38 Best Time
23:42 This Is What I Want To Do
27:29 Contact Sam Laidlow

In this episode, I am chatting with Phil Rush, who has the fastest double and triple crossing of the English Channel. In this episode, we chat about a number of things including how can you get better at adapting to the cold, the type of training that you need to be doing if you are looking to do a marathon swimming, what are the important factors when you are thinking of the training that you are doing. Is it the distance that you are doing? Is it the speed? Feeding? What are some aspects of the training? If you are into open-water swimming, cold water swimming, or looking to increase the distance that you are doing, then this a podcast for you.

03:21 Successful Crossing Despite The Pandemic
4:13 Everybody's Body Reacts Differently In The Cold
05:27 Strategies If You Find Someone Getting Cold
10:31 No Filter, No BS
15:50 Getting Into The Right Mindset
19:01 Controlling Your Mind
28:35 Cold Water Adaptation
31:52 What Is The Best Way To Train For An Openwater Swim?

My guest today is Peter Bloor from Vietnam. I invited him on the podcast to talk about the impressive results he has observed after day two of the '5 Day Catch Challenge'. He shared about what he had changed and did to make such an improvement.

1:00 Swimming Background
3:35 Did the '5 Day Catch Challenge' Each Day Twice
4:45 Less Tired And Feeling Better
5:45 The Importance Of Slow To Fast
8:19 One Focus A Day Is The Way To Go
10:05 Watching Swim Videos On Youtube
12:11 Training Sessions
13:53 8th Week Program

My guest today is Jeff Grace from Swimming Specific Yoga. Jeff has been in the podcast before. Now he is coming back to talk more about body awareness, mobility. preparation and many more.

02:26 Moving Better With Yoga
04:55 Body Awareness in Overhead Movements
06:55 Thoracic Mobility
08:18 Increasing Thoracic Spine Mobility
12:36 Rock Not Roll
13:21 Cross-Body Connections
15:05 How You Perform Drills Is More Important Than How Many Drill You Do
17:04 Activation and Relaxation
18:44 Effortless Effort
23:10 The Breath
26:02 Preparation

My guest today is Bevan Mckinnon. He is a coach at Fitter Coaching and he hosts a podcast called Fitter Radio. Bevan coaches multiple pro triathletes who have won several Ironman and 70.3 Distance Events. He has also won the Age Group World Championships in Kona and other long course events. In this episode, we are talking about some of the lessons that he has learned over the last several years of coaching and how they might apply to triathletes and swimmers who are looking to get better at swimming.

8:41 Environment And Coaching
9:57 Being An Objective Coach
11:27 Coaching Pros and Age Groupers. Is There A Difference?
12:47 Art of Coaching And The Science of Coaching
14:56 Teaching Teachers How To Teach
18:21 Giving The Athletes The Power To Decide
27:52 Swim Chute
33:40 Increasing Stroke Rate
Finding The Right Resource

In todays episode, I want to go over an article that I was sent recently by Bevan Mckinnon who host the podcast Fitter Radio. I thought it is going to be worhtwhile going over this article that he sent because when I first read the title and when I read the first couple of paragraphs, it kind of got my hackels up a little bit, thinking that this is not right but as I continue to read through it, I found myself agreeing to most of this.

1:50 This Isn't Right
2:49 Drills Change Certain Aspect Of The Stroke
3:14 Knowing The Purpose Of The Drill
4:17 Making It As Simple As Possible
5:32 YMCA Drill Progression
10:36 Make Sure You're Doing The Drills Correctly

Joining us in this episode is Kris Martenstyn from Singapore, who had some great results from the 5 Day Catch Challenge that we recently run. He will talk about the improvements he has seen and what he may have changed about his stroke to get these results.1:02 Swimming Background
2:56 Bringing In The 5 Day Catch Challenge Into My Workouts
4:19 The Entry
9:09 It Was Good To Come Back To Basics
12:00 Good Technique And Relaxation In The Water
15:33 Stick To The Routine
16:39 Swimming Makes You a Better Runner
17:58 Going Forwards
19:39 Achievement UnlockedPUT the 5-day catch link

My guest today is Quang Pham who recently had a significant improvement with his swim time. I thought it would be useful to have him share what he has done to improve. Listen to this episode, you might pick a couple of things that you might implement on your own.

1:40 Benchmarks

04:29 What Made The Difference

5:48 Swimming Has Become Easier

7:18 What Works Best For Me

8:37 What Got Me Into The Pool

12:00 The Next Step

13:59 Having A Structure

15:52 Initializing The Catch With The Ring And Pinky Finger

Joining us in this episode is Trey St. John whom I have been working with for a couple of months. Trey recently joined a triathlon and couldn't believe that he clocked in a sub-24 minute time. Join us as Trey talks about what he thinks contributed to this significant change.

00:47 Swimming Background
1:55 I Needed To Start Swimming
3:19 Watching Feedback Friday Videos
5:38 Fitness Is There But No Technique
6:03 I Really Wanted To Qualify
8:44 I Started Seeing Improvements
12:07 Using A Different Pair Goggles Right Before The Race
14:47 Consistency. Strength Work. Coaching
18:30 Using Bands
22:08 Providing Stroke Analysis Online
25:02 Awareness In The Water
25:22 Small Changes Can Make A Huge Impact
26:50 Preparing For Open Water Swimming
28:49 Open Water Sighting

My guest today is Hollie Buerckner who just completed a 100km around the bay, starting from Port Melbourne finishing in Sorrento. Join us in this podcast as Hollie shares her experience during that 5 day swim.

4:52 Having a great support system is important

7:27 Unlucky Weather

8:28 First To Last Day Experience

13:47 Struggles

21:59 Block Negative Thoughts

26:30 Swimming With Your Old Self

31:11 Everything Comes To An End

33:56 Expand your Comfort Zone

40:10 Post Swim

48:50 It's Not About Winning, More on Improving Yourself

My guest today is Chung-Haun Li who has been on our Stroke Analysis Membership for 12 months. I have asked Chung-Haun to guest in our podcast to share his story and improvement for the last 12 months because he's had a pretty significant improvement with his time and technique.

01:14 12 Months Ago
02:29 I Didn't Know What's Wrong With My Stroke
05:03 " The Only Thing That I Know Is That I Am Slow And I Didn't Know What To DO"
08:19 Improving My Balance
11:55 Improving My Stroke Rate
15:42 Your Threshold Speed Is Just A Percentage OF Your Top Speed
19:41 Planned Work Out
20:51 Frustrations

Rebecca Hollingsworth recently swam across the Cook Strait. In this episode, she talks about how her preparation, training, and experience on that swim.

00:40 It's Supposed to be 23km
2:23 Training While Waiting For Another Window
5:00 Doing A Tandem Swim
8:42 Not Slowing Down
9:28 Cold Adaptation
11:08 Fuelling
14:35 After The Swim (Mental Toll)

My guest today is John Hancock, the most recent person who successfully completed the Lake Taupo swim.

00:46 Lake Taupo
02:29 Deciding To Cross Lake Taupo and How Long is The Preparation
05:34 Is 2 Month Preparation Enough?
08:27 "As Long As You Can Keep Moving, You Will Get There"
09:53 Recovery
12:16 Thoughts While for 14 Hours
16:49 Positivity v.s. Dark Thoughts During The Swim
23:39 After The Swim
28:39 Swimming With Squad

John's Swim Report:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/eug07sqzhortyvm/210315-Taupo%2040.2%20swim-compressed.pdf

In this episode, I want to talk about making your swimming effortless. I have been watching about Lionel Sanders, a professional triathlete has put up in his swimming recently which he has titled "Stop Sucking At Swimming" and he is basically trying to improve his swimming to be a front pack swimmer in his swim and not lose so much ground on his swim. It has been interesting hearing him talk about the things that he is going through and how he is going to change his mindset and his approach to swimming.

00:56 Try Less To Go Faster
02:35 Try This The Next Time You Are In The Pool
04:22 Effortless Swimming?
05:16 Not Going To Happen Every Time
05:37 Do A Longer Warm-Up
06:36 Sets That Progressively Get Quicker
08:16 Get Your Technique Looked At And Be Consistent

Do you only have one speed?
In this episode, we are talking about developing your gears as a swimmer. If you want to develop your ability and your skills as a swimmer or as a triathlete, then it is going to really pay off to be able to adjust the effort you put in and the speed that you get back as a result of it. We are also talking about the common mistakes that people make when they struggle to increase their speed.

01:15 Accordion Effect

02:23 Apply More Pressure and Power At The Front Of Your Stroke

03:31 Difference In Speed Is Minimal

07:25 Tighten Up The Kick

08:41 Tuning Into Your Breathing

I thought it might be useful through some of the things that I am tweaking, adjusting, and changing with my own swimming that you may find useful in your own swimming.

00:36 Changing Habits and Having a Good Routine
02:55 Starting The Day The Right Way
05:50 Training Harder and Longer Sessions
06:17 Expanding Skillset and Boundaries
10:03 Listening to Fictional Audio Books
11:16 Loosening Up and Staying on Top Of My Mobility
12:58 Do Less

In this episode, Chuck, who joined the Effortless Swimming Membership a couple of years ago, shares about his swimming experience, his hesitation in joining the membership, and how he has significantly improved over the years

01:06 Joining Effortless Swimming Membership

04:23 Putting Attention To More Important Things

08:52 It's all about "Reduce Drag, Increase Propulsion"

13:49 What You Think You're Doing And What You Are Actually Doing Often Times Are Different Things

16:24 You Can't Change Your Stroke Overnight

16:53 "I Didn't Know Where My Lats Were"

00:58 Swimming Background
01:53 Joining Ironman After A Heart Attack
04:57 "Never Did Any Freestyle"
11:05 Comparing Strokes From A Month Ago
12:04 Finding The Right Balance With Your Stroke (Sweet Spot)
14:12 Not Power But Technique
14:30 "You Don't Know What You Don't Know"
16:05 Breaking It Down (Focus On One Thing At A Time)

Here's the third installment of our podcast episode with Sam Fenton. In this episode, Sam discussed what really is Deep Core, the muscles that are involved in strengthening the deep core, and some exercised to improve it.

1:11 What Is Deep Core?
3:17 Stability Of Pelvis
4:11 Inter-Abdominal Pressure
6:40 Crossfitters Destroying Their Joints and Back
08:48 Serape Effect
11:34 Need To Learn The Fundamentals
14:53 There Are No Secrets In Drills
17:45 Leg Lift
19:38 Cat Dog Exercise
23:06 Control High Performance

Welcome to Part 2 of our podcast episode with Sam Fenton. In this episode, Sam talked about the importance of having ankle strength and flexibility; and how can you improve your stiff ankles.

04:36 Why Underwater Dolphin Kick?
05:36 Ankle Strength And Flexibility
07:04 Range And Strength
09:21 How Do You Improve Range And Strength?
12:39 Need To Have Strong/ Smart Feet
13:03 Improving Stiff Ankles
19:28 Improving Strength
23:54 Conditioning Takes A Long Time.

Sam Fenton is the High-Performance Manager of Control High Performance, he has been involved with sports for close to 20 years now and is in charge of Strength and Conditioning/ Performance programs.

Sam will be joining us for a three-part podcast, for the next episodes, Sam and I will be talking about:

Part 2:Transforming Your Feet Into Propellors (Even If Your Ankles Are STIFF!)

Part 3:Deep Core vs 6-Pack Abs - Developing What Really Matters In Swimming

Watch out for the next episodes!!

05:42 Looking Into High-Performance Approach
06:12 High-Performance Approach and Physical Literacy Approach Together
07:12 High-Performance Approach - Wholesome Approach
12:21 Does Elite Swimmers Suffer As A Result Of Taking Softer Approach?
15:53 Being Smart About Your Rest
16:52 Incremental Improvements
19:01 For Coaches Transitioning to High-Performance Approach
22:55 Thinking Brain v.s Feeling Brain
24:15 Going Into The Zone
26::34 What Happens If You Are Training Tired?
27:02 Pre-Training Routine
28:36 Load Management
32:25 Follow The 10% Rule
33:47 Strength and Conditioning - Balance Your Body Out
===

1:15 WHY? Total Body Force Swimming
3:50 do not focus on trying to feel the water
5:14 use whole body to create force
7:40 Bilateral breathing > Is bilateral breathing necessary?
9:21 TBF swimming gives both rhythm and balance >
12:08 straight arms recovery stroke
12:45 hand entry
13:15 head position
14:55 find the stroke that best suits you

My guest in this episode is Ryan Twist, a Podiatrist from Bayswater Foot and Ankle Clinic. Anyone who is listening who wants to get into running or they have been running and they have found themselves injured, this episode is for you.

01:13 People Are Starting to Pick Up Running And Walking

02:49 What Are The Most Common Running Injuries?

04:56 Recommendations For Beginners (Walk Run Cycle)

06:33 The Best Strengthening Exercises For Runners

10:21 The Wrong Shoes Can Cause Injury

15:10 Injuries And Niggles: When To Run And When To Stop

18:27 How Much Should We Run?

20:37 Running Slow To Running Fast Makes A Massive Difference

24:36 Nasal Breathing

26:18 Be Patient

26:59 Role Of Mobility I Avoiding Injury

Shawn is an Ironman triathlete based in Nova Scotia, Canada. A year ago, he started some changes in his stroke and in the course over the last year, he has effectively gone from a 2:25 per hundred pace down to 1:31 per hundred. Shawn will share how he has done that, what changes he's made to his stroke and how might incorporate this changes to your own stroke.

00:56 Impressive Improvements
03:49 Everyting Was Wrong With What I Was Trying To Do
04:56 Increasing Your Stroke Rate
06:44 Finding The Sweet Spot For Stroke Rate
11:33 Timing Your Kick With The Rest Of The Stroke
12:32 What Are You Thinking About When You're Swimming In Terms Of Technique
14:08 Swimming From The Inside Out
16:42 Keeping The Videos Simple

Melissa Urie is the first woman to complete 895km Uberman Ultra-Triathlon. In this podcast episode, she shares her experience during the race, doing training, and getting through the race with the use of mental strategies to survive the tough times.

5:22 Training For Uberman
10:23 The Power of A Positive Mindset
12:43 Proving Yourself That You Can Do It
13:51 Building Your Confidence
17:29 Giving Up Is Not An Option!
19:15 Post Race: Mental And Physical Recovery
25:24 Moving Forward By Going Back To Basics
29:18 Finding Identity Outside Of Sports Is Important Too
31:47 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
40:52 Training Session Management
43.24 Combat Decision Fatigue With Better Mental Habits
46:48 How To Trick Yourself Into Doing The Hard Things
55:00 What Keeps You Going?

Welcome back to another podcast episode! Today, I'll be sharing my top tips for making your open water swimming enjoyable and more challenging. Listen on in!

00:27 What Are the Drills You Can Do?
1:47 How to Break Down Or Structure An Open Water Swim
3:37 Don't Overthink It!
3:56 Overcome Open Water Swim Anxiety
5:55 Progressively Make Your Swimming More Challenging
6:39 Dynamic Breathing

Welcome Back! Here in Australia, there are a couple of pools that have started to open, you can book individual lanes for a certain amount of time. So I thought of doing a podcast talking about the best ways to get back to training once your pool has opened.

00:55 Time Frame
01:54 How Many Sessions?
02:52 What Will You Experience?
04:19 What Type Of Training Should You Be Doing?
08:39 Warm Up With Fins
09:41 Therebands
10:19 Time Trial

In today's episode, we sat down with the author of the book Your New Prime, and promoter of men's health and wellness, Craig Cooper! We talked about the active approach to maintaining your physical and mental health as you age, how to get out of complacency, and how to start thriving and making steady forward progress in life.

3:40 Passion For Health
7:06 Adjusting Your Fitness As You Age
11:40 Cultivate The Friendships In Your Life
17:58 Break Free From Complacency
21:55 The Element Of Uncertainty
23:20 Live In The Moment
25:08 Good Friendships Are Key To Positive Mental Health
28:55 Life Is Challenging For Everyone
30:03 Get Together
33:45 What's Next for Craig Cooper

In today's episode, we are joined by a lifelong trainer and athlete Andrew Read as he talks about his program 28-day Challenge. Andrew talks through how important going back to the basics is and some of the necessary skills to influence your success at living a healthy lifestyle.

4:19 Creating A Mindset Component
5:32 Going Back To The Basics Matters
12:40 Understand How You Learn Best.
15:32 Cut To The Chase
17:35 Your Body Is Built For Walking.
20:59 Consistency Makes The Biggest Difference.
23:53 Starting From Scratch
25:02 Give It Time
28:10 Carrot And Stick Approach
31:46 Identify What Triggers Your Bad Habits And Make A Plan
35:35: Change Starts With You
37:22 Asking the Right Questions

We are joined by Dr. Greg Wells who is the author of the book Rest, Refocus, Recharge. We discussed some of the things that are discussed in his book. He shares some strategies on why doing less will actually achieve more, how to stop reacting to things and be more deliberate, taking full control of your love, refocusing your attention and how you can stop being a slave to busyness.

02:05 Slowing Down
04:05 Sleeping As A Tool Tool To Recharge
07:29 Doing Less To Achieve More In A Day To Day Life
08:51 Pump The Breaks, Open More Space and Have More Control
11:29 You Don't Need To Do What Other People Expect Of You
13:39 From External Validation To Intrinsic Motivation
14:26 Stop Reacting And Start Being Deliberate With What You're Doing
17:08 Metacognition
21:41 Reaction versus Response
24:50 Helping Kids With Cystic Fibrosis
26:53 Pay Attention To What We Have
29:59 Multitasking Can Lead To Distractions
37:22 Get Away From Your Device - "123 Practice"
39:28 The Psychology Of Being In The Water
43:17 Bring Your Attention Right Back Into The Present Moment
48:00 It's Process Not Outcome

Marc Evans joins us in this episode to talk about the possible things you can do at your home during these times. In this episode, Marc discussed maintaining the feel of the water, the importance of mobility, stability, and flexibility.

00:38 Triathletes In Motion
02:40 It's Not The Strongest Athlete That Wins The Gold Medals
06:19 Functional Strength
06:58 Most Of The Triathletes Underswim In Volume
08:01 Having A High Elbow Catch
08:40 Sculling Your Hands In A Tub Of Water
10:10 Mobility Test
11:30 Technique Is Related To Mobility And Stability
12:43 Put Your Heart Monitors And GPS Aside
17:24 Using Therabands
18:55 If You Can Get It Right Out Of The Water, You Can Get It Right In The Water
19:18 Fingertip Wall Slide
22:42 Q Swim App
23:09 Swimm Specific Yoga
23:48 Cold Showers

Tim Ballantine is a full-time endurance coach and the owner of Koa Sports. In this episode, he shares about being a coach, finding your passion, not having all the answers and intensity in training.

02:56 Coaching Philosophy
05:30 "You've Got To Find What Works For You"
06:17 You Can't Be All Things To All People
07:01 "It's Not The Words, It's How You Say Them"
09:25 "If You Don't Like It, You're Not Going To Last Very Long"
10:31 There Is No Cookie Cutter Here
14:48 Swimming As A Barrier To Entry In Triathlon
19:02 Coaching Remotely
20:18 "Don't Be Afraid To Say That You Don't Have All The Answers"
24:20 Injecting Intensity In Swimming
31:19 There's Always Something To Work On

Dan Smith joins us in this episode as he talks about his swimming, drug addiction, building character and his road to redemption.

01:28 Swimming Life As A Youngster
03:41 Burnt Out At The Age Of 14
04:46 It Was More Of An Escape For Me
05:44 What Would I Pass On To My Kids
08:38 I Am Not Defined What I Used To Be Or What I Should Be
09:53 2016 Rio Olympics
12:18 Dealing With Emotions After The Olympics
15:52 Rebuilding Your Stroke
20:11 You Got To Be Patient In Unlearning Bad Habits So That You Can Learn New Habits
26:21 Cues Used On Strokes
28:01 I Had To Go Backwards To Go Forwards
30:33 "I Am Not Worried About The Clock"
31:52 Be Realistic About The Bad Days
32:53 Tracking Your Training
34:54 Distractions Around Training

00:43 Jason's Background
03:51 Dealing With Missing Out On Olympics
07:15 Being Comfortable With The New You
09:04 Without Swimming, I Wouldn't Be Able To Grow Into The Person That I Am Now"
09:49 Planting A Seed
10:48 Performing Best When The Pressure Is On
16:01 Swimming Is A Sport Where You Operate With Calmness
18:09 Becoming More Of Yourself
19:15 Nervous Energy
20:27 Having A Little Bit Of Fun
22:47 Making It Personable
26:41 Simplifying Data
30:19 Learning From Being A Swimmer To Coaching
40:02 "It's The Sense Of Achievement That Gives Us The Motivation To Continue"
41:50 Winning The Day Early On

01:50 Working On Soft Skills
02:44 It Comes Down To The Way They Do What They Do
03:58 Vibe And Connection Among People
05:23 Building A Team Culture
07:10 What Does Your Values Look Like?
09:00 Identfying The Actual Behaviors That Will Say "This is Who We Are"
10:05 Responsibility Is About Me, Accountability Is About Me
12:26 Love, Care And Consideration Are Important Words Too
17:35 What Can You Do Better?
20:42 Problem Solving Is An Incredible Learning Tool
26:23 Asking The Right Questions
27:54 Stop Being So Obsessed With The Physiology
31:38 Training Is From The Neck Down But Coaching Is From The Neck Up
32:41 It's All Mental At The Top Level
38:33 You Don't Want To Burn All Your Matches Straight Away
41:05 Watching People Grow
41:45 Developing The " I Can" Attitude
46:41 Online Course For Coaching

My guest on today's podcast is Stephen Jackson who first attended a clinic in 2017. At the time he was a 2:20/100m swimmer, and over the course of the last few years
he's been able to move into the 1:40/100m range. In this episode, you'll learn what to expect as you progress in your swimming journey and how you can find continual improvement in your technique and speed.

1:09 Athletic Background
1:54 I Swim Like A Rock
3:14 Before And After The Clinic
3:54 What Got Me In
5:00 Making It Simple
7:25 Don't Limit Yourself
8:19 Implementing The Changes Of The Stroke In A Race
10:00 "It's Motivating If You Know What Can Make You Faster"
11:00 The Difference In Training
12:37 It Starts With The Posture
14:10 Target Pace

Eney Jones is coming back for the third time to share what she has been working with recently and about trying a different approach for triathletes who needs help with their swimming.

01:31 Origin Of Phrases That Swim Coaches Have Used
08:26 Core Connection
10:18 Working With Triathletes
12:43 The Mental Aspect
13:41 Aloha!
15:54 Alternate Ego
17:26 You Either Win Or You Learn
19:28 Between The Stimulus And Response
21:24 Going Back To The Fundamentals Of Breathing
22:49 Connecting To Your Breath
24:37 Shells And Rocks
32:36 One Size Doesn't Fit All

Our guest today is Harriet Brown who is a World Ironwoman Champion, NutriGrain Ironwoman Series Champion, Australian Team Captain and Molokai to Oahu Paddle Board Champion.

01:26 Underwater Filming
03:10 Injury During Championship
05:14 Being Out For The Whole Season
07:18 Exercise Makes You Happy
07:51 Injury As A Positive Experience
08:54 Having Some Time Off
10:45 Considering A Career After Sports
11:59 Molokai to Oahu Paddle
14:32 Cut The Race Into Little Parts
16:20 "You Are Lucky To Be Here"
17:00 What Do You Tell Yourself To Keep You Going?
19:03 Good Races And Bad Races
20:10 You Have To Stay Present
21:20 What Do You Love About Racing?
25:03 Managing Three Sessions A Day, Six Days A Week Of Training
27:09 Sleep Is The Best Form Of Recovery
31:29 We Cope With Load Differently

As we end a wonderful year, here’s a collection of the best podcast snippets for 2019. Enjoy!

00:19 Do Not Overthink
02:04 Flexibility
05:02 Stroke Changes In Open Water
08:12 "I Can't Do That, I Am Spontaneous"
12:26 Breathing Exercises During Downtime
15:17 Locking Changes as a Habit
18:19 Serape Effect on Freestyle
20:43 Don't Get Too Caught Up with Data
23:01 "I'd Rather And Potentially Fail At Something That I Really Care About, Rather Than Never Try At All"
24:57 Putting Fundamentals In Place First
26:33 One Of The Most Powerful Thing You Can Do To Your Body
28:08 Pain Is Inevitable, Suffering Is Optional
35:12 Breaking Things Down To A Simplistic Level

Coming back as a guest is Garry Hurring who is a former Olympic swimmer and Olympic coach. Gary has coached with as in our Hell Week Camp in Thanyapura, Thailand.
Here are the things we talked about:

01:15 Hell Week Camp At Thanyapura
03:26 Common Things Observed From Swimmers At Hell Week
07:05 There's No Advise That's Going To Fit For Everyone
07:43 It's The Hard Stroke That's Often The Best Stroke
09:11 Using Different Gears
14:33 One on One Coaching
19:10 The Pit Of Discomfort
22:25 Faults On The Stroke
27:48 Swimmers Struggling With Kicking
28:43 The Lack Of Wanting To Kick
31:10 Swimming Sets
36:31 Different Opinions Being Shared

Our guest for today's episode is Sam Penny who is the first person who attempted to swim the English in winter. In this episode, we talked about Sam's training, strategy and his journey in crossing the English Channel.

00:52 The Swim
08:40 We Had No Idea What Was Going To Come
10:07 Shutting Your Mind Down
11:19 Hypothermia Setting In
17:21 Swim Strategy
20:24 Prepare Yourself For The Worst
22:01 Looking On The Bright Side Of Things
23:44 Looking At It As A New Adventure
25:41 Future Swims
33:17 It's Not About The Destination, It's The Journey
37:37 I Didn't Come This Far To Come This Far

Our guest today is Baden Schaff, who is a PGA pro in golf, and he is also the co-creator of Skillest. Now you might've heard me talk about Skillest, this is the app that we use at our clinics and at our camps, to help analyze swimmers strokes and also just to really show them what they're doing under the water. And for me, this is an app that is completely changed the way that we coach, and I've got Baden to thank for that. And we're going to talk a little bit about Skillest, but also talk about what are some lessons that Baden has learned from coaching people in golf, and how we can apply that to swimming, and how you can improve your own swimming through some of those lessons.

05:07 Origin Of Skillest
06:50 Using Skillest For Coaching
11:36 How Effortless Swimming Is Using Skillest
14:03 Breaking Things Down To A Simplistic Level
15:20 Providing Structure And Timeframe
16:41 It Takes Discipline
17:37 Don't Get Distracted
18:46 Tryin A different Thing Everyday
19:37 Long Term Thinking
20:19 Coaching Timeframe
24:06 Coaching Online

We sit down with Josh Minogue as we talk about how patience pays off, his Coolangatta Gold triumph and his triathlon journey.

04:09 Swimming Background
07:16 How Can Dissapointment Be Good For Me?
09:08 If You Stop Learning, Stop Coaching
10:08 Being An Athlete and Being A Coach
13:12 Coaching And Training For Triathlon
14:43 Trying Something New
18:23 Transition From Swimming To Surf Ironman
24:46 Giving The Coolangatta Gold Another Try
34:28 Not Competing in Surf Ironman
37:41 "I'm So Glad I Did It" Moments
39:02 Two Types Of Fun
42:33 Pain Is Inevitable, Suffering Is Optional
44:11 Future Challenges
48:42 Some Lesson Are Learned In The Doing

Our guest in todays episode is Darren Stojanovic from Dynamic Stability. He is a physiotherapist but he is also doing a lot of work in breathwork. In this episode, Darren and I will be talking about different breathing techniques which can help you control your emotion and help you improve your performance.

3:01 Learning About Breathing
04:48 Putting Breathing Techniques Together And Teaching It
06:27 How Breathwork Can Alter The Body's System
09:00 How It Can Help People
14:14 You Improve Your Breathing, You Improve Your Technique
17:20 Different Effects On People
23:25 Circular Breathing/ The Go-To Breath
25:02 Boxed Breathing/Sniper Breath
28:41 Triangle Breathing
34:44 Energy Breathing
42:18 One Of The Most Powerful Thing You Can Do To Your Body

Ryan Hodierne is the Biomechanist for NSWIS (New South Wales Institute of Sport). He has worked with a lot of high-level swimmers and what I would like to talk about is how biomechanics would be applicable for a regular person who would like to improve his or her swimming.

01:06 Thoughts about Sensarii
02:31 Simplifying Data To Make It Useful
05:02 Communicating With Swimmers And Coaches
09:31 Putting Fundamentals In Place First
10:59 "We are a Proof To The Coach If What He Is Doing Is Right or Wrong"
13:16 Providing Expectations To Athletes
17:46 Visual Learning
18:28 Contrast Drills
22:18 Kick Is More Effective If It Is Tied In With A Stroke
23:21 Drills For Connecting The Timing Of The Kick And Stroke
28:05 Timing Goes A Long Way
31:38 Connecting The Purpose Of The Drill To The Swim Stroke
34:20 Consistency
35:21 Leave The Watch In Your Gear Bag

My guest is Tim Ford, who is someone I've known for the last few years, and a number of years ago, he started his triathlon journey and over that time he's lost more than 50 kilos. He's completely changed his life with respect to his health, his fitness, and his work, and I think it's a really good story to share on how a simple idea can spark a complete life change in someone.

On today's episode, we look at what are some of those things that Tim has changed to turn around his life and become a completely different person and we also share some of the things that we feel can help other people become better athletes, whether that's a triathlon or whether it's swimming. And focusing on the things that you can control and that you can change and why it pays to always have a longterm approach to this stuff.

03:07 "I Stopped Weighing Myself When I Reached 120 Kilos."
05:11 "My First Triathlon Was A Disaster"
07:20 "I Bought A Fancy Carbon Fiber Bike After My First Race"
09:11 Triathlon Is More Of A Race Against Yourself
10:13 What Motivates You?
12:14 Little Improvements
15:24 The Switch
20:07 When Your Hobby Becomes Your Job
21:33 Being A Coach
25:17 "I'd Rather And Potentially Fail At Something That I Really Care About, Rather Than Never Try At All"
27:35 Collaboration Is The Most Underrated Thing In Our Sport
30:55 Stepping Out OF Your Comfort Zone
32:37 Hardwork and Commitment Often Leads To Good Things
33:04 Leaving The Judgement Aside
39:05 Coming Up For Tim Ford

My guest today is Nick Jankovskis from METS Performance. METS Performance is a Melbourne based company that help athletes with a whole range of tests that you can use to then use some data to incorporate that into how you're training, particularly for endurance athletes. Nick and I will be talking about how we easily can get caught up with all this information and how we can use this data effectively in our training.

03:22 Philosophy of METS Performance Consulting
04:45 Working With Athletes
09:52 Common Mistakes Among Athletes
17:30 Stepping Back
22:08 Variable Pace Swimming
27:59 Data and Training
34:40 Macro Perspective
40:21 Don't Get Too Caught Up with Data
48:04 It's Good To Have A Back-Up Sports
1:01:14 Making it Simple

Our guest today is Michael Andrew, he is a competitive swimmer and has been the gold medalist for the 100 meter individual medley at the 2016 FINA Short Course World Championships. He is training in a non-traditional way and has pioneered the Ultra Short Course Race Pace Training.

02:32 Ultra Short Race Pace Training
07:04 Team Environment
08:01 Sessions Per Week
10:12 Constantly Adjusting
11:21 You Have To Enjoy It Inorder For It To Workout
15:27 International Swimming League
19:57 Consistency in training
21:53 Keto Diet

Carl joins us again on the podcast. His background is in Functional Movement and in this episode, he shares some interesting aspects about the Serape Effect.

01:34 Carl's experience with Serape Effect
03:13 Brenton's Interpretation of Serape Effect
04:24 Carl's Take on Serape Effect
06:04 Exercises
08:58 Understanding and Starting Serape
10:29 Building the Coordination
11:24 Serape Effect on Freestyle
13:50 Going for the Feel
15:12 Handbreaks to Serape Effect
19:50 Helping People Through Functional Movement
26:20 Core Principles
28:10 Body Awareness
29:29 Tuning into the Feeling Side

More About Carl Reader:
website: https://carlreadercoaching.com/
email: carlwellness@gmail.com

My guest today is Ryan Roselli. He attended one of our freestyle clinics in Brisbane last March. During the Cairns Half Ironman, he managed to cut down 5 minutes of his swim time. In this episode we, talked about the things he focused on in his stroke, making the changes permanent and some advice to swimmers and triathletes who been wanting to improve their swimming.

16:12 Ryan's Swimming Background
02:43 Attending Effortless Swimming Freestyle Clinic
03:55 Key Point Take-Aways From The Clinic
06:07 Locking Changes as a Habit
07:36 First Couple of Weeks
10:15 Curve
11:28 Race Day Focus
16:00 Swim Time Target for the Next six to 12 months
16:34 Advice to Swimmers Wanting To Improve Their Time
17:55 Filming Yourself

Our guest today is Trever Gray, In this episode, we discussed about Heart Rate Variability and how you can use that to know when to be able to push yourself in training and when to back off. We've talk about how to breathe properly and how to train yourself, how you can improve your swimming performance using respiratory muscle training. And we've also talked about blood flow restriction training.

00:59 Trever Gray Introduction
02:22 What is Heart Rate Variability?
04:01 How do you measure HRV?
05:20 Overtraining or Undertraining
06:27 Using HRV Data in Training
08:17 Skepticism from Coaches
08:59 Managing HRV Data as a Coach
11:16 Is it for Everybody?
13:32 Respiratory Muscle Training
14:39 Breathing Exercise to Strengthen Respiratory Muscles
20:29 Breathing Exercises During Downtime
21:02 Blood Flow Restriction Training
23:57 How Often Can You Use BFRT?
25:25 How Safe is BFRT?

Andre Obradovic joins us again in this episode as we talk about how to stop wasting your time and being more effective in your training.

00:53 Background on Being Productive
03:14 Structural Schedule
04:52 Today's Plan Scheduling App
09:37 Factoring The Appointments
16:08 Sticking To It
17:08 Getting Back On Track
18:37 "I Can't Do That, I Am Spontaneous"
19:02 Spontaneity
26:18 Being Conscious Of The Time You Are Wasting
28:35 First Steps

https://andreobradovic.com/

Our guest today is Taren Gessell of the YouTube Channel Triathlon Taren whom we had two analysis videos. The video analysis was six months apart and over that time he really made some impressive improvements continues to get better.

01:07 How Taren started with Triathlon and YouTube
04:07 What viewers get out off from the Triathlon Taren YouTube Channel
06:05 The Hero and the Guide
07:02 Interviewing Lucy Charles
09:08 Pool and Open water swimming
09:53 Stroke Changes for Openwater Swimming
13:29 The Kick
21:46 Letting It Go
24:27 The Way You Do One Thing Is The Way You Do Everything
27:42 Focus On One Thing
33:40 " I Had To Get Slower Before I Got Faster"
43:38 Have Some Adventure
47:42 What To Expect With Triathlon Taren

www.protriathlontraining.com
https://teamtrainiac.com/
https://triathlontaren.com/

Taren's swim analysis on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPF38kT3Qug
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocAHBRdm_cA&t=193s

In todays episode we have Jason Key who is an age group triathlete based out of Texas. Jason shares his journey towards achieving his 1:30/100m mark.In todays episode we have Jason Key who is an age group triathlete based out of Texas. Jason shares his journey towards achieving his 1:30/100m mark. 00:56 How Jason started with Effortless Swimming.02:01 Jason's focus as an athlete. 04:54 Time Trial Average pace.05:58 Flexibility.10:21 Next Stage of Improvement.11:55 2 Beat. 4-Beat or 6-Beat Kick.14:25 Training Frequency.16:24 From 1:50 to 1:30.

We welcome back Solomon Wright who recently won the New Zealand 10km Open Water Championship. In this episode, Solomon talks about his training leading up to the National Championship and how he recovered from shoulder injury. We also added a before and after video of Solomon comparing his stroke now and 12 months ago.

02:53 Solomon’s focus after Rottnest Channel 03:51 Specific Exercises to Build Strength 04:31 Youtube Before And After Video 05:05 Winning the New Zealand 10km Open Water Championship 06:18 Solomon’s Training Sessions 08:33 Swimming Pace During Training 09:59 Training Sets 11:45 Most Of It Is Mental 13:35 Race Strategy For The New Zealand 10km Open Water Championship 17:06 Race Confidence 17:37 Australian Championship And Openwater Swimming As A Growing Sport

As we end a wonderful year, here's a collection of the best podcast snippets for 2018. Enjoy!

We are joined today by Els Visser who is a professional triathlete from the Netherlands Els had a TEDX talk about how a shipwreck experience changed her life. In this podcast, Els shares to us that experience with the hope of inspiring others.

00:37 Sinking Ship Experience 2:57 Stay or Swim 9:42 Surviving the Island 11:54 The Rescue 16:12 Life after the Shipwreck 17:45 Support of Family and Friends 21:30 From a shipwreck Survivor to a Professional Triathlete 23:59 Using the Indonesia Experience as a Mental Tool for the Race

Here are the 9 things we have learned from Hell Week Camp that I thought it would be worth sharing.

Clear your mind
Regular feedback
Go crazy
Find your ideal stroke rate
3 different ways to think about your 'Catch'
Patience
How a 3-minute active warm up can change your entire workout
Educate, try and test
Getting faster right away isn't always an indicator of a correct change in your stroke

00:58 Pre Swim Routine for Olympic Athletes 02:35 How Much Time Should Be Given To Pre-Swim Routine 06:33 Basic Movements in Yoga Routine 8:58 Q Swim/ Q Swim App 15:24 Time Commitment in Integrating Yoga into Training 18:52 Yoga And Recovery 20:54 Breathing 25:13 On Adults Wanting To Improve Their Swimming 26:36 Balancing Your Nervous System 27:50 3-Minute Yoga Routine

Our guest for today's episode is Carl Reader who is a Functional Movement Coach and a Biokineticist (Exercise Therapist). He's been helping athletes and clients move and exercise better or what is known as functionally. Join us as we discuss warm up, squats and functional movement.

Our guest today is Ben de Rivaz from Breca. Breca hosts swimrun events which take place on trail and open water; team races in pairs wearing wetsuit and trainers, transitioning between running and swimming stages. Join us as we discuss topics about the format swimrun compared to triathlon, why is it appealing to a lot of athletes, different courses and location and a possibility of a National Championship.

00:19 About Ben de Rivaz 03:12 The SwimRun Format 05:36 The Appeal of SwimRun Sport 14:37 Looking For More Courses 14:51 National Championship

To know more about Breca events, please visit: https://www.brecaswimrun.com/

Transcript:

Getting beaten up by riot police. Setting his alarm 4 hours too early before the biggest race of his life. Not being able to walk for 4 days just weeks out from his last Olympic Games. These are just a few of the challenges 3x Olympian, Olympic bronze medallist and 100m Freestyle World Champion Brent Hayden shares on today's podcast.

00:47 Brent's achievements 05:22 Focus on the things you can control 06:54 Back spasms leading up to the 2012 Olympics 14:55 Sport is unscripted 16:11 Beaten up and arrested by riot police after 2004 Olympics 28:54 It doesn't need to look pretty 35:17 The best swimmers are the ones that are always open to change 37:19 Key pillars of sprinting 50:26 Astra Athletica

This week I’m joined by Rory Buck to discuss the intricacies of swimming and coaching. Rory Buck is an ex-competitive swimmer turned coach, who went from being a collegiate swimmer to representing South Africa at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. Turning to coaching to learn more about swimming, Rory now coaches from Dubai. Join us as we discuss topics such as swim culture, the right age to start swimming, a feel for the water, mentality, sighting, effort in swimming and self-perception as well as much more.

01:10 – Rory’s competitive background. 04:30 – Dubai and swim culture. 06:50 – The right age to start swimming. 11:30 – Putting effort into swimming. 20:00 – Confidence in the water. 27:30 – Developing and maintaining a feel for the water. 38:00 – Swimming in a triathlon. 42:00 – Sighting in open water. 52:50 – Watching triathletes and reflecting. 01:01:10 – The mindset and delusions.

This week’s podcast features Jason Hamilton as our guest. An athlete and triathlete who I met during Hell Week last year in Thailand, Jason joins us to speak about his journey as a swimmer, and how he trained to qualify in the World Championships. We cover topics such as winter swimming locations, using structure to keep yourself focused while training and exactly what made Jason swim faster. Join us as we reflect on progress and setting goals as a swimmer. 02:20 – Jason Hamilton. 04:00 – Qualifying for World Championships. 06:00 – What makes you faster. 07:12 – Nathan Shearer 11:00 – Structure to keep focus. 13:14 – Ongoing goals. 15:00 – Winter training locations.

In today's episode, We are joined by Angela Naeth who is a professional triathlete. If you are someone who enjoys thinking and reflecting on your sport, your life and things around that, I think you will really enjoy this episode. Angela is a very genuine person and she is someone who has done a lot of thinking and reflecting on her own over the past eight years that she has been racing triathlon. We talked about some ways that she has overcome anxiety around racing and performing, something that she dealt with in the early days of her triathlon career. She also mentions a book that she has read five or six times that she has been able to use and get a lot from when it comes to becoming a fearless and competitive racer.

There are some beliefs that will help you and there are some beliefs that are keeping us from achieving our full potential. Ask yourself. What are the beliefs that are holding me back?