The Science and Art of Open Water Swimming – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, Tyson Landers shares his journey into open water swimming, the challenges that shaped him along the way, and what he’s learned about resilience, preparation, and embracing the longer path when conditions and life don’t go to plan.

 

This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of this land and pay my respects to Elders past and present

 

Episode 1 is live.

This podcast isn’t about training plans or race results.

It’s about the people, decisions, and experiences that shape open water swims and what we can learn from them.

In this short episode, I explain why I wanted to start these conversations and what to expect from future episodes.

If there’s someone you think I should talk to on the podcast, let me know.

 

This was recorded on Whadjuk Nyungar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyungar people as the Traditional Custodians of this land and pay my respects to Elders past and present

 

A short introduction to The Science and Art of Open Water Swimming — exploring what it really takes to swim well and safely in open water, where experience, preparation, and science meet.

 

This was recorded on Whadjuk Nyungar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyungar people as the Traditional Custodians of this land and pay my respects to Elders past and present

 

In this episode of The Science and Art of Open Water Swimming, I’m joined by April Mobsby to discuss her progression from a team swim to a duo, and now preparation for a solo Rottnest Channel crossing. We explore confidence, reflection, pacing, and what it means to learn to trust your body as the distances increase.

 

This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of this land and pay my respects to Elders past and present

In this episode, I’m joined by Professor Scott Draper, an experienced Channel swimmer and ocean scientist, to explore how waves influence swimmers and how route optimisation can improve both performance and safety during Channel swims.

link to the route optimisation website: https://www.rcs.optiswim.com/

 

This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of this land and pay my respects to Elders past and present

Sports nutritionist and triathlete Gaby Villa joins the podcast to discuss nutrition for long open water swims, with a focus on fuelling strategies and the practical realities of feeding in the water during events like the Rottnest Channel Swim.

Gaby shares common mistakes swimmers make, how to plan and practise nutrition, and why effective fuelling needs to be individualised.

Learn more about Gaby’s work at: https://www.intenseatfit.com/

Endurance open water swimming is as much a psychological challenge as it is a physical one, yet mental preparation is often overlooked.

In this episode, psychologist and Rottnest solo swimmer Nathaniel Wells explores how swimmers can work with discomfort, uncertainty, motivation, and self-talk during long swims, while also protecting their mental wellbeing before and after big events.

 

Learn more about Nat’s work: https://northbrisbanepsychologists.com.au/team/nathaniel-wells/

 

This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar, with our guest joining from the lands of the Jagera and Turrbal peoples. I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands and pay my respects to Elders past and present

 

 

Join me as I talk with Dr Olivia “Liv” Stewart an experienced channel swimmer and optometrist, about the relationship between vision, confidence, and performance in open water. We unpack practical sighting techniques, smart goggle choices, and how to navigate changing conditions with more calm and control. A must‑listen for anyone who wants their open water swimming to feel smoother, safer, and more enjoyable.  

Links mentioned:

• Lions Outback Vision Kimberley Hub: https://www.outbackvision.com.au/kimberley-hub/
• UWA Doctor of Optometry: https://www.uwa.edu.au/study/courses/doctor-of-optometry

 

This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of this land and pay my respects to Elders past and present

 

Marathon swimmer and exercise physiologist Dr Angela Spence joins the podcast to unpack what happens to the heart, lungs and body temperature during long open water swims. We discuss swimming induced pulmonary oedema (SIPE), hypothermia, and emerging considerations around female physiology and individual variability in endurance swimming.

 

Instagram @dr_angie_phd

LinkedIn: angela-spence-69a682a3

 

This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of this land and pay my respects to Elders past and present

In 2024, Felicity Sheedy-Ryan lined up for her first solo Rottnest Channel Swim. Fit, prepared, and ready — only for the race to be abandoned mid-crossing in some of the worst conditions in the event’s history.

For many swimmers, that would have been the end of the story.

In this episode, Flick reflects on what it meant to have a deeply personal goal taken away, how injury and identity had already reshaped her relationship with sport, and why she chose to return in 2025 to finish what she started.

We explore the psychology of setbacks, adapting when things fall outside your control, the difference between being fit and being ready, and what resilience really looks like over the long game.

With the 2026 event also cancelled, this conversation speaks directly to swimmers navigating disappointment right now — and to anyone learning how to shift, rebuild, and go again.

 

Follow Flick on instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/sheedyryan?igsh=MW1tYzFndmRjZnhudQ==

 

This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of this land and pay my respects to Elders past and present