The UltraSwimming Podcast

The Tsugaru Strait, which separates the Sea of Japan from the Pacific Ocean, is one of the most challenging swims in the Oceans Seven. Some years, only the very fastest swimmers can beat the currents, while in other years, mere mortals can pass through. Few achieve success in this channel without a fight. In 1990, Steven Munatones became the second person to cross the strait and the first to cross in both directions. Thirty-six years later, he still holds both speed records and has helped countless other swimmers across. In this interview, we learn what to consider if you’re thinking of attempting this challenge, how Steven planned his crossings, the support he volunteers for contemporary swimmers, and how you can contribute positively to the connections being rebuilt with local support organizations and pilots. Steven also tells us about his recent adventure circumnavigating Shodoshima Island in a series of six consecutive stage swims.

Steven Munatones has been a force in the sport of Open Water Swimming for nearly 50 years, as a competitive racer, a pioneering solo swimmer, and creator of Oceans Seven, WOWSA, the Daily News of Open Water Swimming, and Openwaterpedia. In Part 1 of our interview with Steven, we discuss the origins and throughline of his Daily News of OWS and Openwaterpedia projects: the push to include Open Water Swimming in the Olympic Games. These projects were the first attempts to systematically compile information about the emerging sport of Open Water Swimming on the internet. We also discuss the consequences of this Olympic push for solo marathon swimming, especially the longer historical races that have been abandoned by FINA / World Aquatics. Music credit: 'Wanderlust' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Episode 8: Discerning Discomfort from Danger, with Courtney Paulk, First to Complete Double Triple Crown How can you tell if the discomfort you are feeling is something to ignore and push through, versus important information signaling danger? When is the right time to end a swim, even if you haven’t yet achieved your goal? And how do you cope with the disappointment that goes with emotionally investing in a dream that isn’t realized on the first attempt? In this episode, we discuss how Courtney Moates Paulk has cultivated the ability to discern discomfort from danger over the course of the many outstanding swims that culminated in her becoming the first person to achieve the “Double Triple Crown” and ultimately being inducted as an honor swimmer into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame. We discuss attempts that didn’t go as she had hoped, rescuing a man from the English Channel, handling disappointment, what it feels like to achieve something you’ve been working toward for years, hallucinations, how listening to her body has saved her life, and the meaning that comes from setting goals, and persevering through all obstacles to bring them to fruition. Music is 'Wanderlust' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Every ultraswimmer knows there are sharks in the ocean, but what happens when one makes a cameo during a 24+ hour swim attempt? Co-hosts Evan Morrison and Jessica Kieras do a deep dive into Jessica’s recent swim along Florida’s Gulf Coast. We discuss self-organized swims as a way of customizing one’s form of challenge, what it’s like to have a route with no fixed finish point, and the importance of transparency while fundraising for Save the Manatee Club. Jessica explains the connection between manatees’ role in the ecosystem and her approach to swimming long distances. We cover why the swim ended early, what it was like responding to an unexpected visit from a toothy friend at the stern of the boat, and what swimmers can consider in terms of safety planning for wildlife encounters. Music is 'Wanderlust' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

In 2023, Leslie Hamilton became the first woman to swim around Staten Island, and in 2025 completed an unprecedented crossing of the 26.3 mile length of Lake Norman. She likes to tackle swims that make her feel “a little crazy”, ventures off the beaten path, has nothing to prove and everything to love about this sport. Internally driven by a passionate sense of adventure and insatiably hunger for challenge, we discussed growing up within New York Open Water, how she chooses her swims (spoiler alert, they aren’t on a list), swimming sans-top around Staten Island, and the challenges of swimming long distances in warm water. 00:00 Introducing Leslie Hamilton 02:03 Growing up in NYOW 05:10 Planning the Staten Island Swim 08:16 Media Attention and the New Yorker Article 14:37 Swimming in Potentially Polluted Waters 19:30 What Makes an Adventure in Ultraswimming 22:59 You Can't Repeat the Same Swim Twice 24:52 Envisioning the Lake Norman Swim 26:51 The 24-Hour Swim Goal 29:36 Measuring Routes in the MSF Member Portal 33:44 Building a Supportive Crew 35:41 The Boat Rental Process 37:44 Night Swimming 41:04 Overheating While Swimming 48:59 Knowing When to End a Swim Leslie Hamilton on LongSwims Database https://ultraswimming.org/database/p/leslie-hamilton Music: 'Wanderlust' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au Additional Reading https://www.harpercollins.com/products/endure-alex-hutchinson Additional Listening: The Central Governor Theory on Trail Runner Nation Part 1 https://trailrunnernation.com/2021/10/wrapping-our-brain-around-the-central-governor-theory-part-1/ The Central Governor Theory on Trail Runner Nation Part 2 https://trailrunnernation.com/2021/10/ep-544-wrapping-our-brain-around-the-central-governor-theory-part-2/