When fear shows up, what helps you move through it most?

In this episode of The Transformation Code, host Sam Church sits down with Carina Bruwer, record-breaking ocean swimmer, motivational speaker, and musician from Cape Town, South Africa.

Carina has swum through shark-filled waters, freezing temperatures, and some of life’s toughest moments, and she’s learned that courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to keep moving through it.

She opens up about how perfectionism nearly held her back, how motherhood reshaped her definition of strength, and how stillness became her greatest teacher. Her story reminds us that growth often comes in motion, and peace can be found in persistence.

This conversation dives into:

• How to face fear with calm and curiosity

• The mindset that helps you stay grounded under pressure

• The truth about perfection and progress

• Lessons from swimming in extreme conditions

• Finding freedom in simplicity, service, and flow

If you’ve ever felt like you’re swimming against the current, this episode will remind you that the water isn’t your enemy, it’s your teacher.

Listen, reflect, and share your takeaway below.

00:00 Intro

00:32 Facing Fear and Finding Courage

01:13 How Fear Shapes Our Inner World

02:10 How Breaking Huge Challenges Into Small Steps Builds Confidence

03:20 Using Logic To Shrink Fear and Take Back Control

04:58 The Pursuit of Perfection

06:06 Where Perfectionism Begins

08:13 Finding Balance Between Drive and Peace

10:09 The Moment Her Swimming Journey Started

10:40 How She Became a World-Record Ocean Swimmer

11:55 Facing Sharks, Harsh Conditions and the Fear of the Unknown

12:05 Discovering Flow and Facing the Ocean

13:40 The One More Stroke Method. How She Handles Pressure and Overwhelm

14:48 Lessons From Swimming Through Fear

17:03 How to Talk Back to Your Fear

20:28 Turning Big Goals Into Small Wins

22:19 Using the Same Mindset in Business and Life

25:00 The Truth About Fearlessness

28:29 Pushing Your Limits Without Breaking

31:12 One More Stroke, A Life Lesson

33:32 Why Failure Matters More Than Success

36:11 What Real Transformation Looks Like

39:00 How Emotion Drives Action

41:21 Learning to Embrace Stillness

45:27 Meeting Your Inner Voices With Compassion

48:50 The Power of Reframing Your Story

51:49 Standing on a Grave and Choosing Gratitude

53:54 Why It’s Easier to Play the Victim And How to Stop

55:31 What’s Next for Carina Bruwer

57:45 Listening to Your Inner Voice

1:00:10 The Healing Power of Water

1:04:00 Final Reflections Authenticity Over Perfection

With gratitude,

Sam Church

Host, The Transformation Code Podcast

Listen now and share your biggest takeaway in the comments.

Learn more about Carina at carina.co.za

Follow Carina on Instagram @carinabruwer

Follow Sam Church

YouTube: @SamChurchOfficial

Instagram: @transformationcodepodcast

Facebook: facebook.com/samchurchuk