The Blue Room

sabra.lane
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Swimming
  • Every two weeks

A podcast celebrating the joys of outdoor swimming and the incredible sense of community it creates. Join us as we explore the beauty and thrill of swimming and dipping, in ocean, rivers, and natural waters — often with friends and fellow enthusiasts. Each episode features inspiring interviews with diverse personalities and groups who share their passion for aquatic adventures, connection with nature, and the positive impact of swimming on health and well-being. Whether you're new to outdoor swimming or a seasoned water lover, discover stories of friendship, resilience and shared experiences.

  1. 16 hr ago

    Talking the Big Blue in the Blue Room with author and ocean-lover Tim Winton

    Australian author Tim Winton joins the Blue Room podcast host Sabra Lane for a long chat about his obsession with the ocean. Tim is admired the world-over for his salt water stories. Nearly all of his novels are love letters to the sea. As Tim says in his dedication in “Land's Edge" - For my family and for those who know that a bad day's fishing is always better than a good day's work. Tim says swimming is family culture and ‘pretty precious' for his tribe. We talk about swimming, what it means, what it does for the mind and explore some of his work including his TV documentary 'Ningaloo' where he swims with whale sharks and opens the window on that part of the West Australian coast. The author also talks about the struggle of writing Juice, while making Ningaloo, as well as fighting for its protection and sharks. Features: Tim Winton/Author and conservationist Sabra Lane - The Blue Room Resources: Penguin Australia's Tim Winton page: https://www.penguin.com.au/authors/tim-winton Three-part TV documentary series Ningaloo Nyinggulu: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/ningaloo-nyinggulu Cape Range National Park https://exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au/park/cape-range-national-park Themes: Author Tim Winton, Oceans, swimming, spearfishing, surfing, coastal life, open water swimming, pool swimming, writing, novels, Miles Franklin Award, Booker Prize, marine protection, environmental protection, marine parks, Whale Sharks, Great White sharks, conservation, environmental protection, Western Australia, mining, petro-state, beaches, beachcombing, diving, ocean obsession.

    48 min

  2. 19 Jun

    Why a humble Tasmanian Swam the Freedom Swim

    Join The Blue Room for an inspiring chat with Tasmanian swimmer Brett Stephenson as he recounts his journey to complete South Africa's renowned Freedom Swim. Brett shares what motivated him to take on the challenge, the emotions of swimming through waters steeped in history, and the special moments that made the experience so meaningful. Brett talks with podcast host Sabra Lane and takes us beyond the swim, sharing stories from his travels including to Zanzibar, and the early childhood home of legendary Queen frontman Freddie Mercury. Honest, down-to-earth and quietly inspiring, Brett's story is a reminder that extraordinary adventures are often undertaken by ordinary people willing to say yes to a challenge. Features: Brett Stephenson - swimmer with the Tomatoes and Weedy Seadragons. The Blue Room podcast host Sabra Lane. Themes: ocean swimming, wild swimming, monofin swimming, Freedom Swim, Robben Island, Big Bay, Bloubergstrand, South Africa, Nelson Mandela, Zanzibar, Freddie Mercury, inspiration, open water swimming, travel.

    32 min

  3. 5 Jun

    Mark Sowerby, Don't be Prey!

    Mark Sowerby is The Blue Room's guest in this episode. Over a decade he swims the Ocean Seven, seven channels of water on five continents. The first channel (The English Channel) is achieved while he's at the helm of a successful start-up company. The rest of the channels become a form of therapy, recovering from the shock of a company going under which morph into the documentary 'Don't be Prey'. Mark attends a screening of the film in Hobart, and takes time out to speak with podcast host Sabra Lane. Features: Mark Sowerby, Don't be Prey. Sabra Lane, podcast host and co-founder. Themes: Oceans Seven, inspirational swimming, courage, mental health, open water swimming, marathon swimming, ocean swimming, cold water swimming, English Channel, Molokai Channel, Tsugaru Channel, Catalina Channel, Cook Strait, North Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, cookie cutter sharks, "Don't Be Prey" documentary, Jeff Tseng, Michael Kim, Shelley Taylor-Smith, Des Renford. Links: https://www.dontbeprey.film/ https://openwaterpedia.com/wiki/Oceans_Seven

    38 min

  4. 22 May

    Coledale Oysters at Coles Bay Devil Swim

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

    26 min

  5. 24 Apr

    The Kingston Swim Pod; how to become confident in ocean swimming

    It's a question pod host Sabra Lane is often asked; how to you become confident to swim in the open water? The Blue Room joins the Kingston Beach Surf Life Saving club in Tasmania, as the 'Dragons Swim Pod' graduates. The club has run a 10-week program aimed at getting swimmers confident to swim in the ocean. We join the pod on their final graduation swim, and talk with the trainers and trainees about the course and how they've progressed after 10 weeks of training. Features: Polly Marriott, pod member. Peter McKenna, swimming trainer at Kingston Beach Surf Life Saving Club. Sam Cummins, pod member. Maree Farquar, pod member. Sandra Gadsby, swimming trainer at Kingston Beach Surf Life Saving Club. Themes: Kingston Beach, Boronia Beach, Kingston Beach Surf Life Saving Club, open water swimming, confidence in ocean swimming, fun in the water, inspirational swimming, outdoor swimming, cold water swimming, nature swimming experiences, swimming resilience, community sports podcast.

    27 min

  6. 10 Apr

    The Kingston Beach Sea Hags and Chat stroke

    Five years ago, a group of women waded into the cold waters of Tasmania and found something much bigger than a swim. Meet the Kingston Beach Sea Hags: a bold, joyful community bound by saltwater, courage, and connection. This podcast dives beneath the surface of “just a bobble” to explore the magic of cold water, the rhythm of “chat-stroke,” and the quiet power of showing up for one another—again and again. Through choppy mornings, laughter-filled dips, and the kind of friendships that buoy you long after you’ve dried off, the Sea Hags have built something extraordinary. This episode is about bravery in its many forms—stepping into icy water, stepping into community, and stepping up for each other. If you’ve ever wondered what draws people into the sea at dawn—or what keeps them coming back—this is your invitation to find out. Because sometimes, the coldest water creates the warmest bonds. Features: Annie Wolfe Jacqui McElwee Jayne Helen Kwiecien - co-founder, Sea Hags Janine Beck, Original Sea Hag Joanna Butterley Mentions: The Sea Hags, Kingston Beach, courage, cold water swimming, ocean swimming, ocean bobbling, chat-stroke, inspirational swimmers, inspirational women, health.

    29 min

  7. 27 Mar

    Meet Miu; the Sydney marathon swimmer making history

    At just 20 years old, Miu Tanaka is balancing university life in Sydney with record-breaking achievements in marathon swimming. The elite open water swimmer has already secured a series of remarkable firsts in Australia’s most challenging aquatic challenges. Miu Tanaka is the first woman to complete the demanding swim from New Norfolk to Bruny Island in Tasmania. She also became the first woman to conquer Tasmania’s Great Lake on the Central Highlands Plateau—one of the region’s most challenging cold-water swims. In an extraordinary milestone, Miu is also the first woman to complete the Australian Triple Crown of marathon swimming in a single season, cementing her place among the country’s top endurance swimmers. In an interview with Sabra Lane on The Blue Room, Miu shares insights into her marathon swims, what drives her to push physical and mental limits, and how she stays focused during long-distance challenges. She also reveals why swimming at night is her favourite part of the sport. Discover how Miu Tanaka is redefining marathon swimming in Australia through resilience, passion, and record-breaking performances. And what is her next marathon swim?

    25 min

  8. 19 Mar

    The Desert Swimmer: how Brendan Cullen overcame depression and found joy in marathon swimming

    Brendan Cullen works on an outback sheep farm near Broken Hill in NSW. In 2015 he sought help at the local hospital, not knowing what was wrong with himself. He was diagnosed with severe depression. Also that same year, he watched his brother compete in an open-water swim and he thought; "I want some of that". But how do you train for marathon swims, like the English Channel, when you live 600km from the nearest coast? Brendan's just published a book about his life, and how he trained to swim one of the world's most famous stretches of ocean. Brendan talks with the Blue Room's Sabra Lane about the book and his inspirational life. Content warning: there is some swearing in this episode and we discuss mental health. If you need to talk with someone about poor mental health, you can call Lifelife on 13 11 14. Topics: Swimming, English Channel, joy, inspiration, ocean swimming, open water competitions, training, severe depression, friendship, swimming tribes.

    41 min
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About

A podcast celebrating the joys of outdoor swimming and the incredible sense of community it creates. Join us as we explore the beauty and thrill of swimming and dipping, in ocean, rivers, and natural waters — often with friends and fellow enthusiasts. Each episode features inspiring interviews with diverse personalities and groups who share their passion for aquatic adventures, connection with nature, and the positive impact of swimming on health and well-being. Whether you're new to outdoor swimming or a seasoned water lover, discover stories of friendship, resilience and shared experiences.

Information

  • Creator
    sabra.lane
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © sabra.lane
  • Show Website
    The Blue Room
  • Provider

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