MYSWIM

Michael Helps

Looking for your next aquatic challenge? Or do you have a love for water and the adventures, friendships and challenges it can bring and want to tell us about your individual MYSWIM so others can share the experience? Then the MYSWIM podcast is for you! MYSWIM is every person’s personal adventure in water. Whether it is learning to swim, wild swimming, channel swimming, winter swimming or another aquatic sport such as waterpolo, synchronised swimming, triathlon or something social with friends (the best kind!) and everything in between your happy place, your aquatic adventure, and together we can explore it! We really want to positively celebrate and promote all aspects of aquatics and particularly the mental health benefits that swimming brings and would love you to be part of it. Join the community, give us your feedback, follow and Tell us all about your individual “MYSWIM”

  1. MYSWIM: Iceland with Michael Helps

    6 HR AGO

    MYSWIM: Iceland with Michael Helps

    Send us a text Welcome back to the MYSWIM Podcast, where we explore the world of swimming through culture, history, adventure, and the people who make the water feel like home. I’m your host, Michael Helps , and today we’re heading to a place where swimming is more than a sport — it’s a way of life. Iceland- A land of fire, ice, geothermal magic and some of the most passionate swimmers you’ll ever meet. Today we’ll dive into Iceland’s swimming history, its cold‑water culture, the best places to plunge, and what you need to know before you brave the North Atlantic. We’ll also explore the relaxing beauty of the Blue Lagoon as well as the incredible network of swimming pools found in nearly every Icelandic town. So grab something warm to drink, settle in, and let’s dive in. Welcome to Iceland & welcome to the MYSWIM podcast. Content Includes: A BRIEF HISTORY OF SWIMMING IN ICELAND SWIMMING POOLS: THE HEART OF ICELANDIC COMMUNITIESTHE RISE OF COLD‑WATER SWIMMINGso WHY resurgence of COLD WATER dipping ? What are the THE BENEFITSHOW TO PREPARE FOR A COLD PLUNGE IN ICELANDTYPES OF ICELANDIC COLD‑WATER SWIMMERSTHE BLUE LAGOONTHE BEST OPEN‑WATER SWIM SPOTS NEAR REYKJAVÍKHvammsvík Hot SpringsHoppland AkranesNauthólsvíkLake ElliðavatnSilfraThanks for joining me on this journey. If you enjoyed today’s episode, share it with a friend, leave a review, and stay tuned for more stories from the world of swimming. Until next time — stay warm, stay curious, and keep swimming.

    12 min
  2. MYSWIM: Lake Malawi with Michael Helps (Africa series bonus)

    15/11/2025

    MYSWIM: Lake Malawi with Michael Helps (Africa series bonus)

    Send us a text This is a bonus episode in the Africa series and is my personal account of swimming one of the worlds greatest swim adventures. In this episode I go through the What, Who, When and How for my Lake Malawi swim attempt. My training time was split between lido, lakes and my normal 3 times per week masters sessions as well as gym work (mainly on shoulders and core). My typical training diary, weekly and monthly training mileage are in the show notes looked something like this: Typical Weekly Training Plan: ·      Monday – Rest or Gym (1hr to 1.5hrs) ·      Tuesday – Masters swimming club (approx. 3k) ·      Wednesday – Rest or Gym (1hr to 1.5hrs) ·      Thursday - Masters swimming club (approx. 3k) ·      Friday – Lido (between 5k to 10k) ·      Saturday – Lake swim (6k to 10k) ·      Sunday - Lake swim (6k to 10k) or Masters swimming club (approx. 3k) Average monthly /weekly SWIM totals: | Monthly Totals | Ave.Weekly Totals | January | 18,225m | 4,556m | February | 5,500m | 1,375m | March | 20,125m | 5,031m | April | 16,400m | 4,100m | May | 61,325m | 15,331m | June | 85,860m | 21,465m | July | 61,147m | 15,287m | August | 73,969m | 18,492m | September | 52,516m | 13,129m | October (up to swim) | 8,350m | 2,088m To find out more above the African swims and particularly Lake Malawi contact Open Water Africa please follow website www.openwater.africa and visit www.MYSWIM.uk for links to the other African swims in the series as well as information about many other of aquatic adventures.

    23 min

About

Looking for your next aquatic challenge? Or do you have a love for water and the adventures, friendships and challenges it can bring and want to tell us about your individual MYSWIM so others can share the experience? Then the MYSWIM podcast is for you! MYSWIM is every person’s personal adventure in water. Whether it is learning to swim, wild swimming, channel swimming, winter swimming or another aquatic sport such as waterpolo, synchronised swimming, triathlon or something social with friends (the best kind!) and everything in between your happy place, your aquatic adventure, and together we can explore it! We really want to positively celebrate and promote all aspects of aquatics and particularly the mental health benefits that swimming brings and would love you to be part of it. Join the community, give us your feedback, follow and Tell us all about your individual “MYSWIM”