Stories from the Water

Shannon Keegan founder of Intrepid Water
  • 5.0 (21)
  • Swimming
  • Updated Semimonthly

Where land meets water, an invitation lingers—not just between elements, but between versions of yourself. You could remain on shore—where it's safe, familiar, predictable. Or you could cross into the unknown. Stories from the Water is where we dive into the courage it takes to begin, the resilience that keeps us moving forward, and the wisdom that only emerges in the space between. If you have ever stood at the edge of a body of water and wondered what it would be like to swim to the other side, you're in good company. Whether you're a seasoned swimmer, aspiring adventurer, or just someone intrigued by the water's mysterious pull, allow these stories to reveal what lies beneath the surface—not just of the water, but of ourselves.

  1. Jul 15

    Edward "Ted" Lomicka's Swim Story

    Send us Fan Mail Edward (“Ted”) Lomicka is a healthcare finance and innovation strategist at Community Health Systems and an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University. He is also a husband to Michelle and father of two daughters, Ashton and Emory. Ted, an American ultra-endurance triathlete and marathon swimmer, is known for pursuing large-scale endurance challenges. He has completed 35 IRONMAN triathlons, including the 2016 IRONMAN World Championship, as well as two ULTRAMAN triathlons, including the 2019 ULTRAMAN World Championship.  He has also finished the first five sequential events in the ANVIL ultra-distance triathlon race series, ranging from 140.6 miles to 703.0 miles.  In the open water, Ted Lomicka has completed the Kaiwi Channel crossing from Molokai to Oahu, multiple Caribbean marathon swims, and most recently, the Triple Maui Nui Swim—becoming the first man and second person in history to complete the 34-mile, three-channel, nonstop crossing. He is currently writing First to Five: The Five Hammers of a Do Anything Mindset, a forthcoming book exploring the psychological frameworks, preparation strategies, and decision-making principles that drive ultra-endurance performance and other high-stakes pursuits. He trains in Tennessee and competes internationally. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Tulane University and an MBA from Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management. Contact Ted on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/TedLomicka/ This episode is one story. The Water’s Edge is where stories like this turn into lived experience. Feeling inspired? Find Meaning in the Monotony or subscribe to my Substack for Lessons from the Water  Want to watch? Episodes now available on YouTube! Keep the stories coming by supporting the show. Questions, comments, feedback, or if you'd like to be a guest, reach out to me. Stories from the Water is produced by http://254studio.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration  by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5447-epic-inspiration- License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. You don’t need a big goal to reach out — just curiosity. If you’re wondering about Swimbound, email me at shannon@intrepidwater.com. Support the show

    Edward "Ted" Lomicka's Swim Story

  2. Jul 1

    Chris Ballard's Swim Story

    Send us Fan Mail ​Chris is a journalist and the author of five books. The latest, The Plunge: Maverick Swimmers, an Unlikely Quest, and the Transformative Power of Cold Water, it is a globe-trotting narrative about swimmers, the science of discomfort, and the psychology of endurance.  Lynne Cox called it "brilliant."  Jeff Pearlman described it as "masterful" and "life-affirming." And Adam Grant deemed it, "mesmerizing," adding, "I still loathe cold water but I loved this book." Booklist and Publisher's Weekly gave it starred reviews, describing it as "entertaining," "ambitious," "thrumming with energy," and "a jubilant exploration." You can pre-order at Simon & Schuster. For two decades, I was a Senior Writer at Sports Illustrated, writing features, profiles, and investigations. My work has also appeared in The New York Times Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, and other publications. This episode is one story. The Water’s Edge is where stories like this turn into lived experience. Feeling inspired? Find Meaning in the Monotony or subscribe to my Substack for Lessons from the Water  Want to watch? Episodes now available on YouTube! Keep the stories coming by supporting the show. Questions, comments, feedback, or if you'd like to be a guest, reach out to me. Stories from the Water is produced by http://254studio.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration  by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5447-epic-inspiration- License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. You don’t need a big goal to reach out — just curiosity. If you’re wondering about Swimbound, email me at shannon@intrepidwater.com. Support the show

    Chris Ballard's Swim Story

  3. Jun 15

    Lev Goldberg's Swim Story

    Send us Fan Mail Lev Goldberg (he/him) became the first openly transgender person to swim across Lake Ontario or any Great Lake on September 3, 2025, finishing his crossing in 24 hours 25 minutes and 15 seconds. He is currently working towards becoming the first openly transgender person to swim across all 5 Great Lakes, and is training to swim 55km across Lake Huron in August 2026, raising funds for LGBT Youthline.  Although gender dysphoria led him to stop swimming at age 9, he found his way back to the water at age 27 after a eighteen-year hiatus and quickly began to dream of marathon swimming. Less than three years later, he swam across Lake Ontario raising $7,000 for LGBT Youthline, a peer support service for 2SLGBTQ+ youth in Ontario. Lev was born in Philadelphia and moved to Toronto to attend university thirteen years ago, where he now works as a therapist supporting 2SLGBTQ+ youth. He is also an avid runner and has completed more than twenty running races including two full marathons.  You can learn more about Lev and his swims at levswimslakes.ca, @lev.swims.lakes on instagram, and @the.leviathn on Tiktok. This episode is one story. The Water’s Edge is where stories like this turn into lived experience. Feeling inspired? Find Meaning in the Monotony or subscribe to my Substack for Lessons from the Water  Want to watch? Episodes now available on YouTube! Keep the stories coming by supporting the show. Questions, comments, feedback, or if you'd like to be a guest, reach out to me. Stories from the Water is produced by http://254studio.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration  by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5447-epic-inspiration- License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. You don’t need a big goal to reach out — just curiosity. If you’re wondering about Swimbound, email me at shannon@intrepidwater.com. Support the show

    Lev Goldberg's Swim Story

  4. Jun 1

    What am I trying to prove?

    Send us Fan Mail This episode is one story. The Water’s Edge is where stories like this turn into lived experience. Feeling inspired? Find Meaning in the Monotony or subscribe to my Substack for Lessons from the Water  Want to watch? Episodes now available on YouTube! Keep the stories coming by supporting the show. Questions, comments, feedback, or if you'd like to be a guest, reach out to me. Stories from the Water is produced by http://254studio.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration  by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5447-epic-inspiration- License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. Support the show

  5. May 15

    Heidi Shafford's Swim Story

    Send us Fan Mail This episode is one story. The Water’s Edge is where stories like this turn into lived experience. Feeling inspired? Find Meaning in the Monotony or subscribe to my Substack for Lessons from the Water  Want to watch? Episodes now available on YouTube! Keep the stories coming by supporting the show. Questions, comments, feedback, or if you'd like to be a guest, reach out to me. Stories from the Water is produced by http://254studio.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration  by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5447-epic-inspiration- License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. You don’t need a big goal to reach out — just curiosity. If you’re wondering about Swimbound, email me at shannon@intrepidwater.com. Support the show

    Heidi Shafford's Swim Story

  6. May 1

    Leslie Hamilton's Swim Story

    Send us Fan Mail This episode is one story. The Water’s Edge is where stories like this turn into lived experience. Feeling inspired? Find Meaning in the Monotony or subscribe to my Substack for Lessons from the Water  Want to watch? Episodes now available on YouTube! Keep the stories coming by supporting the show. Questions, comments, feedback, or if you'd like to be a guest, reach out to me. Stories from the Water is produced by http://254studio.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration  by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5447-epic-inspiration- License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. You don’t need a big goal to reach out — just curiosity. If you’re wondering about Swimbound, email me at shannon@intrepidwater.com. Support the show

    Leslie Hamilton's Swim Story

  7. Apr 15

    Anna-Carin Nordin's Swim Story

    Send us Fan Mail This episode is one story. The Water’s Edge is where stories like this turn into lived experience. Feeling inspired? Find Meaning in the Monotony or subscribe to my Substack for Lessons from the Water  Want to watch? Episodes now available on YouTube! Keep the stories coming by supporting the show. Questions, comments, feedback, or if you'd like to be a guest, reach out to me. Stories from the Water is produced by http://254studio.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration  by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5447-epic-inspiration- License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. You don’t need a big goal to reach out — just curiosity. If you’re wondering about Swimbound, email me at shannon@intrepidwater.com. Support the show

    Anna-Carin Nordin's Swim Story

  8. Apr 1

    Catch up with Marathon Swimmer Amy Ennion

    Send us Fan Mail This episode is one story. The Water’s Edge is where stories like this turn into lived experience. Feeling inspired? Find Meaning in the Monotony or subscribe to my Substack for Lessons from the Water  Want to watch? Episodes now available on YouTube! Keep the stories coming by supporting the show. Questions, comments, feedback, or if you'd like to be a guest, reach out to me. Stories from the Water is produced by http://254studio.com Music credit: Epic Inspiration  by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5447-epic-inspiration- License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry. You don’t need a big goal to reach out — just curiosity. If you’re wondering about Swimbound, email me at shannon@intrepidwater.com. Support the show

    Catch up with Marathon Swimmer Amy Ennion
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Trailer

5
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Where land meets water, an invitation lingers—not just between elements, but between versions of yourself. You could remain on shore—where it's safe, familiar, predictable. Or you could cross into the unknown. Stories from the Water is where we dive into the courage it takes to begin, the resilience that keeps us moving forward, and the wisdom that only emerges in the space between. If you have ever stood at the edge of a body of water and wondered what it would be like to swim to the other side, you're in good company. Whether you're a seasoned swimmer, aspiring adventurer, or just someone intrigued by the water's mysterious pull, allow these stories to reveal what lies beneath the surface—not just of the water, but of ourselves.

Information

  • Creator
    Shannon Keegan founder of Intrepid Water
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    210
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Stories from the Water
  • Show Website
    Stories from the Water

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