The Blue Room

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

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.

Discovering ocean pools and historic lidos; fitness, fun and friendship

The Blue Room's guest is Alison Orme and what has become 'a highlight of her life'. What started as a simple invite to friends to swim in some of Sydney's spectacular ocean pools became something much bigger. From discovering Harbour pools, to Sydney's ocean pools, pools along the NSW coastline, lidos in the UK and soon pools in France. Alison tells the Blue Room how this passion started, and how she thinks ocean pools are part of her DNA. It's a story of curiosity, friendship, fun and adventure. Features: Alison Orme, SOPS founder. Sabra Lane - the Blue Room. Themes: ocean swimming, wild swimming, ocean pools, lidos, Merimbula Blue Pool, adventure swimming, friendship, inspiration.

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.

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.