Swim Chats

Outdoor Swimmer magazine is the world's only monthly, printed magazine about open water or wild swimming (as far as we know!). It was founded by Simon Griffiths in 2011 and October 2025 is the magazine's 100th issue, edited by Ella Foote who has been Outdoor Swimmer's editor since 2022.

Simon and Ella are (unsurprisingly!) very passionate about swimming. They have both written books and accomplished many impressive swims in all sorts of locations. Ella is also a swim coach and provides guided swim experiences through her company, Dip Advisor.

In this episode we discuss the highlights and challenges of publishing a swim magazine that celebrates the fun, joy and connections of swimming outdoors, from dipping to ultramarathons, and which includes safety tips and swim gear advice. We also talk about Simon and Ella's own swimming journeys and the importance of swim communities.

• Visit the Outdoor Swimmer website where you can subscribe to the magazine (they deliver the print version internationally and/or there's a digital option), sign up for their free weekly newsletter The Dip, and read feature articles, gear reviews, and swim tips.
• Simon's book is 'Swim Wild and Free: A Practical Guide to Swimming Outdoors 365 Days a Year.' (Bloomsbury Sport, 2022)
• Ella's book is 'How to Wild Swim: What to Know Before Taking the Plunge.' (DK, 2023)
• Ella's Instagram page
• Outdoor Swimmer's Instagram page

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Thanks for listening! :-)