Wild Wimmin Podcast

29/05/2024

When you're tired but you can't say no to a cold swim.

I can out of loch Lomond with far fewer fingers than went in. Raynauds is fun.

Anyway, I am training for a full length Loch Lomond relay in a couple of months, which means far more actual swimming than I usually do. So I'm trying to do a mile in the pool everyday, as well as some gym time. I'm getting stronger and managing the mental block I have when it comes to doing boring s**t (like swimming lengths of a pool 🥱). However when my swim buddy suggested a cold swim ontop of my usual training, I couldn't say no. Even though I was knackered.

Happy to say that the water in the loch is finally starting to warm up. 😊 also happy to say that I have eaten 3 cakes today.

06/05/2024

Leaving my comfort zone!

I'm going to be on the scrounge a lot this summer because ive signed up to two fundraisers, the otherone is a swimmy event, but the first one involves me attempting to be funny. This is New.

I'm learning how to do stand up and will be performing my first 5 minutes on June 30th. I'm already bricking it and the course hasn't started yet. If anyone can sling a couple of quid in my direction to make it worth the possible humiliation you can hit up my JustGiving (link in stories)

04/05/2024

Mini girly treats 💓

New pair of mermaid 🧜‍♀️ earrings.

Sometimes you can be good to yourself with pocket change! Thank you for making beautiful, pocket friendly, swimmy treats ###

16/04/2024

Beachy breakfast.

This winter has been hard on my sanity. My usual swim spots have been really affected with the ridiculous rainfall and storm conditions and I've had very few days where I could safely get a swim, let alone enjoy the experience - I don't mind actually swimming in the rain but I detest the trying to change and keep my land kit dry. Not swimming has really affected my mood, because I'm an outdoorsy person, who likes doing things on her own, and that just hasn't really happened for months on end. No cold dips, very little thinking time, its not a good combination for me.

Along with working on another big (ultimately failed) project that really tested my abilities since January, I've really not been myself. I was considering booking a gp appointment or getting back into therapy, but this morning the sun came out. I went to the beach after the school run, I sat in the water until I felt the shivers. Then I lay on my dryrobe and drank my coffee and read my book.

Then I realised that I felt better.

Not 100% better, but much lighter. More cheerful, less broody, less sulky.

I really just needed to see the sunshine.

29/03/2024

Finally!

The first hint of sunshine this year 💛! I've been going stir crazy with the last few months of howling wind and rain. I went from swimming everyday in autumn to barely managing once or twice a month due to how unpleasant it has been! Today was glorious, and yes, we did still get rained on a few times, but we also managed a bit of fresh air.

I feel so much better.

30/12/2023

OK it's not wild wimmin but I did sneak in a quick chat with the lovely Ashley from West Lothian Dippers about her love of a loony dook!

Anyone else dooking on new years day? Where are you heading?

Listen to episodes and learn more about The Scottishist. The Scottishist is here to examine our national cultural icons and find out why they just seem to be the most Scottish things you can think of. Like why whisky or haggis? What is tweed? Why do we go nuts for Hogmanay? Is our national animal re...

03/12/2023

The new podcast from our wee wardrobe studio launched this week! Less swimming, more history but same old voice and itchy research finger 😅

Let me know what you think in the comments ###

06/11/2023

Hard to argue with Loch Thom this morning 🌈

Easy to swear at it though, F🙃🥶👌 me that was cold!

05/11/2023

What a day!

Had a lovely and long overdue catchup with my swim buddy
Under. That. Sky!

No better feeling 😌

02/10/2023

Doesn't this look like a perfect spot!

Sadly though, when I arrived at the old harbour in Portlethen, I didn't get my swim. Its as perfect a spot as you could wish, but due to a local avian flu outbreak, we found the shore littered with dozens of dead birds. The water was also full of floating feathers which was sad as well as kinda gross. Not wanting to take any risks in terms of spreading the disease, my swim kit stayed in the bag and I walked back to our hotel and had a pint in the bar instead.

11/09/2023

This is a wee bit more about my new project The Scottishist!

Link to the kickstarter is below but right now just sharing the page and giving it a wee follow is a massive help!

01/09/2023

Where have I been?

Yes it's been super quiet on this channel for the summer, partly because I broke my phone camera by swimming with a new phone case that wasn't as waterproof as you'd have expected 🙄, a busy summer of travel and childcare that left little time for swimming BUT I have also been plotting.

This is the sum of the plotting! Have a first look at my new podcast, , launching later in the Autumn. I am so excited, so flipping scared, and so up to my eyes in books and research papers! Scottish history, culture and traditions are my nerdy happy place - and I'm so excited to bring you guys along with me and share my experience and brilliant Scottish stories I find along the way.

If you have a spare second to follow and share then I will be forever grateful. I have a kickstarter coming to support my research habit so please hit that link too

###XX

19/06/2023

Today's beach chat was so interesting, I ran out of time for a swim!

As I was getting my gear together I got chatting to a lovely man called Keith from SEPA, who was collecting water samples for the bathing water monitoring programme. He originally came over for a natter and asked me if I was going in, because the official advice is not to swim within 48 hours of rain - I pointed out that in the west of Scotland I'd rarely get to swim at all if I followed that advice to the letter.

We ended up having a fascinating conversation about his work, this morning he had been out collecting water samples from Ardrossan, Seamill, Largs and now Lunderston Bay and he let me come and see the samples he'd collected, and explained the various ratings that he measures for water clarity etc. He explained the issues I should be looking out for (as there is a sewage works upstream from where we were) and pointed out that where I swim doesn't have a SEPA water quality info board like the other popular swimming beaches do, so I could maybe check the website ahead of time to get an idea of the water quality. Despite this the water in the bottle was super clear, certainly compared to the ones from further down the coast - now I just need to check back on the SEPA website tomorrow to see if it passes in terms of bacterial load 🦠

11/06/2023

Nibblet's first sea swim!

Best bud is training up to be best swim bud!

Could cry I'm so happy!

01/06/2023

Quick quick litter pick!

Had to drop everything and start a beach clean before my swim today, because there was clearly a massive party last night and they had left everything, including at least 2 dozen pairs of socks (why?). Luckily I was joined by a couple of ladies out on a dog walk and one of the rangers and we made good use of the litter pickers and buckets.

It is infuriating to have to clean up after thoughtless and lazy people (I'm guessing school kids because I found a load of maths notes in the firepit), but on the other hand it's also really satisfying to look at the beach all clean, fresh and ready for families to enjoy another sunny day. Fingers crossed we got all of the broken glass before the tiny kids arrive.

25/05/2023

Novelty day out

Took myself out to for a bit of actual swimming today, as I've got a dose of the fidgets and needed to burn some energy.

Honestly it's so pretty, especially in this weather, but it's a bit people-y for my tastes but the water is warm and you can have a hot shower afterwards which is sooooo unusual for me 😂 The live TV crew were not helping my focus either! Nae need to be on TV when swimming!

23/02/2023

Quick peek into my brain. Icicles or vampire fangs?

Don't grow up its a trap 😂

18/01/2023

Anyone got any ideas for keeping hands warm? I've got a pair of lomo tri X gloves that are a really good fit, but the last couple of swims have been so touch on my poor wee hands (shifting ice mainly) that I'm having to get out of the water before I'm really ready, because my hands are so sore with the cold.

Any ideas, no matter how mad, please tell me your secrets!

17/01/2023

Just having waaay too much fun with the icicles today 😆

15/01/2023

Had a rage walk having to tidy up after some utter lunatics who decided to throw a party and take none of their cr*ap home again afterwards.

Wild Wimmin shared a post on Instagram: "Untidy little gits those teddies huh? Went scouting for a new swim spot and found one, sadly its clearly popular with the kind of di****ad who will take a carry oot a couple of kms up the hill but couldn't possibly be expected to take it back again. My usual....

09/01/2023

Your brand here!

Wild Wimmin is on the hunt for a new brand partner. I'm an indi show with an engaged audience and I really don't want to subject my lovely listeners to the usual slew of nonsense podcast adverts. However I have bills to pay so Ive decided to try to do this a little differently.

I want to match my audience up with the best indi companies that are making things they really want to buy. Products or services for swimmers and outdoorsy types; environmentally focused, sustainable and ethical.

The ad options are flexible, and you can PM me for details (or just for a natter).

So tag your favourite brands in the comments and I'll get on it ###

08/01/2023

What are your favourite pieces of water related writing?

07/01/2023

Well what an unpleasant swim experience I had today. I always try and avoid Duck Bay in the summer when it's busy, but I figured in January I might be safe from the jetski eijits but sadly no. It was a beautiful day with perfect swimming conditions.

About 2 minutes into my swim (I was maybe about 20 feet from the wall, swimming parallel to the shore rather than out towards the bouys) I watched two jetskis speed straight towards me, past the speed limit markers, and they only stopped when I started jumping, waving my tow float and screaming, and then only about 20 feet away from me. I had a, tow float, red hat and my wetsuit top has a bright orange stripe on the arm and they still barely spotted me in time.

They moved away when they spotted me, but they shouldn't have been anywhere near me, especially considering the speed they were going.

I was in a total state of shock and just wanted to get out of the water and dressed as soon as possible. Luckily I had a fellow swimmer on the shore who witnessed the whole thing and managed to get some shots of them doing doughnuts infront of the hotel. Well inside the speed limit markers.

I'm fine now, home with a cuddly Nibblet and a cuppa tea to settle my nerves. However it really upsets me that in years of doing an activity that's considered risky, I've never had any issues other than with people riding jetskis. Why people are allowed out with zero training, experience or knowledge of the rules of the water I will never understand.

04/01/2023

So looking forward to chatting to BlueTonic next week about my swimmy life and ideas.
Make sure you hit the link to get your ticket!

"An evening with Wild Wimmin podcast creator LAURA MACDONALD" on Eventbrite!

Date: Thu, Jan 12 • 19:30 GMT

Host of the brilliant Wild Wimmin podcast, a podcast for anyone who loves to swim in the great outdoors.

17/12/2022

Wowowowow! 4000 downloads!

Early Christmas present to me! Thank you everyone for your support! I am soo excited!

The Wild Swimming Podcast for anyone who loves to swim in the great outdoors: dippers, swimblers, serious swimmers and athletes alike.

16/12/2022

New episode Alert! Today I'm chatting to the lovely JOSIE LLOYD about all things sea swimming, community and the joys of a good group of swim buddies!

https://wildwimmin.buzzsprout.com/1507888/11880753-lifesaving-for-beginners-josie-lloyd

06/12/2022

NEW PODCAST SEASON!

We finally got there woohoo! I'm so excited to bring another round of swimmy chats to your ears!

Our first episode of season 3 features the lovely Rachel Andrews .

Rachel is an absolute star of the swimming world, creating an unbelievable resource of swimmy info on her YouTube channel, on every subject you could possibly have questions about. She is the font of wild wimming knowledge and we are lucky to have her and her lovely chat!

Today I am chatting with The YouTube star, Every Day Athlete - Rachel Andrews. We chat everything frequently asked questions, keeping the momentum and how you too are an everyday athlete. Links: Everyday Athlete RachWebsite: https://www.everydaya...

27/10/2022

25/10/2022

Autumn term starting well.

The Nibblet is settled into her new nursery and I suddenly have a bit more time to explore the area around her new school. It did not disappoint today, mostly because it wasn't raining for the first time in forever, but also because this

23/10/2022

Time for a workout!

Loch Lomond looking lush this morning.

I woke up with a serious dose of the fidgets today so made a last minute dash to Luss to swim with the Sunday group. My motivation to really push myself when it comes to a real swim, rather than a floaty dip, is very low (just in general, I'm not very competitive so targeted goals don't really work for me) so it's nice to swim with a group and stretch my self with a bit of distance.