Today’s guest has swum the English Channel, conquered ice swimming world championships, and spends her days studying exactly what cold water does to our bodies and minds. Dr Heather Massey, from the University of Portsmouth’s Extreme Environments group, has found that wild swimming can do far more than give you a shiver—it can calm anxiety, lift mood, ease menopausal symptoms, and even help with depression.

Her research uncovers how cold water rewires the brain, builds communities, and may even protect us from ageing—while also revealing its dangers, from dangerous gasps to muscle fatigue and post-swim cooling.

So today, we’re asking: Is cold water swimming more likely to cure or to kill? And is it really the free ‘cocaine high’ anyone can get?

From child protection to clay spinning, today’s guest swims wild waters and sculpts soulful stories — her journey, to date, will appeal to many Dunkers and non Dunkers alike and may, especially as a female, even inspire your adventurous side so join us for a meandering, magical conversation with one of Abersoch’s most intriguing Dunkers.

From Vodafone boardrooms to the Porthdinllaen (Nefyn) lookout post, Andy's story is one of innovation, dedication, and watching over the sea when no one else does.

DunkersPodcast is out from the kitchen studio into its first venture to rugged coastlines in a live recording at an active Coastwatch station.

Birmingham’s hustle to Abersoch’s charm, Charlotte Chandler made the leap from city grit to village hit. Whilst Charlotte’s swapped traffic jams for tide charts, she hasn’t slowed down. Now firmly rooted in village life — dunking daily, laughing loudly, and navigating it all with sparkle and sass — Charlotte proves that no matter where you’re from, it’s the people (and a bit of cold water) that truly make it home.

DunkersPodcast is honoured to welcome Jenny & Kay — two high-energy, big-hearted dunkers who’ve made the sea their sanctuary. Jenny’s a proud Aussie philosopher with a rogue wave addiction. Kay’s a carer, a mum of three, and living proof that even life’s hardest moments can be softened by sea, friendship, and a splash of Abersoch magic.

Today we’re heating things up — with the very first Abersoch Dunkers romance! 💕

Meet Clare: ex-Army Dog Handler, canine whisperer, and pure energy on two legs.

Enter Andrew: early riser, van-loving dog dad, and all-round gentleman dunker.

They met by the sea, bonded over freezing dips, barking dogs, and beach-hut banter... and the rest, as they say, is soggy, steamy and unfolding daily.

Pour a warm cuppa — this one’s got heart, humour, and just the right amount of splashy romance.

Welcome back to the Dunkers Podcast — the only place where plunging into frigid water counts as self-care, and talking complete nonsense with a straight face is practically a mental health strategy.

Today’s guest is a man of many titles — Julian Turner. If there were a LinkedIn Olympics, he’d have taken gold, silver, and probably restructured the medal system while he was at it. CEO, board mentor, inventor, product innovator, and the mind behind 4Turners, a consultancy that proves great leadership starts with great conversation — ideally while your face is frozen from a 7 a.m. dunk.

Julian’s resume includes everything from smart mirrors in royal palaces to future-tech wheelchairs and previously he transformed Westfield from a humble UK car company into a serious automotive player

But despite being a high-octane, future-forging force in business, he’s found his natural habitat: waist-deep in the Irish Sea, laughing with fellow lunatics and questioning every life decision that led to this point.

How does he juggle AI, innovation, and the occasional rogue jellyfish? What does freezing water do for a fast-moving brain? And is it true that the real breakthroughs only come after you've lost feeling in your toes?

Let’s find out — here’s Julian Turner, living proof that no matter how serious your day job, there’s always time to dunk.

Abersoch Dunkers has its own guardian of the waves — PhilWoods. RNLI lifeboat captain, first-aider, winter surfer, spaniel wrangler, and proud husband of Emma (a Dunkers co-founder). Woods lives and breathes water safety. He’ll share practical tipsfor new dunkers, his own winter change rituals, and why he still encourages the most reluctant sea-goers to take the plunge. So whether you're in a change robe or still dunking your toes, Woods has something to teach us all.