The Tidal Year

If you liked The Tidal Year, you'll like author Freya Bromley's new podcast, Character Study. Everyone plays a character. But what does it really mean to turn your life into art? In this new podcast series, Freya explores how writers, artists and performers shape their character. Each episode, she’ll be talking to creatives of every discipline about the delicate art of finding inspiration in the everyday. From memoir to standup via autofiction and Instagram, what happens when we blur the lines between fact and fiction? These conversations explore how seeing yourself as a ‘character’ in your own story can unearth unexpected courage, compassion and curiosity. And maybe even a bit more self-reflection. This podcast isn’t just for writers, it’s for anyone trying to make sense of their own story. Series 1 guests include Emma Gannon, Hope Tala, Hannah Murray, Will Harris, Sharlene Teo, Sarvat Hasin, Ben Pope, Lucas Oakeley and more 📲 Follow @freybromley on Instagram for updates and to ask your questions 📚 Join Freya’s newsletter at freyabromley.substack.com for behind the scenes thoughts 🎙️And hit subscribe wherever you get your podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/character-study/id1896655831 #CharacterStudy #LiteraryPodcast #bookpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My book The Tidal Year is out today! As a special thank you to my podcast listeners, I've included a free preview of the prologue and chapter one from the audiobook read by me. Here's more about the book: Freya is still searching. For four years, she's been looking for a way to fill the empty space her brother's death left behind. Ready for another distraction, Freya decides to swim every tidal pool in Britain in a year with her friend Miri. The adventure takes them from a pool hidden in the cliffs of fishing-village Polperro to the quarry lagoon of Abereiddi via Trinkie Wick where locals meet each year to give the pool wall a fresh lick of paint. As Freya travels further from London, she finds herself closer to memories of her brother. With every swim, and every stranger they meet in the water, the challenge becomes more than just a way to explore the coast, but a journey of self-discovery. The Tidal Year is a true story about the healing power of wild swimming and the space it creates for reflection, rewilding, and hope. An exploration of grief in the modern age, it's also a tale of loss, love, female rage and sisterhood. You can listen to the full audiobook on Apple Books, Audible or wherever you usually download your audiobooks. Plus, it's in bookshops around the country. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes the difference between a bad loser and a good one? Seren Jones tells us as she reflects on her time as a former competitive swimmer and what it means to dream big, and find new challenges along the way. Seren also co-founded the Black Swimming Association. We spoke about the fantastic work they do, swim safety, inclusion and our favourite places for a dip in Wales. Follow: @freybromley #TheTidalYear @serentljones @blackswimmingassociation Pre-order The Tidal Year: amazon.co.uk/dp/1399709674/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every other breath we take comes from the ocean, so it's important that we look after it! Susanne Masters has great tips for how. This week's guest is plant scientist, ethnobotanist and the author of Wild Waters. We spoke about sustainable harvesting, swimming with seals and the Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim. Follow: @freybromley #TheTidalYear @mastersmiss Books: Buy Wild Waters: waterstones.com/book/wild-waters/susanne-masters/alice-goodridge/9781839811005 Pre-order The Tidal Year: amazon.co.uk/dp/1399709674/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's hard to capture the joy of swimming in words, let alone art, but Lizzy Stewart somehow manages it. This week's guest is the wonderful illustrator and author of the graphic novel Alison. We spoke about painting pools, Devon's beaches and the connection between creativity and water. Follow: @freybromley #TheTidalYear @lizzy_stewart Books: Buy Alison: waterstones.com/book/alison/lizzy-stewart/9781788169059 Pre-order The Tidal Year: amazon.co.uk/dp/1399709674/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When was the last time you stopped to notice the plants around you while you swam? This week's guest is Leif Bersweden, botanist and author of Where the Wildflowers Grow. We spoke about aquatic plants, where to find them and how to care for them. Follow: @freybromley #TheTidalYear @leifbersweden @bsbibotany speciesrecoverytrust.org.uk Books: Buy Where the Wildflowers Grow: amzn.eu/d/dP1mS6W Pre-order The Tidal Year: amazon.co.uk/dp/1399709674/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's talk about men's mental health! This week's guest is Tom Mason the co-founder of Blue Balls Cornwall, a cold water swimming group specifically for the men of Cornwall. We spoke about how cold water develops resilience, building a community and tidal pools. Follow: @freybromley #TheTidalYear @blueballscornwall Pre-order The Tidal Year: amazon.co.uk/dp/1399709674/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s guest is the author of one of my favourite books of 2021: Small Bodies of Water. Nina’s writing is lyrical and poetic. She blends memoir with powerful writing on the natural world. I’m not the only one who thinks so as she’s the winner of the Nan Shepherd Prize. We spoke about nature writing in multiple languages, pools from our childhood and transitioning through the seasons by swimming. Oh and the bird we’ve spotted at Hampstead Ponds is a Mandarin duck! Our chat becomes a little bit of a swimming book club, so I hope you’re looking for some reading recommendations including work by: Jessica J Lee, Mary Jean Chan, Hannah Lowe, Elizabeth-Jane Burnett, Polly Atkin and Robin Wall Kimmerer. Follow: @freybromley #TheTidalYear @ninamingya You can buy Small Bodies of Water wherever you normally get your books. Pre-order The Tidal Year: amazon.co.uk/dp/1399709674/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s guest is the author of Lido, a stunning book that celebrates the history, design and social aspects of outdoor pools. I spoke to Christopher about the three-acts of lido history, pioneering female swimmers and how booking your lido slot is like trying to get Glastonbury tickets! Follow: @freybromley #TheTidalYear @christopherbeanland You can buy Lido wherever you normally get your books. Pre-order The Tidal Year: amazon.co.uk/dp/1399709674/ Thanks to this episode’s sponsor TRIHARD. Say goodbye to chlorine and shop their skin and hair products at 15% off with the code Tidal at trihard.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when you match over 5,000 years of ancestral wisdom with cutting edge science? The first at-home smart ice bath and cold water therapy app is created! This week’s guest is Monk's founder, Laura Fullerton. We chatted Hipocrates, the history of the spa and the amount of information we’re bombarded with each day. This episode was recording in October 2022. People mentioned in this episode: Wim Hof daveasprey.com bengreenfieldlife.com drbrighten.com Max Lugavere and Alicia Vitti Follow: @freybromley #TheTidalYear @discovermonk Find out more about Monk and join the waitlist: discovermonk.com Pre-order The Tidal Year: amazon.co.uk/dp/1399709674/ Thanks to this episode’s sponsor TRIHARD. Say goodbye to chlorine and shop their skin and hair products at 15% off with the code Tidal at trihard.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is with British photographic artist Mark Vessey. He lives in Brighton and sea swimming has been a big part of his journey with both creativity and sobriety. We talked about coming out, collecting things, being an outsider and how swimming in cold water feels like a hug. Follow: @freybromley #TheTidalYear @mark_vessey Explore Mark’s artwork: markvessey.com Pre-order The Tidal Year: amazon.co.uk/dp/1399709674/ Thanks to this episode’s sponsor TRIHARD. Say goodbye to chlorine and shop their skin and hair products at 15% off with the code Tidal at trihard.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back! I'm delighted to kick off a new series with a very special swimmer. Jessica Hepburn is an adventure activist and the author of 21 Miles. After a decade of trying to become a mother Jessica Hepburn stopped her fertility journey and decided to swim the English Channel. As the training began, she learned you need to put on weight to stave off the cold so Jessica decided she would meet and eat with inspiring women to answer the question: does motherhood make you happy? In this episode, we look back on her adventure and chat about being an endurance swimmer who doesn’t feel at all like one. Plus, we chat about one of my favourite places: Hampstead Ponds! Follow: @freybromley #TheTidalYear @jessica_hepburn_ 21 Miles by Jessica Hepburn is available wherever you buy your books. You can pre-order The Tidal Year here: amazon.co.uk/dp/1399709674/ Thanks to this episode’s sponsor TRIHARD. Say goodbye to chlorine and shop their skin and hair products at 15% off with the code Tidal at trihard.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the finale of Series 1! In 1988 Tom Gregory swam the English Channel. And he was only 11 years old! He was the youngest person in history to complete the 32 mile swim and as regulations have changed since then, it’s a record that will never be broken. A Boy in the Water is a heartwarming memoir about his experience. In this episode, we spoke about adventures with his swimming club, endurance swimming at such a young age, the coach who guided him through it all and the impact he had on his life. We also spoke about memories, writing, 80s nostalgia and his reflections on how times have changed with the way we parent, encourage and trust. In this episode, we chat about Follow: @freybromley #TheTidalYear A Boy in the Water by Tom Gregory is available wherever you buy your books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cleveland Pools is Britain’s oldest lido dating back over 200 years. It’s set to open once again! Restoration to make the facility fit for the future has started and they’re working to create a unique open-air public swimming pool in Bath, with the energy for heating the water coming from heat pumps in the adjacent river. In this episode I chat to project director Anna Baker. We spoke about Anna’s work, the history of the lido and the power of community action to make a heritage project like this happen. Follow: @freybromley #TheTidalYear @clevelandpools You can find more about the restoration at clevelandpools.org.uk They’re still raising money to re-open the lido and need your help to make it happen! Go online to find out how you can donate your money or time. It’s really vital to this wonderful heritage site. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Outdoor Swimmer is the only magazine dedicated to open water swimming in all its forms. They share inspiring swimming stories from triathlons to first dips! In this episode I chat to the magazine’s founder Simon Griffiths. We spoke about his earliest memories swimming, competing in triathlons and of course his journey to founding the magazine. Follow: @freybromley #TheTidalYear @outdoorswimmer You can explore the magazine and buy a subscription at www.outdoorswimmer.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cathy Rentzenbrink is the bestselling author of The Last Act of Love, A Manual for Heartache, Dear Reader and her latest novel, Everyone is Still Alive. Cathy swims in the sea near her home in Cornwall (including a new tradition of a publication day swim) and is hoping to start swimming all year around. We chat about that and lots more about swimming, as well as its connection to the creative process. This episode also touches on grief and how life is about accumulating experiences, both good and bad, that make us who we are. Follow: @freybromley #TheTidalYear @catrentzenbrink All of Cathy’s books are available wherever you buy your books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does a week of wild swimming and yoga in Cornwall sound like bliss to you? Well, that’s what Lauren Biddulph thought when she founded The Salt Sisterhood, a women’s wild swimming retreat based in Cornwall. Lauren has a moving story to tell about the power of swimming and its ability to bring people together and forge female friendships. In this episode, we spoke about banishing negative self talk, how we can not just accept that there’s light and dark in life, but also lean into it. And how yoga and swimming can help with that. Follow: @freybromley #TheTidalYear @thesaltsisterhood Explore upcoming wild swimming retreats: www.thesaltsisterhood.com Thanks to this episode’s sponsor TRIHARD. Say goodbye to chlorine and shop their skin and hair products at 15% off with the code Tidal at trihard.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nathaniel Cole is a writer, workshop facilitator and co-founder of the inner city swimming club Swim Dem Crew. They hold weekly sessions for people to become better swimmers. Much of what Swim Dem Crew do is about personal development and self-affirmation, using swimming as a tool to empower people and make the sport more inclusive. In this episode, we spoke about Swim Dem Crew’s work and explored topics including masculinity, inclusion, how the confidence people gain from swimming can touch other parts of their life and Nathaniel’s own journey to creating a career around helping people. Follow: @freybromley #TheTidalYear @swimdemcrew As Nathaniel says in this episode… when you’re ready, Swim Dem Crew is ready for you! Check out their amazing work or join them for a swim here: www.swimdemcrew.co.uk Thanks to this episode’s sponsor TRIHARD. Say goodbye to chlorine and shop their skin and hair products at 15% off with the code Tidal at trihard.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marika Hackman is a singer-songwriter and regular at London Fields Lido. Part of her creative process, including when writing her most recent albums Any Human Friend and Covers, is walking along the canal listening to early demos before a reflective swim at the lido. In this episode, we spoke about all the things we love about swimming: that feeling of being hugged by liquid, how joyous it is to see people exercising self-love and the body positivity of getting a glimpse of body hair in the changing rooms. Plus, we chatted about Marika's very special performance from the bottom of an empty swimming pool! Follow: @freybromley #TheTidalYear @marikahackman Order Marika Hackman's brand new album Covers , out now: marikahackman.backl.ink/covers Thanks to this episode’s sponsor TRIHARD. Say goodbye to chlorine and shop their skin and hair products at 15% off with the code Tidal at trihard.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever dreamed of swimming in the Thames? Well, this week's guest is trying to make it happen! Chris Romer-Lee is co-founder of architects Studio Octopi and a regular swimmer at the Serpentine Lido in London. He’s also the CEO of Thames Baths, a project which has proposed a floating lido on the Thames. The design has received plenty of public support (including none other than artist Tracey Emin) as well as a successful crowdfunding campaign. Chris is also involved in many new projects to save lidos around the country and bring swimming to more people, especially in urban spaces. I’m so inspired by his vision is to inspire people in cities around the world to reclaim their rivers for swimming and increased public use. In this episode, we chatted about the Thames Baths project, the history of swimming in the Thames and how we might’ve lost contact with the river beneath our feet. Plus, we chat about the playful idea of a pool on the back of a truck. I hope you enjoy this episode! Follow: @freybromley #TheTidalYear @chrisromerlee @ThamesBaths Explore the Thames Baths design at thamesbaths.com Thanks to this episode’s sponsor TRIHARD. Say goodbye to chlorine and shop their skin and hair products at 15% off with the code Tidal at trihard.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.