In At The Deep End Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/in-at-the-deep-end Inspring journeys from the pool to the everyday. Hosted by Salim Ahmed, a lifelong swimmer and swim coach with over 22 years experience, the show dives into the human stories behind the sport. Not just times and techniques, but the moments when water became an anchor, a lifeline, or a turning point. Each episode features honest, intimate conversations with everyday swimmers, Olympians, well-known names and unheard voices, all united by the role swimming has played in their lives. These are stories of resilience and reinvention, of grief and joy, of quiet victories and near-impossible comebacks. From open-water epiphanies to childhood pool memories, In at the Deep End explores how swimming steadies us, challenges us and carries us through life’s waves. If you love inspiring stories with depth, this is where you dive in. Salim Ahmed d9f92600-ce3c-52ce-8157-b1be2408d3f0 yes Salim Ahmed Tim Beynon Welcome to In At The Deep End en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:01:01 +0100 Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:02:19 +0100 https://inatthedeepend.transistor.fm/ https://img.transistorcdn.com/o7ZdgnQNsG6JnvanTsh_zD4F9BbwUpaq3QGTkBUc0Vk/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9mYzU5/ZjY1N2QxNGQxZjZk/MTcwZTRiYmIyZDhk/NWVkYi5wbmc.jpg In At The Deep End https://inatthedeepend.transistor.fm/ episodic Salim Ahmed Inspring journeys from the pool to the everyday. Hosted by Salim Ahmed, a lifelong swimmer and swim coach with over 22 years experience, the show dives into the human stories behind the sport. Not just times and techniques, but the moments when water became an anchor, a lifeline, or a turning point. Each episode features honest, intimate conversations with everyday swimmers, Olympians, well-known names and unheard voices, all united by the role swimming has played in their lives. These are stories of resilience and reinvention, of grief and joy, of quiet victories and near-impossible comebacks. From open-water epiphanies to childhood pool memories, In at the Deep End explores how swimming steadies us, challenges us and carries us through life’s waves. If you love inspiring stories with depth, this is where you dive in. Inspring journeys from the pool to the everyday. Swimming, swim coach, inspiring journies, swimming stories Salim Ahmed No No From operating table to open water - Adam Filby on liver donation, recovery and Ironman 3 3 From operating table to open water - Adam Filby on liver donation, recovery and Ironman full 796bd639-c7d6-4c28-93af-78df6e7e7ad2 https://share.transistor.fm/s/d4681829 In Episode 3, Salim is joined by Adam Filby - technology professional, fundraiser, triathlete and dad. 

In May 2017, on the same day the WannaCry cyberattack was tearing through NHS systems across the country, Adam was on an operating table donating part of his liver to his seven-year-old daughter Florence, who had been born with a life-threatening liver condition. He came round from the anaesthetic not in intensive care, but in a makeshift room in a hospital corridor, and within 24 hours had signed up for an Ironman.

Adam's relationship with swimming began years earlier, quietly shaped by the knowledge that one day his daughter might need him to be in the best possible shape. What followed was a journey from a man who could barely swim 50 metres, through triathlons, half Ironmans and four full Ironmans, to someone for whom the open water has become the place he finds the same peace he once found running through a forest the night before the operation. This is a story about love, purpose, the human body's extraordinary capacity to heal and what happens when you refuse to set a limit on what you might be capable of.

Key themes in this episode:

  • Biliary atresia, the rare liver condition Florence was born with, and what it means for families waiting for a transplant
  • Training for a triathlon in your early 30s with a quiet, deeper motivation behind it
  • What it's like to be on the transplant list - the waiting, the restrictions, the fear
  • The day of the operation - two theatres, a cyberattack, and a photo taken over a surgeon's shoulder
  • Going from lying in a hospital bed to completing an Ironman in five and a half months
  • How swimming and exercise became a vehicle for processing an enormous experience
  • The calm that open water gives and why Adam can no longer train in a pool
  • The case for living organ donation, and why fitness is no barrier to recovery
  • Finding purpose through sport: from proving something to simply thriving

Useful Links

Swimming & Open Water

Swim with Salim

Organ Donation

Adam Filby

Be a part of the show: Here's how to get in touch...


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> In Episode 3, Salim is joined by Adam Filby - technology professional, fundraiser, triathlete and dad. 

In May 2017, on the same day the WannaCry cyberattack was tearing through NHS systems across the country, Adam was on an operating table donating part of his liver to his seven-year-old daughter Florence, who had been born with a life-threatening liver condition. He came round from the anaesthetic not in intensive care, but in a makeshift room in a hospital corridor, and within 24 hours had signed up for an Ironman.

Adam's relationship with swimming began years earlier, quietly shaped by the knowledge that one day his daughter might need him to be in the best possible shape. What followed was a journey from a man who could barely swim 50 metres, through triathlons, half Ironmans and four full Ironmans, to someone for whom the open water has become the place he finds the same peace he once found running through a forest the night before the operation. This is a story about love, purpose, the human body's extraordinary capacity to heal and what happens when you refuse to set a limit on what you might be capable of.

Key themes in this episode:

  • Biliary atresia, the rare liver condition Florence was born with, and what it means for families waiting for a transplant
  • Training for a triathlon in your early 30s with a quiet, deeper motivation behind it
  • What it's like to be on the transplant list - the waiting, the restrictions, the fear
  • The day of the operation - two theatres, a cyberattack, and a photo taken over a surgeon's shoulder
  • Going from lying in a hospital bed to completing an Ironman in five and a half months
  • How swimming and exercise became a vehicle for processing an enormous experience
  • The calm that open water gives and why Adam can no longer train in a pool
  • The case for living organ donation, and why fitness is no barrier to recovery
  • Finding purpose through sport: from proving something to simply thriving

Useful Links

Swimming & Open Water

Swim with Salim

Organ Donation

Adam Filby

Be a part of the show: Here's how to get in touch...


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:01:00 +0100 Salim Ahmed Salim Ahmed 2533 In Episode 3, Salim is joined by Adam Filby - technology professional, fundraiser, triathlete and dad. 

In May 2017, on the same day the WannaCry cyberattack was tearing through NHS systems across the country, Adam was on an operating table donating part of his liver to his seven-year-old daughter Florence, who had been born with a life-threatening liver condition. He came round from the anaesthetic not in intensive care, but in a makeshift room in a hospital corridor, and within 24 hours had signed up for an Ironman.

Adam's relationship with swimming began years earlier, quietly shaped by the knowledge that one day his daughter might need him to be in the best possible shape. What followed was a journey from a man who could barely swim 50 metres, through triathlons, half Ironmans and four full Ironmans, to someone for whom the open water has become the place he finds the same peace he once found running through a forest the night before the operation. This is a story about love, purpose, the human body's extraordinary capacity to heal and what happens when you refuse to set a limit on what you might be capable of.

Key themes in this episode:

  • Biliary atresia, the rare liver condition Florence was born with, and what it means for families waiting for a transplant
  • Training for a triathlon in your early 30s with a quiet, deeper motivation behind it
  • What it's like to be on the transplant list - the waiting, the restrictions, the fear
  • The day of the operation - two theatres, a cyberattack, and a photo taken over a surgeon's shoulder
  • Going from lying in a hospital bed to completing an Ironman in five and a half months
  • How swimming and exercise became a vehicle for processing an enormous experience
  • The calm that open water gives and why Adam can no longer train in a pool
  • The case for living organ donation, and why fitness is no barrier to recovery
  • Finding purpose through sport: from proving something to simply thriving

Useful Links

Swimming & Open Water

Swim with Salim

Organ Donation

Adam Filby

Be a part of the show: Here's how to get in touch...


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> swimming, ironman, liver donor, organ donation, open water, fundraiser, biliary atresia No Salim Ahmed Tim Beynon Adam Filby When swimming becomes a breast cancer lifeline - with Dr Mei-Ling Lancashire 2 2 When swimming becomes a breast cancer lifeline - with Dr Mei-Ling Lancashire full ee828349-e9af-4263-b516-f06a96649fce https://share.transistor.fm/s/3c8b6b07 In Episode 2 of In At The Deep End, Salim is joined by Dr Mei-Ling Lancashire - GP, cancer survivor, single mum and swimmer. At the peak of her fitness, Mei-Ling discovered a breast lump and, as a GP with a background in breast cancer research, knew instantly what it meant. What followed was an aggressive diagnosis, gruelling chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and the challenge of holding everything together for her two young daughters.

Swimming became her lifeline. From a childhood passion, cut short by societal misconceptions, to a primal fear of deep water and, eventually, open-water sessions at Shepperton Lake, her relationship with the water has been anything but simple. And that's exactly what makes her story so powerful.

Key themes in this episode:

  • Childhood swimming talent ended by 1980s attitudes towards women athletes
  • Breast cancer diagnosis at peak fitness, and the shock of knowing immediately what it was
  • Staying active through chemotherapy and surgery as a single parent
  • Fundraising for Cancer Research UK and becoming the face of a national campaign
  • Overcoming a deep-rooted fear of open water
  • Nerve damage from surgery and chemo, and learning to reconnect with key swimming muscles
  • The role of Pilates in unlocking a better swim stroke
  • Swimming as the last sport standing when injury takes everything else away
  • What it truly means to thrive, not just survive

Useful Links

Swimming & Open Water

Swim with Salim

Cancer Awareness

Dr Mei-Ling Lancashire

Be a part of the show: Here's how to get in touch...


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> In Episode 2 of In At The Deep End, Salim is joined by Dr Mei-Ling Lancashire - GP, cancer survivor, single mum and swimmer. At the peak of her fitness, Mei-Ling discovered a breast lump and, as a GP with a background in breast cancer research, knew instantly what it meant. What followed was an aggressive diagnosis, gruelling chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and the challenge of holding everything together for her two young daughters.

Swimming became her lifeline. From a childhood passion, cut short by societal misconceptions, to a primal fear of deep water and, eventually, open-water sessions at Shepperton Lake, her relationship with the water has been anything but simple. And that's exactly what makes her story so powerful.

Key themes in this episode:

  • Childhood swimming talent ended by 1980s attitudes towards women athletes
  • Breast cancer diagnosis at peak fitness, and the shock of knowing immediately what it was
  • Staying active through chemotherapy and surgery as a single parent
  • Fundraising for Cancer Research UK and becoming the face of a national campaign
  • Overcoming a deep-rooted fear of open water
  • Nerve damage from surgery and chemo, and learning to reconnect with key swimming muscles
  • The role of Pilates in unlocking a better swim stroke
  • Swimming as the last sport standing when injury takes everything else away
  • What it truly means to thrive, not just survive

Useful Links

Swimming & Open Water

Swim with Salim

Cancer Awareness

Dr Mei-Ling Lancashire

Be a part of the show: Here's how to get in touch...


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Tue, 24 Mar 2026 01:01:00 +0000 Salim Ahmed Salim Ahmed 2102 In Episode 2 of In At The Deep End, Salim is joined by Dr Mei-Ling Lancashire - GP, cancer survivor, single mum and swimmer. At the peak of her fitness, Mei-Ling discovered a breast lump and, as a GP with a background in breast cancer research, knew instantly what it meant. What followed was an aggressive diagnosis, gruelling chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and the challenge of holding everything together for her two young daughters.

Swimming became her lifeline. From a childhood passion, cut short by societal misconceptions, to a primal fear of deep water and, eventually, open-water sessions at Shepperton Lake, her relationship with the water has been anything but simple. And that's exactly what makes her story so powerful.

Key themes in this episode:

  • Childhood swimming talent ended by 1980s attitudes towards women athletes
  • Breast cancer diagnosis at peak fitness, and the shock of knowing immediately what it was
  • Staying active through chemotherapy and surgery as a single parent
  • Fundraising for Cancer Research UK and becoming the face of a national campaign
  • Overcoming a deep-rooted fear of open water
  • Nerve damage from surgery and chemo, and learning to reconnect with key swimming muscles
  • The role of Pilates in unlocking a better swim stroke
  • Swimming as the last sport standing when injury takes everything else away
  • What it truly means to thrive, not just survive

Useful Links

Swimming & Open Water

Swim with Salim

Cancer Awareness

Dr Mei-Ling Lancashire

Be a part of the show: Here's how to get in touch...


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Swimming, swim coach, inspiring journies, swimming stories No Salim Ahmed Tim Beynon Dr Mei-Ling Lancashire Swimming as an escape from work in a war zone - with Dr Victoria 'Rosie' Rose 1 1 Swimming as an escape from work in a war zone - with Dr Victoria 'Rosie' Rose full 05a5c1cf-80c9-47b4-8adf-a281d5a81975 https://share.transistor.fm/s/5b93bb60 In this debut episode of In At The Deep End, host and swim coach Salim Ahmed welcomes his first guest, Dr Victoria Rose - or 'Rosie' as he knows her - a consultant plastic surgeon whose life is defined by two remarkable worlds: the operating theatres of London hospitals and the war-torn hospitals of Gaza.

Rosie shares her journey from dedicated runner to passionate swimmer, how a serious knee injury changed everything and why swimming has become a lifeline - not just physically, but mentally and emotionally - as she processes the harrowing work of treating children with blast, burn, and bullet injuries in one of the world's most dangerous conflict zones.

Key themes in this episode:

  • What plastic surgery really involves and why it has such an unfair reputation
  • The IDEALS charity and its decades of work supporting surgeons in conflict zones
  • Life in Gaza before and after October 2023 - the contrast between restaurants and rubble
  • The friendship and responsibility that drives humanitarian volunteers back into danger
  • The physiological magic of cold water and the body's response to immersion
  • Swimming as community, fitness and mental health support
  • Open-water swimming at Shepperton Lake, and the eureka moment
  • Swimming for body, mind and soul: resilience, mindfulness and showing up


Useful Links


Swimming & Open Water

Swim with Salim

Organisations Mentioned


Dr Victoria Rose


Be a part of the show: Here's how to get in touch...


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> In this debut episode of In At The Deep End, host and swim coach Salim Ahmed welcomes his first guest, Dr Victoria Rose - or 'Rosie' as he knows her - a consultant plastic surgeon whose life is defined by two remarkable worlds: the operating theatres of London hospitals and the war-torn hospitals of Gaza.

Rosie shares her journey from dedicated runner to passionate swimmer, how a serious knee injury changed everything and why swimming has become a lifeline - not just physically, but mentally and emotionally - as she processes the harrowing work of treating children with blast, burn, and bullet injuries in one of the world's most dangerous conflict zones.

Key themes in this episode:

  • What plastic surgery really involves and why it has such an unfair reputation
  • The IDEALS charity and its decades of work supporting surgeons in conflict zones
  • Life in Gaza before and after October 2023 - the contrast between restaurants and rubble
  • The friendship and responsibility that drives humanitarian volunteers back into danger
  • The physiological magic of cold water and the body's response to immersion
  • Swimming as community, fitness and mental health support
  • Open-water swimming at Shepperton Lake, and the eureka moment
  • Swimming for body, mind and soul: resilience, mindfulness and showing up


Useful Links


Swimming & Open Water

Swim with Salim

Organisations Mentioned


Dr Victoria Rose


Be a part of the show: Here's how to get in touch...


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Tue, 10 Mar 2026 01:01:00 +0000 Salim Ahmed Salim Ahmed 1858 In this debut episode of In At The Deep End, host and swim coach Salim Ahmed welcomes his first guest, Dr Victoria Rose - or 'Rosie' as he knows her - a consultant plastic surgeon whose life is defined by two remarkable worlds: the operating theatres of London hospitals and the war-torn hospitals of Gaza.

Rosie shares her journey from dedicated runner to passionate swimmer, how a serious knee injury changed everything and why swimming has become a lifeline - not just physically, but mentally and emotionally - as she processes the harrowing work of treating children with blast, burn, and bullet injuries in one of the world's most dangerous conflict zones.

Key themes in this episode:

  • What plastic surgery really involves and why it has such an unfair reputation
  • The IDEALS charity and its decades of work supporting surgeons in conflict zones
  • Life in Gaza before and after October 2023 - the contrast between restaurants and rubble
  • The friendship and responsibility that drives humanitarian volunteers back into danger
  • The physiological magic of cold water and the body's response to immersion
  • Swimming as community, fitness and mental health support
  • Open-water swimming at Shepperton Lake, and the eureka moment
  • Swimming for body, mind and soul: resilience, mindfulness and showing up


Useful Links


Swimming & Open Water

Swim with Salim

Organisations Mentioned


Dr Victoria Rose


Be a part of the show: Here's how to get in touch...


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Swimming, swim coach, inspiring journies, swimming stories No Salim Ahmed Tim Beynon Dr Victoria Rose Welcome to In At The Deep End Welcome to In At The Deep End trailer fb0075af-af9d-4e88-bb45-9960e7fef02d https://share.transistor.fm/s/eda1d063 Welcome to In at the Deep End, a new podcast hosted by swim coach Salim Ahmed.

In this trailer you'll get a glimpse into the kinds of stories featured on the show: honest conversations with people whose lives have been shaped by swimming in ways that go far beyond the pool. Stories about resilience, identity, loss, ambition and the moments when the water became a place to think, heal, push on or start again.

If swimming has ever meant more to you than just lengths and times, this is where it begins.

Be a part of the show: Here's how to get in touch...


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Welcome to In at the Deep End, a new podcast hosted by swim coach Salim Ahmed.

In this trailer you'll get a glimpse into the kinds of stories featured on the show: honest conversations with people whose lives have been shaped by swimming in ways that go far beyond the pool. Stories about resilience, identity, loss, ambition and the moments when the water became a place to think, heal, push on or start again.

If swimming has ever meant more to you than just lengths and times, this is where it begins.

Be a part of the show: Here's how to get in touch...


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Wed, 04 Feb 2026 17:47:10 +0000 Salim Ahmed Salim Ahmed 116 Welcome to In at the Deep End, a new podcast hosted by swim coach Salim Ahmed.

In this trailer you'll get a glimpse into the kinds of stories featured on the show: honest conversations with people whose lives have been shaped by swimming in ways that go far beyond the pool. Stories about resilience, identity, loss, ambition and the moments when the water became a place to think, heal, push on or start again.

If swimming has ever meant more to you than just lengths and times, this is where it begins.

Be a part of the show: Here's how to get in touch...


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Swimming, swim coach, inspiring journies, swimming stories No Salim Ahmed Tim Beynon