STA Podcast

In this episode, STA’s Zoe Cooper is joined by Amelia Jordan from CoursePro to explore how digital tools are transforming swimming teaching, improving the learner experience and supporting swim schools in their day-to-day delivery.

Kayle is joined once again by Antoinette Spear from Autism Swim, exploring flexible thinking, what this means and how we can use this approach to support inclusive teaching.

In this episode, STA's Director of Education, Kayle Brightwell, is joined by Melona Headley from Bold Waters, discussing what is cultural competency and raising awareness on the importance for all.  

Join STA’s Water Safety Ambassador, Mike Goody, as he sits down with a very special guest and longtime friend, Dave Candler, STA’s CEO. Both celebrating ten years with STA, Mike and Dave skip the formal interview and just have a chat about what matters most: swimming, water safety, and why this work still inspires them every day.  

For this week’s podcast, in celebration of National Careers Week, the Qualification Development Team are talking about where a career in leisure can take you, and where their own journeys have led them.

Zoe joins Lauren and Josh from the Andrew Simpson Foundation to discuss the charities' mission and the development of Swim Free, a programme which delivers free swimming lessons to children and young people from naval families. 

STA legend Mike Goody sits down and reflects on the past 10 years of being an STA ambassador.

In this podcast, Jodie Davis is joined by Nick Masson from Bigwave Growth to discuss the benefits of their free remote Swim School Assessment and how organisations can grow their business. For more information, please contact Nick Masson at [email protected] or call on 07590564009.

In this podcast, STA's own Zoe is joined by Tim Mathias, Strategic Lead of Inclusion at UK Active, where they both shine a spotlight on the strategic partnership between the two organisations and what it means to STA members. 

Joining us on the podcast is Sarah Cox from the Halliwick Association of Swimming Therapy, discussing the importance of rotation in swimming, why is it important to learn rotation early in the swimming journey and tips on how teachers can develop this within their lessons.

In this episode, STA's Director of Digital Services, Brett Preston, and Lorna Crust from Aqua Kids talk about the Digital Awards system; its benefits and why more and more swim schools are joining.

In this special episode, we celebrate 10 years of the Swim Star Swim School programme. Zoe speaks with Lisa Bousted from Aquarius Swim School, who was among the first to join the programme. Lisa will be discussing their journey; the importance of the Swim Star status; and the impact the Swim Star programme has had on their business. Become a Swim Star Swim School today!

Speakers: Sam Green & Kayle Brightwell Insurance can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, we sit down with Sam Green, Director of Swim Sure Insurance, to break down everything from swim school insurance to public liability. Learn how to understand your policy and use it effectively to protect your business.  

During this episode we are discussing industry best practice guidance documents, what are they, what do they mean, who do they apply to and what do we need to know. With Kayle Brightwell, Helen Done and STA technical expert Chris Bateman.

During this episode we are discussing the importance of regulated qualifications, what these means for employers, the learners and the benefits of regulation. With Kayle Brightwell, Sarah Green from Head of Workforce Education at Swim England Qualifications and special guest host Sara Byrne Technical Education Manager at CIMSPA.

Join Kayle Brightwell and Chris Rees from World of Swimming as they dive into the ins and outs of running a successful swim school. From recruiting and developing swim teachers to managing day-to-day operations, this episode covers everything you need to know to take your swim school to the next level.  

The podcast is about open water swimming, what there is to love about open water, how we can enjoy it safely and what you need to get started.

Ali Beckman and STA's Jodie Davis discuss the position of trust and how we safeguard ourselves as aquatic professionals. 

What does it mean to be part of a professional swimming community? Mark McNichol, STA’s Member of the Year, dives into the benefits of membership, how it supports professional growth, and why every swimming teacher should consider joining.

The family behind WellyWeight share how a playful idea from their daughter turned a homemade dive toy into a glowing hit with kids, parents, and swimming teachers alike.

Rhiannon Kocmar from SWIM Coaches & Teachers Australia discusses learning to swim in Australia, the challenges, the initiatives and programmes offered.

What exactly is user-generated content, and why is it making waves in marketing? In this episode, Valerie Yeun, Paid Media Manager at Big Wave Marketing, explains its benefits, shares examples, and explores how tech, trends, and emerging platforms are driving the future of UGC in 2025.

Stuart Hacker from the Swim Cube discusses the benefits of video stroke analysis - how it works, who it’s for, how it can help you improve, and why you might want to give it a try.

Leon Fryer is one of the founding coaches of Swimyourswim, member of the International Ice Swimming Association and specialist cold water / ice swimming coach. Today we are discussing all things cold water / ice swimming, how to start, what we need to be aware of, ice swimming as a sport and Leon will be sharing his top 5 tips.

In this episode, Janine Ramsey from Trauma Informed Aquatics discusses the importance of being trauma informed and the impact we can then have within aquatics. Janine has extensive experience and qualifications in swimming teaching, swim teacher education, counselling, traumatic stress and child safeguarding. She is currently a Child Safeguarding Advisor for the Department of Health, in Tasmania, Australia and provides specialist consultancy services to the aquatics industry worldwide in the area of trauma-informed aquatics. Often the term expert can be overused, however Janine is a true expert within this field and incredibly passionate about educating people on being trauma informed.

Within this episode Antoinette Spear, General Manager at Autism Swim, discusses what it means to be inclusive, inclusive language we can use and some top tips /changes we can make to ensure we are supporting everyone within our lessons, and facilities. Autism Swim are the world leaders in inclusive aquatics, offering high quality online specialist training in aquatics and neurodiversity and they now have Autism Swim Approved providers in over 26 countries, incredible.

This episode Emma Lewis, National Aquatics Manager for GLL, discusses swimming teachers, what makes them great, how we recruit them and how we keep them motivated.

This episode features Chris Bateman, STA’s Pool Plant Technical Advisor, who discusses how to keep our pool water clean and best practice within the pool plant. Chris will be sharing his 5 top tips to help us keep pools clean.

This episode features Ali Beckman, STA President, who discusses the role adults have within baby and pre-school lessons, the impact they have and what swimming teachers need to consider in order to support adults within lessons.

This episode features Zac Cheek, Head of Apprenticeships at Excel Me, who discusses what an apprenticeship is, who can be an apprentice, the benefits to the apprentice as well as the employer, and importantly busting some common myths which surround apprenticeships.

This first episode, features Kaylë Brightwell, STA’s Director of Education, and Jodie Davis, STA’s Aquatics Development Officer, discussing the importance of swimming and what makes it great.