Laura Evans | From swimming wild to finding sobriety - a mermaids tale

Laura Evans is a professional mermaid … yes you heard me right, she goes by the name of the St Ives Mermaid and can mainly in the waters around St Ives either doing mermaid appearance ‘wash ups’ on the beach or in tidal pools minus the mermaid tale any other form of clothing actually - Laura is a fan of naked wild swimming and with this has become a body confidence advocate too. Laura speaks very honestly about her battle with alcoholism and depression and how the water has helped heal her. 

Find Laura on Instagram - @stivesmermaid

Lauras's website - www.stives-mermaid.co.uk

Buy one of Laura’s recycled bags - www.ohgivemeabreak.co.uk

This series is proudly sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, the outdoor experts working to change the fabric of outdoor retailing. Find out more about their sustainability mission and services on their website.

If you have any questions or would like to suggest a guest please get in touch! You can email India via indiapearsonclarke@gmail.com or send a message via Instagram  @india_outdoors / @finandflow / www.indiapearson.co.uk

~Music - Caleb Howard Almond ~

You can find this episode on iTunes, Spotify and many other podcast platform

If you have any questions or would like to suggest a guest please get in touch! You can email India via indiapearsonclarke@gmail.com or send a message via Instagram @india_outdoors / @finandflow / www.indiapearson.co.uk

~Music - Caleb Howard Almond / @oakandalmondcarpentry

Transcript

India Pearson  0:00  
Hello, I'm India and welcome to the second series of the starter report podcast. This series is proudly sponsored by Cotswold outdoor, the outdoor experts working to change the fabric of outdoor retailing. You can find out more about their sustainability mission and services on their website. Now, this podcast is a platform for me to chat with inspiring folks that are making ripples in their lives by moving in nature. And I'm here to find out a little bit more about how this connection with movement and nature is having an impact on their mind, body and the environment to and I hope the conversations that come from this podcast will encourage you to get outside, move, dream big, and see what happens from the ripples you create. Alright, it's time to introduce my guest. Laura Evans is a professional mermaid. Yes, you heard me right. She goes by the name of it said times mermaid and can mainly be found in the waters around sand times and cormo either doing mermaid appearance washed up on the beach, or in tidal pools, minus the mermaid tail. And any other form of clothing actually, as Laura is a fan of naked wild swimming, and with this has become a body confidence advocate to Laura speaks very honestly about her battle with alcoholism and depression and how the water has helped her heal. Alright, say hi, Laura. Welcome to start a ripple podcast. Thank you. It's really great to be here. It's lovely having you on and you are talking to me from my favourite place in the world since high school.

Laura Evans  1:43  
I'm talking to you from my bedroom, which is a bit of a mess. Same time. Yes. Yeah. Sadly, it's we're getting the classic Cornish myzel today. So that's for anyone that doesn't know Mizell is a combination of mist and drizzle.

India Pearson  1:58  
Yeah, yeah. But it wouldn't be formal without a bit of Ms. Already.

Unknown Speaker  2:02  
It was not and we're just giving the g7 people you know, like the taste of how the weather it was beautiful yesterday. Now it's still beautiful, but in a different way. So we're just showing them every side of course.

India Pearson  2:13  
Exactly. Yeah, of course. That's a whole new. That's very exciting this corner, isn't it? I mean, do you feel a bit landlocked now and said I can't get out?

Unknown Speaker  2:22  
I could say yes. But I kind of keep myself landlocked. So anyway, I don't think it's gonna change much. I mean, yes, I do get out and about in the car every now and then. But to have to spend a few days staying local. Yeah.

India Pearson  2:37  
The beauty of sun is it's like a little island. Yeah, isn't it? It's all and it has a microclimate and everything. So you're kind of when you're there. You're there. And actually, you don't need anything else. Yeah, no, it's true. Yeah. So and I like to start, every episode is with my guests, telling them telling us a little bit about yourself, how you came to where you are today. Just looking back at all the ripples in your life, really. So if you could give us a little intro? Oh, how long have you got?

Unknown Speaker  3:09  
So obviously, you've introduced me, my name is Laura. But I'm sometimes better known as the St. Ives mermaid. So, six years ago now, I basically gave St Ives their very own mermaid experience. And that's, that's what I became known for. And at the same time, I started to create my own ripples as an outdoor swimmer ripples within the body positive movement ripples within discussing addiction issues. So yeah, there's a there's a lot of little ripples going on in my life. But I would say, you know, obviously, the, the mermaid stuff is what kind of kicks everything off about. Go. So that's, that's where I started where I am now is just someone still developing and mostly just enjoying the outdoors. You know where that takes me?

India Pearson  4:06  
Yeah, and I mean, all of us are developing the whole time. And now I know that actually similar to me, and similar to many of my guests, I get on this podcast, you did the London thing. We like that, try to that box. And it didn't work for you. And it's sort of from from my understanding is is what brought you back to Cornwall and what sort of brought you back to your love for the ocean and then getting into mermaidy to get you sort of go back into that story. Why are you in London for the first in the first place and how you got to the point where you thought I can't do this anymore?

Unknown Speaker  4:44  
Yeah, I mean, it's good to have more on the ball than me because I kind of forgot that whole. And I moved to London for probably a couple of reasons. A, I fell in love and the woman that I met In London, I think I was actively looking for a reason to leave at a time in my mid 20s, when I didn't really know who I was yet, you know, and I thought I find it in London, you know. So moving there for relationship was a really good idea. And I thought the grass was greener. So I gave it a go. And I, my relationship lasted a month after I arrived in London, and I lasted a grand total of four months, I gave it a really good go, you know, but I deteriorated very quickly, I think it was kind of compounded by a relationship breaking down as well, if that hadn't happened, maybe it would have been easier. But living in a city, which is very alien, I'd always enjoyed visiting London. But the reality of living there I wasn't quite prepared for. And they were very simple things I moved there in the winter. And as it got warmer in the spring, I didn't realise how much my body started calling for water when it got hot. And then you're in London with very limited outdoor space and a really big population and no water. So I was finishing work hot, sweaty, getting on the underground, and there was nowhere for me to go. And I had this crushing claustrophobia and anxiety in in the city. And I just was not prepared for how powerful that experience would be that how sort of built in to my DNA. Being by the sea was,

India Pearson  6:39  
you know, had you always had instant eyes before? Yeah, yeah, life

Unknown Speaker  6:44  
all my life. I mean, I did move to the big city of Cornwall, for about I lived in Truro for four or five years. So but you know, still still within what a five to eight mile drive from the sea, you know, if needs be. And that's not to say I was an active outdoor swimmer, I wasn't. But I think I took for granted being there open spaces and being able to just get to the sea.

India Pearson  7:05  
It's something about seeing that horizon, I think, yeah. It's that ongoingness whereas obviously, in London, you know, there there is the Thames, if you if you wish. And there's plenty of sort of lakes and stuff. But it's it's definitely not the same as seeing that horizon of of nothing, nothingness, but everything at the same time. And I can totally relate to the fact that it just you just don't get that in a busy city where you can't just take a walk, sit on the beach, and just take that breather and breathe, you realise? It is it is and you don't realise what you've got until it's gone?

Unknown Speaker  7:52  
No, no, you don't? Yeah, absolutely. I was just clueless, you know, and it was that classic case of not knowing who you were, or what made you happy. So as challenging as it was, and as much as they, you know, made me quite poorly. I don't regret it for a single second. Because if I hadn't done it, I wouldn't be where I am now. And be I could just be still wondering who I am. And what it is that I'm passionate about. And I'm not in that position anymore. So I'm truly grateful for that experience. You know, I, I left very, very, very suddenly. And as I said, I deteriorated my mental health. And as a result, my physical health deteriorated very quickly in London. Because when I'm anxious, I struggled to eat so I didn't have I was essentially anorexic. Because I just couldn't put food in me. I survived on alcohol and cigarettes, then that was an anxiety but so

India Pearson  8:54  
sugar you had nicotine keeping? Yeah, I'm like going, but you're not actually functioning and healthy in a healthy state. But thank goodness that you you realise that? You know, it took you four months, obviously, but you realise that, and you knew the action that you needed to take? Yeah,

Unknown Speaker  9:14  
I think I don't think I knew, I think I just knew that I only had one place to go. And that was home and home was St. Ives. I remember being on the phone to my mom and it was the day before my 28th birthday. And she just said come home, just come home. And it was it was stay or go back to the same ties and I did not know which one was right. There was the stuff inside of me that just wanted to stick it out in London to see if it got better. But I just knew I was gonna end up with I lived with people where there was a lot of drugs and I could see where it could go potentially. But I just didn't want I felt like a failure if I gave up on London that and that you know, but Thankfully, I decided to drive home the day before my 28. And within a couple of days, I was driving back up with a van and getting all my stuff and basically just saying, Okay, I'm starting all over again. And that was where I was going to do. I, I was put on antidepressants for the first time in my life, I was still very anxious. But the moment I wasn't in the city anymore, I at least felt I could breathe again a little bit, I had the space to think about getting better.

India Pearson  10:31  
And I think the irony behind that is, is that I know that I've sort of felt this when I moved to London, I felt like I needed to go to the big wide world, the big city. But actually, that's where I felt the smallest. And the irony is, is in my small town. And I don't live where I grew up now, but I live in a small town now by the coast. That's where I feel the biggest even though in my mid 20s. I thought it was the opposite, you know, snow town life. Well, that's, you know, that creates barriers and everything like that. But actually, it's the polar opposite. Well, I saw I found as well as well.

Unknown Speaker  11:13  
Yeah. And yeah, no, I'm completely with you on that. I just think I feel the biggest where I am now because my heart is genuinely just so full of people and the outdoors and doing the things I love.

India Pearson  11:28  
I am going back to probably what you were doing as a child. You know, if you were brought up in Cornwall, there would you know days on the beaches, rock climbing, you know, around the coastline, just enjoying the outdoors. And that actually that is what who you are the true. The true, Laura. And yes, it is hard to find find that but it is good to do something. That doesn't work because you realise that that wasn't for you. You never have that wondering thought, well, maybe I should have found a golden. I've done that. And so obviously you move back to como and he hadn't started mermaid ng that had you before this,

Unknown Speaker  12:08  
but it was it was a very quick progression. When I moved back in the April. I had my tail by October. So six months.

India Pearson  12:19  
We've had you seen it seen it done before? Or did you tell this random idea I could be a mermaid?

Unknown Speaker  12:23  
Yeah, it was completely plucked out of the air. And I knew you could buy mermaid tails because I'd looked at randomly years ago. So I knew there was an industry in America, where silicone tails were made custom made to fit your measurements. I knew I knew that existed. But I didn't know there was a whole kind of career built around mermaid eating or people doing it for entertainment or performance. I didn't know that existed. And what happened for me was one particular evening, I was paddleboarding back into St. Ives harbour with my friend. And it was high tide. So we were just coming in pass the piers and the sun was setting over porthmeor and the town was just bathed in that like that beautiful, rich, golden, orange delicious light. And there were people and kids milling about on the pears and I just had this really vivid image popped into my mind of a mermaid swimming into the harbour, like how bonkers that would be. And this light bulb just kind of went, I could do that. If I wanted to, or you know, I could, I could be a mermaid. And that was it. I looked whether the same people were still producing tails. And I think within a month I had ordered my very first tail. And my grand plan at the time was just to swim into the harbour unannounced every now and then. Just chose the fun of it just for the fun and the joy that that was that. That was my plan.

India Pearson  14:00  
Yeah. And, and from doing a little bit of research on you. I understand that your first public swim as a mermaid was in February. Yeah. Can we talk about this? The coldest month of the year, probably for the sea. And and Yeah, you did?

Unknown Speaker  14:18  
Yeah, I know. Well, actually, the first time I swam in the, in the tail in the sea was November. So that's getting a bit chilly. That wasn't too bad. And then I did a very spontaneous swim on New Year's Day in 2016. And then I did my first official planned I'm going to announce this on social media swim in February half term when I knew that there'd be kids around Oh, no, I didn't know that is a complete lie. I didn't announce it because it was still when I was doing it. My plan was to do it as a surprise. So I literally just swam across the harbour. And the water was so churned up the water insane times like it's normally so clear, and I was diving under and Like the visibility disappeared after about a foot, it was so hilarious

India Pearson  15:04  
on rain freeze as well, that comes with that time of year. I'm guessing you did you just have a bikini topple? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So you, but were you sort of filled with adrenaline at the same time?

Unknown Speaker  15:18  
Yeah, I think definitely, definitely adrenalin, a bit of performance anxiety, you know, cuz it was just doing something completely bonkers and random, like, you know, so, um, and then yeah, I didn't get much of a response to that appearance. You know, there. It was a murky day, I didn't really know what to expect. So a few photos circulated online, like, wasn't expecting spot a mermaid insane times today. And that was that it wasn't until my Easter Easter holiday appearance, and it was a beautiful day. And I intended I did announce this one, I thought I will give people some notice. And I hadn't planned it. But halfway through the appearance, I thought, I'm just going to swim up on the beach. So people can have photos, it's a lovely day, it's sunny, great opportunity for people to grab a photo and say hi. And it was off the back of that, that it became when people shared the photos on social media and kind of discussed the, you know, the appearance and what had happened. People were like, how did we miss this? When is this happening again? You know, and then that was what people wanted, they wanted a mermaid to wash up on the beach. And that is how my traditional appearances, my wash ups, as I call them started in 2016. So yeah,

India Pearson  16:44  
amazed and how, obviously, you know, your first public performance followed only a few months after your return to from London, where you, you know, have said that you were suffering with anxiety. How did that make you feel? Did you feel at that point that your anxiety was lifting already on? And did the mermaid in kind of accelerate that? Was there a correlation between doing a mermaid thing and the kind of benefits on your mental health?

Unknown Speaker  17:16  
Yeah, I mean, what I always say is, what is the truth is that being in the water is what benefits my mental health. Dressing as a mermaid having a tail is just a different way of experiencing the water. So being a mermaid necessarily doesn't help my mental health. You know, I, I don't I don't believe I'm a mermaid, you know? But is it a lot of fun to wear a tail that makes you swim really fast? And just gives you this beautiful experience of the water? Yes. So I think I got really, really caught up in doing this exciting thing. But at the same time, I think I neglected some of the issues that I'd come back from London were that one of them being alcohol addiction. I wasn't dealing with that I was ignoring it. And so as much as I was doing something that was great for me, I was also neglecting myself. And those I think those two things at some point, you know, would did come to a head, you know, but further down the line. So I think I was just moving very, very quickly in a direction that was good for me. But perhaps, you know, not the way that I should have been. Yeah, I

India Pearson  18:32  
guess the connection to the water was what you needed. And it just happened to mermaid ng came in mindset and I guess in a way could have covered up alcohol addiction a little bit because you absolutely know you had all this this shiny thing that you could just put everyone else's focus on rather than

Unknown Speaker  18:51  
Oh, look at me shiny, pretty. Let's hide all the darkness underneath the bed as soon as you're this glittering mermaid that everyone adores. Oh my god, you just want to hide that part of yourself. Because I mean, the stigma with alcohol addiction is terrible anyway. And that's why it's really important for me nowadays to talk about it. But it sadly, as much as it was a wonderful thing that I loved doing. It pushed a lot of those issues deeper, which was quite destructive, you know, for me as an individual and made me hide it even more deeply. So there were there were two things happening for years which was the the mermaid stuff taking off. And me getting gradually more poorly with alcohol just like two trajectories going away from each other. It was a very, very exciting and terrifying time like you Yeah.

India Pearson  19:48  
Did you feel like two very different people ending in get in that time you can sort of put on one hat and be happy sparkly Laura in as a mermaid and then In an evening, you could be some someone very different.

Unknown Speaker  20:03  
Yeah, absolutely. And I think it just became harder to distinguish between those people, there became less and less of a gap. And things just became, you know, very murky, you know, just before I got sober, so, yeah, no, you're absolutely right. It was, I was, you know, just trying to be the person that I wanted to be. And trying to, rather than deal with hide another aspects of why of who I am, you know,

India Pearson  20:35  
then that made you realise, okay, I need to, I need to sort this alcohol addiction out.

Unknown Speaker  20:41  
And I was really, really poorly. I mean, I don't I do use the term alcoholic on social media, it took me a long time to be comfortable saying that word out loud, because of the shame that I felt about, you know, the issue that I have, and the way it can be perceived. I was just very, very, very poorly to the point that I was alcohol dependent, you know. And when you're in that state, you either recover, or the likelihood is that you will deteriorate and die. And you don't know how long that will take. It could take years. But I am so grateful that I was only in that place for a very short period of time, before I hit what is famously known as rock bottom. And I heard a beautiful thing the other day about rock bottom is it is the most terrifying place you will ever reach. But it gives you a firm base to push back up from and it was just like it is so true. It's so true. So it'll be that will be three years ago, next month, I got so bad. So yeah, it was a hell of a journey. At about a year before I got sober, there were many attempts. But then in the the June and July before, when I finally did stop drinking, they were the most challenging times. And that's when I was really poorly. And yeah, then came rock bottom. And thankfully, there was just one day where my brain, I could not cope anymore. And it was I either survive, or I'm not going to be here anymore. It was that simple. And when you're faced with that choice, there's either a survivor review other ism. And I'm so grateful that there was a survivor. You know, I'm just, yeah, I will never forget that day for the rest of my life. And I'm so grateful that happened. And yeah, now I'm here I you know, I'm here in November and healthy and well,

India Pearson  22:43  
yeah, it's it's tremendous. It's amazing apps incredible. And it did work during that time. And you're working it all out. And you said, you hit that rock bottom, where are you still doing these performances? Or had you had to leave that behind for a little bit?

Unknown Speaker  22:57  
I was I was too poorly to even leave the house for about a month, a month and a half. So no, I wasn't capable of doing any appearances at that time, which was great, great relief, really, you know, it was it was the spring time, so it wasn't really an expectation. But had I ever needed a drink before an appearance before? Yes. You know, it's, it's like you someone might take a shot of whiskey before going on stage, or a shot of brandy or whatever, whatever your tonic is, you know, so I remember doing my first proper appearance in my sobriety and actually facing the the nerves Stone Cold sober, and it was such a rewarding experience. Like, you know, I, I firmly stepped outside of my comfort zone within my sobriety. And it was, it was great. But until then, I'd always needed something to take the edge off.

India Pearson  23:52  
And was there a different sort of connection with the water, being totally stone cold, sober doing it?

Unknown Speaker  23:58  
And I was more connected? Yeah. Because when you're drinking, you're you're not you. So you're not fully connected. And although I know I loved it, my my ability to make connections not only with myself and with nature and with people that only developed when within my sobriety, you know, so my connection with the water now, and with the outdoors is deeper and much more profound than it was before I knew it was important. But I couldn't have anticipated how very important it was going to become to me.

India Pearson  24:34  
And I imagine moving through the water with your mermaid fin on it must create a very, very organic way of moving through the water. That's quite kind of what words to to use. I don't use the word feral, but it's

Unknown Speaker  24:55  
a creature. Yeah, it's you know, when I say you're experiencing the war in a very unique way, because you're very streamlined, and you've got the propulsion from the monofin. So it really the speed you're going and especially when you've got a really good deep patch of sea is so incredible, it just feels like you're flying through the water, like it is a truly, truly amazing experience to be able to swim that fast. And just to, you know, feel the water flowing over you. It's, it's, it's beautiful. It really really is.

India Pearson  25:32  
I think it's that connection with obviously, it's different in some ways, but similar in others, sports like surfing where you have to be so connected with the water and, and the energy and everything you have to become at one with it. And I can imagine that that feeling you have when you're mermaid ng and I guess it's very different to just swimming. You know, with swimming, there's a there's a lot of I guess, a forced energy within it isn't there?

Unknown Speaker  26:02  
I suppose with swimming, I mean, you're potentially treating it as exercise. Or it depends how you come to something, you know, we all come to things differently. I come to my meeting from a place of joy. So when I do swim in my tail, it is just for the sheer fun and to experience the water and like you say it's it's all about reading the water as well. And I think that I the time that I do feel most connected to the water and it is actually when I swim naked which is you know, that's that is my favourite thing in the world. You know, sorry mermaid tail. You know, I love being nude in water. It's the most tremendous feeling and that is just what I feel utterly connected to the My favourite favourite element.

India Pearson  26:58  
Yeah, and when when did you start doing this? Like when did you start going I just need to take all my clothes off and jump in this tidal pool.

Unknown Speaker  27:09  
I think I when I first started taking my own underwater photographs, I just spontaneously did attempted some naked shots. And I had skinny dipped before. And it just reminded me how beautiful water feels when you're nude. And I then just just felt more really really comfortable. being naked in water and just when when the opportunity arose that would just be my preference, you know, if I was in a quiet place because any sort of material is just a bit of a barrier to you connecting with that element to connecting with with nature you know fully immersing is what you can achieve when when you get a nude especially when you swim underwater as well. Like it's it's just such an incredible sensory experience. So yeah, I you know, very evangelical about it, and would encourage anyone to try it but a lot of that comes in ties in with the the body confidence element is a lot more getting naked.

India Pearson  28:17  
Yeah. Yeah. And actually, what's quite interesting about that is if you're getting you know, naked, by yourself or with with a friend or partner or anything, in a in a private sort of rock called Cove where there's water, there's no mirrors, and so anything. You start feeling of having no judgement, I imagined to be so liberating. Yeah,

Unknown Speaker  28:41  
yeah. And that doesn't care what shape or relax or pubic hair or whether your hair is greasy, or you've got cellulite, that nature water doesn't care. Yeah, and

India Pearson  28:53  
you just feel totally you're yourself in that in that moment, do you because I've, so every summer we always do a big camper van trip. And we we all we may my partner we always like to find waterfalls or little places that we can go for skinny dip, and that sidecar. We would like to make sure we kind of get that in. But there's always this anxiety and me that Oh, goodness, someone's gonna come around the corner. How do you find that switching? switching off to that? Or do you just don't care if someone around comes around the corner?

Unknown Speaker  29:27  
I think I just don't care. I've just reached I've just reached that point. I mean, I choose my places wisely Because ultimately, I don't want to offend anyone or make anyone else uncomfortable. So a lot of the places I swim, it's very unlikely that someone will come around the corner. There's a few spots where I'll be in and maybe up to 100 metres away. People can see me from either the coast path could probably tell that I'm naked. People don't care in general. And ultimately people either like Oh, I bet that's wonderful, or I wish I was doing that. as well, because, you know, especially outdoors, people, they just tend to be pretty liberal and fun and light hearted. And just understand that it's, it's a very useful way of enjoying swimming, you know, and that's it. So I just really, really don't care anymore. And I'm not 100% sure how I got there, because it doesn't necessarily mean that I'm 100% comfortable in my body all the time. But I'm very comfortable getting my kit off for a swim when I'm outdoors. No problem.

India Pearson  30:33  
Has it always been like that? Or have you? Have you gone for a journey to get to that point?

Unknown Speaker  30:40  
I think I was the first few times I did it, I was really nervous. But then the payoff is so worth the nerves. So the more you do it, the less the more irrelevant the nerves become about doing it. And yeah, so I I wish I could say there was some big journey I went on. But I just think again, I am a huge advocate for stepping out of your comfort zone. And, and that's why I did the first few times I did it, and nothing terrible happened. And it was a beautiful experience. So I just carried on doing doing Yeah,

India Pearson  31:23  
yeah. And has that helped with your, you know, sort of just general feeling competent your body in society, because obviously, when you're hidden in nature, that you can have a whole new different kind of confidence. But when you go out on the street, or, you know, everyone's looks themselves in the mirror or photos, it's just the culture that we're living in very judgmental culture, no on ourselves, then what other people are doing. Has that helped in that respect as well? Yeah,

Unknown Speaker  31:53  
definitely. I mean, one of the biggest things for me was going back to the mermaid thing wasn't I, I really, really struggled with my body historically. And I do struggle now. But I have a very different mindset, I would say I have a healthy mindset. But I'm not free of worry, or the you know, body shaming myself, but I just have a better mindset. And what really changed that for me was when I do the mermaid appearance says, obviously, there are so many cameras, which meant I was seeing so many photos of myself that were taken when I'm in the middle of saying something or from a really an angle that I wouldn't have chosen. And to have all that control taken away about how I chose to be photographed, I saw myself in like, every possible bad photo I could ever see myself I have seen and, and every bad way that I could see my body. I've seen it photograph that way. And I just think I'm a bit desensitised. Now, I've seen my body in all those different ways. And what was really interesting is I was expecting people to be saying, Oh my god, she looks like a beached whale, look at all those roles. But that was never what anyone said what people said was, what an amazing experience. Isn't this wonderful? No one was talking about my body, you know. And I was just like, Oh, this, this, this. This isn't what my life has to be about. I think it has to be about what I'm doing, and how I'm enjoying myself. And that's sort of kick started me thinking about why I was being so hard on my body. And so I think yes, now part of swimming naked is an expression of joy, and a celebration for for my body, you know, doing something that feels so fabulous for it. And just just just giving it a gift and setting it.

India Pearson  34:04  
Yeah, I think it's such as you say, you sort of saw your body in every bad bill. Yeah. But actually, why is why you know, what we're preconceived to think that seeing a certain angle is a bad angle, but it's not. It's the body the body. Yeah, and that's just what

Unknown Speaker  34:22  
it is. and bad angle because it's the one that I wouldn't have chosen. You know, when selfies first started, it was the take it from above. So now we're like, we're all conditioned to think that's the ideal angle. So anything below that is like, oh, god forbid you see chin or that you've just got an extra bit of me or, you know, it's just yeah, we're so deeply conditioned to think certain ways and that is something that I'm really working on rejecting and stepping away from nowadays. But it was when I first started doing the mermaid thing. It was a really vulnerable time for me in my body, but I Again, the stepping out of my comfort zone has ultimately been very rewarding for me on that journey.

India Pearson  35:07  
So there's that whole thing that, you know, Bernie Brown, she talks about a lot, but vulnerability. And courage can seem like the polar opposites. But actually, you can't have one without the other. And in order to feel courageous, you have to experienced vulnerability, you can't just be courageous, you have to have broken that down and felt that vulnerability to come around and feel that courage. And that is, I think you're a shining example of that there.

Unknown Speaker  35:39  
I don't think actually kind of everyone in the outdoor community is like a shining example of that. Definitely, there's something about people who get outdoors, they are willing to be vulnerable, because that's the outdoors makes you vulnerable. It strips you mind, whether you whether you want to try and control it or not, it will, it will. And therefore, like, like you say, you can't have one without the other. So outdoors, people are vulnerable and courageous. That is my experience. And that's what it has given me. It's taught me the deepest, vulnerable vulnerability. But the I'm also courageous, you know, so it's, it's Yeah.

India Pearson  36:28  
Speaking of that sort of vulnerability, the nature, you obviously find these quotes, food places to swim and these tidal pools, has, has there ever been that element of feeling vulnerable, because nature has got the best of you in terms of weather has turned or the tides have come in? Or gone out too quickly? Or something where you've gone? Oh, Hang on a moment. I feel a little bit small compared to this big, wide, natural world that's, you know, involved for me right now.

Unknown Speaker  37:00  
Yeah, I, I would say that I'm, I use my instincts, I feel very in tune with the water. And with with nature, and I do genuinely feel like sometimes the sea, or even the water is telling me not to get into it. And whether that's just deep down in my subconscious. That's just my natural warning bell going. This is not right today. So I listened to that, you know, I really, really, really do listen to that. And I've very fortunately only had one bad experience. And that was actually very recently. And before I go to any swim spot that's off the beaten track, I check the weather. And on that particular bit of coast, I check the tides, and I check the wind. So I pretty much know what I'm walking into before I go. The incident that happened a couple of months ago was I went to a tidal pool, there was a bit of a shower, when we were walking down to where, and I just thought I'd been there so many times. And I just absent mindedly when a path that I've done many times forgetting how slippery the rocks get down there. And how I escaped with just bruising, I don't know, because I fell about I don't know, 10 foot and bounced off about three rocks on the way down, and then landed in the sea on a stretch of coast, which is renowned for being really, really rough. But thankfully, it was a calm day and a very low tide. And I was also very grateful to be with other people because sometimes I'm not and that is a risk. So it's definitely up to my caution level. Again, and I would say that I was definitely careful before now I'm hyper vigilant. Yeah, because it was terrifying. It was a really, really, really sobering experience.

India Pearson  39:07  
Yeah, I think that's the thing they often so kind of scares some people about the outdoors is, is the unpredictability of it. But you say, you know, if you're off, there are some things that you can't control. But then there are some things that you really can like checking all of those weather, tides, wind. And also, you know, let's do a little risk assessment in your head, or you going down. Obviously, you don't want to take the fun out of it as well. There's that side of things, as well, but I think it's been good, but then it's proof that you can't just go out and do these things. You know, you you've got to if you feel an urge to do it, even if it doesn't feel like it's in your comfort zone. Just Just go you know you you had this urge to be a mermaid and yeah, that's amazing.

Unknown Speaker  39:56  
And that's what like ultimately I would encourage anyone in their life To do just give things ago, wander off the path, I think we're so conditioned to feel like we need to follow a certain path in life. And breaking away from that train of thought is really hard is really, really hard. But you will learn the most about yourself. If you genuinely just wander off the path a bit, try something new, try something out of your comfort zone, it will be the hardest thing you ever do. But the most rewarding thing you ever do.

India Pearson  40:27  
Yeah, I know, can't be completely can vouch for that. And now something that I'm, I've experienced in my own life, and I'm always fascinated to ask my guests about is, the more that I connected with nature and water and being outdoors, the more appreciation I've had for it and wanting to look after it. And I know that you've had a lockdown project. Or give me a break that you started where you started making bags out of old wind breaks. Yeah, have you found that this this connection then to the environment and wanting to find solutions to you know, come things like plastic pollution and things like that? Yeah,

Unknown Speaker  41:07  
I think it's very difficult to be a person who enjoys the outdoors, or not a be aware of the issues that affect our environment and be it's very difficult not to want to do something about it, or play your part. I think it's inescapable. So I, I don't think I was truly that environmentally aware, until I started swimming all the time. And being by the coast and connecting with that side of the community and charities, I think was just such a real education. So it is very important to me to give back where I can and to use my platform for them to advocate for multiple things. And one of them is, you know, the environment sustainability. And that I never planned on having my own little side hustle, making bags from windbreaks, but I was just wandering through St. Ives last year. And I walked up a little side street and someone had just left these three perfectly good windbreaks by the bins, just lay on the floor looking really sad. I was like, Oh, that's such a still life of the seaside, as you know, just abandoned stuff when it's no longer needed. But then again, one of those little lightbulb moments, I thought it was a hell of a lot of fabric there. You know, it was a temple windbreak, and the other two were slightly smaller. But that is a lot of fabric. What could I do with that? And within an hour, I'd thought I'd got them home, I was taking the poles out. And I'd started just put throwing together a basic tote bag to see a if I could sew with that material and how it looked. And yeah, basically Oh, give me a break was born I started, you know, sourcing, recycled threads where I could just making the process as sustainable and zero waste as possible. So that's why I keep my designs really simple so that when I'm cutting, they're mostly straight lines that I don't have any wastage from the windbreak fabric. And so it's been a really, really great way for me to get involved with being a sustainable maker and connecting with other people who do that as well and see what other people are doing. It's

India Pearson  43:31  
so exciting. And so needed. Oh, yeah. So, so needed and to think what would have happened to these women breaks otherwise they would landfill or sale? Yeah. Besides What? So no, to give them another life. It's brilliant. I think people are looking at that now when they're going to, if you're going to buy a new beach bag, then why not get one made from a beach break? That's, you know, a great story too, is where

Unknown Speaker  43:56  
exactly, it makes people think twice as well. Because I think it's so easy to get overwhelmed about the climate crisis and think I can't do anything because I'd have to change so much. And I'm really passionate about encouraging people to just make the changes that they can, it will make a difference because there is kind of a very hard approach, which is we must all change everything. And you're not going to get everyone on board. You're just not. So if you can just start a conversation and get people to change just if you can get people to just change one thing that they do on a daily basis. It's getting your travel cup. That is something and that's a great place to start. So yeah, it's been amazing. start having those conversations with people.

India Pearson  44:47  
Yeah, that's so cool. All right. So my final question to you. The question that I get is for looking back at the ripples you've made in your life, what are the biggest lessons that you've learned? Keeping your mind and body healthy.

Unknown Speaker  45:03  
And so, sobriety is the very foundation of how I am able to live the way I do, and the way I live is with joy and with freedom, and with honesty, and it is the most valuable thing to me.

Unknown Speaker  45:27  
Praise the question for me again,

India Pearson  45:29  
looking back at the ripples you made in your life, what are the biggest lessons you've learned keeping your mind and body healthy?

Unknown Speaker  45:36  
My keeping my mind and body healthy is also about connecting with people, and encouraging people to be themselves and embrace who they are. And I try and do that every day of my life. And I love to see other people living their own truth. Even if it's different to mine, I love seeing people being passionate about what they do, and being themselves and that is just something I, I love. I love trying to help or even inspire people to do and, and I love getting people in the water and getting people to step outside their comfort zones and try something new, whether that's coming for a skinny dip with me, and having a really swimming and having a deep in depth conversation about body image. Or whether it's simply swimming in the sea for the very first time. You know, we all face challenges very for each one of us, you know, and I just like to support people to step outside their comfort zones.

India Pearson  46:44  
Yeah. And you know, you're you're doing that you're living breathing proof of that. So thank you for everything that you do. It's incredible. And if anyone wants to sort of follow your journey and see your you know, marinading and everything, how has the best way to find you?

Unknown Speaker  47:01  
So I'm I am at same time smile made across all social media, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. I don't have Tick Tock. I'm not cool enough. For that, yeah.

India Pearson  47:18  
Yeah, that's great. And do give Laura for like, the stuff that you put up is the underwater imagery that you didn't even talk about it that way. It's amazing, though. It's amazing. You take the day the view into a different world.

Unknown Speaker  47:33  
Yeah, it's I mean, and it's true. Like I feel my most authentic self when I'm in the water, I feel every element of my personality and who I am, which is the the joyous person, the creative person, the adventurous person, and then I take all that and think, what can I do underwater? And it's just like the best playground and then capturing an image of it. You know, it's just, it's just bonkers, fun.

India Pearson  48:00  
Exactly. That's what life needs to be about bunker spa. Thanks so much, Laura. Thank you so much for listening to this episode of the start every podcast. If you'd like to be heard, then please do subscribe and write a review. It helps other like minded souls find this podcast and means never miss an episode. If you want to get in touch then the best place to find me is via Instagram. I'm at with underscore India, or you can find my wellbeing hub at Finn and flow. Thanks again and speak to you soon.