Thrill, Embrace & Pause of open water swimming - Emily's Journey

In this evocative episode of The Mountain in Us, host Taran Singh welcomes Emily—an open-water swimmer, Orcas Island resident, and mushroom cultivator—to explore what it means to find home in the wild embrace of the sea. Against a backdrop of the Salish Sea's shimmering waves, Emily describes the marine life that animates her world: "Otters trotting along the shore, porpoises gliding past, and orcas rising with their dorsal fins—it's a reminder that we share these waters with entire universes." Their conversation begins with geography but quickly dives deeper into the emotional currents that tie us to place.  

Emily's journey to open-water swimming began with childhood lessons but transformed during night swims in Lake Washington: "Floating on my back under the stars, I realized water wasn't just a place to move through—it was a space to be." She contrasts the buoyant freedom of saltwater with the primal fear of the unknown, recalling a harrowing moment when a riptide nearly swept her out to sea. "The ocean demands humility," she reflects. "My husband rescued me by kayak, but the lesson stuck: respect the water's power, and it will teach you yours."  

The episode's heart lies in Emily's revelation that home isn't a fixed location but a feeling she finds most acutely in the water. "I've lived many places, but only when submerged do I feel truly held," she says. Taran relates this to his connection with mountains, sparking a dialogue about how elemental bonds—to earth, water, sky—can anchor us. Emily laughs, describing her "dirt therapy" (gardening) and "water therapy" (swimming), noting: "We're made of these elements. When we return to them, we remember who we are."  

Closing with practical wisdom, Emily urges listeners to cultivate their relationship with water, however small: "Start by dipping your toes. Let the cold shock wake you up." Her parting words resonate long after the episode ends: "The ocean mirrors life—sometimes calm, sometimes raging, but always asking us to show up as we are." 

Quotes Highlighted:  

1. "We share these waters with entire universes."  

2. "Respect the water's power, and it will teach you yours."  

3. "When submerged, I feel truly held."  

4. "The ocean mirrors life—always asking us to show up as we are."  

www.inkofsingh.com

Transcript

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Taran Singh:  

Welcome to The Mountain in Us, a podcast where the journey finds its voice. I'm your host, Taran Singh. Here, we explore the thrills, jolts, ascents and descents of our uncharted adventures.  

[Musical transition]  

Taran:  

Hello everyone! Today I'm thrilled to have Emily with us - an open water swimmer, Orcas Island resident, mushroom cultivator, and wonderful writer. Emily, welcome!  

Emily:  

Hi Taran! Thanks so much for having me.  

Taran:  

I'm so glad we could connect today to talk about the call and thrill of waves. I see you're sitting by this breathtaking seascape with mountains in the background. For our listeners, can you paint a picture of where you are?  

Emily:  

Absolutely! Behind me is the Salish Sea. We're in an archipelago that stretches from Canada down the Washington coast - I'm about nine miles south of the Canadian border. It's... [laughs] well, it's just lovely, isn't it?  

Taran:  

It certainly looks magical. And these islands are special habitats for marine life, right? Tell us what you typically see out there.  

Emily:  

Just the other day at work, I was looking out a shoreline window and saw otters playing right in front of the house - trotting along, interacting with each other. Before moving to Orcas, I'd never seen otters just casually in someone's front yard! We also regularly see porpoises, countless seabirds, and just two weeks ago we spotted five orca dorsal fins right offshore.  

Taran:  

For our listeners coming from Seattle, how would they get to Orcas?  

Emily:  

From Seattle, you'd drive north on I-5 to Anacortes - that's about an hour south of the Canadian border. Then you'd take a ferry east, about an hour's trip out to the islands.  

Taran:  

You know what I found funny when I first moved here? People say "off island" instead of "off the island." Like, "I'm going off island today." Even if I'm going to another island, I'm still "off island"!  

Taran:  

You relocated from the Bay Area to Orcas. What made you realize this was home?  

Emily:  

That's such an interesting question about what home really means. I'm not entirely sure Orcas is my home - I care deeply about this place, but having moved around a lot, the concept of home stays fluid for me.  

Taran:  

For me, home is in the mountains. When I'm climbing, I feel that deep sense of belonging - which is why this podcast is called The Mountain in Us. There's something about returning to where I was born that feels like complete acceptance.  

Emily:  

For me, I think water might be my true home. I can't necessarily pin it to Indiana or San Francisco or Orcas, but when I'm in the water - that's where I feel completely at home.  

Taran:  

What called you to swimming, and particularly to open water swimming?  

Emily:  

I started with swim lessons as a kid. I remember the first time I swam a full pool length - my dad was there, not exactly cheering but acknowledging "Yeah, you did it." Later, I wanted to try the diving board but was terrified I wouldn't resurface. He had me time how long others stayed underwater - "one, two, three" - and they always popped up by three. That gave me the confidence to try.  

Fast forward past competitive swimming, what really introduced me to open water was night swimming in Lake Washington during my early 20s. Seattle's usually too cold for lake swimming, but for about three weeks each summer, we'd float on our backs under the stars - that freedom beyond pool walls was intoxicating.  

Taran:  

What was that transition like from freshwater lakes to the ocean?  

Emily:  

The buoyancy of saltwater was immediately noticeable - you float so much easier. But the real adjustment was going from seeing maybe a plecostomus in lakes to potentially stepping on stingrays!  

Taran:  

Were there any particularly memorable or frightening moments in your swimming journey?  

Emily:  

One scary experience - not animal-related - was when I jumped off a catamaran near a small island. The water was so deep it looked black, and that sudden realization of endless depth below me was terrifying.  

But on the flip side, one magical night I went swimming and saw bioluminescence for the first time. Doing flip turns, watching these streaks of light swirl around me - absolutely mesmerizing.  

Taran:  

That duality is fascinating - the ocean can be both frightening and awe-inspiring.  

Emily:  

Exactly. And that's why water safety is so crucial. One time after an argument with my husband, I impulsively went swimming near Peapod Rocks. The current was deceptively strong - I'm a strong swimmer, but I was being swept out despite swimming hard. My husband had to kayak out to rescue me. It was a stark reminder to never underestimate the water.  

Taran:  

How has swimming shaped you as a person?  

Emily:  

It's become my therapy. That feeling of weightlessness, looking up at the sky while floating, or putting my face in the water and entering that silent, meditative space - it recalibrates me. Like how you described gardening as your meditation.  

Taran:  

There's something elemental about these connections - whether it's hands in soil or body in water.  

Emily:  

Yes! I call it "dirt therapy." There's profound healing in direct contact with nature's elements.  

Taran:  

Before we close, any advice for listeners interested in open water swimming?  

Emily:  

Start slow, know your limits, and always use proper safety gear like wetsuits - they're like personal flotation devices that extend your swimming season. Most importantly, develop respect for the water's power.  

Taran:  

Wonderful insights, Emily. We'll have to have you back to discuss moon tides and more swimming wisdom!  

Emily:  

I'd love that - next time I'll come prepared with book recommendations too!  

Taran:  

Thank you for sharing your journey with us today.  

[Musical transition]  

Closing:  

Thanks for joining us on The Mountain in Us. If this conversation resonated with you, share it with a friend. And if you'd like to share your own mountain - literal or metaphorical - reach out about being a guest. Until next time, keep exploring.