The Swimpreneur Diaries

A child learns to blow his nose in three swim lessons and his mom breaks down in tears. That story sets the tone for a conversation that challenges what many of us think “progress” looks like in the pool, especially in adaptive swim lessons and special needs swim instruction. I’m joined by Daniel Jacobson, founder of Cascade Swim School in Washington and a longtime leader in adaptive aquatics with a master’s background in special education. We get specific about what adaptive swimming actual...

Survival swim can save a child’s life and still be wrapped in drama, gatekeeping, and “my method is the only method” energy. We sit down with Kara, founder of Olaloa Swim Academy in Hawaii, to talk honestly about what happens when water safety turns into territory and why that mindset hurts instructors, parents, and the kids who need access most. Kara shares how she built her coaching style by blending multiple swim lesson certifications including survival swim, adaptive tools, and Australia...

You can’t make up what happens in an emergency room and that reality changes how you see risk forever. We’re joined by Miss Julie, founder of Water Safe Swim and a former ER professional and EMT, for a candid conversation about drowning prevention, what parents don’t know until it’s too late, and why the phrase “it won’t happen to me” doesn’t belong anywhere near water. We talk through Julie’s 26 seasons teaching infants and toddlers, how sensory motor learning and muscle memory shape her me...