What would drive someone to voluntarily swim through the most dangerous ocean channels on the planet — no wetsuit, no cage, no way out except forward?
In this episode, we sit down with Mark Sowerby, one of the few athletes in the world to complete the Ocean’s Seven — often described as the Everest of open water swimming — a feat achieved by just 36 swimmers.
His new film, Don’t Be Prey, captures a decade-long pursuit across five continents and seven of the most brutal channels on Earth. From the freezing Irish Sea to the shark-patrolled waters of Hawaii, it’s raw, unfiltered man versus nature — no protection, no shortcuts.
But this isn’t just a story about distance or danger.
After a life-changing event leaves him searching for direction, Mark channels his anguish into purpose with the help of coach Tim Denyer. Together, they build a mindset around one simple but powerful mantra: keep the stroke steady, don’t splash, keep the heart rate down — don’t be prey.
We go beyond the film to explore the swims that nearly broke him, the unseen moments of doubt, and what the ocean taught him about fear, patience, resilience, and staying calm when everything around you is chaos.
This is a conversation about endurance — not just in the water, but in life.
Let’s dive in.
3:50 Swimming The Ocean Seven
7:12 “I Needed Something”
8:25 Headspace
10:51 Filming During The Swim
13:12 “It Is Not About Me”
15:41 The Toughest Swim
18:56 Strategies
21:15 Don’t Be Prey Mentality
23:42 You’re A Big Ocean Swimmer
27:51 Controlling Your Own Mind
29:10 Managing Trauma
34:05 “I Am Not A Very Good Swimmer”
35:50 Takeaway from The Film
37:23 Inspire Change
38:30 Showing Dates
Trailer for film:
Transform your freestyle to be effortless and smooth with online video analysis:
https://effortlessswimming.com/courses-membership/
Try the new Nanoclear Anti-fog Goggles: https://bit.ly/nanocleargoggles
