Brendan Cullen
Outback sheep station manager and author of The Desert Swimmer, who recovered from severe depression and undertook long-distance open-water swims including the English Channel as part of his recovery and advocacy.
Best podcasts with Brendan Cullen
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Mar 4, 2026 • 27min
Brendan Cullen on conquering the English Channel
Brendan Cullen, a New South Wales farmer and long-distance open-water swimmer whose memoir The Desert Swimmer chronicles recovery from depression. He talks about how swimming began as therapy and led to training for the English Channel. He describes cold adaptation, weight-gain strategy, long outback training drives, the eight-hour qualifier and the tense crossing with shifting tides and a crucial support team.
Mar 2, 2026 • 54min
Drought, depression and asking for help—how an Outback farmer found peace in the ocean
Brendan Cullen, an Outback sheep station manager and author of The Desert Swimmer, recovered from severe depression and childhood trauma through long-distance open-water swims. He talks about life on a remote station, the toll of drought and isolation, learning to swim and training for the English Channel, and how swimming became a tool for wellbeing and community fundraising.
