What happens when a self-proclaimed couch potato decides to plunge into some of the coldest waters on earth? You get Ryan Stramrood, world record ice swimmer, Antarctic adventurer, and performance coach who’s redefined what it means to push past impossible.In this episode of Decidedly, we dive deep (literally and figuratively) into Ryan’s journey from ordinary beginnings in Cape Town to becoming one of the world’s most acclaimed extreme swimmers. Along the way, Ryan shares how the freezing waters of Antarctica, the English Channel, and countless Robben Island crossings taught him the truth about fear, resilience, and decision making under pressure.If you’ve ever wanted to know where real growth happens – in business, leadership, and life – this conversation will change the way you think about your limits.KEY TOPICSWhy cold water exposes the real limits of the human mind and bodyThe difference between your “mind’s endpoint” and your true endpoint, and where the magic happensHow to train your brain to stay calm under extreme stress and discomfortWhat endurance swimming teaches us about leadership, decision making, and business growthThe importance of finishing the process, and why the hardest part comes after the swimCHAPTERS00:00 Introduction06:30 The Mental and Physical Impact of Cold Water13:00 Pushing Past the Mind’s Endpoint17:30 Lessons from the Robben Island Swim21:00 English Channel vs. Everest25:40 Training the Body & Mind for Extreme Cold30:00 Finding Flow and Spiritual Connection37:00 Lessons in Decision Making from Extreme Swimming40:00 Near-Death Experiences and Respecting Limits45:00 Swimming Antarctica: The Coldest Challenge52:00 The After Drop and Recovery57:00 Business Takeaways: Growth Happens in DiscomfortIf you’ve ever wondered how to face fear, embrace discomfort, and discover what’s possible beyond your limits, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.#Mindset #Leadership #ExtremeSports #DecidedlyPodcast #RyanStramroodCONNECT WITH USwww.decidedlypodcast.com Join us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/decidedlypodcast Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/decidedlypodcast Shawn’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/shawn_d_smith Sanger’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/sangersmith MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?At Decidedly Wealth Management, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy.LEARN MOREwww.decidedlywealth.com SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY DECISION-MAKING TIP EMAILJoin us every Wednesday for more strategies to DEFEAT bad decision-making - one episode at a time!CONNECT WITH RYANInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan_stramrood/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strammie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-stramrood-6375704/?originalSubdomain=za Website: https://ryanstramrood.com/ Ryan Stramrood is a world-renowned extreme swimmer from Cape Town who has completed 144 Robben Island crossings, the English Channel, and the first official “Ice Mile” in Antarctica. Once a self-described couch potato, his journey from everyday beginnings to record-breaking cold-water feats reveals the extraordinary power of grit, mindset, and pushing past perceived limits. Today, Ryan shares his story as an inspiring speaker, showing audiences that growth begins where comfort ends — and that the impossible is often closer than we think.