When fear shows up, what helps you move through it most?
In this episode of The Transformation Code, host Sam Church sits down with Carina Bruwer, record-breaking ocean swimmer, motivational speaker, and musician from Cape Town, South Africa.
Carina has swum through shark-filled waters, freezing temperatures, and some of life’s toughest moments, and she’s learned that courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to keep moving through it.
She opens up about how perfectionism nearly held her back, how motherhood reshaped her definition of strength, and how stillness became her greatest teacher. Her story reminds us that growth often comes in motion, and peace can be found in persistence.
This conversation dives into:
• How to face fear with calm and curiosity
• The mindset that helps you stay grounded under pressure
• The truth about perfection and progress
• Lessons from swimming in extreme conditions
• Finding freedom in simplicity, service, and flow
If you’ve ever felt like you’re swimming against the current, this episode will remind you that the water isn’t your enemy, it’s your teacher.
Listen, reflect, and share your takeaway below.
00:00 Intro
00:32 Facing Fear and Finding Courage
01:13 How Fear Shapes Our Inner World
02:10 How Breaking Huge Challenges Into Small Steps Builds Confidence
03:20 Using Logic To Shrink Fear and Take Back Control
04:58 The Pursuit of Perfection
06:06 Where Perfectionism Begins
08:13 Finding Balance Between Drive and Peace
10:09 The Moment Her Swimming Journey Started
10:40 How She Became a World-Record Ocean Swimmer
11:55 Facing Sharks, Harsh Conditions and the Fear of the Unknown
12:05 Discovering Flow and Facing the Ocean
13:40 The One More Stroke Method. How She Handles Pressure and Overwhelm
14:48 Lessons From Swimming Through Fear
17:03 How to Talk Back to Your Fear
20:28 Turning Big Goals Into Small Wins
22:19 Using the Same Mindset in Business and Life
25:00 The Truth About Fearlessness
28:29 Pushing Your Limits Without Breaking
31:12 One More Stroke, A Life Lesson
33:32 Why Failure Matters More Than Success
36:11 What Real Transformation Looks Like
39:00 How Emotion Drives Action
41:21 Learning to Embrace Stillness
45:27 Meeting Your Inner Voices With Compassion
48:50 The Power of Reframing Your Story
51:49 Standing on a Grave and Choosing Gratitude
53:54 Why It’s Easier to Play the Victim And How to Stop
55:31 What’s Next for Carina Bruwer
57:45 Listening to Your Inner Voice
1:00:10 The Healing Power of Water
1:04:00 Final Reflections Authenticity Over Perfection
With gratitude,
Sam Church
Host, The Transformation Code Podcast
Listen now and share your biggest takeaway in the comments.
Learn more about Carina at carina.co.za
Follow Carina on Instagram @carinabruwer
Follow Sam Church
YouTube: @SamChurchOfficial
Instagram: @transformationcodepodcast
Facebook: facebook.com/samchurchuk