Beyond the Surface
Beyond the Surface
Podcast Description
Beyond the Surface brings you life-saving water safety education and practical mental well-being tools from someone who truly understands both worlds. Hosted by Debbie Anne Turnbull MBE, this podcast combines the heart of a mother who lost her only son to drowning with the expertise of a professionally trained trauma-informed practitioner and water safety specialist.After transforming her profound grief into purpose, Debbie has worked directly with the RNLI, police, fire services and emergency responders to understand what really keeps families safe around water. Her unique approach makes safety education accessible to busy parents whilst addressing the mental health skills that support both individual wellbeing and family resilience.Each episode delivers powerful conversations, practical and memorable safety knowledge you can implement immediately, alongside mental health ideas that help you manage stress, support others and create lasting positive change. Whether you're a parent seeking confident water safety knowledge, a professional in caring roles or someone on a healing journey, you'll find actionable insights delivered with authenticity and compassion.Perfect for: Safety-conscious parents, HR and wellbeing professionals, healthcare and education workers, anyone interested in trauma recovery and nervous system health.New episodes every Thursday.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers crucial themes around water safety, trauma recovery, and mental health management. Episodes delve into topics like the importance of nervous system regulation for healing, the experiences of families affected by drowning, and essential water safety strategies. For instance, Episode 5 shares Debbie's personal development journey, while Episode 4 features a powerful narrative from water safety campaigner Maxine Johnson about loss and advocacy.
Beyond the Surface brings you life-saving water safety education and practical mental well-being tools from someone who truly understands both worlds. Hosted by Debbie Anne Turnbull MBE, this podcast combines the heart of a mother who lost her only son to drowning with the expertise of a professionally trained trauma-informed practitioner and water safety specialist.
After transforming her profound grief into purpose, Debbie has worked directly with the RNLI, police, fire services and emergency responders to understand what really keeps families safe around water. Her unique approach makes safety education accessible to busy parents whilst addressing the mental health skills that support both individual wellbeing and family resilience.
Each episode delivers powerful conversations, practical and memorable safety knowledge you can implement immediately, alongside mental health ideas that help you manage stress, support others and create lasting positive change.
Whether you’re a parent seeking confident water safety knowledge, a professional in caring roles or someone on a healing journey, you’ll find actionable insights delivered with authenticity and compassion.
Perfect for: Safety-conscious parents, HR and wellbeing professionals, healthcare and education workers, anyone interested in trauma recovery and nervous system health.
New episodes every Thursday.
Building Safer Waters: Steve Wills’ Journey from RNLI to International Drowning Prevention Ep. 13.
In this episode of Beyond the Surface, host Debbie Anne Turnbull MBE speaks with water safety expert Steve Wills about the evolution of drowning prevention and the impact of real-life stories. Discover how education, advocacy, and collaboration are shaping the future of water safety.
- The origins and growth of beach safety programs in the UK
- Global efforts in drowning prevention, including work with the UN and WHO
- Challenges in funding, access, and inequality in swimming education
- The power of personal storytelling in raising awareness and driving change
- Upcoming conferences, initiatives, and the ongoing journey to keep communities safe
Chapters
0:00 Drowning Prevention and Beach Safety
05:36 Global Drowning Prevention Efforts
07:22 Freelance Consultant in Global Initiatives
10:34 ”Advocating Swim Safety Education”
14:06 Rescued Stories: Lessons Learned
18:13 ”Education Requires Follow-Up Engagement”
21:18 Reviving Youth Safety Programs
26:26 Mental Health, Safety, and Engagement
28:10 Global Maritime Search & Rescue Review
31:34 Global Conference for Shared Learning
35:14 ”Progress in Drowning Data Sharing”
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Connect with Debbie and find out more about her work here:
W: www.riverandseasense.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riverandseasense
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-anne-turnbull-mbe-33190510/
Disclaimer
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