Meet William Pryor: Mapping the Depths

Meet William Pryor: Mapping the Depths

Author: A Julie Sunshine Production April 30, 2026 Duration: 15:25

Like many young swimmers, William Pryor got scared when he couldn't touch the ocean floor. As an adult he found a way to understand it by combining his passion for drones and technology with art that maps the actual depths of the water. William took me out on the bay in a rowboat to chat about his fears, love of sailing, robots, and how he's found peace on the water and community at the Dolphin Club.

You can see some of his art at www.ultra-marine.net



The cold, swirling waters of the San Francisco Bay are a character in themselves, but the true heart of this place beats within the 2000 Stories from the Dolphin Club. This podcast, an intimate production from A Julie Sunshine Production, isn't about athletic feats, though they happen daily. It's about the people. Each conversation pulls back the curtain on a unique, saltwater-stung community, revealing the personal histories and unexpected motivations that draw individuals to this iconic, challenging stretch of water. You'll hear from lifelong rowers with hands like weathered driftwood and newcomers confronting their fears one stroke at a time. The stories collected here form a mosaic of human experience-tales of loss, resilience, quirky routines, and quiet camaraderie forged in the fog. It’s a deep dive into the journals of daily life, exploring how a shared, almost ritualistic engagement with the natural world shapes culture and identity. Listen to this podcast for unvarnished, often humorous, and profoundly human accounts from inside the clubhouse and out on the open bay, where every member has a tale worth hearing.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

2000 Stories from the Dolphin Club
Podcast Episodes
Meet the Kirks: Siblings Without Rivalry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:07
Some siblings squabble. The Kirk siblings swim! And they've intentionally created a home away from home at the Dolphin Club where they can enjoy their passion for open water swimming and be together as adults in their 20…
Meet Jon Nakamura: The Escape Artist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:47
Some people collect marble polar bear bricks. Others like Jon Nakamura prefer belt buckles -- especially brass ones with the Escape from Alcatraz logo on them. It's an iconic race and he's an iconic, lifetime Dolphin mem…
Meet Lindsay Stripling: The Artist's Way [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:54
Lindsay Stripling is an artist in more ways than one. Yes, she paints and illustrates as a passion and profession. But she also is honing the art of teaching, helping college students and adults to discover their creativ…
Meet Rebecca Groves: Swimming in the City [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:27
We are quite a lucky bunch to have an urban swimming oasis at Aquatic Park. But there is still much of the San Francisco Bay where access is limited and swimming is forbidden. That's what Rebecca Groves is committed to c…
Meet Zack McCune: Seeking and Finding Joy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:02
Ever been on Wikipedia? Got thoughts on the Dolphin Club brand? Are there spirits in the wooden boats? What are young fathers thinking about? 15 or so minutes was nowhere enough time to cover the life and loves of Zack M…
Meet Laura Morton: Picturing Stories [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:08
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. With photojournalist Laura Morton it may be worth a whole lot more. Laura sees the world through her view finder and tells us all captivating stories about what many of us do…
Meet Marie Sayles: Connecting to Nature and People [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:19
At every opportunity, including her current job at the Bay Area Ridge Trail, Marie Sayles encourages deeper and more meaningful connections to nature -- on land or in water. She's always inspiring others to get outdoors…
Meet Peter van der Sterre: The Zen of Sitting and Swimming [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:15
There's no such thing as a typical Dolphin Club member and Peter van der Sterre is a case in point. A recent octogenarian, Peter hung out in San Francisco during the Summer of Love before becoming a Zen Buddhist priest a…
Meet Trina Garry: Firing on all cylinders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:21
Just shy of 30 at this recording, Trina Garry's life can make your head spin. She's spent her career teaching college students and athletes about consent and Title IX rights. Now, she's studying to become a lawyer, runni…
Meet Todd Oppenheimer: Crafting a Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:09
Actor, mime, journalist, author, magazine publisher, policy advocate, aspiring jazz pianist, husband, father, Dolphin. I hope I didn't leave anything out. Todd Oppenheimer is living a full life, exploring the woes of tec…