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 KC Crowell: Standing Tall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:52
We Dolphins love our historic tall ships, even if they're currently on hiatus from our cove. KC Crowell takes that love a step further, sailing them and preserving them for others to enjoy. We talk about being a good shi…
Meet Sandra Halladey: Advocating for Public Education [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:46
Most parents in San Francisco complain about the public schools. Even if they've never stepped foot in them. Sandra Halladey, decided to do something about all the myths and misconceptions. From her leadership role at Pa…
Meet Mark Robinson: Finding Your Second Act [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:31
From journalist and editor of leading magazines to singer and actor, Mark Robinson has become a master of second acts. And he's doing it with gusto. He's performing in plays and singing in clubs with the same passion he…
Meet Felicia Lee: Swimming Like a Pro [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:45
From the ripe old age of 12, Felicia Lee thought swimming could be more than just a passion. She moved away from her family home, trained with the best (yes, we're talking Michael Phelps), swam at Stanford, and became a…
Meet Andrew Nance: Making the Best of Everything [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:28
Some of us are optimists, and then there's Andrew Jordan Nance. He's a man of many talents and careers who has found himself on the stage, behind the stage, on runways, and in classrooms teaching mindfulness to kids. It'…
Meet Gabriella and Aniko: Sisterly Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:34
Gabriella Cross and Aniko Kurczinak are awesome individuals in their own right, but, as sisters, their kindness, humor, wisdom...and bossiness really shine. Their experiences growing up with Hungarian immigrant parents,…
Meet Anne Barbaret: Finding Her Flow [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:58
What do yoga and swimming have in common? Can you get to know someone after 28 years of knowing them? Why is the Dolphin Club a second home for so many? Anne Barbaret, with the wisdom of a teacher and her famously French…
Meet Marty Machado: The Art of Water [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:33
There are many artists at the Dolphin Club, but I think Marty Machado may be the only one who draws inspiration from his time spent working on container ships and fishing for salmon in Alaska. Hear about the joys and cha…
Meet Jeff Hanak: Serving Up Hospitality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:33
Jeff Hanak is the consummate San Francisco restaurateur with a host of successful restaurants on his resumé like Chow, Park Chow, Nopa, Nopalito, Liholiho Yacht Club, and Good Good Culture Club. It's not been an easy roa…
Meet Laura Vartain Horn: Balancing Work, Home, and Swimming [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:00
Laura Vartain Horn served for 12 years in the U.S. Attorney's Office as a federal prosecutor before moving to the private sector -- reluctantly because she absolutely loved her job, but not her public service salary. Her…