Paul Mort: The Cold Is My Teacher
Meet Paul Mort—a no-nonsense life transformation coach who’s faced darkness and emerged stronger.
In this episode of The Cold Is My Teacher, Paul opens up about his journey through mental health struggles and how cold water immersion has played a vital role in rebuilding his mindset.
Known for his sharp, unfiltered approach, Paul’s story is a powerful reminder: mental resilience isn’t just about toughing it out, it’s about taking real steps to look after your mind.
And for Paul, the cold is key. Whether you’re looking to overcome challenges, find clarity, or push through the chaos of everyday life, cold water can be the game-changer you need.
Dive into this episode to hear Paul’s raw and transformative story. Because at Brass Monkey, we believe in the power of the cold—not just for the body, but for the mind too.
Ready to join the movement?
How does an ice bath help with stress?
An ice bath provides a controlled acute stressor delivered in a safe environment. It allows the body to respond and experience the same chemical signature of stress as they would in their daily lives.
How to start cold water immersion?
Begin with a cold shower. Start warm and gradually turn the temperature down until you get to the coldest setting available. Try to stay in anywhere between 30 second and 2 minutes and build up the time. Move around, and let the water run all over your body especially the neck where your Vagus nerve sits.
This activates your parasympathetic nervous system and coaches your flight or flight response, slowing your heart rate and helping to control your breathing. If you have access to cold water or an ice bath, start dipping your feet in, then you’re your legs and go from there.
The point is to make it challenging for it to be effective.
If you’d like to explore more on the benefits of cold water immersion, visit our dedicated resource full of science-backed benefits for reasons to take the plunge.
The cold is my teacher series follows 12 amazing individuals and groups of fascinating people up and down the UK whose love of cold water has brought them together and inspired these incredible stories.
Continue exploring these fascinating stories below:
The Ice Viking
Fenwick Ridley is a titan. A Team GB Ice swimmer. An entrepreneur. A master of his mind and a lover of the ice. As he describes it, his body is “built for the cold”.
Queen of the Cold
We all need a Jules King in our lives. A woman whose glass isn’t just full, it overflows with positivity. Determined. Life-affirming. Inspirational. A woman who overcomes so much every day to achieve the most simple things we can sometimes take for granted.
The Dales Dipper
Les Peebles is a wild swimming guide and the proud founder of a 14,000-strong community called The Dales Dippers. But that wasn’t always the case. Les used to be a joiner and a painter. He wasn’t particularly depressed or stressed in life but he felt something was missing.
