The science of ice plunges with Chris Ballard | ReThinking

ℹ️ EPISODE INFO

Released

July 30, 2026

Duration

34m

Channel

Re:Thinking with Adam Grant

Watch on YouTube

▶ Open ↗

📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Many people regularly plunge into ice-cold water to soothe soreness or boost energy—but for some, the plunge itself is a sport. As a sports journalist, Chris Ballard was reporting on cold water immersion when he got into ice swimming himself and ended up competing on the US team at world championships. In this episode, Adam dives into Chris’s book The Plunge, and the two discuss the psychology behind risk taking, endurance, and resilience in the face of discomfort. They explore why people seek out extreme challenges that push their minds and bodies to the limit, and separate myth from science about the health benefits of cold water immersion. Follow our podcasts! ReThinking with Adam Grant: https://link.mgln.ai/kdYcyx The TED Podcasts is a collection of podcasts for the curious. The TED Podcasts videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy (https://www.ted.com/about/our-organiz...). For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at https://media-requests.ted.com.

🎤 SPEAKERS

• Chris Ballard

  guest

  Nonfiction writer and journalist who reported a book on cold plunges and ice swimming.

• Adam Grant

  host

  Organizational psychologist and podcast host of Re:Thinking with Adam Grant.

🧾 EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Re:Thinking with Adam Grant, featuring Chris Ballard and Adam Grant, The science of ice plunges with Chris Ballard | ReThinking explores cold plunges explained: science, benefits, limits, and how to start Cold exposure appeals to different people for different reasons—extreme challenge, community bonding, and mental-health-focused stillness—often delivering a strong sense of presence and shared accomplishment.

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