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Balls of Wisdom is a special interview series under Superyacht Laundry, hosted by Cherise Reedman, spotlighting influential men who are actively shaping a safer and more accountable superyacht industry. In this episode, Cherise Reedman speaks with Conrad Empson, known to many from Below Deck Mediterranean and founder of CrewPass, about the real loopholes that still exist in yacht hiring, background checks and crew compliance. This is a direct, experience led conversation about how unsafe or unverified crew can still enter the industry, why CVs and employment history are rarely properly verified, and how repeat offenders can continue moving between yachts without meaningful accountability. This episode covers• Why fake or inflated sea time and CVs remain easy to hide • What background checks in yachting actually reveal and what they miss • How poor verification creates risk for crew, captains and owners • Why digital verification and employment history tracking are becoming essential • How accountability can improve safety and onboard culture Balls of Wisdom focuses on men using their experience, leadership and technical solutions to help close the gaps in recruitment, compliance and crew welfare. Hosted by Cherise Reedman Series: Balls of Wisdom, a special series under Superyacht LaundryPrefer to read? Head to Yachting News on the website.

In this episode of Yachting USA, host Rick Thomas is joined by Cherise Reedman, founder of Yacht Pearls of Wisdom and host of the Superyacht Laundry, for a detailed, experience-led discussion on superyacht crew welfare, onboard power dynamics, harassment and abuse, reference culture, NDAs and the structural barriers that continue to prevent meaningful reporting across the global yachting industry. Cherise shares her personal journey into professional yachting, her transition out of life onboard and the motivation behind creating Yacht Pearls of Wisdom, a community designed to reconnect women after leaving the industry and to provide a safe space for honest conversations about intimidation, sexual harassment, career retaliation and the imbalance of power that continues to shape daily working life at sea. As stories began to surface through that community and later through Superyacht Laundry, clear patterns emerged around fear of references, contractual pressure, informal blacklisting and the lack of career-protected exit pathways for crew who experience serious incidents. Recorded during the Superyacht Forum in Amsterdam, the conversation connects lived crew experience directly to operational, reputational and commercial risk for yacht owners, managers and the wider industry. When crew wellbeing is compromised, service standards decline, team stability weakens, safety margins narrow and retention becomes increasingly fragile, ultimately impacting owner experience and the credibility of superyachting as a professional, responsible global sector. The discussion also examines why interior crew remain structurally undervalued within regulation and minimum manning frameworks, how training and professional development are still treated as optional in a sector built on luxury and excellence, and why long-form, uncensored industry media is becoming one of the most effective tools for exposing issues that previously remained hidden. This episode is essential listening for yacht owners, managers, captains, senior officers, crew agencies and maritime stakeholders seeking a realistic understanding of the cultural and structural challenges facing modern superyachting, and for anyone involved in shaping safer, more sustainable and more accountable working environments at sea. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ SUPPORTED BY ATPI Travel ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ATPI Travel supports maritime and yachting professionals worldwide with specialist travel solutions built around duty of care, crew welfare and operational efficiency across complex global operations. Prefer to read? Head to Yachting News on the website.

In the first episode of Women in Maritime, host Julia Gosling speaks with Nitzeira Watson Stewart, Legal Representative of The Nautical Institute – Panama and a recognised Top 100 Woman in Shipping. This candid conversation explores what it really takes to build credibility, authority and leadership in a male-dominated maritime industry. Nitzeira shares her journey through maritime law, professional rejection, international study, and the personal sacrifices behind career progression, including motherhood and long periods away from home. The discussion focuses on real career pathways in shipping and shore-based maritime roles, the impact of age and gender bias, how to build a global career without industry connections, and why confidence, resilience and long-term learning remain critical for women working across ports, policy, governance and maritime leadership. You will hear about: entering the maritime industry and refusing to quit maritime law and leadership careers in shipping and ports overcoming age bias and gender bias at work building international credibility without the “right contacts” the personal cost of ambition and the role of support systems creating community and mentorship for women across and beyond shipping The episode also touches on entrepreneurship and professional mindset, including reflections inspired by Rich Dad Poor Dad and the importance of financial and career literacy for the next generation of maritime leaders. 🎙️ Host Julia Gosling – maritime communications specialist and former UK Coastguard communications officer, with nearly two decades of experience supporting operational maritime safety and leadership communications. 🎤 Guest Nitzeira Watson Stewart – maritime lawyer and executive, Legal Representative of The Nautical Institute – Panama, and founder of the women’s empowerment community Lady Boss Panama. Prefer to read? Head to Yachting News on the website.

Self-care is not about escaping life.It is about nervous system regulation, trauma healing and sustainable performance under pressure while navigating real loss, responsibility and change. In this deeply honest episode of Self Care, Geraldine Hardy explores the reality of the wounded healer and what real healing actually requires when life, leadership and personal responsibility collide. This is not a motivational conversation. It is a practical, experience-led discussion about trauma, burnout, addiction patterns, emotional suppression and nervous system regulation. This episode is released at a meaningful moment for Geraldine, marking 28 years since the loss of her father. It is shared not for sympathy, but to acknowledge a reality rarely spoken about in professional and wellbeing spaces: those who guide, support and lead others are not exempt from grief, trauma or long-term nervous system conditioning. The conversation explores how unprocessed trauma silently shapes behaviour, relationships and leadership, and why sustainable wellbeing must be built on regulation and emotional integration, not endurance. In this episode you will hear: Why burnout is often a nervous system regulation issue, not a motivation or mindset problem What the wounded healer really means in modern leadership and wellbeing work How emotional suppression drives overworking, hyper-functioning and repeated burnout cycles The difference between genuine healing and spiritual bypassing How addiction and coping behaviours are often trauma responses, not character flaws Why self-worth directly affects boundaries, leadership behaviour and decision-making What nervous system safety actually looks like in real life, not theory This episode is for founders, leaders, professionals and creatives navigating transition, pressure and responsibility, especially those who appear capable and high-functioning while quietly carrying exhaustion, grief or emotional shutdown underneath. 🌿 Explore Geraldine’s Self-Care Programs Practical self-care grounded in nervous system regulation, emotional integration, energetic awareness and daily tools for sustainable wellbeing. Programs include: • Self-Care Foundations • Burnout Prevention and Recovery • Founder Performance and Resilience • 1:1 Online Coaching 🔗 Website: https://geraldinehardy.com 📲 Instagram: @_geraldinehardy | @_alignwithin

In this episode of Captain’s Chat, Captain Liam Devlin speaks with Julia Gosling, Director of Ahoy Communications, host of Sea Views and creator of the upcoming Women in Maritime podcast, launching soon. Drawing on 18 years in UK Coast Guard and Maritime & Coastguard Agency communications, Julia discusses safety culture, leadership under pressure, and the human factors that shape life and work at sea. The conversation spans commercial maritime realities, behavior change in high-risk environments, crew welfare, and the challenges of maintaining safety standards where operational pressure and margins collide. The discussion also addresses mental health at sea, leadership accountability, and why women continue to represent a small percentage of the global seafaring workforce. The episode introduces the intent behind Women in Maritime, a new podcast focused on sharing real-world experiences, career pathways, and the often-untold stories of women working across maritime sectors. 🎙️ Captain’s Chat Hosted by Captain Liam Devlin Prefer to read? Head to Yachting News on the website: https://www.yachtinginternationalradio.com/yachting-news

Some of the most important conversations in yachting happen far from the spotlight. In this episode of Superyacht Laundry, host Cherise Reedman speaks with Lydia Moss, Junior Yacht Manager and Business Development at Divergent Yachting, about a decade-long career spanning procurement, newbuild support, yacht management, and emerging marine technology. Lydia offers a rare, full-spectrum perspective on how the yachting industry actually operates behind the scenes. From supporting complex newbuild projects to managing yachts that challenge conventional frameworks, she explains how roles often treated as separate are, in practice, deeply interconnected. The conversation takes a grounded look at Black Pearl, focusing not on reputation or spectacle, but on the operational realities of managing a vessel that sits outside standard models. Lydia discusses how crew culture, sustainability ambition, advanced technology, and regulatory complexity intersect daily, and why managing unconventional yachts requires judgement, adaptability, and experience rather than rigid processes. Looking ahead, the episode also explores developments through Knox Free, examining nuclear marine technology from a practical standpoint. Regulation, infrastructure, public perception, and timing are discussed as real constraints that shape adoption, offering insight into how innovation moves from concept into working practice within the industry. 📖 Prefer to read? Head to Yachting News on the website.

Boat shows are no longer just places to display products. They are where artificial intelligence, autonomy, connectivity, electrification, and ownership models intersect with real commercial decision-making. In this episode of Yachting Unplugged, Kim Sweers “The Boat Boss” is joined by David Foulkes, Chairman and CEO of Brunswick Corporation, for a grounded, executive-level discussion on how the global marine industry is being reshaped. Drawing on insights from CES (Consumer Electronics Show), Boot Düsseldorf, and the Miami International Boat Show, this conversation clearly distinguishes between where innovation originates, where it is refined, and where it ultimately converts into market impact. This is not a promotional conversation. It is a strategic one. Key Themes Explored• Why Brunswick is the only recreational marine company consistently exhibiting at CES • How AI is moving from concept into embedded, operational marine systems • What autonomy actually means in boating beyond headlines • Why not all boat shows serve the same role in industry progress • What European markets get right about engagement, scale, and participation • Why Miami remains the industry’s most important commercial validation platform • How technology, regulation, and access will shape the next phase of growth Why This Episode MattersThe marine industry is no longer operating in isolation. AI is no longer theoretical.Autonomy is no longer experimental.And global technology ecosystems are now directly influencing how boats are designed, built, sold, and operated. This episode provides rare CEO-level insight into how innovation, scale, and execution intersect and what that means for manufacturers, dealers, brokers, and investors navigating the next cycle of industry change. About the GuestDavid Foulkes is Chairman and CEO of Brunswick Corporation, a global leader in recreational marine products, propulsion systems, marine electronics, and shared-access services. Brunswick’s portfolio spans propulsion, boats, advanced marine technology, and digital platforms, positioning the company at the center of industry transformation.🔗 Brunswick Corporation: https://www.brunswick.com🎙️ Host: Kim Sweers “The Boat Boss” | Managing Partner and Licensed Luxury Yacht Broker, FB Marine Group 🎧 Series: Yachting Unplugged 📡 Network: Yachting Channel

Sustainability in yacht interiors is not driven by trends or labels. It is driven by how projects are designed, engineered, and executed from the very beginning.In this episode of Positive Waves, we examine how precision engineering, lightweight construction, and prefabrication are reshaping sustainable practices within the superyacht interior sector. Rather than focusing solely on new materials, the conversation highlights how reducing waste before production begins delivers far greater environmental and operational impact. A key focus is on designing out waste, optimising material use through detailed planning, and ensuring that interior structures are engineered for longevity and adaptability. When sustainability is embedded at the engineering stage, it becomes a measurable outcome of good design rather than an afterthought. The episode also explores why aluminium remains one of the most sustainable structural materials in yacht interiors, how full 3D modelling supports future refits and modifications, and why lifecycle thinking is essential to reducing unnecessary strip-outs, rework, and material loss over time. This is a practical, industry-grounded discussion that moves sustainability away from theory and into real-world application. 🎙️ Series: Positive Waves 🎧 Host: Jana Thomas 👤 Guest: Janne Salminen, Commercial Director, Europlan Yacht Interiors 🌐 Explore Europlan Yacht Interiors: https://europlan.fi/yachts/

The superyacht industry has entered a new era of visibility, scrutiny, and political relevance — and there is no returning to the past. In this episode of Yachting USA, host Rick Thomas speaks with Christophe Bourillon, Chief Executive Officer of the Professional Yachting Association (PYA), for a direct, experience-driven discussion on where yachting now stands — and what must change to protect its future. Recorded during METSTRADE and the Superyacht Forum in Amsterdam, this conversation examines how superyachts moved from a discreet luxury sector into mainstream political, environmental, and economic debate, and why perception now directly influences regulation, policy, and public tolerance. Topics discussed include crew welfare and mental health, leadership pressure at captain level, training gaps, minimum standards versus operational reality, and why the industry’s lack of consolidated data leaves it exposed when dealing with regulators and policymakers. Bourillon draws on his background in international lobbying and high-scrutiny industries to explain why yachting must evolve culturally as well as operationally — and what lessons it can realistically take from aviation, crisis management, and mature safety-critical sectors. This is not a promotional conversation. It is a factual assessment of where the superyacht industry sits today. ✈️ Episode Sponsor: ATPI Travel ATPI Travel supports professionals working in complex, high-risk environments worldwide, including maritime and yachting. Their specialist travel solutions prioritise duty of care, crew welfare, and operational continuity across global operations. 🎧 Prefer audio? You’re already in the right place. 📺 Prefer video? Watch the full interview on Yachting International Radio’s YouTube channel. This episode is essential listening for crew, captains, yacht managers, owners, shipyards, suppliers, and anyone whose business depends on the long-term sustainability of the superyacht sector.

Self-care is not about escaping life. It is about learning how to stay regulated, resilient, and grounded while navigating real pressure, loss, change, and responsibility. In this episode of Self Care, Geraldine Hardy speaks openly about burnout, emotional isolation, identity shifts, nervous system regulation, and what it actually takes to heal when life demands transformation. This is not love and light. This is real work. Geraldine shares her lived experience of running a startup, navigating profound personal change, and rebuilding self-worth, alongside a grounded discussion on emotional integration, trauma patterns, founder resilience, and sustainable wellbeing. The conversation explores why burnout is often a nervous system issue rather than a motivation problem, the difference between healing and spiritual bypassing, how emotional suppression keeps people stuck in repeated suffering cycles, and why founders, leaders, and high performers must learn regulation instead of endurance. It also looks at the role of rest, movement, sleep, and awareness in long-term resilience, and how self-worth directly impacts boundaries, pricing, leadership decisions, and sustainability. This episode is for founders, professionals, creatives, and anyone navigating a period of deep transition, especially those who appear strong on the outside but feel exhausted underneath. 🌿 Explore Geraldine’s Self-Care Programs Practical self-care grounded in nervous system regulation, emotional integration, energetic awareness, and daily tools for sustainable wellbeing. Programs include Self-Care Foundations, Burnout Prevention and Recovery, Founder Performance and Resilience, and 1:1 Online Coaching. Website: https://geraldinehardy.com Instagram: @_geraldinehardy | @_alignwithin If you prefer to watch, the full episode is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/IBCYyhC0dgI

What is life on a superyacht really like once the cameras stop rolling, and why has Below Deck captured the attention of millions worldwide?In this episode of Captain’s Chat, Captain Liam Devlin is joined by Sarah Goldman and Kelli Busby, the hosts of the Above Deck Podcast, for an open and informed conversation that bridges reality television with real-world yachting. Sarah brings years of experience in marine biology and research vessels, from NOAA fieldwork in Hawaii tracking manta rays to fisheries science along the US East Coast. Kelli brings a background in broadcast radio and media, and together they have built one of the most consistent and respected Below Deck discussion platforms online. This is not a recap episode. It is a grounded conversation about leadership, pressure, crew culture, and why yachting is far more complex than television can ever fully show. In this episode, we explore: Below Deck vs real yachting and what the show gets right Crew dynamics and guest expectations under constant pressure Leadership at sea, being firm but fair, and earning trust onboard Mental health and wellbeing when there is no off switch Extreme charter requests and how captains actually solve them Why destinations like Alaska could redefine future yachting content 🎙️ Captain’s Chat Hosted by Captain Liam DevlinFollow the Above Deck Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abovedeckpod/ Listen to the Above Deck Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms. If you love Below Deck but want the real context behind the yachts, the crew, and the leadership decisions that never make it to screen, this episode is essential listening.

Crew safety, crew wellbeing, and onboard culture are shaped long before a yacht ever leaves the dock. They begin with hiring decisions. In this episode of UNCENSORED, host Marién Sarriera speaks with Captain Mark McDowell about truth, accountability, and why recruitment practices in yachting have a direct impact on safety at sea. With more than two decades of experience as a superyacht captain, Captain McDowell breaks down how rushed reference checks, unchecked assumptions, and avoidance of difficult feedback quietly undermine professionalism, crew wellbeing, and long-term vessel stability. He explains why trust alone is not enough, how verification supports better leadership decisions, and why safety must be considered before a crew member ever steps onboard. This conversation challenges long-standing hiring norms and explores what smarter, more structured recruitment looks like in a modern yachting industry that claims to value safety, accountability, and people. Topics Covered Crew safety and the hidden risks of poor hiring Why reference checks often fail to tell the full story Accountability in yacht recruitment and leadership How verification strengthens trust rather than replacing it The link between hiring decisions and crew wellbeing Why professionalism must start before contracts are signed About the GuestCaptain Mark McDowell is a seasoned superyacht captain and founder of Superyacht References. His work focuses on improving recruitment standards, transparency, and accountability in yachting, with the aim of supporting safer vessels and more sustainable crew careers.🌐 https://superyachtreferences.com🎥 Video version available via Yachting International Radio Visit https://www.yachtinginternationalradio.com to watch the full interview. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ SUPPORTED BY Moore Dixon ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Moore Dixon is an independent marine insurance broker specialising in insurance solutions for the superyacht sector, including crew medical, accident and sickness cover. Moore Dixon supports captains, managers, owners, and crew with practical, industry-specific protection focused on people, operations, and wellbeing at sea. 🌐 https://mdbl.im

Why does yachting keep talking about crew wellbeing while losing experienced people year after year? In this episode of Superyacht Laundry, host Cherise Reedman sits down with Xanthe Bowater, Founder of WaveWellness Solutions, for a raw, unfiltered conversation about crew burnout, leadership failure, and why the industry still struggles to modernise its approach to human welfare onboard. Drawing on more than a decade working at sea, Xanthe shares the highs that make yachting unforgettable and the lows that quietly end careers. From unresolved trauma and isolation offshore to leadership roles filled without people management training, this episode examines how silence, stigma, and outdated systems continue to harm crew wellbeing, retention, and safety. The discussion goes beyond mental health awareness and into operational reality. Interior teams carry guest experience, emotional labour, and emergency responsibility while remaining undervalued. Crew are afraid to ask for help because confidentiality is misunderstood. Younger generations are labelled as soft when they are simply unwilling to accept burnout as normal. Xanthe also explains why WaveWellness Solutions was built using proven shore side Employee Assistance Program models, and why confidential, preventative wellbeing support is not a luxury but basic risk management for modern yachting operations. This episode is essential listening for captains, yacht managers, owners, and crew who want to understand why the industry keeps repeating the same mistakes and what practical change actually looks like onboard. Topics covered include: Crew burnout and retention in yachting Leadership gaps and people management failures Mental health at sea and confidentiality concerns Why interior crew remain undervalued despite high responsibility Trauma, isolation, and silence offshore The future of crew wellbeing in the superyacht industry About Yachting International Radio: https://www.yachtinginternationalradio.comLearn more about WaveWellness Solutions:https://www.wavewellnesss.com

💸 Two brothers. One very honest conversation about money.In this episode of Rich AF, host Charl Minnaar (The Yachting Investor) sits down with his brother Stefan for a raw, unscripted conversation about money, life, work, and the messy reality of growing up and figuring things out as adults. What starts as sibling banter quickly turns into a candid discussion about upbringing, financial habits, career paths, and how money quietly shapes decisions around lifestyle, relationships, and long-term freedom. There is humour, self-awareness, a fair amount of swearing, and no pretending that anyone has this fully figured out. They talk about yacht income versus land-based expenses, saving aggressively without becoming miserable, lifestyle creep, investing mindsets, property myths, and why chasing numbers alone rarely delivers the sense of security people expect. Marriage, prenups, and the uncomfortable truth about how late most couples talk about money also come up, openly and without sugarcoating. This is not a how-to episode and it is not financial advice. It is a real conversation between two people who grew up together, took very different paths, and are still learning what money is actually for. Expect laughs, direct language, perspective, and the kind of honesty that makes you reflect on your own relationship with money. 🎧 Topics covered in this episode: • Growing up and early money beliefs • Yacht paychecks versus real-world costs • Saving, investing, and lifestyle creep • Financial independence versus chasing numbers • Property, renting, and common money myths • Money inside relationships and marriage • Why money conversations matter earlier than most think 📌 This episode is for entertainment and personal experience only and does not constitute financial advice. 💬 Listener question: When did you first realise that earning more money did not automatically make life simpler?

Crew safety and welfare are no longer side conversations in yachting — they are operational priorities. In this episode of Yachting USA, host Rick Thomas is joined by Paul Shepherd, Chair of the CHIRP Superyacht Board, alongside superyacht Chief Officer Jonas Wiesand. Recorded at METSTRADE Amsterdam, this candid conversation examines the real risks crews face onboard yachts — from work-aloft incidents and unsafe diving operations to cultural barriers that prevent crew from speaking up before accidents happen. At the center of the discussion is CHIRP (Confidential Hazardous Incident Reporting Programme), an independent, non-punitive reporting system that allows crew to confidentially share near-misses, hazardous practices, and safety concerns so the wider maritime and yachting industry can learn and improve. In this episode, we discuss:• Why near-misses matter as much as accidents • How unsafe “normal practice” becomes normalized onboard • Work-aloft risks and recurring causes of serious incidents • Diving operations, training gaps, and systemic failures • The role of leadership and culture in crew safety • What real safety culture looks like in professional yachting • How confidential reporting protects crew, captains, and vessels • Why yachting must learn from aviation’s safety systems This is a practical, experience-driven discussion focused on prevention, accountability, and learning — not blame. 🛟 About CHIRPCHIRP (Confidential Hazardous Incident Reporting Programme) enables maritime professionals to report safety concerns, hazardous incidents, and near-misses anonymously. Reports are fully de-identified, reviewed by experienced professionals, and shared with the industry to prevent future accidents and improve crew welfare. 🌐 Learn more or submit a confidential report: https://www.chirp.co.uk 📱 CHIRP Maritime app available on iOS & Android ✈️ Episode Sponsor: ATPI TravelATPI Travel supports maritime and yachting professionals operating in complex, high-risk environments, delivering specialist travel solutions with a strong focus on crew welfare, duty of care, and operational efficiency. 🌐 https://www.atpi.com🎙️ Yachting USA hosted by Rick Thomas Part of the Yachting International Radio network