Island Influencers

Have you ever wondered if you'd be happier and healthier eating more plants? Josh and Ali owners of Veg and Vitality did too!

After taking the leap and realising you could lose weight, feel more energised and help save the planet all at once, they set out on a journey to share this great feeling.

They've teamed up to bring the Isle of Man community the flavours they want and the convenience they need. Their goal is to prove the best-tasting food is in fact grown in the ground.

Chef Ali handcrafts dishes and Josh sends them straight to our doors.

All of their ingredients are sourced locally. As we all know our planet is precious, so they do their absolute best to keep all packaging as eco-friendly as possible.

Here's this week's conversation with Josh and Ali in episode 51 of Island Influencers.

To celebrate the Island Influencers podcast first birthday and the 50th episode, the spotlight has changed this week.

Adam Owen, Curriculum and Training Director at NextGen Planners in the UK, agreed to interview Sharon Sutton, the host of Island Influencers.

For those who don't know Sharon, here is a chance to get to know her a little bit, and for those that do know Sharon, here is an opportunity to discover a little bit more!

Sharon shares some authentic childhood stories, explains what drives her including her desire to surround herself with people on a similar journey and her long-term love of sports and music.

Sharon also offers some excellent advice for small business owners and shares some of the challenges she faces today and her hopes for the future.

Here's this week's conversation with Sharon Sutton in episode 50 of Island Influencers.

Nick has over 30 years of experience in the Isle of Man Financial Services industry, with more than 16 years at the senior management level. In his last six years, before taking up his appointment with the Isle of Man Government, Nick served as the Chief Executive Officer of a regulated Trust Service Provider.

During his time on the island, his roles have included Banking, International Treasury Management, Box Management and Fiduciary Services. Nick is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.

Within the Locate team​,​ his responsibilities extend to the High Net Worth Strategy, which is looking to attract economic contributors to the island and assist companies in bringing skilled staff to the island. This may involve an immigration process if they are moving from outside the UK and Ireland.

Nick shares some great (to coin his phrase) 'Nick-ism's' and some brilliant stories, including how drinking water out of a river ended his cycling gap year​!​

Here's this week's conversation with Nick Preskey in episode 49 of Island Influencers.

Nicola has lived and practiced on the Isle of Man since 2001 and runs a successful boutique firm of Chartered Accountants in Laxey, serving local businesses and individuals. Along with her small and loyal team, Nicola offers a realistically priced personal service to each client.

Nicola also acts as a director for a few select clients who need a closer relationship and more guidance for the board than a typical accountancy practice can provide.

Nicola clearly loves what she does! Should Nicola have any downtime, she loves being out and about on the island. Either cycling on or off the road or running, from Saturday morning park runs to half marathons, and in 2019 she completed the Manx Mountain Marathon.

Here's this week's conversation with Nicola Bowker in episode 48 of Island Influencers.

This week's guest is Sue Cook, Chief Executive of Junior Achievement.

JA, as it's known, is a Manx registered charity helping the Island's young people gain the essential skills they need when they leave full-time education.

Sue has lived and worked in the Isle of Man since 1997, holding senior posts on the Island and the UK. She has previously worked for more than 20 years in the recruitment industry. Sue joined the Junior Achievement team in October 2009. She is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Anyone who has met Sue will know that she is very passionate about helping young people get their first steps on the career ladder. With her wealth of experience in the local job market, she provides an essential link between education and employment.

Sue has experienced first hand how the work of Junior Achievement can help transform lives and believes that it is who you meet that can make a difference.

Here's this week's conversation with Sue Cook in episode 47 of Island Influencers.

This week's guest on Island influencers is Paul Craine, currently the Data Manager at Ballakermeen High School. He is currently working in his 6th decade of education, but he is on the cusp of retiring for the 2nd time!

Paul was born and raised on the Isle of Man. He left the island to study Geography at Liverpool University, where he met his wife and then returned to raise his own family.

Paul is incredibly passionate about Population, Climate and International Development and is also a Methodist lay preacher, leading over 900 services so far.

Paul loves playing with maps and exploring data and has written and produced The Isle of Man Population Atlas. Through more than 130 imaginative maps and graphs, he has captured and presented the Isle of Man's population, offering an authoritative commentary on a wide range of population issues.

He has attended nine consecutive Island Games and shares some fascinating stories of his time growing up and his predictions for the future in this week's conversation, episode 46 of Island Influencers.

Sharon's guest this week on Island influencers is Manx Credit Union, Chairman/Treasurer David Talbot.

Together with his wife Ravina of 50 years, David has been a leading light in the Manx community, from his business involvement in Manx and Overseas to his third sector leadership in the church. Plus the Patrick Commissioners and, most recently, the successful launch and running of the Manx Credit Union.

The Manx Credit Union is a mutual, community-based operation set up on the Isle of Man. Credit unions are non-profit member-owned financial co-operatives who exist to help their members with financial services.

David loves politics, ManU and chocolate brazils!

Here's this week's conversation with David Talbot in episode 45 of Island Influencers.

Today's Island Influencer is Stefanie Kerwin, a Naturopath, Medical Herbalist and Homoeopath.

Stefanie has over 14 years of experience as a Naturopathic Clinician both in Australia (Brisbane) and Great Britain (Isle of Man); she has attracted many clients worldwide.

Stefanie has lived with significant health issues since birth. She is a living example of her work. With a particular interest in mental health, female health and complex conditions, Stefanie focuses on bringing traditional wisdom and evidenced-based medicine together. She uses proven effective prescribing to help her clients meet and manage their health needs.

Stefanie also has a particular interest in 'getting back to basics', strongly advocating that stress management, food as medicine, safe and effective detoxification and obtaining and maintaining an optimal pH balance is fundamental to health. She loves inspiring her clients to live healthier and more joyful lives.

Stefanie is the creator and operator of two busy Natural Health Businesses. Aurora Wellness which she co-owns with her husband, Paul Kerwin, an Acupuncturist, and 18 Day Cleanse. Her three Naturopathic Cleanse Programmes, including the more recent 18 Day Cleanse, have benefited thousands of people around the world.

These programmes harness all the basic naturopathic principles of cleansing techniques, lifestyle choices, dietary guidance, self-care and include world-class naturopathic medicines to support safe and effective detoxification and rebalance a stressed system.

Stefanie also provides mentorship to Nutritionists and Medical Herbalists throughout the UK.

Here's this week's conversation with Stefanie Kerwin in episode 44 of Island Influencers.

My Island Influencer this week is Will Draper, a professional middle distance Triathlete living and training on the Isle of Man.

Will started out as a cyclist winning the British National Championship when he was 12 and then the British National Madison championship on the velodrome when he was 16. For many years Will loved racing his bike.

However, Will started to feel like he never felt like he got what he was working for. So at the end of the 2017 season, Will took a step back. He looked at where he was; and where he wanted to be over the next 2 – 10 years. That's when he decided to become a triathlete. In 2019 Will won the under 21 - Sportsman of the year in the Isle of Man.

Will is now in his second year racing as a triathlete and not a cyclist. It is also the third year Thornton Chartered Financial Planners have supported him.

Everything still feels very new, in an ever-changing environment! but Will is confidently moving forwards towards his ambitious career aspirations.

Here's this week's conversation with Will Draper in episode 43 of Island Influencers.

My Island Influencer this week is Roy Moore from Manx Radio TT fame, star of the Mountain Memories series and Isle of Man Golf Champion.

Starting out with ambitions to be a gardener, Roy's life along with the race track has taken many twists and turns. Along with his wife of 46 years, he has raised two boys and his love of the Isle of Man is obvious.

Roy shares some fabulous memories from across the decades.

For all you TT fans out there. Listen out for some special TT commentary coming to you from Roy Moore at Ramsey Hairpin on lap 3 of the lockdown.

Roy Moore and the rest of the team are deeply saddened by the loss of Murray Walker.

Here's this week's conversation with Roy Moore in episode 42 of Island Influencers.