How does someone go from working onboard as yacht crew to advising high-net-worth clients on superyacht charter, yacht sales, and yacht ownership strategy?

In this episode of Yachting USA, host Rick Thomas sits down with Hannah Wolstenholme, Sales and Charter Broker at Edmiston, to explore her journey from discovering the yachting industry at 19 years old to building a successful career in superyacht brokerage.

Hannah shares how mentorship, preparation, and persistence helped her move from crew into the highly competitive world of yacht brokerage, where trust, long-term relationships, and deep industry knowledge are essential. The conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at how brokers guide clients through complex yacht purchases, charter programs, and ownership decisions.

Rick and Hannah also discuss the balance between emotion and analytics when buying a yacht, why pre-purchase surveys and technical due diligence are critical, and how yacht management plays a major role in protecting the owner’s investment and ensuring successful yacht programs.

The discussion expands into broader trends shaping the superyacht industry, including how charter often becomes the gateway to yacht ownership, how younger owners are influencing yacht design and onboard lifestyle, and how technology, sustainability, and hybrid propulsion systems are beginning to reshape the future of luxury yachting.

From the realities of brokerage negotiations to the evolving expectations of modern yacht owners, this episode offers a clear and insightful look at how the global superyacht industry actually works.

In this episode

• How Hannah Wolstenholme transitioned from yacht crew to superyacht broker
 • Why mentorship is critical in building a career in yachting
 • How yacht brokers prepare for major yacht sales and charter deals
 • The role of data and analytics in yacht ownership decisions
 • Why pre-purchase surveys are essential when buying a yacht
 • How charter introduces many clients to the superyacht lifestyle
 • Why yacht management is key to a successful ownership experience
 • The growing role of Miami and South Florida as a yachting hub
 • How younger yacht owners are influencing yacht design trends
 • The impact of sustainability and technology in modern superyachts

Prefer to read? Head to Yachting News on the website.
 https://www.yachtinginternationalradio.com/yachting-news

Host: Rick Thomas
Guest: Hannah Wolstenholme — Sales and Charter Broker, Edmiston

South Florida is already known as the yachting and boating capital of the world, but could it also become one of the world’s leading centers for blue economy innovation, marine research, and ocean resilience solutions?

In this episode of The Blue Economy with Katherine O’Fallon, Katherine sits down with Phil Purcell, President & CEO of the Marine Industries Assoc. South Florida, and Bob Swindell, President & CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance.

Together they share the story behind the creation of the Marine Research Hub of South Florida and why collaboration between universities, industry leaders, investors, and policymakers is critical to accelerating marine innovation and real-world solutions.

What began as a conversation around the global influence of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) evolved into a much bigger vision: positioning South Florida as a global center for ocean research, marine technology, and blue economy growth.

This conversation explores:

• How the Marine Research Hub of South Florida was created
 • Why South Florida is uniquely positioned to lead the blue economy
 • The role of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in global marine influence
 • How Ocean Exchange helps accelerate ocean innovation and marine startups
 • Why commercialization is essential to turning marine research into real-world solutions
 • The growing importance of coastal resilience, infrastructure, and water quality
 • Why the business community must play a role in scaling ocean innovation
 • How South Florida can become a global testbed for blue economy technologies

As climate challenges, ocean health, and coastal resilience become increasingly urgent, conversations like this highlight why marine science, economic development, and industry leadership must work together.

🎙️ Guests
Phil Purcell – President & CEO, Marine Industries Assoc. South Florida
Bob Swindell – President & CEO, Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance

🎙️ Host
Katherine O’Fallon

🌊 The Blue Economy Podcast is powered by the Marine Research Hub of South Florida, a collaborative initiative advancing ocean research, innovation, and resilience solutions.

Learn more:
 https://marineresearchhub.org

Prefer to read? Head to Yachting News on the website.
 https://www.yachtinginternationalradio.com/yachting-news

What happens when a career in yachting turns into a path toward financial independence?

In this episode of The Bridge, host Alex Siegers of Yacht Crew Center sits down with Scott Kidd, widely known as “The Yachtie Real Estate Investor.”

With more than 25 years in the yachting industry and over two decades as a yacht captain, Scott shares how he began investing in real estate while still working at sea and eventually expanded into development projects and the launch of a commercial real estate investment fund.

The conversation explores how the leadership, teamwork, and relationship-building skills developed in yachting translate directly into business and investing, and why yacht crew are uniquely positioned to build opportunities beyond the dock.

Scott also discusses the importance of networking, mentorship, and thinking bigger earlier in your career — lessons he learned while transitioning from running charter programs to building investment partnerships.

This episode is a practical and honest discussion for yacht crew thinking about career longevity, financial stability, and creating opportunities beyond yachting.

In this episode

• How Scott Kidd transitioned from yacht captain to real estate investor
 • Why many yacht crew start thinking about financial security beyond the next contract
 • Leadership lessons from running yachts that apply directly to business
 • Why networking and relationships drive real estate opportunities
 • The value of mentorship and learning from experienced investors
 • Why yacht crew have unique access to influential networks
 • How thinking bigger earlier can change long-term career outcomes

Guest

Scott Kidd
Known in the industry as “The Yachtie Real Estate Investor.”

Scott has spent more than two decades as a yacht captain and now focuses on real estate investment, development, and building partnerships within the yachting community.

Instagram
 https://www.instagram.com/yachtierealestateinvestors

Website
 https://investwithscottkidd.com

🎙️ The Bridge
Hosted by Alex Siegers
Yacht Crew Center

Prefer to read? Head to Yachting News on the website.
 https://www.yachtinginternationalradio.com/yachting-news

Anxiety, panic, racing thoughts, exhaustion, and difficulty sleeping are becoming increasingly common during periods of global uncertainty. When the external world feels unstable, the nervous system often reacts before the mind fully processes what is happening.

In this episode of Self Care, Geraldine Hardy explores how collective stress can trigger emotional and physical responses in the body, and why learning to regulate the nervous system has become one of the most important skills for maintaining mental and emotional wellbeing.

Drawing on trauma informed therapy, nervous system regulation practices, and embodied awareness techniques, Geraldine explains why fear and anxiety can surface even when we cannot clearly identify the cause. She also discusses how constant exposure to negative information and global instability can intensify these responses.

This conversation explores practical ways to support the body and mind during stressful periods, including movement, breathwork, meditation, and stepping away from overwhelming media cycles in order to restore balance.

Rather than avoiding difficult emotions, this episode reframes self care as emotional awareness, resilience, and learning how to respond consciously instead of reacting under pressure.

Because when uncertainty rises, the ability to stay grounded becomes essential.

In this episode

• Why global uncertainty can trigger anxiety and nervous system overload
 • Signs your body may be experiencing trauma or stress responses
 • Why panic, racing thoughts, and fatigue occur
 • How movement and breathwork help regulate the nervous system
 • The role of meditation and awareness in emotional stability
 • Protecting your mental health during intense news cycles

Learn more about Geraldine’s work and programs:
 https://geraldinehardy.com

Practical conversations on emotional wellbeing, resilience, nervous system health, and personal transformation.

In the yachting industry, hiring a captain is still too often based on a simple phrase: “I know a guy.”

But when owners are trusting someone with a multi-million-dollar yacht, crew safety, and the success of an entire voyage, relying on word of mouth alone is no longer enough.

In this episode of Captain’s Chat, Captain Liam Devlin speaks with Captain Kevin Pope, founder of Find My Captain, about mentorship, captain vetting, and the growing need for professionalism across the global yacht industry.

Kevin explains why mentorship is one of the fastest ways to develop strong captains, how better vetting protects yacht owners and charter fleets, and why calm leadership and sound decision making are essential when operating at sea. The conversation also explores yacht deliveries, engineering knowledge for captains operating smaller vessels, and how reputation and social media now play a role in professional credibility.

As more boats are built and more owners enter the market, the demand for experienced and reliable captains continues to grow. This discussion looks at how the industry can raise standards, improve transparency, and better prepare the next generation of yacht captains.

Guest
 Captain Kevin Pope
 Founder, Find My Captain

Learn more
 https://findmy-captain.com/

Topics discussed include

• Mentorship for new yacht captains
 • Vetting captains and improving hiring transparency
 • Delivery captains versus charter captains
 • Leadership and decision making at sea
 • Insurance considerations for captains
 • Engineering knowledge captains should understand
 • Professional reputation in the social media era
 • Demand for quality captains across the global yachting industry

Captain’s Chat is a series of conversations with experienced captains, industry leaders, and professionals across the global yachting and maritime industry, exploring leadership, seamanship, yacht operations, and the realities of life at sea.

How can the luxury carpet industry help eliminate child labour while supporting communities connected to global supply chains?

In this episode of Positive Waves, host Jana Thomas speaks with Rogier Janssen, Business Development Director at ICE International, about the industry-led Care & Fair initiative, a program created to combat child labour in carpet-producing regions through education, healthcare, and women’s empowerment.

Founded in 1970, ICE International is a Dutch family business specialising in bespoke handmade rugs and carpets used in superyachts, royal palaces, private aviation, five-star hotels, and luxury residences around the world. Alongside craftsmanship and design excellence, the company is also part of a broader movement within the carpet industry to ensure ethical sourcing and responsible production.

Established in 1994, Care & Fair brings companies within the carpet industry together to fund projects that directly support communities in India and Pakistan, where much of the world’s handmade carpet production takes place. Rather than focusing solely on certification labels, the initiative funds real programs that create long-term change.

Today Care & Fair supports 18 active projects, including schools, healthcare clinics, and women’s empowerment programs designed to help families build sustainable futures.

ICE International itself funds a girls’ high school currently educating more than 150 students, helping provide opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach for many young women.

This conversation explores how industries can work together to address complex supply chain challenges while proving that luxury craftsmanship and social responsibility can exist side by side.

In this episode

• How the Care & Fair initiative was created to address child labour in the carpet industry
• Why education and women’s empowerment are central to long-term solutions
• How ICE International supports a girls’ high school educating more than 150 students
• Why responsible sourcing matters across yachting, hospitality, aviation and luxury interiors
• How industry collaboration can create real change in global supply chains

About the Guest
Rogier Janssen is Business Development Director at ICE International, a Dutch family company specialising in bespoke handmade rugs and carpets for luxury interiors worldwide. Working alongside his brother Mark as the second generation in the business, Rogier helps lead projects across superyachts, hospitality, aviation, and high-end residential developments while supporting ethical initiatives like Care & Fair.

About Positive Waves
Positive Waves highlights the people, projects, and ideas creating positive change across the maritime and luxury industries, from sustainability and responsible sourcing to innovation and community impact.

Crew wellbeing is one of the most important and least understood challenges facing the global yachting industry.

In this episode of Yachting USA, host Rick Thomas speaks with Simon Grainge, CEO of the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN), and Laura Beard, Welfare of Yacht Crew Project Manager, about the realities of life onboard modern superyachts and why independent support services are becoming critical to the long-term sustainability of the industry.

At the center of the conversation is YachtCrewHelp, a confidential 24/7 multilingual helpline created specifically for yacht crew and their families, designed to provide independent support when crew face personal, professional, or safety challenges at sea.

Drawing from real-world experience and data gathered through seafarer support services, the discussion explores how leadership culture, onboard incidents, and the pressures of a live-work environment affect crew wellbeing across the global fleet.

As the number of superyachts continues to grow, the industry faces an important question: how do we attract, develop, and retain the skilled crew required to support the fleet of today and tomorrow?

In this episode

• What ISWAN is and how it supports seafarers worldwide
 • Why yacht crew often do not see themselves as “seafarers”
 • The creation of YachtCrewHelp, a 24/7 confidential support service for yacht crew
• Why confidentiality matters when crew livelihoods are at stake
• The psychological impact of incidents and near-miss events onboard
• Leadership challenges in a live-work maritime environment
• Why proper crew support systems improve retention across the superyacht industry
• The importance of mentorship, training, and professional development for crew
• How generational shifts are changing expectations in the yachting workforce

If you are interested in superyachts, crew welfare, maritime leadership, yacht careers, or the future of the global yachting workforce, this conversation offers valuable insight from leaders working directly on the issue.

Learn more about ISWAN
 https://www.iswan.org.uk

YachtCrewHelp – 24/7 confidential support for yacht crew
 https://www.yachtcrewhelp.org

Prefer to read? Head to Yachting News on the website
 https://www.yachtinginternationalradio.com/yachting-news

Prefer to listen? Search Yachting Channel on your favourite podcast platform.

🎙️ Yachting USA

Host: Rick Thomas

Guests
 Simon Grainge – CEO, ISWAN
 Laura Beard – Welfare of Yacht Crew Project Manager, ISWAN

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 SUPPORTED BY
 Engineered Yacht Solutions
 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

If you need serious metalwork done right — from precision yacht fabrication to dependable real-world solutions — Engineered Yacht Solutions is the team to call.

🌐 https://eyswelding.com

There are still fewer than 2% of women working at sea. What does leadership in maritime look like in 2026?

In this episode of Women In Maritime, Julia Gosling speaks with Monica Kohli OBE — Senior Lawyer at Gard (U.K.), President of WISTA U.K., Trustee of The Seafarers’ Charity and Chair of the Indian Maritime Association (UK).

Monica shares how growing up connected to life at sea shaped her career in maritime law, and reflects on navigating a male-dominated industry where visibility, credibility and leadership carry additional weight.

In this conversation:

This is a serious discussion about representation, performance and the future of global shipping leadership.

Prefer to read?
 https://www.yachtinginternationalradio.com/yachting-news

Emotional triggers, anger, grief, and boundary setting are not abstract spiritual ideas. They are leadership skills.

In this episode of Self Care, Geraldine Hardy explores what happens when heightened emotions rise to the surface and how to navigate them without reacting impulsively. Periods often associated with intensity, such as Mercury retrograde, can surface unresolved patterns, old grief, and unprocessed anger. The question is not why these emotions appear. The question is how we respond.

Drawing from trauma-informed therapy, nervous system regulation, yoga philosophy, and embodied awareness practices, Geraldine explains why anger often masks deeper grief and why reacting under pressure reinforces old cycles.

This episode explores:

• Emotional triggers and trauma responses
 • The difference between reacting and responding
 • Why anger often hides grief
 • Setting boundaries without aggression
 • Protecting your energy without escalating conflict
 • Integrity and alignment behind closed doors
 • Moving from people-pleasing to personal sovereignty
 • Applying wisdom under pressure

Whether in personal relationships, professional environments, or moments of confrontation, emotional regulation is foundational. True strength is not suppression. It is conscious response.

Geraldine also shares that her forthcoming book, Moments That Matter, will be released soon. The book reflects on her personal healing journey, trauma recovery, and the lessons that shape transformation and resilience.

Healing is not about avoiding triggers.
 It is about meeting them with awareness.

Yacht crew earn high income with low living expenses. So why do so many leave the superyacht industry without savings, investments, or an exit strategy?

In this episode of UNCENSORED, host Marién Sarriera sits down with Charl Minnaar, The Yachting Investor and host of Rich AF, for a direct and practical conversation about money mindset, investing for beginners, compound interest, financial literacy in yachting, and escaping the golden handcuffs.

From junior crew just starting out to seasoned captains approaching career transition, this episode breaks down how to build real wealth while working at sea.

Charl explains why financial education is missing in most countries, why yacht crew are uniquely positioned to invest early, and how simple tools like index funds and ETFs can outperform complex strategies over time. The discussion also addresses freelancing income instability, budgeting, emergency funds, tracking net worth, and building a structured exit plan before burnout forces the decision.

If you work in the superyacht industry and want financial freedom beyond your next contract, this episode is essential listening.

Inside This Episode:

• Money psychology and scarcity vs abundance mindset
 • The golden handcuffs in yachting
 • How to calculate and build an emergency fund
 • Compound interest and long term wealth building
 • Index funds, ETFs, and beginner investing strategies
 • Financial planning for freelance yacht crew
 • The three bucket spending framework
 • Why tracking your net worth changes behaviour
 • Building an exit strategy from yachting

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 SUPPORTED BY
 Moore Dixon
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Moore Dixon is an independent marine insurance broker specialising in insurance solutions for the superyacht sector. Their expertise includes crew medical, accident and sickness insurance, supporting captains, managers, owners, and crew with industry specific protection and a practical understanding of life at sea.

Learn more at https://mdbl.im

Prefer to read? Head to Yachting News on the website:
 https://www.yachtinginternationalradio.com/yachting-news