Conversations With Captain Sandy

Captain Sandy chats with Scott Dancy, founder of Azuna Fresh and serial entrepreneur. They discuss Scott's varied career, including his unexpected stint as a cybersecurity expert. Scott shares advice for young entrepreneurs and emphasizes the importance of company culture. He also talks about the creation of Azuna Fresh and their new partnership with the Buffalo Bills. Scott and Captain Sandy also...

In this episode Sandy chats with friend and former Google recruiter, Carrie Farrell. She shares her compelling journey and the professional lessons she's gained so far in her career. She discusses her time working for Google, explaining her role in hiring and building a team during the company's early stages. Carrie emphasizes the importance of hiring with intention, the necessity of sincere commu...

Here's part 2 of Sandy's inspirational conversation with Randi Gold about her journey from battling substance abuse to embracing sobriety. Initially, Randi utilized alcohol and drugs as coping mechanisms to numb the pain, which only paved the way to more addictive substances. Once the numbing effects wore off, reality became more painful than before, ultimately leading to a life of self-abuse and...

In this emotionally charged episode of Captain Sandy's podcast, she and her guest, Randi Gold, bravely navigate the turbulent waters of addiction, and emerge with a tale of redemption as powerful as it is poignant. Randi's journey from the abyss, where she lost everything and faced the darkest of thoughts, is a raw testament to the indiscriminate grip of addiction. The struggle to rebuild from the...

Sandy welcomes Dr. Tiffany Di Pietro, a cardiologist, to discuss heart health, the signs of a heart attack, and the importance of prevention. Sandy shares her recent personal experience with a heart attack, specifically a spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). An event that Sandy is convinced she would have survived without Dr Di Pietro. Dr. Di Pietro emphasizes the importance of knowing a...

Captain Sandy catches up with Daryn Carp, friend, Bravo personality, and Andy Cohen's assistant! They chat about her career, work ethic, and how what Andy has taught her about making it in the entertainment industry. Daryn shares her journey from being an intern at CNBC to becoming an NBC page, and her true crime podcast, "Shaken and Disturbed." You'll love this episode!  This is another Hurrdat M...

Captain Sandy talks to her showrunner and executive producer of "Below Deck Mediterranean," Nadine Rajabi. They discuss Nadine's diverse background, including her accomplishments as a comedian, soccer player, and her academic achievements. Nadine shares her journey from stand-up comedy to the entertainment industry, her partnership with Captain Sandy, and the challenges they faced in shooting. The...

Captain Sandy Yawn catches up with Kate Chastain, a former Chief Stewardess from the "Below Deck” franchise and star of Traitors on Peacock. Kate shares updates on her life post Below Deck including becoming a mom. She discusses the challenges and joys of motherhood, contrasting her current responsibilities with her previous experiences in the yachting industry. Kate recalls how she used to be in...

Join Captain Sandy and Leah Rae as they welcome special guests Kelly Dodd Leventhal and Rick Leventhal. They share their behind-the-scenes experiences in the world of reality TV, exposing the truth about drama and fake friendships. They discuss the power of the media and its influence on public opinion. Kelly talks about why she’s very happy they’re not on Bravo’s Real Housewives Of Orange County....

Join Captain Sandy and Leah Rae as they welcome Michelle Dunham, Sandy's sister and the founder of Jacksonville School for Autism. Michelle shares her incredible journey of founding the school after her son Nicholas was diagnosed with autism in 2000. Back then, autism statistics were vastly different, but Michelle's determination led her to leave her corporate job and focus on her son's needs. Ove...

Join Captain Sandy, Leah Rae, and guest Megan Olivi as they discuss the power of kindness, learning, and maintaining a healthy mental state. Megan, a sports broadcaster and journalist known for her work with the UFC, Fox Sports, and ESPN, shares her journey in broadcasting, emphasizing the value of treating every step as a learning opportunity and building relationships. She also highlights her ad...

You don't want to miss this episode with special guest Carolyn Aronson, the founder and CEO of It's A 10 Hair Care. Carolyn shares her journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur, including the challenges she faced and how she overcame them. Carolyn's story is inspiring and full of valuable insights. She shares her experience of losing everything with her first company, but she didn't give up an...

In this episode, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, former CEO of Celebrity Cruises, and Captain Kate McCue, Captain of Celebrity Edge, share their inspiring stories of how they achieved success in the maritime industry. They discuss the importance of hard work, loyalty, courage, and determination in pursuing one's goals. They also emphasize the significance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and the qua...

On this episode Captain Sandy and Leah talk to elite mindset coach Dr. Larry Widman of Max Out Mindset. He talks about his experience working with high-performance athletes and the importance of mental health education. They discuss the tendency to prescribe medication quickly without understanding individual needs and the benefits of mindfulness and mindset training. Dr. Woodman emphasizes the im...

Captain Sandy and Leah Rae sit down with special guest Melissa Rivers! The trio delves into their love for reality TV and Bravo's popular shows, including "Below Deck" and the "Housewives" franchise. They discuss the allure and casting strategies behind successful reality shows, while Melissa shares heartfelt memories of her time on the "Big Eagle" motor yacht—a vessel with sentimental value to he...

Captain Sandy and Leah Rae have a chat with Malia White from "Below Deck Mediterranean," sharing her incredible journey to becoming a captain! They discuss Malia's experiences on yachts, her decision to pursue a career in the maritime industry, and the inspiring role of Captain Sandy. Discover the power of representation and teamwork in the maritime world, and gain insights into leadership, decisi...

"Season 2 of the Captain Sandy & Leah Rae show is finally here! We wanted to kick off season 2 with fan questions from all over the globe. So many great questions: How do they navigate their long-distance relationship? What was the day that Sandy realized she needed to get sober, and how does she maintain her sobriety? What’s next for Leah Rae’s singing career and skincare line? What “Below Deck M...

In this episode, we answer a listener's question about how to take action when things don’t go as planned, as well as answering a question about Captain Sandy’s Ocean Rangers program. How do we handle situations that are out of our control? We share our advice for taking action in the moments that test us. We also chat about giving back to the maritime industry and helping kids learn how they can...

How can you be the calm in the storm? This episode is a very special conversation, as it’s Captain Sandy’s book launch day.  In her new book, Be the Calm or Be the Storm: Leadership Lessons from a Woman at the Helm, Captain Sandy shares her perspective on leadership and what she has learned about being a true leader over the years.  In this episode, we talk about learning the art of leadership fro...

In this episode, we’re answering one of the questions we get all the time, and it’s how to stay healthy while managing busy schedules. It’s no secret that nowadays, everyone’s lives are busy. It begs the question, how can we stay healthy and create healthier routines – even when it feels overwhelming? The key isn’t perfection, it’s consistency and intention, and setting yourself up for success. We...

In this episode, Chef Ben Robinson joins us to talk about life behind the scenes of being a chef. What’s it really like working on a yacht? How does he continuously strive to perfect his craft and deliver an exceptional experience? We get into this, and more, as two surprise guests join us! Chef Ben Robinson is accomplished on both land and sea. He worked under Italian master chefs in Florence and...

In this episode, we’re answering a handful of your questions – from keeping our relationship exciting, to raising confident women in a male dominated world and navigating coming out later in life.   We talk about: [0:00] Intro [1:10] How we keep our relationship exciting  [2:25] Raising confident women in a male dominated world [7:20] The importance of supporting your friends  [8:40] Navigating co...

In this episode, we answer a listener question from Kyle of Below Deck Mediterranean, Season 7.    He asks how we maintain our relationship and love, even when we’re in periods of long distance.   We talk about: [0:00] Intro [0:40] This episode’s questions from Kyle [1:40] Learning to communicate and do a long distance relationship [4:15] The importance of building and having trust  [5:10] Being s...

In this episode, Lauren (Lolo) joins Leah on the podcast to talk about parenting from a teenager’s perspective.   Lolo is Leah’s daughter, and we get a candid look into how parents can be there for their kids and the kind of support teenagers really need as they navigate life’s biggest challenges.   We also talk about gender identity, gender expression, pronouns, and mental health challenges that...

In this episode, we take a listener question that asks us how we handle receiving mean and negative messages online.   We share how we’ve handled these ups and downs and what we would suggest you do if you’re also on the receiving end of hateful messages.   We believe that everyone has a story, and when we stop and try to understand why people act and react the way they do, it changes everything....