Wind, Waves & Wells with Joe

The conversation begins with Joe Leather asking Lewis Senior about his career beginnings in the 1970s, leading to a discussion about Lewis's experiences in the North Sea oil industry. Lewis shares anecdotes about his early days, the challenges faced, and the evolution of safety and culture in the industry. He highlights the importance of community and leadership in creating a positive working envi...

In the second part of my conversation with John, he continues to unravel the complexities surrounding the Deepwater Horizon incident. He discusses the intense scrutiny and legal challenges faced during the investigations, sharing personal reflections on the toll it took on him and his colleagues. John also addresses misconceptions perpetuated by the media and highlights the collaborative spirit am...

In the first part of this episode, Joe Leather and John Guide delve into the untold stories behind the Deepwater Horizon incident. John shares his journey from starting in the oil industry in 1980 to his experiences in deep water drilling. The conversation touches on the challenges faced during the Deepwater Horizon operations, the media portrayal, and the subsequent investigations. John provides...

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of energy with Tom Kirkman, a seasoned expert in the oil and gas industry. From his early days on a farm to managing complex projects across the globe, Tom shares his unique insights on the challenges and realities of energy production. We explore the intricacies of offshore platforms, the role of government subsidies in renewable energy, and the future...

Join me as I sits down with Chris Black, a former professional rugby player turned recruitment expert in the oil and gas industry. Discover Chris's journey from the rugby field to founding Jab Recruitment, and how his experiences have shaped his approach to business and life. They delve into the challenges and opportunities within the energy sector, the importance of resilience, and the power of n...

In this episode, Mandeep Singh Khalsa shares his remarkable journey from finance to offshore, revealing the pivotal moments and mentors that shaped his career. Mandeep discusses the challenges and rewards of working offshore, emphasizing the importance of building trust and fostering open communication within diverse teams. He reflects on the unique camaraderie of offshore life and the cultural ad...

In this solo episode of Wind, Waves & Wells I talk about what happens when offshore work runs over and the podcast schedule takes a hit. I share my reflections on the energy debate, from oil to wind, the UK’s reliance on imports, and why some of the job creation numbers in renewables don’t tell the full story. This is a grounded look at the realities of offshore life and the bigger picture of...

In this episode of Wind, Waves and Wells, I sit down with David Duguid to trace his journey from working offshore to representing people in Westminster. With his offshore background, David brings a rare perspective to the political debate on energy. We talk about the extremes, from the drill baby drill mindset to Just Stop Oil protests, and why neither holds the full answer. Instead, David shares...

In this episode, I am joined by Kathryn Porter, energy consultant, Telegraph writer, and widely respected voice on energy markets and policy. With years of experience advising on power, gas, and the wider energy sector, Kathryn brings a wealth of insight into the complex world of UK and global energy. We speak the realities behind the headlines from the political and economic pressures shaping ene...

Dive into the world of offshore and now onshore life with Matty as he share's captivating stories from his travels. From unexpected conditions in Nigeria to the camaraderie on the rigs, this episode offers a glimpse into the highs and lows of working offshore. Matty tried his best the whole episode to not say who he worked for but slipped up, hence the high pitch edit. It's a episode filled with l...

Join Me and James as we dive into the highs and lows of offshore work, sharing candid stories from our time in the industry. From the challenges of working in remote locations to the camaraderie and unique experiences that come with the job, this episode offers a raw and insightful look into the life of offshore and contracting. Whether you're in the industry or just curious about life offshore, t...

This week we delve into the extraordinary journey of Nayrim Buchan, a pioneering engineer who navigated the male-dominated oil and gas industry. From her early days in Venezuela to working on international projects, Nayrim shares her experiences of overcoming challenges, embracing diversity, and the importance of adaptability in a rapidly changing energy landscape. Discover her insights on the ene...

For the 20th episode, I brought back the man who helped kick all this off. Chris Akehurst was the first guest on the podcast, the original guinea pig when none of this was really figured out. We look back on how far things have come since that first recording and dig into everything from how the wind industry has changed to what life offshore really takes out of you. Chris also shares stories from...

In this final part of the trilogy, Joe Leather sits down with George Highmoor to reflect on the highs and lows of a life spent in the oil industry. From close calls and hard lessons to the unlikely road to writing a memoir, George shares what really stuck with him after decades offshore. It is a conversation about instinct, survival, and the kind of insight that only comes with time. The stories b...

In this second part of my conversation with Leo Lindner, we go deeper into the night that changed offshore forever. Leo was there on the Deepwater Horizon when the unthinkable happened. In this episode, he shares more of what it was really like in the hours after the blowout the chaos, the impossible decisions, and the moments that still stay with him. We also spoke about: • What recovery looked l...

In this episode, I sit down with Dik Barton a man whose career has taken him to the very edge of human exploration and the heart of offshore safety. Dik has made an astonishing 22 dives down to the wreck of the Titanic, seen first-hand what most of us only glimpse in documentaries, and led safety operations in some of the most unforgiving environments on Earth. We spoke about: • What it feels like...

Part 2 of the Joe Meanen re-release, marking 37 years since Piper Alpha. Joe talks us through the more of the night of the disaster. What happened. How he got out. And what stayed with him after. This episode is for the 167 men who never made it home.

This episode is being re-released to mark 37 years since the Piper Alpha disaster. Joe Meanen was one of the 61 men who survived. In Part 1, he talks about life before Piper. The work The culture And the things that were already going wrong. 

Leo Lindner was on Deepwater Horizon That alone should tell you enough about what this episode is about In Part 1 of this conversation, Leo walks us through his life offshore A man who escaped the rig on that fateful night We talk about the job The pressure the rig was under And some of the things that were not right Including the cracks that were there long before anything exploded This is Part 1...

This one was a real highlight for me. Steve has been through a lot and come out the other side with a mindset that is hard to ignore. We spoke about offshore life, mental health, the pressure men face, and how he is using his own story to help others. I have got a lot of respect for the way he looks at things. No ego, just honesty. And to be honest, I really enjoyed this one. It is a conversation...

Back for round two with George Highmoor. This time we get into some of the difficult bits. More offshore moments and more scenarios you just couldn’t make up. Some of the stories in this episode are tough to hear. It’s just two people talking about what really goes on out there the graft, the madness, and everything in between. If you’ve been offshore, and in a position similar to George, I'm sure...

This week I’m joined by my good mate Pete an offshore regular with a great sense of humour and enough stories to fill a series. We first met back in 2017 and since then Pete has worked all over the world bringing energy grit and a good laugh to every job. In this episode we talk about how he's got on in the industry what life offshore has really been like and the moments that stick with him. There...

This week I’m joined by Sidney Huval, a man who started out with a big service company in the States and ended up shaping crews abroad. We talked about his time running MWD tools on deepwater projects, the lessons he learned offshore, and how that experience carried over into years of international sales, training and development. What stood out most though was his energy. Sidney brings so much en...

In this first episode of a three-part series, I sit down with George Highmoor, former oilfield worker and author of Oil, Clowns and a Pig on a Motorcycle. George’s stories are raw, unbelievable but real. We cover everything from life on the rigs to the inspiration behind the book, with plenty of moments that’ll have you shaking your head in disbelief. It’s a mix of chaos and honesty, with just the...

In this episode Joe sits down with Nick to explore a journey that spans continents, careers and a whole lot of lessons. From chasing football dreams to leading training and competence offshore Nick opens up about life on the rigs, moving through the ranks and finding purpose beyond the job title. They dive into the highs the lows and the moments that shaped a career across rigs, countries and indu...