Wind, Waves & Wells with Joe

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...

In this powerful episode of Wind, Waves & Wells with Joe Meanen, we take a hard and honest look at the night that changed everything in the offshore world. Piper Alpha. Two words that still echo through every rig briefing and safety meeting. On 6 July 1988, 167 lives were lost in the worst offshore disaster the world has ever seen. It was not just a tragedy. It was a warning. Joe walks through...

In this episode I sit down with Mike Scotland Safety Officer mental health advocate and the man behind manUP speakUP and Community cleanUP. Recognised as one of the Top 10 Health and Safety Influencers by HSE People Mike brings a powerful voice to the offshore world one that is raw honest and impossible to ignore.   We dive into what it really means to care about safety not just ticking boxes but...

In this episode of Wind, Waves & Wells with Joe, I sit down with Reece Mosey, offshore worker, content creator and the lad who’s put a fresh face on what life really looks like out at sea. Reece has built a following by showing the raw, unfiltered day to day offshore, from dinners to Christmas shifts. We get into: The good, the bad and the strange requests How social media changed things for h...

In this episode, I’m joined by Justin Forrest, dad, offshore worker, photographer, and all-round brilliant lad. We dive into his time offshore, from the bottom of the pile to the head of the drill floor, and with it the pictures of the moments of the real stories behind life on the rigs. Justin opens up about the people, the pressures, and the perspective you only get from spending years out at se...

In this episode of Wind, Waves & Wells with Joe, I’m joined by Ali P a man who’s worn the boots of both onshore and offshore life. Ali started out in the energy industry after completing his apprenticeship, diving headfirst into the world of oil & gas and renewables. With stories from the offices to the offshore rigs, he gives us a front-row seat to life in the field and the realities many...

In this episode of Wind Waves and Wells, I catch up with Richie Brown as he steps into a new role in the electric vehicle world. We chat about where it all started for him, getting offshore at a young age, and what it took to build a career from there. There are plenty of laughs, a few stories we probably should not be sharing, and some solid advice for anyone trying to break into the industry. Wh...

What actually goes through your head when you're 100 metres below the surface, alone, out of air, and the lights go out? In this episode, I sit down with commercial saturation diver Chris Lemons – whose story became the Netflix documentary Last Breath. We talk about what really happened that night in the North Sea when his umbilical was severed, how it felt to accept death, and what life has been...

In this episode of Wind, Waves & Wells with Joe, I’m joined by Chris Akhurst, someone who has been around the block in the offshore wind industry.   We talk about his journey through the industry, the jobs he’s been in, and the lessons he has picked up from years of getting stuck in. Chris gives his take on what the industry is doing well and where it might be heading, especially with the grow...

Right, here we go. In this first episode, I’m setting the scene. Why I started this podcast, what you can expect, and a bit about who I am a lad who’s spent years working offshore in renewables, oil and gas, and seen a fair bit along the way. This podcast isn’t about polished PR stories or industry buzzwords. It’s about the real stuff the people, the places, the risks, the laughs, and sometimes th...

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