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Wind, Waves & Wells with Joe

joeleather92

Wind, Waves & Wells with Joe, offers an inside look at the dynamic energy industry, from the latest innovations in renewable power to the untold stories of those working in oil, gas, and beyond. Each episode dives into the real-world impact of energy on our daily lives, exploring how it shapes economies, communities, and the environment. Whether you’re an industry veteran or simply curious about the forces powering our world, join Joe for insightful conversations, personal stories, and fresh perspectives on the energy sector.

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#91
Wednesday · 1 hr 1 min
Trump, Diesel & Politics - Jim & Joe (back again)
Is Donald Trump changing the way the world views America? Are rising diesel prices and global energy tensions beginning to influence political decisions? And with artificial intelligence demanding enormous amounts of electricity, are governments going to have to rethink their approach to energy? In this episode of Wind, Waves & Wells, James returns for another conversation covering everything from offshore oil and gas to international politics, diesel shortages, artificial intelligence and the changing direction of the global energy industry. We start by catching up on what's happening offshore and how the industry has changed over the years. Despite activity picking up in certain regions, the traditional oil and gas boom periods seem increasingly difficult to find. We discuss the differences between working offshore today and the industry we both remember, along with the opportunities emerging in places such as the Netherlands, Norway and South America. From there, the conversation turns towards Europe's approach to fossil fuels and whether rising energy costs are beginning to influence the political decisions being made across the continent. We also discuss Brazil's changing political landscape, its oil and gas ambitions and the wider debate surrounding energy security and affordability. Having recently returned from America, I share some observations about the cost of living, the differences in diesel prices compared with the UK and the political atmosphere surrounding Donald Trump. This leads us into a wider discussion about his presidency, the war in Ukraine, relations with Russia and whether America's position on the world stage is beginning to change. Closer to home, we discuss the future of the UK oil and gas industry, including Rosebank, Jackdaw and the challenges facing the North Sea. With offshore activity continuing elsewhere, what does the future hold for Aberdeen and the thousands of people and businesses that have depended on the industry for decades? We also look at the wider economic impact of declining offshore investment and whether Britain's energy policies are keeping pace with the realities of global demand. Towards the end of the conversation, we turn our attention to artificial intelligence and the enormous amount of energy required to power the growing number of data centres. With technology developing at an extraordinary pace, we question where that electricity will come from, whether existing energy infrastructure can keep up and what the continued expansion of AI could mean for the future of energy production. We also get into the rapidly developing world of AI agents, their potential capabilities and some of the concerns surrounding increasingly autonomous technology. As always when James joins me, the conversation is completely unscripted. There are plenty of laughs, a few strong opinions and some interesting questions about where the world might be heading. This is an informal discussion, and the political views and opinions expressed are our own. The aim is to explore different perspectives, share experiences and have a conversation about some of the issues shaping the world around us. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:20 Catching up with James and offshore work 03:30 How the oil and gas industry has changed 06:23 Is Europe changing its approach to fossil fuels? 09:00 Brazil's oil industry and political direction 14:36 Diesel prices and the cost of living in America 16:30 Rosebank, Jackdaw and UK energy policy 19:40 Donald Trump, Ukraine and US politics 23:30 The future of Trump's presidency 30:32 Offshore activity in the Netherlands and Norway 33:58 Diesel supply and global energy tensions 39:46 Are global superpowers changing? 43:07 Ed Miliband and the Falklands oil debate 45:24 North Sea investment and Aberdeen's future 50:24 AI data centres and their enormous energy demand 56:14 AI agents and the future of artificial intelligence Connect & Listen Wind, Waves & Wells with Joe Real conversations about the people, challenges and opportunities shaping the energy industry. Website: https://windwavesandwells.com Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and all major podcast platforms.
#89
October 21 · 51 min
Piper Alpha: A Son’s Story - Shane Gorman
Shane Gorman was just 18 and three days into Army basic training when his father, Dave, was killed on Piper Alpha. He first understood the scale of what had happened when he saw the newspaper headlines at a train station on his journey home. In this episode of Wind, Waves & Wells, Shane joins me to talk about the loss of his dad, the years that followed and his eventual decision to work offshore himself. We discuss what safety should mean to the people doing the job. From observation card targets and toolbox talks to the fear of speaking up, Shane shares his thoughts on why people can lose faith in safety systems and what leaders can do to rebuild that trust. Shane also tells the story of finding a recording of his father discussing the Alexander Kielland disaster eight years before Piper Alpha, and why he chose to share his experiences of grief, mental health and finding a way forward in his book, Through the Flames. An honest conversation about family, loss and the responsibility we all share to make sure people get home safely. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:31 Shane’s story and losing his dad on Piper Alpha 04:07 His father’s approach to safety 06:08 Have we lost faith in our safety tools? 08:31 Toolbox talks and observation card targets 12:36 Choosing to work offshore 16:38 Safety representatives and the voice of the workforce 19:59 Has safety gone too far, or has the focus been lost? 22:40 What makes a good safety adviser? 25:53 Building pauses into the job 27:57 Leadership, speaking up and fear of losing work 29:25 Saying thank you and following up on concerns 32:43 Responsibility, accountability and becoming a leader 35:16 His father’s interview about Alexander Kielland 40:41 Writing Through the Flames 45:06 Revisiting grief and sharing difficult experiences 47:21 What Shane hopes readers take from his story 48:43 His proudest career moment 50:46 Closing thoughts
#88
October 14 · 52 min
Offshore Jobs, Money & Misconceptions - Alastair Mackay
What's really happening in the offshore job market? Why do recruiters sometimes go quiet when you're looking for work? And is working offshore really the golden ticket that some people on social media make it out to be? In this episode of Wind, Waves & Wells, I'm joined by Alastair Mackay, founder of Ogenus Offshore, a specialist recruitment company working across the global energy industry. With around 15 years of experience in offshore recruitment and drilling, Alastair has experienced the industry's highs and lows, including the downturn that left thousands of experienced workers searching for their next opportunity. Having gone on to establish his own recruitment business, he offers an interesting perspective on the relationship between contractors, recruiters and the companies employing them. We get into some of the questions that contractors have probably wanted to ask recruiters for years. Why do applications sometimes go unanswered? How much money are recruitment agencies actually making from contractors? How persistent should you be when chasing opportunities? And what can people do to improve their chances of securing that next offshore position? We also discuss the growing number of people on social media promoting offshore work as a route to earning huge amounts of money. Whilst the industry can offer fantastic opportunities, there's another side to the story that doesn't always get mentioned, particularly when it comes to getting your foot in the door. Beyond recruitment, we explore the wider offshore employment market, including where drilling activity is increasing, the challenges facing the UK sector and what the future could hold for people working across oil, gas and renewables. Whether you're an experienced offshore contractor, someone trying to enter the industry or simply interested in how the offshore employment market operates, this conversation offers a look at recruitment from both sides of the table. As always, the aim isn't to create a debate or point fingers, but to understand different perspectives and hopefully give people something useful to take away. Connect & Listen Wind, Waves & Wells with Joe Real conversations about the people, challenges and opportunities shaping the energy industry. Website: https://windwavesandwells.com Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and all major podcast platforms.
#87
October 7 · 45 min
Can Personality Prevent Accidents? Mark Wilkinson on E Colours and the Future of Safety
Can understanding personality actually make workplaces safer? Mark Wilkinson returns to Wind, Waves & Wells to discuss a major development for E Colours, the launch of a new NEBOSH Verified E Colours Safety Leadership Programme. But this conversation goes much further than a new training course. Mark and Joe explore how different personality styles can influence the way people see risk, communicate under pressure, respond to leadership and interact with the people around them. They discuss why understanding yourself can be just as important as understanding procedures, how poor communication can contribute to incidents, and why there is no single leadership style that works for everyone. Joe also shares his own experience from offshore environments, where recognising different personalities has changed the way he approaches people, conversations and difficult situations. The conversation also turns towards the next generation entering the workforce and the growing influence of AI. AI can write emails, analyse information and help us prepare for conversations, but it cannot replace the ability to stand in front of another person, understand how they are reacting and communicate effectively in the moment. Mark also discusses the journey behind E Colours, the work carried out by Equilibria over more than two decades, his new E Colours Playbook, and what success could look like if personality based safety becomes more widely adopted across industry. Topics include: Personality based safety The new NEBOSH Verified E Colours programme How different personalities perceive risk Safety leadership and communication Psychological safety Understanding strengths and potential limiters Leadership across different generations The impact of AI on human communication E Colours in offshore and high risk industries The new E Colours Playbook Can greater self awareness ultimately help prevent accidents? A fascinating conversation about the human side of safety and why understanding people may become increasingly important in the workplaces of the future.
#86
September 30 · 40 min
Diesel, Data Centres & Energy Security - Stu Turley, Mark LaCour & Joe Leather
Three energy podcasters. Three different perspectives. One big conversation about where global energy is heading. In this special crossover episode, I join Stu Turley and Mark LaCour to talk about everything from diesel prices and refinery capacity to energy security, data centres, renewables and the changing global oil market. We get into the problems facing electricity grids, the huge increase in power demand from data centres, the role of natural gas and renewables, and why energy infrastructure is becoming such an important part of the conversation. We also discuss global oil flows, the Strait of Hormuz, the Jones Act, California's energy market, Europe, the North Sea, Rosebank and Jackdaw, and how AI could change the way we find and produce energy. A proper off the cuff energy conversation between three people who spend a lot of time talking about the industry.
#85
September 23 · 58 min
Fracking, Fortunes & Failure - Dan Doyle
In this episode of Wind, Waves & Wells, I sit down with Dan Doyle, oil and gas entrepreneur, author and owner of a hydraulic fracturing company operating across the United States. Dan takes us inside the American fracking industry, explaining how hydraulic fracturing actually works, what it was like building a service company from the ground up and what really happened during the US shale boom. We also get into the boom and bust nature of oil and gas, the challenges of operating across different US states, regulation, energy policy and why some of the biggest opportunities in the industry can appear during downturns. Dan also shares the story behind his book, Roughnecks & Riches: A Startup in the Great American Fracking Boom, including the extraordinary setbacks he faced trying to get his first frac fleet operating. A wide ranging conversation about oil, gas, entrepreneurship, risk, resilience and the people behind the energy industry.
#84
September 16 · 1 hr 1 min
Alexander Kielland: The Fight for Truth and Justice 46 Years Later - Dr France Part 2
More than 46 years after the Alexander L. Kielland disaster, questions surrounding what happened, why it happened and how the families were treated have never completely disappeared. In Part Two of my conversation with Dr France, we look beyond the physical failure of the rig and discuss what happened afterwards. Dr France explains how his findings have been received in Norway, why he disputes parts of the original investigation, how fatigue cracking could develop over several years and whether there could have been warning signs before the disaster. We also discuss his relationship with campaigner Wayne Hunter, the treatment of the families who lost loved ones, the continuing campaign for justice and compensation, and what Dr France ultimately hopes his research will achieve. Towards the end of the conversation, we broaden things out into the lessons the engineering and offshore industries should take from Kielland and Dr France reflects on a career spanning five decades in welding engineering. 123 people lost their lives on the Alexander Kielland. More than four decades later, the questions surrounding the disaster are still being asked.
#83
September 9 · 49 min
The Alexander Kielland Disaster: What Really Caused the Rig to Fail? - Dr France Part 1
On 27 March 1980, the Alexander L. Kielland capsized in the North Sea, killing 123 people in one of the worst disasters in the history of the offshore industry. More than four decades later, Dr France believes the accepted explanation does not tell the full story. A welding engineer with 50 years of experience, Dr France has spent years independently investigating the disaster. In Part One of our conversation, he explains the fundamentals of welding and welding engineering before taking us through his analysis of the Kielland failure. We discuss the condition of the rig when it left the shipyard, hydrogen induced cracking, fatigue, weld procedures, inspection, the evidence he says can still be seen in recovered wreckage, and why he believes the origins of the disaster can be traced back to the rig's construction in 1976. This is a detailed and at times challenging look at one of the North Sea's most significant offshore disasters, from the perspective of a welding engineer who has spent years studying the evidence.
#82
September 2 · 1 hr 2 min
From the Rig Floor to the Courtroom: 45 Years in Drilling with Steve Devereux
Steve Devereux has spent more than four decades working across the international oil and gas industry, and his career has taken him a long way from where it started. Steve began as an aeronautical engineer before joining Shell in 1979 and learning drilling from the ground up. After training in Holland, he headed to Brunei where he worked his way through the drilling ranks before eventually building a consulting career that has taken him to more than 40 countries. In this episode, I speak with Steve about how drilling careers were built back then, why getting genuine hands on experience mattered so much and whether some of that practical knowledge has been lost from the industry today. We get into his time in the North Sea, well control, major accident risk, the increasing amount of decision making being moved away from the rig and some brilliant stories from a career spent working around the world. Steve also explains his third career in dispute resolution, where he now works as an arbitrator and expert witness on complex industry disputes, and why decades of practical experience can become incredibly valuable when trying to establish what actually went wrong. We also look towards the future. Steve believes AI could represent a genuine step change for drilling, particularly through its ability to analyse huge amounts of data in real time, identify problems earlier and potentially improve well control and safety. But he also gives an important warning: we cannot allow people to blindly trust the technology without understanding the job themselves. Towards the end, Steve shares some excellent advice for anyone starting an offshore career today, including why you should build a financial “war chest”, get as much practical experience as possible and never assume you will only have one career. We finish with one of Steve’s proudest projects, an unusual well intervention offshore Tanzania that required a bit of engineering ingenuity and a very different approach to getting the job done. A fascinating conversation with someone who has watched the drilling industry change enormously over more than 45 years.
#81
August 26 · 1 hr 6 min
The Future of Energy Is Abundance - Mark LaCour
Mark LaCour has spent more than 35 years around the oil and gas industry and is now Editor in Chief of the Oil and Gas Global Network, which has grown into a network of more than 30 industry podcasts. What I enjoyed about this conversation is that we covered an enormous amount of ground. Mark takes me back to how he accidentally found his way into oil and gas, what decades of working internationally have taught him about the culture of the industry and why he believes oil and gas has done such a poor job of telling its own story. We get into the extraordinary level of activity taking place in the Permian Basin, the growing importance of natural gas, LNG and what Mark means when he talks about the need for energy abundance. From there, the conversation moves into AI and data centres, renewables, offshore wind, nuclear power and why trying to apply the same energy solution everywhere simply does not work. We also discuss why selling technology into oil and gas is so different from almost every other industry, the importance of trust, the huge amounts of capital involved and why some genuinely useful technology never gets adopted because nobody knows how to sell it properly. Closer to home, I ask Mark about BP moving away from the North Sea, the impact of taxation and politics on investment and what he thinks the future could look like for places such as Aberdeen. We also talk podcasting, sponsorship, getting things wrong publicly and being willing to change your mind when the evidence changes. And towards the end, things go somewhere I definitely was not expecting. Space. Mark explains why he believes the skills, companies and technology developed by the oil and gas industry could eventually play a major role in commercial space travel and even mining the asteroid belt. A wide ranging conversation about energy, technology, business and where this industry could be heading next.
#80
August 19 · 51 min
“Purpose Never Retires” - Lewis Senior on Leadership, Safety and Life
Lewis Senior returns to Wind, Waves & Wells almost a year after his first appearance. At 75, Lewis is still travelling, teaching, coaching and helping organisations understand the role personality plays in leadership, communication and safety. Early in our conversation he sums up exactly why he has absolutely no intention of slowing down: “Purpose never retires.” We talk about how Equilibria has developed over the past year, the growing use of E Colours, upcoming work with Step Change in Safety and why understanding personality can influence something as important as whether someone actually feels comfortable stopping a job. From there we get into leadership and culture offshore. Why can you sometimes walk onto a vessel or installation and almost immediately sense what the culture is like? What separates a genuinely good leader from a poor one? And has the energy industry lost some of the community and camaraderie it once had? We also get into human performance, the future role of HSE professionals and how AI could completely change a job that has traditionally involved huge amounts of paperwork. Then Lewis decides to turn the tables on me. He takes over the podcast and starts asking me the questions. Why did I start Wind, Waves & Wells? Where do I see my career going after nearly 15 years offshore? Why am I moving towards HSE? What role has my family played in everything I have done? And where do I want to be five years from now? It ended up being a very different conversation from the one I originally expected, but probably one of the most personal I have recorded. A wide ranging conversation about leadership, safety, culture, personality, purpose and ultimately the people behind the energy industry. Timestamps: 00:20 Lewis returns to Wind, Waves & Wells 00:47 What has changed at Equilibria over the last year? 02:21 A new leadership programme and the E Colours Playbook 03:39 Why are companies becoming more interested in personality and communication? 04:55 Lewis at 75 and why “purpose never retires” 06:31 Equilibria's role in the changing UK energy industry 07:44 Working with Step Change in Safety 09:16 Upcoming announcements and events 10:44 What would make this year a success for Lewis? 11:58 Keeping an open mind and having difficult conversations 12:26 I reflect on interviewing people I do not necessarily agree with 15:02 How attitudes towards different parts of the energy industry change 16:44 What does good leadership actually look like? 17:34 “If you think you're a leader and nobody is following you…” 18:21 Why an OIM and a head teacher have more in common than you might think 19:47 Leadership is 95 per cent about people 20:44 The difference between camaraderie and genuine community offshore 23:38 How job uncertainty can affect offshore culture 25:13 How personality can influence safety and risk 26:23 Are some personalities less likely to stop the job? 27:28 Why stop work authority does not come naturally to everyone 29:19 What companies misunderstand about human performance 30:50 Has the energy industry lost some of its pride and community? 31:21 Building culture before a rig even starts operating 34:32 My concerns about the growing human performance industry 37:47 Lewis takes over the podcast 38:16 Why I started Wind, Waves & Wells 39:57 Where do I see my career going? 41:40 How AI could completely change the role of HSE professionals 42:21 Why operational experience matters in HSE 43:29 The future of HSE could be far more about people than paperwork 45:05 Where do I want to be in five years? 46:35 Lewis asks why someone should take a chance on me 46:47 “If you don't risk anything, you risk everything” 47:42 Lewis reflects on my future 48:28 What does Lewis still want to achieve? 49:59 Why purpose keeps people going 50:37 Upcoming Step Change events and what's next 51:23 Closing thoughts
#79
August 12 · 55 min
The Offshore Lifeboat Problem We Aren't Talking About - Diccen Sargent
The offshore 124 kg weight limit has generated plenty of debate. But Diccen Sargent believes there is a much bigger issue that has received almost no attention: offshore lifeboats. Diccen has spent decades working in technical and operational safety across the oil and gas industry, from FPSO projects and major accident risk to drilling, HAZOPs and offshore safety cases. For around ten years, he has also been involved in research looking at the changing size and weight of the offshore workforce. In this episode, Diccen explains why many lifeboats currently installed offshore were originally designed around much smaller personnel, why seat widths and seatbelt limits matter, and what could happen if those systems are ever required during a real emergency. We also discuss the incoming 124 kg offshore weight limit, how some operators are already modifying their lifeboats, the difference between occupational safety and major accident safety, managed pressure drilling and the wider pressures facing the North Sea. We finish by discussing energy security, the future of the UK energy industry and why Diccen believes the transition needs to balance environmental performance, affordability and security of supply. A fascinating conversation about an area of offshore safety that deserves far more attention.
#78
August 5 · 59 min
PTSD, ADHD and Walking Away From the North Sea - Steve Beedie
Steve Beedie returns to Wind, Waves and Wells for one of the most open and unscripted conversations we have recorded. Steve speaks honestly about living with PTSD, his ongoing ADHD assessment, and why he has finally realised that helping everyone else cannot always come before helping himself. We also discuss the mental health programme he delivered offshore with Equinor, why genuine offshore experience matters when trying to connect with crews, and whether short mental health courses are really enough to prepare someone for that responsibility. The conversation then moves into the current state of the North Sea, the reality behind transferable skills, the lack of long term opportunities for offshore workers, and Steve’s decision to allow his offshore certificates to expire as he prepares for a new chapter in Australia and the mining industry. This is a conversation about mental health, identity, career uncertainty, personal reinvention, and accepting that oil and gas does not have to be the end of the story. No script. No polished corporate answers. Just an honest conversation between two people who have spent much of their lives offshore.
#77
July 29 · 44 min
Why Relationships Still Win in Oil & Gas - Finlay Johnston
After almost twenty years in the energy industry, Finlay Johnston has seen the offshore sector from every angle. Starting his career in commercial banking before making the jump into oil and gas, Finlay went on to negotiate major drilling contracts, build businesses across the world and play a key role in bringing the Ocean Great White back to work in the UK. In this episode we discuss what really wins business in today's market, why relationships still matter more than emails, how the offshore drilling market is changing, and why mentoring the next generation is one of the most rewarding parts of his career. We also talk about leadership, stakeholder management, negotiating multi million dollar contracts, the future of the North Sea, and the lessons Finlay has learned from working across Africa, the Middle East and beyond. If you work in offshore energy, business development, drilling or leadership, there's plenty to take away from this conversation. Don't forget to subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping the energy industry.
#76
July 22 · 47 min
Energy Security, Rosebank & Net Zero - Tessa Khan
The energy debate has become incredibly tribal. You're either pro oil and gas or pro renewables. But does it really have to be that way? In this episode, I sit down with Tessa Khan, Executive Director of Uplift, for an open discussion on the future of the UK's energy system. The conversation covers offshore jobs, domestic manufacturing, Rosebank, energy security, electricity prices, climate responsibility and whether Britain is trying to transition too quickly. While myself and Tessa don't agree on everything, this episode proves that respectful conversations between differing viewpoints are still possible and perhaps more important than ever. Whether you work in offshore oil and gas, offshore wind or simply care about where the UK's energy future is heading, this is a discussion worth listening to.
#75
July 15 · 1 hr 6 min
The Men Who Feed the North Sea - Kev Geddes & Stephen Henry
Both started their careers as Army chefs before making the move offshore. Between them, they have spent more than two decades feeding crews across production platforms, drilling rigs and accommodation vessels. We spoke about what really goes on behind the scenes in an offshore galley. From feeding more than 550 people offshore, to dealing with food complaints, Christmas dinners away from home and the strange requests they receive on a daily basis, this was a brilliant conversation and one that highlights just how important catering is to morale offshore. Because if there is one thing every offshore worker looks forward to during the day, it is meal times. 00:00 Intro 00:20 Introduction to Kev and Stephen 01:32 How two Army chefs ended up offshore 04:21 What an offshore chef actually does 06:46 Feeding more than 550 people offshore 08:41 Why offshore workers eat so much 11:35 The biggest challenges of offshore catering 13:27 Delayed boats and running out of fresh food 15:43 Drilling rigs versus production platforms 19:42 Why food is so important for morale offshore 23:35 The funniest requests they've received offshore 25:01 When meals go badly wrong 29:55 Reusing leftovers and reducing waste 30:26 Dealing with complaints and negative feedback 36:35 The offshore workers who can never eat enough 38:26 Why offshore food costs more than people think 40:42 The new offshore weight policy 43:57 Healthy eating offshore and changing habits 49:43 The smoked mackerel curry story 52:08 Birthday cakes and special requests 54:06 Favourite meals to cook offshore 55:35 Christmas and New Year offshore 58:02 Their proudest offshore moments If you've worked offshore, I'd love to know: How important is food to morale on board? And what is the strangest meal combination you've ever seen someone put on a plate?
#73
July 8 · 1 hr 17 min
Piper Alpha 38. Through the Eyes of a Commercial Diver - Ed Punchard's Story
On the night of 6 July 1988, commercial diver Ed Punchard was working beneath Piper Alpha. Within minutes, he found himself caught in the world's worst offshore oil disaster. Unlike many accounts of Piper Alpha, this conversation comes from someone working below the platform, coordinating dive operations before escaping as the explosions tore through the installation. Ed doesn't just describe what happened. He explains why it happened. From the culture offshore during the 1980s, to the failures that led to the disaster, the rescue efforts aboard the Silver Pit, and the lessons the industry must never forget, this is one of the most detailed first hand accounts you'll hear. Following Piper Alpha, Ed became heavily involved in improving offshore safety, worked alongside journalists and politicians to explain what had happened, wrote one of the earliest books on the disaster, and later built an award winning career as a filmmaker. As we mark another anniversary of Piper Alpha, conversations like this remain just as important today. If you work in offshore oil and gas, offshore wind, commercial diving, marine operations or simply want to understand one of the defining moments in industrial history, this episode is well worth your time. 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Becoming a commercial diver 02:01 The Byford Dolphin disaster 04:18 The accident that changed my career 05:38 Why I ended up on Piper Alpha 06:07 My job beneath the platform 07:15 What Piper Alpha was really like 08:37 How many trips I'd done before the disaster 09:05 My last shift before going home 09:59 The first moments of 6 July 1988 11:15 The first explosion 13:05 Finding the dive team 15:05 Racing to save a diver 17:34 No alarms. No escape route. 19:55 "We've got to get off." 21:55 Escaping beneath Piper Alpha 24:28 Watching the platform burn 27:22 The Tartan pipeline explodes 29:50 Watching the inferno from the Silver Pit 30:08 Why so many divers survived 32:13 Losing friends 33:35 What was going through my mind? 35:20 Turning chaos into action 37:18 Organising the rescue 39:09 Calling the rescue helicopters 41:11 The Claymore pipeline explodes 43:12 Hanging from the side of the Silver Pit 46:12 How Piper Alpha changed my life 48:13 Fighting for offshore safety 50:15 Writing one of the first books on Piper Alpha 52:45 Why I never went offshore again 01:06:40 Why podcasts matter 01:10:30 My proudest moment 01:15:20 Final thoughts
#74
July 8 · 1 hr 37 min
Piper Alpha Survivor Joe Meanen Tells His Story - 38 Years On
On 6 July 1988, 167 men lost their lives in the Piper Alpha disaster. Joe Meanan was one of only 61 survivors. In this episode of Wind, Waves & Wells, Joe shares his first hand account of life offshore in the 1980s, working on Piper Alpha, the night of the disaster, escaping from the platform and the lasting impact it has had on his life. This conversation is not just about what happened on one night in the North Sea. It is about offshore culture, speaking up, safety, leadership, lessons learned and why Piper Alpha still matters nearly four decades later. As we mark 38 years since the disaster, this episode is being shared again as a reminder of the people behind the headlines, the families affected, and the lessons the industry must never forget. Joe speaks openly about the conditions on Piper Alpha, the lack of direction after the first explosion, the decision to leave the galley, the moment he jumped into the sea, being rescued, survivor guilt, accountability and why the offshore industry changed forever after Piper Alpha. If you work offshore, in oil and gas, renewables, marine operations, health and safety, or you simply want to understand one of the most important moments in North Sea history, this is a conversation worth hearing. 00:00 Introduction 02:08 Joe Meanen’s journey offshore 04:54 Offshore life in the 1980s 08:25 Working aboard Piper Alpha 09:37 Warning signs before the disaster 13:44 The day of 6 July 1988 16:10 Watching Caddyshack before the explosion 18:16 The first explosion 20:58 No alarms and no instructions 22:45 Realising something was badly wrong 24:28 Why people were afraid to speak up offshore 26:27 Was Piper Alpha heading for disaster? 31:32 Making it to the galley 35:21 The Mayday call 39:22 Leaving the safe area 41:14 The Tharos and the rescue attempt 43:20 The Tartan gas riser explodes 45:14 The decision to jump 47:37 Escaping into the North Sea 50:30 Being rescued 55:10 Getting back to Aberdeen 59:40 Living with survivor guilt 01:06:15 How Piper Alpha changed offshore safety 01:13:20 The inquiry and industry change 01:18:30 Why speaking up matters 01:23:15 What today’s offshore workers should remember 01:32:13 Did 167 lives save thousands more? 01:35:17 Life after Piper Alpha 01:37:20 Final thoughts
#72
July 1 · 36 min
Commercial Diving: The Risks, Near Misses and Reality of Offshore Life - Rob Hinton
This week I'm joined by Rob Hinton. Rob is a former Royal Navy mine clearance diver, commercial diver, military diving instructor and founder of HoldFast Elite and the HoldFast Schools Mission. We discuss the realities of commercial diving, the risks that come with working underwater, near misses that still stay with him today, and why humour is often a vital coping mechanism in high risk industries. Rob also shares stories from the North Sea, Norway, West Africa and the Middle East, along with the lessons he learned during nearly 15 years as a commercial diver. We finish by discussing why he stepped away from offshore life and how he turned his diving experience into a mission focused on mental and physical resilience. Topics include: • Royal Navy diving • Commercial diving offshore • Near misses and diving incidents • Offshore culture and dark humour • Air diving vs saturation diving • The realities of life offshore • Mental health and resilience • HoldFast Elite • Building purpose after offshore life 0:00 Introduction 0:26 Who is Rob Hinton? 1:05 Learning to dive in South Africa 1:47 Why he joined the Royal Navy divers 2:31 Moving from military diving into offshore oil and gas 4:40 First impressions of offshore life 5:30 Why he left the North Sea to work worldwide 6:41 The reality of risk in commercial diving 7:45 Why dark humour is essential offshore 11:10 Near misses and dangerous situations offshore 12:54 The Norway incident that nearly became a fatality 14:57 Equipment failures and emergency situations underwater 16:54 The closest call of Rob's diving career 20:35 Air diving vs saturation diving 21:31 Why air diving can be riskier than people realise 22:20 What people misunderstand about commercial diving 23:33 The reality of life away from home 25:00 Burnout and the mental toll of offshore work 26:31 Why Rob stepped away from offshore diving 27:50 Creating HoldFast Elite 28:52 Using military training to improve mental resilience 31:13 Building the HoldFast Challenges 32:25 Looking back on life offshore 33:13 Advice for anyone considering commercial diving 34:35 Rob's proudest career achievement 35:39 Closing thoughts
#71
June 24 · 51 min
Energy Security: The Missing Piece of the Energy Transition - Erik de Haas
This week I'm joined by Erik de Haas. Erik has worked across offshore oil and gas, renewables, subsea operations and major marine projects around the world. We discuss why offshore remains a "prove it, not potential" industry, whether the sector really has a skills shortage, and why valuable experience is often being overlooked. We also dive into the energy transition, the risks of an increasingly polarised debate, and why energy security may be the missing piece in conversations about affordability and sustainability. A thoughtful conversation on leadership, commercial decision making, offshore culture and the future of energy. Topics include: • Offshore hiring and skills shortages • Why experience still matters • Oil and gas vs renewables • The energy transition debate • Energy security and geopolitics • Offshore wind challenges • Leadership and decision making offshore • Learning from failure • Building high performing teams #energy #energysecurity #offshoreenergy #podcast 0:00 Introduction 0:20 Erik's background and journey into offshore energy 2:56 Moving from engineering into commercial leadership 5:18 Why offshore is a "prove it, not potential" industry 7:30 Is the industry protecting itself from new talent? 8:40 Offshore wind vs oil and gas on developing people 10:12 Why innovation struggles to gain traction offshore 12:34 Why offshore wind treats every project like a prototype 14:23 Where offshore projects lose the most value 16:22 Who really owns project interfaces? 17:31 What actually drives major offshore decisions? 18:51 Is there a disconnect between onshore and offshore? 25:15 Skills shortage or hiring problem? 27:50 Why experienced workers are being overlooked 30:18 Oil and gas, renewables and the energy transition 33:07 The missing pillar: energy security 35:35 Groningen, Aberdeen and domestic energy production 37:22 Energy transition vs energy addition 39:08 What happens when energy shortages become real? 40:59 Politics, taxes and difficult energy decisions 42:52 Why energy should not be a tribal debate 44:55 Learning from what doesn't work 47:24 Erik's proudest career moments 49:35 Advice for people struggling to find opportunities 50:05 The abundance mindset that shaped Erik's career 51:05 Closing thoughts

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