From Burnout To Below Deck: Hugo Ortega On Money, Mentors & Making It | Rich AF

🌿 Long hours, self-doubt, and endless demands — the startup journey is no easy path. In this episode of Self Care, host Geraldine Hardy explores how founders and entrepreneurs can protect their wellbeing while building a business. From meditation and movement to navigating limiting beliefs, Geraldine shares her own practices, the lessons of her healing journey, and why boundaries are the ultimate act of resilience. You’ll learn: - Why self-care is a leadership strategy, not a luxury - How subconscious patterns shape the way you treat your team - The role of healing emotional wounds in creating abundance - Why burnout spreads from founders to employees — and how to prevent it - How boundaries and intention protect your vision and energy ✨ Explore Geraldine’s Self-Care Course at geraldinehardy.com — nine digestible video lessons packed with 27 years of knowledge, available now with a special enrollment offer until the end of September. 📌 Subscribe for weekly episodes designed to support your healing, growth, and self-care journey — real talk, real tools, real recovery. 🌟 Proud Sponsor Asperton Insurance Advisors — protecting what matters, at sea and on shore. 🔗 asperton.com 🔗 LinkedIn: Asperton Insurance Advisors Connect with Geraldine: 🌐 geraldinehardy.com 📲 Instagram: @_geraldinehardy | @_alignwithin #SelfCare #PersonalGrowth #WomenEmpowerment #MindBodyConnection #Boundaries #HealingJourney #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship #Wellbeing

🎙️ What makes a bag an investment — and why is monochrome styling taking over everyone’s feeds? In this episode of Voices of Luxury, host JQ Louise sits down at Big Night Studios, Boston with stylist and creator Style by Florencia to talk Hermès vs. Chanel, quiet luxury, and the real-life wardrobe formulas that actually work. From Birkin 30 “Blue Jean” Togo to the practicality of a Kelly and the rise of Chanel vanity cases, we unpack how to build an elegant, wearable closet without the overconsumption hamster wheel. 💬 You’ll also hear: - Birkin vs. Kelly: sizes, leathers (Togo/Retourne vs. Sellier), and everyday usability - Chanel mini rectangle & vanity: what fits (yes, your phone) and when they shine - Why monochrome outfits go viral — and how to make them your signature - Quiet luxury done right: investment pieces that age beautifully - Travel styling system: packing lists, Canva outfit decks, and “carry-on capsule” tips - Fast fashion reality checks — and smarter ways to refresh your look - Dress for Success Boston: how Florencia gives back by styling women for job interviews & new careers - Boston style today: practical, corporate, athleisure — and where elegance fits in ✨ Charity Spotlight — Dress for Success Empowers women to achieve economic independence through professional attire, career development, and ongoing support. Donate workwear, volunteer as a stylist/mentor, or give financially. • Website: dressforsuccess.org • Instagram: @dressforsuccess 📲 Connect with JQ Louise • Instagram: @jqlouise • TikTok: @jqlouise 📲 Connect with Style by Florencia • Instagram: @stylebyflorencia 👜 Partner Mention • Julia Rose Boston (luxury boutique & consignment; Florencia has worked with them since before the pandemic) 🌐 More from The Yachting Channel: YachtingInternationalRadio.com #Hermes #Chanel #LuxuryBags #QuietLuxury #StyleByFlorencia #VoicesOfLuxury #LuxuryFashion #MonochromeStyle #Boston #JQLouise #DressForSuccess

What happens when yachting meets community spirit in Alaska? In this episode of Captain’s Chat, host Captain Liam Devlin welcomes Emily Davis, Yacht Agent with Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska, to the bridge of M/Y Unbridled in Sitka. Together, they explore what makes Sitka unique — from its rich cultural diversity and close-knit hospitality to its growing role as a yachting destination. Emily shares her journey from Minnesota to Sitka, her work supporting yachts and cruise ships, and her passion for wellness through her business, The Studio by Emily. From yoga and Pilates to community connection, her story is a reminder of how wellness and local culture can elevate the yachting experience. 🧭 You’ll Learn: ✅ Why Sitka’s people and culture make it stand out in Alaska ✅ How yachting is shaping tourism alongside cruise ships and fishing ✅ Emily Davis’s work with Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska & Yacht Services of Alaska ✅ The rise of wellness and yoga onboard yachts ✅ Sitka’s natural highlights — from hiking trails to Twin Islands Retreat ✅ The role of fishing and community resilience in Sitka’s economy This isn’t just about yachts — it’s about people, wellness, and discovering one of Alaska’s most welcoming towns. 🌐 Learn more about The Studio by Emily: Instagram: @studiobyemily 🌐 Learn more about M/Y Unbridled: https://yachtunbridled.com #CaptainsChat #Yachting #SitkaAlaska #Superyacht #CrewCulture #Wellness #Yoga #Pilates #TravelAlaska #OceanLifestyle

What happens when training meets lifelong career support? You get UKSA’s cadetship pathway—selecting, preparing, and mentoring green crew from day one to OOW, with readiness, safety, and community at its core. In this episode of Superyacht Laundry, host Cherise Reedman sits down with Lauren Saltonstall (Industry & Careers Coordinator, UKSA) to talk candidly about competitive entry, why female deckhands are on the rise, and how UKSA’s “careers-for-life” ethos follows alumni across the globe. We also preview Monaco: the Crew Wellbeing Bag initiative bringing practical mental health, legal, financial, and physical-health tools directly to the dock. 💡 This episode dives into: 🧭 How UKSA selects and prepares cadets to thrive 👩‍🔧 Why captains often hire female deckhands for standards & drive 🧠 Accredited mental-health training onboard & spotting warning signs ⚓ Sail vs motor realities and shifting yacht norms 🛟 How to build a culture of safety and accountability at sea 🎒 Monaco preview: what’s inside the Crew Wellbeing Bag Because when training, mentorship, and wellbeing come together, it’s not just awareness—it’s safer crews and real careers. 🎙️ Superyacht Laundry amplifies authentic stories from the crew community. We proudly collaborate with brands that champion crew wellness, growth, and industry impact. Sponsorships now open for aligned partners. 🎧 Full interview with Lauren Saltonstall available on all major podcast platforms. 🌐 UKSA — Website: uksa.org | Instagram/X: @uksasailing | Facebook/LinkedIn: UKSA 🎬 Produced by Maxine Holmes #Superyacht #UKSA #Cadetship #CrewWelfare #CrewSafety #WomenInYachting #MonacoYachtShow #MentalHealthAtSea #YachtingCareer #IsleOfWight

Breaking news from the bow and beyond. 🚨 In this episode of Yachting Unplugged, Kim Sweers (The Boat Boss, FB Marine Group) and Rick Thomas bring you the latest industry updates and exclusive announcements, joined by special guest Colin Kiley, Alliance Marine Holdings: Denison Yachting Worldwide: OneWater Marine and Denison Yachting unite under a single global brand — creating the world’s largest yacht firm, with 23 offices, 800+ listings, and 180+ brokers. Alliance Marine Launch: Oasis Experiences and Monument Marine transform into Alliance Marine Holdings, combining marina management, development, and technology into one powerhouse. Colin Kiley joins to discuss what this means for the industry. https://alliancemarine.co/brand-announcement/ Boat Show Insights: Updates from the Cannes Yachting Festival and Newport International Boat Show — including standout yachts from Majesty Yachts (UAE), Pearl Yachts (UK), and Ferretti Yachts (Italy). Industry Trends: Why Americans are driving yacht sales in Europe, how hybrid propulsion and owner-operator yachts are reshaping the market, and what’s next for marina technology. 👉 Stay tuned until the end for exclusive breaking news you won’t find anywhere else before it hits the wire. 🔹 What You’ll Learn ✅ The future of Denison Yachting Worldwide ✅ How Alliance Marine is redefining marina management & technology ✅ Key insights from Cannes and Newport boat shows ✅ Why 60% of European yacht buyers are American ✅ Industry consolidation and the role of private equity 📍 Connect with our Guest 👉 Colin Kiley – Alliance Marine Holdings: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinjkiley/ 📬 Connect with the Hosts Kim Sweers “The Boat Boss” & Managing Partner, FB Marine Group: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boatboss/ Rick Thomas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-thomas-51909821/ 👉 Don’t miss your window. If you’ve ever considered yacht ownership, OBBBA could make it possible. #DenisonYachting #AllianceMarine #YachtingNews #YachtBrokerage #SuperyachtIndustry #BoatShow #LuxuryYachts #YachtingUnplugged #KimSweers #RickThomas

How does a young woman go from music PR in London and Dublin to an unexpected career aboard luxury yachts? In this first of a three-part series of Yachting USA, host Rick Thomas sits down in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, with Elle Fisher — Author & Advocate — to trace her unconventional path into yachting. From chance encounters in Ibiza to stepping on board her first 60-meter yacht, Elle opens up about resilience, crew life, and what it really means to work behind the scenes of superyachts. Filmed on location at Mahekal® Beach Resort and presented in partnership with Blue Oceans Yachting, this episode offers an unfiltered look at life below deck—from the glamour to the grind. Elle shares: ✅ How her career in PR led to a chance encounter on a yacht in Ibiza ✅ Her leap into yachting at 31, despite being told she was “too old” and “too tattooed” ✅ The reality of crew life: 18-20 hour days, tight quarters, and constant pressure ✅ Why she walked away from her first yacht to grieve and reset ✅ Insights from her satirical book Screw the Crew and her memoir Ellechemy ✅ The truth about burnout, resilience, and crew dynamics 📍 Location Mahekal® Beach Resort — Playa del Carmen, Mexico Website: https://www.mahekalbeachresort.com/ Instagram: @mahekalbeachresort 🤝 Series Partner Blue Oceans Yachting Website: https://www.blueoceansyachting.com/ Instagram: @blueoceansyachts 🎙 Meet the Guest Elle Fisher | Author & Advocate 📚 Books: Alchemy & Screw the Crew (Available on Amazon) 📸 Instagram: @saltyzimbo 🎙 Host Rick Thomas | Yachting USA 📧 [email protected] 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-thomas-51909821/ #Yachting #Superyachts #CrewLife #Author #Advocate #YachtingIndustry #YachtingUSA

🌊 Long days, dark circles, and endless commitments — yacht show season is no joke. In this episode of Self Care, host Geraldine Hardy dives into the reality of balancing the demands of the yachting world with the non-negotiables of self-care. From meditation to movement, Geraldine shares her own practices, the lessons of her healing journey, and why setting boundaries is the ultimate act of resilience. You’ll learn: - Why self-care is a personal practice, not a prescription - How boundaries protect your wellbeing during high-pressure seasons - The root-cause approach to healing physical and emotional triggers - Why independence and self-love shift the energy you attract - How intention behind words, actions, and choices shapes your reality ✨ Explore Geraldine’s Self-Care Course at geraldinehardy.com — nine digestible video lessons packed with 27 years of knowledge, available now with a special enrollment offer until the end of September. 📌 Subscribe for weekly episodes designed to support your healing, growth, and self-care journey — real talk, real tools, real recovery. 🌟 Proud Sponsor Asperton Insurance Advisors — protecting what matters, at sea and on shore. 🔗 asperton.com 🔗 LinkedIn: Asperton Insurance Advisors Connect with Geraldine: 🌐 geraldinehardy.com 📲 Instagram: @_geraldinehardy | @_alignwithin #SelfCare #PersonalGrowth #WomenEmpowerment #MindBodyConnection #Boundaries #HealingJourney #YachtLife #MentalHealth #Wellbeing

💸 Why do so many yachties earn well but still struggle to build wealth? In this candid episode of Rich AF, host Charl Minnaar (The Yachting Investor) sits down with Hugo Ortega — founder of Super Yacht Sunday School, career mentor, and Below Deck cast member — to unpack money psychology, burnout, gatekeeping in yachting, and how smart systems (not luck) create freedom. Hugo shares his pivot from oil & gas engineer to yacht officer and captain, how travel and purpose pulled him out of depression, why lifestyle creep sinks crew finances, and the tech-stack + habits that let him build a thriving education business while staying sea-ready. 🔹 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✅ The money traps yacht crew fall into (and how to avoid lifestyle creep) ✅ How mindset, mentorship, and systems beat raw hustle ✅ Practical ways to choose the right program (charter vs private vs rotation) ✅ Why quitting toxic boats isn’t failure — and how to plan an exit/reset ✅ Breaking industry gatekeeping and democratizing entry into yachting 📲 Connect with Hugo Ortega / Super Yacht Sunday School: Website: superyachtsundayschool.com Free Training (top right on the site): 45-minute get-started roadmap Instagram: @superyachtsundayschool 📩 Connect with Charl Minnaar (The Yachting Investor): 📸 Instagram: @theyachtinginvestor 📘 Facebook: @TheYachtingInvestor 🌍 Website: theyachtinginvestor.com 📌 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Rich AF. #Yachting #YachtCrew #Superyacht #BelowDeck #Investing #MoneyTips #WealthBuilding #MentalHealth #CareerAdvice #RichAF

What does the future of yachting look like when innovation meets crew culture? Captain Liam Devlin sits down with Garry Kyle, CEO of MeridianGo.com, to explore leadership, crew placement, and the changing dynamics of the maritime sector. From buying his first boats in Texas to managing an 82’ Princess and building a tech-driven crew platform, Garry shares candid insights on what really drives success for captains, owners, and crew alike. 🧭 You’ll Learn: ✅ Garry Kyle’s journey from yacht owner to tech CEO ✅ How innovation is reshaping crew recruitment and placement ✅ Why pay, culture, and longevity are key to owner ROI ✅ The challenges of leadership and crew turnover in a tight-knit industry ✅ How treating crew like professional athletes raises standards onboard ✅ The role of AI and data in the future of yachting This isn’t just about recruitment — it’s about leadership, innovation, and building the kind of culture that keeps owners, guests, and crew thriving. 📚 Learn more about MeridianGo: 🌐 https://meridiango.com 🌐 Learn more about M/Y Unbridled: https://yachtunbridled.com #CaptainsChat #Yachting #Superyacht #CrewCulture #MaritimeLeadership #Innovation #MeridianGo #OceanIndustry #BoatShow #FutureOfYachting

What happens when grief becomes too heavy to carry alone? In this second part of a two-part series, Yachting USA host Rick Thomas and Elle Fisher — Author & Advocate — share an unflinchingly honest dialogue about suicide, grief, plant medicine, resilience, and what it means to keep moving forward. This episode is not just an interview — it’s a shared survival story. Rick opens up about the devastating loss of his 21-year-old son, Aidan, while Elle reflects on her own lived experiences with multiple suicide losses. Together, they explore the silence that surrounds grief, the stigma that isolates survivors, and the courage it takes to speak openly. In this conversation, you’ll hear: ✅ Rick’s personal story of losing his son Aidan to suicide ✅ Why grief is not linear — and why the “five stages” model falls short ✅ The power of plant medicine in processing trauma and reconnecting with spirit ✅ How silence, stigma, and masking can push people deeper into despair ✅ Why kindness, compassion, and leadership in yachting (and beyond) are critical for mental wellness ✅ How sharing stories can open pathways to healing — and even save lives This series is a call to break the silence. Because every time we speak about suicide, we take away its power to isolate. For Part One: https://youtu.be/TdHSeuDcYNs 🎙 Meet the Guest Elle Fisher | Author & Advocate 📚 Book: Alchemy (Available on Amazon) 📸 Instagram: @saltyzimbo 🎙 Host Rick Thomas | Yachting USA 📧 [email protected] 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-thomas-51909821/ #Yachting #MentalHealth #SuicideAwareness #Grief #Healing #Superyachts #YachtingLife #Author #Advocate #YachtingUSA