Set sail with us on this unforgettable, seaborne edition of the Business Lifejacket Podcast as host David Germain records from the Bridge of the Borealis, deep in the fjords of Southern Norway, en route to Ålesund – and fresh from witnessing the awe-inspiring Northern Lights!

In this exclusive episode, David is joined by the charismatic and deeply experienced Captain Mikael Degerlund of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, who shares stories from his remarkable 44-year journey at sea – starting as a teenage deck boy from a small Finnish village to commanding cruise ships across the globe.

This is more than a podcast – it’s a front-row seat to life at the helm and a rare insight into the leadership and legacy of one of cruising’s most respected captains.

So grab your metaphorical lifejacket, steady your compass, and get ready for a deep dive into tales of resilience, responsibility, and the romance of the sea.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who might need a little extra support in their business journey.

Until next time, keep learning, laughing, and making waves!

Credits:
Host: David Germain
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcgermain/
david.germain@andertoncentre.co.uk

Produced by: OneZeroCreative
www.OneZeroCreative.co.uk

Sponsored by The Anderton Centre
www.andertoncentre.co.uk
New Road, Anderton, Chorley, Lancashire, PR6 9HG reception@andertoncentre.co.uk 01257 484220 www.andertoncentre.co.uk

Learn more about the Anderton Centre by visiting the website, or contact David Germain for a personal tour.

Business Lifejacket Podcast - Episode Description

Hello and welcome to the Business Life Jacket Podcast! 🚤 The podcast that doesn’t take itself too seriously and somehow finds a way to shoehorn as many nautical puns into the world of business as possible.

This episode is sponsored by the Anderton Centre, an award-winning education, training, and conference venue located in the Northwest between Bolton and Chorley.

Please note: The views and opinions shared on the Business Lifejacket Podcast are based on the personal experiences of the individuals involved and are not intended to be taken as official business advice. Always seek professional guidance when making decisions for your business.

Now, let’s dive in!

On today's episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Meena McDonald, the dynamic force behind Meena McDonald Marketing. With over two decades of experience in marketing, PR, and branding, Meena specialises in helping businesses of all sizes stand out and succeed in a crowded marketplace. Her personalised approach and passion for creative storytelling have made her the go-to expert for driving growth and building impactful brands.

Tune in to hear about Meena's journey, the flexibility of running her own agency, and how she chooses to work with clients who are the right fit for her business and expertise.

In today’s episode, I’ll reflect on some of my own marketing mishaps in our regular segment, Dave's Story Time. And trust me, today’s story is a doozy—the Paddle Your Way to Paradise campaign disaster. Let me take you back to a cold February morning when we launched a marketing campaign to promote paddleboarding and kayaking. It sounded genius at the time... until the weather (and the locals) had something to say about it.

From gale-force winds to a hula dancer becoming a meme, I’ll share the hilarious lessons I learned about honesty in marketing and knowing your audience. Spoiler: Lancashire’s beauty is a paradise in its own right—and sometimes, you don’t need a flamingo to sell it!

Meena McDonald Marketing

https://www.linkedin.com/in/meenamcdonald/

https://meenamcdonald.com/

Listen now to hear more about the creative world of branding and marketing!

If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who might need a little extra support in their business journey.

Until next time, keep learning, laughing, and making waves!

Credits:
Host: David Germain
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcgermain/
david.germain@andertoncentre.co.uk

Produced by: OneZeroCreative
www.OneZeroCreative.co.uk

Sponsored by The Anderton Centre
www.andertoncentre.co.uk
New Road, Anderton, Chorley, Lancashire, PR6 9HG reception@andertoncentre.co.uk 01257 484220 www.andertoncentre.co.uk

Learn more about the Anderton Centre by visiting the website, or contact David Germain for a personal tour.

In this episode, Julia Hartley introduces us to Guided Outdoor Adventures, a booking platform that connects guides with clients, making outdoor adventures more accessible and helping people find the right expertise to explore safely and confidently.

Joined by Elyssa Germain, from OneZeroCreative and host of This Place, Our Voices, we discuss the mental health benefits of outdoor experiences to the power of shared adventure and how activities like hiking and wild swimming help people step out of their comfort zones and rediscover their inner strength.

Explore more:

https://guidedoutdooradventures.co.uk/

Join Julia & Guided Outdoor Adventures on Social Media

https://www.facebook.com/guidedoutdooradventures

https://www.instagram.com/guidedoutdooradventures

https://www.tiktok.com/@guided.outdoor.ad

https://www.linkedin.com/company/guided-outdoor-adventures

Listen to This Place, Our Voices

If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who might need a little extra support in their business journey.

Until next time, keep learning, laughing, and making waves!

Credits:
Host: David Germain
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcgermain/
david.germain@andertoncentre.co.uk

Produced by: OneZeroCreative
www.OneZeroCreative.co.uk

Sponsored by The Anderton Centre
www.andertoncentre.co.uk
New Road, Anderton, Chorley, Lancashire, PR6 9HG reception@andertoncentre.co.uk 01257 484220 www.andertoncentre.co.uk

Learn more about the Anderton Centre by visiting the website, or contact David Germain for a personal tour.

Welcome aboard the Business Lifejacket Podcast, where we dive into the choppy waters of business with plenty of nautical puns and laughs along the way! Sponsored by the award-winning Anderton Centre, this episode features Darren Bentham from Interact IT, who shares his insights on AI, digital marketing, and cutting-edge software solutions for business efficiency.

Darren breaks down the practical applications of AI, debunks common misconceptions (no, it's not Terminator-level yet), and reveals game-changing tech trends for the future. From automating tedious data entry to predicting machine failures, there's plenty of inspiration for businesses looking to integrate new technologies.

Plus, Dave shares a hilariously chaotic tale of an auto-reply disaster that became a cautionary tech tale at the Anderton Centre. Think endless email loops, confused clients, and valuable lessons learned.

Whether you're tech-savvy or just curious, this episode has something for everyone looking to stay afloat in today's fast-paced business world. Don't miss it!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-bentham/

interact-digital.co.uk

01257 429217

Interact IT Chestnut House 46 Halliwell Street Chorley Lancashire PR7 2AL

darren@interact-it.com

If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who might need a little extra support in their business journey.

Until next time, keep learning, laughing, and making waves!

Credits:
Host: David Germain
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcgermain/
david.germain@andertoncentre.co.uk

Produced by: OneZeroCreative
www.OneZeroCreative.co.uk

Sponsored by The Anderton Centre
www.andertoncentre.co.uk
New Road, Anderton, Chorley, Lancashire, PR6 9HG reception@andertoncentre.co.uk 01257 484220 www.andertoncentre.co.uk

Learn more about the Anderton Centre by visiting the website, or contact David Germain for a personal tour.

In this episode of the Business Lifejacket Podcast, host David Germain is joined by Emily Hunnybun, founder of Fresh Look Strategies, to navigate the choppy waters of recruitment and talent management.

Emily shares her wealth of experience working with both boutique businesses and global organisations, offering insights into what makes—or breaks—the hiring process.

Expect plenty of laughs as Emily and David swap stories about the funniest CVs they’ve encountered, the quirkiest excuses candidates have given for skipping interviews, and the strangest things people have negotiated for in job offers.

Emily also answers questions about the biggest mistakes job seekers make, the importance of recruitment within businesses, and what every company should remember when advertising a job.

'Dave's Storytime' features "The Great Chef Recruitment Debacle," a hilarious yet insightful story about the pitfalls of writing vague job descriptions—and the triumph of finally getting it right.

Whether you’re a business owner, HR professional, or job seeker, this episode offers valuable lessons with a healthy dose of humour. Tune in for practical advice, relatable stories, and plenty of nautical puns to keep things afloat!

Connect with Emily here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyhunnybun/

Employability Skills Workshop takes place on Wednesday 19th February 2025. Register here:

https://andertoncentre.cinolla.com/andertoncentre/course/employability-skills-workshop?start_date=2025-01-07&end_date=2025-02-28

If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who might need a little extra support in their business journey.

Until next time, keep learning, laughing, and making waves!

Credits:
Host: David Germain
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcgermain/
david.germain@andertoncentre.co.uk

Produced by: OneZeroCreative
www.OneZeroCreative.co.uk

Sponsored by The Anderton Centre
www.andertoncentre.co.uk
New Road, Anderton, Chorley, Lancashire, PR6 9HG reception@andertoncentre.co.uk 01257 484220 www.andertoncentre.co.uk

Learn more about the Anderton Centre by visiting the website, or contact David Germain for a personal tour.

In this episode of the Business Lifejacket Podcast, we dive into the complex world of leadership and management with our guest, Richard McGarvey. With a successful career in financial services and leadership development, Richard now brings his expertise to consulting at the award-winning Anderton Centre.

We explore Richard’s journey from his early days in finance to discovering his passion for leadership development. He shares candid insights on the challenges of leading people, the value of emotional intelligence versus strategic vision, and the biggest myths about managing teams.

Get ready for stories of tough decisions, team dynamics, and practical advice, including Richard's “three golden rules” for leadership and tips on building strong, collaborative teams—even in hybrid or remote environments.

Plus, host David Germain shares a hilariously cautionary tale about the perils of micromanagement in his Dave’s Story Time segment, featuring “Karen Points,” sticky note lectures, and a team-building exercise gone awry. It’s a lesson in what not to do as a leader.

Whether you’re new to leadership or a seasoned pro, this episode offers plenty of laughs, lessons, and actionable takeaways to help you steer your team toward success.

Tune in now, and don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share the episode with fellow business navigators!

Contact Richard via the below links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-mcgarvey-078a68190/

richard.mcgarvey@advice4business.co.uk

https://www.boardsmart.co.uk/

If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who might need a little extra support in their business journey.

Until next time, keep learning, laughing, and making waves!

Credits:
Host: David Germain
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcgermain/
david.germain@andertoncentre.co.uk

Produced by: OneZeroCreative
www.OneZeroCreative.co.uk

Sponsored by The Anderton Centre
www.andertoncentre.co.uk
New Road, Anderton, Chorley, Lancashire, PR6 9HG reception@andertoncentre.co.uk 01257 484220 www.andertoncentre.co.uk

Learn more about the Anderton Centre by visiting the website, or contact David Germain for a personal tour.

This debut trailer episode introduces you to Business Lifejacket, the podcast designed to keep you afloat in the turbulent world of business. Whether you're starting out or managing a seasoned organisation, David's here to help you navigate challenges with practical tips, expert insights, and plenty of laughs.

Discover David's unique approach to leadership, honed through his diverse experience in education, outdoor learning, and business coaching. Hear about his own journey steering successful enterprises and how learning from mistakes—his own and others’—can chart a better course for you.

This episode sets the tone for what’s to come: engaging conversations with guests who share lessons from their blunders, actionable advice to improve your business, and a lighter look at leadership. So, grab your lifejacket, jump in, and prepare for a fun, insightful journey through the ups and downs of the business world!

If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who might need a little extra support in their business journey.

Until next time, keep learning, laughing, and making waves!

Credits:
Host: David Germain
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcgermain/
david.germain@andertoncentre.co.uk

Produced by: OneZeroCreative
www.OneZeroCreative.co.uk

Sponsored by The Anderton Centre
www.andertoncentre.co.uk
New Road, Anderton, Chorley, Lancashire, PR6 9HG reception@andertoncentre.co.uk 01257 484220 www.andertoncentre.co.uk

Learn more about the Anderton Centre by visiting the website, or contact David Germain for a personal tour.