What happens when an offshore driller hits rock bottom and decides to rebuild his life from the ground up?

In this episode, I sit down with Keeley Bell, founder of Silverback GRIT, to discuss offshore life, addiction, mental health, leadership, fitness, and why the energy industry needs to start taking care of its people as seriously as it takes care of its equipment.

Keeley shares his journey from the drilling rigs of the Gulf of Mexico to becoming a passionate advocate for mental resilience and personal transformation. From battling alcoholism and surviving a heart attack to building a company focused on improving the wellbeing of offshore workers, this is an honest conversation about the realities many people face but few talk about openly.

The discussion covers offshore culture, isolation, leadership, fitness, sleep, nutrition, mental health, family life, and what companies can do to better support their workforce.

Most importantly, it is a reminder that no matter how difficult things get, there is always another day to keep moving forward.

00:00 Introduction 00:48 Life as an offshore driller in the Gulf of Mexico 02:25 Offshore rotations and the drinking culture 05:30 The story behind Silverback GRIT 09:13 Bringing mental health conversations offshore 12:32 Hidden pressures of offshore life 13:52 Why being open about your struggles matters 17:03 Is there a mental health crisis in the industry? 18:36 Breaking the culture of bottling things up 21:01 Hydration, sleep and physical wellbeing offshore 23:53 Isolation and building support systems 29:06 Offshore vs onshore culture challenges 31:47 Is the industry finally changing? 34:03 Leadership, generations and culture shifts 37:02 Fitness, longevity and staying physically capable 39:16 Offshore weight limits and workforce health 43:56 Why people are the most important safety barrier 46:40 Advice for younger workers entering the industry 48:28 The future of Silverback GRIT 50:10 Advice for anyone currently struggling 53:10 Keeley's proudest moment 54:56 Final thoughts and closing remarks

This episode is one of the most balanced and honest conversations we’ve had on the podcast.

John Underhill, Professor at the University of Aberdeen and Director for Energy Transition, joins me to break down what’s actually happening in the energy world right now.

This isn’t about picking sides.

It’s about understanding reality.

We get into the North Sea, the role of oil and gas in the transition, the truth behind emissions reporting, and why energy has suddenly become such a political battleground.

John brings decades of experience across academia and industry, and gives a perspective that cuts through a lot of the noise.

We also talk about:

• Why the UK has become more dependent on imports • The unintended consequences of how emissions are measured • The real challenges of transitioning from oil and gas to renewables • Why job losses in traditional energy are not being replaced like for like • Whether the North Sea still has a future • The idea of “energy addition” rather than just transition • Why energy has become so divided and politicised • And what a realistic energy future actually looks like

If you want a proper, grounded view of where we are and where we’re heading, this is one worth listening to.

00:00 – Intro 00:24 – Introduction to John Underhill 01:27 – Working in the North Sea during its peak 02:49 – Academia vs industry experience 05:17 – What a day looks like in energy today 07:37 – Why energy has become centre stage 11:49 – The role of oil and gas in the transition 14:19 – The global reality of fossil fuel dependence 16:47 – Addition vs transition mindset 19:41 – The truth about emissions reporting 23:26 – Are we just shifting emissions elsewhere? 26:04 – Domestic vs imported energy and carbon footprint 29:45 – Global emissions and energy realities 32:00 – Impact on communities and jobs 37:10 – Can renewables replace oil and gas jobs? 40:23 – The reality of offshore wind jobs 42:41 – Skills gaps and retraining challenges 47:09 – How much is left in the North Sea? 49:41 – Tax policy and investment challenges 55:39 – Why energy has become so divided 58:16 – The real state of the energy transition 01:00:51 – Challenges with hydrogen and new technologies 01:03:14 – Public perception and community pushback 01:06:22 – Proudest career moment 01:08:54 – Independent thinking in energy 01:13:42 – Unique career experiences and insights 01:18:12 – Final thoughts

This one is a proper deep dive into the world behind the wells.

Juan Cottier joins me to break down what geology actually is, how it fits into oil and gas, and why it’s one of the most misunderstood parts of the industry.

We get into how oil is really found, the different stages from exploration through to production, and why geologists spend their careers making decisions with incomplete data.

But this goes well beyond rocks.

We talk about the disconnect between offshore and the office Why careers in oil and gas are becoming more unstable How the industry has changed over the last 30 years

And one of the biggest points in this episode:

Why the oil industry might actually be “eating itself”

Juan also shares stories from working across the world, including West Africa during civil unrest, and gives a brutally honest view on where the industry is heading.

This is one for anyone in energy who wants to understand what’s really going on beneath the surface. 00:20 Introduction 01:30 Career background 03:00 What is geology 05:30 Getting into oil and gas 07:30 Working with limited data 09:30 Oilfield lifecycle explained 11:30 Arrogance in geology 12:30 Development vs production work 14:30 Why he supports oil and gas 16:30 Global experience 18:30 Offshore life realities 20:30 Offshore vs office disconnect 22:30 Decision making on wells 24:30 Team collaboration 26:30 Career instability 29:00 Fewer young geologists 31:00 Career advice 33:00 Norway vs UK 36:00 Norway model explained 39:00 UK missed opportunity 40:30 Knowledge gap 42:00 Industry eating itself 44:00 Debt and private equity 47:00 Layoffs and cycles 49:00 Social media presence 51:00 Humour in industry 52:30 Career reflections 54:30 Family decisions 56:00 Biggest finds 57:10 End

Another one from the Jim & Joe Show and this one goes everywhere.

We start with what’s kicking off globally UAE, OPEC, the Strait of Hormuz, and where oil prices could be heading

Then it turns into exactly what you’d expect

Stories from offshore that probably shouldn’t be told Close calls Absolute chaos And a few moments where things could have gone very wrong

From diesel spills to dropped gear, to nearly turning the North Sea fluorescent green…

Yeah… it’s one of those episodes

Bit of the usual speaking rubbish and putting the world to right.

00:20 – Catch up and what’s been happening 01:00 – UAE, OPEC and what it could mean 02:30 – Oil production limits and tensions in the Gulf 04:00 – Pipelines, supply routes and global oil flow 06:00 – Iran, fibre optic cables and global disruption risk 07:30 – Oil prices and potential 24 percent jump 08:30 – Tanker prices and market pressures 09:30 – Renewables overtaking coal and China’s role 10:30 – What’s happening in drilling right now 11:30 – New contracts and industry movement 12:30 – Global instability and long term outlook 14:00 – Politics, Trump and global positioning 16:00 – UK politics, Labour and energy influence 18:00 – Offshore segment begins – biggest regrets and f*ck ups 19:00 – Joe’s diesel spill story offshore 22:30 – Lessons learned and close calls 23:30 – Jim’s dropped collar incident 27:00 – How bad it could have been 29:00 – More offshore chaos and near misses 33:00 – Crude spill and trying to cover it up 36:00 – Cleaning it up without getting caught 38:00 – Jim’s fluorescein disaster story 42:00 – Turning the sea green and full panic mode 45:00 – Covering tracks and getting away with it 47:00 – Talking about OIM Chris and offshore leadership 49:00 – OEUK episode and industry reactions 51:00 – Closing thoughts Show Sponsors: https://elite360x.nl/vital-30-business-vitality/

This one goes stateside.

Stu Turley, CEO of Sandstone Group and host of Energy Newsbeat, joins me to break down what’s really going on in the energy world right now.

We get into the current situation in the US, why California is facing serious energy issues, and how global events like the Strait of Hormuz could have a much bigger impact than people realise.

But this is not just headlines.

We talk about: • Energy security and why it actually matters • The reality behind renewables vs oil and gas • Why the world isn’t in an energy transition, but an energy addition • The growing pressure from AI, data centres, and power demand • And where the biggest opportunities in energy really are

Stu doesn’t hold back.

Whether you agree with him or not, this is a proper look at how energy, politics, and global power all tie together.

00:20 – Introduction and who Stu Turley is 01:00 – From Intel to oil and gas 02:50 – Starting Energy Newsbeat 03:30 – What Sandstone Group does 04:00 – Current US energy situation and California 05:30 – Strait of Hormuz and global supply risk 07:00 – California imports, refinery closures and policy impact 08:30 – Oil reserves and shutdown of local production 10:00 – Global energy politics and shifting markets 12:00 – OPEC, UAE, and changing oil flows 14:00 – Oil pricing, demand, and global supply pressure 16:30 – Renewables vs oil and gas debate 18:30 – Why wind and solar struggle without subsidies 20:30 – Energy security and global dependence 22:00 – Jones Act, pipelines and US infrastructure issues 24:00 – What happens if supply tightens further 26:00 – Future global energy trading blocks 28:00 – UK and EU energy outlook 30:00 – Energy security becoming more visible 31:30 – Surveillance, control and energy links 33:00 – UK energy situation and preparedness 34:00 – Building resilience and backup systems 35:30 – Growth of Energy Newsbeat 37:00 – Censorship, big tech and control 38:30 – Energy transition vs energy addition 40:00 – Industry messaging and public perception 41:30 – Future of energy and global cooperation 42:30 – Ending energy poverty 43:30 – Opportunities in the energy sector 45:30 – AI, data centres and power demand 47:30 – Nuclear, coal and future baseload 49:30 – Infrastructure limitations and turbine supply 51:30 – Final thoughts and future outlook Show Sponsors: https://elite360x.nl/vital-30-busines...

This is one of the more honest conversations we’ve had on Wind, Waves & Wells.

Omar joins me to talk through a journey that starts in Bradford and ends up offshore, travelling the world in oil and gas. But this one goes far deeper than job titles, projects, or locations.

We get into what the industry is really like when you first step into it The egos, the pressure, and the identity that comes with the job

And then we shift into something far more real

Mental health Childhood trauma Attachment to career and status What happens when everything stops and you are left with yourself

Omar opens up about experiences he carried for decades, the impact it had on his life, relationships, and career, and how he eventually faced it head on through therapy, self work, and writing his book.

This is not a polished story It is a real one

If you work offshore, in energy, or in any high pressure environment, there will be parts of this that hit home.

00:20 – Introduction and Omar’s background 01:10 – From Bradford to oil and gas 03:30 – First job and early industry exposure 06:00 – First offshore trip and Angola experience 09:10 – Realising the scale of the industry 11:10 – Offshore culture, egos, and identity struggles 12:20 – Attaching self worth to job titles 14:00 – Industry downturns and mental impact 16:20 – Advice for people going through downturns 18:10 – Moving into nuclear and career reflections 20:20 – Writing the book and personal growth 21:30 – Opening up about childhood trauma 24:30 – Mental health struggles and coping mechanisms 27:00 – Work as a coping mechanism 28:00 – Hitting breaking point and seeking help 31:00 – Therapy, self discovery, and identity 34:10 – Suicide attempts and darkest periods 35:40 – Returning offshore with a new mindset 36:50 – Real conversations offshore about mental health 38:20 – Relatability and breaking down barriers 39:00 – Psychedelics, healing, and perspective shifts 41:00 – Are people in the industry struggling? 42:20 – Being treated as a number offshore 42:50 – Raising awareness for mental health 44:00 – Is the industry changing? 45:20 – Advice for those struggling offshore 46:30 – Writing the book process and emotional toll 50:50 – Have you come out the other side? 52:20 – What younger Omar would think now 53:40 – Proudest moment 55:50 – Final thoughts and closing Show Sponsors: https://elite360x.nl/vital-30-busines...

A new offshore policy is coming… and it’s already dividing the industry.

From November, any worker over 124kg won’t be allowed to travel offshore. Simple rule. Massive consequences.

In this episode, I sit down with Graham Skinner from Offshore Energies UK to break it all down.

Where did the number actually come from? Why now? And what happens to the people who can’t meet it?

We get into everything:

• The real reason behind the 124kg limit • Why rescue helicopters are at the centre of it • The challenges of evacuating larger casualties offshore • Why fitness doesn’t matter… only weight • Concerns around fairness, job security, and timing • Whether this could spread to wind and other industries • The reality behind “just upgrade the equipment” • And what support workers will actually get

This isn’t a simple conversation.

It’s safety vs livelihoods. Policy vs reality. And a decision that could impact thousands of offshore workers.

You might not agree with it. You might not like it.

But it’s coming.

00:24 Who is Graham Skinner and his offshore background 01:12 The 124kg rule explained 03:06 Why 124kg? The real reason behind the number 04:53 When the industry realised weight was a problem 06:18 Consultation with unions and operators 06:56 Industry reaction and worker response 08:22 Union concerns and fairness 09:07 Legal challenges and compliance 09:49 What about big, fit workers? 11:17 Why fitness doesn’t matter, only weight 12:46 Why not upgrade rescue equipment? 15:00 Limits of helicopters, stretchers and systems 16:06 Is the winch really the main issue? 18:22 Why oil and gas first and not wind or marine 20:33 How many workers will actually be affected 22:17 Job security concerns in a struggling industry 23:20 Is now the wrong time to introduce this policy? 25:35 Offshore food, fitness and weight loss challenges 28:35 What operators are doing to help 29:52 Is this really about money? 30:38 Why the industry didn’t act sooner 31:53 Why the rule only applies going offshore 33:36 Why not in Norway or other regions 34:35 Are there any exemptions? 34:54 Extreme scenarios and operational decisions 37:04 Weight loss drugs and new health risks 40:35 Is the offshore workforce unhealthy? 41:20 Impact on long term offshore workers 43:03 Will the rule change in the future? 43:45 Is the policy unfair? 44:31 Will it definitely go ahead? 45:24 What happens to workers who can’t meet it 46:59 Long term vision for the policy 48:14 Will operators be held accountable 49:04 Graham’s proudest career moment 50:27 Final thoughts and real industry concerns

Show Sponsor

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16 years on from the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

On April 20th 2010, 11 men lost their lives in one of the most significant offshore disasters in modern history.

This episode of Wind, Waves & Wells is a re-release of a conversation that was never widely heard.

John Guide was the BP Drilling Supervisor for Deepwater Horizon, working from the office at the time.

In the aftermath of the incident, much of the narrative focused on BP from the outside looking in. This is the perspective from inside the operation.

John shares his full career journey into deepwater drilling… What Deepwater Horizon was really like as a rig… And his honest view on what happened before, during, and after Macondo.

From the negative pressure test… To the cement job, decision-making, and investigation process… To the media narrative, legal battles, and personal toll…

This is a rare insight into the side of the story that was largely unheard.

This is not about blame. This is about understanding.

00:00 Intro music 00:20 John’s introduction and why he came forward 01:00 Career background and offshore journey 03:00 Deepwater Horizon as a rig and BP operations 05:00 Macondo well background and rig change from Marianas 07:00 Budget, schedule, and operational realities 08:30 Challenges of deepwater drilling and Macondo conditions 09:50 “Well from hell” myth vs reality 11:30 Running casing and cement job overview 13:30 Float equipment issues and pressure anomalies 15:30 Cement job execution and well integrity checks 17:00 Negative pressure test explained 18:30 Why the operation continued after the test 20:00 What the investigation found about the negative test 21:00 What actually caused the incident 23:00 Accountability and “everyone should have done better” 24:30 Investigations begin and first experiences 26:00 Working relationships vs legal conflict post-incident 28:00 Media narrative and public perception 30:00 Scale of the industry vs public understanding 32:00 Was BP treated fairly? 33:30 Investigation process vs real incident investigation principles 35:30 Politics and influence on findings 37:30 Pressure, schedule myths, and Nile well clarification 40:00 Cement bond log decision and misconceptions 43:00 Hollywood portrayal vs offshore reality 46:00 Trial experience and being targeted 49:00 Centralisers controversy and model inaccuracies 52:00 Cement failure and unanswered questions 54:30 Schlumberger helicopter myth addressed 56:00 Media influence vs technical reality 58:00 The toll of investigations and legal pressure 01:00:30 Criminal investigation experience 01:03:00 Financial aftermath and compensation discussion 01:05:00 BP support during and after the incident 01:07:00 Planning, engineering, and “failure from day one” myth 01:10:30 What people get wrong about Macondo 01:13:00 Was it preventable? 01:15:00 Living with the incident years later 01:16:30 Human side of BP and offshore workforce 01:18:30 Final reflections and key takeaway 01:20:30 Career reflections and proudest moments 01:22:30 Closing thoughts