The Full Ahead podcast is giving the maritime world a platform it has long lacked.
It’s the creation of journalist Nigel Thompson and shipping executive Alistair Eagles, two people whose lifelong connection to the sea has shaped a series designed to celebrate an industry central to the United Kingdom yet often overlooked by the public.
Each episode combines deep sector insight with first-hand storytelling to highlight the scale, history and future of maritime work in a way intended to reach both insiders and curious newcomers.
Nigel spent twenty years as a BBC correspondent before moving into PR and podcast production a decade ago. Alistair served fifteen years as chief executive officer of Seatruck Ferries based in Heysham following earlier roles across shipping and logistics.
Together, the pair have set out to make a show rooted in experience, access and genuine passion for the sector.
“We thought there was a real opportunity to highlight the work of people employed in this vital sector who are often overlooked,” Nigel said. “Everywhere I’ve lived and worked I have been drawn to the sea and have been struck by the passion and conviction of those who make their living from it.”
The series arrives at a time when the industry faces recruitment challenges, with both creators believing that storytelling can help raise awareness among potential new entrants.
“I know from personal experience shipping is not always seen as the dynamic industry it actually is,” Alistair said. “It’s never been more important to maintain and develop the sector with new ideas from those who may be unaware of the range of jobs on offer. That’s one reason for making the podcast.”
Episode one features chief officer Harvey Finney from Caledonian MacBrayne, who began pursuing a maritime career as a teenager applying for work experience at Seatruck before completing a cadetship at Fleetwood Nautical College and gaining his masters unlimited ticket earlier this year.
The podcast also branches into major industry events, including a prestigious shipping summit in Malmo where Alistair was invited as a guest speaker and the team produced a five-part series covering themes from electric vessels to the use of AI in passenger operations.
Heritage plays a prominent role too, with recent episodes exploring the first arrival of a new ferry on the Irish Sea and a day spent with volunteers caring for the Daniel Adamson, the historic steam tug operating on the Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal.
“In every episode of the podcast we aim to feature the sounds of the subject we’re talking about as well as hearing directly from those who are working whether to keep history alive or make a difference in the future,” Nigel said.
Guests already include representatives from Mersey Maritime, the world’s oldest ferry service, the owner of what may be the country’s smallest ferry, a maritime lawyer and a ships’ pilot, with upcoming episodes featuring the makers of TV series Coastguard, ship builders and the Scottish lighthouse service.
The podcast has already been downloaded in more than forty countries, and the team has recently added a YouTube channel to expand its reach.
“We’re constantly looking for guests to help raise the profile of the maritime world and have recently opened a YouTube channel alongside our podcast feeds to help spread the word about this fascinating and fast-changing industry,” Alistair said.
The Full Ahead podcast is available on Spotify and Apple, and viewers can search The Full Ahead Podcast on YouTube.
