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PODCAST

Island Influencers

Welcome to Island Influencers, where we share stories of successful business owners, experienced professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders based or with influence in the Isle of Man. This podcast is brought to you by Thornton.

society & culture places & travel

All Episodes

57:28

Mother and daughter duo Sarah and Rachel Jarvis

Island Influencers ·

2025/05/28

Our latest Island Influencer episode is a first for us—and a very special one. It’s not often we get the chance to welcome a mother and daughter together, but we felt this was a truly lovely combination. Their intertwined stories deserve to be heard in tandem. You'll meet Sarah Jarvis, who built a successful career in marketing before life threw her a devastating curveball—stage three ovarian cancer, forcing an unexpected and early retirement at age 58. Since then, Sarah has become a passionate

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01:05:22

Wendy Ranft-Gerber, Health and Balance

Island Influencers ·

2025/05/14

In this latest episode of Island Influencers, Wendy Ranft-Gerber shares her life story from growing up in South Africa to finding a new home - and a new calling - on the Isle of Man. Wendy’s story is one of adaptability, courage, and deep compassion, spanning military service, a career in financial services, and eventually following her passion into yoga teaching and cancer wellness coaching. Along the way, she discusses pivotal life moments, including travelling the world, navigating

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40:16

Graham Makepeace-Warne, Experienced wildlife...

Island Influencers ·

2025/04/30

In this latest episode of Island Influencers, Sharon chats with Graham Makepeace-Warne, Marketing and Engagement Manager at Manx Wildlife Trust. Graham shares his fascinating journey from a corporate marketing career in Manchester to finding a deeper sense of purpose in conservation on the Isle of Man. He reflects on the pivotal moment that made him rethink his career and commit to protecting nature, as well as why the Isle of Man has become the perfect place for him to live and work. Graham

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38:19

Kasia Chudy, founder of the Natural Animal Clinic

Island Influencers ·

2025/04/16

This week Sharon chats with Kasia Chudy, a veterinary surgeon and the founder of the Natural Animal Clinic in Ballasalla, where she and her team bring a fresh and holistic approach to animal care. Originally from Poland, Kasia studied veterinary medicine at the University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Wrocław. She moved to the UK before discovering the Isle of Man and making the island her home. The Natural Animal Clinic specialises in alternative treatments such as acupuncture and herbal

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52:11

Deborah Heather, Chief Executive Officer of Visit...

Island Influencers ·

2025/04/02

In this episode of Island Influencers, we welcome Deborah Heather, CEO of Visit Isle of Man to share her story and ambitious plans for the island. Deborah’s early childhood was in Durham, and at nine, she moved to Hong Kong. Her experiences abroad and back in the UK shaped her perspective and led to a successful career in the hotel industry, ultimately guiding her to her current role. She discusses the ambitious target of attracting 500,000 visitors by 2032 and the innovative strategies her team

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50:34

Vicki Hotchkiss, founder of Compass Strategy and a...

Island Influencers ·

2025/03/19

This special International Women’s Day episode comes a little later than planned due to illness, but it’s worth the wait! Island Influencer Vicki Hotchkiss comes from a long line of inspirational women and continues to break barriers for future generations. As the Founder of Compass Strategy and a non-executive director for the Isle of Man Football Association, Vicki shares her personal and professional story—from growing up on the Isle of Man and travelling the world to building an extensive

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01:03:47

Jason Bissell, Global AI & Data Executive, Strategic...

Island Influencers ·

2025/03/05

In this episode of Island Influencers, I sit down with the incredible Jason Bissell, Global AI & Data Executive, Strategic Advisor, and Chair of the UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man Board. From a small village in Somerset to leading global AI, tech, and data companies, Jason's career path and life story are nothing short of inspiring. We talk about how his early experiences, including the influence of his stepfather, shaped his work ethic and drive. Jason shares insights from his pioneering work in AI,

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34:01

Anne Harrison co-owner of Wine Down Ltd - Restaurant...

Island Influencers ·

2025/02/19

This week, Sharon records live from the vibrant and cosy setting of Wine Down, the Isle of Man’s cherished restaurant and wine shop, with Anne Harrison, its co-founder. Years before opening the doors to Wine Down, Anne thought of the name while out on a run—where she does all her best thinking—and dreamed of one day owning her own business. That vision became a reality when she partnered with the talented chef Roy Macfarlane, the other half of Wine Down, to create this unique hybrid concept. From

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37:52

Sarah Hickey, Ecologist & Peatland and Upland Carbon...

Island Influencers ·

2025/02/05

In this episode of Island Influencers, Sharon welcomes Sarah Hickey, the Peatland and Upland Carbon Officer for the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA). Sarah shares her passion for conservation, discusses her career path, and sheds light on her critical work and the significance of peatland restoration on the Isle of Man. We delve into Sarah's story, shaped by a love for the outdoors nurtured by inspiring teachers and outdoor education programmes. We also explore Sarah's bold

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01:09:54

John Webster, Chairman, Manx Technology Group

Island Influencers ·

2025/01/22

This week’s Island Influencers podcast features John Webster, Chairman of Manx Technology Group. From his early days growing up near Liverpool and spending summers on the Isle of Man, to becoming an accomplished economist, entrepreneur, and leader in both public and private sectors. John has been a key figure in shaping the Isle of Man’s economic landscape. During the 1970s and 1980s, he played a crucial role in establishing the island’s finance sector, laying the groundwork for its modern-day

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01:07:33

Dr Karen Wilson, Founder of Mannin Doctors Ltd

Island Influencers ·

2025/01/08

In the inaugural episode of Island Influencers for 2025, Sharon chats with Dr. Karen Wilson, who shares her remarkable life story from growing up in Glasgow to settling on the Isle of Man and founding Mannin Doctors, the island's first private healthcare practice, while detailing the challenges she faced, the successes she achieved, and her vision for creating patient-centred, accessible healthcare. Karen has excelled in various roles, including GP, motorsports medic, and hospice doctor. She

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38:41

Island Influencer Amy Howse, founder of Soundology,...

Island Influencers ·

2024/11/20

Our latest Island Influencer Amy Howse, grew up in Weston-super-Mare and started exploring the world on her own at 19. Her adventures and curiosity inspired her to pursue a career in Speech & Language Therapy (SLT) while also fueling her passion for yoga and sound therapy. Through Soundology, she uses sound therapy to encourage emotional healing and support mental health. Her approach now includes combining sound with nature, especially in her role as the Biosphere Artist in Residence with the Manx

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55:14

Chris Gregory, Chief Executive Officer, Isle of Play

Island Influencers ·

2024/09/18

This week's Island Influencer is Chris Gregory, Chief Executive of Isle of Play, a charity dedicated to promoting, providing, and advocating for every child on the Isle of Man to fulfil their ‘Right to Play.’ Chris was born and raised in Newton-le-Willows, a small town situated between Wigan, Warrington, and St. Helens. Growing up in a hard-working, working-class family, he witnessed firsthand the challenges his parents faced in providing for the family. Their perseverance and dedication instilled

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25:30

Ben Barringer, a global TMT analyst and Executive...

Island Influencers ·

2024/09/04

My guest this week is Ben Barringer, a Chartered Financial Analyst, Global TMT Analyst, and Executive Director at Quilter Cheviot. This slightly different podcast interview is a taster of our upcoming Breakfast Seminar on September 26th at St John's Mill, Isle of Man, where Ben will be our guest speaker. He will be discussing everything you ever wanted to know about AI but were too afraid to ask. The Thornton team and I are eagerly looking forward to Ben’s presentation. There's so much we can

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49:08

Island Influencer Gary Cobb

Island Influencers ·

2024/08/21

This week’s Island Influencer Gary Cobb, the Airport Director at Isle of Man Airport, joins me to share his life story from growing up in a small mining town, gaining a chemical engineering degree to aviation leadership, including roles at Gatwick Airport and Highlands and Islands Airport. Gary, along with his wife and cat, has been a resident of the Isle of Man since 2022. His passion for aviation and commitment to excellence are evident in every aspect of his work. In this episode, Gary opens up

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01:02:46

Gyp Buggane, Sound Engineer, DJ and Remixer, owner of...

Island Influencers ·

2024/08/07

This week's Island Influencer is Gyp Buggane, a passionate musician and dedicated small business owner. The conversation revolves around music's profound impact on his upbringing, his pursuit of passions, and his navigation of the creative industries. Growing up on the Isle of Man, music is deeply rooted in Gyp's family's history. Gyp's love for music was nurtured from a young age, from his father's rock and roll performances in the 1960s tourist era to his grandfather's involvement in the Rushen

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57:26

John Knight, CEO at Hospice Isle of Man

Island Influencers ·

2024/07/24

This week's Island Influencer is John Knight, the CEO of Hospice Isle of Man. He shares his life, from his early days and university days to his time living on the island, his departure, and his eventual return to lead one of the most essential services on the Isle of Man. John's path has been anything but conventional. Moving six times before age sixteen, he developed a fearless approach to new environments and challenges. We delve into John's insights on leadership development, career

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01:02:58

Cath Robertshaw, Chief Operating Officer, Eyesea

Island Influencers ·

2024/07/10

This week, I am thrilled to introduce Island Influencer Catherine (Cath) Robertshaw, Chief Operating Officer, Eyesea, a nonprofit organisation with a mission to map global pollution and maritime hazards. Born in Wales (yes, she's a big rugby fan!) Cath grew up in South Africa, where her love for the ocean and beaches blossomed. After returning to the UK for her studies and teacher training, she embarked on an incredible journey to Asia. There, she spent years working, teaching, and raising her three

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38:17

Tanya Anderson, founder of Lovely Greens, Gardening...

Island Influencers ·

2024/06/26

This week's Island Influencer, Tanya Anderson, perfectly embodies the spirit of green living and sustainable gardening. American-born author, blogger, and YouTube personality based on the beautiful Isle of Man, Tanya has become a gardening guru for many, with over two hundred thousand subscribers on her YouTube channel and an ever-growing social media following. Her platform, Lovely Greens, is a treasure trove of information and inspiration. But Tanya doesn’t stop at gardening – she also

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01:15:36

Derry Kissack BEM, Commentator and frontman of the...

Island Influencers ·

2024/06/12

Welcome to episode 112 of Island Influencers. I'm honoured to introduce this week's Island Influencer, Derry Kissack, BEM. Derry is known to thousands, especially as a key member/frontman of the world-famous Purple Helmets motorcycle display team. Many of you will recognise him as the energetic commentator who guides awe-struck spectators through their breathtaking performances. He is a favourite at the TT and shows worldwide. You'll immediately notice from his accent that Derry was born and raised

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134 results

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