Podcast appearances and mentions of Paul Griffiths

01 May 2025. It's a strong and steady start of the year for Dubai International Airport, as it welcomed 23.4 million guests in the first quarter of the year. Richard Dean discusses the numbers with Dubai Airports CEO, Paul Griffiths. We also hear from Griffiths what they are planning for DWC Al Maktoum International to create a seamless experience for guests. Brandy Scott also speaks with the Deputy President and CCO of Emirates, Adnan Kazim, about the future of the carrier. Plus, Matthew Macloughlin from Espace Real Estate joins the team following the release of their property report for Q1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

16 Apr 2025. We look at how the floods reshaped everything from airport infrastructure to data resilience with insights from DXB International airport CEO Paul Griffiths. Plus, Dubizzle Group is making moves, acquiring Property Monitor. We speak to Dubizzle CEO Haider Ali Khan and Property Monitor COO Zhann Johincke on what the deal means for UAE’s property data game.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on Twitter  or Bluesky for your chance to win the books that have been mentioned in this podcast.Competition ends on 19th March 2025. The winner will be contacted via Bluesky. Show references: https://www.ajah.ae/https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-griffiths-63432763/Kelly's final episodeThe transformation of Painshill Park, with Paul Griffiths, Director of PainshillWhat it really takes to launch a podcast. With Kelly Molson and Paul GriffithsPaul Griffiths has worked in the Heritage, Museums and Tourism world now for nearly 30 years.After spending 16 years working in various role for English Heritage, in 2012 he moved to the Mary Rose Museum as Head of Operations to oversee the opening and operations of the multi award winning museum, welcoming over one million visitors before in 2018 taking on moving to the Painshill Park Trust in the role of Director of Painshill. Paul spent 6 years there before his move in December 2024 to Ras Al Khaimah one of the seven Emirates that make up the UAE. In this exciting brand new role Paul is Chief Executive Officer of the Al Hamra Heritage Village, part of the Al Qasimi Foundation. Transcriptions: Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue, a podcast for people working in and working with Visitor Attractions. I'm your host, Paul Marden.Longtime listeners will remember my guest today, Paul Griffiths, when he was CEO at Painshill Park, from when he was interviewed back in season one by Kelly. In today's episode, Paul comes back to talk about his new role as CEO of Al Jazeera Al Hamrah Heritage Village in Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE. Now, I'm always interested in the first 90 days of people's experience in a job, so we'll be talking more about that and his for the future. Paul Marden: Paul, welcome back to Skip the Queue. Paul Griffiths: Hello. Thanks for having me, Paul. Great to be here. Paul Marden:  Long time. Listeners will know that we always start with an icebreaker question and our guests don't get to know that one in advance. I think this one's a pretty kind one. I was pretty mean to Paul Sapwell from Hampshire Cultural Trust a couple of weeks ago because I asked him whether it was Pompey or Saints and for political reasons, he felt that he had to abstain from that.Paul Griffiths: Testing his interest. I'd have gone Pompey at the time because that's where we live. Well, did live. Paul Marden: Oh, there you go. There you go. So you've moved over from Portsmouth. You're now in the UAE. Tell listeners, what is that one? Home comfort that after three months away from Blighty, you're missing? Is it proper English marmalade? Paul Griffiths: Do you know what? I've been able to get hold of most things, but I've not been able to get. I know people who cook properly, so I should be able to do this myself, but I haven't. Cauliflower cheese, one thing I'm missing from home, that doesn't sell it anywhere in a sort of pre pack or frozen form. I can even get hold of Yorkshire puddings in Spinny's supermarket, but I can't get hold of cauliflower cheese. Paul Marden: Can you get cauliflowers? Paul Griffiths: Can get cauliflowers. I'm sure I can make cheese sauce if I knew what it was doing. But you normally. I'm so used to normally buying a pack of cheese, cauliflower cheese to have in my Sunday roast. Paul Marden: Okay. So if I ever get to come out, I need to bring out a plastic wrapped, properly sealed so that it doesn't leak on the plane. Cauliflower cheese? Paul Griffiths: Yes, please. Yeah, absolutely. Paul Marden: So your last episode was actually. Or your last full episode was back in season one, episode 22. So five years ago and the world has changed a lot in five years, but most recently it's changed a lot for you, hasn't it? So why don't you tell listeners a little bit about what's happened to you since you were with us in season one? Paul Griffiths: Wow. Yeah, well, season one seems an age away, doesn't it, now with all the wonderful guests youu've had since on Skip the Queue, it's been a different program completely. But, yeah, no, well, back then I was at Painshill, were coming out of a pandemic and I remember, you know, Kelly and I were chatting over all the different avenues that everyone had gone and what we've done at Painshill and that continued brilliantly. And however, my life has taken a change in. In sense of where I am, but I'm still doing the same sort of work, so. Which is, you know, when our industry, and it's such a fabulous industry, it's great to stay in it. Paul Griffiths: So I am now over in the United Army Emirates in the Emirate of Ras Alhaima, which is the third biggest of the seven emirates that make up the UAE, behind Abu Dhabi and, of course, Dubai. So I was approached, God, nearly always, this time last year, about a call over here. Yes. My recruitment company got in touch and went through, you know, had a good look at the job description and thought, well, actually, we'll throw my hat into the ring. And applied, went for a series of online interviews with the recruitment company, then an online interview with the people over here at various departments within the Al Kassimme Foundation and the Department of Museums and Antiquities. Paul Griffiths: So, yeah, looking at this brand new job, which I'm now lucky enough to be in, I then was flown out in August for a round of interviews, met all the team. You know, one of those things that you later discover, the whole real four days was one big interview, although there was. There was a central one. But of course, everyone you were meeting along the way was being asked to feedback, And I love chatting to people and enjoying people's company. So actually went for dinners and lunches and all sorts, which was just a lovely four days and almost felt like a free hit in many ways, Paul. Well, this is going to be a brilliant experience. Paul Griffiths: If I don't get the job, I'm going to have a great four days in Rasta Taima, seeing it, meeting everyone, enjoying the time here. And, you know, the more time I spent here, the more time with the team, the more time, you know, going and visiting sites. I just became more and more that this would be an amazing job. Obviously gave my absolute everything, did loads of research, gave everything in the interview. The interview took a rather unusual turn. After the sort of hour and a half of questions and my questions, I was asked to leave the room for a short period. Not unusual in that sense because I was, you know, I wasn't just going to leave and go because obviously I was in their hands for four days. Paul Griffiths: But the doctor, Natasha Ridge, the executive director of the foundation, came out the interview and said, “Right, that's all gone really well. We're really pleased. We're now off to the palace for you to meet His Highness Sheikh Saud, who is the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and on the Supreme Council of the UAE.” So I was sort of, I went to one of the small meeting rooms you. Now I know that. Now I know where I was, where I went. But at that point I had no idea. One of the lovely. There's a very much a service thing here. Paul Griffiths: So, you know, we have in the Heritage Village as well later we have a wonderful member of our team, Geraldine, who does lots of cooking, prepares stuff and just had a wonderful fish taco lunch because we're four hours ahead of you, of course, here in Alaihi. So, yeah, so one of the guys came in with, gave me an English breakfast tea and sort of, you know, sat there reviewing what, thinking what on earth was I going to be asked by His Highness. And then was put into one of the drivers and we drove up through Rat Sahma City, through into the palace, up the long driveway and there I was sort of eventually, after about 20 minutes, presented with. Presented to Sheikh Sword who asked me, chatted, asked various questions. Paul Griffiths: I don't think there could be many interviews that you end up with His Highness in the second half of it. You know, it's sometimes a presentation. Yeah. So that was. I was there for about half an hour and that's your time over and off he goes. And off I went back to then go and have dinner with some of the team. So it was a very surreal afternoon. Paul Marden: Being interviewed by royalty. But when you're not expecting that as part of the interview process, that must be quite unnerving. Paul Griffiths: I had a heads up that at some point in my trip I might meet him, but there was no formal arrangements. I had me had to get in a diary. So it hadn't even crossed my mind that's what was about to happen. When I was asked to leave the meeting room, I just thought maybe they wanted to come back with more questions or, you know, say I hadn't gone well, whatever. But, yeah, no, that was the. I took that as a good sign. I thought, well, actually, if I'm being whisked up there, the interview must have gone relatively well because I'm sure they would present me to shake sword if it hadn't gone so well. Paul Marden: Yeah. You'd hope that he would be towards the end of the cycle of the interview round. Paul Griffiths: Yeah. Paul Marden: Not doing the early sifting of CVs. Paul Griffiths: No. He certainly had seen who I was because he asked me some questions about where I'd worked and. Okay, things like that. So he'd obviously seen a CV. He's a very. I mean, I've met him subsequently a few times. I've been fortunate to be a dinner hosted by him a couple of weeks ago. But he is a very, very intelligent man. Works really hard. I mean, work. He, you know, for him, he spends every minute working on the emirate. He ruled, he. He's the ruler. But he's almost a. It's a sort of combo, I guess he's all Prime Minister at the same time as being the ruler. So he is constantly working. You know, I'm really committed and I'm lucky in many ways that where I am working at the Heritage Village is his real. Paul Griffiths: One of his real pet projects that he's really driving forward. So, yes, we come with sort of royal. Royal approval, if you like. So. Yeah. Paul Marden: Excellent. So I. I've not been to the Emirates before, so for those of us that have not been, tell us a little bit about Ras Al Khaimah, of course. Paul Griffiths: Well, Ras Al Khaimah is one of the quieter Emirates mentioned. Sheikh Saud there, he's really driving a sort of, you know, a sort of agenda of bringing in more tourists. But he wants to use culture and territory as part of that. So, you know, it's a more relaxed, low level, if that makes sense. It's not Dubai, it's not full on, it's more relaxed Emirate. It's relaxed in cultural and many of the ways it's not, as you know, some of the other Emirates are, for example, completely dry. Ras Al Khaimah has given licenses to hotels and big restaurants in hotels for serving drinks. And there are a number of sellers where you can purchase for your consumption your own home, whereas Sharjah, you can't purchase any alcohol, for example, so it's a bit more chilled like that. It's a lovely place. Paul Griffiths: We're very fortunate to have the heavier mountains go through the far side of Ras Al Khaimah. So where I'm based is more on the seafront but then not, you know, I can see the mountains behind and there's a number of drives up into the mountains which are absolutely fabulous. Up to the Jebel Jais, which is the highest point in the UAE, we have the world's longest and fastest zip wire. I have not gone anywhere near that yet. Goes up to 100km an hour and is the longest over from the top of the mountain, whisking you off to the other side. I think it looks terrifying. But my. Paul Marden: I'm more interested in cables that take you to the top of the mountain. Maybe with some skis on my feet than I am attaching myself to a cable and going down the mountain. Doesn't sound like fun to me. Paul Griffiths: There's a toboggan ride as well up there as well.Paul Marden: Oh, I'd love that. Paul Griffiths: So that's the toboggan ride's on my to do list when the family get off, I'll save it for then and take my son Barney on that. But you know, there's all this sort of venture sports up on the top of the mountain and driving up there is remarkable. They put a proper road in. It's not the scary driving up the Alps, terrified what's going to come around the other corner. It's very like driving up a road, you know, normal sort of dual carriageway, two lanes each way and then right going through the mountains to the other side to one of the other Emirates for Jazeera , for example. So you're over on the Indian Ocean side Gulf Vermont. That road is just beautiful. There's no traffic on it, you know. Paul Griffiths: So Ras Al Khaimah is only about an hour and hour to an hour and a half from Dubai airport. And Dubai is a sort of people go to Dubai in the same way that we, you know, you'd go to London, I'd go to London when I was in Port Soviet, we would. It's now, you know, it's not considered a. There's always someone from work who's in Dubai every day almost for some reason. So nipping up to Dubai, I was like, I went to a dinner there last week and you know, it just seemed very normal that he jumped in a car and drove up to Dubai and came back that evening. Whereas. Seems remarkable actually to be doing that. But yeah, so because of where we are, Abu Dhabi is about two and a half hours away.Paul Griffiths: And we are the northern point of the Emirate, So we border on to Oman, split into a number of areas. Again, I didn't know any of this till I got here, but there's a part of Oman that's at the top of Ras Al Khaimah. And so, yeah, so it's a beautiful Emirate with nature, with mountain areas, which does get a bit chillier when you go up the mountains. I looked quite silly in my T shirt and shorts when I went up there on a Sunday afternoon. People were going past me like they were going skiing. You know, people wore coats and hats and looking at me as if I'm really daft. But I was still. It's interesting that because it's winter obviously everywhere here at the moment and at home, but it's. Paul Griffiths: People here are often telling me it's a cold day when I'm still standing. I still feel really quite warm. But yeah, finding that sort ofPaul Marden: Talking 30s at the moment for you, aren't we? Paul Griffiths: Yeah, it's a little bit. The last couple days have been down in the lower 20s, really comfortable. But when we last weekend, people were getting a bit nervous that summer had come very early because it was hitting the early 30s last week. So I don't know how for me, when we get to August, when it's in the mid, late 40s with real high humidity, I think I'm just going to go from aircon building to aircon building to aircon building.Paul Marden: I am such a Goldilocks when it comes to that sort of thing. Not too hot, not too cold, it needs to be just right. So I would definitely struggle in that kind of heat. Look, let's talk a little bit about where you are in the new job. So you've taken on the role of CEO of Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village. So tell me a little bit about the village. Why is this village so historic? Paul Griffiths: Well, it's a really interesting one, Paul, because it is very important, but it's not that old. And that's why what coming to me about making it more alive is something that's going to be crucial to us. So the village has been lived in for many years. It was a pearl farming village. So most of the people who worked here were doing pearl farming, which is pretty horrible job to do. You were, again, learning about this. You were jumping off boats, going to the ocean depths for up to three to four minutes. No protection really, apart from a very light shirt and some little bits on your fingers. But actually you're nothing on your eyes. Paul Griffiths: So you're having to look through the salt water, find the pearls come up and they were going up and down sometime 15, 16 times or more a day. And there's a fascinating exhibition in Dubai at the Al Shindagha Museum which really does focus on how this worked and how these guys were living. So, so it's a real. So that was the village. So the village had that, it obviously had then had fishing men, merchants making boats, merchants selling, trading wares. And Ras Al Khaimah has been quite a strategic part as all of the UAE really for the sort of trades coming from the Middle east and out into the Gulf. So the villages was being lived in up until the very early 70s. Paul Griffiths: Up in the 1970s the Al Za'abi tribe who were based here were offered I guess a new life is the only way to look at it in Abu Dhabi with new jobs, with land, with housing and it's just a better way like pearl farming was now being done so much cheaper and easier in the Orient in Japan mainly. So that was, that dropped away. There wasn't the other merchant trading going on. So actually the oil boom basically led the tribe to almost one up sticks and head to Abu Dhabi. And in many ways good story because we're still in touch with quite considerable amounts of the tribes people who were here. Lots of the elders have done wonderful oral histories, videos talking about their lives here. But this village survived as just fell into ruins, but actually wasn't developed. Paul Griffiths: And where it becomes important is this would have been what all of the Gulf would have looked like before the oil boom. The UAE wasn't a wealthy nation before then. You know, when I went up to Dubai and spent some time at the Etihad Museum, which is based around which Etihad Union is the not Around Man City Stadium should point out very much around about how the UAE had come together and how, you know, so it wasn't the wealthiest nation, but actually they discovered oil. They then brought seven Emirates together. It then has flourished in the ways that we now know what Dabi and ifwe looks like and even Ras Al Khaimah in some parts and really quite glamorous. But this village survived. Paul Griffiths: So although it fell into ruin, all the other fishing, farmhome fishing, pearl farming villages across the Gulf had become, just got destroyed, knocked down, you know, turned into hotels and high rises. And actually when you visit the other Emirates, lots of them are now recreating their historic areas or re purposing some of the historic buildings and they're doing it very well. In Dubai, Sharjah has actually completely rebuilt. It's what it calls the Harp Sharjah, which is. Which was its historic sort of areas, but. Paul Marden: Right. Paul Griffiths: But this survived. Many of the buildings had fallen into disrepair. And what we've been doing for the last few years, as the Al Qasimi Foundation and the Department of Antiquities and Museums is restoring a number of these buildings, we've then sort of gone into a sort of activation so you can walk around. So we've got, you know, carving now. Only a year ago it was mostly sand. We've now got a path going through it, so you can walk in. And the job that I've really been asked to do initially on arrival here is to really push that activation forward and really look at my sort of. What I've done in the past and what we've seen other places do and think about what can we do to bring this bit more to life? Paul Griffiths: Because it's the sort of storage village is around the 1970s. Well, it was abandoned in the 1970s. Well, you know, for us from the UK, from lots of other nationalities, actually, something in the 70s isn't very old. It's in our lifespan. You know, we are looking at this going well, actually. So when I was talking to a lot of. So RAK TDA's basically visit RAK tourism authority. So they are really supportive in wanting to push Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village, which will from now on abbreviate to AJAH to save me. Keep saying that. Long tanned. So they are really keen that we're doing more stuff. So why would a tourist want to come? What is there to see once you're here? Paul Griffiths: On top of some abandoned and now beautifully restored houses, mosques, you know, things that you would have expected in a village of, you know, a thousand or so population, 500 houses, you know, so more than a thousand people, really. So that's the sort of plan in that way. So in many ways I've got a sort of blank canvas to play with. But, you know, money's not unlimited, so it's about. So working closely with local communities, working with, you know, local traders, looking at what could we bring into the village on the back of the art fair. I know we'll talk about later, but it's, you know, this has been a. This is a real challenge for me to. How do I take this sort of place forwards.Paul Marden: In my mind's eye, we go to the Weald & Downland Living Museum so open air museum, lots of houses recreating life through the ages. Is that the sort of experience that I'm going to get if I come to the village of I'm going to see the properties and I'm going to see this previous way of life come to life in front of me?Paul Griffiths: Well at the moment you'll see you just see in the houses and the buildings but you're walking around looking at historic buildings but we have got a number of the houses we've put in. Each video is at the moment showing the audio visuals so you can walk around and listen to members of the tribes chatting about their youth and what's happening and you can see the buildings in real life. I guess what I'm looking for this is telling the story a little bit of the village which we don't initially do that well at the moment that's no criteria. Yes, this is what we need to do going forward. There's been several stages of activation When I came last August part not many the paths weren't all finished. We didn't have anywhere for visitor services to be at the front.Paul Griffiths: We only had a very small sort officey area which has now been built up to where I'm. Where I'm sat today. So I think what you're going to get is a multi as a blend of traders who will be in our suitcase. The Souk is fully restored sooke and shopping market area so that's my first point is to move some people in there. So I've already got a goldsmith and move to her studio in got some handicrafts we've got some textile people moving in the. Paul Griffiths: The main gallery of Nassau Heyman Design Gallery which is the one big gallery where artists can go is going to have a sort of satellite shop if you like not shop a satellite so there will be pieces of work there are in here with their little souvenir store which they sell because they get people a lot of what the design gallery does is making souvenirs of Ras Al Khaimah that are all handmade so quite special gifts. So what we're hoping is tying up with our local hoteliers who many of which have not been so it's bringing them in and they need something more to see to send their guests here. Paul Griffiths: So you know talking to some of them over lunch when I hosted some of them on Saturday it was a case of you know actually, can they send their clients and say, you can do all your holiday shopping because at the moment they're sending people to the shopping malls which are just, you know, nice, but actually merchandise them to go to a heritage village, get that experience of what the golf would have been like and bags of shopping at the same time. Paul Marden: So who doesn't love a. A museum gift shop at the end? So, you know. Paul Griffiths: Exactly. And we don't really have that here at the moment from an Al Jazeera perspective. So on my plan for this year is to put in. We've got an info booth, as it's called at the moment. It's not a world. It's not the best customer service friendly. It's like a caravan but with some windows. And yeah, it's probably a better. Now it's got air conditioning. Yes. But it doesn't work very well for customers. You're trying to talk through little windows because you can only have small windows to keep the air con working, not have too much open to. It's just passing out. Paul Griffiths: So, yeah, so I'm looking at building this summer, hopefully. Fingers crossed, touch wood, a visitor welcome centre, which is something we're really pushing along with, which will be lovely because that will be that proper visitor welcome with a shop with an induction into an introduction. Sorry, into the Al Jazeera story. And then let people go. And then when they get to the far end, they'll be the souk full of. He says again, hopefully slowly filling them out, but full of traders and local craftspeople and people who are. Even if they're not originally local, they're based in rack, so they are considered local. The UAE is built up of a lot of expat population. When I say expats, I mean just English people from around the world. It's a really accepting, welcoming community. I've been really. Everyone says hello to you as you're walking into the supermarket shops. There's no. Whoever they are where you're from. Paul Griffiths: Everyone's talking to each other because the local population know they've had to bring people in because there's thousands more jobs than there are Emirati population in Ras Al Khaimah. So, you know, it's always been. And when you look at the foundation of the UAE, it was about, we will need to bring people in to bring this. To build this nation with us. So, you know, it's been always a sort of welcome and melting pot of different people. Paul Marden: Yeah, amazing. Look, you mentioned when we had our initial chat. You've been there now three months, you've been doing lots of visiting of other attractions. Because I think you said to me, which I thought was quite interesting, that you were. There's lots that you bring with you from the UK in your experience, but there's lots of best practice and good practice happening within the Emirates already. So you've been kind of going out and visiting a lot of cultural venues and attractions in the Emirates. Tell me a little bit about those. Paul Griffiths: Yeah, so it's been a minute of a manic last month in February, because we've had the art festival. I know we're going to keep hinting at it, we'll get to it at some point, but when I've had some time away, what's been fabulous, it's just sort of. And I think as well, because the family aren't here in my own at the moment, said, “All right, I've got some time off, let's go and explore.” Yeah. So I've sort of driven across to Fajera, spent time in Sharjah and took myself up for a weekend in Dubai, which was fantastic. Booked a very reasonably priced hotel and just spent a weekend flowering around everywhere and just really immersed in my. So and only scratch the surface. There's so much more to see. So, yeah, so I've been going and looking at. Paul Griffiths: Well, you know, I don't want to do something that's not. There'll be alien to, obviously, the culture here. And that's been really. What's been great fun in the last few months is it's not just going into a new job, you know, and learning that. It's actually been a terrifying, at some points, fabulous experience. I was learning new cultures, new working lives. You know, things are working. It's done very differently here. You know, there's a different hierarchical process we have in the UK and permissions are needed in different places. And that's not. I'm not saying any of this is a bad thing, it's just learning those different things. So I've been learning all these different cultures. You know, we're just coming into Ramadan, which I've had no real experience with before. And that is. That is a massive thing here. You know, it's the month. Paul Griffiths: Every billboard you go past is someone trying to sell something for Ramadan, whether it be a new chest of drawers, you know, your family needs this new dining table for Ramadan. It's a bit like, you know, you will see at Christmas at home, everyone catching on, you know, IKEA will be saying, new table and chairs for Christmas. You know, it's. It's not. It's a sort of different repeating itself. You know, those sort of signs you have around the supermarket. Christmas back home. They're all up now in supermarkets here for Ramadan. Paul Marden: Right. Paul Griffiths: Encouraging what people are going to buy for when they break the fast at sunset Iftar. So, you know, so it's all sort of promoting. You need this for. So it's a real. We're going to a massive thing. And that's been a real sort of learning, cultural thing for me, which has been great because actually I've always enjoyed, when I'm traveling, learning about other cultures, you know, it's always been for me, I always try and visit museums, galleries, learn about the place I'm at. And so actually living somewhere and learn about someone who's been. I think it's added to the fun of the experience. But back to your question. Paul Griffiths: Yes, I've been traveling wherever the possibility to start to look at other historic venues, looking at where they've, you know, restored historic markets and souk areas and what sort of things are going in there, what are people doing there. Up in Dubai, there is a place called Al Shindagar Museum, which is where they've. Some of the historic buildings that have been saved by the creek of Dubai have been turned into the most amazing series of museums, is the only way I can describe it, because each house is a different gallery or different theme. So you have the story of the creek being built up, the story of Dubai seafarers. There was a faith and. Faith and religion room, talking about Islam and different cultures, how that's worked around Dubai. Paul Griffiths: Dubai being built up as a city, lots about the rulers and families, but every house you went to is a different place. What was so impressive there from a visitor experience perspective was the training that Stafford had was sensational. You know, you go into someone, you think they're obviously being managed really well because obviously this is. You don't just train. So obviously someone oversees this really well. But clearly the training, everywhere you went, the customer service was exceptional. People coming out from behind counters, giving you introductions, making sure you had everything needed, you know, as you were leaving. Have you got any questions? All those things we try and all have tried to teach over the years, and in many ways we've all been different levels of success of that. Paul Griffiths: But what was amazing was they also got the security guards in on the act as well, because there's a real culture here that there's a separate, they're secure, they're very different. You know, there's, we've got them here, they're in very much brown security, clearly marked, you know, protecting places. But what they've done there is they had clearly trained those security guards as well, because every security guard you came across was getting in the act of chatting to visitors, even if their English wasn't brilliant, they were really keen to direct you to the next. Come this way. So the next place, oh, you finished that room, you must go upstairs. And you know, that sort of. Paul Griffiths: And whether they, you know, really just said, look, you can have a much more interesting day than just standing, staring at people walking around. You can actually chat to visitors from around the world and get talkative. And I just had the most amazing. I ended up in this museum for over five and a half hours or something silly like that. And I thought I was going to be there an hour because it was priced very reasonably. You know, when you judge a museum on, well, actually I paid this, I'm probably going to be here for that amount of time. And actually it was just, you know, I found myself stopping for a coffee, stopping for lunch. But I was so impressed by the way the staff interacted. Paul Griffiths: They also had a number of cultural local guides as well, who really were, you know, in the full sort of Emirati national dress, but wanted to press on. This is where. This is what I'm doing. So I've some, you know, I traveled across to Fujairah every week and was in a, an old, what was the ruler's summer house. And the guy, and the guy who ran it just took me on a tour. I didn't ask for a tour. He just said, would you. Well, he said, should I take you around? Yes, please. And we had this great hours experience as he was just chatting about all the rooms. And I think people here are very keen to share their culture and their heritage and very welcoming. Paul Griffiths: So, yeah, so I've done quite a bit traveling around the other parts of the UAE. I can't go out of the UAE because I've only got a hire car at the moment, so I can't go out to Omar, that's on my list. You get yourself a car. I can travel north of the border into Oman and explore that. But for now, seven emirates to. So no shortage of places. And I've not been up to Abu Dhabi yet, so still with that on my list. So yeah, Paul Marden: Wowzers. Okay. So I guess, and this is completely, what would I feel like if I was in your position of going to this new country, immersing myself in this relatively new place that you're leading? How do I say this without flattering you? You were a well connected guy. If I went to events, everybody knew you. You had this wide network of people having worked in the UK in the attraction sector for a long time and you've now jumped over to the UAE. What's happened to the network? How does that feel? I mean it must feel slightly kind of worrying or nerve wracking. What have you done to build the network in this new place? Paul Griffiths: There's a number of points to that. Right, so let's answer in a few minutes. So the world's a smaller place so I'm still occasionally having teams call zoom calls with really close ex colleagues, friends, you know, I'm sure, I mean I always say I'm sure but everyone keeps saying, “Oh I'm really loving the journey so please keep posting. So I am going to keep posting and probably going to start to annoy people after a while”, but the feedback so far is everyone saying we're loving the journey and following you with it and feel like we're on the journey. So I will carry on. I'm sort of keeping writing stuff up and sharing it and also I don't know how long I'll be here for. You know, probation is massive over here. I have to keep my fingers crossed. Paul Griffiths: I pass probation which is a six month period because it's a real right the UAE all not just off and across the UAE. It's a real big, you know, much more than at home, much more structured. On day one was given a series and this isn't a bad thing at all, a series of probation tasks, you know, around reports that are around other historic parts because the job that I've come over will eventually evolve into a wider heritage role. But at the moment the real focus is on Al Jazeera Al Hamra, which is great. Get one site, get it going, then see where we go next. So I think I'm still connected to lots of people back home. I'm still looking, seeing everyone's posts and enjoy. Paul Griffiths: I mean my usual jealousy of not being part of the ALVA network anymore as they're all having that great time in Belfast in the last couple of days and seeing everyone's post, not just one or two, but everyone you know, Bernard down with you know everyone's post. I wish I was there with them.Paul Marden: The FOMO was real. So I had Andy Povey in the office with me yesterday and we're both saying the FOMO about that ALVAe vent was very real for both of us having. Paul Griffiths: Having spent. You know I was at the Mary Rose few years where we joined ALVA and go experiencing those council weeks and knowing just hey how much they are great for networking A. You get very spoiled because every host wants to really show off what they can do and I think the Titanic always do that because we go there before for a council meeting but it's. Yeah. So you still see this stuff. So it's still sit home and there's still people I can reach out to.Paul Marden: Of course.Paul Griffiths: If we need to and I'm still calling on people things, you know, different projects we're doing here. But then again it's about slowly building up that network here and I think there's a slightly. You know, there's a. Within Ras Al Khaimah I've started making connections with lots of other people in the Heritage world and. And outside that. So we're already, you know, connecting up with different people from different parts of Ras Al Khaimah, the work we're going to do moving forward and for me I think it's been just a. I'm sort of still pinching myself I'm here and that sort of. So many things keep happening and you know. The weather's been gorgeous because I've come out of a grim English weather to this quite nice winter here where it's mostly been late mid-20s. Paul Griffiths: You're in she and shorts when you're off duty. You know, there's other things. The thing that really surprised me is how smart actually the dress code is for business over here. Paul Marden: Okay. Paul Griffiths: So I had to sort of all the usual brands that from home Mount Marks is next everything here so you could order online and get it delivered quite quickly. So I had sort of came out of one wardrobe thinking I was going to be far more in polo shirt and linen trousers are sort of very sort of summer at Painshill look, you know outdoor. But actually yeah my colleagues are still. Because of the aircon atmosphere. Lots of colleagues particularly in the head office are in suits. A bit like where I would have been when back in my London days. When we're in the office you were in a shirt tie. So yes, I had to sort of buy A back home wardrobe almost once I got traveled out with very lightweight clothing. So yes, it's a bit different in that sense. Paul Marden:  Yeah, absolutely. Let's talk a little bit about life as an expat. How have you found the transition? Paul Griffiths: Fine so far. I say there's lots of bits around work and practice and you know, no amount of inductions will be able to help you on some little faux pas you can make about not realising where you need approvals for staff. And obviously coming from the. For the last six years of being director of Painshill and only from feeding into a board of directors, board of trustees who we'd see quarterly and you know, I chat to the chairman every week. There was a lot of me sort of making those sort of decisions instantly was here, you know, particularly as were part of the foundation and we are representing Sheikh Saud as his name's in the title of the organization now, making sure we're going through those tick sheets. Paul Griffiths: You know, if I want to do anything that needs to spend more money, that's out budget, that is going to his Highness to be signed off. So any projects we're doing, we're needing to make cases to the highest man in the country to actually get those, you know, sign offs and things. And I'm not, that's not a bad thing. But you know, it's just that from an expat I guess it's getting used to. Everything's available here. Not the big supermarket up the road sells Waitrose and Marxist products and has a room at the back for non Muslims where you push the button, door opens, it's like a little bit of a naughty boys room. Paul Griffiths: You push back door open, slides you walk in and there's the pork heaven, you know, there's bacon, there's pork scratching, patays, you know, all because it's a real, you know, it's not just there's so many expats here, particularly from the Philippines and stuff who obviously pork is a big part of their diet. So yeah, that's available. I said earlier on there's cellars where you can pick up a great beer or a couple of glasses of bottle of wine or whatever you want. So actually it's not that I found myself flying into this really different world and I'm not really. Paul Marden:  It's a melting pot, isn't it? Paul Griffiths: Yeah. And I'm not someone who's ever been since very young, you know, going off to nightclubs or anything like that. But if you wanted that There is that. The hotels. So actually, if you're a younger person coming out and you wanted that nightlife, the hotels, particularly on Margin island and Minnal Arab, the tubing hotels have really nice restaurants, fully licensed clubs and stuff. But, you know, actually I found sort of the work is busy. Everyone's, you know, lots going on, actually, just going back to, you know, I was in a hotel for the first two months, which wasn't a dreadful thing because it was an apartment hotel. So, yeah, I had enough and now we've moved. I've moved into a villa ready for the family. Come out hopefully in about a month's time.Paul Marden:  Oh, that'd be exciting. Paul Griffiths: Yeah. So that's nice. So we've got the back onto the golf course. It's quite, you know, it's a nice place to be. It's going to be nice and, you know. Paul Griffiths: Yeah, so I've not struggled adapting because it's not. It's not that, you know, normally I've got a wonderful team here, Asia, you know, so with one Emirati and some Filipinos and other people from around the. From around the world. So that's been nice. And it's melting pot of learning their cultures as well as the local culture and. Yeah. And then they eat rice with everything. So it's. Yeah. Every lunchtime there's a bowl of rice, big bowl of salad in the main course and there's me pouring on the one on the salad, everyone else on the rice. But, yeah, it's been great, Paul. I mean, I can't. It's been one of those. Every moment you think this is just a great place to be. Paul Marden: Good. Let's go back to Al Jazeera and talk a little bit about some of the events that have been going on. So I know you're coming to the end of the Ras Al Khaimah Art Festival. Tell me a little bit about that and how well that's gone. Paul Griffiths: It's been brilliant. I know. I had no idea what to expect. First time for this. So this is the 13th International Art Fair. It started off back in the small museum back in the city of Central Town, moved to here, I think, five years ago is what I'm saying, and slowly grown every year since then. So this is the biggest one we've done, really. Lots of massive sponsors on board from across the Emirates, actually fully supported by His Highness, who's been here at least four times, if not five, since we've had the vessel. He was here at the opening ceremony for the big launch, you know it was, and it was like a proper opening ceremony. Paul Griffiths: Everyone sat round with a band and speakers and you know like not quite Olympics but you know it was a proper event. This is the opening of it and it felt like a big event. Yeah. All my female members of my team had, were given time off in the day to do hair and makeup. It was proper. Everyone looked, everyone looked the business, it was lovely. You know everyone was scrubbed up from the maintenance team to, you know, our executive director looking fabulous in a brand new dress. You know it was really was. No, I've had a new suit, I got a new suit for the occasion. Paul Griffiths: So yeah, it was a lovely evening and then it's rolled ever since and for me it's been wonderful because I've seen people in this village which has been quite quiet since I'd arrived and it's sort of been okay, how are we going to get this? But actually clearly putting something on has attracted a complete cross spectrum audience. So you know, we have people coming in, absolutely fascinating, obsessed with the art, beautiful and it's artists I should say from around the world. It's all exhibited outside or inside the little houses. So you know lots of the pieces have been blown up quite big and quite impressive. I mean do look at it on the website, you know people, you know if you go to ajah.ae you can then click on from there.Paul Marden: We'll put the links and everything in the show notes so people be able to find that. Paul Griffiths: It's been, but it's been, for me it's been fabulous because we've seen so many people in, you know I was, you know, we've had, we've got pop up restaurants so this won't mean anything to people back home but the restaurant called Puro P U R O has a restaurant at the top of the mountain at Jebel Jais. Really almost impossible to get booking, you know you have to book months advance for lunch or dinner. It's the place that everybody, both locals, internationals and tourists want to see and often frequented by his Highness. They've got a pop up restaurant here which just is fabulous. Paul Griffiths: They we've had a lovely couple, Kelly and Paolo in running a restaurant called Antica which is a sort of the chef's Italian Paolo but he's lived in Australia so it's a fusion of Australian middle Italy, sort of historic villagey type cuisine with an Emirates twist. But you're just served four or five courses without there's not a menu. It's not a restaurant as such, so it's sort of a sharing experience. But you know, the food is amazing. So I was fortunate to have dinner. Well, I've actually been fortunate enough to have dinner in Antica twice and lunch there as well. But one of the dinners I was then wandering around the village about 10 o'clock at night was full of people, you know, families just. Paul Griffiths: There is a different culture over here that people do more stuff in the evenings because of the temperature and a different way of life because the local people aren't obviously, for obvious reasons, down the pub on a Friday night, they're doing stuff with the family and you go past cafes and even outside of the village, you know, 9, 10 o'clock on a Friday night, they're full of people sitting very beautifully dressed in their finest, drinking coffee and eating desserts. That's a big thing. People seem to love coffee and desserts. Paul Marden: Okay. Paul Griffiths: But, but then of course it's because because of the heat most of the year we'll spend more time indoors resting in the day and then ready to go out at night and do some more stuff. So yeah, so we've had this sort of here in the evenings. It's really fun. What was interesting is our hours for the festival were meant to be midweek. So Monday we always close. Tuesday to Thursday we're meant to be open till 6 o'clock and then Friday, Saturday, Sunday open to 11:00. Often struggling to get people out then the first night. So the Tuesday night was the first night. Medusa goes at 6:00. 5:45, I had a queue of at least 40 people trying to get in. So we just had to make an on the hooves decision. Paul Griffiths: We're going to stay open later. And then we just opened till 8:00 in the midweek. We didn't want to push it too much because of obviously from the staff welfare perspective, an hour's work. But actually that first night were just. Myself and Sikrat, who's the director of the festival, Emirati. Wonderful. Emirati has been my cultural bodyguard in many ways because he's been the person, my go to person for what should I do here? What about this person? How should I do this? So Spencer Crouch just stood there. Look at this crowd. We both just said, “Well we can't turf them away. This would be daft.” So yeah, so we've had. And we've had about 40, 000 visitors will have come through the door by the end of the festival in 28 days. Paul Griffiths: The artworks then going to stay up in place for Ramadan. So we'll be working different hours again during Ramadan and this is the first time Al Jazeera will ever do. Has ever done anything special for. Because before now it's just been a come and visit, walk in, do what you like, leave now. We're trying to structure that visitor experience. So we're going to be for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, because Thursday's the sort of Friday night in many ways. Because a lot of people have Fridays off here. Yes, because of the day of prayers and so a lot of people in Ras Al Hamah go to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for work. So Thursday nights they'll travel back. So actually we're going to be open till midnight on Thursday, Friday, Saturday for Ramadan. Paul Griffiths: So people will break the fast with the families and then they want to do the sort of head top of activity. They've now got food back in them and an energy source. And out they come. So again, first time we've done it, hopefully see numbers with the artwork will still be in place. We're then working on some different options around cuisine, food, coffee and hopefully get some musicians in as well, just to give a bit of an atmosphere. But it is a holy month, so it's not. It's not parties, but it's enjoying the family. Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. So what does the future look like for the Heritage Village and for tourism and attractions more generally in RAK? Paul Griffiths: I think for RAK itself, we're trying to bring more tourists in then trying to get the most hotels. Interestingly, as they had a lunch with five of our local big hotels at the weekend using. Using our Antico restaurant, this is excuse to have another lunch there and invite some people in and just take on their views, which is great. So just chatting and getting their thoughts on it. They were saying what. What happens in Iraq a lot at the moment is people are finding the hotels through travel agents, through, you know, searches. I know when were looking before I came out here, I know Ras Al Hamra came up on a Thomas Cumbin telescope. Yeah, similar. What am I thinking of? Probably Tui, I guess, or someone like, you know, someone like that. Paul Griffiths: I was doing a search for when went to Canary, but up came Ras Al Khaimah as a hotel and what they were saying. A lot of people will book that and have no idea really what Ras Al Khaimah is, other than it's part of the UAE. Some people think it's part of Dubai, you know, actually, because it's not, they don't realize it's seven emirates, etc. So a lot of people are booking their sort of tourists, their hotels. Our job is to try and then get them out and attract them to do other stuff. So there's lots of adventure tourism going on at the moment. We talked about the zip wire and lots of hiking, walking, camel rail, camel riding, you know, trips to the desert where you can zoom around in 4x Fours and go karts and stuff. Paul Griffiths: So from my perspective of the Heritage village is about bringing it more alive, bringing more people in, promoting it, more linking up with these sorts of hoteliers, concierges. And this is really early days for us because this has always been sort of slightly done but not really pushed yet. And sort of listening to what their advice is and seeing how we can act upon it, you know, and what sort of stuff we can take forward because, you know, there's a lot to be done. And there's lots of other heritage sites across rat about 90 on the list of actual heritage sites. And some of those are real ruins that you're never going to be able to do anything with. Paul Griffiths: Those sort of English Heritage free sites, you know, the ones you stumble across with a little brown sign and you pull up with a lay by, have a potter around and off you go without seeing anyone. There's a bit like that. But then there's a number of sites that will work well with some activation. You know, we've got Dyer Fort, which is on the World Heritage site tentative list and we're working on projects to slowly take that forward to World Heritage status. Touchwood because it's a really important for, you know, and it's perfect for visits. You climb up to the top, you get the most gorgeous views. You know, really is a gorgeous little site. So more interpretation, more things there is what's needed. But you know, again, this is all early days. Paul Griffiths: So it's all about sort of, you know, each day's excitement. What can we do, what can we push forward, who can we talk to? And what's been great is as the festival's gone on, more people have been coming and chatting to me. Mine have become more, well known. That sounds wrong, goes back to your sort of earlier question about, you know, people are sort of learning about, oh, this person's here now. Paul said, although people can call me sir or Mr. Paul, which is fine. I can deal with that. Keep saying now, people, I keep saying, please don't call me sir. You really don't need to. But it's so culturally great. But Mr. Everyone see everyone externally, she's called Mr. Paul, so I can put up with that. But I was there. Although when we host his. Paul Griffiths: His Highness hosted dinner that I was invited to, I then got even pushed up to His Excellency, which was a title. I want to go. Paul Marden: That's quite nice. Paul Griffiths: Yeah, I love that. Apparently. I always thought that someone else I knew was his title. His Excellency was part of the family, but actually it's. Once you get to a CEO director level in royal that circle, you immediately become His Excellency, so. Paul Marden: Well, there we go. I will correct myself in future communications. Paul Griffiths: Please do. Yeah, but I thought it was wonderful. That's why it's just been lovely, the funny comments coming from people back home saying, oh, well, I've amended my entry in my phone to now shake your he status. But yeah, so. But there's a sort of cultural things. It's just. Okay, right, lovely. That's fun. Paul Marden: It's been a whirlwind for you. It's been really interesting actually, talking about it and understanding more about. About what's happening there, about how exciting it is, this huge opportunity that you've got to make a something out of this beautiful historic village and then that, you know, the remit will grow from there. So I think. I think this has been lovely. We always wrap up our interviews with a book recommendation and you've had this privilege once before. So have you run out of recommendations or do you have something ready for me? Paul Griffiths: Well, I was going to recommend the Red island, an Emirati story, because it's based on Al Jazeera Al Hamra, but I thought that might be a little bit too niche. This guy. So, again, little things have come across. This guy's written a book, Adil, and he's going to be coming to Al Jazeera to do a book reading signing. These little opportunities. I have read the book, I promise. It was actually fascinating because it's all about local culture. It went off in a number of tangents, but actually from a point of view of how the Emirati local culture works and families, it was actually quite a really good induction. But now I've decided to go with a more book for management or book for running. And I don't think anyone's given this before, but if they have, I'm nervous. Paul Griffiths: But this book, Fish!, which is one of my favourite books. I've actually launched this as the Al Jazeera Book Club for the spring. So all the team have a copy. Book clubs are massive over here for work. Every department has one here in the foundation. So this book, Fish, is based around the Seattle fish market. My colleagues who've worked me in the past, both. I can hear them groaning now because they've forced everyone to read this, but it's basically around having fun when you're at work. And it talks about the story of the Seattle fish market, how they were just flogging fish, but actually one day decided, we need to liven this up. We need to want to be here. So introduced, sort of involving the crowd, fish flying through the air. Paul Griffiths: But It's a more of a story about a woman joins, it moves up in a company into a department that no one's been able to manage. She gets to the bottom of using the fish market. And it's just a really fun, easy reading book. And so I recommend it to. To listeners and viewers. Paul Marden: That's brilliant. So listeners, if you would like a copy of Fish,Paul Griffiths: It's quite a cheap book as well, Paul, so please, you have to give one away. So it's not too much money. It's just 9.99 in the non fiction section. So, yeah, cheaper. Paul Marden: Bargain. Bargain. That's the trouble with. So I've been doing a few live events where we have panels, four people with book records, recommendations. That's going to bankrupt me. No, not today. We got a bargain this time. So I like this. Yeah. If you'd like a copy of Fish, if you'd like a copy of Paul's book, head on over to Bluesky and when Wenalyn posts the show note, go over there and repost it and say, I want Paul's book. And the first person to do that will get a copy of the book. Paul, delightful as always. Three times on the podcast, at least. Paul Griffiths: I think this would be number. This would be number four because we had the original episode where Kelly grilled me about life at Painshill. Then we did the Turn the Tables episode when I grilled Kelly on setting up podcasts. And then we did. Then we did the Goodbye to Kelly, whatever it was. 100 episode. And then this. Yeah, four Skip the Queues. Which is always a pleasure and I'm so delighted as you're my favourite podcast, obviously.Paul Marden: It's, oh, you say the nicest things. That must be a record. I need to go back and check that I think four times on the podcast is pretty impressive. Paul Griffiths: I think I should get to add all mine up into one as a total so I can beat Dominic Jones, who's always had the biggest number, isn't he? Paul Marden: So, yeah, so he does and he still does. So, yeah, I think aggregating the number of listens for across all of your episodes, I think that might be within the walls. Let me see what I can do and I'll add everything up and we'll see if you can take Dom's crown. Paul Griffiths: Sorry, Dom. Paul Marden:  Because he's not competitive at all. Paul Griffiths: No, he's not, mate. He's a great guy, though. So, yeah, a friendly rival. Paul Marden: Exactly. Thank you very much, Paul. I would love to keep in touch. Paul Griffiths: Let's keep talking. Paul Marden: I want to hear what happens not just after the first 90 days, but I want to hear what happens in a year's time and two years time. So thank you so much for coming on and telling us about Ras Al-Khaimah and the Heritage Village. It's been lovely. Paul Griffiths: Yeah, thanks for having me. It's great. Been a real pleasure. Paul Marden: Thanks for listening to Skip the Queue. If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review. It really helps others to find us. Skip The Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them to increase their visitor numbers. You can find show notes and transcripts from this episode and more over on our website, skipthequeue fm.    The 2024 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsDownload the 2024 Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report

31 Jan 2025. Dubai International Airport has posted record passenger numbers for 2024, with 92 point 3 million people passing through the airport - closing in on its target of 100 million visitors by 2027; Cargo volumes over the year also rose, by 20 per cent - CEO of Dubai Airports, Paul Griffiths talk us through those record numbers. Plus, we talk sneaker-nomics, with the regional boss of New Balance, Stuart Henwood. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Casey Paul Griffiths is a Professor of Church History & Doctrine at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He co-hosts the exceptional Church History Matters Podcast I wanted to speak to Casey as we begin the 2025 Come, Follow Me curriculum of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which centres on Doctrine & Covenants. Casey has been busy preparing helpful resources on his website and each week on the Church History Matters Podcast, and here he shares some wisdom to help us all get ready and make the most of Doctrine & Covenants this year.Some highlights from this episode include how Doctrine & Covenants teaches us about angels, the power of inserting your name into sections of the Doctrine & Covenants, and what Doctrine & Covenants revelation means the most to Casey.--You can find more of Casey's work at the following links:- https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/church-history-matters-podcast/- https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/- https://www.youtube.com/@UCqtKadDOHIbx_Zjq9BhxQYg Follow For All The Saints on social media for updates and inspiring content:www.instagram.com/forallthesaintspodhttps://www.facebook.com/forallthesaintspod/For All The Saints episodes are released every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVDUQg_qZIU&list=UULFFf7vzrJ2LNWmp1Kl-c6K9Qhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3j64txm9qbGVVZOM48P4HS?si=bb31d048e05141f2https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/for-all-the-saints/id1703815271If you have feedback or any suggestions for topics or guests, connect with Ben & Sean via hello@forallthesaints.org or DM on InstagramConversations to Refresh Your Faith.For All The Saints podcast was established in 2023 by Ben Hancock to express his passion and desire for more dialogue around faith, religious belief, and believers' perspectives on the topics of our day. Tune into For All The Saints every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.Follow For All The Saints on social media for daily inspiration.

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19 Nov 2024. We have the latest on Dubai inflation and Brazilian footballer Neymar buying a Dhs200 million penthouse in Dubai. We also speak to Dubai Airports CEO, Paul Griffiths about their latest numbers. They've seen a 7% increase in passenger traffic in the first 9 months of the year and are on track for a record year with 93 million passengers. We also speak to Roberto Colucci - Director - Electric Vehicles - AW Rostamani about the EV market and whether a Trump presidency could change things. And, Porsche Sales for the region are up, we speak to their CEO Manfred Braunl. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Running the world's busiest airport isn't for the faint-hearted. It demands bold vision, relentless strategy, and the grit to tackle high-stakes challenges day in, day out. Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths knows this better than anyone. In this episode of Unscripted with Spencer Lodge, Paul gives us a front-row seat to the realities of leading in the aviation industry, sharing the strategies that keep Dubai Airports ahead of the curve and his ambitious vision for the future of air travel. We dive into his approach to enhancing the passenger experience, Dubai Airports' focus on innovation, and how he's tackling the critical balance between convenience and sustainability.  This episode is packed with hard-hitting insights on leadership, growth, and the drive required to run a world-class airport. Don't miss it! 02:47 – Paul's journey to aviation 13:11 – The influence of religion on Paul's life and career 24:15 – The Hawker Siddeley Harrier Jump Jet 29:39 – Paul's experience with major players like Virgin and Gatwick Airport 30:05 – Leadership insights 45:53 – Paul's approach to improving the airport experience 55:02  – Details about Dubai Airport's facilities and innovations 59:21 – Environmental challenges in the aviation industry Show Sponsors: Allsopp & Allsopp: Redefining real estate, through cutting-edge technology and setting new standards for seamless, elevated customer experience. Keep moving with Allsopp & Allsopp.https://bit.ly/Allsopp-and-Allsopp Socials: Spencer Lodgehttps://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@spencer.lodge https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV https://www.facebook.com/spencerlodgeofficial/  Paul Griffithshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-griffiths-aaa87b2/

With new numbers showing just how much aviation contributes to Dubai's GDP - we speak to airports boss Paul Griffiths. Plus, on the back of that monster Tesla rally, analyst Monte Saffediene crunches the numbers on Elon and the rest of the Magnificent 7. And, on our last day broadcasting from Dubai CommerCity we speak to one of their residents who would like to sell you a pre-loved designer handbag - Luxury Promise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watch on YouTube A busy few months lie ahead for Predator Oil & Gas #PRD, as it gears up to drill the potentially huge MOU-5 prospect in Morocco. Here to tell us about that, and about what else is going on at the company's other assets, is chief executive Paul Griffiths

Organist Paul Griffiths looks forward to performing at TODA in King of Instruments,   the digital organ experience.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baz Richards talks to Paul Griffiths, Director from Painshill Park chatting about their Halloween and Christmas events

In this episode, we talk to Billie Moore, Chief Executive at NZ Airports Association, who shares insights into New Zealand's distinctive approach to sustainable aviation and the challenges of operating in an isolated island nation.In essence, the NZ Airports Association serves as a central hub for coordination, advocacy, and knowledge sharing among New Zealand's airports, with a particular focus on navigating the challenges of sustainability and decarbonisation in the aviation sector.Moore discusses:The critical role of aviation in New Zealand, serving as an essential connection to the world and within the country, reshaping its geography and allowing New Zealanders to “live global lives”.New Zealand's roadmap to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, including exploration of electric aircraft, green hydrogen, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).The collaborative efforts between airports, airlines, and the government, exemplified by Air New Zealand's Flight NZ0 project and the involvement of various airports in testing new technologies.The potential of electric aircraft for domestic routes, with 60% of Air New Zealand's domestic flights being turboprops flying less than 350 kilometres.The challenges and opportunities in SAF adoption, including New Zealand's distance from major SAF markets and potential partnerships with Australia.Looking to the future, Moore expresses hope for continued international collaboration and information sharing, which will be crucial for small countries like New Zealand in addressing global aviation sustainability challenges.If you LOVED this episode, you'll also love the conversation we had with Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai International Airports. Check it out here. Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry's challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air'. Click here to learn more.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It's about time.Links & More:NZ Airports Association Air New Zealand's Flight NZ0, a decade-long journey towards carbon neutrality – Inside TourismHydrogen Consortium launched to promote green air travel in New Zealand - Airport Technology Air New Zealand receives 500,000-litre delivery of SAF - Biodiesel Magazine Air New Zealand is first major airline to scrap 2030 emissions target - The GuardianHow do you decarbonise a major airport? - SimpliFlying 

Baz Richards talks to Paul Griffiths, Director from Painshill Park chatting about next week's open theatre in their walled garden.

Crystal speaks to Paul Griffiths who'll be directing the Waterfront Theatre School's production Heathers – The Musical which runs at Artscape Theatre from 17-27 July. Tickets at WebticketsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 18th SIMM-podcast episode is focussing on research on the practice of participatory projects of opera and music theatre.  SIMM-founder Lukas Pairon interviews Graça Mota (0'30->15'53), François Matarasso (15'55->31'22) and Imogen Flower (31'30->41'25).Referenced during this podcast-episode: Gata Perduda (Liceu), Paul Griffiths, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Paulo Lameiro, participatory action research (PAR), SAMP, Sex Workers Opera, SIMM research seminar on participatory opera & music theatre, Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona, Arnau Tordera, Traction

19 Apr 2024. We have a special edition of the Bitesize podcast today as we hear from a variety of businesses to find out how they're faring in the aftermath of the floods. First, we hear from Dubai airports CEO, Paul Griffiths, who gives us the latest updates for DXB passengers and when we can expect operations to resume as normal.  We also find out how food companies are working to keep restaurants and shops supplied with JM Foods. And we look at how hotels are providing local residents and delayed tourists with shelter while coping with their own logistical challenges. Plus, we find out what small business owners are facing in terms of insurance claims with insurancemarket.ae and how ride-hailing services fared in the floods with Yango.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

17 Apr 2024. We look at the impact of wild weather and what could it mean for the insurance industry with various experts: AFIA Insurance Brokerage Services LLC, octopus & GIG Gulf. Plus, we speak to the CEO of Spinneys, Sunil Kumar, about the company's growth plans on the back of its IPO announcement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is  Kelly Molson, Founder of Rubber Cheese.Download the Rubber Cheese 2023 Visitor Attraction Website Report - the annual benchmark statistics for the attractions sector.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website rubbercheese.com/podcast.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on Twitter for your chance to win the books that have been mentioned in this podcastCompetition ends on 17th April 2024. The winner will be contacted via Twitter. Show references: https://carbonsix.digital/https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmarden/Paul Marden is the Founder and Managing Director of Carbon Six Digital and the CEO of Rubber Cheese. He is an Umbraco Certified Master who likes to think outside the box, often coming up with creative technical solutions that clients didn't know were possible. Paul oversees business development and technical delivery, specialising in Microsoft technologies including Umbraco CMS, ASP.NET, C#, WebApi, and SQL Server. He's worked in the industry since 1999 and has vast experience of managing and delivering the technical architecture for both agencies and client side projects of all shapes and sizes. Paul is an advocate for solid project delivery and has a BCS Foundation Certificate in Agile. https://www.rubbercheese.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellymolson/Kelly Molson is the Founder of Rubber Cheese, a user focused web design and development agency for the attraction sector. Digital partners to Eureka! The National Children's Museum, Pensthorpe, National Parks UK, Holkham, Visit Cambridge and The National Marine Aquarium.Kelly regularly delivers workshops and presentations on sector focused topics at national conferences and attraction sector organisations including ASVA, ALVA, The Ticketing Professionals Conference and the Museum + Heritage Show.As host of the popular Skip the Queue Podcast for people working in or working with visitor attractions, she speaks with inspiring industry experts who share their knowledge of what really makes an attraction successful.Recent trustee of The Museum of the Broads. Our guests:Paul Wright from Made by WagAndy Povey from ConviousLooking forward to 2023: Key digital trends attractions shouldn't miss out onBernard Donoghue from ALVASeason finale, with Bernard Donoghue!David Hingley from BOP ConsultingVisitor Experience restructure at Tate, with David HingleyPaul Griffiths from Painshill ParkThe transformation of Painshill Park, with Paul Griffiths, Director of PainshillRoss Ballinger from Drayton ManorThe importance of building a great social community and process behind rebranding a 70 year old attractionDanielle Nicholls from Alton TowersThe importance of building a great social community and process behind rebranding a 70 year old attractionRachel Mackay from Hampton Court PalaceThe importance of Sector Cooperation with Carlton Gajadhar and Rachel MackaySophie from Eureka! The National Children's MuseumHow to write a website brief that agencies will thank you for, with Sophie BallingerElizabeth McKay, CEO of the London Transport MuseumDeveloping a culture of innovation, with Elizabeth McKaySimon Addison from The Roman BathsHow introducing variable pricing increased revenue by 2.3 million, with Simon AddisonDominic Jones from The Mary Rose and Portsmouth Historic DockyardAttraction partnerships and rivalries, with Dominic Jones  Transcription:  Kelly Molson: Welcome to Skip the Queue, a podcast for people working in or working with visitor attractions.Paul Marden: On today's episode, I'm joined by my co host, Kelly Molson, founder of Rubber Cheese, as well as a group of returning guests to the podcast. This is Kelly's last episode as the host of Skip the Queue as she's leaving rubber cheese after 21 fantastic years of the agency. Today we'll be turning the tables on Kelly as the guests ask her the icebreaker questions. We'll also be looking back at the impact the podcast has had as some of our guests share their experiences of appearing on the podcast with Kelly.Kelly Molson: If you like what you hear, subscribe on all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue.Paul Marden: So, how you doing?Kelly Molson: I feel slightly. I feel slightly apprehensive. You just said, like, are you ready? Have you got your tissues ready? Like I have. I'm prepared.Paul Marden: Good. So, listeners, today is a big episode, as well as being on 99th episode is also Kelly's last episode as the Skip the Queue host. Yeah. So many of you will know that after 21 years heading up Rubber Cheese, Kelly has decided to spread her wings and move on to pastures new. Paul Marden: And while this is news from many of the listeners, I've had a few months to prepare for this. So I've been thinking long and hard about this episode of what can I do? And I thought it'd be nice to look back at some of your best bits, but I didn't feel like I should do that on my own. I actually thought the best way of looking back at your best bits are to bring your best bits back to us. So I'm just gonna admit a load of people that want to join the edge.Kelly Molson: Oh, no.Paul Marden: So we have got a host of po face and audience members that are going to join us today.Kelly Molson: I'm going to cry already.Paul Marden: Excellent. I've done my job to start with straight away, so everyone's joined us for a virtual leaving party. So I hope you've got your whatsits in a bowl and your cheese and pineapple ready for you as we look back over some of your best bits and enjoy a Skip the Queue episode at its best. And so, for those of you that are listening and not watching, first of all, where have you been? These aren't facestrail radio. You should be subscribing on YouTube and watch these lovely people. But if you're listening, let me introduce you to the host of people that are joining us. We've got Andy Povey from Convious. We've got Bernard Donoghue from ALVA. We've got David Hingley from BOP Consulting. We've got Rachel Mackay from Hampton Court Palace. Sophie Ballinger from Eureka!Kelly Molson: You're supposed to be on holiday.Paul Marden: Sophie from Eureka! The National Children's Museum. We've got Ross Ballinger from Drayton Manor. We've got Dominic Jones from the Mary Rose. And we've also been joined by some of your lovely Rubber Cheese colleagues that wanted to say hi and goodbye.Kelly Molson: Look at everyone's beautiful faces. Oh, God.Paul Marden: And the tissues are going already.Kelly Molson: Do you know what? Just before I came on, I was like, I'm not going to cry. I am completely in control of today. If it was yesterday, I would have cried, but I'm completely in control today. I am not in control at all.Paul Marden: So, long time listeners will know that we always start off with an icebreaker question. And Kelly never tells the guests what the icebreaker question is in advance. So I'm afraid, Kelly, it's your turn. Bernard, you're going to kick off for us today. Would you like to ask Kelly your icebreaker question? Bernard Donoghue: Thank you. Claudia Winkleman. I'm delighted to join this episode of The Traitors. Paul Marden: Have you got the fringe to be Claudia? I'm sorry.Kelly Molson: No, we have not.Bernard Donoghue: Kelly, it's World Book day tomorrow. You've received short notice. What book do you go as to work, please?Kelly Molson: Oh, I would. I'd have to take one of my daughter's books. So she has got this book called Oh, no, George. And it's about an incredibly naughty dog with. He's a ginger dog with a very long nose. I would have to dress up as George because he doesn't do himself any favours. He hopes that he's going to be good, but he's just. He can't cope with being good and he eats all the cake and he knocks over all the tulips in the house and he's incredibly lovable, but incredibly naughty. So definitely George. That's me. Right.Bernard Donoghue: It's a lovely insight into your personality. Paul Marden: Perfect. Kelly Molson:  Great question. Paul Marden: It is a great question. I hope you're ready for a few more because we've got some of these lined up for you. So the next. The next person that's going to join us, unfortunately couldn't be here today, so they sent me a little message that we'll play now.Paul Wright: Hi, Kelly. Remember me? It's Wag here.Kelly Molson: This is my old co founder.Paul Wright: My question to you. If every time someone clicked on a website and it made a sound. What noise would you want it to make?Kelly Molson: Oh, it has to be a big old fart noise, right? A real big wet one, like a whoopee cushion. Fart noise, please. Thank you.Paul Marden: So, Mrs. Marden, over breakfast this morning, as were talking through what I was going to talk about, said, oh, she's just going to say wet fart, surely.Kelly Molson: Absolutely.Paul Marden:  She knows you so well.Kelly Molson: She's my level Paul Marden:  Completely. Next up, we've got Mr. Andy Povey. Andy Povey: Hi, Kelly. It's been a while. So I'm very pleased to be here, but not for the reason that we are all there for. We spend a lot of time on the road, travelling around for our jobs. So my question is, what's your favourite motorway service station and why?Kelly Molson: I tell you what, Peterborough motorway service station. Because I know that I'm probably an hour from home then, so I'm nearly home. I've had a good few coffees in Peterborough service station.Andy Povey: I've not tried that one, I must admit.Kelly Molson: I mean, I don't know if it's up there with, like, the best, but, you know, I just. I know that I'm going to be home soon.Paul Marden: Bit depressing that the favourite motorway service is the one that's closest to home for you. Thank you, Andy. Next up, so here's a surprise. Danielle Nicholls from Alton Towers, you've managed to join us.Danielle Nicholls: So my question to you, Kelly, is you've worked with a lot of attractions and theme parks over the years, but which is your favourite theme park attraction or ride that you've ever been on?Kelly Molson: This is not a good question to ask, is it? Because I'm going to upset people. Danielle Nicholls: You can be diplomatic about it. Kelly Molson: My favourite ride, definitely not those ones that swing and literally make you one of them. My favourite ride. It's really hard. Yeah, it's really hard. Well, I was just trying to think of, like, where do I go with this? But I'm going to go with the one. It was mine and my dad's favourite when I was a kid and it doesn't exist anymore, which is really sad, but it's the Back to the Future ride at Universal.Kelly Molson: Which was absolutely epic and I can remember years ago queuing up like four times on the trot to go on it with my dad and he just. It was just brilliant. Absolutely absolute. I mean, I love that. I love eighties music movies. Yeah. My genre, anyway, but, yeah, that ride was absolutely incredible. Oh, that's amazing. Danielle Nicholls: I never got to do that one so very jealous. Kelly Molson: Good memories.Paul Marden: Paul Griffiths, can you take the floor and give Kelly a grilling? Paul Griffiths: Of course. Hi, Kelly. Good to see you. And good to see everyone else. We know that you love picking up souvenirs and knickknacks on your travels, particularly attractions. So what is your favourite souvenir you've taken away from one of your best tourist attractions?Kelly Molson: I've got them all here. Look at them. I've got my bounty on my desk.Paul Griffiths:  The show and tell answer then, isn't it?Kelly Molson: Look, I've got. Yeah. Okay. What's my favourite one, though?Paul Marden: For listeners, hey can't see you picking up a dodgy eighties ice cream box.Kelly Molson: This is my ‘80s. It's a Bijam economy vanilla ice cream tub, which my parents were obviously really keen on feeding us well as a child. But in it are, I mean, hundreds and hundreds of rubbers that I've collected from different places and attractions over the years. And they smell. I wish this was smellyvision because they absolutely smell divine. There's so many in here. But I think, again, this is. And this is for memories. I'm going to go with this one and it's really old. This is my Thorpe Park rubber.Paul Griffiths:  Very classic.Kelly Molson: Isn't it great? So it's got the Thorpe park rabbit on it. Rangers. Danielle Nicholls: Is it the Thorpe Park Rangers? Kelly Molson: Yeah. Yeah. Thorpe Park Ranger. Yeah. Thorpe Park. So that was, again, that was probably the closest attraction to the closest theme park to me as a kid, and we used to go there a lot and, like, my uncle used to take me there in the summer holidays. The whole family used to go. So that one has got really good memories. That's a great question, Paul. There's so many in here, though, that I could have chosen.Paul Griffiths:  I didn't age to have them all to hand, though. Kelly Molson: That sat on my desk.Paul Marden: So I promised you that we would try and faithfully stick to the format once you hand the Batman to me. So I'm going to give you a breather from being grilled by everybody. What was your unpopular opinion that you wanted to share with everybody?Kelly Molson: Peas. Peas. Peas are the food of the devil. Peas taint everything that they touch. Sometimes. Nobody tells you that there's peas in stuff on the menu as well. Like, I love a fish pie. Fish pie is delicious. When you open up a fish pie and someone's gone. No, we'll just throw a few handful of peas in there just for a laugh. That's not fun. You can pick them out of stuff, but you can taste them in absolutely everything that they are in.Paul Marden: That's not an unpopular opinion, that's just. That's just a fact. I don't know how everybody else feels about peas, but I'm a pea hater as well.Sophie Ballinger:  Oh, what about cheesy peas?Kelly Molson: No, cheesy peas. Even cheese would not make peas taste appealing to me.Dominic Jones: Wasabi peas?Kelly Molson: No. Danielle Nicholls:  Minty peas? Kelly Molson: No peas. I like beans. Beans are okay. And like edamame beans, which I like peas. But not peas. It's just a very distinct difference.Bernard Donoghue: Nurse. Nurse. She's out of bed again.Sophie Ballinger:  Where do you stand on mushy peas? Kelly Molson: Oh, so far from mushy peas. I did have to cook them once for Lee's old granddad. Oh, God. No.Paul Marden: Guacamole as. Who was it? It was one of the politicians and labour politics. Andy Povey: Peter Mandelson. Paul Marden: There we go. Peter Mandelson went into a fish and chip shop and asked to have guacamole with his fish and chips and it turned out was mushy peas.Kelly Molson: I'd eat guacamole with my chips. That's fine.Paul Marden: So should we go back to grilling you on some.Kelly Molson: This whole episode is just awkward questions for me. Is it great?Paul Marden: You've done this to everybody for 99 episodes. It's your turn to take one. Rachel Mackay from Hampton Court Palace, welcome.Rachel Mackay: Oh, hello. I've decided to go against the grade. I'm not going to ask your revision question because I know you'll just stare blankly at me anyway, so I'm going to go more general. What is your preference, running shoes or dancing shoes? Kelly Molson: Oh, dancing shoes. Dancing shoes all the way. I really miss dancing. You don't get to dance enough when you get older. Dancing is the one thing that I used to really love doing with my friends. Rachel Mackay: I thought you would say dancing shoes because also it gives you a bit of a heel.Kelly Molson: Which I need. No, you're absolutely right.Paul Marden: So the dancing. You'll be able to get them back out again soon because, what, Eddie's two now? Two and a bit. It will soon be birthday party season, where you'll be doing the hokey cokey and you'll be doing the conga.Kelly Molson: And she's already got all my moves. She's already got all my moves. Yeah, she's in the dancing zone.Paul Marden: Excellent. Next up, we've got somebody else that couldn't join us today, so they've sent us another little video to share with you. So this is Simon Addison from the Roman Baths and number two in the hour, top ten paid attractions outside London. And I say, sorry, Dominic.Dominic Jones: He deserves it. He's a great guy. And so is the Roman Baths.Paul Marden: Exactly. You haven't heard what he says yet.Simon Addison: Hey, Kelly, it's Simon Addison here from the Roman Baths. I'm really sorry that I couldn't be with you for the recording today. Before I ask you my ice breaker question, I just wanted to tell you about the impact that skip the queue is having, not just on those people who work in visitor attractions, but those who visit them too. Last month, I was walking around the National Portrait Gallery with Dominic Jones and a visitor genuinely pulled him over and asked him if he was the Dominic Jones from Skip the Queue. Kelly, you have created an absolute monster there.Kelly Molson: I love this.Dominic Jones: That is actually true. It actually happened. We were a bit bemused by it and were worried that someone had set this visitor up, but they genuinely wanted a Korean visitor attractions and had listened to it and I'd obviously said my name a bit too loud to Simon and they came up and asked for a picture. It was completely random, but brilliant.Paul Marden: I'm a little bit heartbroken because I actually genuinely thought they spotted the face and knew you from the YouTube.Dominic Jones: I think it was the voice, but, yeah, no, it was brilliant. It's all because of Skip the Queue, which is Simon's rise had a massive impact on everyone in our industry and actually people who want to join our industry. So you should be really proud. And hopefully that's the last random stranger that stopped me. But it was fantastic.Kelly Molson: Do you know what? I do feel really proud of that.Paul Marden: So, Simon's question.Simon Addison: Kelly, my icebreaker question for you is what is the weirdest piece of advice that you've ever received? And did you follow it? Thanks very much, Kelly, and thanks for everything. Thanks for all the episodes over the years and I wish you the very best of luck with everything.Kelly Molson: I'm trying to think what has been. Do you know, I have been given some advice about public speaking before, which I thought was quite strange. I used to really. I used to get really anxious about public speaking. It wasn't something that was massively comfortable for me. And I had loads of coaching from a really good friend of mine, Andy Loparta. And I don't know if it was Andy. I don't think this was Andy that gave me this advice. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have been. But someone told me that if you go on stage and you clench your butt cheeks, you can't actually clench anything else. At the same time. And I'm like. I am, though. I'm clenching my butt cheeks now and I'm clenching my teeth so you can. But that's always stuck in my head.Kelly Molson: So I definitely tried it, but I don't know that it helped with my speaking whatsoever. I'm doing it now. Is everyone. Is everyone doing it now? Is everyone trying it? Everyone's doing it.Paul Marden: Standing desk practicing it right now.Sophie Ballinger: Yeah. Start bobbing up and down in my seat. You'll know why. Kelly Molson: There you go.Paul Marden: Lovely segue. Sophie Ballinger from Eureka. Why don't you ask Kelly your icebreaker?Kelly Molson: Hello, duck. Sophie Ballinger: Hello, duck. Hey, I've got a bit of a random one. I think I might have. It might have been asked you this in the agency interview many years ago, but I'm not sure because it's one of my favourites. Who would win in a fight between a badger and a baboon? Kelly Molson: I don't remember you asking me this. Sophie Ballinger: Should have done.Kelly Molson: Badger. I think Badger. Badgers are quite vicious, aren't they? You think the boots. Everyone's shaking their head. Oh, I think badger. I've never seen a live badger either, but I know that they're quite vicious.Paul Marden: We went into South Africa a few years ago and we stopped because we saw a troop of baboons on the side of the road and there were other people watching. So everybody got out their cars and they all stood around. All of a sudden, this alpha male baboon just crosses the road to the car behind us, opens the back door, gets into the woman's handbag when he's rifling through trying to find chocolate and she's sat in the front seat going absolutely crazy. So I promise you it'll be the baboon. So next up, we've got another video. Joining us this time it is Elizabeth McKay, CEO of the London Transport Museum.Elizabeth Mckay: Hi, Kelly. You were the nicest interviewer I ever had. So my question for you is equally nice, I hope. So, when you're getting around London, what's your favourite mode of travel? Is it tube, bus or cycle? Kelly Molson: Oh, I actually prefer to walk, so neither of the above. I know. Sorry. I'm sorry. I like. So I have to get the train in. So my train is the Liverpool street line. So I tend to get off. You know, I go. I'll go to Liverpool street and then I quite like to walk places. I do like the tube. Not gonna dis the tube, especially not to Elizabeth. But I quite like the opportunity to go and see stuff. And I think walking around London, everything feels everything so close together.Kelly Molson: So it's nice to be able to just walk and see things that you wouldn't normally see.Bernard Donoghue: Can I just point out that I've seen Kelly getting out of a disco rickshaw at least three times in the last week.Kelly Molson: Fake news. Fake news.Paul Marden: Now, Kelly, you did say to me that you had a few thank you messages that you wanted to share with people. So do you want to just have a couple of minutes to thank some people?Kelly Molson: Yes, I would. I would like to thank everybody because people have always been so incredibly generous with their time for me, and I'm always so grateful of that. You're generous to come on and talk to me. You're generous to come on and answer my ridiculous questions, but generous to share all your insight and knowledge. And I think especially through the pandemic, that meant an incredible amount to me and hopefully to our listeners as well. It really felt like people were coming on and sharing kind of a real time. This is where we're at. This is what's happening, and this is what we're doing about it. Experience. And it was amazing.Kelly Molson: The pandemic was incredibly difficult for everybody, but for me, the highlight was knowing that I was getting to speak to so many different people and being able to share that with other people as well. And it made it a really special time for me. So thank you for everybody that has ever come on the podcast and answered my stupid questions and shared all of their stuff with me. Thank you. Thank you to all of the listeners. I genuinely could not have imagined. I could not have imagined how well this podcast would go. I honestly can remember the day that I came in, I was like, “We should definitely do this podcast. I've been looking. I don't think there's anything like it. We should do it.” And my team going, “Yeah, how do we do it? I don't know. Let's just do it, though.”Kelly Molson: And this is what happens. I come up with these crazy ideas, and I'm the driver of them, but it's all the people around me that actually make the magic happen. And that is. That's for the podcast, that's for the survey, the report, the agency itself. All I've done is just kind of drag it along and share it with people. It's all the other people behind the scenes that do it. Steve works his magic every single episode. He really does. He cuts out a lot of swearing. The very professional introductions that I record separately to the interviews. Jesus. The amount of swearing that he has to cut out on those is ridiculous. So well done, Steve, mate, you deserve that award winning podcast editor title just for this. And Wenalyn. So Wenalyn down here waving. She.Kelly Molson: I mean, she really is the powerhouse behind the podcast because I'll get you to come on. We'll have a lovely chat. It goes over to Steve for the editor, and it comes back to, well, and she does everything. She does everything. She creates all the graphics. She uploads everything to the, you know, the website, she does the transcriptions, she creates, does all the podcasts, all the scheduling, all of the. All of it. So, you know, she really does do all the hard grunt work behind it. So thank you, Wenalyn. It's been such a lovely. It's been lovely to work with you over the years. Thank you.Paul Marden: Wenalyn wins the award for the longest distance journey into the meeting today because Wenalyn is over in the Philippines. Wenalyn wins this award in every single meeting that we have. So she does.Kelly Molson: She does. There is one more. Thank you. I wanna make, which is to the unsung hero of Skip the Queue. So it's for an old team member of mine, Ashley Mays, because if it wasn't for her, actually, there probably wouldn't be a Skip the Queue. She made this happen, really. Not only did she come up with the name, but she actually got one of our first guests to agree to come onto the podcast. Because I can't tell you how difficult that first season was. If you've ever gone back, it actually launched in July 2019. This podcast, myself and my co founder, Wag, who asked the ridiculous question I answered with a fart earlier. We both used to interview guests, but if you've ever tried to get someone to come onto a podcast and they go, great. Yeah.Kelly Molson: How many listeners and downloads have you got? You're like, none. Absolutely none. No listeners. You are our first guest. Please help us make something magic. That was quite a hard sell. Ashley had a family member who agreed to come onto the podcast, and it was actually Lynne Whitnall, who is the director of Paradise Wildlife Park, which is now Hertfordshire Zoo. She was the biggest name that we could have possibly hoped for in that first series. So really, that was the kind of catalyst for all of the other amazing guests that have come on since. 2019 was a really tough year for Rubber Cheese, and I had to let Ashley go at the end of 2019, and I'll tell you now, that was the single worst thing that I've ever had to do in my whole career as an agency owner, because she was brilliant.Kelly Molson: And I felt like I'd failed her at that time. So I really wanted to make sure that she got a big thank you. She's gone on and done brilliant things. Don't get me wrong, brilliant people always do. But that was genuinely the toughest thing that I've ever had to do. And it's probably my biggest regret of running the agency all of these years as well. So, yeah, big shout out to Ashley. She made a big difference.Paul Marden:  Every agency owner enjoys the fun bits, the launches, the winning new business. Nobody enjoys that bit. But it is this life, isn't it? So, yeah, it was a tough time for everybody, wasn't it? And you said that Ashley came up with the name as well, didn't she?Kelly Molson: She did, yeah. Skip the Queue was all Ashley. I take no credit for that whatsoever.Paul Marden: Amazing.Danielle Nicholls: What a moment that was. That was really touching. Kelly Molson: Thank you.Paul Marden: Keep it together, mate. You've still got a few minutes to go.Kelly Molson: Okay?Paul Marden: So let's segue for some light relief to Ross Ballinger from Drayton Manor.Kelly Molson: Now, I'm not gonna lie, I'm really apprehensive about this. Ross. Ross Ballinger: Hello, lovely. Kelly Molson: Hi, Ross.Ross Ballinger: It's so nice to see and hear you. I feel like.Kelly Molson: Likewise, mate.Ross Ballinger: I've only known you, like, a short space of time but you were such a champion for me and Danielle when you spotted us at theme park award a few years ago.Danielle Nicholls: Really.Ross Ballinger: And we're just so grateful for that. You spotted our passion and our energy for the industry and obviously we just gravitated toward each other. Anything you've done for all the other professionals in the industry as well. So true testament to everything that you've done it just. It's all paid off and everyone loves you and thank you so much for everything on Skip the Queue.Kelly Molson: Oh, mate.Ross Ballinger: No, honestly, I think that was probably one of the best years I ever had in the industry, really, because it, like, it did stem up a couple of things did, like, fall out at the back of it because it got. It got me a little bit of 15 minutes of fame that I really enjoyed. And then I managed to do some presentations with different things and owe credit to you, really, for just, like, putting us in the limelight for a little bit. Kelly Molson: I'm so pleased. I'm so pleased. I just want to tell the story because I met the two of you at the UK theme park awards. It was at Drayton Manor, wasn't it? And these guys are on the table behind me and I've never had such enthusiasm. You two were the light, I mean, that. It was a bit of a. It was a bit of a. It was a. It was a tough crowd, wasn't it? Everyone was quite subdued in there, but used to, like, “Yes,” shouting and just.Danielle Nicholls: Basically every time anyone won, even if it was like, Pleasure Beach or being anyone. We were like, “Yeah, go guys.”Ross Ballinger: We were wooing everybody.Kelly Molson: What awards do should be like. Like, you two were like the Persona of an awards day. It was. It was so good to meet you that day. I had the best day meeting you two, and I just knew that I had to get you both on the podcast, and you were such a little dream team at Drayton Manor. And now, you know, you've set off on your different paths, but it's lovely to see. For me, it's really. I think it's brilliant to see where you're all going and what your good things are.Ross Ballinger: Yeah. Thank you.Danielle Nicholls: That's really kind. Thank you.Ross Ballinger:  Yeah, it was just one of those cases of, like, sat in the right place at the right time and the rest is history. Like, yeah, loved it. Loved the meeting on that day. Instant connection, you know? And you just get an instant connection with someone who shares the same energy and passion and insight, and they understand what you're doing and what you stand for. So, yeah, it was a really good day. Loved it. My icebreaker question, I did have four. Actually, so I don't even know if Paul knows what. I'm going to be honest.Paul Marden: Well, I'm taking the other two that you did send me because they were awesome.Ross Ballinger: I'm going to go with, if you could switch live with any fictional character, who would it be?Kelly Molson: It's a really good question. You need to. You have. You've wrote all these down, right? This is a good one.Ross Ballinger: Yeah. Yeah.Kelly Molson: With any fictional character. I'm trying to think of all the books that I've just thinking about. Well, okay. I've got this thing about reading. Like, if you go on holiday, I like to take, like, a really familiar book with me on holiday that you've read, like, a million times. And I don't know why. I've read The Beach, like, a billion times, which is far better than the film. Like, far better than the film. And I can't actually remember a guy's name in it now. It's gone off my head. But the Leonardo DiCaprio character in the book, I will swap lives with him because I feel like that whole travelling culture, I never got to do that. I wasn't brave enough to do that when I was younger, and I'd really like to go and do it now, but it's really difficult for toddler.Paul Marden: Not brave enough to do that. But you were brave enough to jack it all in and set up an agency 20 years ago.Kelly Molson: Yeah. Should I have done the travelling? Who knows? But, yeah, I think, yeah, I would swap places with him, although he goes a little bit crazy towards the end. I'd take that.Ross Ballinger: Thanks for your long lasting impact on a door. Thank you very much. Love you.Paul Marden: Well said, Ross. Crack and jog. So I'm going to take that and segue off quite nicely now to a video from your greatest fan, my daughter, Miss Amelia Marden. She wanted to be part of this, but she's busy at school today, so she sent you in a question and she said,Amelia Marden: Hello, Kelly. I've seen the video of the roller coaster you and dad went on at Drayton Manor. My question is, what is your favourite sort of roller coaster? Vertical drop or a loop de loop? Love you from Amelia.Paul Marden: For listeners. I kept it together on that roller coaster. There was no noise. I was completely composed. Everything was fine until it started moving at the beginning.Kelly Molson: So was this. No, hang on a minute. Was this the, this was the in the Viking. This is the Viking one, wasn't it? Because we've been on two roller coasters together. And the second one, it was in the rain and there was a lot of screaming in my ear as well. The first one was. Yeah, the first one was relatively screamy as well. What is my favourite? I like the shock of a drop. I do like a loop a loop. I'm cool with those. But there's something about like that. There's a, there's a motion sickness thing with me that is a bit. So the drop one I quite like. And again, this has got another good memory of my dad is that is Terra Towers. He loves the Terror Towers drop so much.Kelly Molson: My dad's got this thing in his head about taking Edie to Disney. Like my dad. My dad best in, he'll be when she's five, he'll be like 76. So, you know, he's getting on and he's like, that's my cutoff point. We're going to go to Disney when she's five, whether we all like it or not, because I can't do it any older than that. And he's like, we're going to go on Terror Towers, aren't we, Dad? I don't know if you should, dad. It's almost, I feel like maybe it was trigger of a heart attack. I don't know. A bit worried. But he's adamant that he's, you know.Paul Marden: He's going to Edie's five and we're taking them on to Terror Towers.Kelly Molson: Maybe it's going to work, Dad.Paul Marden: I think we don't need to set dad's expectations, teacups. And it's a small world and that's about it.Kelly Molson: Yeah, I'll have that chat with him.Paul Marden: And we have got a message in from Mister David Hingley.David Hingley: So I sit in a lot of meetings with Kelly, either in person or online, in her role as a trustee at Museum of the Broads. And it's usually not as dramatic as it might be. We talk about steamboats, coal, and our upcoming Pete exhibition, which is fascinating but can lack a bit of drama. So my question is, if every time you enter a room for the rest of your life a piece of entrance music plays, what piece of music are you choosing and why?Kelly Molson: Oh, my God. I've never thought about this question. This is a great question. Why has everyone given me really good questions now that I'm leaving? You idiots.Paul Marden: David is promising to play this at every future trustees meeting. As you arrive, he'll have Spotify on the phone ready to play.Kelly Molson: What would be my entrance music? I feel like it's got to be something. It's got to be something dancy where I can get my groove on. So I feel like. Like this someone's. Loads of people have probably said this, but I feel like. Like here comes the hot stepper. Would be a good one for me because I can, you know, I can drive in. Here come the odd stepper, you know?David Hingley:  I'll record the next trustee meeting museums of the broad and circulates to this group.Kelly Molson: Oh, please do.Paul Marden: Thank you, David.Kelly Molson: I'll tell you what. I'll do it at the AGM. I'll dance in at the AGM.Paul Marden: So last up, we have Mr. Dominic Jones from the Mary Rose, who, along with Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, the third most popular paid attraction outside of London in the hour list released yesterday.Dominic Jones: Yeah, very happy about that. Very happy.Paul Marden: I can take you one better because still the undisputed most listened to podcast guest on Skip the Queue as of yesterday. Wow.Dominic Jones: I honestly can't believe that.Paul Marden: I know, I know. It's not as if you haven't dined out on that fact several times before.Andy Povey: He doesn't like to talk about it, Paul.Kelly Molson: He's so shy, doesn't he? Dominic Jones: I am shy. I don't talk about myself. That's incredible. What did you say number one?Paul Marden: Number one by country mile, I might say.Kelly Molson: Yeah, by nearly a hundred downloads, actually.Dominic Jones: Oh, well, that's fantastic. I'm absolutely honored about that. I have to say, I am so sad that Skip the Queue with Kelly is coming to an end because it's kept me company on many a motorway journey, on many a day when I've had a really tough day at work and thought, you know, what's going to cheer me up is Skip the Queue. Because not only do you motivate and inspire the next generation, like the person that sort of bumped into me and Simon, but you also motivate, inspire all of us. And actually, without Skip the Queue, and to be fair, ALVA as well, I don't think I'd have this amazing network of friends and colleagues that really keep me sane in some of the tough times.Dominic Jones: So I know we often talk and Bernard talks about how visitor attractions are like sort of the fourth emergency service, I would say, when it comes to working in a visitor attraction, you and ALVA. So Skip the Queue and ALVA are the emergency services, because without you, I don't think we'd be sane. Absolutely. You've made such a difference to my personal life and I can't thank you enough. But for an icebreaker question, one of the things that irritates me on Skip the Queue is you can tell who Kellys favourites are. So if she has someone from the zoo and she likes them, whats your favourite animal? Or someone from a theme park, whats your favorite ride? And then she gets people that she just asks really difficult icebreakers. So I was thinking, how can I get the most random, hardest icebreaker?Dominic Jones:  And I was trying to remember, but when I was a child in the eighties and nineties growing up, a lot of my friends had Sky TV. We couldn't afford Sky TV. We had BBC One and BBC two. Well, on Sky TV there was this thing called WWF. Now, this was before the Internet. So I went to the library and worked out that it was about looking after animals. Turns out it wasn't. It was actually wrestling. And so I used to sort of been in the playground, talk to my friends, but never ever watching it, never really understanding it. So I'd be in my bedroom. I was very young at the time, pretending to be a WWF wrestler. I was the praying mantis, because I did watch BBC 2 a lot. Mantis, one of the very strongest animal in the animal kingdom.Dominic Jones: But if you were a wrestler in the WWF, what would be your wrestling name?Kelly Molson: I used to love the wrestling.Dominic Jones: I bet you did. I bet you did.Kelly Molson: I did. We went. So they did the one in the UK. They did the royal rumble and I had the finger and everything. Yeah. I used to like the bushwhackers and rowdy Roddy Piper and Jake the Snake. I was well into it. I was really into it. Yeah. I was not cool at school until I was well into the wrestling. So what would be my wrestling name?Dominic Jones: Yeah. And why?Kelly Molson: The trouble is, I'm a bit of a lover, not a fighter, so don't think I'd actually make a very good wrestler. I'm not actually that aggressive. Looking at me as if I've said something crazy, then I'm not a fight. I might have a fiery temper, but I'm not a fighter. Oh, God. It's. I don't know what rhymes. Like, Kelly's a really rubbish name to rhyme stuff, but Kick ass Kelly, it's rubbish, isn't it?Dominic Jones: Good, that'll do.Kelly Molson: Okay. Kick ass Kelly. Yeah. I don't know what would be my costume. There'd definitely be some neon in there. I feel like I'd be like the eighties girl. Like neon leggings and leg warmers and stuff. Yeah.Dominic Jones: And maybe some fire in the background as well, just to spice it up. Yeah.Kelly Molson: Yeah, maybe.Paul Marden: I reckon there's got to be some cheese in there as well. You need some. You need some cheese in that wrestler name, ain't it?Kelly Molson: There's not many cheeses that begin that, like, rhyme with Kelly either.Dominic Jones: The worst ever icebreaker. I've ruined it.Kelly Molson: Good question. No, I like it.Dominic Jones: Oh, I should have done. What's your favourite boat? That's what I should have done.Paul Marden: Oh, come on then.Kelly Molson: What's my favourite boat? Well, it would have to be the falcon or the. Can't remember the name of the other one.David Hingley: Well, the other one.Kelly Molson: Is it the Marsh Harrier?David Hingley: That's the one.Kelly Molson: There you go. At the Museum of the Broads is a wonderful museum. You can also take your family out on a little boat trip. It's also dog friendly as well, you know, bring all your friends.Dominic Jones: Great. Plug in one of your recent episodes. I was listening and thought about booking a holiday. It was a great plug in the last episode. You did?Kelly Molson: Well, if you do fancy a little holiday trip to Norfolk, you know, there's a little holiday cottage that you could. You could hit me up for, Dominic. So just, you know, let me know.Dominic Jones: Absolutely.Paul Marden: I reckon I should have got 20 quid in my pocket every time you mention that guest house.Kelly Molson: I really hope that someone books someday and they're like, “We heard it on Skip the Queue.” “Yes! It worked.”Paul Marden: They'll insist on a discount. Thank you, Don. That was amazing. If any of our listeners would like to support any of the other guests and boost their listener figures to compete with Don, I'm going to put the details of everybody's episodes in the show notes, because frankly, Dominic Jones: Why would you do that?Kelly Molson: That's mean.Dominic Jones: Why would you do that? Surely this is the end now. Number one, the end.Paul Marden: We're talking load of nonsense and I need to put something in the show notes. So I thought I'd put the episodes that everybody was in on the show notes. Can you exclude one, Paul? Oh, I'm sure I can, yes.Dominic Jones: I think yours is okay, Andy. I wouldn't exclude you. Yours was a great one. Paul Marden:  So they'll all be in the show notes. And lastly, all of our guests asked to pick a book that they love. So Kelly, what's your book?Kelly Molson: I read this book right at the very start of my agency journey. A very good friend of mine, he's been a coach of mine for a number of years, said that you should read this book, and it is How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie. It's a very old book, but it is a classic. And this book opened my eyes and ears. So it really taught me how to understand and listen to people. And I think for me, building an agency like we have over the years, so much of that comes down to listening to people, understanding what their challenges are. You know, we have to network. You know, a lot of what we do is based on reputation and how likable you can be and all of those kind of things.Kelly Molson: And this book really gives you an understanding of that, about what it is to be likable. And you shouldn't have to teach this to people. Like, really, it's pretty common sense, but, you know, it can be difficult for people to understand, like, why you should listen to people and why you should just let people talk. And I think a lot of the things that I learned from this book, I have applied to the podcast, so I just want to read out a little synopsis. Well, some of the things that I think are really important about how you listen to people, and it's. It's about becoming genuinely interested in other people.Kelly Molson: And I hope that has come across in this podcast, because every single person that has come on and shared with me has just given me so much to think about, and I've learned so much from you all. It teaches you to smile, like smiling is just so important. I've always been amazed at how many people that don't smile back when I smile at them when I'm out walking the dog in the morning. Just smiling is the simplest thing that you can do to connect with somebody. Remembering people's names. Remember that a person's name to that person is the most important sound in any language. Make sure that you can just remember people's names. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves. And I hope that I've done that. I've always hoped this podcast, you know, it's not about me.Kelly Molson: It won't be about Paul. It will be about all the guests that come on and still continue to come on and talk to us about their stories and their challenges and their initiatives and all the brilliant things that they do. And I hope that I have gone above and beyond in making other people feel important. And I hope I've been sincere in doing that as well because it is all about you. You all make this podcast amazing and I genuinely am so grateful that you've allowed me into your ears and allowed me to share everybody else's stories in a really fun way. So thank you.Paul Marden: Kelly, that was really. Yeah, awesome. Listeners. If you'd like to win in Kelly's book, then head over to the show announcement on X and retweet as saying, I want Kelly's book. That just leaves me to say that we are busy planning season six now. Wanlyn and I met yesterday with Oz to start brainstorming ideas for what we can do in season six. If you've got ideas, then send them in. Let us know on Twitter. We'd love to hear those X, I should say. If you would like to appear in an episode, let us know, because I love to interview people. So let us know if you'd like to come onto the podcast, that would be amazing. That's about it from all of us here today. So I want to thank my lovely co hosts, the Skip the Queue alumni.Paul Marden: I want to thank the rest of the Rubber Cheese team that came along as well. I want to thank you, Kelly, for everything that you've done for us and thank the lovely listeners. I look forward to seeing you all in the next episode of Skip the Queue.Kelly Molson: Thank you so much. This is amazing. Thank you. Kelly Molson: Thanks for listening to Skip the Queue. If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review. It really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on Twitter for your chance to win the books that have been mentioned. Skip The Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. You can find show notes and transcriptions from this episode and more over on our website, rubbercheese.com/podcast.   The 2023 Visitor Attraction Website Report is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsDownload the report now for invaluable insights and actionable recommendations!

In this episode, Dr Elle Wadsworth talks to Paul Griffiths about synthetic drug production in Europe including the differences between lab-made substances and diverted medical drugs. They discuss organised crime and its impact on cocaine production, drug availability and the potential for drug contamination. They also cover fentanyl and the potential for a heroin drought resulting from changes in opium production in Afghanistan.Paul talks about the complexities of European drug markets explaining how they commonly respond to changes in both supply and demand. Elle and Paul then discuss how researchers can monitor drug trends through wastewater analysis and other methods.“These are often very small labs, but because of the potency of these drugs, it means very small production runs can have quite a big impact on local drug consumption patterns and mortality and morbidity. So we saw a few years ago, ten or fifteen years, one lab in central Europe we had a very brief outbreak of deaths in about three countries all related to a very very small, a kitchen lab it was actually in someone's kitchen but it had an impact.”Paul Griffiths is the scientific director for the EMCDDA – the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug AddictionOriginal article: Opioid problems are changing in Europe with worrying signals that synthetic opioids may play a more significant role in the future by Paul Griffiths and colleagues. Published in Addiction (2024)The opinions expressed in this post reflect the views of the host and interviewees and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official positions of the SSA or Addiction journal.The SSA does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of the information in external sources or links and accepts no responsibility or liability for any consequences arising from the use of such information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we speak with Robb Etnyre, General Manager at Truckee Tahoe Airport (KTRK), a pioneering general aviation airport that has become the first in the world to fully transition to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Located near the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, Truckee Tahoe Airport serves a diverse range of private and business aviation customers.Etnyre shares the story of KTRK's decision to power 100% of their flights using SAF, driven by the impacts of climate change witnessed firsthand in the region, such as severe wildfires and smoke. He highlights the airport's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, particularly its scope 3 emissions from jet fuel sales, which amount to approximately 500,000 gallons annually. Etnyre also discusses the role of stakeholder engagement and education in the successful adoption of SAF. He also shares the customer response to Truckee Tahoe Airport's SAF transition, noting the general support from most operators who align with the airport's sustainability goals.Etnyre delves into the challenges of ensuring a reliable and cost-effective SAF supply chain for small airports, while also highlighting their potential in driving significant change in the industry by sending strong market signals for low-carbon fuels.If you LOVED this episode you'll also love the conversation we had with Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, about the sustainability initiatives at one of the largest airports in the world. Check it out here.Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry's challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air'. Click here to learn more.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It's about time.Links & More:Truckee Tahoe Airport Sustainable Aviation Fuel - Truckee Tahoe AirportTruckee Tahoe Airport Goes All-in on Sustainable Aviation Fuel - Airport Improvement Avfuel expands SAF reach with supply at Truckee Tahoe Airport District - Bioenergy International How do you decarbonise a major airport? - SimpliFlying 

SummaryPaul Griffiths shares his journey from a technology recruiter to Microsoft's UK public sector skills lead, emphasizing the value of learning and growth in one's career. We discuss Microsoft's Copilot, an AI-powered assistant across various Microsoft applications, designed to streamline tasks like meeting summaries, email drafting, and data analysis, fundamentally altering how users engage with digital tools. 00:00 Exploring Microsoft CoPilot: A New Era of Productivity01:01 The Power of Learning and Skilling in Today's World01:40 Paul's Journey: From Recruitment to Microsoft's UK Public Sector Skills Lead03:32 The Accelerating Pace of Innovation and Digital Transformation06:23 The Future of Work: AI, New Jobs, and the Importance of Learning12:04 Building a Learning Culture: Strategies for Individuals and Organizations17:09 Deep Dive into Microsoft CoPilot: Features and Real-World Applications23:34 Unlocking the Full Potential of Microsoft 365 with CoPilot25:22 Embracing the Future: Learning Resources and the Power of Experimentation27:41 A Superpower Wish: Abolishing the Word 'No' for More Innovation29:19 Wrapping Up: The Importance of Continuous Learning and ConnectionThanks for reading Superpowers School! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Deeper DiveIn today's fast-paced tech world, staying ahead means embracing tools that optimize efficiency and innovation. Microsoft 365 Copilot is one such tool, revolutionizing how tech professionals work. In this episode with Paul Griffiths from Microsoft's UK Public Sector Skills team, he sheds light on the powerful features and benefits of this AI assistant.Let's dive deep into Microsoft 365 Copilot, exploring how it can:* Supercharge Team Efficiency* Fuel Continuous Learning and Collaboration* Prepare Tech Professionals for the AI-Enhanced FutureDemystifying Microsoft 365 CopilotPaul explains that Copilot stands out as a deeply integrated AI assistant within your existing Microsoft 365 workspace. Key Benefits for Tech ProfessionalsLet's see how Copilot enhances the experience of tech teams:* Overcoming Workflow Obstacles: Say goodbye to writer's block in Microsoft 365 apps! Copilot aids content creation (think documents, presentations, and emails). It summarizes meetings for quick updates and frees you from tedious administrative tasks.* Unlock Data Power with Copilot in Excel: Analyze complex data effortlessly, turning spreadsheets into actionable insights. Copilot empowers you without the need for formula mastery.* Tap into AI Creativity: Get those innovative juices flowing! Microsoft Copilot helps brainstorm fresh ideas and approaches when you hit a roadblock within a project.Continuous Learning with Microsoft 365 CopilotIn tech, continuous learning is paramount. Paul emphasizes how Copilot supports individuals and teams as an intelligent learning tool:* AI-Powered Knowledge Base: Easily surface relevant information or training materials with Copilot as your search companion within your organization's vast data stores.* Enhanced Team Collaboration: Copilot facilitates seamless knowledge sharing through meeting summaries, content creation support, and accessible insights, keeping your teams aligned and efficient.Embracing AI-Enhanced ProductivityBy understanding and proactively using Microsoft 365 Copilot, tech professionals can:* Maximize Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: Leverage AI-powered summaries, project updates, and insights for seamless teamwork.* Level Up Technical Skills: Copilot eases data analysis and unlocks new ways to use familiar Microsoft 365 applications.* Stay Ahead of the Curve: Be an early adopter of AI-powered workflows, positioning yourself at the forefront of ever-evolving technology.Microsoft Copilot FAQHow does Copilot work within Microsoft 365?Copilot for Microsoft 365 utilizes AI technology to provide suggestions, code snippets, and other assistance to users while working in Microsoft 365 applications such as Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.What are the key features of Copilot Pro?Copilot Pro offers advanced AI capabilities, enhanced collaboration tools, and additional customization options for users within Microsoft 365 Business Standard.Can Copilot be used in Microsoft Teams?Copilot is not currently available within Microsoft Teams directly, but users can leverage its features while working on individual files or tasks within Teams.How can I access Copilot in Word?Copilot in Word can be accessed through the "Ideas" feature in Microsoft Word, which provides suggestions and assistance based on the content you are working on.Is Copilot available for purchase separately?Copilot is not available for separate purchase; it comes integrated with Microsoft 365 subscriptions for enhanced productivity and assistance.What is the advantage of using Copilot for Sales?Copilot for Sales provides tailored assistance and insights for sales professionals, helping them streamline their processes and improve customer interactions within Microsoft 365 applications.Does Copilot offer support in multiple languages?Copilot supports multiple languages and can provide assistance and suggestions in various languages based on user preferences and settings within Microsoft 365.How is Copilot integrated into Microsoft 365?Copilot is seamlessly integrated into Microsoft 365 applications, offering real-time suggestions and tools to enhance user productivity and efficiency across different tasks and projects.Paul Griffiths (Microsoft UK Public Sector Skills Lead)Paul is the Microsoft UK Public Sector Skills Lead with over 20 years of experience in the IT industry. He is passionate about cloud computing, and how learning can power digital innovation and transform careers. Paul is currently leading the development of training programmes for Microsoft's public sector customers across Central Government, Local Government and Policing, helping individuals and organisations realize the benefits of their investment in Microsoft solutions.⚡️ In each episode, Paddy Dhanda deep dives into a new human Superpower to help you thrive in the age of AI.

19 Feb 2024. UAE non-oil trade set a new record last year, at almost $1 trillion- Senior Economist, Emirates NBD, Jeanne Walters has the latest on that. We'll also hear from Dubai airports CEO Paul Griffiths - basking in the glory of last year's record high, and making bold predictions for this year as they've seen passenger traffic jump by a third since last year, to a record 87 million. That's 1% above pre-pandemic levels. Plus, we'll hear from Rob Anasari, Head of Investments and Retirement, IMEA, Mercer speaking to consulting firm Mercer, about how retaining expats into retirement could be a major opportunity for the UAEs long term growth. And, finally we'll speak to Legal Consultants Afridi & Angell about why Real estate agents in Dubai could be facing fines for fake property listings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12 Feb 2024. We have the latest on how Dubai's heavy rain is effecting flights with Dubai Aiports CEO, Paul Griffiths and we'll hear whats been happening at the World Government Summit as Rich headed down yesterday to bring us the latest. Dubai's RTA has approved the final design for flying taxis and vertiports (vertical airports) and they will be launched in the emirate by the end of 2025. Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO, Public Transport Agency, RTA tells us more. Plus, we'll speak to Arnaud Verchere, Founder and Head of Strategy, Tonic International about today's Superbowl that has set a new advertising record at $650 million, according to agency Dentsu, with the presence of Taylor Swift in the crowd drawing in unprecedented attention. And, a new auction-based taxi hailing service being rolled out in Dubai this month, which could end up reducing your fares - we speak to founder and CEO, Firdosh Sheikh. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk planes, trains and motorbikes with this morning's Christmas Guest Co-host - DXB boss Paul Griffiths.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big focus on aviation this festive morning on The Business Breakfast! Paul Griffiths talk us through the DXB Airport expected 258,000 passengers this holiday period and how they prepare for it. Plus, Managing Director of Wizz Air, Johan Eidhagen talks through how they've doubled both their flights and their passenger numbers this year. And, could rents finally fall in 2024? Louis Harding from Betterhomes talk trends for the new year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Bitesize podcast today we're broadcasting live from DC Aviation Al Futtaim's VIP Terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport celebrating the company's 10th anniversary during the week of the Dubai Airshow. Brandy spoke to His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum - CEO and founder of Emirates Group at his semi-annual round table and began by asking after the massive wide body order, will they now buy narrow body? Plus, Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports exclusively revealed to the Business Breakfast that they are set to match and even exceed pre-pandemic passenger traffic. Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai gave us the latest about their order for 30 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners worth $11 billion (Dh40.37 billion) at the Dubai Airshow. Finally, Peter Van Driel, CFO, ADNOC Gas told us about their quarterly net income of $1.1billion.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Invest in You we interview Paul Griffiths, a corporate finance expert who shares insights on his coolest acquisition project with a ticket price of 4 million. Paul discusses working with private investors and investment groups, along with high-net-worth individuals. He also highlights his experience in corporate finance and his background in accounting and recruitment. Tune in to learn more about Paul's expertise in buying businesses and building senior management teams. KEY TAKEAWAYS Paul Griffiths runs a corporate finance business that primarily works with private buyers, trade acquirers, and private equity firms. They focus on businesses with a valuation of at least £1-2 million, but can handle larger transactions as well. Building relationships and trust is crucial in the acquisition process. Paul emphasizes the importance of forming personal relationships with sellers and buyers, as it helps generate confidence and traction in the transaction. To enter the field of acquisitions, Paul suggests developing skills in communication, analysis, relationship building, and project management. While a background in accounting or finance can be beneficial, there are various paths to enter the industry. Utilizing personal networks and proactively reaching out to potential employers or mentors can help young professionals break into the industry. Persistence, professionalism, and making an effort to stand out from the competition are key. Paul highlights the value of personal branding and utilizing platforms like LinkedIn to build a professional presence. Having a strong personal brand can help attract opportunities and establish oneself as a thought leader in the industry. Additionally, Paul mentions the potential for outsourcing certain tasks or roles to overseas locations to reduce costs and access talent. BEST MOMENTS "I think we, because I do mostly deal origination work at the front end of the process, it's a lot about relationships, it's a lot about giving people the comfort that we can deliver a service professionally, efficiently, ultimately, you know, giving them what they want, you know, deal flow, seeing enough deals, et cetera." "Everybody needs to move forwards." "And what I would advise is try to get an internship, try to offer your time for free." "So if you are doing good stuff, then you will stand out immediately." VALUABLE RESOURCES https://www.linkedin.com/in/pasha-munro/ https://blackboxglobal.net/ ABOUT THE GUEST Having served in elite military units, Pash Munro has honed his skills in high-pressure Pash's leadership style is characterised by a commitment to teamwork, meticulous planning, and a focus on achieving objectives with the highest level of efficiency and effectiveness. He fosters a culture of excellence, empowering his teams to deliver results that surpass client expectations. Pash's unwavering dedication to the principles of integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality inspires trust and confidence in both clients and colleagues alike. Beyond his role at Black Box Global, Pash is a recognized authority in the field of security operations. He has shared his insights and expertise as a sought-after speaker at international conferences and has contributed to the development of best practices in the industry. Pash's ability to analyse complex situations, think strategically, and provide innovative solutions has made him a respected figure among his peers. ABOUT THE HOSTS Serial entrepreneurs Fredrik, Charlie and Ivan Sandvall love sharing ideas and interviewing world-class entrepreneurs and influences. Invest In You is about investments, entrepreneurs, personal development and doing fun things. They hope to ensure you to take action, helping others and yourself, plus enjoying the journey we call life. CONTACT METHOD Fredrik Sandvall www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/ https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/ Charlie Sandvall LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/csandvall/ Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/Sandvall   Ivan Sandvall  Instagram @ivansandvall              This show was brought to you by Progressive Media

In this episode we talk to Andrea Carroll, Group Head of Sustainability at daa, about how the global airport group is taking a holistic approach to sustainability and fostering a climate positive culture that promotes sustainability as a shared responsibility.daa group are the commercial semi-state operators of Dublin and Cork airports; airport retail operators (ARI) and management consulting (daai). As daa has grown to have a presence in about 15 countries, it has shed its previous name: “Dublin Airport Authority”. Its current operations extend beyond Ireland's two largest airports – Dublin and Cork – to the Middle East, Canada, APAC, and Europe. Their business model is diverse, and they even have investments in airports in Cyprus and Düsseldorf.We will learn about the daa's global footprint and its commitment to sustainability, including decarbonisation efforts like integrating solar farms, circularity initiatives to reduce waste, and measures to enhance local environments. The conversation underscores the significance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, with daa actively coordinating with airlines, local communities, and even policymakers.If you LOVED this episode, you'll also love the conversation we had with Paul Griffiths, CEO at Dubai International Airport about the sustainability initiatives at one of the largest airports in the world. Check it out here.Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry's challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air'. Click here to learn more.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It's about time.Links & More:Creating a climate positive culture for the daa – International Airport Review HVO propelling sustainability at Dublin Airport – Certa Sustainability Reports – daa ESG – daa International Dublin Airport Environmental Working Group – Dublin Airport➡️ How do you decarbonise a major airport? – SimpliFlying 

We hear from DXB boss Paul Griffiths about the future of the airports and would we see a move to Dubai South. Plus, as the Fed decided to hold interest rates & the UAE Central Bank followed suit, we asked Carla Slim of Standard Chartered Bank what this means for those of us living in the GCC. And, we talk Atlantis's preparations for NYE including a performance from Sting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we talk to Nadia Kaddouri, former Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer for Swissport International, the leading provider of airport ground services and air cargo handling based on revenue and number of airports served. In this episode, Kaddouri stresses that the hope for a net-zero future lies in people's excitement and willingness to adopt sustainability measures. While laying out Swissport's vision and plans for a net-zero future, she highlights the wider scope of sustainability beyond decarbonisation and acknowledges the impactful role of COVID-19 in changing industry work practices.We also learn about Kaddouri's fascinating shift from heading finance to leading sustainability. She emphasises the importance of passion and continuous learning in navigating new fields and shares her approach to learning about sustainability, which includes drawing inspiration from diverse sources such as other companies, suppliers, and podcasts. If you LOVED this episode, you'll also love the conversation we had with Dubai International Airport's CEO Paul Griffiths. He talks at length about the sustainability initiatives at one of the largest airports in the world. Check it out here.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It's about time.Links & More:Swissport International AG - Sustainability Swissport announces new sustainability targets - Passenger Terminal TodaySwissport to reduce its CO2 emissions by at least 42 percent by 2032 - BTN Swissport embraces growth and green logistics - Air Cargo News Amsterdam Schiphol ground handling vehicles to run on Neste renewable diesel - AviationSource News ➡️ How do you decarbonise a major airport? - SimpliFlying 

09 May 2023. CEO Paul Griffiths joined us to discuss the incredible growth & how they've revised their forecast. Plus, our special focus on generative AI -first with Jasim Al Awadi of Du & Nancy W Gleason of NYU Abu Dhabi. And, we talk Azizi Development's expansion into the luxury hospitality sector with Michael Zager. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Solana Mobile launched a web3-focused Android mobile phone Saga, along with an open-source software toolkit, Solana Mobile Stack; and is looking to take on the phone and app ecosystem giants like Apple and Google. We talked about the process of launching new hardware, working with the team behind Essential Phone, origin story of Solana Mobile, why the web3 ecosystem needs a web3 phone, and much more. SPONSORS Dukaan: https://mydukaan.io/ Recast: https://recast.studio?fpr=prashant and use code BMS05 for 5% discount GUEST LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/creativedrewy Website: https://solanamobile.com/ CONNECT Prashant Bagga: https://linktr.ee/prashantpbagg Billion Moonshots: https://linktr.ee/billionmoonshots OUTLINE (00:00) - Working with the team behind Essential phone (02:00) - Origin story of Solana Mobile (05:06) - Impact of a web3 phone on the ecosystem (10:45) - Manufacturing Process (15:20) - Feature 1: Seed Vault (18:55) - Feature 2: Wallet Adapter (20:01) - Feature 3: Dapp Store (27:27) - User Experience (31:40) - Launch (34:35) - Dapp Ideas TOP EPISODES 87: Shane Mac, President of XMTP Labs 77: Shashank Kumar, Founder of Razorpay [Hindi] 75: Kyla Scanlon, Founder of Bread 74: Adam Jackson, Co-founder of Braintrust 68: Natalie Brunell, Host of Coin Stories Podcast 62: Suumit Shah, CEO of Dukaan [Hindi] Past guests of Billion Moonshots include Shane Mac, Shashank Kumar, Suumit Shah, Natalie Brunell, Kyla Scanlon, Adam Jackson, Tyler Denk, Anshul Rustaggi, Danielle Strachman, Chirag Taneja, Suhas Motwani, Aditya Mohanty, Jan-Philipp Peters, Mo Islam, Peer Richelsen, Justin Nguyen, Paul Griffiths, Gautam Gupta, Sang Le, Rahul Rana, Grace Ling, Joseph Choi and many more.

Michael founded Etherspot, offering account abstraction SDK to improve the web3 user experience. We talk about abstraction, wallet as a service, onboarding web2 developers to web3, leveraging AI, and much more. SPONSORS Dukaan: https://mydukaan.io/ Recast: https://recast.studio?fpr=prashant and use code BMS05 for 5% discount GUEST LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/mm319 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelmessele/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/etherspot Discord: https://discord.com/invite/GAkYj6m5Uh Telegram: https://t.me/etherspot Website: etherspot.io Build: https://buidler.etherspot.io/ CONNECT Prashant Bagga: https://linktr.ee/prashantpbagga Billion Moonshots: https://linktr.ee/billionmoonshots OUTLINE (00:00) - What is account abstraction? (08:07) - Wallet as a Service & Social Login (33:40) - Onboarding web2 developers to web3 (35:51) - Leveraging AI TOP EPISODES 87: Shane Mac, President of XMTP Labs 77: Shashank Kumar, Founder of Razorpay [Hindi] 75: Kyla Scanlon, Founder of Bread 74: Adam Jackson, Co-founder of Braintrust 68: Natalie Brunell, Host of Coin Stories Podcast 62: Suumit Shah, CEO of Dukaan [Hindi] Past guests of Billion Moonshots include Shane Mac, Shashank Kumar, Suumit Shah, Natalie Brunell, Kyla Scanlon, Adam Jackson, Tyler Denk, Anshul Rustaggi, Danielle Strachman, Chirag Taneja, Suhas Motwani, Aditya Mohanty, Jan-Philipp Peters, Mo Islam, Peer Richelsen, Justin Nguyen, Paul Griffiths, Gautam Gupta, Sang Le, Rahul Rana, Grace Ling, Joseph Choi and many more.

Are we taking time to be leisurely? Are we free to study the true, good, and beautiful? Are we liberated enough to spend time on the liberal arts? Or are we stuck in a consumer culture that pushes a sterile curiosity? All this and more on this episode! Joseph referenced a book by Paul Griffiths, called Intellectual Appetite. We recommend it!  https://www.cuapress.org/9780813216867/intellectual-appetite/And we referenced Josef Pieper's Leisure: The Basis of Culture-- also highly recommended! https://ignatius.com/leisure-lbcp/

Casey Paul Griffiths is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University. He served a mission in Fort Lauderdale, Florida before returning home to complete a B.A. degree in History at BYU, an M.A. in Religious Education, and a PhD in Educational Leadership and Foundations. Casey served in Seminaries and Institutes for eleven years as a teacher and a curriculum writer. Casey's research focuses on the history of religious education among Latter-day Saints, the history of the Church in the Pacific, and diverse movements associated with the Restoration. He is the author of numerous books and articles on Latter-day Saint history, including Truth Seeker: The Life of Joseph F. Merrill, Scientist, Educator, and Apostle. He is married to Elizabeth Ottley Griffiths and they live in Saratoga Springs with their three children. Highlights 2:00 Introduction to Casey and his new book 5:10 The background of Joseph Merrill 8:50 Joseph Merrill's faith journey 19:00 Joseph's wife had very progressive and feminist views. They had a very powerful partnership together. They were both leaders and innovators. 21:20 The Church then and now 22:55 Different political views within the leaders of the church. They were all able to get along. We shouldn't be afraid of different views. 26:15 The setbacks in Joseph Merrill's life led him to what he was really supposed to do. He was called by the church to be the church commissioner of education. He created an institute program to help students reconcile their faith with science and other things they were learning at school. 32:15 Joseph's life didn't go as he expected but just as God planned it to be. Casey talks about Joseph's marriages. 37:00 Joseph Merrill was the founding father of the Institute and Seminary programs that we have today. However, in the beginning there were a lot of obstacles and push back to get it started. 48:00 As a leader you have a dynamic vision for something but there's so much pushback from others. It can feel like maybe it's not meant to be but keep going! Small changes can bring about big results in the end. 50:45 Education is a spiritual activity. Learning and growing are consecrated activities in the church. 52:15 When Joseph was an apostle he was also called as a mission president in Europe. He was very innovative in his church service. 54:20 Joseph Merrill was Gordon B. Hinckley's mission president. Joseph mentored Gordon. Because of them, the Church started creating new media. 57:00 It's important to be innovative in the church. How can we use technology to our advantage? Push the possibilities. 59:55 Revelation comes at all levels. Joseph wasn't an apostle when we came up with the idea for Seminary and Institute. Revelation doesn't always come from the top down. 1:01:20 The truths of the gospel don't change but we can go about doing things or teaching things in different ways. President Nelson is a great example of this. He changed up the way we do home teaching and women can now be witnesses. 1:02:30 We are so lucky to have the journals of Joseph Merrill. His writings show his frustrations and inner feelings that really humanize him. 1:04:20 Joseph tried his whole life to find solutions. He always tried to mix science and religion. In the end, after he lost his 2 wives and daughter, he learned that sometimes things are in God's hands. Faith is vital and reason cannot fix everything. 1:07:30 Faith is the first principle of the gospel because there are so many things that are beyond our control. 1:08:30 The story of Richard Lyman. He was the last apostle to get excommunicated in our dispensation. Joseph was a great friend of Richard. 1:18:30 The messiness of our history makes it genuine instead of manufactured. Sincerity is more important than eloquence. Links Truth Seeker: The Life of Joseph F. Merrill, Scientist, Educator, and Apostle

Casey Paul Griffiths is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University. He served a mission in Fort Lauderdale, Florida before returning home to complete a B.A. degree in History at BYU, an M.A. in Religious Education, and a PhD in Educational Leadership and Foundations. Casey served in Seminaries and Institutes for eleven years as a teacher and a curriculum writer. Casey's research focuses on the history of religious education among Latter-day Saints, the history of the Church in the Pacific, and diverse movements associated with the Restoration. He is the author of numerous books and articles on Latter-day Saint history, including Truth Seeker: The Life of Joseph F. Merrill, Scientist, Educator, and Apostle. He is married to Elizabeth Ottley Griffiths and they live in Saratoga Springs with their three children. Highlights 2:00 Introduction to Casey and his new book 5:10 The background of Joseph Merrill 8:50 Joseph Merrill's faith journey 19:00 Joseph's wife had very progressive and feminist views. They had a very powerful partnership together. They were both leaders and innovators. 21:20 The Church then and now 22:55 Different political views within the leaders of the church. They were all able to get along. We shouldn't be afraid of different views. 26:15 The setbacks in Joseph Merrill's life led him to what he was really supposed to do. He was called by the church to be the church commissioner of education. He created an institute program to help students reconcile their faith with science and other things they were learning at school. 32:15 Joseph's life didn't go as he expected but just as God planned it to be. Casey talks about Joseph's marriages. 37:00 Joseph Merrill was the founding father of the Institute and Seminary programs that we have today. However, in the beginning there were a lot of obstacles and push back to get it started. 48:00 As a leader you have a dynamic vision for something but there's so much pushback from others. It can feel like maybe it's not meant to be but keep going! Small changes can bring about big results in the end. 50:45 Education is a spiritual activity. Learning and growing are consecrated activities in the church. 52:15 When Joseph was an apostle he was also called as a mission president in Europe. He was very innovative in his church service. 54:20 Joseph Merrill was Gordon B. Hinckley's mission president. Joseph mentored Gordon. Because of them, the Church started creating new media. 57:00 It's important to be innovative in the church. How can we use technology to our advantage? Push the possibilities. 59:55 Revelation comes at all levels. Joseph wasn't an apostle when we came up with the idea for Seminary and Institute. Revelation doesn't always come from the top down. 1:01:20 The truths of the gospel don't change but we can go about doing things or teaching things in different ways. President Nelson is a great example of this. He changed up the way we do home teaching and women can now be witnesses. 1:02:30 We are so lucky to have the journals of Joseph Merrill. His writings show his frustrations and inner feelings that really humanize him. 1:04:20 Joseph tried his whole life to find solutions. He always tried to mix science and religion. In the end, after he lost his 2 wives and daughter, he learned that sometimes things are in God's hands. Faith is vital and reason cannot fix everything. 1:07:30 Faith is the first principle of the gospel because there are so many things that are beyond our control. 1:08:30 The story of Richard Lyman. He was the last apostle to get excommunicated in our dispensation. Joseph was a great friend of Richard. 1:18:30 The messiness of our history makes it genuine instead of manufactured. Sincerity is more important than eloquence. Links Truth Seeker: The Life of Joseph F. Merrill, Scientist, Educator, and Apostle

Wojtek is the Founder of Mazury.xyz - a web3 platform to earn, display, and use your web3 credentials to access exclusive job and career growth opportunities. We talked about going from a broke college dropout to raising million dollars for Mazury, ideal user experience for freelancers, the downside of building in a bull market, web3 messaging, and much more. SPONSORS Dukaan: https://mydukaan.io/ Recast: https://recast.studio?fpr=prashant and use code BMS05 for 5% discount GUEST LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/wojtekwtf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wojtekwojtek/ CONNECT Prashant Bagga: https://linktr.ee/prashantpbagga Billion Moonshots: https://linktr.ee/billionmoonshots OUTLINE (00:00) - Broke college dropout to raising million dollars in crypto (06:03) - Origin story of Mazury (10:30) - Is it web3 LinkedIn? (14:40) - Being a founder in this space (23:15) - Ideal UX for freelancers & recruiters on Mazury (34:38) - Downsides of building in a bull market (40:12) - Mazury vs Braintrust (44:11) - Mazury integrating XMTP TOP EPISODES 87: Shane Mac, President of XMTP Labs 77: Shashank Kumar, Founder of Razorpay [Hindi] 75: Kyla Scanlon, Founder of Bread 74: Adam Jackson, Co-founder of Braintrust 68: Natalie Brunell, Host of Coin Stories Podcast 62: Suumit Shah, CEO of Dukaan [Hindi] Past guests of Billion Moonshots include Shane Mac, Shashank Kumar, Suumit Shah, Natalie Brunell, Kyla Scanlon, Adam Jackson, Tyler Denk, Anshul Rustaggi, Danielle Strachman, Chirag Taneja, Suhas Motwani, Aditya Mohanty, Jan-Philipp Peters, Mo Islam, Peer Richelsen, Justin Nguyen, Paul Griffiths, Gautam Gupta, Sang Le, Rahul Rana, Grace Ling, Joseph Choi and many more.

Arman and Parker are the founders of Peaze - allowing you to use any dapp with just an email and credit card. A lot of cool things are being built in web3 - but most of the new users who come in are unable to use them. Users have to download a wallet, manage the private keys, on-ramp the correct crypto, swap it into the correct asset, bridge, transfer over from Coinbase, etc. Web3 user onboarding is a real problem. What if you could just sign in with your email. SPONSORS Dukaan: https://mydukaan.io/ Recast: https://recast.studio/ and use code BMS05 for 5% discount GUEST LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArmanVaziri || https://twitter.com/Peaze Medium: https://medium.com/@Peaze LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/arman-vaziri/ || https://www.linkedin.com/company/76595591 CONNECT Prashant Bagga: https://linktr.ee/prashantpbagga Billion Moonshots: https://linktr.ee/billionmoonshots OUTLINE (00:00) - Leaving big tech job for build in web3 (03:30) - Origin story of Peaze (5:59) - How Peaze lowers the barrier to entry for dapps (08:30) - What happens behind the scenes when a user signs-in with Google on Peaze? (10:00) - How Peaze secures the private keys of a user? (11:23) - Narrowing down on the user onboarding problem (13:49) - Is Peaze Stripe for web3? (17:25) - User education around web3 concepts (21:10) - North Star Metric of Peaze (24:19) - The one-click experience (30:53) - Helping users become self-custodian (32:35) - DeFi is the use case for crypto '(35:12) - Market Adoption (37:44) - The Peaze Logo (38:40) - Raising $2m during a crypto downturn (51:02) - Other Web3 Trends TOP EPISODES 87: Shane Mac, President of XMTP Labs 77: Shashank Kumar, Founder of Razorpay [Hindi] 75: Kyla Scanlon 74: Adam Jackson, Co-founder of Braintrust 68: Natalie Brunell, Host of Coin Stories Podcast 62: Suumit Shah, CEO of Dukaan [Hindi] Past guests of Billion Moonshots include Shane Mac, Shashank Kumar, Suumit Shah, Natalie Brunell, Kyla Scanlon, Adam Jackson, Tyler Denk, Anshul Rustaggi, Danielle Strachman, Chirag Taneja, Suhas Motwani, Aditya Mohanty, Jan-Philipp Peters, Mo Islam, Peer Richelsen, Justin Nguyen, Paul Griffiths, Gautam Gupta, Sang Le, Rahul Rana, Grace Ling, Joseph Choi and many more.

Tristen Larsen is the founder and CEO of Blockem AI, an advanced anti-scam detection software for Ethereum wallets. We talked about how trust percentages are calculated, losing $20K in a crypto scam, origin story of Blockem, why web3 UX sucks, how their team flagged FTX wallets 2 months before the whole fiasco and much more. SPONSORS XMTP: https://xmtp.org/ Dukaan: https://mydukaan.io/ Recast: https://recast.studio/ and use code BMS05 for 5% discount GUEST LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/Suited_ETH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suited/ LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristen-larsen-%F0%9F%93%B2-1a953a114/ CONNECT Prashant Bagga: https://linktr.ee/prashantpbagga Billion Moonshots: https://linktr.ee/billionmoonshots OUTLINE (00:00) - How is the Trust Percentage calculated? (02:50) - Scams in Crypto (4:24) - Losing $20,000 in a scam (9:47) - Origin story of Blockem (14:31) - Product Insights (20:07) - Web3 UX sucks (23:04) - What does the Trust Percentage mean? (27:10) - Red flags in Smart Contracts (31:39) - Ideal user experience of Blockem (36:33) - Creative new scams in the industry (39:00) - Flagged FTX 2 months before the whole fiasco !! (42:54) - Story of coming up with the name (47:11) - Remote culture (52:31) - Reading 15 books per month TOP EPISODES 87: Shane Mac, President of XMTP Labs 77: Shashank Kumar, Founder of Razorpay [Hindi] 75: Kyla Scanlon 74: Adam Jackson, Co-founder of Braintrust 68: Natalie Brunell, Host of Coin Stories Podcast 62: Suumit Shah, CEO of Dukaan [Hindi] Past guests of Billion Moonshots include Shane Mac, Shashank Kumar, Suumit Shah, Natalie Brunell, Kyla Scanlon, Adam Jackson, Tyler Denk, Anshul Rustaggi, Danielle Strachman, Chirag Taneja, Suhas Motwani, Aditya Mohanty, Jan-Philipp Peters, Mo Islam, Peer Richelsen, Justin Nguyen, Paul Griffiths, Gautam Gupta, Sang Le, Rahul Rana, Grace Ling, Joseph Choi and many more.

Pei Li dropped out of the University of Toronto to go full-time at Weathsimple, started a software consulting agency, and is now the co-founder of Venue. We talk about growing up in a financially poor background, landing internships at IBM and Shopify, traveling in Asia, building software consulting agencycanva and much more. SPONSORS Listnr: https://listnr.tech/?via=prashant Dukaan: https://mydukaan.io/ Recast: https://recast.studio/ and use code BMS05 for 5% discount GUEST LINKS Website: https://www.venue.live/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peicodes/ CONNECT Prashant Bagga: https://linktr.ee/prashantpbagga Billion Moonshots: https://linktr.ee/billionmoonshots OUTLINE (0:00) - Growing up in a financially poor background (4:23) - Landing internship at IBM, Shopify & Wealthsimple (11:41) - First shot at building startup (15:42) - Travelling & consulting (24:05) - Joining Venue (26:25) - Replacing in-person conferences (30:00) - Venue's value proposition (37:30) - Raising $4M TOP EPISODES 77: Shashank Kumar, Founder of Razorpay [Hindi] 75: Kyla Scanlon, Founder of Bread 74: Adam Jackson, Co-founder of Braintrust 68: Natalie Brunell, Host of Coin Stories Podcast 62: Suumit Shah, CEO of Dukaan [Hindi] Past guests of Billion Moonshots include Shane Mac, Shashank Kumar, Suumit Shah, Natalie Brunell, Kyla Scanlon, Adam Jackson, Tyler Denk, Anshul Rustaggi, Danielle Strachman, Chirag Taneja, Suhas Motwani, Aditya Mohanty, Jan-Philipp Peters, Mo Islam, Peer Richelsen, Justin Nguyen, Paul Griffiths, Gautam Gupta, Sang Le, Rahul Rana, Grace Ling, Joseph Choi and many more.

Delian Asparouhov is a principal at the Founders Fund and co-founder of Varda Space Industries, a space manufacturing startup. We talked about juggling between a VC and founder role, the science of space manufacturing, future plans, life of a space factory worker, creating zero-gravity on Earth, hiring from SpaceX, superpower of Peter Thiel, and more. SPONSORS BridgeUp: DM me on Twitter to raise $100,000+ in non-dilutive capital Listnr: https://listnr.tech/?via=prashant Dukaan: https://mydukaan.io/ Recast: https://recast.studio/ and use code BMS05 for 5% discount GUEST LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/zebulgar?s=20&t=pfJTZ4FToEOJ2NY7gjAt2g LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/delian-asparouhov-87447742/ Website: https://varda.com/ CONNECT Prashant Bagga: https://linktr.ee/prashantpbagga Billion Moonshots: https://linktr.ee/billionmoonshots OUTLINE (0:00) - Juggling between VC and founder role (5:18) - Science of space manufacturing (12:45) - Putting Factories in Space (18:30) - Life of a space factory worker (21:09) - Is zero-gravity manufacturing on Earth possible? (27:28) - Hiring from SpaceX's Dragon team (33:29) - Role of NASA in the space economy (37:32) - Economic incentives in the space industry TOP EPISODES 77: Shashank Kumar, Founder of Razorpay [Hindi] 75: Kyla Scanlon, Founder of Bread 74: Adam Jackson, Co-founder of Braintrust 68: Natalie Brunell, Host of Coin Stories Podcast 62: Suumit Shah, CEO of Dukaan [Hindi] Past guests of Billion Moonshots include Shashank Kumar, Suumit Shah, Natalie Brunell, Danielle Strachman, Chirag Taneja, Suhas Motwani, Aditya Mohanty, Jan-Philipp Peters, Mo Islam, Peer Richelsen, Justin Nguyen, Paul Griffiths, Gautam Gupta, Sang Le, Rahul Rana, Grace Ling, Joseph Choi and many more.

Sukhman & his co-founder both worked as data consultants where they helped companies understand their customers. This included analyzing consumer behavior, habits, and demographics. While in these roles they started to see the blatant disregard for consumer privacy to prioritize marketing and profits. The work they did exploited customer data and directly provided millions of dollars in value to these companies. They felt like villains at work. This is when they started researching ways to protect their own online privacy and realized how difficult this task was. The onus was continuously on the average person to follow best practices, which often required tons of conscious effort and ruined the user experience. This is why they came up with Cyder. Cyder is a browser extension that makes privacy, and data ownership simple, free, and accessible to everyone. Their mission has always been to create an internet where users own and get compensated for their data. We talk about building Cyder, disregard for consumer privacy, expectation vs reality of being a founder, going viral with YC application video, and much more. SPONSORS BridgeUp: DM me on Twitter to raise $100,000+ in non-dilutive capital Listnr: https://listnr.tech/?via=prashant Dukaan: https://mydukaan.io/ Recast: https://recast.studio/ and use code BMS05 for 5% discount GUEST LINKS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sukhmandulay/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cyder/ Cyder: https://www.getcyder.com/ CONNECT Prashant Bagga: https://linktr.ee/prashantpbagga Billion Moonshots: https://linktr.ee/billionmoonshots OUTLINE (0:00) - Data consulting after graduation (4:00) - Feeling like villains at work (13:33) - Decentralized blockchain for data security (17:56) - Data Ethics (22:59) - Ad desensitization (28:35) - Origin story of Cyder (37:08) - Expectation vs Reality of being a founder (41:30) - Importance of having a co-founder (44:10) - Going viral with YC application video (46:20) - Do you still feel like a villain at work? TOP EPISODES 77: Shashank Kumar, Founder of Razorpay [Hindi] 75: Kyla Scanlon, Founder of Bread 74: Adam Jackson, Co-founder of Braintrust 68: Natalie Brunell, Host of Coin Stories Podcast 62: Suumit Shah, CEO of Dukaan [Hindi] Past guests of Billion Moonshots include Shashank Kumar, Suumit Shah, Natalie Brunell, Danielle Strachman, Chirag Taneja, Suhas Motwani, Aditya Mohanty, Jan-Philipp Peters, Mo Islam, Peer Richelsen, Justin Nguyen, Paul Griffiths, Gautam Gupta, Sang Le, Rahul Rana, Grace Ling, Joseph Choi and many more.

21 February 2022. CEO Paul Griffiths joined us in the studio to discuss the numbers. Plus, as the Gulfood event enters Day 2, we talk the finance of food with the CEO of Agthia - Alan Smith. And, we discuss pilot shortage with Sir Julian Young. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dubai International Airport is one of the largest in the world, so reducing its environmental impact is not an easy feat. In this episode we talk to CEO Paul Griffiths about his brilliant approach of focusing relentlessly on constant improvement, no matter how small.We'll learn about maintaining a net zero trajectory, working with airlines and Paul's personal commitment to living a net zero life.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content about sustainable aviation visit our website simpliflying.com and join the movement. It's about time.Links & More:Dubai Airports - Corporate Social ResponsibilityDubai Airports to divert 60% DXB's waste from landfills by mid-2023Dubai International Airport sets goal to reduce landfill waste by 60 per centCirium's Global Aircraft Emissions Monitor 

It's a CEO special this week, as we ask the UAE's business leaders to look into their crystal balls. Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths shared what the year might hold for aviation. Group MD Richard Waind of Betterhomes for his property market prediction. And CEO Alan Smith of Agthia Group for his thoughts on 2023 food industry predictions and inflation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a move to save costs and ease staff shortages, Airlines push for single-pilot flights to cut costs despite safety fears. Would you board a commercial flight with just one pilot? We speak to Mark Hofmeyer, VP and Director of Communications at The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) and an ex-pilot weather it's a good idea or not, Bernard Diffley. Plus, Dubai Airports raises its forecast for passenger traffic this year, amid strong World Cup football traffic. CEO of Dubai Airports, Paul Griffiths crunch those numbers for us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We look at the meeting of Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Xinping at the G20 in Bali with Monica Malik, chief economist of ADCB. Plus, what do mass layoffs at Meta and Twitter mean for tech talent - and wages? We speak to headhunter Oscar Orellana-Hyder. Dubai Airports boss Paul Griffiths tells us about the rush we are expecting at the airport ahead of the World Cup. And, we speak to H.E. Sameh Al Qubaisi, Director General of Economic Affairs at Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development on the sidelines of ADFW.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Griffiths had the honour to meet her when he received the order of Saint Michael and Saint George in 2015 and reflected on her life as the longest ruling monarch of the United Kingdom. Plus, Saudi Arabia's economy has beaten expectations with 12% growth - we speak to Carla Slim of Standard Chartered about this growth. And, is a moon shaped resort coming to Dubai? We ask one of the brains behind the project. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports crunch those numbers for us. Plus, we discuss the latest data from Magnitt which ranks UAE top in terms of venture capital financing in the MENA region with Emma Rosso. And, values of residential properties in Dubai continued to rise in Q2 2022, up 10.1% from last summer, to average at AED 1,100 per square foot, consultancy firm Knight Frank said in a new report.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.