September 3, 2024 • 20 mins
Aesha Scott, the dynamic Chief Stew on Bravo's "Below Deck Mediterranean," takes us on a journey from her beginnings in a Kiwi fruit lab in New Zealand, to navigating the luxurious, high-stakes world of yachting.
Discover her secrets to overcoming challenges with her crew and guests, propelled by her adventurous spirit. Get an insider's perspective on the pressures of guest turnover, provisioning, and filming for a hit TV series, along with her favorite yachting destinations.
Aesha recounts her most unforgettable travel experiences, from the picturesque beauty of Croatia, safaris in South Africa's Kruger National Park, to the cultural richness of Morocco and the energy of New York City. We also touch on the unique vibe of London and the allure of England. Through Aesha's stories, we celebrate the importance of kindness, gratitude, and joy -- whether we're exploring the world or navigating our daily lives.
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Aesha Scott is the Chief Stew on Bravo's "Below Deck Mediterranean,"
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Podcast host Lea Lane has traveled to over 100 countries, and has written nine books, including the award-winning Places I Remember (Kirkus Reviews star rating, and 'one of the top 100 Indie books of the year'). She has contributed to many guidebooks and has written thousands of travel articles.
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Our award-winning travel podcast, Places I Remember with Lea Lane, has dropped over 100 travel episodes! New podcast episodes drop on the first Tuesday of the month, on Apple, Spotify, and wherever you listen.
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Travel vlogs of featured podcasts-- with video and graphics -- now drop on YouTube in the middle of every month! Please subscribe, like, and comment.
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Website: https://placesirememberlealane.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Lea Lane (00:00):
Aesha Scott, the lively, outspoken, popular chief
stew, is back for her fifthseason of Bravo's biggest show,
Below Deck Mediterranean, onBravo.
The New Zealand native quit herjob working at a Kiwi fruit lab
after college and moved toAntibes, France, with her
sister, in search of adventure.
She spent five years workingaboard yachts before joining the
(00:21):
Below Deck family and we'redelighted she's here.
Aesha Scott (00:31):
Welcome
Lea Lane (00:38):
Oh Well, it's a pleasure to have you.
Before we talk about some ofyour favorite places around the
world, let's talk a little bitabout the TV series you're on.
What obstacles did you have toovercome before becoming this
glamorous globetrotting yachtythat you are?
Aesha Scott (00:49):
I was having a think about this and I'm very
fortunate that I didn't reallyhave any to overcome, because
I've always been the kind ofperson where I follow my gut and
I go after what I feel I shouldgo after, and when you do that,
the doors just open for you andI'm very lucky that I thrive
off change and excitement andpressure and just new things and
(01:14):
thanks to the show, that's whatmy life is full of.
It's constantly different,there's always something fun and
I feel like I was just made forit.
To be honest, I would say theonly obstacle, kind of, would be
trying to juggle that in myrelationship, but I'm very lucky
that Scott, my fiance, is verysupportive and we're both very
(01:36):
independent, so we manage itpretty well.
Lea Lane (01:38):
So you're engaged.
are you going to work?
Thank G we've got p n The restof the time I'm so busy you
just don't even think aboutanything.
Well, watching the show, I will say you are busy.
(01:59):
Depending on the crew you areextremely busy, and this season
you're pretty busy.
Yeah, they're not the mosthelpful in many ways, but very
interesting to watch it.
Now.
You've been yachting in the Medand down under in Australia.
Where are your favorite ?
?
Aesha Scott (02:16):
Definitely h You Definitely Definitely g .
You know that's where I firstflew into.
I was based out of the south ofFrance for years and years and
most of my yachting career hasbeen in the Med, so that's
definitely for me what Iconsider the home of yachting
and my favorite place to doyachting obviously the south of
France.
I love Barcelona, I love Italy,but for me, my favorite place
(02:39):
that I've been on the boat wasactually Croatia and Croatia,
pulling into Dubrovnik andwalking around that old city
with the beautiful stone wallsand even, and then cruising down
the coast and going to CrookedNational Park I just found that
whole country fascinating.
Lea Lane (02:55):
It is on episode 102.
We just featured Croatia, andall these places you mentioned
are exceptional.
Yeah, it's just like a jewelyou come into the (it is).
Aesha Scott (03:05):
Yeah, it's fabulous and I feel like it's still very
relaxed and old school, becauseyou've got these places like
the south of France which arestill charming and European, but
it's like Gucci and Fendi andsports cars and all of that
sounds horrible.
I'm just jealous because Ican't afford them.
You go into Croatia and itstill feels quite relaxed and
(03:29):
old-worldy and like how theMediterranean was, and I love
that.
Lea Lane (03:33):
How much time do you get off?
We don't see it, but do you getsome time to enjoy it yourself?
Besides?
Aesha Scott (03:39):
Hardly, and that's why it was about my third or
fourth year of yachting Istarted doing just temp work, so
I would go and do like two orthree weeks on a boat and then
take a week off.
And then two or three weeks andtake a week off.
Because I got to that point andI realized, hey, I've been to
all of these countries but I'vebarely even seen them, because
(03:59):
you pull up to the port you'vegot guests on the whole time.
You know you'd get maybe atwo-hour lunch break.
I remember running to a bicycleand I biked to that cricket
national park and then I cycledback in under two hours so I
would force myself to get outand see it.
But it's all done very, youknow, very rushed.
Lea Lane (04:20):
It's rushed anyway, but with a crew there is it very
different from what a normalyacht experience would be having
the crew and being filmed.
Aesha Scott (04:28):
Oh, yes, it is, because I actually don't find it
that different having thecameras on there, because I just
pretend they don't exist, sothey don't really bother me at
all.
But I think what's so weird iswe for the show.
They're obviously doing ninecharters because they want, like
, lots of different groups ofpeople and they want us to like
(04:50):
the pressure of reprovisioningand changing the fridges and all
of this constant change,whereas on a regular yacht I
suppose the same guests will beon for two weeks, so you only
have to order and change thefridges and get used to a
schedule every two weeks ratherthan every three days.
Interesting.
Lea Lane (05:07):
I didn't realize that that's what's so hard about it,
yeah.
Well, we love that part.
I love to see the provisionscome on.
Aesha Scott (05:13):
I know you guys love that part.
Lea Lane (05:16):
That part kills me Best part.
Now you have a new bunch ofguests about every week, or even
faster than that, as youmentioned.
What's the worst group that youremember?
Why, I mean, there've been somany terrible guests on there, I
think?
Aesha Scott (05:31):
The guests that I've not enjoyed the most.
It was the second season ofDown Under, when it was like
Carmen, Alicia, Brandon and thatwhole group because they were
just at each other's throats thewhole time, literally just at
each other's throats the wholetime, like literally.
They didn't show like heaps ofit, but they were literally
(05:54):
walking around the boatscreaming at each other and I'm
having to stand in the middlelike, please, you go over there
and you go over there, and it'sjust not like a lovely
environment to be working in.
I think as well.
Just overall, the groups that Ihate which tends to be the
people that are people that areon a yacht for the first time
and they're overexcited theyorder the next cocktail when
they've just started drinkingthe one that you've given them,
(06:16):
you know, and so you're puttingdown like eight drinks and then
the moment you put them down,they order more.
So it's just this endless backand forth.
You can't do anything else.
And then my heart gets sobroken when I'm going and
clearing their glasses and everysingle one of them is half full
of the most expensive tequilaand all these beautiful
(06:37):
ingredients and it feels sowasteful.
Lea Lane (06:40):
And we can't drink them because we're working, I
know, I need to start pouringthem into a slop bucket.
Now you create a lot of drinks.
I've heard you created one.
What is this drink?
Aesha Scott (06:52):
Oh yes, so I have created an alcoholic coconut
water called Drop, and it's justlaunched in Australia, which is
so, so exciting.
So if anyone is listening fromAustralia, please go and try it
for yourselves.
Lea Lane (07:08):
Interesting because I drink coconut water and I can
imagine a little bit ofsomething in there wouldn't be
bad.
What is in there?
Aesha Scott (07:14):
So I'm working with a brewery, so it's the same way
that you make seltzers it's aneutral brewed alcohol, so it's
not like mixed vodka or anything.
It's just brewed mixed with abrewed alcohol.
Lea Lane (07:28):
So, yeah, it's got a bit of a punch, but that's what
I wanted.
Aesha Scott (07:30):
You know like a hard cider, yeah delicious,
exactly, and you know you'rehydrating at the same time
you're very helpful.
Lea Lane (07:36):
You're always so helpful thank you.
So now, what's your favoritepart of being a chief stew?
Oh my favorite parts.
Aesha Scott (07:45):
I just really enjoy being in control of the guest
experience because I take mywork so seriously and I'm very
conscious of the fact that theseguests are paying thousands and
thousands of dollars to be onboard and have this (Can I ask
you how much exactly?
I don't know if I'm allowed tosay how much.
I mean, I don't even knowexactly, but it's a lot of money
(08:07):
, a lot, like you know even theguests that are coming on the
show are paying a lot of money,and I think, for someone that is
so conscious of that, I I likebeing the one that's in control
of knowing that all the cogs areturning as they should (How
much sleep do you get?
Oh my gosh.
(08:29):
And I tend to not take manybreaks because I don't trust
anyone.
So you know you're working 16hours running nonstop and then
by the time you wind down fromthat and then get up in time to
like do a full face so that Ilook nice for the cameras, it's
like I'm only really gettingfour to five hours sleep a night
for two months, so you burn out.
(08:51):
(How can you do that for yearsand years, I mean Well yeah,
that's why stews tend to havekind of like an eight-year
lifespan, because it just getstoo much.
Lea Lane (09:03):
It is, but you've got a few years left, yay.
(Yes, exactly, I definitely d o.
) Let.
me ask you about tips.
Every week we see a bigenvelope full of money.
Are they told what to give youwithin you know, a range, or how
does that work, with tipping?
I think this kind of standard ishow, about 10%, maybe.
(09:24):
I think that that's kind of theminimum that's expected,
although you should never expectwe tend to get on the show.
In all my time that I've doneit, the average would be about
1800 US or euros depending whereI am per 48 hour.
That's not bad (I'm like yeah that's not bad.
(09:48):
) I saw what one guy stiffed you.
He was a second timer and he heleft a note.
It's horrible.
Aesha Scott (09:54):
Oh no, I mean even if such a tricky one, because
it's like you shouldn't expect.
But then, even if you aren'ttotally happy with it, it's just
recognizing that we've all beenbusting our asses to try and
give you the best possible andwe can see that.
I was so blown away by the firstgroup of guests that we had
(10:15):
this season, those youngtiktokers, and remember we had
no wine, we had like none oftheir provisions, and they still
left us a wonderful tip and Ijust they really didn't have to
do that, I thought that waswonderful yeah, they were great,
they were yeah very gratefuland very sweet yeah, I like them
too hello.
Lea Lane (10:34):
You've traveled all over the world.
You've said some of yourfavorite places.
You've mentioned the south ofFrance and Croatia.
What are a couple of others?
You mentioned to me SouthAfrica earlier.
What do you love about SouthAfrica?
Aesha Scott (10:46):
I went to South Africa last year when I did 'I'm
a Celebrity, Get Me Out ofHere,' the Australian version,
and we were based in KrugerNational Park, which was just
absolutely stunning.
And when I say I love SouthAfrica, I mean it is a limited
statement, because I was just inKruger and Hutsburt, like I
(11:06):
didn't have the opportunity togo down to Cape Town, which is
what I really want to do.
First of all, doing the safarisand seeing those animals that
I'd only ever seen as a child ina zoo was just absolutely
mind-blowing, like it felt likethis out-of-body experience.
I would never, ever, everforget it and I think everyone
should try and do one.
And then the second thing, theproduce, the food, Like.
(11:36):
he quality of the food isinsane.
I started eating meat againafter trying a steak in South
Africa, and the meat and thenthe fruits and vegetables are
like the most flavorful fruitand vegetables I have ever tried
in my life and that's someonecoming from New Zealand, where
we have amazing produce and youknow you'll get this stunning,
gorgeous meal for about eight USdollars.
I really want to go back andjust eat my way around.
Lea Lane (11:58):
Maybe, after you finish yachting, you could go
into guide tours in a safari.
Yeah, thrilled with it, you'dbe great.
How about?
=
Morocco my goodness, I havejust gotten back from Morocco
about two weeks ago and I wasblown away.
I wasn't quite sure what toexpect.
(12:19):
It's just such a differentculture and such a different
religion and all of this kind ofthing.
But I went there and the thingthat stuck with me the most was
the people.
They are the most welcoming,kind, lovely people ever and
that you know the indigenouspeople there.
They were saying that theybelieve that Morocco is a
(12:41):
country that is meant for allpeoples.
It's not just meant for them,it's meant for everyone.
And so when they see visitorscoming, they really do welcome
you with open arms and itdoesn't feel like put on to get
you to spend money or anything.
They're just so proud, yeah.
I think that's very important.
I think that's important to saybecause we hear about the
beauty of Morocco In episode 24,we focused on Morocco and the
(13:03):
people are a part of it.
I don't hear that all the time,but I agree with you 100%
wonderful people.
Yeah, South Africa.
By the way, we focused onepisode 101.
All of these places you'rementioning we have done a whole
piece on them.
Aesha Scott (13:15):
New York City, you love New York City.
Lea Lane (13:17):
What about it?
Aesha Scott (13:19):
I just find it so magical.
You know, it's one of thoseplaces where growing up, it was
just this whole other world thatonly really existed in movies.
And you grow up watchingfriends and sex in the city and
they show like central park.
And I remember my first timegoing into New York City I was
working on a super yacht with mysister and we were standing on
(13:42):
the bow and we got to enter NewYork City on the front of the
super yacht and we've got theStatue of Liberty going past us
and my sister and I just had ourarms around each other, bawling
our eyes out because wecouldn't believe it.
And I remember walking around itand I was like man, every
single thing that people havesaid about this place is true,
(14:02):
because often it's reallyoverstated and you're like, oh,
it's not that great.
But I was like, wow, it's magic.
And when you're in Manhattan Ilove that.
Every single block there is afeast for the eyes.
You know, every single blockthat you walk down it's like
people watching what's thatrestaurant, what's that shop?
There's just so much to take inand I love that.
Lea Lane (14:22):
The energy which you have, that's your energy.
Have you been back recently?
(Yes, And do people recognizeyou?
I'm just curious.
New Yorkers are the type thatsay 'hi Aesha,' just yell it out
all the time.
Aesha Scott (14:37):
Scott's sister works there a bar there.
I like to go there to see herand have some girl time sounds
great.
Lea Lane (14:45):
Sounds great.
You have a nice variety.
You love London as well, alittle bit different but also
full of its own energy.
Aesha Scott (14:51):
I just love England in general because I'm someone
that's very sentimental.
I love nostalgia and all ofthat, and I love that when
you're in England as a whole itfeels like you're walking
through a calendar.
You know, like that cute littlephoto on a calendar, but boy,
that my granny's house, orsomething like sitting with her
and having a cup of tea, andbecause my granny is British, it
(15:13):
just fills me with so much joy,the culture and the tradition
there.
And when you're in London, Ilove the little pubs and it's
gloomy outside and you can havesome bangers and mash and a beer
, and I just love everything.
You love life.
Yes, I do.
Lea Lane (15:30):
I'm so happy to see that because I figured you did.
We mentioned all of this inepisode 87 on London, and of
course we do an episode on NewZealand.
Of course we do episode 28 onthat.
I'm sure you love your homecountry.
It's one of my favorites in thewhole world, so I have to tell
you that I love it (Oh, I'm sopleased.
Aesha Scott (15:50):
What is your favorite place?
Lea Lane (15:52):
Oh, my goodness, the beauty of the the South Island,
of course, but all of it, justthe people.
Again, we're going to go backto that.
It's just, it's got everything- the food's delicious, the wine
is great, the people are great,the scenery is fantastic, the
cities are wonderful, theculture, yeah, you come from a
great plac yo
Aesha Scott (16:10):
You covered it all.
Lea Lane (16:11):
I couldn't agree more well, that's what I do, So the
name of the podcast is Places IRemember.
So, Aesha, with all your manyexperiences around the world,
would you please share onepersonal memory with us of your
travel?
Aesha Scott (16:26):
One of my favorite favorite memories of all of my
travels, all of my yachting life, was when I was working on this
boat called Phoenix 2.
It's like a 96 meter superyacht.
It's massive.
There's about 30 to 35 crew onthere at one time and I remember
we were right at the end of areally intense season.
(16:47):
It was like three monthsstraight of just like every I
hadn't set foot off the boat forthree months.
It was every single.
We were in the Med and then wecrossed the Atlantic and then
we'd been in Florida, then wewent down to the Caribbean.
Right at the end we ended up.
The guests wanted to go down toCuba and so we pulled into
(17:09):
Havana and the guests declaredthat they were going to go.
They're like, no, we'reactually going to go off and go
to some other place on land forlike three days.
And so the captain said thatall of the crew can have the
next day off and that they'veorganized a surprise for us in
Havana.
So we get all dressed up andget all ready, step off the port
(17:29):
and we come out into the streetand there are these three big
buses there and we were like, oh, what's happening?
There's like buses.
Here are these for us.
And the person comes out andshe's like no, no, this isn't it
, and I don't know if this wasplanned or not, but it was like
this dream, like the homeedition of like Dream Makeover
or whatever.
When they're like move that bus.
And the bus is suddenly allshifted and behind the bus was
(17:53):
these 10 gorgeous shiningCadillacs all lined up in a row.
And she's like these are foryou, guys.
And we're like so we all sprinttowards these Cadillacs and
we're like sitting up on theback up on the back seat,
cruising around Havana, the windblowing in our hair, just
feeling like.
It was the most magicalexperience I've ever had.
(18:15):
They ended up taking us toTropicana, which was, you know,
the old cabaret where, likeFrank Sinatra went there,
Marilyn Monroe, and they got usthese like the best tables in
the house, at the very front,with like cigars and all you
could drink.
And I just remember that nightfeeling so unreal.
(18:36):
I couldn't believe that thiswas my life and this was
happening to me, and if itwasn't for yachting, I never
would have experienced that andI just I'll always be so
grateful for that experience.
Lea Lane (18:45):
Oh, it sounds fabulous .
I hope there are so many moreof those for you, and I'm sure
there will be.
I'm delighted.
I'm delighted I had a chance toask you some questions.
I've been a longtime fan ofyour show and of you.
You work hard, you have fun andyou lead with kindness.
And we all need to do just that, because, whether we're
(19:07):
traveling or at home, kindnesscounts.
So thank you, (It does) nd I'llbe watching you on Below Deck.
Aesha Scott (19:14):
Thanks so much thank you for having me.
You're absolutely delightful.
Aesha Scott, the lively, outspoken, popular chief
stew, is back for her fifthseason of Bravo's biggest show,
Below Deck Mediterranean, onBravo.
The New Zealand native quit herjob working at a Kiwi fruit lab
after college and moved toAntibes, France, with her
sister, in search of adventure.
She spent five years workingaboard yachts before joining the
(00:21):
Below Deck family and we'redelighted she's here.
Aesha Scott (00:31):
Welcome
Lea Lane (00:38):
Oh Well, it's a pleasure to have you.
Before we talk about some ofyour favorite places around the
world, let's talk a little bitabout the TV series you're on.
What obstacles did you have toovercome before becoming this
glamorous globetrotting yachtythat you are?
Aesha Scott (00:49):
I was having a think about this and I'm very
fortunate that I didn't reallyhave any to overcome, because
I've always been the kind ofperson where I follow my gut and
I go after what I feel I shouldgo after, and when you do that,
the doors just open for you andI'm very lucky that I thrive
off change and excitement andpressure and just new things and
(01:14):
thanks to the show, that's whatmy life is full of.
It's constantly different,there's always something fun and
I feel like I was just made forit.
To be honest, I would say theonly obstacle, kind of, would be
trying to juggle that in myrelationship, but I'm very lucky
that Scott, my fiance, is verysupportive and we're both very
(01:36):
independent, so we manage itpretty well.
Lea Lane (01:38):
So you're engaged.
are you going to work?
Thank G we've got p n The restof the time I'm so busy you
just don't even think aboutanything.
Well, watching the show, I will say you are busy.
(01:59):
Depending on the crew you areextremely busy, and this season
you're pretty busy.
Yeah, they're not the mosthelpful in many ways, but very
interesting to watch it.
Now.
You've been yachting in the Medand down under in Australia.
Where are your favorite ?
?
Aesha Scott (02:16):
Definitely h You Definitely Definitely g .
You know that's where I firstflew into.
I was based out of the south ofFrance for years and years and
most of my yachting career hasbeen in the Med, so that's
definitely for me what Iconsider the home of yachting
and my favorite place to doyachting obviously the south of
France.
I love Barcelona, I love Italy,but for me, my favorite place
(02:39):
that I've been on the boat wasactually Croatia and Croatia,
pulling into Dubrovnik andwalking around that old city
with the beautiful stone wallsand even, and then cruising down
the coast and going to CrookedNational Park I just found that
whole country fascinating.
Lea Lane (02:55):
It is on episode 102.
We just featured Croatia, andall these places you mentioned
are exceptional.
Yeah, it's just like a jewelyou come into the (it is).
Aesha Scott (03:05):
Yeah, it's fabulous and I feel like it's still very
relaxed and old school, becauseyou've got these places like
the south of France which arestill charming and European, but
it's like Gucci and Fendi andsports cars and all of that
sounds horrible.
I'm just jealous because Ican't afford them.
You go into Croatia and itstill feels quite relaxed and
(03:29):
old-worldy and like how theMediterranean was, and I love
that.
Lea Lane (03:33):
How much time do you get off?
We don't see it, but do you getsome time to enjoy it yourself?
Besides?
Aesha Scott (03:39):
Hardly, and that's why it was about my third or
fourth year of yachting Istarted doing just temp work, so
I would go and do like two orthree weeks on a boat and then
take a week off.
And then two or three weeks andtake a week off.
Because I got to that point andI realized, hey, I've been to
all of these countries but I'vebarely even seen them, because
(03:59):
you pull up to the port you'vegot guests on the whole time.
You know you'd get maybe atwo-hour lunch break.
I remember running to a bicycleand I biked to that cricket
national park and then I cycledback in under two hours so I
would force myself to get outand see it.
But it's all done very, youknow, very rushed.
Lea Lane (04:20):
It's rushed anyway, but with a crew there is it very
different from what a normalyacht experience would be having
the crew and being filmed.
Aesha Scott (04:28):
Oh, yes, it is, because I actually don't find it
that different having thecameras on there, because I just
pretend they don't exist, sothey don't really bother me at
all.
But I think what's so weird iswe for the show.
They're obviously doing ninecharters because they want, like
, lots of different groups ofpeople and they want us to like
(04:50):
the pressure of reprovisioningand changing the fridges and all
of this constant change,whereas on a regular yacht I
suppose the same guests will beon for two weeks, so you only
have to order and change thefridges and get used to a
schedule every two weeks ratherthan every three days.
Interesting.
Lea Lane (05:07):
I didn't realize that that's what's so hard about it,
yeah.
Well, we love that part.
I love to see the provisionscome on.
Aesha Scott (05:13):
I know you guys love that part.
Lea Lane (05:16):
That part kills me Best part.
Now you have a new bunch ofguests about every week, or even
faster than that, as youmentioned.
What's the worst group that youremember?
Why, I mean, there've been somany terrible guests on there, I
think?
Aesha Scott (05:31):
The guests that I've not enjoyed the most.
It was the second season ofDown Under, when it was like
Carmen, Alicia, Brandon and thatwhole group because they were
just at each other's throats thewhole time, literally just at
each other's throats the wholetime, like literally.
They didn't show like heaps ofit, but they were literally
(05:54):
walking around the boatscreaming at each other and I'm
having to stand in the middlelike, please, you go over there
and you go over there, and it'sjust not like a lovely
environment to be working in.
I think as well.
Just overall, the groups that Ihate which tends to be the
people that are people that areon a yacht for the first time
and they're overexcited theyorder the next cocktail when
they've just started drinkingthe one that you've given them,
(06:16):
you know, and so you're puttingdown like eight drinks and then
the moment you put them down,they order more.
So it's just this endless backand forth.
You can't do anything else.
And then my heart gets sobroken when I'm going and
clearing their glasses and everysingle one of them is half full
of the most expensive tequilaand all these beautiful
(06:37):
ingredients and it feels sowasteful.
Lea Lane (06:40):
And we can't drink them because we're working, I
know, I need to start pouringthem into a slop bucket.
Now you create a lot of drinks.
I've heard you created one.
What is this drink?
Aesha Scott (06:52):
Oh yes, so I have created an alcoholic coconut
water called Drop, and it's justlaunched in Australia, which is
so, so exciting.
So if anyone is listening fromAustralia, please go and try it
for yourselves.
Lea Lane (07:08):
Interesting because I drink coconut water and I can
imagine a little bit ofsomething in there wouldn't be
bad.
What is in there?
Aesha Scott (07:14):
So I'm working with a brewery, so it's the same way
that you make seltzers it's aneutral brewed alcohol, so it's
not like mixed vodka or anything.
It's just brewed mixed with abrewed alcohol.
Lea Lane (07:28):
So, yeah, it's got a bit of a punch, but that's what
I wanted.
Aesha Scott (07:30):
You know like a hard cider, yeah delicious,
exactly, and you know you'rehydrating at the same time
you're very helpful.
Lea Lane (07:36):
You're always so helpful thank you.
So now, what's your favoritepart of being a chief stew?
Oh my favorite parts.
Aesha Scott (07:45):
I just really enjoy being in control of the guest
experience because I take mywork so seriously and I'm very
conscious of the fact that theseguests are paying thousands and
thousands of dollars to be onboard and have this (Can I ask
you how much exactly?
I don't know if I'm allowed tosay how much.
I mean, I don't even knowexactly, but it's a lot of money
(08:07):
, a lot, like you know even theguests that are coming on the
show are paying a lot of money,and I think, for someone that is
so conscious of that, I I likebeing the one that's in control
of knowing that all the cogs areturning as they should (How
much sleep do you get?
Oh my gosh.
(08:29):
And I tend to not take manybreaks because I don't trust
anyone.
So you know you're working 16hours running nonstop and then
by the time you wind down fromthat and then get up in time to
like do a full face so that Ilook nice for the cameras, it's
like I'm only really gettingfour to five hours sleep a night
for two months, so you burn out.
(08:51):
(How can you do that for yearsand years, I mean Well yeah,
that's why stews tend to havekind of like an eight-year
lifespan, because it just getstoo much.
Lea Lane (09:03):
It is, but you've got a few years left, yay.
(Yes, exactly, I definitely d o.
) Let.
me ask you about tips.
Every week we see a bigenvelope full of money.
Are they told what to give youwithin you know, a range, or how
does that work, with tipping?
I think this kind of standard ishow, about 10%, maybe.
(09:24):
I think that that's kind of theminimum that's expected,
although you should never expectwe tend to get on the show.
In all my time that I've doneit, the average would be about
1800 US or euros depending whereI am per 48 hour.
That's not bad (I'm like yeah that's not bad.
(09:48):
) I saw what one guy stiffed you.
He was a second timer and he heleft a note.
It's horrible.
Aesha Scott (09:54):
Oh no, I mean even if such a tricky one, because
it's like you shouldn't expect.
But then, even if you aren'ttotally happy with it, it's just
recognizing that we've all beenbusting our asses to try and
give you the best possible andwe can see that.
I was so blown away by the firstgroup of guests that we had
(10:15):
this season, those youngtiktokers, and remember we had
no wine, we had like none oftheir provisions, and they still
left us a wonderful tip and Ijust they really didn't have to
do that, I thought that waswonderful yeah, they were great,
they were yeah very gratefuland very sweet yeah, I like them
too hello.
Lea Lane (10:34):
You've traveled all over the world.
You've said some of yourfavorite places.
You've mentioned the south ofFrance and Croatia.
What are a couple of others?
You mentioned to me SouthAfrica earlier.
What do you love about SouthAfrica?
Aesha Scott (10:46):
I went to South Africa last year when I did 'I'm
a Celebrity, Get Me Out ofHere,' the Australian version,
and we were based in KrugerNational Park, which was just
absolutely stunning.
And when I say I love SouthAfrica, I mean it is a limited
statement, because I was just inKruger and Hutsburt, like I
(11:06):
didn't have the opportunity togo down to Cape Town, which is
what I really want to do.
First of all, doing the safarisand seeing those animals that
I'd only ever seen as a child ina zoo was just absolutely
mind-blowing, like it felt likethis out-of-body experience.
I would never, ever, everforget it and I think everyone
should try and do one.
And then the second thing, theproduce, the food, Like.
(11:36):
he quality of the food isinsane.
I started eating meat againafter trying a steak in South
Africa, and the meat and thenthe fruits and vegetables are
like the most flavorful fruitand vegetables I have ever tried
in my life and that's someonecoming from New Zealand, where
we have amazing produce and youknow you'll get this stunning,
gorgeous meal for about eight USdollars.
I really want to go back andjust eat my way around.
Lea Lane (11:58):
Maybe, after you finish yachting, you could go
into guide tours in a safari.
Yeah, thrilled with it, you'dbe great.
How about?
=
Morocco my goodness, I havejust gotten back from Morocco
about two weeks ago and I wasblown away.
I wasn't quite sure what toexpect.
(12:19):
It's just such a differentculture and such a different
religion and all of this kind ofthing.
But I went there and the thingthat stuck with me the most was
the people.
They are the most welcoming,kind, lovely people ever and
that you know the indigenouspeople there.
They were saying that theybelieve that Morocco is a
(12:41):
country that is meant for allpeoples.
It's not just meant for them,it's meant for everyone.
And so when they see visitorscoming, they really do welcome
you with open arms and itdoesn't feel like put on to get
you to spend money or anything.
They're just so proud, yeah.
I think that's very important.
I think that's important to saybecause we hear about the
beauty of Morocco In episode 24,we focused on Morocco and the
(13:03):
people are a part of it.
I don't hear that all the time,but I agree with you 100%
wonderful people.
Yeah, South Africa.
By the way, we focused onepisode 101.
All of these places you'rementioning we have done a whole
piece on them.
Aesha Scott (13:15):
New York City, you love New York City.
Lea Lane (13:17):
What about it?
Aesha Scott (13:19):
I just find it so magical.
You know, it's one of thoseplaces where growing up, it was
just this whole other world thatonly really existed in movies.
And you grow up watchingfriends and sex in the city and
they show like central park.
And I remember my first timegoing into New York City I was
working on a super yacht with mysister and we were standing on
(13:42):
the bow and we got to enter NewYork City on the front of the
super yacht and we've got theStatue of Liberty going past us
and my sister and I just had ourarms around each other, bawling
our eyes out because wecouldn't believe it.
And I remember walking around itand I was like man, every
single thing that people havesaid about this place is true,
(14:02):
because often it's reallyoverstated and you're like, oh,
it's not that great.
But I was like, wow, it's magic.
And when you're in Manhattan Ilove that.
Every single block there is afeast for the eyes.
You know, every single blockthat you walk down it's like
people watching what's thatrestaurant, what's that shop?
There's just so much to take inand I love that.
Lea Lane (14:22):
The energy which you have, that's your energy.
Have you been back recently?
(Yes, And do people recognizeyou?
I'm just curious.
New Yorkers are the type thatsay 'hi Aesha,' just yell it out
all the time.
Aesha Scott (14:37):
Scott's sister works there a bar there.
I like to go there to see herand have some girl time sounds
great.
Lea Lane (14:45):
Sounds great.
You have a nice variety.
You love London as well, alittle bit different but also
full of its own energy.
Aesha Scott (14:51):
I just love England in general because I'm someone
that's very sentimental.
I love nostalgia and all ofthat, and I love that when
you're in England as a whole itfeels like you're walking
through a calendar.
You know, like that cute littlephoto on a calendar, but boy,
that my granny's house, orsomething like sitting with her
and having a cup of tea, andbecause my granny is British, it
(15:13):
just fills me with so much joy,the culture and the tradition
there.
And when you're in London, Ilove the little pubs and it's
gloomy outside and you can havesome bangers and mash and a beer
, and I just love everything.
You love life.
Yes, I do.
Lea Lane (15:30):
I'm so happy to see that because I figured you did.
We mentioned all of this inepisode 87 on London, and of
course we do an episode on NewZealand.
Of course we do episode 28 onthat.
I'm sure you love your homecountry.
It's one of my favorites in thewhole world, so I have to tell
you that I love it (Oh, I'm sopleased.
Aesha Scott (15:50):
What is your favorite place?
Lea Lane (15:52):
Oh, my goodness, the beauty of the the South Island,
of course, but all of it, justthe people.
Again, we're going to go backto that.
It's just, it's got everything- the food's delicious, the wine
is great, the people are great,the scenery is fantastic, the
cities are wonderful, theculture, yeah, you come from a
great plac yo
Aesha Scott (16:10):
You covered it all.
Lea Lane (16:11):
I couldn't agree more well, that's what I do, So the
name of the podcast is Places IRemember.
So, Aesha, with all your manyexperiences around the world,
would you please share onepersonal memory with us of your
travel?
Aesha Scott (16:26):
One of my favorite favorite memories of all of my
travels, all of my yachting life, was when I was working on this
boat called Phoenix 2.
It's like a 96 meter superyacht.
It's massive.
There's about 30 to 35 crew onthere at one time and I remember
we were right at the end of areally intense season.
(16:47):
It was like three monthsstraight of just like every I
hadn't set foot off the boat forthree months.
It was every single.
We were in the Med and then wecrossed the Atlantic and then
we'd been in Florida, then wewent down to the Caribbean.
Right at the end we ended up.
The guests wanted to go down toCuba and so we pulled into
(17:09):
Havana and the guests declaredthat they were going to go.
They're like, no, we'reactually going to go off and go
to some other place on land forlike three days.
And so the captain said thatall of the crew can have the
next day off and that they'veorganized a surprise for us in
Havana.
So we get all dressed up andget all ready, step off the port
(17:29):
and we come out into the streetand there are these three big
buses there and we were like, oh, what's happening?
There's like buses.
Here are these for us.
And the person comes out andshe's like no, no, this isn't it
, and I don't know if this wasplanned or not, but it was like
this dream, like the homeedition of like Dream Makeover
or whatever.
When they're like move that bus.
And the bus is suddenly allshifted and behind the bus was
(17:53):
these 10 gorgeous shiningCadillacs all lined up in a row.
And she's like these are foryou, guys.
And we're like so we all sprinttowards these Cadillacs and
we're like sitting up on theback up on the back seat,
cruising around Havana, the windblowing in our hair, just
feeling like.
It was the most magicalexperience I've ever had.
(18:15):
They ended up taking us toTropicana, which was, you know,
the old cabaret where, likeFrank Sinatra went there,
Marilyn Monroe, and they got usthese like the best tables in
the house, at the very front,with like cigars and all you
could drink.
And I just remember that nightfeeling so unreal.
(18:36):
I couldn't believe that thiswas my life and this was
happening to me, and if itwasn't for yachting, I never
would have experienced that andI just I'll always be so
grateful for that experience.
Lea Lane (18:45):
Oh, it sounds fabulous .
I hope there are so many moreof those for you, and I'm sure
there will be.
I'm delighted.
I'm delighted I had a chance toask you some questions.
I've been a longtime fan ofyour show and of you.
You work hard, you have fun andyou lead with kindness.
And we all need to do just that, because, whether we're
(19:07):
traveling or at home, kindnesscounts.
So thank you, (It does) nd I'llbe watching you on Below Deck.
Aesha Scott (19:14):
Thanks so much thank you for having me.
You're absolutely delightful.
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