Caribbean Short Rib with Lee Spencer: Rowing Oceans, Climbing Mountains and Finding Purpose
Introduction
In the first episode of A Taste of Financial Planning, Dennis Hall and Sarah Steele welcome former Royal Marine, record-breaking ocean rower and author Lee Spencer to the Yellowtail table.
Lee is widely known as The Rowing Marine. Over a Caribbean-inspired lunch, he shares the story of the life-changing injury that ended his military career and the extraordinary challenges that followed, including rowing solo across the Atlantic and climbing Kilimanjaro with his daughter.
The conversation is not simply about physical endurance. Lee speaks openly about growing up in Dagenham, the financial pressures his family faced and how those early experiences influenced his views on security, success and satisfaction.
Dennis and Lee also explore a question that sits at the heart of financial planning: what is money actually for? Is it there to fund ambitious dreams, create a legacy or give us the freedom to live on our own terms?
Alongside the more serious moments, there is plenty of humour, warmth and honest debate.
On the menu
Dennis began with a rum-based cocktail before serving a Caribbean-inspired main course.
The main course was beef short rib, cooked sous vide for 40 hours and glazed with rum, sugar, soy and lime zest. It was served with coconut plantain purée, sweet potato and steamed broccoli.
For dessert, Dennis made a rum, coconut and lime posset, finished with toasted coconut flakes.
The wine pairing was Porseleinberg Syrah 2023, a rich and spicy wine chosen to complement the bold flavours of the meal.
In this episode
Dennis, Sarah and Lee discuss:
Growing up with money worries and how our earliest financial habits are formed
The camaraderie and discipline Lee experienced in the Royal Marines
Recovering from a life-changing injury and finding a new sense of purpose
Record-breaking adventures and the lessons adversity can teach us
Rowing solo across the Atlantic
Climbing Kilimanjaro with Lee’s daughter
Testing equipment for NASA
Whether money should be used for living now or leaving a legacy
The influence of parents, debt and generational attitudes to money
How planning for the future can help us live more fully in the present
Happiness, purpose and the things money cannot buy
Links
Find out more about Lee Spencer:
https://leespencer.co.uk/
Find Lee’s book:
https://amzn.eu/d/0ebu7dHU
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The podcast is hosted by Dennis Hall and Sarah Steele.
To contact Yellowtail, email ask@yellowtail.co.uk.
Yellowtail is a financial planning firm founded by Dennis Hall. We work with individuals and families across the UK, helping them understand their finances, make considered decisions and plan for the future with greater clarity.