The Twot Seat: CAPTAIN SANDY & LEAH (Below Deck)

Two teas in a pod with Teddy Mellencamp and Cambridge Edge.

Hi, guys, welcome to another episode of The twat Seat. We are excited to bring on guests Captain Sandy and her wife Leah. Captain Sandy is a world renowned captain in the yachting industry and is currently the captain on Bravlo TV's reality hit Below Deck Mediterranean.

She's been on the show for eight seasons and.

Even though the drama is never ending, Captain Sandy keeps a close eye on her crew so she can steer them in the right direction. Leah has her own business called Skin by Leah that was founded in twenty seventeen. She's the founder and owner of a medical spa in Colorado and a certified Matt Cosmetics makeup artist. She prevently worked in sales at Nordstrum her romance with Sandy. Leo

She slid into her DMS and it were slid into her DMS and made it happen. And how nice to have a makeup artist as your wife.

Oh my gosh, I would love it. Could you imagine how much better we'd look on the daily?

Oh God, let's bring them in the twat seat.

Hi, Hi, how's it.

Going, guys?

Where are you guys?

Not on a ship?

No order, little lore because you're taller than me. Right now, it can't happen.

This struggle is real.

It's damn.

We were just teddy and I were just saying how wonderful it would be to be married to a makeup artist. Oh yeah, to be able to Oh man, we would look so much better on it daily.

You always, oh I know. I was just finishing up and she was like, babe, can hurry up and do my makeup too? I was like, well, okay.

Well we were just talking that. The way that you guys met was you slid into her DMS.

Yeah, pretty much.

How how long.

Did it take you to respond?

Six months?

Six months?

Well, it was it was it Facebook?

Was it?

Facebook?

Book?

Yeah, I don't check my dms on Facebook.

I think it was just she didn't see it.

And honestly, I said, congrats on your show, many blessings, like it wasn't that's it?

Yeah, that was it? And then what did you say about I clicked it on the link and she was singing, and at the time, I was doing the I Believe tour and I thought, well, yeah, the Bronco.

Game, like the national anthem, and she's like, oh my gosh, your boys, I want to meet you.

We should do something inspiring, we Matt and that was it. Yeah, love at first sight.

Wow, I can relate to that.

Yeah, I love that.

There has been so much drama in the Below Deck franchise. What do you think of the season?

So, you know, I don't really see a lot of it until I watched the show. So wow, Joe, Okay, Like, let's talk about Joe. Yeah, he's a player. Player.

I feel like everybody on the ships a player. Most of the time. Everybody's sleeping with everybody. I'm sure that happens a lot since you guys spend so much time in tight quarters, I mean, not with you.

Obviously it does, but obviously, uh, they're casted so in the you know, in the yawning world, it happens, but they're more professional. A lot of things that you see Donna Yacht really would never happen in a real charter scenario or they would be fired immediately. You have to conduct yourself in a way below decks a little different. My industry hates the show. A lot of them are turning.

I bet.

Some of them like it because they see it's bringing more business into the industry. At the same time, they're like, I remember I was cruising and they go, oh, that's the idiot TV show, and I was just.

Like, you're all things rude, that's so rude. I almost went on below deck what was it below Deck Adventure I think or something like that, and with another housewife and a bunch of girls, and I ended up getting Ultimate Girls trip and backed out and the whole thing kind of just fell through. But I think me Teddy and her husbands and some friends should definitely come on the show, come on the bed, do the men.

Sandy's boat Mediterranean is it has a lot more to offer.

Who do you but had with the most? And who would we butt heads with the most? On your I don't.

You know not? We don't really butt heads like because we're we're a well oiled machine. So it's like the Howl's wife shows, like we're doing a real job and I'm not taking away from that franchise, but we're doing a job. You have to.

We're just going to lunch and yelling at everybody.

Bringing a lot of alcohol and getting paid. Yeah, they don't drink on the job. It's different.

Yeah, so they're not allowed to do. They can drink after hours or not at all.

Yeah, after homes. Yeah, you see them go out, they get drunk and hook up and try try to work the next day. Yeah the next day.

Who do you get along the best with Leah?

Yeah?

I mean, because I'm the captain, it's not about getting along. It's about them doing their job right. So when I walk in a room, they they're on their best behavior. But it's not about them getting along with me. It's like they just have to respect the position and do the job job. When people want to be led, they need direction and if I give that to them, they'll follow the direction.

Like when I went to see her, you know, I just witness like a BLib of it. But they really respect her as a captain and her authoritative kind of figure in a way where she literally leads with kindness and if somebody doesn't understand or she legitimately pulls in aside and tries to find like their strengths and their weaknesses, and she's like at the end of the season, they're.

Crying and hugging you, and yeah, they love working with her. So it's kind of cool to see, yeah, because yeah, and you know, I banter with them. I mean, we're doing a real job. So when you're leading people, you have to make them want to follow you, so you create that environment where they they'll do whatever you ask.

Well, that being said, how does it affect you watching back and seeing things that they did, you know, essentially behind your back? You know, like a few seasons there were crew members like sneaking alcohol on past seasons or how do you handle that? Because I know you you you always seem to lead with fairness and you know it, people really love and respect you. But then watching it back, is there something that kind of ugh, Well, when I watch.

It back, I look at all, Well, you know, they got away with it. Who knows to them? Right, So I don't. I don't bring it into the next season. There are a new set of people, and I also think, oh, what can I change about me? Because I get to see my behavior and go wow, maybe I could pause a little longer or give them a little more grace, or maybe I should have fired that person a lot sooner. Yeah, so that's the stuff, you know, like.

The last one.

Now you're you're super sweet on the show. Now who wasn't very sweet as Captain Lee? And you took over for Captain Lee during season ten? Blow Deck and he tweeted he was a bit disappointed in their decision making. How did you handle that?

Well, you know it's easy to say that from your living room, but the reality is instead of a thank you, I get criticism. No, I could have finished that entire show out. Like I basically said the producer, I'm actually leaving in two days, so you better figure it out because I'm not going to hang around and wait until the end of the season. It wasn't fair to me. It was Valentine's Day when I left Lea Bzar to

At the next level, everyone's happy. But as a captain, you know, she's in charge of lives and so you know she that's her main priority when something happened.

Well, but if something happened, the captain is dispersed to be arrested. Or yes, look at what happened off the coast of Italy, you guys following that, No, what happened, Oh my god, the chairman, the international chairman of I think it's Golden Sacks or JP Morgan died the boat sank right off the coast of Oh I did see there trying to charge the captain with manslaughter?

Yeah, so oh damn No.

Yes, the storm hit the mass, the mask broke and all of a sudden.

He's have you ever had any close calls like that?

Well, yeah, I've had fires in you know, the Red Sea. I've had storms, I've lost engines, I've had.

Pirates, yeah, like pirates.

No, I've never been boarded by pirates, but definitely chased by pirates and when we're passes between cub and Haiti. But the reality is, in his case, everybody's looking at every log they are they are inn They put crew in different rooms and interview them. But what he did was he created a daisy chain and they held hands. And imagine a boat getting hit by a storm, a waterspot getting flipped on the side. How many people were

Been what's a daisy train?

So the daisy train is where you connect hands like uh huh, you're holding hands so nobody gets lost. Okay, walk in and someone keeps their hand on a surface so you can because imagine pitch black, major storm boat's moving around, things are floating, right, they got to go find people. Freak out. Freak out.

Yeah, that's scary people.

There's no lights, right, so you can't see your hand in front of your face.

No, in your opinion, there's nothing he could have done differently.

He did everything that he trained for and so he should be you know, a hero and not criticized. Yeah. So back to Captain Lee.

You know, she was just there really to support him, and he wasn't well, you know, having surgery and I just want to make sure he was okay to come back.

Yeah, and he wasn't very nissed to me.

And then have you talked to him at all since this?

I have no relationship with him, nor do I want one to be honest like they got answer. He's never supported me.

He's always zero tolerance. That's how I women.

At the helm, and he is that from that generation where men where women belong, they don't belong at the helm. That's his mentality.

Oh really, Oh yeah.

Well, speaking of how do you feel gender equality is right now in yachting, did you experience like any misogyny or homophobia at all during your career?

Oh?

Yeah, of course. I wasn't hired because I was a woman for a job. The manager actually told me that, and I was like, that's sad. But the great news is because I didn't get uh you know job, I got the best job ever working for a founder of the bank who was the best person I ever worked for. And if that job didn't turn me down, there's always

But it is very you're a very positive person, I know. Yeah, you sound like I have. My husband's exactly like yeah, so.

But the cool thing is is the Blue Deck franchise is the women that they have, they have they can do this job, and it's changing our industry, which I love.

Yeah.

Well, speaking of women, we saw that there was a little bit of bad fallout with Hannah on the and the show during season five. Do you look back and think you could have done anything differently or have you talked to her?

Of course, I saw Hannah in Australia. We had a great conversation. There were a lot of things I did not know, I wasn't aware of. Hannah wasn't aware of a lot of stuff. We were able to clear the air. And I never not liked Hannah. I actually like Hannah and really care for her. So we have a great relationship today. We're in a good place. And when I look back on the show, So what I did was I called my maritime attorney immediately because we're being filmed. He said, you fire her now?

Oh because right, so smart to do that.

Most decisions I make that are based on decision makings for CAP. I call my I have my maritime attorney on speed dial, because you know, God forbid, something catastrophic happened. And there they take all of our blood, by the way, the minute someone gets hurt or dies, like they'll come in take all the cruise blood. See who's on drugs? Who was it? Because none of us?

Oh yeah, well, speaking of you, you've overcome addiction.

You're thirty five year anniversary of sobriety.

Correct, Yes, congratulations relations, Yes, that's what.

Ever, what advice would you give to anyone struggling just.

Go?

My advice would be go to a meeting, get a sponsor worth those twelve steps, and if you're in dire need, call that one eight hundred number. Just google it, you know, call alcoholics Anonymous, arcotics anonymous, any one of those organizations or associations, whatever it's called. But the reality is it's like it's there, but you got to want it, you know, for so many years want it. I just kept relapsing.

And it's for every and every day, like you don't just let go and then like oh I'm better.

Yeah, it's an every day. It's a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of your conditions mentally, spiritually and physically.

Do you do you with maintenance? Do you still go to meetings?

Or I need to go to Mores? Actually thinking this morning, like I need to because Lee and I just moved to this area. I was really established in la I loved the meetings there, got a great sponsor. I haven't really found my roots. I think I was in Colorado, just didn't find my roots. I'm going to do that here today to myself, I'm going to go I need to find a home group and I need to do I need to do the work in order to maintain that level of peace.

Yeah, has other Bravo celebrities reached out to you about getting sober? It was, well, I was gonna say, I kind I vaguely remember because I'm friends with Bronwin her saying that she reached out to you.

She reached out to me first, and then I said, oh hey, babe, there's this girl. She was on the Housewive show and bron Win and she right away they connected, and yeah, she talks about.

It a lot on her social media.

I just did a cameo for a thirty year old who has one year sober. I gave him my phone number because it's like, wow, yeah, she always gives out her phone number. I'm like, can you not give back your phone?

Un Eddie.

Eddie did that when he was having his heart issues. He would other people will call and they'd start talking. He's like, here's my number, just call me and I'm like.

Really, but they do they do. I'm just like, wow, you're so brave because you know, right, well.

Well, I wouldn't do that, but my husband would. Yeah, my husband's a lot like you are you positive?

And then to switch over to Leah a little bit.

You had like a very successful career in gospel music which changed after your relationship with Sandy became public. How did you cope with the backlash and what has kept you strong through this transition?

Yeah?

It was super hard. I actually led worship at Saddleback Church for eighteen.

Oh my gosh.

Yeah really yeah, I was a main singer at Saddleback for like eighteen years.

And Rick Warren and actually they were the one in Lake Forest. Yeah, in Like Forest.

That's the first notch that I started going to.

Yeah, so when they first opened their worship center and it was they're amazing, Like, I have nothing bad to say about that.

So did you let You lived in Orange County?

Yeah?

Yeah, where'd you live?

Yeah?

I lived in Newport Beach or Vine Ludara Ranch, Covenant.

Hill, Darrow, That's where I live.

Yeah.

Yeah, And I was friends with Dana Hills Covenant Hills.

Yeah, And so you know, I became friends with like Gretchen and Gina and the whole thing because they came to church.

Yeah, a lot So what year was that. Oh gosh, I've been going to Saddleback Church since like nineteen ninety three, so I was like seventeen years old. Yeah.

But then from there I got because they were so big, I got my launch, and I toured and got on TV and praise the Lord Joyce Meyer's church Doelstein like, I went, did like a tour finally.

Say President Obamatland President book.

Yeah, finally, finally though music like on the Christian radio occasions. But I was so just like didn't want to be with my husband at the time, and I just was tormented with my identity, I guess you would say. And so finally I just I knew that it would come to an end. I didn't know how brutal it would be, but when I came out with Sandy, it would come crashing down, and it did, but everyone was super nice and supportive for the majority.

I just couldn't be on a platform again and sing again. So I kind of had to reinvent myself and start over at what well forty eight at the time. But which and I'm doing fine.

The beauty industry saved me, yeah, you know, and I'm creating, creating a new product line and open my skin studio and you just kind of become resilient.

She picked herself up, brush herself. Let's keep going.

That's what strong women do.

It's a strong woman do.

Now, you guys got married recently. Did you have any Bravo lubs at the wedding?

Asia and Kate Chastain and Chef Dave. Chef Dave, we could only have like fifty five people. Yeah, we had sixty I think total, but that was what the camera people included everyone because we actually left the doc.

Yeah, so you got married on the on the boat yees, Yeah, of course you did.

We did write oursel and they they you know, available because we became kind of friendly with them for the can Yeah.

Oh yeah, that's right.

Oh yeah, Well you guys, is there anything that you want to share with us, or any teases or anything else that.

You like, I want to share because you know how we support each other. And Lea's coming out with a product.

Oh yeah, I'm super yes, ya tell us about it.

It's for the face, neck, and chest. Let me say it. Okay, it's my product actually, so Tamar, you know the product bea.

I think you ordered for the body it's like that body bonding bronzing cream. Ye partnered with the founder of that, and we're creating a face, neck and chest together and we named it Bear it All.

So we'll send you guys some and see it.

Oh yes, So it's like a bronzing time for the chest up and so it matches the rest of your body. I love that. So I'm very I'm irish, so very white and freckly.

I hate it meaning.

And you look like you have nice skin.

I have it on.

I have this on just because I'm so discolored from all the sun damage from living in California.

And yeah, well I just burnt all my skin off my face, neck and chest. The way I was a little brutal, but I'm coming wickedly painful, I would say. Well, I went in to get a brow lift and the doctor recommended doing the CO two laser with the Obaji blue peel. And I was more worried about the CO two laser because I had one in the office which wasn't as deep as the one I got when I was put under and I swoll up pretty bad. But this one, oh my god, Yes, day three, I was

Day one seeing you Blue, I was Day one wasn't too bad on the skin part.

My head hurt from the the browlift, but the day three from the peel or the CO two laser, I felt like what I would only imagine what a burn victim felt like. It was just God, the deck was the most painful because.

It was probably so well, please send us, send us your product, and how do they buy?

How do people buy it?

Yeah, so it'll be be a skin dot com. But I'll do the whole like think and all that.

Yeah, but I'd love some.

And Teddy, thank you for your you know, being a spokesperson as well and your camera of melanoma and skin cancer. You know, I lost my aunt melanoma and just that's why I'm in the skin industry, because I do like to educate, because it can be life or death. And yeah, why another reason I like to create these products is because you know, we try to get our skin even to look beautiful.

And there's other ways than tanning beds and lane in the sun.

You know, baked.

In tanning beds. Both Teddy and I did baked in them.

And oyl wet and wild.

Yeah, yeah, like the stickers on ourselves, have a little sticker.

Yeah, and I ended up getting melanoma on my butt. So and I was in a G string girl, So it was definitely from the tanning beds.

Yeah for sure. Yeah, well the Burvine Spectrum tanning beds.

I used to work for a tanning bed in my twenties, like a company.

We would like go put the we'd go and like we had our like cards where we'd be like, yeah, now we get a free tan, like I would tan and then Mystic tan on top of it, Like I was like, I'm an orange person, Like what am I doing?

You had a tanning bed in your bedroom, Teddy?

I know, well yeah when I was a kid.

Yeah, Like my parents got divorced and my mom like got the tanning bed, yes, and then there was only room for it in my room and then I.

So that's where you slept pretty.

Much like all my friends would come home on tan every day, Like it was crazy.

But we appreciate you guys so much coming on the pot seat.

And then I'm sure we'll see you at Pravo Con next year.

Yes, my personal love you guys.

We love you, but thank you guys.

Have an amazing day you too.

Bye M.