Scott Marshall – Wild Business Growth Podcast #325: Semester at Sea, Institute for Shipboard Education

The zone of discomfort is where growth happens. That’s the story of this week’s Wild Business Growth podcast guest, Scott Marshall. Scott is the President & CEO of Semester at Sea and the Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE). Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and your other favorite podcast platforms, and watch on YouTube.

• Episode Summary & Player
• Full Transcript
• Show Notes
• Wild Business Growth podcast Summary

Episode 325: Scott Marshall – Semester at Sea, Institute for Shipboard Education

Scott Marshall, the President & CEO of Semester at Sea and the Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE), joins the show to share his journey from studying abroad in Japan to leading study abroad on a giant ship around the world. Hear the behind-the-scenes of Semester at Sea, how they manage the cost of a cruise ship, the favorite ports, the best Semester at Sea traditions, and the most beautiful sights on and off the water. This episode covers everything from seasickness to Myanmar. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:

• What’s Scott’s best memory from studying abroad
• How did Semester at Sea stay in business after COVID-19
• What’s Semester at Sea like as a student
• How much time do students spend in their cabins
• Udon

Connect with Scott at SemesterAtSea.org and on LinkedIn.

Enjoy the shoooooow! Check out the show notes below for much more detail. You can also find the full transcript here.

Show Notes

• Intro & Study Abroad in Japan
  • [0:31] Email me at to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool
  • [0:37] Connect with Scott at SemesterAtSea.org and on LinkedIn
  • [2:34] How did study abroad in Tokyo, Japan change his life
  • [3:32] What got him interested in living in Tokyo
  • [4:57] What’s his best memory from studying abroad
  • [5:08] Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

• The Semester at Sea Story
  • [6:54] Kasey Luck – Wild Business Growth podcast #135: Wanderlust and Emails, Founder of Luck & Co
  • [7:14] How did Scott hear about Semester at Sea
  • [8:39] How did he become President & CEO of Semester at Sea and the Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE)
  • [10:45] What was COVID-19 like for Semester at Sea
  • [12:24] How did Semester at Sea stay in business after COVID-19
  • [14:05] What is Semester at Sea
  • [14:56] Colorado State University (CSU)
  • [16:14] London, England
  • [17:24] Shoutout, Emmy & Ben!
  • [17:32] Honeymoon
  • [18:46] What’s Semester at Sea like as a student
  • [22:04] How many ships does Semester at Sea have
  • [22:53] How much overhead is the ship
  • [25:11] What’s driven the growth of Semester at Sea
  • [25:44] Unhokey = Realistic
  • [27:20] How do you fundraise
  • [28:43] The Wild Business Growth podcast is on YouTube! Subscribe @MaxBranstetter to watch full video interviews with Wild entrepreneurs like Scott
  • [28:45] Sign up for the Podcasting to the Max newsletter at MaxPodcasting.com/Newsletter and receive How to Edit Your Podcast in Audacity. It’s where podcasting meets entrepreneurship – and terrible puns
  • [28:46] Such an honor speaking at Podcast Movement ’23 in Denver! Sign up to grab the slides from my session at MaxPodcasting.com/PM23

• The Unusual at Sea
  • [29:25] What’s the most unique sea animal seen on Semester at Sea
  • [29:40] Flying Fish
  • [30:12] Neptune Day
  • [31:20] What’s the best day on Semester at Sea
  • [31:32] Sea Olympics
  • [32:31] How do you prevent seasickness
  • [34:48] How much time do students spend in their cabins
• Rapid-Fire Q&A
  • [36:02] Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar
  • [36:55] South Africa
  • [37:17] Udon
  • [37:42] What’s Scott’s favorite form of travel other than cruise ship
  • [38:04] What’s his top travel tip
  • [38:32] How do you adjust back to land after Semester at Sea
  • [40:27] Connect with Scott at SemesterAtSea.org and on LinkedIn
  • [41:05] What are Scott’s Final Thoughts
  • [41:33] Follow the Wild Business Growth podcast and tell a friend about the podcast. And show love (or roast me) by leaving 5 stars on Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify
  • [41:42] The Wild Business Growth podcast is on YouTube! Subscribe @MaxBranstetter to watch full video interviews with Wild entrepreneurs like Scott
  • [41:45] Check out the Wild Business Growth podcast on Goodpods, where you can see what your favorite people are listening to
  • [41:47] Connect with me on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter (aka X), and Threads @MaxBranstetter and TikTok @WildBusinessGrowth
  • [41:50] Save time with your high-quality podcast. Email me at to bring your podcast to life and use it as a business-building tool
  • [41:53] Sign up for the Podcasting to the Max newsletter at MaxPodcasting.com/Newsletter and receive How to Edit Your Podcast in Audacity. It’s where podcasting meets entrepreneurship – and terrible puns
  • Theme music: Freestyle Percussion Magik – “Jungle Tribe” – provided by Jamendo

What is the Wild Business Growth podcast?

Wild ideas. Wild growth. Every Wednesday morning a new entrepreneur joins the Wild Business Growth podcast to share the wildly creative and unusual ways they grew their business – and teaches you how to do it, too. Hear the minds behind WordPress, Stacy’s Pita Chips, Drybar, NFL RedZone, Big Mouth Billy Bass, the voice of Bart Simpson, and more Wild stories. Hosted by Max Branstetter (that’s me), Founder and Podcast Producer at MaxPodcasting.

How do you start a podcast?

Interested in starting a professional-sounding and professional-looking podcast for your brand, but don’t want to deal with the time commitment of all those behind-the-scenes details? I’ve got you covered. Email me at to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool.

Thanks for listening to Scott Marshall on the Wild Business Growth podcast. To hear more Wild stories like this one every Wednesday morning, follow the Wild Business Growth podcast and tell a friend about it. And take a Semester at Sea with them. Until next time, Let your business Run Wild…and Bring on the Bongos!!