Blue Sky Stinking
A fly on the wall spoof about a company called Sydeline. Sydeline is a mess, doing everything wrong, usually with hilarious consequences. Following each insight into the life of Sydeline, Gydeline and invited guests will analyse what went wrong, what could have been done instead and points to the methods and resources available to listeners. Covering wide range of business topics, Blue Sky Stinking provides a humorous view of serious business.
Zelda Zero works in her father’s company, Zero’s Heroes. Zelda wants more and moves to take over the business. In an intriguing turn of affairs Zelda joins forces with Jakob Oaktock to start her own business. Ambitious, bright but naive and under informed, Zelda sets up her company at speed… but that has consequences. The industry is deliberately non-specific, but has a manufacturing elements, works online and in direct sales.
Each of the Episodes are linked to a title of an Abba hit which will make an appearance in the background of the dialogue. The music provides a subtle bed to the subject at hand… and sometimes not so subtle (See episode 4 below)
Meet the Blue Sky Stinking Characters
Zelda Zero
Owner/Founder (Sydeline) – Self-impressed Visionary. 30 something, daughter of a well respected business man. Held an admin team leader role in fathers empire with very high regard for her own skills. Straight talking, naive, bright, capable but fires from the hip, ambitious. Uses Bob as a confidant. Wants to start the best business ever.
Bob
Employee (Zero’s Heroes) – Works closely with Nero Zero. Permanently sarcastic, easily misunderstood, provides no real advice. No-one knows Bobs surname, not even sure what he does in Zero’s Heroes. He thinks he is Nero’s right hand man, Zelda thinks he is one of her confidantes!
Nero Zero
Zelda’s father and Founder (Zero’s Heroes) – Zelda’s father. 60 Something, been running successful businesses for nearly 40 years.Fit as a fiddle – he thinks. Doesn’t tolerate fools, but puts up with Zelda. Bets Jakob that he can’t make Zelda’s business a success. Conflicted, doesn’t want to see Zelda suffer but doesn’t want to lose to Jakob either.
Jakob Oakstock
Investor/Founder (Sydeline) – 40 something, rich (inherited). Very busy, switched on but disengaged, feared for no good reason. Invested in Sydeline as a bet made with Nero Zero. Will do anything to win. Seriously fancies Zelda – she is oblivious to his desires. Nero knows.
Katherine Kash
Finance (Sydeline) – Switched on, 40 something, very irritated when called Kat, Kit or Kitty (cat), semi-aware she’s in a podcast (hears the bed music), very aware of the Nominative determinism issue. Qualified accountant but not ambitious, likes working for Jakob so puts up with whatever he throws at her.
Bryock Penhalegun
Zelda’s Executive Assistant (Sydeline) – Has 2-2 BA Philosophy Degree from York, 20 something. Great at using quotations appropriately, but Zelda doesn’t always understand. Can be a bit serious or intense. Cornish parents (thus the name), understands social media badly, loads of ideas, sometimes the right ones. Son of one of Zelda’s lifelong friends, Penny, which got him the job, by accident really.
Michaela Buble
Marketing (Sydeline) – Permanently enthusiastic and full of beans. Super-committed. Stumbled into marketing by accident straight from an English degree in creative writing. Not named after Michael Buble! Nicknamed Bubbles by Zelda. 30 something, single and searching.
Montgomery “Monty” Grabbar
Sales Manager (Sydeline) – 50 something, Southerner, lives way beyond his means. Flies by seat of pants and easily offended. Makes rash decisions during negotiations to seal deals. Bit old school and doesn’t mind fracturing the odd law here and there.
Garth Wader
IT Guru (Sydeline) : – 30 something, Mid-Atlantic, know it all (cause he does). Doesn’t like Star Wars or get any of the puns put his way. Way too intelligent and informed, no common sense. “Technology will fix it” is his motto.
Mum
And how could we leave out Nero’s, rather saucy, wife and Zelda’s mother. Oblivious to the shenanigans at Zero’s Heroes and Sydeline, Mum is happy spending time enjoying the fruits of Nero’s labour… with Carlos, the live in chef and life-coach!
