{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Beyond The Family Business","title":"Diamond Diving Family Business in South Africa | Michael Cooke, Westcoast Gems","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/9eb7d934\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2761,"description":"In this episode, Michael Cooke—second-generation owner of Westcoast Gems—takes us inside the high-risk, little-known world of offshore diamond diving along South Africa’s rugged coastline. He shares how his father entered the industry and forged an unlikely partnership with a biracial diver during apartheid-era South Africa, defying social norms of the time. Michael reflects on stepping into the family business, learning tough lessons firsthand beneath the ocean’s surface, and navigating the realities of a changing industry. As synthetic diamonds disrupt the market, he explains how Westcoast Gems is leaning into its authentic, family-driven story to stand apart in an increasingly competitive landscape.","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/_LAD9STtWZ06xZfZRheT71k5AWcg6G9qz1EDOP3G7ts/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS83ZTM4/N2ViNzlhMGM2MzNi/NDdmMGIwMmFmODFi/MzZjYi5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}