Claim OwnershipBest Of Belfast: Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast
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© Matthew Thompson
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Northern Ireland has a better story to tell — one that goes beyond bombs, bullets and a sunken ship.
You are part of this story.
With 300+ conversations featuring some of the incredible people who call this place home, our weekly show gives you the chance to get away from the clickbait and connect with the amazing things happening in Belfast.
Previous guests include NASA Scientists, Billion-Dollar CEOs, 91-year-old park-runners, Oscar-winning directors, Olympic Gold medalists, Bitcoin Auctioneers, Tim Burton's puppet-maker and a guy who built an aeroplane in his garage.
Well-known voices include Snow Patrol, Foy Vance, Julian Simmons, May McFettridge, Zoe Salmon, Andrew Trimble, The Dead Rabbit, Michael Deane, The Priests, Two Door Cinema Club, Oliver Jeffers, Pete Snodden, Colin Geddis, Mary Peters, Rebecca McKinney and May Blood — the millworker who became a peer in the House Of Lords.
Check it out!
https://bestofbelfast.org/
You are part of this story.
With 300+ conversations featuring some of the incredible people who call this place home, our weekly show gives you the chance to get away from the clickbait and connect with the amazing things happening in Belfast.
Previous guests include NASA Scientists, Billion-Dollar CEOs, 91-year-old park-runners, Oscar-winning directors, Olympic Gold medalists, Bitcoin Auctioneers, Tim Burton's puppet-maker and a guy who built an aeroplane in his garage.
Well-known voices include Snow Patrol, Foy Vance, Julian Simmons, May McFettridge, Zoe Salmon, Andrew Trimble, The Dead Rabbit, Michael Deane, The Priests, Two Door Cinema Club, Oliver Jeffers, Pete Snodden, Colin Geddis, Mary Peters, Rebecca McKinney and May Blood — the millworker who became a peer in the House Of Lords.
Check it out!
https://bestofbelfast.org/
374 Episodes
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Rory King is the owner of Rory’s Travel Club.
In this episode, we talk about:
Leaving Northern Ireland to work in Fiji
Starting his travel club in an Indian restaurant in Brooklyn
Scaling to 100,000 customers
Running a business where “everyone wins”
And his plan to grow to 1 million customers
Check it out.
https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/rory-king-rorys-travel-club
Join Rory’s Travel Club Here: https://rorystravelclub.com/
Lucy Briggs is a world traveller whose career spans across Government, Academia and Royalty.
In this episode, we talk about:
Her love of collecting things
Where she got her desire to travel from
Why Gen-Z's career path will look different than their parents
How a StudyUSA experience ended up taking her around the world
Landing a job with the Royal Family
And advice she'd give to her 18-year-old self.
Check it out.
https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/lucy-briggs
Caroline McKenna is an Executive Coach who works with some of the most successful people in Northern Ireland.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why hard work doesn't always work
Working on the business vs in the business
Why self-care if one of the highest leverage activities you can engage in
How to take time off without thinking about work
And a live coaching session with Matt
Check it out.https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/caroline-mckenna-coach
P.S. Work with Caroline: www.leadself.co.uk
Ciaran May is the founder of Natural Resilience, a lover of nature and a proud father.
In this episode, we talk about:
The baggage Northern Irish men are unpacking from their dads/grandas
Joining the police as a young lad from West Belfast
Taking “the armour off” for the first time
The rock bottom moment that changed his life forever
And breaking limiting beliefs around business/money
Check it out.
https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/ciaran-may-natural-resilience
Ciaran’s Skool: https://www.skool.com/natural-resilience-6996/about
1Tom Griffiths is a Sunday Times Top 100 Entrepreneur & Disruptor who is currently launching a revolution with https://www.nightlenses.com
In this episode, we talk about:
Getting Richard Branson naked
Digitally selling fish in buckets before they come to shore
Breaking the “crabs in a barrel” mentality
10-second courage
The power of taking action
And advice he’d give to an 18-year-old self
Check it out!
https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/tom-griffiths-night-lenses
Willetta Gabriel is the founder of Bethel’s Kitchen: an artisan bagel and pickle business in Dromore, County Down.
In this episode, we talk about:
Launching an extremely niche product in a rural town
Why every single bagel tastes different
(Depending on who rolled it)
How one social media post saved her whole business
And her experience living in Northern Ireland for the last 20+ years.
Check it out!
https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/willetta-gabriel-bethels-kitchen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethelskitchen?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9PnmQraZ3Gg9zTFr7
Mark Marais is an entrepreneur from Zimbabwe with deep roots in Belfast.
He’s the founder of the luxury travel business Africa Golf Safari and co-founder of the Sport Changes Life Foundation.
In this episode, we talk about:
Growing up on an idyllic African farm during the war
How sport helped with racial integration in his school
What Donald Draper can teach us about nostalgia
The difference between space and place
Starting his business even though it didn’t make any sense
Combining passion with entrepreneurship
His experience in and passion for Northern Ireland
And advice he’d give to his 19-year-old self.
Check it out!
https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/mark-marais-africa-golf-safari
P.S. Mad Men nostalgia video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=suRDUFpsHus
Tony Novosel MBE is a former motor mechanic, steelworker, and semi-retired academic from Pittsburgh who has dedicated his life to serving Northern Ireland.
In this episode, we talk about:
How the collapse of the steel industry was the best thing that ever happened to him
Why he first decided to visit Northern Ireland 50 years ago
(And why he's been 85+ times since!)
Acting as "the American uncle” for NI students on the Study USA programme, (which is is managed by British Council Northern Ireland on behalf of the Department for the Economy)
The transformation power travel has had on his own life and the lives of his students
Why we tend to oversimplify narratives
The grassroots movements that led to a hugely successful academic book about NI
Being awarded an MBE
And advice he'd give to any student interested in studying overseas!
Check it out.
Graham Robinson is an Artist and Director with over 15 years of experience working with household names like Netflix, Universal Music Group, Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Dua Lipa and the BBC.
In this episode, we talk about:
How the creative journey is made up of incremental steps rather than huge Hollywood moments
Discovering his art form at a young age
The role of the artist in society
Balancing virtual worlds with the "real-world"
Being led by intuition/calling rather than logic/reason
What he learned from his time working in London and LA
How Belfast is positioned to carve its own path in the new era of story-telling
Why he thinks the big-budget feature film model is about to be disrupted
The deep heritage/history of Northern Ireland as a place of creativity and impact
And his vision for the future of the screen industry in NI
Check it out.
https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/graham-robinson-virtual-artist-and-director
Alan Mahon is the Belfast-born Founder and CEO of Brewgooder, an impact beer brand, B Corp, and the fastest-growing independent UK beer brand of 2023.
In this episode, we talk about:
Meeting George Clooney & Leonardo Dicaprio
Leaving his "three mums” behind to move to Scotland
The tension between doing good and making money
How getting a parasite in Nepal led to him starting his business
The power of pub culture and its impact on relationships
Using business as a vehicle to change the world
Not compromising on quality just because you're "doing good”
Why he moved back to Northern Ireland after so many years
And advice he'd give to an 18-year-old version of himself
Check it out!
https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/alan-mahon-brewgooder
Marty Neill is the founder of AirPOS. He’s also an ex-music journalist and avid retro gamer.
In this episode, we talk about:
Leaving school illegally at 15-years-old
Building and selling video games as a kid on his Spectrum + 2
How all the best things in his life have come from “tiny rooms”
Why you should never fall in love with your business
Ideas being the “real currency”
How COVID both destroyed and transformed his business
Why your business will never love you back
The huge opportunities that exist in Belfast
And the new Retro Arcade opening in Belfast later this year
Check it out.
https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/marty-neill-airpos
Máirtín Ó Muilleoir is the publisher of the Andersonstown News in Belfast and the Irish Echo in New York.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why he has a blackbird on his business card
How he was able to buy a business with no money
The future of the newspaper industry
Growing up in Andytown during the sixties
Challenges facing the media sector
The symbiotic relationship between Ireland/America
Life lessons from a Buddhist Chaplain
And dealing with the chaos of modern life
Check it out.
https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/mairtin-o-muilleoir-andersonstown-news
Patrick Treacy is a pioneer in Aesthetic Medicine. Throughout his incredible career, he’s won countless awards, trained thousands of doctors and trail-blazed new protocols used around the world today.
In this episode, we talk about:
Smuggling cars across the German border to pay for med school
Being arrested in Iraq under suspected espionage
How being from Ireland quite literally saved his life
His phone call with Nelson Mandela
Treating Michael Jackson and the subsequent friendship that ensued
How he wants to spend the next few decades
And advice he’d give to his 18-year-old self
Check it out!
https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/patrick-treacy-aesthetic-medicine
Peter Hannan is a Meat Merchant who supplies 400+ restaurants throughout Ireland, the UK and Europe, including some of the biggest names in the industry.
In this episode, we talk about:
How he started out in the meat business
(Aka, butchering lambs for his mum's mate's freezer as a boy)
Moving to America at 19-years-old to learn from the masters of his industry
Becoming the highest-paid executive in Ireland by the age of 22
Setting up his own business
The decision to focus on quality rather than quantity
Why attention to detail is the most crucial thing in business
Buying 5 tonnes of salt from Pakistan
How one smoke break changed his business forever
And advice he'd give to his 18-year-old self
Check it out.
https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/peter-hannan-meat-merchant
Hannan Meats: https://www.hannanmeats.com/
Iain Percy is the founder of Artemis Technologies and a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist.
In this episode, we talk about:
How he fell in love with the water
His work with professional sailing teams around the world
Building the world's first electric workboat and electric passenger ferry
The pros/cons of bringing an Olympic mindset to business
Limiting time vs limiting the scope of projects
Why he decided to base the business in Belfast
The necessity for green technology to make sense financially
His vision for maritime decarbonisation
And his dream of opening up a commuter ferry service to Belfast
Check it out.
https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/iain-percy-artemis-technologies
Alan Weir is a top leader at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK.
In today's episode, we talk about:
His first job in Belfast Zoo Amusement park as a kid
Working in a seatbelt factory
Leaving home
Managing a team of 40 English men in his early-twenties
(And the leadership lessons he learned as a result)
The powerful culture Toyota have created
Experiencing Japan for the first time
How a car comes of the line every 86 seconds at his factory
(And the business principles that make that possible!)
Ways he switches off from work
And advice he'd give to an 18-year-old version of himself.
Check it out!
https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/alan-weir-toyota-uk
Ross Lazaroo-Hood is the CEO of Clearer Water: “a social-impact company” based in Larne.
He's also the founder of Landmark Insurance Group and cofounder of the RUSA Foundation Charity.
In today's episode, we talk about:
Where his name comes from
Growing up in an estate in Larne
Getting the freedom of the city award in London
How his start-up didn't make any money for 18 months
Merging his business and personal identities together
Why entrepreneurship is an amazing tool for improving society
Dealing with haters/trolls
Falling back in love with Northern Ireland
And advice he'd give to a younger version of himself.
Check it out.
https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/ross-lazaroo-hood-clearer-water
Jonny Hanson is a conservationist, agriculturalist, and entrepreneur.
In this episode, we discuss:
Spending his summer holidays working with wild animals.
Pursuing a PhD in Snow Leopard Conservation.
The shift in the conservation industry from a "Western" to a "local" approach.
Living in both Malawi and Monaghan during his childhood.
The impact this had on his personal identity.
Establishing Northern Ireland's first community-owned farm.
His forthcoming book and documentary.
What he would ask St. Patrick over a pint.
Check it out!
https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/jonny-hanson-conservationist
Links for Jonny:
TEDxTalk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FCUumWaTBo&pp=ygURdGVkeCBqb25ueSBoYW5zb24=
NI Science Festival Event with Teaser Premiere: https://nisciencefestival.com/events/snow-leopard-trail-taster-tape-premier
Lisa McFarland is Northern Ireland’s leading relationship coach.
In today’s episode, we talk about:
Why there’s a taboo about getting help with your relationship
(Versus hiring a PT, mechanic etc)
The importance of talking to your male partner shoulder-to-shoulder
Why 96% of her followers on Instagram are women
A simple framework for checking in with your partner each week
How our childhoods impact the way we give and receive love
Co-dependency: what it is and how to break free from it
Rapid fire issues such as: dealing with a sexless relationship, preparing for the arrival of a new baby and moving out of the friend-zone.
Check it out!
https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/lisa-mcfarland
Links:
Lisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relationship.coaching.ni/?hl=en
Take Lisa’s Online Course: https://relationshipcoachni.com/revive-online-course
Book some time with Lisa: https://relationshipcoachni.com/coaching-sessions
Peter Chambers is the Headteacher at Holywood Steiner School, an alternative to mainstream education that’s making a powerful impact on the lives of pupils and teachers alike.
In today's episode, we talk about:
How the school has doubled in budget, size and staff since 2020
Why most people aren't aware of alternative education in Northern Ireland
The power of delaying "sitting at a desk” until 6-years-old
Teaching kids how to cook three-course meals, woodworking and a second language
Why having smaller class sizes makes a big difference
Creating an environment where teachers can actually teach instead of constantly managing poor behaviour
Why his pupils call teachers by their first names and don't wear a school uniform
His countercultural policies on screens in the classroom
And the importance of creating an environment that encourages (and celebrates) failure.
Check it out!
https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/peter-chambers
Website: https://www.holywood-steiner.co.uk/contact
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great podcast. keep up the good work
Great Podcast! Would definitely recommend 😀