The Hidden Hustle Podcast

Introduced to us by the legend Paul McCarthy, who described him as a ‘National Treasure’, Denis O’Reilly more than lived up to the title. Denis is the founder of Wild Wicklow Tours, ranked second globally on TripAdvisor and number one in Ireland before selling it to Tony Doyle Coaches in 2023. But what truly sets him apart is how he has channelled that success into meaningful, lasting social impact. Through Difference Days, Denis partners leading organisations such as Smurfit Kappa, Aer Lingus, SMBC Aviation Capital and many more with DEIS and Special Needs schools to deliver transformational improvements from revitalised classrooms to restored gardens. Every DEIS school in Ballymun has benefited, and in partnership with Dublin City Council, he mobilised 300 volunteers to create a brand new community park in Dolphins Barn. During Covid, after learning that many children were going hungry, Denis launched Good Grubs, delivering up to 5,000 fresh food packs per week. To date, more than 750,000 packs have been distributed nationwide. He also founded Outdoor Spaces where he currently works, creating safe outdoor learning environments that continue to support schools across the country. This is a powerful conversation about purpose-driven entrepreneurship and the real impact business can have on communities. Show notes- Denis built Wild Wicklow Tours into a globally recognised tourism brand.- Entrepreneurship can be a powerful vehicle for social change.- Difference Days connects corporate teams with schools that need support most.- All DEIS schools in Ballymun have benefited from the initiative.- Large-scale community projects are possible through strong partnerships.- Good Grubs was created in response to child food poverty during Covid.- Over 750,000 fresh food packs have been delivered to schools nationwide.- Outdoor Spaces continues to provide long-term educational impact.- Business, when guided by purpose, can create lasting societal change.Links & resources:https://wildwicklow.ie/https://differencedays.ie/https://outdoorspaces.ie/https://www.goodgrub.ie/https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisoreilly/Our Sponsors:Tap Design Consultancy: https://wearetap.ie/linkedin.com/company/tapdesignconsultancy

This week’s guest is Dr Harriet Treacy, Founder and CEO of Beyond BMI, tackling one of Ireland’s biggest health challenges: obesity, a chronic disease affecting 1 in 3 adults and costing the state over €2 billion each year. Beyond BMI is a medically led, science-backed online weight management programme for those struggling with Obesity. Harriet’s journey began while working in emergency medicine, where she saw first-hand the lack of support for obesity and the many chronic diseases it causes.Frustrated by the system, Harriet built a comprehensive and holistic weight loss solution that has already helped thousands of people achieve real, lasting results.In this episode, we dive into:• The global obesity crisis 🌍• Why weight loss education often misses the mark 📚• A comprehensive weight loss approach, including Ozempic 🩺• The benefits of Ozempic when used correctly 💉• How social media shapes our view of health 📱• Pivoting her original business idea with guidance from mentor John Purdy 🔄• Funding and strategic growth 💼• Real-life customer success stories 🌟• Hiring the right team using psychometric testing 🧠• Different leadership styles 👥• A masterclass in understanding your own weaknesses 🎯• Future growth plans, including expansion into the UK 🇬🇧• Ozempic myths and truths 🚫✅A must-listen for anyone interested in tackling one of the world’s biggest chronic disease challenges.This week’s guest is Dr Harriet Treacy the Founder and CEO of Beyond BMI - tackling a chronic disease effecting every 1 in 3 adults in Ireland, Obesity. Beyond BMI is a scientifically and medically backed online weight management programme led by doctors. A staggering stat of every 1 in 3 adults in Ireland have obesity costing the state directly 2 billion a year! This incredible story started while Harriet was working as a doctor in emergency medicine and how frustrated she became with the lack of support for Obesity while seeing the other chronic diseases it was causing for patients.Harriet has created an amazing comprehensive weight loss solution struggling with obesity designing a holistic approach to loosing weight. With thousands of incredible success stories. In this episode, we dive into:• The global health problem of obesity • How education around weight loss is often wrong • Comprehensive weight loss solution using Ozempic • The benefits of Ozempic if used correctly• Social media influences public perception of health.• Pivoting from her original business idea with the advice from a great mentor John Purdy• Funding and strategic growth• Real life customer success stories • Hiring the right team using psychometric tests • Different forms of leadership• A master class of being aware of your weaknesses• Future growth plans including expanding services and tackling the UK.• Ozempic myths and truths. A must listen for those interested in solving one of the worlds biggest chronic disease problems. Links & resources: Beyond BMI: https://beyondbmi.ie/Follow Dr Harriet Treacy on Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-harriet-treacy-36580695/Our Sponsors:Tap Design Consultancy: https://wearetap.ie/linkedin.com/company/tapdesignconsultancy

One of Ireland’s great business success stories and there’sa reason a book has been written about it.We had an incredible conversation with Gareth Sheridan,Founder & CEO of Nutriband, a Nasdaq-listed pharmaceutical company and aformer presidential hopeful.Gareth turned a college thesis into a publicly listedcompany, building the business from his bedroom while enduring some serioushard knocks along the way. His journey lifts the lid on the tougher, oftenunseen side of doing business in the US lessons learned the hard way.Today, Gareth and Nutriband have their sights firmly set onachieving unicorn status in the pharmaceutical industry.This is a conversation not to be missed. Gareth sharespowerful insights on resilience, vision, and what it really takes to build acompany against the odds, along with invaluable advice for aspiringentrepreneurs.And yes we asked him if he’ll run for president again!Show notesGareth's entrepreneurial journey began in a challenging environment.Feedback is crucial for improving business strategies.• Understanding the implications of ownership is vital for entrepreneurs.Public listing can significantly impact a company's growth.Fundraising poses unique challenges for startups.Navigating business deals requires careful consideration and advice.Stress can lead to opportunities in business.Running for president was motivated by a desire for change.Social media plays a significant role in public discourse.• Aspiring entrepreneurs should seek advice and learn from experiences.Links & resources: Nutriband: https://www.nutriband.com/Follow Gareth on Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethsheridanntrb/Buy Gareth's book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-NASDAQ-Gareth-Sheridan/dp/1739233115 Our Sponsors:Tap Design Consultancy: https://wearetap.ie/linkedin.com/company/tapdesignconsultancy

This week’s guest is Jonathan Larbey, Co-Founder and CEO of T-Pro.Founded 13 years ago in Ireland, T-Pro has grown into a global healthcare AI company with serious unicorn potential. Through its innovative voice recognition technology, T-Pro is reducing the administrative burden on healthcare professionals by over 70%, freeing clinicians to focus on high-value patient care. Today, T-Pro supports hospitals across the world, transforming how healthcare team’s work.In this episode, we dive into:• The evolution of T-Pro from a side-hustle legal admin provider to a global healthcare AI leader with 70% margins• Avoiding bad investment opportunities and staying bootstrapped for 10 years• The real-world impact T-Pro’s products are having on healthcare systems• Breaking into the UK market• The strategy behind taking Private Equity investment to scale globally through multiple acquisitions• The exceptional acquisition-integration team built by Jonathan’s CFO• Why taking some money off the table matters• The importance of urgency and getting your product in front of customers fast• The future of T-Pro and the ambition to build a $1 billion companyA must-listen for founders, operators, and anyone interested in scaling AI businesses in highly regulated industries. Links & resources: T Pro: https://info.tpro.io/Follow Jonathan on Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-larbey-32928111/Our Sponsors:Tap Design Consultancy: https://wearetap.ie/linkedin.com/company/tapdesignconsultancy

Today’s guest on The Hidden Hustle Podcast is SinéadCrowther, founder and CEO of Soothing Solutions. This episode is a true masterclass in building a businessfrom the ground up with no money, driven by resilience, persistence, and an unshakeable belief in solving a real problem. Sinéad’s journey shows what it really takes to keep going through the toughest moments of entrepreneurshipwhen resources are limited and setbacks are constant. From idea to execution, she built Soothing Solutions into astandout Irish brand, with Tonstix Honey Jelly Pops now top 10 listed on Amazon and stocked widely across Ireland, the UK, Mauritius, Romania and hopefully of the US soon!  Her impact has been recognised at the highest level,including being named Enterprise Ireland’s High-Potential Start-Up Founder of the Year, cementing her reputation as one of Ireland’s most inspiring entrepreneurs.If you have an idea for a business in Ireland but think funding is holding you back this is the episode for you. Links & resources: Tonstix: https://tonstix.com/Follow Sinead on Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sin%C3%A9ad-crowther-8a743a138/Our Sponsors: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tapdesignconsultancy/posts/?feedView=allhttp://www.wearetap.ie/

🚜➡️🤖 From Diddly Squat Farm to building an AI company with 105 clients.This is a must-listen episode for anyone who would like to teach themselves AI and make a business from it 👇This week on The Hidden Hustle Podcast, we sat down with Lucca Allen, Founder of ToraTech AI — and his story is nothing short of incredible.At just 23 years old, Lucca has already lived multiple careers.🏎️ A highly successful racing driver, winning championships in F4 with ambitions of reaching F1➡️ When racing didn’t go to plan, he pivoted🚜 Worked alongside Jeremy Clarkson on Diddly Squat Farm🤖 Taught himself AI from scratch on the side — with no prior tech backgroundFast forward to today, and Lucca has built ToraTech AI, a fast-growing AI company focused on helping businesses actually understand and use AI.📈 105 clients already🚀 Still growing🎯 Big vision for where AI is heading — and how people should prepare for itIn this episode, Lucca shares: • Honest lessons from failing, pivoting, and starting again • Practical insights on the future of AI (no hype, just reality) • Simple, actionable advice for anyone wanting to start learning AI todayIf you’re a founder, future founder, or simply curious about AI — this conversation is for you.Links & resources: ToraTech AI https://toratech.ai/Follow Lucca Allen on Linkedln https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucca-allen-3521a9148/

Are your phone distractions decreasing your productivity in work?We believe this conversation could be a really important start to everyone’s 2026 with learning how we can better our inner world in a time where minds are extremely busy and so easily distracted.This week on The Hidden Hustle Podcast we talk to Shane Cradock high performance CEO and Athlete Coach. Shane has over 25 years experience helping top CEO’s, athletes and ambitious people perform at a higher level and achieve what they believe are impossible goals such by mastering their inner minds. Why should only top sports people focus on their inner mental game?If you’re looking to make a difference to your Inner Game for 2026 we believe this conversation could really help!If you like the episode we would highly recommend readings Shane’s book “The Inner CEO” it is packed full of life changing advice on how to master your inner world.Links to find Shane and his content:https://shanecradock.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanecradock/

Really enjoyed an insightful discussion with Colm O’Rourke, founder of Capaciteam, recently ranked 3rd in Clutch’s Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies for 2025.Colm shared his fascinating journey from starting out in the nightclub scene, to founding Felix Recruitment, and ultimately building Capaciteam, a company specialising in IT services and IT consulting.Capaciteam is growing at an impressive pace, with projected revenues approaching €5 million and a team of 70 employees in just 4 years.We also discussed AI in depth. Colm highlighted practical, real-world examples of how businesses of all sizes can benefit from AI, and shared valuable advice on how people with little or no AI background can begin developing their AI knowledge and skills.A genuinely inspiring conversation with plenty of takeaways.If you enjoy the episode, please follow us on Spotify and YouTube — your support helps us keep these conversations going.This podcast is brought to you by Tap Design Consultancy.Capaciteam and Colm O'Rourke contact details:capaciteam.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/colmorourke/

In this episode of The Hidden Hustle Podcast, we sit down with Greg Clarke, founder of Digicom and former president of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce. Digicom is a leader in high-end video conferencing and audio-visual technology.Greg shares a raw and honest look at his 28-year journey building his business — from personal tragedy to major leadership lessons.🔍 We discuss:- How his brother’s passing inspired him to start Digicom- The tough conversations with his employees that forced him to evolve his leadership style- Why customer obsession has driven Digicom’s long-term success- How costly video-conferencing failures can be for companies- Becoming President of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce- The role of meditation in his growthIf you enjoy the episode, please follow us on Spotify and YouTube — your support helps us keep these conversations going.A huge thank you to Greg for his time and insights.This podcast is brought to you by Tap Design Consultancy.

In this episode of the Hidden Hustle Podcast, we sit down with Irish business legend John Purdy, who recently sold his company Ergo. John founded Ergo 33 years ago with his co-founder, the late Tim Sheehy, starting out in a shed in Cabra, Dublin — and the company has remained fully bootstrapped ever since.Over those three decades, John also founded and later spun off Fenergo, which is now on track for a €2 billion valuation.In this episode, we discuss:🔥 Why John decided to sell Ergo after 33 years🚀 How to scale a fully bootstrapped business to €250 million in revenue🧠 Thinking like a big business even when you’re small💼 Founding Fenergo during a recession — now valued at €2 billion🎓 Lessons from a business course at Stanford University in California👥 Leadership insights from three decades in business🤝 Why cultural fit is essential for successful acquisitions🌱 What’s next for John — investing in multiple promising Irish start-ups🇮🇪 The evolving Irish business landscapeLinks & Resources🔗 Ergo Technology Group: https://ergotechnologygroup.com/🔗 Connect with John Purdy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpurdy/Visit our partners🤝 https://wearetap.ie/

From Insolvency to 45 Million Bottles Sold: The VITHIT StoryThis week we chat with Gary Lavin, Founder of VITHIT a true masterclass in resilience and brand building.Gary launched VITHIT in the early 2000s and went nearly a decade without profit. At one stage the company was insolvent and his house was repossessed. But with unwavering belief and one pivotal change, he turned VITHIT into the 7th best-selling drink in Ireland, now hitting 45 million bottles sold a year.Huge thanks to Gary for sharing his raw, honest insights and the lessons behind VITHIT’s rise.P.S Keep an eye out for Gary on RTE One tonight where he’s featuring on The Entrepreneurs show as a finalist for EY Entrepreneur of the Year at 8pm!  

This week we chat with Oonagh O’Hagan, owner of Meagher’s Pharmacies, about her incredible story and journey that all started from asking her boss one question when leaving her job💡We cover:💊 Her new product tackling the root cause of illness and disease.🏪 Lessons from the first 12 months being a business owner to opening 9 more stores📖 Opening up to her staff about the businesses declining profit and the trajectory it went on from there.🛒 Being one of Ireland’s first online pharmacies — and what she learned from it.👥 Building a team.🧘‍♀️ How she balances business, family, and wellness with such a busy schedule.Oonagh’s story is a perfect example of chasing your crazy dreams and figuring it out along the way!

At 11, he ran a bookies.Now, he leads 136 people across four creative agencies under the Kith and Kin Group.Colin Culliton a previous EY entrepreneur of year finalist shares his story.From building The Printed Image over 30 years to the emotional sale during Covid. Tips for building an incredible team culture, his thoughts on how he’s going to keep up with AI and plenty more incredible insights.🎙️ Tune in — this one inspires.#Podcast #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #KithandKin

From Tragedy to Triumph: Building & Selling a Business 🎙️ In this episode of The Hidden Hustle Podcast, we sit down with John Galvin, previous owner of McMahon Galvin, which was recently acquired by the Howden Group. Losing both his parents at a young age, he was forced to grow up quickly and take charge of his own future. That experience shaped his career and ultimately his success. With over 35 years leading McMahon Galvin, John shares:😔 How personal loss shaped his mindset and work ethic🎯 The importance of carefully selecting high-quality clients instead of chasing mass👥 Leadership and building a loyal team🤝 What it takes to achieve a successful business exit Although he sold McMahon Galvin to the Howden Group, John continues to work within the company with the same team and clients. He gives an honest view of the changes that come withselling a business you’ve built and becoming part of a bigger group. A huge thank you to John for sharing his story and wisdom.

🌍 A niche toy business making a massive impact on the world stage.In Episode 5 of The Hidden Hustle Podcast, we sit down withour uncle — Eddie Holmes from TFH.TFH specialises in designing and manufacturing toys for people with disabilities 💡. This is an incrediblyinsightful episode on how Eddie, together with his father and brother-in-law, grew TFH to £11 million in consolidated worldwide sales 🚀.Eddie shares his experiences on:• Implementing an employee profit-share scheme — a huge factor in their success• Turning a struggling business around• Navigating challenges like Covid and Brexit• Driving product innovation to stay ahead of the competition• The goosebump moments of seeing TFH’s toys transform lives for children and parentsA massive thank you to Eddie for his time and insights 🙌.This was our very first recorded podcast — the one that gave us the courage to keep going and learn more. (Hopefully we’ve improved a little since then 😅).

🔥 33 years. Multiple acquisitions. €80M collective turnover. 8 Ironman’s and a World Championship and ….. winning Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 🥇.What does it take to build a group of software companies worth millions 💻 and compete at the highest level in sport 🏊‍♂️🚴‍♂️🏃‍♂️?🎙️ In this episode of The Hidden Hustle Podcast, we sit down with Marc O’Dwyer, former owner & CEO of Big Red Cloud. Marc shares incredible insights into what it really takes to build, scale, and lead a group of companies to such success.Marc Sold the Big Red Cloud Group just 3 months ago. Marc is now open to consultancy opportunities with companies looking to gain valuable expertise.💡 In this episode, Marc dives into:        🚀 Sales strategy        🤝 Acquisitions & successful exits        🎯 Customer-focused product development        💪 How to bounce back from big setbacks        👥 Leadership & team building📚 Marc never stopped learning — from completing an MBA 🎓 to going behind-the-scenes with Leinster Rugby 🏉 to help drive his team and company forward.A huge thank you to Marc for sharing his story and wisdom.

In the latest episode of The Hidden Hustle Podcast, we had the privilege of speaking with Aidan O’Reilly, former owner of Medray. A supplier of medical equipment.Aidan is now the co-owner of Emerald Greens Irelands largest vertical farm!Aidan shares an incredibly honest account of his journey from only getting 120 point leaving cert to being unemployed to building a medical equipment business turning over €22 million annually. All with no medical equipment background!His story is a powerful reminder that resilience, courage, and belief in your vision can lead to extraordinary success.Huge thanks to Aidan for his lessons, time, and for sharing such an inspiring story.This is a must-listen for anyone chasing a dream or navigating challenges — proof that with the right mindset, anything is possible.

This is an incredible story of resilience, vision, and outstanding leadership…In this episode of The Hidden Hustle Podcast, we had the pleasure of speaking with Emma Maye—an inspiring entrepreneur whose journey is nothing short of remarkable.Emma shares how she built her group of companies, Ardale and Core Building Providers, into the success they are today and ultimately leading to Emma being named the 2024 PwC Businesswoman of the Year!This episode is a must-listen for anyone wanting to understand what it truly takes to become an exceptional business leader.From growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia, to the sudden loss of her father, and carving out a path in male-dominated industries, Emma alongside her husband built a thriving portfolio of companies spanning property development, building providers, and now an exciting new chapter..... All while raising four children!A huge thank you to Emma for her time, openness, and the powerful leadership insights she shared.Tune in now to hear how it all began.

In this episode of The Hidden Hustle Podcast, we talk withPaul McCarthy, Founder and Head of Product at Snapfix. Paul founded Snapfix in 2016 and has been solving the complex problems faced by property managers eversince — through an easy to use app that applies photographs with the familiar traffic light colour system to help manage hotels, offices, and other buildings—as simple as using WhatsApp or Snapchat. He has raised millions in investment from global investors and won the Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers Programme in 2020. This award-winning software now has tens of thousands ofusers and operates in over 40 countries worldwide. One of the most remarkable parts of Paul's story is his vision, shared with his family: to build a billion-dollar company used in over 100 million buildings—and then give it all away to help solve a massive global problem.... The story begins at the family table, with Paul trying to solve his own problem. We hope you enjoy the episode. – Alan and Sean Holmes