In this episode of The Natural Resilience Podcast, I sit down with Paul Doherty — founder of Foodstock and Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast for a powerful conversation about leadership, community action, and tackling poverty with dignity.Paul shares the story behind Foodstock — a charity born not from theory or policy, but from aligned action and a deep belief that communities thrive when people are educated, empowered, and invited to play their part.In this conversation, we explore: Paul’s personal journey and what led him to found Foodstock The reality of food poverty in Belfast and across Northern Ireland Why dignity and education are central to meaningful social impact How community-led initiatives can create real, lasting change The role of leadership and responsibility in public service Balancing political office with grassroots action What resilience looks like when you’re serving others every day This episode is a reminder that resilience isn’t just personal — it’s collective.Paul’s work shows what’s possible when vision, values and action align in service of something bigger than ourselves. Whether you’re a founder, leader, public servant or someone who cares deeply about social impact, this conversation offers insight, inspiration and practical wisdom.Here at Natural Resilience, we are huge supporters of Paul and Foodstock. We would urge you to check out the incredible work they do, on their website https://www.foodstockcharity.com/ And if you are in a position to do so, consider donating to their Christmas people so that no child in Belfast goes without a toy or warm Christmas dinner on the link here - https://foodstockbelfast.enthuse.com/cp/53f51/#!/⭐ ABOUT THE NATURAL RESILIENCE PODCAST Hosted by Ciaran May, The Natural Resilience Podcast explores leadership, resilience, wellbeing and purpose through honest conversations with people making a meaningful impact in sport, business, community and public life.
In this extraordinary episode of The Natural Resilience Podcast, recorded live in front of 200 people at The Balmoral Hotel, Belfast, I sit down with former professional MMA athlete Ryan Curtis.A man whose story is so unbelievable that, if it wasn’t fully documented, you would struggle to believe it happened.In December 2023, Ryan suffered a catastrophic training accident that broke his neck and left him paralysed from the chest down. Doctors prepared him and his family for the worst.The Irish MMA community rallied, believing Ryan would never walk again. But Ryan had other plans.Through what he calls the power of the mind, and what many have described as a modern-day miracle, Ryan fought his way back — first to movement, then to standing, and eventually walking out of hospital. In this conversation, Ryan opens up about: The moment everything changed The fear, uncertainty and emotional trauma that followed The mindset practices he used during recovery The role of belief, focus and internal strength in healing The support of family, friends and the MMA community What paralysis taught him about life, identity and purpose Why he believes you can reprogram your mind to survive the unthinkable This is one of the most inspiring, raw and powerful human stories ever shared on the podcast. Ryan’s journey is a reminder of what the human spirit is capable of when confronted with the darkest of moments.⭐ LIVE PODCAST ANNOUNCEMENT — MARCH 5TH, 2025 We return to The Balmoral Hotel for another major live podcast event on 5th March 2025, featuring two exceptional guests: 🎙️ Cate Conway — National Broadcaster 🎙️ Ryan Burnett — Former Unified World Champion Boxer It will be a night of impact, storytelling and connection. 👉 Secure your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1691771808019?aff=oddtdtcreator
“Pressure Creates Leaders.”In this powerful episode of the Natural Resilience Podcast, Ciaran May sits down with Linda Stinson. Linda is the CEO of Bellamianta. An entrepreneur, leader and proud mum. We sit down together to explore the realities of resilience, pressure and high performance in both business and life. Linda opens up about the defining moments that shaped her, the setbacks that nearly broke her, and the mindset she developed to lead, perform and succeed under pressure.This is a conversation about navigating adversity, rebuilding confidence, and showing up as the kind of leader people trust. Whether you're a founder, business leader, athlete or someone pushing for more in life, Linda’s story delivers the kind of honesty and practical wisdom rarely shared publicly.🔶 In this episode we cover: Why pressure is essential for growth How leaders are forged during difficult seasons Mindset strategies for resilience & high performance The hardest lessons Linda learned on her journey Balancing ambition, wellbeing & real-world expectations What it takes to succeed in sport AND business🔶 About Linda Stinson Linda is a respected entrepreneur and innovator known for her ability to perform under pressure, lead teams through uncertainty, and translate resilience into business success. Her story represents courage, humility and relentless drive.🔶 About Ciaran May / Natural Resilience Ciaran May is a leadership and resilience coach, keynote speaker and founder of Natural Resilience — a consultancy helping leaders, founders and organisations build sustainable high performance, wellbeing and clarity. Learn more: www.naturalresilience.co.uk🔶 Join us at the next one This episode was recorded live in front of an audience of 200 people in Balmoral Hotel, Belfast. We are back for another live event on 5th March 2026 with two incredible guests in national broadcaster Cate Conway and former boxing world champion Ryan Burnett. You can get your early bird tickets on the link below.https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-natural-resilience-podcast-live-event-tickets-1691771808019?aff=oddtdtcreator
Most founders don’t burn out because they’re choose to overwork. They burn out because they’ve never been taught how to win sustainably and understand the core of high performance which is self leadership and awareness. In today’s solo episode, I share why I created The Fit Founders Club, the recurring patterns I’ve seen coaching hundreds of founders, leaders and business owners over the last five years, and why health, wealth and freedom must become the new metrics of high performance. For too long, entrepreneurship has rewarded status over longevity, and performance at the cost of your relationships, physical health and mental wellbeing. This episode is the start of a project that will become a blueprint for business leaders and founders who want to grow their business without destroying themselves in the process. 🚀In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why high performance has become unsustainable for modern founders. The real reasons mental, physical and emotional burnout is rising. What I’ve learnt coaching founders, CEOs and teams across Northern Ireland and beyond. The origin story of the Fit Founders Club. The 3 pillars: Health • Wealth • Freedom. What a healthier, wealthier, more resilient founder actually looks like. How this 12-month programme blends wellbeing, leadership and business strategy The mistakes founders repeatedly make — and how to avoid them.💡 The Fit Founders Club — 12-Month Programme for Leaders A hybrid community for founders who want to: ✔ Build a healthier nervous system ✔ Improve energy, fitness & resilience ✔ Grow a profitable, systemised business ✔ Strengthen relationships, focus and leadership ✔ Create genuine founder freedom ✔ Surround themselves with ambitious, values-led peers Includes: • Quarterly summits • Monthly in-person meetups • Breakthrough workshops • Founder diagnostics & personalised roadmaps • Access to guest experts & accountability 👉 For early access or to apply: 🔥 Connect With Me LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ciaran-may Instagram: @naturalresilience Website: naturalresilience.co.uk
In this episode of The Natural Resilience Podcast, host Ciaran May sits down with Rory King, founder of Rory’s Travel Club, to uncover how he built one of Ireland’s fastest-growing travel communities — from zero to over one million members.🎙️ Discover the story behind Rory’s explosive growth, how he turned an idea into a thriving travel movement, and the lessons every founder can take from his journey of resilience, leadership and bold decision-making.🧭 In this episode: How Rory’s Travel Club started with zero budget and big vision The marketing secrets that fuelled 1M+ members How Rory overcame setbacks and built a loyal community What’s next for Rory’s Travel Club and his mission to reshape travel in Ireland 🔗 Watch, learn and be inspired — whether you’re a founder, entrepreneur or someone chasing your own version of freedom. ——— Follow Rory’s Travel Club: 🌍 https://www.rorystravelclub.com📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rorystravelclubConnect with Ciaran May & The Natural Resilience Podcast: 🌐 https://www.natural-resilience.co.uk🎧 Subscribe for more interviews with leaders redefining performance, leadership and wellbeing.You may have heard during this interview that we are hosting a massive personal development event including a live podcast in The Europa Hotel, Belfast on Sunday 18th January called "The Hero's Journey" You can get your tickets on the link below to ensure chapter 2026 is your best year to date.https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-heros-journey-tickets-1464229964239?aff=oddtdtcreator
Putting Northern Ireland on the world stage..Graham Fitzgerald is the COO of the Irish Football Association and was heavily involved in the recent historic boxing fight at Windsor Park where local lad Lewis Crocker became World Champion in his hometown of Belfast. This is a fascinating insight into the power of collaboration between huge organisations, leadership and the positive impact of sport.We begin a few months out from that historic boxing event in Belfast from early stage negotiations right through to the final bell with Windsor Park illuminated and beamed across the world on TV. We got some phenomenal insights into leadership from Graham before looking into the future and discussing very exciting plans for football in Northern Ireland with the development of state of the art facilities in Galgorm.You can visit our website and keep up to date with the Podcast here - https://natural-resilience.co.uk/natu...We have a HUGE personal development event planned for Sunday 18th January in Europa Hotel, Belfast including a live recording of the Podcast. Get your tickets here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/146422...
Annette Kelly is the founder of one of Ireland's most recognisable wellbeing brands in Little Penny Thoughts.In episode 11 of The Natural Resilience Podcast, Annette shares how she went from starting her brand without any of her friends and family knowing as she was afraid of other peoples opinions but she had the courage to embrace her authenticity, her life changed so much for the better. This is the first time Annette has shared her personal story including navigating mental health challenges and a recent ADHD diagnosis.This episode was recorded live in front of 200 people in The Balmoral Hotel, Belfast. We are back again in November for another live podcast event with another two huge guests in Linda Stinson and Ryan Curtis, tickets are available here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-na...Our flagship January event is back in The Europa Hotel, Belfast this January where you can join 300 like minded people for a self development with a difference. This years event is called The Hero's Journey and will show you how to navigate your way to success using your inner compass. Tickets are available here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-he...
This episode was recorded live in Balmoral Hotel, Belfast in front of 200 people. Dr Michael Mc Killop is one of Ireland's most decorated athletes ever with 4 Paralympic gold medals among his impressive haul. At a young age Michael's parents were informed that he had cerebral palsy and may never walk, he went on to run for Ireland on the global stage. This is a story that encapsulates one of life's great lessons - Be careful who you take advice from.In this episode, Michael shares phenomenal insights into the mind of an elite level athlete which he describes as the gold medal mindset.A very human story, raw as it is inspiring, we hope you enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed recording and as much as the live audience enjoyed listening. On that note, we have another Live Podcast event in Balmoral Hotel, Belfast on the evening of 13th November 2025. Our two guests have been confirmed as Ryan Curtis and Linda Stinson.Tickets are available here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-natural-resilience-podcast-live-event-tickets-1410225385089?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurlhttps://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-natural-resilience-podcast-live-event-tickets-1410225385089?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl
Rhys Mc Kee is an MMA fighter currently fighting around the world in the UFC. His journey to the top has been anything but easy. Perhaps that's what makes him one of the most grounded and humble elite level athletes we have interviewed.This is without doubt the most in depth insight into the mind of a world class fighter that you will ever hear. The mental preparation, mantras and little techniques used in the run up to a fight, flicking the switch from Rhys the father and husband to Skeletor the warrior that wants to hurt his opponent in the cage.Hear Rhys talk about picking up aspects of body language from his opponent, to explaining how he processes walking to the cage and the nirvana of tapping into his flow state where he becomes "shark like" in the cage.It may sound brutal but it is a beautiful description of the peak of human performance in combats sports. A mindset that few can understand.We would if you could support the Podcast by hitting the subscribe button, It goes a long way in helping us get these inspiring stories out to the masses.If you would like new episodes up to 48 hours before they are released to the public, sign up to our podcast newsletter here - https://naturalresilience.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=e0f168ed12c7c6c7cac2df93a&id=d173d39fffWe have a LIVE Podcast event in Balmoral Hotel, Belfast on 13th November with two huge guests. Tickets are available here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-natural-resilience-podcast-live-event-tickets-1410225385089?aff=oddtdtcreatorFollow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/naturalresilience_/?hl=enFollow Ciaran on Linkedin - www.linkedin.com/in/ciaran-may-7107291b6
Born In Armagh, Sam went on to join the elite, Royal Marine Commandos serving in both Afghanistan and Iraq. A tragic accident involving his best friend despite heroic actions from Sam seen him honoured with a George Cross medal for bravery. Only a handful of recipients of this coveted medal exist around the world.After a stint in London working for a billionaire hedge fund manager, Sam came home to Northern Ireland to launch Juice Jar. With 7 Juice Jar shops across the UK and Ireland Sam has embraced the entrepreneurial journey with the same gusto as he embraced life - going all in.This is an inspiring, honest and thought provoking conversation with an incredible human being in Sam Shepard.It would mean a lot if you could take 2 seconds of your time to subscribe to the Youtube Channel. This gives us he exposure to continue to bring in the best guests and have the episodes professionally recorded, your support means the world.To receive these Podcasts 24 hours before they are released to the public, sign up to our free newsletter here - https://naturalresilience.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=e0f168ed12c7c6c7cac2df93a&id=d173d39fffOur next LIVE Podcast event takes place on 13th November in Balmoral Hotel Belfast featuring Ryan Curtis and Linda Stinson, you can access tickets here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-natural-resilience-podcast-live-event-tickets-1410225385089?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurlIf you are a small business owner you can enjoy a 7 day free trial if our online community to help you connect, collaborate and grow here - https://www.skool.com/natural-resilience-6996/about?ref=c330386eff4f49abb4c48f51996dfaf8Connect with Ciaran on Linkedin here - www.linkedin.com/in/ciaran-may-7107291b6Visit our website here - www.natural-resilience.co.ukFollow us on Social Media here - https://www.instagram.com/naturalresilience_/?hl=en
Rob Mc Connell is the CEO of ICC Belfast, Waterfront and Ulster Hall. Two iconic venues in the heart of Belfast that have facilitated some of the largest and most memorable concerts, conferences and sporting events in the recent history of Northern Ireland.Rob has studied the art of leadership around the world and implemented his own style forged by lessons learned from his humble beginnings on how to get the most from his people for his people.This is a masterclass on Leadership touching on topics such as navigating change, A.I and how to get a team aligned to your vision.ICC Belfast - https://g.co/kgs/GBL7fxnSign up to our newsletter - https://naturalresilience.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=e0f168ed12c7c6c7cac2df93a&id=d173d39fff7 Day Free Trial to our online community - https://www.skool.com/natural-resilience-6996/about?ref=c330386eff4f49abb4c48f51996dfaf8Tickets to Live Podcast Event - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-natural-resilience-podcast-live-event-tickets-1410225385089?aff=oddtdtcreator
Richard Moore was blinded by being shot in the face by a British Soldier when he was 10 years old in his hometown of Derry in 1972. Despite loosing his sight in such a traumatic way Richard returned to school, went on to University, got married and had two children. "I have learned to see life in a different way" Richard held no bitterness towards the soldier that shot him. He eventually met the soldier named Charles in 2006 and the two became friends. Richard also developed a friendship with His Holiness, The Dalai Lama and spoke all over the world on The Power of Forgiveness and Compassion. This is an extraordinary story from an extraordinary man.Richard is the Founder and Director of an amazing charity called "Children in Crossfire" You can their website here - https://www.childrenincrossfire.org/You can sign up to our mailing list to get early access to Podcasts and have them delivered to your inbox here - https://naturalresilience.us2.list-ma...Follow us on Social Media / naturalresilience_ Connect with Ciaran on Linkedin / ciaran-may-7107291b6
"The bigger the light, the darker the shadow"In episode 5, Ciaran sits down with his friend Pat Divilly. Pat is one of Ireland's leading voices on all things wellbeing, coaching and a holistic approach to high performance. Pat is also a breathwork teacher trainer and has just realised his highly anticipated third book, "Shadow Work"In this episode Pat reveals what shadow-work is, how its an integral way to develop your self awareness and ultimately how you can improve your quality of life by accepting all aspects of self. A phenomenal and thought provoking episode with a true thought -leader on all things wellness.We have some HUGE guests coming up. To receive the Podcast 48 hours straight to your inbox before it is released to the public, you can subscribe to our waiting list here https://naturalresilience.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=e0f168ed12c7c6c7cac2df93a&id=d173d39fffTo get a 7 day FREE trial of our online "Find Your Tribe" platform click here https://www.skool.com/natural-resilience-6996/about?ref=c330386eff4f49abb4c48f51996dfaf8
In this episode Ciaran sits down with global MMA star, Paul Hughes. Paul reflects on his career to date and how a dark and challenging period coping with a repetitive hand injury helped shaped his incredible mindset and outlook on life that has taken him from his beloved Lavey in County Derry to the World Stage.This is an incredible insight into the mind of an elite level athlete and a refreshingly grounded approach to success from a young man in his 20's who is fast becoming one of the most exciting athletes in the world.If you are enjoying the Podcast you can sign up to our FREE newsletter to get Podcast sent to you 24 hours before its released including behind the scenes footage - http://eepurl.com/hhiFzrOn 12th June 2025, in Balmoral Hotel, Belfast we are having our first LIVE Podcast event where Ciaran will interview Dr Michael Mc Killop MBE and Annette Kelly of Little Penny Thoughts live on stage in front of 200 people before an interactive Q and A with from the audience. There are some tickets remaining here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-natural-resilience-podcast-live-event-tickets-1277988360589?aff=oddtdtcreator
Ciaran sits down with former Ulster and Ireland Rugby legend Andrew Trimble to get an insight into the mindset to compete as an elite level on the world stage.Andrew reflects on a phenomenal careers which seen him win the 6 Nations with Ireland in 2014 alongside several player of the year awards on top that famous win over the All Blacks in Chicago.Andrews post-sporting career is as every bit as successful having founded, scaled and sold his sports tech firm Kairos to Teamworks in 2024.You can sign up to our free newsletter to get this Podcast sent direct your inbox 24 hours before it is released each month here - https://naturalresilience.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=e0f168ed12c7c6c7cac2df93a&id=d173d39fffYou can access tickets to the very first Natural Resilience Podcast LIVE Podcast which takes place in Belfast on 12th June 2025 here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-natural-resilience-podcast-live-event-tickets-1277988360589?aff=oddtdtcreator
Ciaran sits down with Mary Peters, a truly remarkable human being who achieved her potential and then spent the rest of her life helping others to do the same.Mary Peters famously won a gold medal at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. Listen to this fascinating story of the mindset, resilience and determination it took for a young Mary to train in the midst of war and violence on the streets of Belfast before setting up her charity, The Mary Peters Trust, which has went on to help thousands of local athletes in its 50 year formation.You can sign up to our free monthly newsletter to have the latest Podcast delivered to your inbox before it is released to the public on this link http://eepurl.com/hhiFzrYou can also avail of a 7 day free trail of our online community for small business owners here https://www.skool.com/natural-resilience-6996/about
Episode 1 - Ciaran sits down with Carl Frampton who reflects on his boxing career which led him to become a two-weight world champion and one of Northern Irelands most iconic athletes while looking forward to the future and discussing his exciting plans as part of his entrepreneurial journey with Stablemate Whiskey.https://www.instagram.com/naturalresilience_/https://stablematewhiskey.com/https://www.instagram.com/naturalresilience_/https://www.1620audio.com/