Explore every episode of the podcast Best Of Belfast: Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast

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

Tom 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

Seth Godin is the author of 21 best-selling books, including: The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes, This Is Marketing and most recently, Song of Significance.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How to shift from a consumer to a creator
• One decision you can make to free up 100+ hours each month
• Two magical questions that will unlock your business
• Why 1000 true fans is all you need
• (And why 5 might even be enough)
• "Shunning the non-believers"
• His experience running some of the most successful online communities to ever exist
• And the power of "shipping your work" daily.

Check it out!

Adam Chambers is the founder and president of Nurse Recruitment Experts, an online business that has sourced and hired 10,000s of Nurses for health systems across the United States and Canada.

In today’s episode, we talk about:

• Learning to salsa dance
• How playing Fifa led to his first entrepreneurial venture
• Starting a business from scratch with no funding or network
• Becoming a digital nomad
• An accidental taxi ride with a billion-dollar CEO
• The power of investing in yourself
• His mum walking in on an important sales call
• (In her dressing gown)
• The importance of being supremely confident
• Why he plans on moving back to Northern Ireland
• (And what he wants to do when he comes back)
• And advice he’d give to a younger version of himself.

Check it out:

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/adam-chambers

Andrea Haughian is Executive Vice President and Head of Americas at Invest NI, Northern Ireland’s Economic Development Agency.

In today’s episode, we talk about:

• Why she’s proud of Lurgan
• Showing up to the “wrong interview” (and how it changed her life)
• The opportunities “being keen” opened up for her
• Aching for distant places
• How she ended up moving to San Francisco in the 90s
• The power of wanting something (and seeing it come about)
• Where she goes in NYC to get her Northern Irish fix
• Advice she’d give to her 22-year-old self
• And the radical transformation she’s seen take place in NI

Check it out!

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/andrea-haughian

Aaron Dugan is the Bar Manager of The Cocktail Bar at The Merchant Hotel.

In today’s episode, we talk about:

• His time working as a sake sommelier in Dubai
• Why our tastebuds have become more refined after COVID
• The world’s most expensive cocktail
• Stories behind The Merchant’s 17-drink cocktail menu
• The difference between a five-star bar experience and your local pub
• And why he loves working in hospitality.

Check it out.

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/aaron-dugan-cocktail-bar-merchant-hotel

Andrew Irvine in a former life led the redevelopment of Belfast St. George's Market, then spent 9 years as the Belfast City Centre Manager. In 2015 Andrew's career took change of direction when he was accepted for training as a Methodist Minister. Now ordained for 3 years, Andrew leads Belfast City Centre Chaplaincy,

In this episode we talk about:

• The power of being available for people
• Getting lectured by a homeless man
• Why we should treat others like ourselves
• His vision for having 100 chaplains on the streets of Belfast
• And the importance of treating people with dignity and respect

Check it out.

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/andrew-irvine

[Rebroadcast: this episode first aired October 16th 2020]

Baroness May Blood grew up in a working-class area of Belfast.

 

In today’s episode, we talk all about what it was like growing up in Belfast in the ’40s, her time in the House Of Lords and why Integrated Education is essential to overcoming the pain of our past.

 

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to May (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/baroness-may-blood-ief

 

Best Of Belfast is Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast. We've shared 100+ hour-long conversations with incredible people from Northern Ireland.

 

To find out more, or join 'The Producers Club' please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/

 

Cheers!

 

— Matt 

[Rebroadcast: this episode first aired on August 19th 2019]

Terry George is an Oscar-winning film director from Belfast, Northern Ireland, known for movies like Hotel Rwanda, The Shore, In The Name Of The Father and much, much more. 

 

In this rare conversation, we talk about why he creates the films he does, what genocide has taught him about forgiveness and the best piece of directing advice he’s ever been given.

 

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Terry (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/terry-george-director

 

Best Of Belfast is Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast. We've shared 100+ hour-long conversations with incredible people from Northern Ireland.

 

To find out more, or join 'The Producers Club' please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/

 

Cheers!

 

— Matt 

 

Ryan Donnelly is the co-founder of Enzai, a start-up who’s mission is to enable a future where AI is harnessed to address humanity's most significant challenges

In today’s episode, we talk about:

• An incredible four-year journey from being in a career he hated to running a start-up he loves
• The small, seemingly insignificant steps that have led to where he is today
• “Getting smacked in the face” by challenges early on in the entrepreneurial journey
• Why Belfast is the perfect place to launch a company
• And advice he’d give to anyone who is considering starting a business

Check it out!

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/ryan-donnelly-enzai

Kingsley Aikins is one of the world’s leading experts on networking, relationship-building and diaspora engagement.

In this episode, we caught up with Kingsley in his home for a rare conversation about:

• How the old way of networking is dead
• (And why it probably never worked in the first place)
• A surprising hack to turn cold calls into hot coffees
• Incredible tips and tricks to “wow” new relationships in the digital age
• Building a network from scratch in Australia when he knew no one
• How the Ireland Funds raised $700+ million
• His experience with billionaire Chuck Feeney
• And meeting Nelson Mandela

Check it out!

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/kingsley-aikins-networking-institute

Links:

• Networking Course: https://thenetworkinginstitute.com/networking/
• Connect with Kingsley on LinkedIn: https://ie.linkedin.com/in/kingsleyaikins
• Diaspora Engagement Course: https://www.thenetworkinginstituteonline.com/courses/dm-diaspora-engagement-training-programme

Kyle McCallan is the Headmaster of Lurgan College. He’s also a former Irish International Cricketer with 2 World Cups and 226 caps.

In today’s episode, we talk about:

• The difference between a manager and a leader
• “The 3B’s” that make up the ethos of his school
• What held him back as a professional athlete
• The role school plays in society
• “Following better things”
• His vision for the future of Lurgan
• And the kindest thing someone’s ever done for him

Check it out!

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/kyle-mccallan

Gemma Austin is the Owner of A Peculiar Tea in Belfast and a Great British Menu contestant who has represented Northern Ireland three times.

In today's episode we talk about:

• How “losing everything” set her on the path to success
• Battling anxiety and depression
• The ONE conversation that led to her becoming a chef
• Creating a value-based business that makes the world a better place
• Transforming the hospitality industry into one where people want to work again
• And the power of family and community

Check it out!

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/gemma-austin

Martina Tierney is the founder of Seating Matters and author of “The Stairway of My Life.”

In today’s episode, we talk about:

• Why the stairs in her house are so special
• Growing up as one of fourteen siblings
• How a farming background prepared her for entrepreneurship
• Becoming an Occupational Therapist
• Why regular 9-5 hours didn’t suit her
• The courage provided by her husband to “do her own thing”
• How a garden shed turned into an international business
• And the kindest thing someone’s ever done for her

Check it out!

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/martina-tierney

Links:

• Martina’s book: https://amzn.to/45hgIzp
• Seating Matters Website: https://seatingmatters.com/

Jonathan, Ryan and Martin Tierney are brothers with heads for business, hearts for people and souls that long to the leave the world better than they found it.

They're all directors at Seating Matters, a family business started by their mum that employs 60+ people and manufactures life-changing medical chairs for patients around the world.

In this episode we talk about:

• Why they rarely sit at the same table
• Seeing Santa’s sleigh while laying concrete
• Cutting turf for pocket money
• The series of mad events that led to them meeting Bob Proctor
• Dropping out of school and quitting their jobs to work at Seating Matters
• The family values that set them up for success
• Losing their father at a young age
• The unique superpower of each brother
• Bringing head, heart & soul into business
• How they protect their brotherhood
• And advice they'd give to 18-year-old versions of themselves

Check it out!

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/-jonathan-ryan-martin-tierney

Colin Gibson is an ex-soldier, military contractor, scuba-diver, and owner of Talon: a security training company based in Northern Ireland. He’s served in Iraq and Afghanistan, lived in Belize for 6+ years and has been on a rollercoaster journey of dealing with combat-induced PTSD and childhood trauma.

In part one of this epic four-part special we talk about:

• The effects of growing up with an abusive father
• How violence dominated his early years
• Getting in trouble with the police
• The moment his life changed and all the anger disappeared
• Walking through fields barefoot in the rain
• The one positive male influence on his life
• Moving to Belize
• Scuba diving stories: manta-rays, blackness and pica-pica jellyfish
• Finding happiness for the first time
• And a few teasers to what you’ll hear in part two.

In this part two we talk about:

• Getting his feet washed by an Iraqi driver
• Being challenged to a fist-fight by his girlfriend’s dad
• Getting thrown into a Belize prison cell with 20+ other people
• What led him away from Belize
• Why he ended up joining the military
• And a few stories from his deployment…

In part three we talk about:

• The specific combat-event that “sent him down the rabbit-hole”
• Dealing with survivors guilt
• And battling with suicide.

In part four we talk about:

• How his experiences affect his life today
• Why he’s thrown himself into serving others through his new teaching business
• (Talon Security Training)
• What he’s focused on
• Why he started opening up about his experiences
• And advice he’d give to an 18-year-old version of himself

Check it out.

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/colin-gibson-talon-security

(Recorded September 2023). Kevin Roland is a Managing Director in New York-based global CEO advisory firm Teneo. He was a member of the Foreign Service of the U.S. State Department, serving in front-line diplomatic roles in Northern Ireland (from 2009-2012), as well as Iraq, Egypt, Tunisia, South Africa, Jordan, and the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs in Washington, D.C.

Despite working around the world, Kevin and his family reside at their home in New Quay, County Clare, Ireland.

In today’s episode we talk about:

• Why his family decided to call Ireland home
• Watching his dad loading planes as a kid
• Colin Powell racing around in a supercar with the King of Jordan
• Being mentored by the current head of the CIA
• Playing basketball in the Middle East
• Becoming fluent in arabic
• How he got into the private sector (and why it matters)
• And his advice to 18-year-olds…. “don’t hug the shore!”

Check it out.

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/kevin-roland-teneo

Brendan McGurgan is the co-founder of Simple Scaling: an organisation that helps ambitious business leaders to 10x their business through accelerator programs, best-selling books, acclaimed podcasts, and the upcoming ScaleX Summit. He’s also a certified Wim Hof Instructor and self-confessed sauna-junkie. In today's episode we talk about: - His first job picking apples as a boy in Armagh - Why he quit his retail gig over a coke - (And got hired elsewhere an hour later) - What led him to go from feeling “bulletproof” to being humbled - The number one thing that holds business owners back from scaling - How parenting prepares you for entrepreneurship - Why scaling could be Northern Ireland’s superpower - His personal scorecard for life - And how “simple” and “easy” are not the same thing Check it out! https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/brendan-mcgurgan P.S. Click here to get tickets for the ScaleX Summit: https://www.scalexsummit.com/event-details/scalex-summit-2023

Joseph Kennedy III currently serves as the Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs.

In today's episode we talk about:

- Growing up in a family known for public service

- How the assassination of his uncle (JFK) and granda (Bobby Kennedy) impacted his family

- Moving to the Dominican Republic as a young man

- Dealing with the expectations people have of him because of his last name

- President Biden calling to offer him a job

- His love and admiration for C.S. Lewis

- The “one thing” he wishes he could give to every person in Northern Ireland

- And advice he’d give to an 18-year-old version of himself

Check it out!

//

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/joseph-kennedy-special-envoy

//

Full bio:

Over four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, Mr. Kennedy built an impressive legislative record around economic policy, health care, and civil rights. Representing a district that spanned from the suburbs of Boston to the proud post-industrial communities along Massachusetts’ South Coast, Mr. Kennedy sat on the House Energy & Commerce committee and spearheaded bipartisan efforts to extend mental health coverage, support the domestic manufacturing industry, and defend access to legal assistance for struggling families.

In addition to his work as Special Envoy, Kennedy also serves as President of Citizens Energy, a non-profit energy company founded to help low-income families meet their basic energy needs. Through innovative programming, Citizens has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to benefit millions of families across the United States. He is also the founder of Groundwork Project, an advocacy organization dedicated to supporting local community organizing efforts in under-resourced and historically disenfranchised communities.

He is married to Lauren Birchfield Kennedy and they have two young children, Eleanor and James, and a rescue dog, Banjo.

Paul Tweed is a media lawyer described as “the most powerful man in Hollywood.” He’s represented A-list celebrities like Justin Timberlake, Harrison Ford, Britney Spears, Liam Neeson and countless others — all while being based in Belfast.

In today’s episode we talk about:

• How his working class background is a superpower in court
• The two most important traits a successful lawyer must have
• What defamation is (and why it’s different to being rude to someone)
• How artificial intelligience is forever changing the media landscape
• (And the subsequent legal cases trailing behind it)
• Why social media companies should be held responsible for content on their platforms
• The power of surpreme confidence
• And the most challenging moment of his professional career so far

Check it out!

//

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/paul-tweed

//

Colin Leeman is the British Consul General in Cape Town. Over the last twenty years in the British Foreign Service, he’s had postings to Iraq, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, the UAE, New Zealand — and now South Africa.

In today’s episode we talk about:

• What a Consul General actually does/the perks of being a Foreign Diplomat
• Rescuing Emma Little-Pengelly MLA from a kidnapping
• Going from wanting to be a presbyterian minister to working for the British Government
• Coming out as gay (and what it meant to him both personally & professionally)
• His time in Iraq during the aftermath of the war
• Helping thousands of British tourists escape New Zealand during the COVID lockdowns
• Why he didn’t go to a barber for 19-years
• How he’s seen Northern Ireland change over the years
• Building community and relationships with people around the world
• And advice he’d give to an 18-year-old version of himself

Check it out!

//

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/colin-leeman

//

George McGowan, is a professional parkour athlete from Northern Ireland who’s widely known as the “springiest guy in the sport.”

In today's episode we talk about:

• How he became a real-life Spiderman
• (Without killing himself in the process)
• Making it to the semi-finals of Britains Got Talent
• The weirdest thing he’s ever done for money
• Working for Warners Brothers to model video game characters
• And how we as humans can end up doing impossible things with our bodies

Check it out!

//

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/george-mcgowan

//

Laurence Beattie is a recently retired jack-of-all-trades, including lab technician, forensic scientist, quality engineer, quality manager, plant manager, production manager, executive, business owner/managing director, mixologist, and full-time grandpa.

He worked for 47 years after leaving school following his A-levels. He also enjoys motor racing, shooting, and angling when he gets the chance.

In today's episode, we talk about:

• Things his WWII navy dad taught him
• The one question he didn't answer for his son
• Why becoming a grandparent makes you want to live forever
• Killing and eating a goat as part of a scouting trip
• The two times he's seen ghosts
• Advice he'd give to an 18-year-old

Check it out!

//

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/laurence-beattie

//

Roberta Clements is a gospel singer from Belfast who has performed on thousands of stages around the world, including local pubs/clubs, high-security prisons, and U.S. military bases during the Vietnam War. She is also a recovering alcoholic.

In today's episode, we discuss:

• The spiritual experiences that happened while she was still in the womb
• Singing on top of wooden school desks at four years old
• How she got into showbiz
• Discovering alcohol at 16 years old
• Surviving multiple suicide attempts
• The unbelievable events that led to her getting sober
• Why people call her "the spiritual tin-opener"
• And how she discovered "the master's plan" for her life.

Check it out.

//

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/roberta-clements

//

Leon McCarron is an award-winning writer, broadcaster, and explorer from Northern Ireland. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Geographical Society of Philadelphia's Explorer of the Year. He is known for his long-distance expeditions and immersive multimedia storytelling. In the past decade, he has traveled over 50,000 km by human power and is currently based in Iraq.

In today's episode, we talk about:

• Growing up on the North Coast
• How he ended up setting off on the adventure of a lifetime
• Cycling across America in his early twenties
• Why he moved to Iraq
• The transition from "selfish adventures" to "purpose-driven adventures"
• Stories from the rivers around where the Garden of Eden is thought to be
• And the kindest thing someone has ever done for him

Check it out.

//

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/leon-mccarron

//

[Rebroadcast: this episode first aired on 13th November 2019]

The Priests are the fastest-selling classical group of all time. They’re also full-time clergymen… 

In this week’s episode, we chat about what it was like to grow up together, what it’s like to juggle the priesthood alongside being world-famous musicians and how to keep our ego in check.

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to The Priests (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/the-priests-singers

 

Best Of Belfast is Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast. We've shared 100+ hour-long conversations with incredible people from Northern Ireland.

 

To find out more, or join 'The Producers Club' please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/

 

Cheers!

 

— Matt 

[Rebroadcast: this episode first aired on 17th May 2021]   Anna and Carl Isaksson are the founders of Hotbox: Northern Ireland’s first ever beach sauna experience.   The idea is simple yet utterly genius: what if after a cold plunge in the sea you could cosy into a sauna to sweat it out with your nearest and dearest?   In today's episode we talk about:

• Working for and kissing kings
• How a gal from NI ended up marrying a Swedish guy
• Why they set-up a mobile sauna business
• And the biggest successes/challenges they've faced along the way.

 

Check it out!

 

//

  HotBox is an authentic Finnish wood-burning sauna located primarily at Benone Beach on the Causeway Coast and you can book your own hot slot over at their website hotboxseasauna.com   //   Webpage for this episode: https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/hotbox-sea-sauna-northern-ireland

[Rebroadcast: this episode was first aired on 7th November 2019]

Nadine Patterson is a puppet-maker from Northern Ireland. From making models as a child to working in the puppet hospital on a Tim Burton movie set, Nadine has one of the most interesting stories we’ve ever featured on the podcast.

 

In this rare conversation, you’ll discover what goes on inside a puppet hospital, how difficult it is to work with such small objects and why she loves what she does for a living.

 

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Nadine (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/nadine-patterson-puppet-maker

 

Best Of Belfast is Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast. We've shared 100+ hour-long conversations with incredible people from Northern Ireland.

 

To find out more, or join 'The Producers Club' please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/

 

Cheers!

 

— Matt 

[Rebroadcast: This episode first aired 2nd November 2020]

Sir Otto Jaffe was one of the leading entrepreneurs responsible for the boom of the Linen Industry here in Belfast in the 1800s.

Through a lot of hard work and determination, the young German-born entrepreneur rose through the ranks of the family business and went on to become the Lord Mayor of Belfast. Twice.

Yet by the end of his life, Sir Otto was forced out of Northern Ireland. Forever.

But that’s not all.

In the 100 years after Otto left Belfast, the Jewish community in Northern Ireland has fallen from 1500+ members to just under 80 men and women today.

In today’s episode, myself and producer Owen set off on another journey through the streets of Belfast and the pages of local history with one goal.

To find out why.

Check it out.

//

This episode is part of The Streets Where They Lived: a new documentary collaboration between Successful Belfast, Belfast Buildings Trust, and Best of Belfast. The Streets Where They Lived will feature the stories of six incredible but sometimes overlooked men and women from Belfast and some of the buildings and places in the City with which they’re connected.

 

The project is a collaboration with Successful Belfast, a project of Belfast Buildings Trust. It is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Belfast Buildings Trust is a charity founded in 1996 to regenerate Belfast’s landmark buildings. The Trust works to ensure that the City’s authentic heritage is made relevant for people today. One of its projects is Successful Belfast, which champions new and creative ways of involving people in Belfast’s future development.  

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Otto (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/sir-otto-jaffe-linen-entrepreneur

 

Best Of Belfast is Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast. We've shared 100+ hour-long conversations with incredible people from Northern Ireland.

 

To find out more, or join 'The Producers Club' please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/

 

Cheers!

 

— Matt 

Ian D Withers is a retired Private Investigator and author.

In today’s episode we talk about:

• Growing up in the aftermath of WW2
• The role private investigators play in society
• Falling through the ceiling while trying to catch someone in the act of adultery
• How he got into PI work
• Building his own private investigator business from scratch
• Working for the Seychelle Government for eight years
• Why the MET hates him
• And how he ended up being the number one suspect in an international murder case

Check it out.

//

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/ian-d-withers

//

Ryan Jenkins is a 30-year-old self-taught chef from West Belfast and the owner of ROAM: an award-winning restaurant in Belfast city centre.

In today's episode we talk about:

• Stumbling into hospitality at 19-years-old
• How he went from peeling vegetables to owning an award-winning restaurant
• Where the name ROAM comes from
• Why he chose (and loves) his Callendar Street location
• What it was like to watch his dad winning an Oscar
• And advice he would give to himself if he was doing it all over again.

Check it out!

//

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/ryan-jenkins

//

Joan Burney Keatings is the Chief Executive of Cinemagic: an award-winning charity that provides young people around the world with opportunities to break into the film-industry.

In today’s episode we talk about:

• How her parent’s entrepreneurial flair is being passed onto her kids
• Producing films in the Middle-East
• Bringing the muppets to Northern Ireland
• The outrageous events that led to her meeting Liam Neeson
• Times she listened to her gut rather than her head
• Working with major film studios in places like LA
• The number one trait she sees in people who succeed in the industry
• And advice to her younger self.

Check it out!

//

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/joan-burney-keatings-cinemagic

//