Best Of Belfast: Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast (Matthew Thompson)

After winning the green card lottery in 1997, Pauline Turley left friends and family in Newry behind to move to NYC.

Since then she’s has been on a rollercoaster journey that’s included developing the Irish Arts Center into what is it today.

Pauline is an absolute powerhouse and I had an absolute blast sitting down to hear her story and I know you will to.

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Pauline (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/pauline-turley-irish-arts-center

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 

Pete Snodden is a broadcaster, speaker and event host from Bangor, Northern Ireland.

He's the voice of one of the nation's most popular radio spots: The Cool FM Breakfast Show which he hosts alongside Paulo Ross and Rebecca McKinney

After being inspired by "the connection radio can provide" while homesick on a P7 trip, Pete knew from a young age that being a broadcaster was what he wanted to do.

But like most things in life, the journey to his current success was one full of challenges and obstacles along the way.

In today's episode, we chat with Pete about:

• His first gig with DJ Errol at his parent's friend's 40th birthday party.

• How he got his "foot in the door" with radio

• And the key lessons he's learned along the way. 

Was really impressed with insight and wisdom Pete generously shared our conversation and I know you'll enjoy hearing more about the man behind the voice.

Check it out. 

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Pete (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/pete-snodden-cool-fm

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 

• Her involvement in cloning 'Dolly The Sheep'
• Childhood trauma
• Addiction
• How she discovered floating (sensory deprivation tanks)
• And why she’s dedicated this season of her life to setting up Ireland’s first Float Tank Centre

Sir John Lavery is a painter from Northern Ireland best known for his portraits of Michael Collins, Churchhill and Queen Victoria.

But besides being the most famous painter of his day, the Belfast-born boy came from humble-beginnings.

Baptised in St. Patricks Church, the Cathedral Quarter native was orphaned at a young age when his mother died in childbirth and his father died at sea — after which lived in Moira with his extended family before moving across the pond to work as a photographer's apprentice.

It was there that John developed his passion and talent for art — one that would take him on an extraordinary journey all over the world, and back again to Belfast.

In today's episode, we discover the amazing life and legacy of one of Belfast's most famous individuals while diving deep into the history of the streets he once called home.

Along the way, we meet historians, priests, art curators, modern-day painters and even a publican to try and understand why his story is important for us today.

Check it out.

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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.  

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Website link: https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/sir-john-lavery-painter

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 

This conversation first aired three years ago and is one of our most popular episodes. 

Merry Christmas and enjoy!

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Colin (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/colin-geddis-comedian

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 

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

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

Conor Houston is a... 

Well, he's a lot of things. 

• Director at Houston Solutions Ltd, a bespoke leadership advisory company.
  
  
• Founder of Connected Citizens, a civic initiative which promotes active citizenship and creates space for citizens to co-design solutions for our society. 

• Governor of The Irish Times Trust
  
  
• Director of ShoutOut (an LQBTQ+ youth charity)
  
  
• Chairman of the Board of Governors of Fleming Fulton Special School.
• Former Solicitor who has defended clients in the Supreme Court both in the UK and Ireland
  
  
• Head of Engagement for Digital DNA - the largest tech & digital conference in Northern Ireland.
  
  
• Fellow of the US State Department Rule of Law Programme
  
  
• Fellow of the British Council Hammamet Conference
  
  
• Inaugural Chair of The Ireland Funds Belfast.
  
  
• Guest lecturer at Harvard University, Loyola Marymount University LA, Trinity College Dublin and Ulster University.

Not one to be put in a box, Conor has had a vast career that is built around one thing: bringing about change.

A massive advocate for celebrating the island of Ireland on the world's stage, he has both founded, assembled and led various "tribes" over the years to make the "visions and values laid out in the Good Friday Agreement a reality" for the people who call this place home.

In today's episode we talk all about:

• Conor's origin story
• Why he got into (and out of) law
• How he balances passion with burnout
• Experiences that have shaped his perspective
• And of course the greatest challenges/successes he's endured along the way

This is a wide-sweeping conversation with one of our Ireland's most interesting minds and I know you'll really enjoy — and get a lot out of — today's show.

Check it out!

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Conor (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/conor-houston-connected-citizens

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 

After quitting her marketing job in Australia, Danni Simpson bought a one-way ticket to Europe to pursue a career as an artist.

Working on a number of murals in the city while living above the Harp Bar led Danni to move to Northern Ireland full-time.

In this episode we chat all about the importance of backing yourself, diving into the deep end of what you’re passionate about and the importance of making art that makes money.

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Danni (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/danni-simpson-art

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 

Karishma Kusurkar left India when she was 6 years old to live in Belfast. It was 1996, she had the army as neighbours and the building wobbled on a windy day… The rest is her story to tell.

In today’s episode, we chat about what it looks like for a creative to ‘do’ business in 2019, the importance of following your curiosity and how we can design better, more richer lives for us and the people around us.

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Karishma (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/karishma-kusurkar-karishmas-world

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 

James Leckey is the founder & CEO of Leckey: a company focused on designing life-enhancing products for physically challenged children. 

After starting out small in a garden shed, the Northern Ireland-based company now employs almost 200 people.

Today, Leckey is a globally recognized pioneer in the research, design and development of pediatric postural supports that are clinically focused and based on the developmental needs of children, including their social and emotional needs.

In this week’s episode, we talk about what Jame’s humble beginnings taught him, the importance of designing products that improve the lives of the people that use them and how to balance being an inventor with being a businessman.

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to James (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/james-leckey-design

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 

Bio: Louis Pearsons is an entrepreneur, athlete and competitor.

In this episode we talk about:

• Competing at a high level from a young age
• Pursuing goals vs being content
• Qualifying for the Crossfit Games
• Leaning into our flaws
• Polaroids
• And dealing with addiction

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https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/louis-pearson

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Jack McGarry is the youngest-ever International Bartender of the Year. Sean Muldoon is admired/feared throughout the bar world for his vision, drive and insane attention to detail. 

In this episode, we hear how two lads from West Belfast went on to open the Best Bar In The World, publish multiple books about their industry and find time for future projects in the pipeline that range from comic books, to feature films.

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Jack and Sean (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/the-dead-rabbit

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 

Terry Doherty is a postal worker, music-lover and storyteller from Larne, Northern Ireland.

In this easy-listening episode, he shares a treasure trove of stories he's been collecting across his life, career and hobbies. 

Some of these stories include:

• Witnessing armed robberies in the post office
• Hanging out with bands in rural Ireland
• Sneaking into Icelandic Museums
• And walking his daughter through Leukemia. 

With insights into how the post-industry has changed over the years, the importance of responsibility and what 'real success' looks like, this is a very special episode with plenty of gems to walk away with.

I personally found this episode incredibly moving and have already listened back to it a second time — something that in 130+ episodes, I rarely do.

Check it out. 

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

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 

Quarantine Phone Call.

Oliver Jeffers is a visual artist and author from Belfast, Northern Ireland.

• Balancing multiple passions and pursuits in life
• Why Rigsy started The Belfast Ravens
• How he finds the time and drive to write
• And the greatest challenges/successes he’s experienced along the way

• Why GCSE maths is a terrible representation of what the field of mathematics is really like
• How she ended up landing a job at NASA
• What it’s like looking billions of years into the past
• How the atmosphere of exoplanets can be observed using light
• Her dreams of becoming an astronaut
• Favourite space/maths related movies 
• And her greatest challenges/successes from the journey so far

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

• What it was like being coached by his father at a young age
• His current journey to the Tokyo 2020 Games 
• And how he’s dealt with cerebral palsy and mental health challenges along the way.

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!

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

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• What a virus actually is
• How viruses jump from animals to humans
• The potential scientific truth behind vampire lore
• Human responses to pandemics throughout history
• The importance of transparency and nuance in public discourse
• And what we could have done differently around COVID-19

Gary Lightbody is a singer-songwriter from Bangor, Northern Ireland and the lead singer of Snow Patrol.

Across their 25-year journey, Snow Patrol have sold over 17 million albums, picked up over 1 billion global streams and played on almost every stage known to man.

Their recent Reworked Album and Tour gave fans from all over the world the opportunity to experience new renditions of some of the bands greatest hits (and a few new absolute bangers too).

But it also gave long-time listeners the chance to pause and reflect on just how much has changed over the years.

(Yes, Chasing Cars is almost 15-years-old — and fun fact — was recently voted the most played song of the 21st century on UK radio). 

So, in today's conversation with Gary, we do just that: pause and reflect on the years that have gone before, and what they can maybe tell us about the future.

We cover topics like:

• Gary's first memories
• Snow Patrol's 10-year grind to success
• The importance of being specific while writing songs
• How to keep our heads right during Quarantine
• And Gary's greatest successes/challenges along the way

This will without a doubt be one of the fastest hours of your life and is full of so much genuine joy and stories worth sharing.

Check it out. 

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To see a photo of today's guest please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/gary-lightbody-snow-patrol

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 

After leaving school at 16 without any professional qualifications, Peter Dixon worked as a gas fitter, a plumber and a welder. 

Against all the odds, he landed a huge opportunity with British Gas and ended up spearheading the colossal task of bringing natural gas to Northern Ireland for the first time in the 90s. 

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Peter (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/peter-dixon-natural-gas-northern-ireland

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 

Claire McLaughlin is a 28-year-old junior doctor from Bushmills and a professional rugby player.

After admittedly not being any good at sports as a girl (except the monkey crawl), Claire went on to excel both academically and athletically in her teens.

This ultimately led her both playing for Ireland in the Rugby World Cup AND going through medical school.

In today's episode we chat about:

• The role disciple has played in Claire's life
• Techniques she uses to balance her multiple passions
• How to avoid burnout and deal with disappointment
• And the greatest challenges/successes she's faced along the way 

(Including being a doctor during a global pandemic).

Enjoy!

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Claire (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/claire-mclaughlin-doctor-rugby

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 

BONUS EPISODE.

I was interviewed recently for another podcast and ended up talking about Northern Ireland the whole time.

Thought there was some interesting bits in here about WHY we do the podcast and how loving where you live really has the potential to change the way we live our lives.

Enjoy!

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

Q: What do you get when you cross a New Yorker, creativity, entrepreneurship and resilience?

A: Nancy Brown. 

Really enjoyed this chat with a personal mentor and friend of mine. We dive deep into the importance of work-life balance, how to bounce back after a freak accident and how getting better quality sleep could take your business to the next level.

Nancy's LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/nancyabrown

Enjoy!

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Nancy (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/nancy-brown-business-coach

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 

Kicking off our addiction series is Dr. Anna Lembke: a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University and one of the world's leading experts on dopamine. 

Over the last few years, Anna has appeared in Netflix documentaries like The Social Dilemma and podcasts like The Rich Roll Podcast, The Huberman Lab and The Joe Rogan Experience.

Her new book, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence was an instant New York Times bestseller and explores how to moderate compulsive overconsumption in a dopamine-overloaded world.

In this conversation we cover:

- What dopamine actually is

- How it governs our lives

- Why the pursuit of pleasure is actually the pursuit of pain

- How a dopamine fast can help reset our brains

- And practical tools for overcoming addiction

This conversation is probably the most important episode I've shared in my podcasting journey so far (and is probably the one where you will hear me fangirling the most!)

Anna's work has made a profound impact on my life in recent months and I'm both incredibly honoured and excited to share some of it with you today.

— Matt 

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/anna-lembke-dopamine-nation

Gavan Wall is the founder of The Wall Group, a company that owns a series of Spars, Subways and a YoggieBerrie in North Belfast.

But he's probably most well known for his charisma, speed-mentoring and being the Northern Irish King of LinkedIn.

In this episode, we get to chat about all thing from The Greatest Showman why Gavan kicked booze out his life for good and why he didn't go to the hairdressers for 7 years...

This Episode Was Commissioned By The Knowledge Network Hosted By Fleet Financial

Knowledge Network, a series of mini-conferences featuring the most interesting and influential business people in Northern Ireland.

Gavan Wall first spoke at the Knowledge Network where he told his story publicly for the first time.

The kind folks at KN asked us to follow up with Gavan to dive deeper into his story and follow up on some of the points he made in his speech.

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Gavan (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/gavan-wall-king-linkedin-wall-group

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 

Welcome to Pub Chats & A Pint a podcast series sponsored by Harp where we sit down with interesting local people in a Belfast pub.

Today we are in The Errigle Inn on the Ormeau Road and are joined by legendary pizza maker Marty Duggan who runs Pi Guy out of Trademarket in the City Centre.

In today's episode we talk about:

• Broken bones
• Cuban raves
• Interning under legendary pizza makers
• His new bespoke, unbelievably expensive oven
• And why the dinner table is so important

Check it out!

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Links:

Pi Guy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/piguyni/?hl=en

Errigle Inn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/errigleinn/

Harp on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harplagerni/

• Riding a horse across Cuba
• Quitting a job to start his own business
• The start-up ecosystem in Northern Ireland
• And the greatest challenges/successes along the way

Conor Gallagher is the North Belfast-born founder of AllotMe: an online platform that connects empty outdoor space with would-be vegetable growers, often described as the Airbnb for gardens.

He gave up his career as an architect to work on AllotMe, in response to increasing demand for allotment spaces across the UK and Ireland during multiple lockdowns in the summer of 2020

In today’s episode, we chat about:

• Working for street corner fruit vendors in NYC

• The joy of growing your own vegetables

• Getting into the start-up world

• And the highs/lows he’s experienced along the way

Check it out

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https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/conor-gallagher-allotme

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You may know Mark Dowds as an early investor in Uber, the Chief Operating Officer of Trov, and one the of key people behind the Ormeau Baths coworking space in Belfast.

But he describes himself as “just a guy from Northern Ireland,” a dedicated husband, father, ultra-marathoner, keen cyclist and “possibly the worst pupil the all-boys school Inst has ever seen.”

In today’s show, we talk about what we can learn from Mark’s hero's journey.

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Mark (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/mark-dowds-trov-ormeau-baths

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 

Today we’re joined by two incredibly talented young musicians - Johnny James and Rebekah Fitch.

After meeting on Instagram the two have gone on to perform and record together, with their latest single dropping last week.

In this unfiltered conversation, we chat about how they got into music, the challenges of the creative process and their new song Hiding.

Check it out.

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Johnny and Rebekah (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/johnny-james-rebekah-fitch

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 

Hiya folks. Got another experimental episode for you today — a new segment called 'Three Beers, Three Books' where we bring back two previous guests to chat about their favourite books while trying out a few local beers.

To get the ball rolling we asked back James Leckey from Leckey Design and Greg Bradley from BLK BOX. 

Throw in a few Heaney Craft Beers and the result is a far-reaching conversation about business, psychology, cooking and cold plunges.

Enjoy!

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Books featured in this episode:

1. Traction

2. The Drama Triangle

3. Jamie Oliver's 5 Ingredients, The Alchemist and The Hard Thing About Hard Things

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https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/three-beers-three-books-james-leckey-greg-bradley

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

As probably the last person in the UK to contact Polio, Max had a very short-lived school career. 

But at 18-years-old he moved to London to make his fortune. After stumbling into a career in recruitment, he painstakingly worked his way up through the company and left as the Head of UK Operations. 

In this episode, we talk about Max’s early childhood, what it was like growing up with polio and the importance of seizing opportunities. 

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Max (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/max-mackin-blackfox-solutions

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 

A quick intro to the podcast.

Hear from Matthew about the story behind the Best Of Belfast Podcast, what you can expect and how you can get involved. 

For written stories, links, photos, social media info and upcoming events check out www.BestOfBelfast.org 

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For photos/contact information of today's guest, access to our archive of 100+ interviews, or to join the Producer's Club today please visit https://bestofbelfast.org

• How retirement has been treating him
• What he plans on doing next
• And some of the lessons he’s learned from the highs and lows of an incredible career

• Their early memories & experiences
• How they scaled a brunch community from 15 people on a Sunday to 500+ per week
• The cultish following around their Blueberry pancakes
• And the greatest challenges/successes they've experienced along the way

[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.

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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 

• Growing up working in fish factories in Ardglass
• The life-changing moment of experiencing his first total solar eclipse
• How he went from truck-driving to studying Astrophysics
• Landing jobs at NASA, University of Glasgow and Queen’s University
• His incredible TV Show Space Truckers that was picked up by the BBC
• Why studying solar flares matters
• His plans to launch a rocket in 2024
• And the most challenging/successful moment of the journey so far. 

Bill Allen (William Frank Allen) is an ex-prison officer who worked in the Crumlin Road Jail and Maze Prison at the height of the troubles.

In today’s episode, we talk about:

• Growing up in London after WW2
• Mars Bars coming off the ration
• How he got into prison work
• Physical courage
• War hero and friend Ken Lewis
• The Shankill Butchers
• Why rough men keep the world safe
• How a dog foiled a prison escape
• His dislike of certainty
• And 50-years of sobriety

This conversation is part of our Wild Wisdom mini-series in partnership with Sai Kelly where we talk with older men about what masculinity means to them, the experiences that shaped them and the hard-earned lessons they’ve picked up along the way.

Check it out.

//

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/bill-allen-prison-officer

//

In the start-up world, there’s a lot of pressure to act like you’ve got it all together, but in today’s episode, Andrew and Jason from GoFyt peel back the layers and reveal how authenticity and being yourself in business can actually be a secret weapon.

They got very real and honest in our chat, sharing some absolute gold along the way and I know you’re going to really get a lot from today’s conversation.

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Andrew and Jason (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/gofyt-andrew-mccracken-jason-harvey

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 

Tim Brundle is the Director of Research & Impact at Ulster University (and much, MUCH more). 

In today’s episode, we cover Tim’s early career, including helping out in his mum’s art shop as a boy, interviewing the top 100 CEOs in Northern Ireland as a student and working for the Ministry of Defence. We also discover what it takes for a startup to succeed and how to keep the main thing the main thing with a busy, demanding schedule. 

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Tim (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/tim-brundle-ulster-university

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 

• Why anonymity is a key pillar of AA
• The origins of this organisation that has helped millions of people get sober
• Why alcoholics are “allergic to alcohol”
• The rock-bottom moment that led to him seeking help
• What AA meetings actually look like
• And most importantly, why the 12-step program actually works.

Willie Jack describes himself as a barman, street cleaner and bouncer - but he’s also the owner of The Harp Bar, The Dark Horse, The Duke Of York, The New Orpheus and whiskey museum The Friend At Hand.

His passion for artwork and live music has transformed his slice of the Cathedral Quarter into the most Instagrammed part of Belfast and the heart of nightlife in our city.

In today’s show, Willie shares a few stories with us.

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Willie (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/willie-jack-duke-of-york

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 

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Scott (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/scott-riley-small-steps-giant-living

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 

Sheridan Tongue is a BAFTA-nominated composer from Belfast known his global, award-winning work on drama series and documentaries alike.

From scoring the mind of Stephen Hawkings, soundtracking 12 seasons of Silent Witness, to releasing music under the pseudonym IN-IS; Sheridan's creative work has taken him all over the world and back home again — most recently with BBC NI's series Spotlight On The Troubles: A Secret History.

(Not bad for a guy who started busking with his saxophone outside BHS in Belfast as a teenager!)

In today's episode we chat about:

• How his early-experiences in NI shapes his work
• The role experimentation plays in composing music
• How he balances the commercial with the creative
• And the greatest challenges/successes he's experienced along the way

• How he went from washing pots to becoming a CEO
• ‘Green bling’ versus ‘actually making a change’
• Why he got into Carbon Reduction before it was cool
• And… what carbon actually is— and why it matters!

Red Bay Boats is a family business in Cushendall that has built over 1000 boats and 'shipped' to 30+ different countries around the world.

After reading a book on boat building Tom McLaughlin dropped out of school to restore an old rotten rowboat.

Since then, Red Bay have made boats used by the royal family, anti-pirate authorities, ferries, tour-guides and fishermen.

His son Conor — now a master-boat builder himself — works full-time in the family business and is responsible for building and delivering their bespoke vessels as far as Svalbard; an island 500 miles north of Norway.

In today's episode we caught up with Tom and Conor on their boat for this Father's day special to talk about:

• The fascinating link between the North Coast and Scotland (which is closer to Cushendall than Ballymena)
  
  
• What it's like to work so closely with family
  
  
• How they "make memories" for their customers
  
  
• The camaraderie of the local sailing community
  
  
• And the challenges/successes they've experienced along the way.

This fascinating episode — set to the soundtrack of the North Coast waves — shares the story on an incredible family carrying on Northern Ireland's shipbuilding legacy and having a lot of fun along the way.

You'd be daft to miss it!

//

Link to webpage for this episode: https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/red-bay-boats

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 

Alison Clarke is the founder of ACA Models: Northern Ireland's longest-running modelling and promotion agency.

After growing up on a farm in County Tyrone, Alison gave up her University offers to study Maths and instead took a job with Ulster Bank.

Alongside working full-time at the Waring Street Bank (now The Merchant Hotel) she entered and won Miss Northern Ireland in 1982 and was a runner-up in the Miss UK competition. 

Ultimately, this experience was the catalyst that led to working in PR & Marketing for eight years before opening up her own agency in 1990.

Alison has been her own boss ever since.

In today's episode we talk about:

• Life in Strabane as a child
• What working in a bank was like before computers
• How it takes time to build a business
• Why Miss NI is important for Northern Ireland
• And the greatest challenges/successes she's experienced along the way

Enjoy!

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Alison (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/alison-clarke-aca-models

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 

• His back to the future approach to farming
• What the heck a ‘no-dig’ philosophy is
• Going deep instead of going wide
• Finding customers before developing a product
• Permaculture and why it matters
• And the power of embracing each moment as it comes. 

Joshua Burnside is a singer, songwriter and storyteller from Northern Ireland.

His award-winning, genre-defying music draws from the rich, complex history of home — and has found music-lovers from all over the world.

You can listen to his latest album here.

In this exclusive interview (hosted by Mark Todd), we talk to Josh about:

• His first memories
• Sources of inspiration for his music
• The importance of authenticity in songwriting
• And the greatest challenges/successes he's experienced along the way

This is a fascinating insight into one of Northern Ireland's rising stars, and we're so excited to share it with you today.

Enjoy!

//

Webpage for this episode: https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/joshua-burnside-singer-songerwriter

Best Of Belfast is Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast. We've shared 150+ 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 

Brenda McMullan is Grant-Maker from West Belfast, Northern Ireland.

After originally starting her career off in IT, Brenda is now the Executive Director of the Halifax Foundation NI — a funding body that grants over £1 million a year to local charities right here in Northern Ireland.

The foundation has responded rapidly to the COVID-19 Crisis by making funding decisions on a bi-weekly basis — rather than quarterly — so that grassroots organisations on the frontline can receive the support they need to respond during these uncertain times.

In today's episode, we talk about:

• How she went from cleaning-toilets to handling funds for a major bank!
• Some of the ways the Foundation is responding to the global pandemic
• Her pride for West Belfast
• The challenges parents of autistic children face
• And her brief stint in elocution classes

Brenda is a real 'salt-of-the-earth' kinda woman with a huge passion for what she does and loads of great insights/stories to share along the way.

Check it out!

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Brenda (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/brenda-mcmullan-halifax-foundation-ni

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 

• His first memories and early experiences
• How and why he pivoted from sport into business
• What made him launch his first business
• The Clements Coffee Origin Story
• And the greatest challenges/successes he’s experienced along the way

Adam Cree is the Chief Revenue Officer of 3EN Cloud Ltd, located in Holywood, Co. Down.

Having spent the first part of his working life in professional sports, he made the transition to the business world despite having no qualifications or degrees.

From there, Adam has worked his way up to the leadership team of 3EN, helping them double their growth of staff and revenue in his first full year in the role.

In today's show, we chat to Adam about:

• His early childhood experience
• How someone 'becomes' a Belfast Giant
• What led to him getting into business
• And the greatest successes/failures he's experienced along the way

Check it out!

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Adam (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/adam-cree-3en-cloud

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 Producer's Club' please visit httpbestofbelfast.org/

Cheers!

— Matt 

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

In this week’s show we have the absolute privilege of sitting down with one of Northern Ireland’s most experienced and successful entrepreneurs: Pete Boyle. 

Pete Boyle started Argento in 1997 after selling jewellery on the streets of Belfast. 

In today’s episode we discover Pete’s origin story, how retail is changing in the age of the internet and the essential business lessons he’s learned along the way.

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Pete (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/pete-boyle-argento

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 

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Lyn (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/naomh-mcelhatton-smart-global

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 

We caught up with Carol Fitzsimons, CEO of Young Enterprise Northern Ireland to chat about this amazing, empowering entrepreneurial charity for young folk in Belfast/our wee country, what a CEO actually does and what it takes to get an MBE.

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Carol (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/carol-fitzsimons-young-enterprise-northern-ireland

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 

Katrina Cairns is one of the youngest people we’ve ever had on the podcast. She’s also the first person I’ve ever met with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).

In today’s show, Katrina teaches me what arthritis actually is, shares how she was able to deal with such a difficult diagnosis at a young age and the importance of pacing ourselves as we chase our biggest goals, dreams and desires.

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Katrina (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/katrina-cairns-juvenile-arthritis

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 

In this month's show, we sat down with Jess Lowe, a local headshot photographer with a passion for capturing the portraits of local entrepreneurs, creatives and business owners.

Jess is one of our city's best headshot photographers, and we've been so blown away by her work over the past few months and the process of her craft that we had to get her on the show so we could find out more.

In this episode, you'll hear Jess Lowe discuss her journey to self-employment, how she got into photography, who her clients are and how websites/social media pages have become the new shop window.

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Lyn (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/jess-lowe-headshot-photographer

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 

Jonny Quinn is the drummer of Snow Patrol, an alternative rock band from Northern Ireland that has released six albums so far and sold over 13 million copies worldwide. 

Their latest album ‘Reworked’ features reimagined versions of their career highlights, including all-time classics like Chasing Cars, Open Your Eyes and Run.

Hailing from Bangor via San Jose, Jonny has been nominated for both Grammy and Brit awards, won a prestigious Ivor Novello Accolade and has been responsible for several era-defining singles.

Alongside Gary and Nathan from the band, Jonny set up Polar Patrol Publishing, a company that that takes a hands-on approach to nurturing new songwriting talent and artist development.

In today’s episode, we talk about what it’s been like to revisit songs from early on in the band’s journey, why he’s only recently started taking drum lessons and the advice he would give to someone trying to get into music today.

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Jonny (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/jonny-quinn-snow-patrol-drummer

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

After working in hospitality since he was 13 years old, Steve Pette has spent his life creating experiences for people.

In today’s conversation with Steve, we talk about the dominos that led to him opening the UK’s first coworking space in 2010, how he met his wife in a job interview and how we can build a better future together.

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Steve (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/steve-pette-coworking-space-king

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 

(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

On this week's show, we caught up with Brian Donnelly and Jenny Holland - the dynamic duo behind Bia Rebel - a food truck located outside The Big Fish that dishes out the best Ramen food in Belfast.

Brian (from Tyrone) has a background as a Michelin chef and has worked for some of the biggest names in the industry such as Gordon Ramsey. He enjoys Ramen, running ultra marathons and breaking rules.

Jenny is an Italian-New Yorker born in Belfast and has a background in journalism with the New York Times, speechwriting for the FDNY and writing as an independent food blogger.

After meeting in the Crown Bar here in Belfast, they have joined forces to take Belfast's street food scene by storm with a hyper-local approach that is obsessed with quality and taste, all at an affordable price for their customers.

Check it out.

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Brian and Jenny (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/brian-donnelly-jenny-holland-bia-rebel-ramen

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 

Norman Houston is the longest serving British Diplomat in Washington D.C. and is our Northern Irish representative for all of America.

We had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Norman in the Fitzpatrick Hotel in Manhattan to reflect on his career, what he’s learned along the way and what’s next.

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Norman (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/norman-houston-ni-bureau

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 

Philip Bain is the co-founder of ShredBank and the author of two business books: Start to Grow and Start to Lead.

We talk about his exposure to entrepreneurship at a young age (his dad brought Pizza Hut to NI), how to make a difference while making money and advice on how to stay authentic in our work.

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Philip (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/philip-bain-shredbank

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 

Peter Quinn is a multi-disciplined creative who’s recently stumbled on success making weird VFX videos for celebrities around Los Angeles like Will Smith, Snoop Dogg, Weezer and Michael Bublé.

In today’s episode we talk about:

• Pitching an idea in Will Smith’s living room
• His “Stranger Things” childhood in Carryduff
• How TikTok, Marvel and YouTube have forever changed our attention spans
• A formula for creating thumb-stopping content
• “Spectacle” versus “Story”
• And advice for young creators.

Check it out!

P.S. You gotta see Pete’s Insta.

//

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/peter-quinn-instagram

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When Sarah was six-years-old her mum had a stroke — making everyday tasks difficult. It was out of this personal experience that McAnallen was born.

Find out what it was like to start a business while at university, how she developed the confidence to speak in front of large crowds and what’s next...

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Sarah (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/sarah-mcanallen-design

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 

Sarah Friar is from Sion Mills, Northern Ireland. She’s also the CEO of Nextdoor, a free private social network whose goal is to get you connected to your neighbours. 

In this episode, we discuss how Sarah got to where she is today, the epidemic of loneliness and how we can become community builders in a digital age. 

Check it out!

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Sarah (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/karishma-kusurkar-karishmas-world

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 

Michael Cosgrove is a bartender in The Crown Bar.

In today’s episode we talk about:

• How he became a celebrity bartender
• The ghost that lives The Crown
• The cultural shift he’s noticed since COVID
• Why he’s stayed in the same job in the same pub for 36+ years
• And some of the chance encounters he’s had with punters

Check it out!

//

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/michael-cosgrove-bartender

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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

• Growing up in Sri Lanka
• The role his grandparents played throughout his life
• Moving to Belfast in the 70s
• Why he was working on a molecular sodium sensor
• How it got picked up by Big Pharma
• The Lion King
• And the wisdom of surrounding yourself by curators, mentors, and other people going deep into an area of expertise

• The challenges of training
• The importance of visualisation
• How to manage a personal life alongside a professional one
• And the greatest challenges/successes she’s experienced along the way

• 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!

//

We caught up with Gareth Patterson, founder of the Belfast Coffee Map, a paper publication that features the best cafes and coffee shops.

This episode of Best Of Belfast we discuss the coffee culture/scene in Belfast, what it's like to run a small business alongside a full-time job and how coffee, creativity and culture are all connected. 

You can find a written version of this article along with photos, links, social media sites and upcoming events over at www.BestOfBelfast.Org 

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Gareth (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/belfast-coffee-map-gareth-patterson

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

Andrew Cuthbert is a polymath from Northern Ireland. 

So far he’s been involved in research trips to Madagascar, human rights campaigns, setting up social enterprises, publishing books, writing patents and developing strategies for businesses in sectors like proton therapy, microbiology and satellite technology.

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Andrew (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/andrew-cuthbert-the-change

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 

In June 2014, Scott Riley was 100 lb overweight, suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis and on a cocktail of pharmaceutical drugs.

But not any more.

After some big leaps of faith like being treated by the tribes in the Peruvian Amazon, going 60 days without solid food, and climbing frozen mountains half naked in the snow, Scott coaches others to “take small steps to giant living” when it comes to their health, fitness and wellbeing.

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Scott (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/scott-riley-causeway-living

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 

Sam Halliday is a musician from Bangor, Northern Ireland (and a part-time footballer for his local team).

After starting a band with some friends from school, Sam and his mates went on to form the international award-winning music sensation that is Two Door Cinema Club.

Named after a local cinema back home, the band has sold millions of albums worldwide and performed on some of the biggest stages on the planet.

In today's show, we chat to Sam about:

• The band's origin story
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• What their early gigs were like
• His favourite takeaway in NI

Check it out.

//

To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Sam (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/sam-halliday-two-door-cinema-club

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 

Terry Loughins has had a lot of jobs including: salesman, milkman, barman and DJ.

But his favourite job was his 25-years working for Guinness NI, a role which led to him being involved in oyster festivals, U2 Concerts, golfing tournaments and farmer matchmaking events…

In today’s episode, Matt and Jawbox Gerry sit down with Terry to talk about:

• The best pint of Guinness he’s ever had
• Playing Ice Hockey in the 60s
• How hospitality prepared him to take on the world
• Growing up in “the countryside” of Stockmans Lane, East Belfast
• Old pubs around Belfast
• The “Miracle Escape” that saved his life
• And the double decker bus hanging off the end of a magnet up the top of a massive crane (no really…)

We had an absolute blast with Terry, Gerry, Producer Rosca… and know you will too.

Enjoy!

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https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/terry-loughins-guinness

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Claire Dowds is the General Manager of Ormeau Baths, a coworking space right here in the heart of the city centre where she spends her time building an environment where people and businesses can thrive. 

As a lot of you know Best Of Belfast has been based out of Ormeau Baths for the last two years which means that I’ve had the privilege of getting to know and see Claire in action and I can tell you that she is the real deal.

Her life story — which we will hear a slice of today — has taken her all over the world and into more roles than I can possibly mention, but the thread that ties it all together is her love for people. 

One of the things I’ve heard Claire say on many occasions is that her purpose in life is to draw out the treasure in others and I am so excited to dive deeper into that, mic up and record one of our many conversations about what it means to be human and build community in a distracted and often lonely digital age. 

All this and more coming up on today’s show.

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Claire (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/claire-dowds-ormeau-baths

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 

Roy and Noel Spence are twin brothers born in 1944 who’ve dedicated their lives to making films.

In today’s episode we talk about:

• Their first trip to the cinema in 1952
• Roy’s theory that cave-men were film-makers
• Experience of using old-school tech to make movies
• Hilarious moments of when things went wrong on shoot
• The dangers of an “instant-society”
• How to do special effects with “no budget”
• Their experience running private cinemas like Tudor and Excelsior
• History of some of the 65 cinema’s in Belfast
• And advice they would give to aspiring film-makers

Check it out.

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https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/roy-noel-spence

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• Reconnecting with your inner-child
• The difference between anxiety and depression
• Nadia's own encounter with suicide
• Her unexpected beauty pageant journey
• And the incredible results Uberheroes comic books have had on the lives of kids right here on our doorstep.

Check it out!

Clodagh Dunlop is a detective for the Police Service of Northern Ireland. 

In April 2015, her life was turned upside down after suffering a brainstem stroke, which left her with locked-in syndrome. 

There is no cure for locked-in syndrome and she was expected to be a prisoner in her own body forever. However, against all odds, Clodagh astonished her doctors, family and colleagues with her recovery and the courage she displayed when faced with such a life-changing condition. 

Along the way she has documented her recovery on social media, gaining a supportive following across the world and winning numerous awards. 

Now alongside working full time, Clodagh provides motivational lectures to business and health professionals and has lobbied government ministers in Westminster to reshape legislation for stroke services.

We’re joined here in the studio today with Clodagh’s partner Adrian Simpson who has stood by her every step of the way and in today’s show, we will discover how this remarkable incident has shaped them both in very different ways and what lessons they have learned that we can apply to our every day lives.

Check it out.

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Clodagh (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/clodagh-dunlop-locked-in-syndrome-survivor

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 

Sheree Atcheson is a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Expert from Sri Lanka/County Tyrone currently living in London!

Listed as one of the UK's Most Influential Women in Tech, Sheree (@nirushika) worked for the likes of Deloitte and Monzo before becoming the Global Director Of Diversity and Inclusion at Peakon. 

Alongside being a regular contributor at publications like Forbes, Fast Company and Business Insider, she's also an Advisory Board Member of Women Who Code (an organisation she helped bring to the UK).

• Adoption + growing up as a person of colour in Tyrone
• How Sheree got into tech
• The obstacles that hold organisations back from diversity
• Reconnecting with her Sri Lankan birth mother
• And the greatest challenges/successes she's faced along the way

Check it out!

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Episode web page: https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/sheree-atcheson-diversity-and-inclusion

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 

• The value of learning how to write well
• Why "Big-Pharma" isn't all bad
• How to deal exponential change in a fast-paced world
• And the successes/challenges faced along the way

Check it out!

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Mark (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/mark-goldstone-forepont-capital

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 

We asked the people of Belfast.