Best Of Belfast: Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast

Matthew Thompson
  • 5.0 (121)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Best Of Belfast: Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast

Northern Ireland has a better story to tell — one that goes beyond bombs, bullets and a sunken ship. You are part of this story. With 300+ conversations featuring some of the incredible people who call this place home, our weekly show gives you the chance to get away from the clickbait and connect with the amazing things happening in Belfast. Previous guests include NASA Scientists, Billion-Dollar CEOs, 91-year-old park-runners, Oscar-winning directors, Olympic Gold medalists, Bitcoin Auctioneers, Tim Burton's puppet-maker and a guy who built an aeroplane in his garage. Well-known voices include Snow Patrol, Foy Vance, Julian Simmons, May McFettridge, Zoe Salmon, Andrew Trimble, The Dead Rabbit, Michael Deane, The Priests, Two Door Cinema Club, Oliver Jeffers, Pete Snodden, Colin Geddis, Mary Peters, Rebecca McKinney and May Blood — the millworker who became a peer in the House Of Lords. Check it out! https://bestofbelfast.org/

  1. How ‘Rory’s Travel Club’ Got 100k Customers

    18/08/2024

    How ‘Rory’s Travel Club’ Got 100k Customers

    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/

    50 min
  2. Collecting Adventures with Lucy Briggs

    12/08/2024

    Collecting Adventures with Lucy Briggs

    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

    58 min
  3. This coach helped me stop being a workaholic | Caroline McKenna

    05/08/2024

    This coach helped me stop being a workaholic | Caroline McKenna

    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

    1h 3m
  4. Ciaran May on the Sins of our Fathers, Suicide & the Path to Resilience

    27/05/2024

    Ciaran May on the Sins of our Fathers, Suicide & the Path to Resilience

    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

    1h 4m
  5. “Just do” — Tom Griffiths

    20/05/2024

    “Just do” — Tom Griffiths

    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

    1h 21m
  6. Bethel’s Kitchen’s Willetta Gabriel on Bagels, Pickles & the Future of Dromore

    13/05/2024

    Bethel’s Kitchen’s Willetta Gabriel on Bagels, Pickles & the Future of Dromore

    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

    1h 1m
  7. Mark Marais on Nostalgia, Africa & Building a Business Around Your Passion

    06/05/2024

    Mark Marais on Nostalgia, Africa & Building a Business Around Your Passion

    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

    1h 9m
  8. “American Uncle” Tony Novosel on Study USA & the Transformational Power of Travel

    29/04/2024

    “American Uncle” Tony Novosel on Study USA & the Transformational Power of Travel

    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.

    49 min
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5
out of 5
121 Ratings

About

Northern Ireland has a better story to tell — one that goes beyond bombs, bullets and a sunken ship. You are part of this story. With 300+ conversations featuring some of the incredible people who call this place home, our weekly show gives you the chance to get away from the clickbait and connect with the amazing things happening in Belfast. Previous guests include NASA Scientists, Billion-Dollar CEOs, 91-year-old park-runners, Oscar-winning directors, Olympic Gold medalists, Bitcoin Auctioneers, Tim Burton's puppet-maker and a guy who built an aeroplane in his garage. Well-known voices include Snow Patrol, Foy Vance, Julian Simmons, May McFettridge, Zoe Salmon, Andrew Trimble, The Dead Rabbit, Michael Deane, The Priests, Two Door Cinema Club, Oliver Jeffers, Pete Snodden, Colin Geddis, Mary Peters, Rebecca McKinney and May Blood — the millworker who became a peer in the House Of Lords. Check it out! https://bestofbelfast.org/

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