Unbound | Conversations Without Limits

Stephen McDonnell
  • 4.9 (11)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Discover how the highest performers push beyond limitations in this up-and-coming no. 1 Irish podcast. Host and high-performance consultant Stephen McDonnell, speaks deeply with world-class performers, revealing secrets to their success. The podcast features several series across high-performing industries, including business, sports, entertainment and more. These conversations are real, honest, courageous and great fun. Each episode is designed to provoke, educate, inspire and empower you to achieve the impossible. Previous guests include Jordan Harbinger, Damian Browne, Mark Divine and many more.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO · BONUS

    Unbound Tool #17 Harvest your learnings from last year with Rupal Patel

    Rupal Patel, a former CIA intelligence analyst, has developed an annual tradition called the "Capture Your Year" exercise. This method helps to recognise unacknowledged achievements and identify areas for improvement. Plus, we’ll discuss the importance of sharing these insights with others for mutual growth and reinforcement. Make sure to listen in for actionable tips that can transform how you approach your yearly goals and planning. Check the full episode here: https://www.liveunbound.com/podcasts/the-cia-toolkit-for-life

    4 min
  2. Business Series Ep 6: Ann Kelleher | The Emotional Bank Account & The Road Less Travelled

    03/12/2025 · BONUS

    Business Series Ep 6: Ann Kelleher | The Emotional Bank Account & The Road Less Travelled

    With decades of leadership in technology and innovation, Ann Kelleher shares practical strategies for navigating challenging environments, leveraging culture, and building lasting impact whether in global organisations or local communities. From lessons learned growing up on a farm in County Cork to turning around high-stakes operations at Intel, Ann Kelleher delivers actionable wisdom for anyone seeking growth through adversity and going the road less travelled. Join us to explore: Why resilience is a learnable leadership skillThe “Emotional bank account” Risk-taking for career growth and innovationLeading high-stakes change through peopleReverse engineering team performance and cultureBeing a good neighbour  The Leadership in Business Series is presented by Live Unbound, a global leader in high-performance coaching, team effectiveness, and culture transformation. Please email stephen@liveunbound.com if you have any questions about what we discussed today. Like this show? Please subscribe and leave us a five-star rating and review. It’s a chance to tell us what you love about the show, and it helps others discover it too. Consider leaving your Instagram handle so we can thank you personally, and feel free to follow ours.

    57 min
  3. Business Series Ep 5: John Gilley | Building Cultures Where People and Performance Thrive

    26/11/2025 · BONUS

    Business Series Ep 5: John Gilley | Building Cultures Where People and Performance Thrive

    Stephen McDonnell sits down with John Gilley, CEO of Kent, for a raw and inspiring look at leadership and building a culture that scales. From his roots in Cobh, County Cork, to leading billion-dollar projects across Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, John reflects on how Irish values, family influence, and a relentless drive for growth shaped his journey. He opens up about leading through the chaos of COVID, the loneliness of the CEO role, and the tough lessons learned through Kent’s major acquisitions and cultural transformation. Packed with humility and real-world insight, John shares how to create belonging in fast-growing teams, empower people to lead, and stay grounded while driving global success. Join us to explore: Leading through loneliness (the unseen side of being CEO)Why culture comes before strategy in every great businessEmpowering teams by letting go of controlBuilding psychological safety that drives real performanceBalancing ambition with family, values, and wellbeing The Leadership in Business Series is presented by Live Unbound, a global leader in high-performance coaching, team effectiveness, and culture transformation. Please email stephen@liveunbound.com if you have any questions about what we discussed today. Like this show? Please subscribe and leave us a five-star rating and review. It’s a chance to tell us what you love about the show, and it helps others discover it too. Consider leaving your Instagram handle so we can thank you personally, and feel free to follow ours.

    55 min
  4. Business Series Ep 4: Noella Gabriel | Uncompromising Standards with Instinct, Creativity and Heart

    19/11/2025 · BONUS

    Business Series Ep 4: Noella Gabriel | Uncompromising Standards with Instinct, Creativity and Heart

    Noella Gabriel, co-founder and Global President of ELEMIS, shares how vision and resilience built a world-leading skincare brand. From West Cork to the world stage, Noella Gabriel’s journey is one of grit and vision. As co-founder and Global President of ELEMIS, she reveals how gut-led decisions, empowered teams and an uncompromising focus on quality built a global beauty brand. She shares how personal adversity shaped her authentic leadership style, which is rooted in resilience, intuition and purpose. This episode is a must-listen for founders and leaders who believe business should be driven by heart as much as by numbers, and who want to build brands that truly last. Join us to explore: Turning adversity into unstoppable driveFrom West Cork roots to global successWhy instinct still outperforms data in leadershipBuilding teams with ownership & accountabilityThe power of uncompromising standards The Leadership in Business Series is presented by Live Unbound, a global leader in high-performance coaching, team effectiveness, and culture transformation. Please email stephen@liveunbound.com if you have any questions about what we discussed today. Like this show? Please subscribe and leave us a five-star rating and review. It’s a chance to tell us what you love about the show, and it helps others discover it too. Consider leaving your Instagram handle so we can thank you personally, and feel free to follow ours.

    1h 2m
  5. Business Series Ep 3: Tommy Kelly | Values-Based Leadership, Global Impact & Building Businesses That Endure

    12/11/2025 · BONUS

    Business Series Ep 3: Tommy Kelly | Values-Based Leadership, Global Impact & Building Businesses That Endure

    Renowned entrepreneur and business leader Tommy Kelly shares how he built a billion-dollar company, created high-performance cultures and led change. From his roots as a farmer to scaling global logistics and e-commerce giants, Tommy brings a wealth of experience in strategy and leadership. In this episode, Tommy delves into what it takes to create world-class organisations, the importance of clarity and accountability, and why authentic leadership drives results. Listeners will discover firsthand advice on team building, navigating work-life balance, embracing technology, and finding meaning in relentless growth. Join us to explore: From rural beginnings to global impactBuilding high-performance teams that winBalancing fair & firm leadershipAccountability & drive with empathy at the coreThriving through tech disruption and AI The Leadership in Business Series is presented by Live Unbound, a global leader in high-performance coaching, team effectiveness, and culture transformation. Please email stephen@liveunbound.com if you have any questions about what we discussed today. Like this show? Please subscribe and leave us a five-star rating and review. It’s a chance to tell us what you love about the show, and it helps others discover it too. Consider leaving your Instagram handle so we can thank you personally, and feel free to follow ours.

    1h 7m
  6. Business Series Ep 2: Lorna Conn | Values-Driven Leadership in a Changing World

    05/11/2025 · BONUS

    Business Series Ep 2: Lorna Conn | Values-Driven Leadership in a Changing World

    As CEO of one of Ireland’s biggest private employers, Cpl, Lorna Conn takes us inside her journey, from early ambitions and formative experiences to leading a global organisation through radical transformation. She shares candid lessons on resilience and the power of authenticity, giving listeners practical strategies to navigate uncertainty, drive diversity and build high-performing teams that thrive under pressure. Join us to explore: Values-driven Leadership in actionA playbook for leading through transformationBalancing ambition, family life, and vulnerabilityCreating high-performing, psychologically safe teamsEmbracing change with courage and clarity The Leadership in Business Series is presented by Live Unbound, a global leader in high-performance coaching, team effectiveness, and culture transformation. Please email stephen@liveunbound.com if you have any questions about what we discussed today. Like this show? Please subscribe and leave us a five-star rating and review. It’s a chance to tell us what you love about the show, and it helps others discover it too. Consider leaving your Instagram handle so we can thank you personally, and feel free to follow ours.

    55 min
  7. Business Series Ep 1: Dave Kirwan | Leadership That Unites Performance and Humanity

    29/10/2025 · BONUS

    Business Series Ep 1: Dave Kirwan | Leadership That Unites Performance and Humanity

    With over 30 years of navigating the toughest energy transitions, Dave Kirwan has seen what leadership really takes. In this episode, he strips back the boardroom façade to reveal the human side of leading: how personal values, vulnerability and courage intersect with business decisions. We go deep on servant leadership, mastering emotional intelligence, radical candour and the hard-earned power of trust. Dave shares practical strategies for building resilience, juggling competing priorities and inspiring teams authentically, including essential skills for anyone steering through uncertainty or aiming to make a lasting impact. Join us to explore: Leading with values and vulnerabilityBuilding trust in high-stakes environmentsPractising radical candour without fearBalancing resilience with competing demandsInspiring teams with authenticity and courage The Leadership in Business Series is presented by Live Unbound, a global leader in high-performance coaching, team effectiveness, and culture transformation. Please email stephen@liveunbound.com if you have any questions about what we discussed today. Like this show? Please subscribe and leave us a five-star rating and review. It’s a chance to tell us what you love about the show, and it helps others discover it too. Consider leaving your Instagram handle so we can thank you personally, and feel free to follow ours.

    1h 14m
  8. #48: Rita McGrath | Seeing Around Corners: Leading Through Uncertainty

    07/10/2025

    #48: Rita McGrath | Seeing Around Corners: Leading Through Uncertainty

    Rita McGrath, top global transformation strategist, shares how to spot inflection points, manage risk and futureproof your business in disruption. She isn’t just a Columbia Business School professor – she’s one of the world’s most influential voices on strategy and innovation. Named by Thinkers50 as a top global business thinker, Rita has shaped how leaders everywhere respond to change and disruption. In this episode, she sits down with Stephen McDonnell to tackle the critical question: how do you spot the “inflection points” before they blindside your business? From Kodak’s collapse to Amazon’s rise, Rita unpacks the real stories behind why some companies thrive in disruption while others disappear. Join us to explore: Spotting inflection points before they disruptLessons from Kodak, Fuji and AmazonBuilding innovation portfolios that lastLeadership and culture as change driversPractical tools to execute transformation Please email stephen@liveunbound.com if you have any questions about what we discussed today. Like this show? Please subscribe and leave us a five-star rating and review. It’s a chance to tell us what you love about the show, and it helps others discover it too. Consider leaving your Instagram handle so we can thank you personally, and feel free to follow ours.

    49 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Discover how the highest performers push beyond limitations in this up-and-coming no. 1 Irish podcast. Host and high-performance consultant Stephen McDonnell, speaks deeply with world-class performers, revealing secrets to their success. The podcast features several series across high-performing industries, including business, sports, entertainment and more. These conversations are real, honest, courageous and great fun. Each episode is designed to provoke, educate, inspire and empower you to achieve the impossible. Previous guests include Jordan Harbinger, Damian Browne, Mark Divine and many more.

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