Built in Kilkenny

Charlie

Honest conversations with the founders and builders behind Kilkenny. Built in Kilkenny sits down with the people who started something in this city. The wins, the setbacks, and what it really takes to build something from nothing. No gurus. No overnight success stories. Just real people and real stories. New episodes regularly. A Charlie Cook Live series.

  1. 11h ago

    I'm 38 and I've Never Voted. Why Should I Care? | Luke O'Connor | Built in Kilkenny Ep.16

    Luke O'Connor is a member of the Irish Freedom Party, based in Kilkenny. He has run for election both as an independent and for the party. In this episode of Built in Kilkenny, we start with a question I've never had a good answer to: I'm 38 and I've never voted, so why should I care? We get into why Luke thinks one vote matters, what it costs to run and why independents struggle, what an independent can achieve, and how a government gets formed. We also cover pensions and the budget, immigration and housing, the carbon tax, and whether Ireland should leave the EU. Recorded at Sullivan's Taproom, Kilkenny. https://sullivanstaproom.com/ Chapters 0:00 Why should I care about voting? 1:31 Is Irish politics breaking apart? 2:42 Why I've never voted 3:30 Luke on Brussels and the EU 5:04 EU money in and out 7:05 Luke's background 8:08 What it costs to run 10:05 What can an independent achieve? 13:03 How a government gets formed 14:36 Tony Gregory's 1982 deal 15:48 Where Luke is now 17:08 The post that went viral 18:48 What a Dáil vote means for me 23:55 Luke's policy ideas 27:30 Welfare and Britain 29:49 Are young people voting enough? 31:44 The one policy: carbon tax 34:09 Should Ireland leave the EU? 36:49 Anything we haven't covered 42:12 Where to find Luke Sources for everything discussed are in the YouTube description. Find Luke: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lukekilkennycity/ X: https://x.com/LOCthedreamer2 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@luke.o.connor7 Follow Built in Kilkenny: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CharlieCookLive Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charliecooklive TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charliecooklive New episode every Monday at 8am. Follow the show so you don't miss one. Charlie Cook Live, Kilkenny, Ireland

  2. 1d ago

    The Biggest Weight Loss Misconceptions Women Have | Denise Murphy

    Denise Murphy is a nutritionist and personal trainer based in Kilkenny, running Dee Murphy Coaching. She's worked with intercounty and club GAA teams as a performance nutritionist, lectures part-time at TUS on strength and conditioning and sports nutrition, and has built her business from a commercial gym floor to online coaching to studying for a Masters in Sports and Exercise Nutrition. In this episode, we open straight into the biggest misconceptions women have around weight loss, no intro, no warm-up. From there we get into the fear of getting "bulky" from lifting, protein and creatine for women, why the scale doesn't always tell the real story, the pressure to bounce back after having a baby, and the moment that actually changed the course of Denise's own life, a comment she overheard on a night out in Waterford that she's never forgotten. We also get into quick, practical snacks, fussy eaters, and what a genuinely well-balanced diet actually looks like. Denise is also hosting a new Wellbeing Hub as part of Savour Kilkenny this year, a full day of talks and classes at the old KBC Bank on the Parade, with speakers including Michael Fennelly, TJ Reid, and more. Find Denise: Website: https://deemurphycoaching.ie Instagram (Dee Murphy Coaching): https://www.instagram.com/deemurphycoaching/ Instagram (DM Performance Nutrition): https://www.instagram.com/dmperformancenutrition/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-murphy-41911132/ Follow Built in Kilkenny: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CharlieCookLive Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charliecooklive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583677633009 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliecooklive TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charliecooklive Built in Kilkenny is a series where I sit down with people who've built something in Kilkenny and tell their story. New episodes weekly. Charlie Cook Live, Kilkenny, Ireland

  3. Sep 21

    Your Brain Thinks a Presentation Is a Bear Attack | Kate McGrath

    Kate McGrath is a public speaking coach and speech and drama teacher based in Kilkenny. She started out as a primary school teacher, ran her own speech and drama school, Starburst, since 2013, and more recently began coaching adults after a father kept asking her, week after week, to give it a try. In this episode, Kate talks about building Starburst from eight kids in a room to a business with a waiting list, what actually happens in a child's brain and body when they freeze with fear, and why your brain reacts to a work presentation the same way it would react to a bear attack. We also get into her own confidence taking a serious knock in her early 30s, something she only really recognised while training as a mediator, and how she worked her way back from it. It's an honest conversation about confidence, fear, and the work of helping other people find their voice. Find Kate: Website: https://katemcgrathcommunications.com Kate McGrath Communications Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katemcgrathcommunications Starburst Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starburstdrama LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-mcgrath-4492aa24b Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GnQtjWtPP/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kate.mcgrath.commu Follow Built in Kilkenny: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CharlieCookLive Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charliecooklive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583677633009 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliecooklive TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charliecooklive Built in Kilkenny is a series where I sit down with people who've built something in Kilkenny and tell their story. New episodes weekly. Charlie Cook Live, Kilkenny, Ireland

  4. Aug 31

    #13: Tom Britton | The Day We Lost Millions, Surviving 2008 & Reaching Kona

    Tom Britton grew up daydreaming out the classroom window at CBS Kilkenny and failed his Leaving Cert the first time around. Years later, he earned his pilot’s licence at 17, only for a diagnosis of a lazy right eye to end his dream of flying commercially. That setback forced a pivot into the travel industry. After borrowing money to launch his first business in the 90s, Tom went on to found Marble City Travel in 2005. In Episode 13 of Built in Kilkenny, Tom sits down with Charlie Cook to discuss what happened when company revenue collapsed from €5 million to €500,000 during the 2008 financial crash, the reality of processing millions in customer refunds during COVID-19, and how a health scare in 2015 sparked a physical transformation to completing 49 marathons and the Ironman World Championship in Kona. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONNECT WITH TOM & MARBLE CITY TRAVEL: • Website: https://www.marblecitytravel.ie • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marblecitytravel • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marblecitytravel • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marblecitytravel ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONNECT WITH CHARLIE & BUILT IN KILKENNY: • Website: https://charliecooklive.com • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@charliecooklive • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charliecooklive • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charliecooklive ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KEY TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Introduction & Growing Up in Kilkenny 01:42 - Daydreaming at CBS James' Street & School Struggles 04:00 - Failing the Leaving Cert & Finding College Marketing 05:36 - Working Bakery Jobs to Pay for Flying Lessons at 15 08:10 - The Lazy Eye Diagnosis That Ended His Aviation Career 09:31 - Pivoting into the Travel Industry 13:22 - Borrowing Money to Launch His First Travel Business 14:04 - Leaving Travel for Hotels & Realising He Was Unhappy 15:11 - The Beginning of Marble City Travel (2005) 15:29 - Why the Internet Didn't Kill Travel Agents 19:02 - Petrol Bombs in Barcelona & Last-Minute Travel Disasters 24:54 - Surviving 2008: From 5 Million to Half a Million Revenue 29:10 - COVID-19: Refunding Millions & Double Bank Fees 33:03 - The Post-COVID Travel Boom 34:27 - Winning the TTG Awards & Building a Team Like an Orchestra 36:43 - Expanding Marble City Travel into Carlow 38:31 - Advice for People Who Don't Fit the Education System 45:46 - Leadership: "If I Won't Do It, I Won't Ask The Team" 47:47 - The 2015 Doctor Visit & Running a Marathon for His Dad 50:44 - Reaching the Ironman World Championship in 2022 55:57 - Why Small Daily Incremental Gains Build Empires 57:15 - Final Thoughts

  5. Aug 24

    Laura Hogan: The Truth About Supplements & Building OCARA Wellness | Built in Kilkenny Ep. 12

    Kilkenny pharmacist and OCARA Wellness founder Laura Hogan joins me for Episode 12 of Built in Kilkenny. Laura talks about life behind the pharmacy counter, why prevention matters as much as treatment, and what years of dealing directly with patients have taught her about our health. We get into the supplement industry, whether supplements actually work, why “natural” doesn’t automatically mean safe, and why Laura believes people should be careful about where they get their health information. Laura also discusses stress and anxiety, antibiotic resistance, neurodivergence and why greater awareness doesn’t mean these conditions suddenly appeared, as well as the gaps she sees in women’s health and menopause care. We also get into Laura’s own story: why she decided to start a business at 40, how OCARA Wellness came about, the leap of faith involved in creating its first product, and the feedback that made her realise something she created was making a difference. Built in Kilkenny with Charlie Cook.

  6. Aug 17

    Clive Barnes: The Reality of Making a Living as a Musician | Built in Kilkenny Ep. 11

    Clive Barnes has spent his entire working life making music. He picked up the guitar at six, played his first gig at 12, and went on to build a career that has taken him across Europe, the UK and the US. In this episode of Built in Kilkenny, I sit down with Clive to talk about what a life in music actually looks like — from teaching himself guitar before YouTube and the internet, to becoming a session musician, touring internationally and making a living from the only thing he's ever wanted to do. We talk about the late Willie Meighan and the impact he had on Clive's career, working with musicians including Eric Bibb and Jim White, and the reality behind the part of being a musician that audiences don't see. We also get into grunge, Nirvana, Pearl Jam and why Clive doesn't really think grunge exists as a genre. Then there's the pandemic. With his career and much of his identity built around music, Clive suddenly found it all taken away. What started as something to focus on during that period eventually helped grow The Year Grunge Broke to nearly a million followers across Facebook and Instagram — and led to Clive becoming a published author. We finish with The Year Grunge Broke band, why Clive still feels like he's improving after a lifetime of playing guitar, and why there's still so much he wants to accomplish. — Find Clive / The Year Grunge Broke — Website: https://www.theyeargrungebroke.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theyeargrungebroke Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheYearGrungeBroke YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheYearGrungeBroke Book: https://www.awaywithmedia.com/buy-books/entertainment/grunge — Built in Kilkenny is a Charlie Cook Live series telling the stories of the people building, creating and doing interesting things in Kilkenny. New episodes weekly. Follow the journey: https://charliecooklive.com TikTok: @charliecooklive Instagram: @charliecooklive

  7. Jul 27

    Almost 30 Years Tattooing | Ian Flynn, High Society Tattoo

    Ian Flynn is the owner of High Society Tattoo Studio in Kilkenny, with almost 30 years in the trade. He started with a tattoo machine that had a pencil in it, drawing on paper to get used to the weight, back when apprentices made their own ink from powders and their own needles with soldering irons on a Saturday morning. In this episode, Ian tells the story of getting into tattooing in the mid-90s when it was a small, closed, protective world, his apprenticeship and the 17 years he spent working alongside the late Joe Myler, opening his own place in Kilkenny, and building a team of six artists. We get into the stigma tattooing carried and how it shifted, why the craft is far more disciplined than its outlaw image suggests, people buying machines online and going it alone, and the problem with AI-generated tattoo designs. Find Ian / High Society Tattoo: Website: https://hisotat.square.site Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ian_flynn_tattoo Studio: https://www.instagram.com/highsocietytattoostudio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tattooireland TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hisotat Follow Built in Kilkenny: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CharlieCookLive Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charliecooklive TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charliecooklive Built in Kilkenny is a series where I sit down with people who've built something in Kilkenny and tell their story. New episodes weekly. Charlie Cook Live, Kilkenny, Ireland

  8. Jul 24

    She Created Golf Events Just for Women | Lucy Condon · VenueGolf | Built in Kilkenny Ep.9

    Lucy Condon is the founder of VenueGolf, an overnight golf events company built exclusively for women. She spotted a gap at mixed golf events, where a handful of women would turn up, the prizes never ran, and there was no social side, and built the thing she wished existed: women travelling from all over Ireland to play, stay, and meet each other, with a €2,000 prize fund and a gala dinner. In this episode, Lucy tells the story of advertising her very first event with no idea if anyone would book, and filling all 80 places. We get into how she got the hotels on board, the morning an event was rained off, building the whole thing around a demanding full-time career, and why she made it women-only. She also raises thousands for animal rescue charities at every event. Find Lucy / VenueGolf: Website: https://www.venuegolf.ie Instagram: @venuegolf_for_women LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-c-28a84082/ Built in Kilkenny is a series where I sit down with people who've built something in Kilkenny and tell their story. New episodes weekly. Charlie Cook Live, Kilkenny, Ireland

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About

Honest conversations with the founders and builders behind Kilkenny. Built in Kilkenny sits down with the people who started something in this city. The wins, the setbacks, and what it really takes to build something from nothing. No gurus. No overnight success stories. Just real people and real stories. New episodes regularly. A Charlie Cook Live series.

Information

  • Creator
    Charlie
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Charlie
  • Show Website
    Built in Kilkenny