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

Janine Kane is the publican behind bars some of Belfast’s most beloved bars, including The Spaniard, Muriels, Pablos, Panama, The Jeggy Nettle and most recently, The Chester.  

 

After originally training and working a nurse, Janine later fell into hospitality as a bartender before working her way up through the ranks in the local bar scene.

 

In today’s show, we talk about her transition into entrepreneurship, what it was like being mentored by Bill Wolsey and the origin story behind her hugely successful pubs. 

 

Check it out. 

 

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/janine-kane-publican

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 

 

 

 

The King of Instagram Stories returns!

 

(You can check out our first interview with Dillon here to get the backstory).

 

In today's episode, we chat about:

• The power of creating something every day
• Creative burnout
• The future of online content
• And balancing business with play

 

Check it out.

 

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/the-power-of-creating-daily

 

 

 

Jame McClurg leads Sky’s Startup Investment and Partnerships team. 

 

Since joining the team when it started in 2013 he has been investing in and partnering with companies from the US, UK/Europe and Israel including Roku (Now TV) and the Drone Racing League.

 

Previously, James was an Investment Manager of a London-based venture capital fund and a Strategy and M&A consultant at Deloitte (London).

 

He grew up in Belfast and returns regularly to see family and friends, now living in London with his wife and daughters.

 

In today's episode we chat about:

• His early memories
• How he got into the world of VC
• What advice he would give to start-ups thinking about approaching big corporations
• How COVID-19 is/isn't affecting the world of VC
• And the highs/lows he's experienced along the way

 

Please note: this episode was done in collaboration with Ormeau Baths as part of their "Founder Firesides Mini-Series" and is geared towards early-stage start-ups/entrepreneurs.

 

Enjoy!

 

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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-mcclurg-sky-ventures

 

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 

Aidan Larkin is the former Asset Recovery Director at Wilsons Auctions. (In other words, he sells the stuff seized by the police from criminals).

 

This position has led to earning the title of the World’s First Bitcoin Auctioneer and making an appearance on several TV documentaries about the auctioneering profession. Aidan also an Ex Criminal Tax Inspector, budding social entrepreneur, husband and father to two boys.

 

In today’s episode, we talk about some of the weird and wonderful things Aidan has auctioned off, how a traditional family business can thrive in a disruptive economy and the path he’s walked to get to the success he’s experienced today.

 

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

 

Photos, links and treasure trove for Aidan Larkin: https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/aidan-larkin-wilsons-auctions

 

Join The Producer’s Club Today at: https://bestofbelfast.org/producers-club

Colin Davidson is an artist from Belfast, Northern Ireland.

  Since 2010, Colin's focus has been on painting scale portraits which have received widespread recognition and many international awards.     His critically acclaimed exhibition ‘Silent Testimony’ reveals the stories of eighteen people connected by their individual experiences of loss through the Troubles and has been displayed in Belfast, Paris, Dublin and NYC.
  Some of his other portrait sitters include the likes of President Bill Clinton, HM The Queen, Ed Sheeran and many local legends like Gary Lightbody, Seamus Heaney, Oliver Jeffers, Dame Mary Peters and Liam Neeson.     Colin was commissioned by TIME Magazine in 2015 to paint the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, for the cover of its ‘Person of the Year’ issue.     In today's episode we talk about:

• His first memories
• Teaching Brad Pitt how to paint
• Why he paints his subjects looking away from the viewer
• The business side of art
• And the greatest challenges/successes he's faced along the way

  This conversation also includes voice questions from The Producer's Club as well as people Colin has painted like Gary Lightbody, Mary Peters and Oliver Jeffers.     Thanks so much to everyone who submitted ideas and insights to make this episode possible. I am so incredibly excited to share it with you today.

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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-davidson-artist

 

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 

 

Joined today again by Belfast's favourite barman: the one and only Gerry White.

 

Founder of Jawbox Gin, ex-manager of The John Hewitt and all-round Belfast legend, Gerry has stories coming out of his ears when it comes to the city we love and know so well.

 

In today's episode, we chat about bars that are no longer around, the new Jawbox flavours and why the hospitality industry is so important to our communities.

 

You can check out our full interview with Gerry here — which was three years and 130 episodes ago!

 

Webpage for this episode: https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/jawbox-gerry

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!

 

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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 

 

 

 

 

Zoe Salmon is back — and this time we’re kicking back in the digital green room with a light-hearted catch-up. 

 

(With a bit of seriousness sprinkled in there for good measure).

 

We caught up the TV Presenting legend to see how lockdown is treating her, find out her Espresso Martini recipe and chat about how only boring people are boring.

 

This is a super-chilled out, easy-listening episode to unwind to and take your mind off all that is going on.

 

Enjoy!

 

P.S. Check out our 'proper' episode with Zoe here. 

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Webpage for this episode: https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/zoe-salmon-green-room-catch-up

Tony Carson is an entrepreneur and investor from Belfast, Northern Ireland.

 

He's one of those guys who not only has a fascinating career, but also a remarkable personal story.

 

Growing up in the New Lodge area of North Belfast, Tony watched his father — the late, great comedian Frank Carson — rise to fame and success.

 

This meant that from a young age, Tony had the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes glance of how the hospitality business works — and the chance to roll his sleeves up and work!

 

Later in life, he has gone on to start, manage and own a whole range of his own businesses before turning to the world of investment.

 

In today's episode we talk about:

• Tony's early memories
• The art of negotiation
• How to balance creativity with business
• And the greatest challenges/successes he's experienced along the way

 

This conversation was done in collaboration with Ormeau Baths as part of their Founder Fireside Mini-Series and is a fascinating listen.

 

Check it out!

 

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To see a photo of Tony please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/tony-carson-entrepreneur

 

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

— Matt