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

In 2017, Kilkeel born and bred Jenna Stevenson set up Made In Mourne, a non-profit organisation whose goal is to connect and support over 500 entrepreneurs in the region.

I was really impressed with just how much grit and determination Jenna lives her life with and I know you will too.

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Jenna (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/jenna-stevenson-made-in-mourne

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 2018, Ryan set up his own full-service agency in Brooklyn which specializes in branding, web design, content creation & digital marketing.

In today’s show we’re gonna find out the dominos that led to Ryan’s success, including working in a pizza restaurant in Manhattan, graduating from Queens with a Masters in Drama and setting up an agency in one of the most competitive places on the planet.

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Ryan (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/ryan-crown-creative-nyc

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 

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 

In 2014, Aaron Flanagan and his brother quit their ‘proper jobs’ to open Comic Book Guys, Northern Ireland's largest independent comic book store.

In this week’s conversation, we chat all about serving a small market, the impact superhero movies have had on the industry, what it’s like to set up your own business and why a vintage medium like comic books are still thriving today.

Check it out.

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Aaron (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/aaron-flanagan-comic-book-guys

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.

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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 

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.

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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 

With over 600 events every year including live music, discos, art exhibits, comedy sketches, open mic storytelling nights and much much more, The Black Box is without a doubt the creative heartbeat of our city.

We sat down with co-director Rachael Campbell-Palmer to talk about the importance of art, how to break through creative blocks and how she went from pulling pints in The Black Box to the co-director’s position.

Check it out!

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Rachel (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/the-black-box-rachael-campbell-palmer

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 

“So Miss Northern Ireland actually has brains?” That’s the question children’s ICU nurse Katharine Walker has been asked on more than one occasion.

Smashing stereotypes and trying to change the narrative around beauty pageants, Katharine decided to pursue the Miss N.I title while studying to become a nurse at uni.

Now with only a few weeks left with the crown on her head, we chat about what she’s achieved this year, and how she fights the fear of missing out.

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Katharine (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/katharine-walker-miss-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 

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