For most of us the glamour of Hollywood is some airy far-away dreamland that’s only ever accessible when watching award shows or reality TV. For Shelley Lowry however, it’s her every day. Her journey is one of sheer determination, of a love for performance, and has taken her from the humble streets of Portadown to the golden gates of Beverly Hills.

She takes us on that journey telling the tales of her stint on Top of the Pops, her early influences, her hunger for opportunity and how she has brushed shoulders with legends of the industry. She shares stories about Sia, Joe Lycett, Bradley Cooper, Kenneth Branagh, Dame Judy Dench, Jamie Dornan, Neil Diamond, U2, Sharon Stone and even what it was like when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars in 2022.

More importantly she speaks about her work with such enthusiasm and genuine passion. Work that has seen her represent Oscar winning talent and that has help progress Irish Talent to become hot news coast to coast.

For me this episode was a reminder that, when you’re not afraid of hard work, there really is no limit to what you can achieve in this life.

She Explains:

🟩 The one thing that helped her overcome severe shyness

🟩 The values she swears are key to success

🟩 The moment with Jamie Dornan’s agent that cemented Irish Talent’s position on the Global stage

🟩 What it takes to spot Oscar winning talent

🟩 What’s the cost of being the person everyone relies on

🟩 Her odd Oscar’s encounter with Bradley Cooper

🟩 The inside scoop on THAT Will Smith slap

🟩 How she remains grounded among the chaos

Skip to:

(1:30) Overcoming shyness as a young girl

(5:45) How her encyclopaedic knowledge of Top of the Pops landing her a job on the show

(7:50) Showbiz may be glamorous to the viewer, but what’s the reality?

(11:00) The beginning of Shelley Lowry Talent

(13:02) The entrepreneurial values Shelley swears by

(18:49) How a meeting with Jamie Dornan’s agent at the Four Seasons in Beverley Hills confirmed Shelley Lowry Talent on the Global stage

(20:18) How to gain the trust of Oscar winners, Bafta Nominees and top talent

(24:50) How to spot Oscar Winnig Talent

(28:25) Do Northern Irish and Irish actors give more believable performances?

(30:00) How to assess an actor for the first time

(31:38) Can talent be taught, or is it something you just have in you

(35:08) Helping clients deal with rejection

(36:50) How to manage parent’s expectations

(38:50) The Oscars 2022

(40:00) Her brief, awkward, lovely encounter with Bradley Cooper

(41:18) Her reaction to Will Smith Slapping Chris Rock

(45:50) Shelley talks about the success of the movie Belfast

(49:56) Why Shelley started the Talent Talks Podcast

(52:44) How to stay grounded among the fame and glamour

(59:03) Shelley talks cars

Don’t forget to like 👍, comment 💬, and subscribe 🔔 if you enjoyed this episode. Let us know what you think and click the bell icon to stay updated on new episodes when they’re released.

Follow Shelley:

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelley-lowry-frazer-a36a0599/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/shelleylowrytalent/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/shelleylowrytalent

Website

https://shelleylowrytalent.com/

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How do you go from fumbling your way through your first cattle auction… to building a reputation where people trust your judgement on some of their biggest land and property decisions?

That’s exactly what we get into with today’s guest, Garry Best of Best Property Services -- a fifth-generation family business with over 130 years behind it.

But this isn’t just about legacy. Garry’s worked across everything from land deals and valuations to high-pressure negotiations, often in complex and sensitive situations where there’s a lot more at stake than just numbers.

We talk about how he found his way into the industry, what he learned from being dropped in at the deep end, and the one thing all great salespeople consistently get right. There’s also some really practical insight on how businesses keep growing and what to consider if you’re buying land in today’s market.

Somewhere along the way, we cover rugby, balance… and how he ended up herding cattle as a ranch hand in the US.

He explains:

🟩 How he wound up in land and property

🟩 How he was thrown in at the deep in with his first ever auction

🟩 His approach to customers to secure repeat business

🟩 The one thing all the best salespeople must do

🟩 What businesses need to do to continue growing

🟩 His advice to anybody looking to buy land or property in this market

🟩 How Rugby is in the Best family’s blood

🟩 How to find balance in work in life

🟩 His experience as a cowboy herding cattle in Texas

Skip to:

(1:30) The Motivation that pushed Garry into property sales

(4:30) The sometimes testy dynamics of family business

(7:50) Thrown in at the deep end with his first auction

(14:10) How Garry secures repeat business time and time again

(19:20) The best Salespeople all do this one thing

(26:50) Anybody hungry for knowledge and business growth needs to be doing this

(28:40) Garry’s take on cross-border property deals

(33:25) Garry’s advice to anybody wanting to buy land or property

(38:50) The Best family’s passion for Rugby (yes, those Best’s)

(42:35) Busting the property sectors most pressing Myths

(47:40) How Garry finds balance in business and life

(50:30) The Fifth Generation of Best property Services

(55:45) Garry best, the Texas ranch hand

Don’t forget to like 👍, comment 💬, and subscribe 🔔 if you enjoyed this episode. Let us know what you think and click the bell icon to stay updated on new episodes when they’re released.

Follow Garry:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/garry-best-b4560016/

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We know F1 as a sport of glamour, fast paced battles,celebrities, the skill of the drivers, the drama between team principals … as this high-octane bull fight. Among all the clamouring and showmanship, we rarely get to hear from those who, in reality, make it all possible. The unsung heroes of the sport. What’s largely missing from the coverage is just how much teamwork is needed to pull a race together. Formula 1 is, at it’s a core, a team sport.

In this episode we dive beyond the spotlight with former Lead Composite Engineer of Aston Martin F1 team, Sósanna Ní Dhubháin. She was responsible for designing the composite parts that made up 70% of the Aston’s race-car, the technicalities of which shaped the very way the car performed on track. Sósanna breaks down the intricacies of her job, what it takes to get an F1 car from garage to grid, gives insight into what it was like when Adrian Newey joined the team and even gives her thoughts on that final lap in Abu Dhabi 2021.

Our conversation can only be described as a truly unfiltered look at what goes on away from a race weekend. Beyond the paddock she is an ambassador for promoting women in STEM roles and works diligently to inspire young girls to pursue careers in the industry.

She explains:

🟩 How a letter she sent as a 12-year-old laid out her entire career trajectory

🟩 How a conversation about lobster fishing helped land her fist F1 job with Lotus

🟩 How important good mentors are when reaching your dream

🟩 The intricacies of working with Carbon Fibre composites that we never get to see

🟩 How nobody knew if the 2026 car would run until the first race

🟩 The most beautiful part of composite design

🟩 The impact Adrian Newey had on the team

🟩 What a race day in the paddock does to the senses

🟩 Her predictions for the rest of the 2026 season

🟩 Her thoughts on boost and overtake modes

🟩 Her take on the race restart in Abu Dhabi 2021

🟩 Is Monaco really a good track for racing?

🟩 What drives her to be an ambassador for women in STEM

🟩 How becoming an F1 driver isn’t necessarily based on skill

🟩 Why she made the decision to leave Aston Martin after 12 years

Race ahead to:

(1:30) Sósanna’s letter to every F1 team that began her journey

(7:35) How Lobster Fishing helped her land a job with team Lotus

(8:28) The importance of having good mentors

(13:16) What does a composite designer actually do?

(15:37) Dealing with the pressure to perform

(19:40) The part of the car design the fans never get to see

(23:04) The impact of Adrian Newey

(25:27) Aston Martin’s 2026 struggles

(30:02) What actually goes through you head in the paddock on race day?

(32:55) Sósanna predicts the rest of the 2026 season

(33:38) Sósanna’s opinion on the new boost and overtake functions

(34:13) Sósanna’s thoughts on that Final Lap in Adu Dhabi 2021

(34:40) If every driver had the same car, who would be top 3?

(35:16) Is Monaco really a good track for racing?

(36:07) What drives Sósanna to be an ambassador for women in STEM?

(38:58) The first female F1 Driver

(42:24) Advice to anyone looking to F1 as a career

(44:43) Sósanna‘s motivation to leave Aston Martin and what’s next

Don’t forget to like 👍, comment 💬, and subscribe 🔔 if you enjoyed this episode. Let us know what you think and click the bell icon to stay updated on new episodes when they’re released.

Follow Sósanna:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sosanna-ni-dhubhain-239b0222/

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Entrepreneur and founder JACKIE REID breaks down how Deli Lites went from selling 30 sandwiches to 30 million all over the world, the truth about what it takes to achieve such uncompromising growth, and her ambition to one day see Deli Lites products in New York.

JACKIE REID is Founder and Sales director at DeliLites – the Home of Food on the Move. Jackie is responsible for the growth of Deli Lites into a global powerhouse of premium food-to-go products that has seen them supply huge names like Boots, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Spar (Scotland),SuperValu, Centra, Mace, Costa Coffee, Aer Lingus, and Applegreen.

She’s also steered the ship to multiple award wins including several Sammie awards, a WTCE win in the ‘Ones To Watch 2024’ category, several Greater Newry Area Business Awards, and becoming the world’s first B-Corp sandwich producer.

She explains:
🟩The beauty of the New York Deli scene and why she had to recreate it back home

🟩 How going through the school of hard knocks taught her more about business than any textbook ever could

🟩 How dedication to service, and a late night call, doubled her business almost instantly

🟩 The key to confidence even when you feel like an imposter

🟩 The science behind how Deli Lites keep their homemade products fresh, even when exporting throughout Europe

🟩 The decision to push for B-Corp status

Timestamps

(5:50) The New York Deli that inspired Deli Lites

(11:00) 10x their orders in the first week

(12:53) What it really took to make it in those early days

(23:00) The call with Costa Coffee that changed it all

(27:30) How to maintain consistent quality during rapidgrowth

(31:30) Jackie’s key to confidence when running a businessand dealing with imposter syndrome

(37:00) Creating alignment through culture

(43:15) How Jackie landed supply contracts with Aer Lingus,American Airlines and discover Air

(46:05) How Deli Lites keep products fresh when supplying toEurope

(48:51) How the flavours of Ireland tickled Germany’s tastebuds

(51:28) How Deli Lites achieved B-Corp status

(58:50) Deli Lites plans to supply to New York

(1:01:20) What’s Jackie’s go to sandwich?

(1:02:25) Jackie’s routine for continuously showing up todrive her business

(1:09:20) Jackie talks cars

Don’t forget to like 👍, comment 💬, and subscribe 🔔 if you enjoyed this episode. Let us know what you think and click the bell icon to stay updated on new episodes when they’re released.

Follow Jackie:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-reid-786a92a1/

Follow Deli Lites:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/delilites/

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YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUhw1xuzq5GF_4G3C9AgHjK4Emuf8jWGy&si=ORsy3aWSrmf-HfJv

Serial hotelier Bridgene Keeley reveals how her family wentfrom living above their restaurant to a portfolio of 7 hotels, the Group’s plans for the Armagh City Hotel, how she manages imposter syndrome, and the goal of expanding to Manhattan.

Bridgene Keeley is the Sales, Marketing and CommunicationsDirector for the multi-award winning, family-owned McKeever Hotel group. Her people first approach embodies the Group’s ‘We Do More’ ethos, a practice that ensures each guest an authentic experience and one that led to a 97% staff retention following COVID. Bridgene has been vital to the company’s culture, growth strategy, and commitment to exceptional service.

She Explains:

🟩How her unconventional childhood fuelled her passion for the business

🟩The responsibility of leadership in supporting your people

🟩Her early intention to leave the family business

🟩How she rebranded an entire hotel by herself at 23

🟩How she still gets imposter syndrome and how she copes with it

🟩Her plans to conquer New York

(00:00) Intro

(01:02) Bridgene’s Unconventional Upbringing

(07:20) You could have a beautiful hospitality brand but it means nothing without this

(10:29) The most vital component in business operations

(11:44) The one skill you need to succeed, no matter your career

(13:10) The heart and beginning of the business

(17:15) Bridgene didn’t want to join the family business

(19:29) How Bridgene convinced her parents at 23 to rebrand Dunsilly by herself

(21:20) The moment Bridgene found meaning

(25:35) The difficulty in maintaining family values when expanding

(28:20) Hire Specialists if you want to reach the next level

(29:30) The thing that saved the group during COVID

(31:00) This story completely embodies the Group’s values

(36:45) The importance of local businesses

(39:01) The decision to purchase the Armagh City Hotel and plans for the future

(43:40) Running the Group as a second generation Director

(45:20) How to deal with imposter syndrome

(46:45) Bridgene’s goal of New York expansion

(49:20) The Green Rooms initiative

(54:30) Bridgene’s obsession with Formula 1

(55:46) Was Lando Norris a worthy winner?

(58:28) Bridgene’s first car

(01:00:49) What you might not know about Bridgene

Don’t forget to like 👍, comment 💬, and subscribe 🔔 if you enjoyed this episode. Let us know what you think and click the bell icon to stay updated on new episodes when they’re released.

Follow Bridgene:

LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/4pWX1Ys

Follow McKeever Hotels:

LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/3KKjJ7l

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Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/braketimepodcast/

Founder and owner of Shelbourne Motors, FRED WARD, reveals what it took to build the company, his winning days as a rally driver, how he spent time in hospital after an incident with a cow, and the one thing he regrets not doing in his life.

Fred Ward, founder of Shelbourne Motors, began his journey as a young entrepreneur with little more than determination, mechanical skill, and a vision for what a modern motor business could become. Starting from a modest petrol station in 1973, he often worked 7-day weeks to build a reputation for trust, service, and community. Over the decades, his hands-on leadership and knack for finding the next best deal transformed Shelbourne Motors into one of Northern Ireland’s leading multi-franchise automotive groups, leading them to be named Dealer group of the Year in 2024 and 2025. Today, Fred stands as a respected business leader whose legacy continues through a thriving family-run company shaped by his values and relentless drive.

He explains:

🟩 How he and Bertie Fisher won the team prize rallying the Circuit of Ireland without competition brake pads

🟩 His run in with a cow on a dark country road that led to a night in hospital

🟩 How a write up in a magazine helped sell his first Toyota from the drive of his house

🟩 Why he wasn’t the first person interested in buying the original Shelbourne filling station

🟩 How he managed to stock the original forecourt without any money

🟩 How a strangers wedding night inspired the name of the company

🟩 Why cattle dealers stopped him going to school on Mondays

🟩 The secret to surviving 50 years in business

🟩 The one and only regret he has

🟩 The 1 million spark plug deal with a Swiss agent

🟩 Where he thinks the entrepreneurial spirit comes from

🟩 The book that gave him the ideas for growth and success

(00:00) Intro

(01:14) Fred's truly classic first car

(02:40) Winning the Circuit of Ireland Team Prize with Bertie Fisher

(06:45) How a cow put Fred in Hospital

(08:14) Fred's early career

(09:43) The £75 sale that launched Fred's love for selling cars

(11:29) How Fred landed the Toyota brand

(12:49) Selling his first Toyota from the driveway of his house

(13:19) Without him Fred would never have bought the Shelbourne filling station

(14:08) How Fred stocked the site with no money

(14:49) A strangers honeymoon night inspires the company name

(15:39) The mentor who pushed Fred to success

(16:05) Why cattle stopped Fred going to school on Monday's

(17:07) How Shelbourne evolved from a simple filling station to a fully fledged car dealer

(19:40) The secret to surviving 50 years in business

(22:50) The one regret Fred has in life

(23:34) The 1 million spark plug sale

(24:47) The lessons Fred learned from starting work at 14 years old

(26:00) You're not born the entrepreneurial spirit. It comes from this

(27:05) The book that revolutionised Fred's thinking about Business

(35:27) Fred's hopes for the future of Shelbourne Motors

Fred’s go-to book that helped revolutionise his business:

https://bit.ly/4ilVMiZ

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