Arnold is a thoughtful writer in places like Slugger O'Toole and the letters pages of N. Ireland newspapers, with acute observations from a moderate pro-Union perspective. He recently retired as a teacher, and writes and talks as an ordinary citizen rather than a politician or activist - it makes him all the more interesting to hear from. He comes from a North Antrim working class background and then lived in Belfast and Lisburn. We talk about class in Northern Ireland, the relationship between Belfast and the rest of Province, the impact of Brexit, the growing relevance of Northern Irish identity, and the influence on him of lasting friendships he made across the divide in his student days. We discuss the lasting impacts of the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement, and reflect on why Northern Ireland is such a great place to live today, not just in comparison to its past, but compared to many other parts of the British Isles.