In this powerful episode, I sit down with former world-title contender, boxing manager and CEO, Jamie Conlan, for an in-depth conversation about resilience, identity, leadership and navigating life at the highest levels of sport and business.

Jamie opens up about:
Growing up in West Belfast and how those early experiences shaped his mindset

The influence of key figures who helped guide him into the boxing world

His rise through the professional ranks and the realities of fighting for a world title

The emotional and physical demands of elite-level sport

Transitioning from athlete to manager, promoter and CEO

The lessons he takes from the ring into decision-making, leadership and business strategy

This episode is packed with insights for founders, leaders and anyone navigating high-pressure environments. Jamie’s journey is a blueprint for reinvention: how to grow, evolve and lead. 

This episode was recorded live at our "Breaking Bread, Building Connections" event. If you want to attend the next Breaking Bread, Building Connections event, join the waiting list here: 👉 https://businessnetwork.scoreapp.com

The Natural Resilience Live Podcast takes place on 5th March in Balmoral Hotel, Belfast where we will be interviewing national broadcaster, Cate Conway and former world boxing champion, Ryan Burnett. Tickets are available here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1691771808019?aff=oddtdtcreator

We would love it if if you could subscribe to our Youtube Channel so that we can continue to bring you the best interviews from leaders in sport and business across Ireland.

Alternatively you can sign up to our email list here to get early access to all podcasts and live podcast events. Sign up here - https://naturalresilience.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=e0f168ed12c7c6c7cac2df93a&id=d173d39fff

ABOUT BREAKING BREAD, BUILDING CONNECTIONS

A premium event series bringing together founders, CEOs and leaders for meaningful conversation, connection and community. Intimate fireside chats. Real stories. Real insights. High-end networking with heart. 

ABOUT NATURAL RESILIENCE

Founded by Ciaran May, Natural Resilience helps leaders and founders create more health, wealth and freedom through performance coaching, live events, retreats and the Fit Founders Club.

Paddy’s rise is extraordinary:

from a working-class lad in West Belfast,
to selling out the SSE Arena,
to performing to global audiences across America, Canada and Australia.

 But behind the success is a story few people truly know.

Paddy opens up about:

Growing up in West Belfast and the humour that shaped him
The altercation where he had his finger bitten off while working as a doorman
The mental health struggles that followed
How stepping onto a stage and making people laugh became the lifeline that pulled him back
His natural gift for storytelling and capturing the characters of working-class Belfast
The mindset, graft and courage it takes to go from local gigs to world tours
The role he played in the meteoric rise of the comedy scene in Ireland.

This conversation is equal parts hilarious and deeply human. It’s a reminder that resilience often grows in the darkest moments and that purpose can emerge from trauma when you keep showing up. Whether you're a founder, leader, creator or someone navigating your own adversity, Paddy’s story will resonate far beyond comedy.

👉 The Natural Resilience Podcast - Live event takes place in Balmoral Hotel, Belfast on 5th March 2026 where we will interview National Broadcaster Cate Conway and former world boxing champion Ryan Burnett live on stage.
You can tickets here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/169177...

⭐ ABOUT THE NATURAL RESILIENCE PODCAST Hosted by Ciaran May, the show explores human performance, resilience, leadership and mindset with some of the most inspiring figures from business, sport, entertainment and public life.

⭐ ABOUT PADDY McDONNELL Paddy is a comedian, writer and performer known for his storytelling genius and his ability to bring humour to the everyday realities of working-class life. His international tours and sell-out arena shows have cemented him as one of Ireland’s most compelling comedic voices.

In this episode of The Natural Resilience Podcast, I sit down with Paul Doherty — founder of Foodstock and Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast for a powerful conversation about leadership, community action, and tackling poverty with dignity.

Paul shares the story behind Foodstock — a charity born not from theory or policy, but from aligned action and a deep belief that communities thrive when people are educated, empowered, and invited to play their part.

In this conversation, we explore: Paul’s personal journey and what led him to found Foodstock The reality of food poverty in Belfast and across Northern Ireland Why dignity and education are central to meaningful social impact How community-led initiatives can create real, lasting change The role of leadership and responsibility in public service Balancing political office with grassroots action What resilience looks like when you’re serving others every day This episode is a reminder that resilience isn’t just personal — it’s collective.

Paul’s work shows what’s possible when vision, values and action align in service of something bigger than ourselves. Whether you’re a founder, leader, public servant or someone who cares deeply about social impact, this conversation offers insight, inspiration and practical wisdom.

Here at Natural Resilience, we are huge supporters of Paul and Foodstock. We would urge you to check out the incredible work they do, on their website https://www.foodstockcharity.com/ And if you are in a position to do so, consider donating to their Christmas people so that no child in Belfast goes without a toy or warm Christmas dinner on the link here - https://foodstockbelfast.enthuse.com/cp/53f51/#!/

⭐ ABOUT THE NATURAL RESILIENCE PODCAST Hosted by Ciaran May, The Natural Resilience Podcast explores leadership, resilience, wellbeing and purpose through honest conversations with people making a meaningful impact in sport, business, community and public life.

In this extraordinary episode of The Natural Resilience Podcast, recorded live in front of 200 people at The Balmoral Hotel, Belfast, I sit down with former professional MMA athlete Ryan Curtis.
A man whose story is so unbelievable that, if it wasn’t fully documented, you would struggle to believe it happened.

In December 2023, Ryan suffered a catastrophic training accident that broke his neck and left him paralysed from the chest down. Doctors prepared him and his family for the worst.

The Irish MMA community rallied, believing Ryan would never walk again. But Ryan had other plans.

Through what he calls the power of the mind, and what many have described as a modern-day miracle, Ryan fought his way back — first to movement, then to standing, and eventually walking out of hospital. In this conversation, Ryan opens up about: The moment everything changed The fear, uncertainty and emotional trauma that followed The mindset practices he used during recovery The role of belief, focus and internal strength in healing The support of family, friends and the MMA community What paralysis taught him about life, identity and purpose Why he believes you can reprogram your mind to survive the unthinkable 

This is one of the most inspiring, raw and powerful human stories ever shared on the podcast. Ryan’s journey is a reminder of what the human spirit is capable of when confronted with the darkest of moments.

⭐ LIVE PODCAST ANNOUNCEMENT — MARCH 5TH, 2025 We return to The Balmoral Hotel for another major live podcast event on 5th March 2025, featuring two exceptional guests: 🎙️ Cate Conway — National Broadcaster 🎙️ Ryan Burnett — Former Unified World Champion Boxer It will be a night of impact, storytelling and connection.

 👉 Secure your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1691771808019?aff=oddtdtcreator

“Pressure Creates Leaders.”

In this powerful episode of the Natural Resilience Podcast, Ciaran May sits down with Linda Stinson. Linda is the CEO of Bellamianta. An entrepreneur, leader and proud mum. We sit down together to explore the realities of resilience, pressure and high performance in both business and life. Linda opens up about the defining moments that shaped her, the setbacks that nearly broke her, and the mindset she developed to lead, perform and succeed under pressure.
This is a conversation about navigating adversity, rebuilding confidence, and showing up as the kind of leader people trust. Whether you're a founder, business leader, athlete or someone pushing for more in life, Linda’s story delivers the kind of honesty and practical wisdom rarely shared publicly.

🔶 In this episode we cover: Why pressure is essential for growth How leaders are forged during difficult seasons Mindset strategies for resilience & high performance The hardest lessons Linda learned on her journey Balancing ambition, wellbeing & real-world expectations What it takes to succeed in sport AND business

🔶 About Linda Stinson Linda is a respected entrepreneur and innovator known for her ability to perform under pressure, lead teams through uncertainty, and translate resilience into business success. Her story represents courage, humility and relentless drive.

🔶 About Ciaran May / Natural Resilience Ciaran May is a leadership and resilience coach, keynote speaker and founder of Natural Resilience — a consultancy helping leaders, founders and organisations build sustainable high performance, wellbeing and clarity. Learn more: www.naturalresilience.co.uk

🔶 Join us at the next one This episode was recorded live in front of an audience of 200 people in Balmoral Hotel, Belfast. We are back for another live event on 5th March 2026 with two incredible guests in national broadcaster Cate Conway and former boxing world champion Ryan Burnett. You can get your early bird tickets on the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-natural-resilience-podcast-live-event-tickets-1691771808019?aff=oddtdtcreator

Most founders don’t burn out because they’re choose to overwork. They burn out because they’ve never been taught how to win sustainably and understand the core of high performance which is self leadership and awareness. In today’s solo episode, I share why I created The Fit Founders Club, the recurring patterns I’ve seen coaching hundreds of founders, leaders and business owners over the last five years, and why health, wealth and freedom must become the new metrics of high performance. For too long, entrepreneurship has rewarded status over longevity, and performance at the cost of your relationships, physical health and mental wellbeing. This episode is the start of a project that will become a blueprint for business leaders and founders who want to grow their business without destroying themselves in the process. 🚀

In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why high performance has become unsustainable for modern founders. The real reasons mental, physical and emotional burnout is rising. What I’ve learnt coaching founders, CEOs and teams across Northern Ireland and beyond. The origin story of the Fit Founders Club. The 3 pillars: Health • Wealth • Freedom. What a healthier, wealthier, more resilient founder actually looks like. How this 12-month programme blends wellbeing, leadership and business strategy The mistakes founders repeatedly make — and how to avoid them.

💡 The Fit Founders Club — 12-Month Programme for Leaders A hybrid community for founders who want to: ✔ Build a healthier nervous system ✔ Improve energy, fitness & resilience ✔ Grow a profitable, systemised business ✔ Strengthen relationships, focus and leadership ✔ Create genuine founder freedom ✔ Surround themselves with ambitious, values-led peers Includes: • Quarterly summits • Monthly in-person meetups • Breakthrough workshops • Founder diagnostics & personalised roadmaps • Access to guest experts & accountability

 👉 For early access or to apply: 🔥 Connect With Me LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ciaran-may Instagram: @naturalresilience Website: naturalresilience.co.uk

In this episode of The Natural Resilience Podcast, host Ciaran May sits down with Rory King, founder of Rory’s Travel Club, to uncover how he built one of Ireland’s fastest-growing travel communities — from zero to over one million members.

🎙️ Discover the story behind Rory’s explosive growth, how he turned an idea into a thriving travel movement, and the lessons every founder can take from his journey of resilience, leadership and bold decision-making.

🧭 In this episode: How Rory’s Travel Club started with zero budget and big vision The marketing secrets that fuelled 1M+ members How Rory overcame setbacks and built a loyal community What’s next for Rory’s Travel Club and his mission to reshape travel in Ireland 🔗 Watch, learn and be inspired — whether you’re a founder, entrepreneur or someone chasing your own version of freedom.

 ——— Follow Rory’s Travel Club:

 🌍 https://www.rorystravelclub.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rorystravelclub

Connect with Ciaran May & The Natural Resilience Podcast: 🌐 https://www.natural-resilience.co.uk

🎧 Subscribe for more interviews with leaders redefining performance, leadership and wellbeing.

You may have heard during this interview that we are hosting a massive personal development event including a live podcast in The Europa Hotel, Belfast on Sunday 18th January called "The Hero's Journey" You can get your tickets on the link below to ensure chapter 2026 is your best year to date.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-heros-journey-tickets-1464229964239?aff=oddtdtcreator

Putting Northern Ireland on the world stage..

Graham Fitzgerald is the COO of the Irish Football Association and was heavily involved in the recent historic boxing fight at Windsor Park where local lad Lewis Crocker became World Champion in his hometown of Belfast. This is a fascinating insight into the power of collaboration between huge organisations, leadership and the positive impact of sport.
We begin a few months out from that historic boxing event in Belfast from early stage negotiations right through to the final bell with Windsor Park illuminated and beamed across the world on TV. We got some phenomenal insights into leadership from Graham before looking into the future and discussing very exciting plans for football in Northern Ireland with the development of state of the art facilities in Galgorm.

You can visit our website and keep up to date with the Podcast here - https://natural-resilience.co.uk/natu...

We have a HUGE personal development event planned for Sunday 18th January in Europa Hotel, Belfast including a live recording of the Podcast. Get your tickets here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/146422...

Annette Kelly is the founder of one of Ireland's most recognisable wellbeing brands in Little Penny Thoughts.

In episode 11 of The Natural Resilience Podcast, Annette shares how she went from starting her brand without any of her friends and family knowing as she was afraid of other peoples opinions but she had the courage to embrace her authenticity, her life changed so much for the better. This is the first time Annette has shared her personal story including navigating mental health challenges and a recent ADHD diagnosis.
This episode was recorded live in front of 200 people in The Balmoral Hotel, Belfast. We are back again in November for another live podcast event with another two huge guests in Linda Stinson and Ryan Curtis, tickets are available here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-na...

Our flagship January event is back in The Europa Hotel, Belfast this January where you can join 300 like minded people for a self development with a difference. This years event is called The Hero's Journey and will show you how to navigate your way to success using your inner compass. Tickets are available here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-he...

This episode was recorded live in Balmoral Hotel, Belfast in front of 200 people. 
Dr Michael Mc Killop is one of Ireland's most decorated athletes ever with 4 Paralympic gold medals among his impressive haul. 

At a young age Michael's parents were informed that he had cerebral palsy and may never walk, he went on to run for Ireland on the global stage. This is a story that encapsulates one of life's great lessons - Be careful who you take advice from.

In this episode, Michael shares phenomenal insights into the mind of an elite level athlete which he describes as the gold medal mindset.

A very human story, raw as it is inspiring, we hope you enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed recording and as much as the live audience enjoyed listening. On that note, we have another Live Podcast event in Balmoral Hotel, Belfast on the evening of 13th November 2025. Our two guests have been confirmed as Ryan Curtis and Linda Stinson.

Tickets are available here -  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-natural-resilience-podcast-live-event-tickets-1410225385089?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurlhttps://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-natural-resilience-podcast-live-event-tickets-1410225385089?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl