 Chris Suitor is a tailor, entrepreneur, DJ, Speaker, Father, Husband and — most recently, barista — from Belfast, Northern Ireland.   In today’s show we talk about: Buying a cottage in Donegal How he took a family business to new heights Starting a coffee truck  How he plans on opening 10 cafes in 2 years Managing screen time And being an egotistical utilitarian (???)   Check it out.   https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/chris-suitor-bros

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

#228 Chris Suitor on Donegal, Coffee & Trance Music

 Welcome to Sport Inspires, a podcast recorded with the Mary Peters Trust and made possible by the Coca-cola Thank you Fund.   Today’s episode is with Olympic hockey stars Stephen Martin and Jimmy Kirkwood who both won gold medals with Team GB in the 1988 Summer Games.   In this conversation myself and Lady Mary Peters talk with them about: Their once in a lifetime experiences in Korea The strangest doors their medals have opened for them And why they think no one from Northern Ireland has won gold in the summer games ever since.    Thanks so much for being here and we really hope you enjoy.    https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/olympic-gold-medals-northern-ireland

#227 NI’s Three Olympic Gold Medals (Jimmy Kirkwood, Mary Peters & Stephen Martin)

 Bill Neely is a three-time BAFTA and Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist with over 40 years of experience, most recently as NBC’s Chief Global Correspondent.    He’s also a triathlon runner and the recent recipient of the highly esteemed Queens University Graduate Of The Year Award.    In today’s conversation we chat about: How he got into journalism The craziest moments he’s experienced while reporting around the world (Including getting arrested in a US Presidential Campaign, carrying a national beauty queen to safety in Eastern Europe and narrowly escaping death in Afghanistan).  And why telling the truth is so important when dealing with real-life stories    Check it out.     https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/bill-neely-broadcast-journalist  

#226 Bill Neely: NBC’s Chief Global Correspondent

 Emma Mcilroy is the Co-founder and CEO of Wildfang: a clothing brand based in Portland Oregon whose mission is to rethink gender norms and how they show up in fashion.    (She’s also proudly Norn Irish).   In today’s episode we talk about: Finding a pre-historic fossil as a kid Landing dream jobs with the Premier League and Nike The big problems she noticed in the fashion industry (why she started Wildfang) And the ridiculous entrepreneurial rollercoaster she’s been on over the last few years   Check it out.   https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/emma-mcilroy-wildfang

#225 Emma Mcilroy: Wildfang

Welcome to Sport Inspires, a podcast recorded with the Mary Peters Trust and made possible by the Coca-cola Thank You Fund. Today’s episode is with Northern Ireland Women’s Football Captain Marissa Callaghan, who led the team to their first-ever major tournament qualifier last year in a historic match against Ukraine.   The conversation you’re about to hear was very kindly hosted by Nicola McCarthy and touches on Where Marissa’s love for the game came from The journey that's led to women’s football being put on the map in such a historic way And how Marissa and the team are preparing for the biggest tournament of their lives in 2022.    Thanks so much for being here and we really hope you enjoy.   https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/marissa-callaghan-northern-ireland-football  

#224 Marissa Callaghan: Northern Ireland Women's Football Captain

Joe Magowan is an Irish Whiskey Expert from Belfast who spends his days educating people all over the world about "the water of life." In this episode we talk about: Growing up working in The Vineyard How he became Brand Ambassador for Powers The history of Irish Whiskey What "the angel share" is And his most significant memories throughout his life We also sample some Powers during the show (including one of the best Irish coffees I've ever had) to draw out some of the key tasting notes and stories connected to the brand.  Check it out.  [P.S. For the full information about the Irish Coffee Competition, please click here]. // https://bestofbelfast.org/joe-magowan-powers-whiskey  

#223 Joe Magowan: Irish Whiskey Expert

[Please note that some of the financial figures have been censored from this episode] This time last year, Ciaran Gillen was working on a laptop in Ormeau Baths trying to get his new start-up "tinder-for-tractors" off the ground. Today, Machinery Partner is an industry-changing business that's raised a record-breaking $4.5 million of investment. It works by connecting small business owners with the exact machines they need to increase profits and get the job done.  In today's episode, we talk to Ciaran about: Having beers with Johnny Depp Opening for motorhead Working as a bouncer in London Starting Machinery Partner The decision to take investment How he plans on creating Northern Ireland's first unicorn Check it out. https://bestofbelfast.org/ciaran-gillen-machinery-partner      

#222 Ciaran Gillen: Machinery Partner

 Michael McKillop is a four-time Paralympic Gold-Medalist who currently holds the world record for the 800m and 1500m races.   In today’s episode, Matthew Thompson and Lady Mary Peters talk with Michael about: What it was like being coached by his father at a young age His current journey to the Tokyo 2020 Games  And how he’s dealt with cerebral palsy and mental health challenges along the way.   Thanks so much for being here and we really hope you enjoy.    //   Webpage: https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/michael-mckillop-paralympic-gold-medalist  

#221 Michael McKillop: Gold Medals, World Records & Cerebral Palsy

 Neville Isdell is the former global CEO and Chairman of The Coca-Cola Company.   Originally born in Downpatrick, Neville has lived and worked in over 11 countries around the world, “taking on jobs nobody else wanted to take” and “cleaning up messes no one else wanted to own.”   He spent his life battling Pepsi, leading through empathy and rising up the company ranks before retiring to Barbados at 60, only to receive a phone call a few months later asking him to return to the company as CEO and chair… a challenge that he said yes to.    In today’s conversation we talk about: Why his family moved to Africa when he was a boy Lessons learned from a lifetime of leadership What's he's setting his sight on as 80 approaches And how a lad from Northern Ireland ended up in the driver's seat of one of the largest companies on the planet.    Check it out.    https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/neville-isdell-coca-cola-ceo-chairman

#220 Neville Isdell: Global CEO of Coca-Cola

Nick Patterson is a freelance photographer based in Ormeau Baths.   Over the course of his career, he's shot celebrities, worked with some of the biggest businesses on the planet and seen an entire industry transform.   (From developing photos in lightrooms, to handling the first digital camera in Northern Ireland, to taking the world's first 8K portrait time-lapse).   In today's episode we talk about: Skateboarding around Bangor as a teen Setting up his own business Saving lives through photography And the greatest challenges/successes he's faced along the way.   Check it out.   // Webpage: https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/nick-patterson-freelance-photographer  

#219 Nick Patterson: Freelance Photographer

Tony McGaharan is a People Development Expert who has experience working with some of the biggest businesses on the planet.    (While also being a fully qualified Coach — both on and off the basketball court).   Last year — at the height of the pandemic — he founded People Playbook, a learning consultancy focused on wellbeing that helps organisations achieve their goals through learning, leadership and team development. In this episode we talk about: Growing up in The Holylands Taking a bullet to the leg Coaching professional basketball in Sweden Working with Google Running a virtual pub quiz for 60 weeks straight How practice doesn't make perfect And why he branched out on his own to start People Playbook at the best/worst time imaginable.   Check it out!   // Webpage: https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/tony-mcgaharan-people-playbook

#218 Tony McGaharan: People Playbook

 Napoleon is an independent speciality coffee shop in Ormeau Baths that opened in August 2020 at the height of the pandemic.   Since then it has become a leading cafe in Northern Ireland’s burgeoning speciality scene with their “front-and-centre” approach to coffee attracting a loyal team of regulars from across the nation.    Founded by superstar Barista-Manager extraordinaire Rachel Snowden and Data Scientist Matthew Mcauley, Napoleon is the realisation of a lifelong dream of owning their own cafe and the result of seven years of scheming, planning and drinking lots of coffee!   In this today’s episode we talk about: Matt’s recent realisation about his brain as well as his unexpected PhD in Physics What it was like opening a cafe during the height of the pandemic How the reality of seeing their dream fulfilled compared to their expectations And the greatest highs/lows of their first year of business…   Check it out!   https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/napoleon-coffee-rachel-snowden-matthew-mcauley

#217 Napoleon Coffee: Rachel & Matt on their First Year Of Business

 Adrian Balfour is the founder of Envorso, a US consulting firm based in Seattle that has worked with the likes of Ford and Microsoft.     He’s also an organic sheep farmer, Angel Investor, co-founder of the Major League Rugby and owner of the Seattle Seawolves, a US rugby team coached by Allen Clarke and Rory Best.     Previously he created Pcubed, a project management consultancy he grew to 1000+ consultants before selling it in 2013.     In today’s show we talk about:   Growing up in Fermanagh Moving to Detroit to start a business Bringing Rugby culture to the states And the greatest challenges/successes along the way     Check it out.     //   Webpage for this episode: https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/adrian-balfour-seattle-seawolves

#216 Adrian Balfour: Owner Of The Seattle Seawolves Rugby Team

 Welcome to Sport Inspires, a podcast recorded with the Mary Peters Trust and made possible by the Coca-cola Thank you Fund.    Today’s episode is with legendary two-weight world champion boxer Carl Frampton who’s recently retired from the sport just a few months ago.    Along the way Thomas Kane and Gold Medalist Lady Mary Peters ask Carl about : How retirement has been treating him What he plans on doing next And some of the lessons he’s learned from the highs and lows of an incredible career   Thanks so much for being here and we really hope you enjoy.

#215 Carl Frampton: Two-Weight Boxing World Champion

 Nico van der Horst is the founder of Pride & Pinion: Ireland’s only dedicated luxury watch boutique.   Over the last four years, Nico and the team have sourced and sold countless luxury watches for celebrities, collectors, investors and everyday people alike.    During lockdown, he and the team started posting videos under the name Nico Leonard — which in just one year has become the largest watch social media presence on the planet with 100’s of millions of hits across YouTube, TikTok and BiliBili (China’s YouTube).     In today’s episode we cover: Nico’s origin story (moving from the Netherlands to Northern Ireland) Why family and legacy matter so much to him How failure and dark days have led to his success today And the greatest challenges/successes he’s experienced along the way.   This is a heartfelt conversation with someone I’ve known and admired for a long time and without a doubt one of the best interviews we’ve ever shared.   Throughout all he’s faced, Nico’s determination and passion to give back to Northern Ireland and put Belfast on the map make him one of our unsung heroes and Belfast’s best-kept secret.   Check it out.    https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/pride-and-pinion-nico-leonard-van-der-horst

#214 Nico van der Horst: Pride & Pinion

Best Of Belfast is a podcast that celebrates Northern Ireland and the incredible people in it. We publish unfiltered, hour-long conversations every Monday morning with someone interesting from this part of the world. With 80+ episodes featuring: Oscar-winning directors, 91-year-old park-runners, Silicon Valley CEOs, Michelin Star Chefs and bearded candle makers there’s plenty of episodes to listen and learn from. Find photos of guests, sign up to our newsletter and support the show: https://bestofbelfast.org/

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

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