Founder & Family Collective

It was Jenny’s birthday. I’d planned the day, she thought there might be a present waiting for her… and somehow we ended up here. Welcome to After Hours, our chance to debrief when everything else is finally put to bed. Life is busy. Between careers, kids, training, family and everything else we seem to take on, it’s very easy to keep moving without actually stopping to talk. After Hours is delibe...

What happens when you step into a family business with generations of history behind it but still have to figure out who you are within it? This week I sit down with Jarron O’Neill Watson, the man behind Belfast restaurant 2Taps, for a really open conversation about family, ambition, legacy and finding your own way. We talk about growing up around the family business, stepping into an established...

Is Northern Ireland a place where ambitious people can genuinely build something big? This week I’m joined by an old friend, entrepreneur, councillor and current Mayor of Ards and North Down, Craig Blaney. We talk business and entrepreneurship in Northern Ireland, the realities facing hospitality, whether we do enough to encourage ambition, Craig’s journey into politics and what being Mayor actual...

Can you train like an athlete, chase ambitious goals and still put your family first? In Episode 26 of Founder & Family, I sit down with Sinéad Boyd to talk about HYROX, discipline and the reality of building serious training around an already full life. We get into what consistency actually looks like, how she finds the discipline to keep showing up and the constant challenge of balancing per...

Chris Braniff is the founder of Proud Girl Dad Co. a brand built around fatherhood, identity and the unique privilege of raising daughters. In this episode, we talk about where the idea came from, turning something deeply personal into a growing business, and what it means to pursue your own ambitions while remaining present for the people who matter most. It’s an honest conversation about busines...

You’ve heard plenty about Jenny over the past year… it was probably about time she made an appearance. Between two young girls, an A&E career, businesses and everything else life throws at us, we rarely get an uninterrupted hour to just sit and chat. So that’s exactly what we did. We talk family, work, relationships, communication, life in A&E, play a questionable game of Mr & Mrs, and...

A year ago, Dean McFarland became the very first guest on Founder & Family. Twelve months later, he's back. In this episode, we reflect on what has changed over the last year not just in business, but in family life, ambition, priorities and the way we think. If you're an ambitious parent trying to build something meaningful without sacrificing your family, this conversation is for you...

One thing really stuck with me after this conversation with Conor: say yes, then work it out. It’s a mindset that’s opened doors throughout his career, created opportunities he never expected and shaped the life he’s built today. We also chat about family, building a career online, staying grounded and why creating space for proper conversations often reveals things you never knew even about peopl...

A few weeks ago, Ciara and I bumped into each other in a corridor for the first time. A few weeks later, we’re sitting down for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had on Founder & Family. From the outside, Ciara had achieved many of the things we’re told should bring fulfilment. The business was growing, the goals were being achieved and life looked successful by most people’s standard...

What if the best business to start... already exists? In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur Jenna Hill to explore a path that most aspiring founders never seriously consider: acquiring an existing business instead of building one from the ground up. We discuss why buying a business can sometimes be a faster, less risky route into entrepreneurship, how to identify the right opportunities, w...

This week I sit down with Laura Smyth from White Noise for a conversation around business, branding, family and stepping into something you never fully planned for. Laura talks about taking over the family business from her dad, balancing leadership with motherhood, and how the world of branding and design is rapidly evolving in the age of AI. We also get into control, growth, learning to let go a...

This week on Founder & Family, I’m joined by Sandra Corkin and Scott McCabe of Oasis Travel one of Northern Ireland’s most recognised family businesses. What started over 40 years ago as a passion for travel has grown into a multi-award-winning brand with eight offices, a team of 60, and customers who’ve travelled with them for decades. But this episode goes far beyond holidays and destination...

This week I sat down with Erinn, founder of Ivy & Gold a bespoke jewellery brand she’s built from the ground up while raising two kids. We got into the reality of building a business when your time is pulled in every direction… where boundaries actually matter, and how easy it is to chase a version of “success” that doesn’t fit your life. What stood out most was her clarity family first, busin...

What’s it actually like to go from school corridors… to Stormont? In this episode of the Founder & Family Collective, I sit down with Kate Nicholl, someone I’ve known since school, for a conversation that’s equal parts honest, reflective, and (at times) a bit of craic. This isn’t your typical political interview. It’s a look at the person behind the role from early days and shared memories, to...

This episode is about more than business. Before Pearl Beauty, there was a relationship. Before the growth, the pressure, and the brand there was just two people figuring life out together. In this conversation, Elanna and Paddy open up on: Building a business through uncertainty Navigating growth while raising a young family The realities behind running a successful beauty brand How their relatio...

On this episode of the Founder & Family Collective Podcast, Declan sits down with Gary McIldowney, the founder behind Slim’s Healthy Kitchen. Gary shares the story behind building a food brand ecosystem from the ground up from early days in hospitality to creating something that now has a loyal following. We talk about the reality of growing a business in the food industry, the risks and press...

Most people know Pete Snodden as the voice waking the country up each morning on the Cool FM Breakfast Show. But staying at the top for decades doesn’t happen by accident. In this conversation we talk about: Following your passion (even when it’s not the safe option) Building a career that actually lasts Staying relevant in a fast-moving media world Social media, parenting and raising kids today W...

The Highs made them feel like they were taking over the world. The lows made them question everything. This week Declan sits down with founders of Whytematter staffing solutions Mairead and Kirsty for an honest conversation about growth, resilience, and the reality behind building a business while navigating life’s pressures. From moments of massive momentum to the fear of losing it all this episo...

Declan sits down with former Ulster and Ireland international Craig Gilroy for a conversation about gratitude, ambition and life after elite sport. From growing up at the same school to reflecting on a professional rugby career, Craig speaks openly about being thankful for what he achieved while still holding himself to high standards for what comes next. They explore the shift from matchday press...

In this episode of the Founder & Family Podcast, Declan sits down with Rebecca Adamson, founder of Bondi Pilates, for an honest conversation about building a wellness brand while navigating motherhood and family life. Rebecca shares how Bondi Pilates began, whether it started as a passion or a business opportunity, and how discipline, consistency and clear boundaries have helped her scale with...

.From the intensity of matchday to the quiet responsibility of home life. In this episode, Declan sits down with Ulster and Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey for an open conversation about elite sport, fatherhood, and the balance between performance and presence. They talk about the privilege and pressure of professional rugby, how leadership evolves over a career, and how becoming a dad to three bo...

In this Boxing Day special episode Declan sits down with comedian Dave Elliott to talk cycling miles for charity, punchlines and the chaos of Dad life. Find out the graft behind the funny business, striking a balance with those late nights, are the Arsenal going to win the league and how Dave's surviving Christmas. 🎙️ Founder & Family Podcast📍 Recorded in Belfast @ 1620 Audio📅 Episode 8B...

A special episode. A rare conversation. This week Declan sits down with someone who’s shaped his life more than any guest ever could, his dad, Eamonn Holmes. Across five decades in broadcasting, he’s interviewed some of the world’s biggest names… but today the roles are reversed. For the first time, they go behind the curtain of their father–son relationship the early years, the distance, the graf...

Chloe joins Declan at the Founders Table. They discuss her buisness, Chloco, and debate self care, what a successful Christmas looks like plus the balance of technology in the modern era. 🎙️ Founder & Family Podcast📍 Recorded in Belfast @ 1620 Audio📅 Episode 6Brought to you in partnership with The Foxes DenGuest- Chloe McAnirn, Owner & Founder Chloco Host- Declan HolmesFollow & Conne...

In this weeks episode Declan is joined by Olivia Mulholland, founder of Olivia's Haven, to talk all things business, balance and burnout plus maybe a candle or two. 🎙️ Founder & Family Podcast📍 Recorded in Belfast @ 1620 Audio📅 Episode 5Brought to you in partnership with The Foxes DenGuest- Olivia Mulholland, Founder Olivias Haven Host- Declan HolmesFollow & ConnectDeclan- @declanhol...