The Stripped Back Podcast

What happens when creativity, colour, lighting and the trades industry all come together? In this episode, Stephen and Keith sit down with Adele Roche to explore the thinking, creativity and collaboration behind Design Source Ireland – an event bringing interior designers, tradespeople, suppliers and independent Irish makers under one roof. Adele shares her journey through graphic design, interior...

In Part 2 of our conversation with David O’Connor, we dive deeper into his mental health journey, the importance of asking for help, and how finding purpose through running, community and coaching helped reshape his life. David opens up about reaching another period of suicidal crisis, the conversation with a trusted friend that encouraged him to seek counselling, and the lessons he has learned th...

In this first part of a two part conversation, Stephen and Keith sit down with fitness and performance coach David O’Connor for an honest and deeply personal conversation about mental health, childhood experiences and the impact they can have long into adulthood. David opens up about being bullied throughout his school years because of his appearance, and a frightening mugging at knifepoint that f...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Chris McCarthy from CMAC Electrical, Stephen Buckley and Keith Delahan continue the discussion around the realities of working in the electrical industry in Ireland. We dive deeper into the challenges facing self-employed tradespeople, the pressures of running a business, and the importance of understanding your numbers, planning for growth, and making decisions...

In Part 1 of this episode of The Stripped Back Podcast , Stephen Buckley and Keith Delahan sit down with Chris McCarthy from CMAC Electrical for a brutally honest conversation about the realities of running an electrical contracting business in Ireland. Chris is known for speaking his mind, and this conversation doesn’t disappoint. From the pressure of going out on your own to the reality of risin...

In this episode of The Stripped Back Podcast, Stephen and Keith sit down with Actor, Producer and Promotor, Pól Seoige for an honest conversation about life, career changes, and what happens when the future you had planned suddenly disappears. Pól takes us back to the collapse of the Celtic Tiger, a period that changed the direction of his career and forced him to rethink what came next. Rather th...

A new season. A new theme tune. A new lineup of guests. And some conversations that go deeper than ever before. We kick off Season 11 of The Stripped Back Podcast with Latisha McCrudden — activist, law student, proud member of the Traveller community, and a powerful voice for a new generation. In this episode, we sit down with Latisha to talk openly about her life and the experiences that have sha...

Episode Revisit - Between Season 10 and Season 11, we’re going back to one of the conversations that has stayed with us. This time, we’re bringing back our conversation with internationally renowned trance DJ Paul Webster , with enhanced audio and visuals giving the episode a fresh new feel. Paul’s story is one of ambition, music, family, career changes and staying true to yourself. Growing up in...

10 Seasons. Still Showing Up. Ten seasons in… and somehow, we’re still here. In this special solo episode, Stephen takes a step back from the usual guest conversations to reflect on Season 10 and everything that has happened behind the scenes to keep The Stripped Back Podcast on the road. 2026 has been one hell of a year. With Keith’s business, Energise Electrical, getting busier month by month, S...

Originally recorded in 2025, Now Re-released with enhanced audio and production. Sometimes you have to lose your way before you find yourself. In this special enhanced audio Overload Episode of The Stripped Back Podcast , we revisit our 2025 conversation with Daniel Bradley, a raw and honest story about struggle, bad choices, feeling trapped, and believing there was no way out. Daniel opens up abo...

Season 10 Finale | Stripped Back Podcast We’re closing out Season 10 with  John Slattery and Keith Moore from Assemble Pro . We get into how technology is changing the way tradespeople run their businesses, from estimating and invoicing to managing projects, winning work and creating a more professional customer experience. We talk about the story behind Assemble Pro, why  simplicity is so importa...

In this penultimate episode of Season 10, Stephen Buckley and Keith Delahan sit down with Alan O’Connor from ALS Tool Channel for a wide-ranging conversation about his career, his journey into social media, the trades industry, community, and the mindset behind building something that lasts. Alan shares his experiences of creating content around the tools and trade industry, discussing how an init...

In this revisited and repurposed episode of The Stripped Back Podcast , we revisit our conversation we had in 2025 with GAA player and fitness instructor Amy Gibbons from Balbriggan . Amy shares her journey through GAA, fitness and the importance of having strong local sporting communities in towns like Balbriggan, particularly for the next generation coming through. We chat about what it really t...

In this episode of Insight: The Stripped Back Podcast, we sit down with Dinny Collins for a wide-ranging conversation about resilience, reinvention, business, Bitcoin, fitness and life. Dinny takes us back to the motorbike accident that changed the direction of his life and the journey of rebuilding himself from that point. We talk about how fitness became a huge part of his life, the creation of...

In Season 10, Episode 6 of The Stripped Back Podcast , we sit down with  Darren Reilly from The Brotherhood  for an honest and powerful conversation about men’s mental health, accountability, personal growth and the importance of having the right people around you. Darren shares his perspective on why men need spaces where they can speak openly, be challenged, and support one another without judge...

This week on The Stripped Back Podcast, we’re joined by Conor Foster, Managing Director of Clifden Recruitment, founder of Top Drawer Talent, and host of the 10Forty Podcast. After having us on the 10Forty Podcast in 2025, it was only right that we returned the favour and welcomed Conor into the studio to hear the story behind his own journey. From a short stint in plumbing to serving for a decade...

This week on The Stripped Back Podcast, Stephen and Keith sit down with fellow Balbriggan ourlad Mikey Sheridan of Lighthouse Electrical for an honest and insightful conversation about life in the electrical industry, building a business from the ground up, and what it really takes to grow both professionally and personally. Mikey shares his journey through the trade, from his early days on the to...

In this episode of The Stripped Back Podcast, Stephen Buckley and Keith Delahan are joined by Eric Grant of KGE Electrical for an honest and insightful conversation about self-employment within the electrical industry. Eric shares his journey into business ownership and explains how working on an RTC tax basis provided the gateway to becoming self-employed. The discussion explores the realities of...

Season 10 Episode 2 features Director, Writer and Actor Cian Doyle for one of the most honest and thought-provoking conversations we've had. Cian opens up about his deeply personal journey through grief, addiction and ultimately transformation, sharing how some of life's darkest moments shaped both the person and filmmaker he has become today. He takes us behind the scenes of his powerful film Ber...

We kick off Season 10 by sitting down with Trevor Macken from Ashbourne Paving, to explore his extraordinary journey from a troubled childhood and social anxiety to becoming a successful entrepreneur, recovery advocate, and business owner. Trevor opens up about the challenges that shaped his early life, his battle with addiction, and the long road to recovery. He shares how construction became a t...

In this solo bonus episode, Stephen reflects on a career lesson that has shaped his journey both on and off the tools, the danger of limiting yourself. From starting out as an apprentice electrician to stepping into an Assistant Management role within a mobile maintenance division, Stephen shares how the skills learned in the trade can open doors far beyond what many people imagine. This isn't...

In this bonus episode of The Stripped Back Podcast, Stephen Buckley takes a practical look at navigating the Irish apprenticeship system, using the Electrical Apprenticeship as a real-world example. Stephen breaks down the seven-phase apprenticeship structure, explaining the balance between on-the-job and off-the-job learning, the types of assessments apprentices can expect throughout their traini...

In this bonus episode of The Stripped Back Podcast, Stephen Buckley discusses one of the most important topics in any workplace safety. From risk assessments and Safe Work Plans to Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO) procedures and electrical safety, Stephen explores why safety is far more than a box-ticking exercise. It's about protecting people, preventing incidents, and ensuring everyone gets home safe...

In this special bonus episode, Stephen opens up about his personal journey of growing and navigating the challenges of education, finding his place within the electrical trade, and now sharing insights from raising children with Autism and AuDHD. This is an honest conversation about neurodiversity, self-belief, and the importance of creating environments where people can thrive. Together, we explo...

In this special bonus episode of The Stripped Back Podcast , we’re taking you behind the scenes to the very end of Season 9. After recording a full podcast episode with apprentice electrician Aaron Murray, Aaron stayed on in the studio and joined us for a live TikTok session where we opened the floor to questions from viewers and had a relaxed, honest conversation about life in the electrical indu...