10forty

This week on The 10forty Podcast , I’m joined by a true Dublin legend — Mattress Mick, Michael Flynn. From humble beginnings selling bottled gas and costume jewellery, Mick built his business from the ground up. Starting out on Pearse Street, he laid the foundations for what would become one of Ireland’s most recognisable brands. We dive into his entrepreneurial journey, the early struggles he fac...

Today we speak to Noel O’Brien. This is an incredible story. From finding a home in Drimnagh Boxing Club… to building a multinational company. Boxing became a huge part of Noel’s life early on and he credits the sport with developing many of the characteristics that would later help him build and lead businesses. Discipline. Resilience. Confidence. Work ethic. Noel went on to become the Director o...

Today on the 10forty Podcast, we’re joined by Jamie Griffin. Now, just before we get into it — this episode is raw. We cover some sensitive topics, including tough times, losing friends, and struggles with mental health… so just a heads up before you listen to the full episode. Jamie’s story is real. From time spent in Prision… to working on building sites… to now working in personal training — it...

This week on the 10forty Podcast, we’re joined by Chris Evans — Commercial Director at Ancorra Environmental Services, operator of JS Solutions, and host of the What If You Didn’t? podcast. Chris’s journey starts early. At just 16, he stepped into the family business in Liverpool — learning the ropes from the ground up. But his path didn’t stay there. A move to Australia opened things up. Seven ye...

This week on the 10forty Podcast, we’re joined by Padraic Gilchrist — founder of Flawless Paint Correction & Detailing Ireland, one of the country’s leading paint protection specialists. Padraic’s story doesn’t start in business. It starts with music. That passion led him into the army band — and eventually to a posting in Cork. But like many in that world… one job wasn’t enough. So he picked...

From Behind the Lens to Behind the Mic This week on the 10forty Podcast, we’re joined by Ben O’Neill — founder of Ben O’Neill Productions . Usually, Ben is the one behind the camera… but this week, he steps in front of it. Ben’s journey is built on backing himself — in an industry that doesn’t wait for anyone. From early on, he was focused on pushing beyond what felt possible — especially in a spa...

This week on the 10forty Podcast, we’re joined by Ciaran Mulqueen — the creator of Crazy House Prices and author of How to Buy a Home in Ireland. Ciaran’s journey doesn’t follow a straight line. He started young — studying business and accounting at just 17 — taking a path that, on paper, felt sensible and secure. But his route changed. After college, Ciaran spent seven years working as a personal...

This week on the 10forty Podcast, we’re joined by Carl Coates, founder of Nixer.me. A man whose story is built on curiosity and a belief that people already have more value than they realise — if they’re willing to back themselves. Carl is the creator of Nixer.me, a platform he started as a side hustle, designed to help others turn what they’re good at — into real income. Not a flashy start‑up. No...

This week on the 10forty Podcast, we’re joined by one of the most compelling voices in Irish hospitality Keelan Higgs, head chef of the Michelin-starred Variety Jones. But this story doesn’t begin with awards or recognition. It starts where many real careers do. At 13 years old, in a kitchen at Greystones Golf Club. A Saturday morning breakfast shift. Learning the job from the ground up. From thos...

This week on the 10forty Podcast, we’re joined by Irish snooker legend Fergal O'Brien — a man whose career is a masterclass in patience, resilience, and relentless dedication to his craft. From the most humble of beginnings a small tabletop snooker set in his kitchen at just seven years old. Fergal’s journey is proof that greatness doesn’t need perfect conditions, just obsession and consistenc...

This week on the 10forty Podcast, we’re joined by a Ballyfermot legend — Kevin Kavanagh . A man whose story is built on hard work, grit, community spirit… and a lifetime spent mastering the real art of retail. Kevin’s journey starts young — just 14 years old — when he stepped into Nicholls and quickly found himself at home on the shop floor. Surrounded by bedding, towels, curtains and the fast pac...

This week on the 10forty Podcast, we’re joined by someone truly special — Feebee Foran , the founder of Forager, the award-winning Irish skincare and wellness brand hand foraged in the Dublin Hills. [forager.ie] Feebee’s story is one of intuition, reinvention and returning to the land. Known by many as The Green Witch , she started her journey humbly — a 16-year-old working in Barretts Shoes in th...

This week on the 10forty Podcast, we’re joined by James — whose journey is a testament to unexpected paths and the power of backing yourself. James starts by taking us back to his early years, growing up in Ballyfermot before moving to Edenderry. His parents were told he wouldn’t amount to much. But instead of letting that shape him, it quietly fuelled the determination that would define the years...

This week on the 10forty Podcast, we’re joined by Shay Lally from Houses to Restore — the man behind some of the most impressive renovation projects happening in Ireland right now. Shay takes us inside the wide mix of work he’s managing at the moment: full home renovations, sensory rooms in schools, church restoration projects — including Dolphin’s Barn Church — and multiple house transformations...

This week on the podcast, we sit down with Peter — an airline pilot whose career has taken him from army cadet to the sky over the Atlantic. Peter walks us through an impressive journey that began in the Army Cadets and led him into the Irish Air Corps, where he flew life saving air ambulance missions and later joined the legendary Silver Swallows aerobatic team. We dig into the decision to join t...

This week on the 10forty Podcast, Conor sits down with George, the man behind G Force Fitness , an encouraging conversation. George opens up about his journey through addiction, seeking help and completing a 16-month treatment programme in Scotland. He speaks candidly about relapse, falling off the wagon, suffering a mild stroke and the mindset it took to rebuild his life again. From selling paper...

In this week’s episode, we sit down with John Sweetman, author of Identity and host of the Lines of Enquiry podcast. John takes us inside a career shaped by detail — beginning with his first job in animation, his lifelong connection to art and the path that ultimately led him to An Garda Síochána. We talk about his early days in uniform, his first posting and the moment an incident involving a loc...

This week on the 10forty Podcast, I’m joined by Brandon, founder of Dublin Homeless Awareness, a frontline non-profit supporting people experiencing homelessness across the city. We dive into Brandon’s journey — from leaving school early to finding purpose through community action, leadership and eventually founding Dublin Homeless Awareness in 2018. What started as a Transition Year project sleep...

In this week’s episode of the 10forty Podcast, we sit down with Gerard Edwards, a highly skilled stonemason and conservation specialist, to explore his journey into the trade, building a business and preserving history through his work. Gerard shares how he started his first business at just 20, how he landed his very first job and how one opportunity led to the next. We discuss how he became a st...

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Martin Brady — former Army sniper, high-performance coach, keynote speaker, and mental performance expert. Martin shares his remarkable journey from a young boxer following a family tradition into the Defence Forces, joining the army just two weeks after his 17th birthday. Having left school after Transition Year, he spent 18 years in the Defence Forces, inc...

In this episode of the 10forty Podcast, we sit down with Bobby Healy for what can only be described as a masterclass in entrepreneurship, hiring, and scaling a business from first principles. Bobby takes us right back to the beginning — his first-ever job at just 12 years old, learning to code, navigating school and ultimately dropping out of college because he had no interest in what was being ta...

This week I’m joined by Ray Cooke, one of Ireland’s best-known property entrepreneurs and the founder of Ray Cooke Auctioneers. We dive deep into Ray’s journey, starting with his very first job at just 11 years old, organising pre-debs parties and hustling from an early age. Ray shares how that early entrepreneurial mindset shaped everything that followed. We chat about his time travelling through...

In this episode of the 10forty Podcast , Conor sits down with Andy Edwards , founder of Secret Abu Dhabi, to unpack an extraordinary journey of career transformation, entrepreneurship, and building a media brand in the UAE. Andy began his career working shifts as a healthcare assistant before moving to the UK to train as a nurse. Through relentless upskilling and discipline, he progressed into int...

In this episode of the 10Forty Podcast, we sit down with David Judge, founder of standout bakery Baked to Death and finalist in the 2025 Irish Food Awards — a business that’s shaking up the food scene with attitude, creativity, and unapologetically authentic cheese and chocolate biscuit cakes. David shares his journey and the path that led to Baked to Death: from a bold lockdown idea and a refusal...

Ep 74 - The Reinvention of Reverend Dave: Banker, Big Four Taxi Driver & Celebrant In this week's episode, we sit down with Reverend Dave for a conversation about reinvention, purpose and carving out a meaningful second act. Dave began his career in the banking industry, moved into one of the Big Four professional services firms, then once again shifted — driving a taxi and ultimately disc...