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

Kicking off our addiction series is Dr. Anna   Lembke : a  professor of psychiatry at Stanford University and one of the world's leading experts on dopamine.    Over the last few years, Anna has appeared in Netflix documentaries like The Social Dilemma and podcasts like The Rich Roll Podcast, The Huberman Lab and The Joe Rogan Experience.   Her new book, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age...

Hopping on to give a head-up about probably the most important thing we will ever share on this podcast.   Over the next six weeks, we're diving deep into the topic of addiction, including some incredible stories from recovered addicts and the research from some of the world's leading experts on the topic.   Really hope you enjoy it and find it beneficial for you and the people you care about.   –...

Pilot episode for our new podcast!  // Over the last two years, there’s been a lot of discussion about the short and long-term side-effects of COVID-19. But something I’d never heard anyone talk about was the proven link between depression and the virus itself… That was until I got COVID myself and hopped on the phone with my dear friend Steve Ilardi (who just so happens to be a Clinical Researche...

This week, the Dunk Brothers headed to Hydro-Ease (the first float centre on the Island of Ireland) in East Belfast for Scott's 7th time esoteric float and Matt's 1st ever. In our pre-and-post-float chat we talk about: Why would someone even want to do this? Expectations versus reality of the float tank experience Our reactions to our time in the tank "Deep time" and intergenerational mindfulness...

Kit Adams is an adventurer from Newcastle, County Down who is currently working as a post-man in Antarctica.   After growing up at the bottom of the Mourne Mountains, Kit has dedicated his life to learning about and exploring the natural world.    Just before the pandemic hit he spent a season living and working at “ The Penguin Post Office ” where he and his colleagues manually processed over 60,...

Clive Corry is the founder of Action Trauma , Ltd. A not for profit organisation whose vision is to see a world where people stop hurting themselves and others because of undealt-with negative experiences (trauma). His journey started in 2016, after the death of his wife through illness, where he believes trauma/stress/anxiety may have compromised her immune system.  Since then he’s read 100+ book...

This conversation first aired three years ago and is one of our most popular episodes.    Merry Christmas and enjoy!

This conversation first aired three years ago and is one of our most popular episodes.    The long pauses, stretches of silence and absolute golden moments have been kept in the way they happened on the day.   Merry Christmas and enjoy!    

See You Next Year!

Eimir McSwiggan is a World Champion Ice Climber from Northern Ireland who’s been living and working in South Korea since 2010.   With 6 World Cup medals under her belt, Eimir is passionate about sharing her love for climbing and dreams of bringing competitive Ice Climbing back to Northern Ireland someday in the near future…   In this episode we chat about: Growing up on a farm in Gortin, County Ty...

Martin Mullholland is the Head Concierge of the Europa Hotel and has worked there for 38-years — making him the longest-serving staff member of the iconic Belfast landmark.   He’s also the current President of Les Clefs d'Or, UICH Ireland — a prestigious network of Head Concierges from around the world.   In this episode we talk about: Walking through the door of the hotel for the first time at 18...

Scott has never seen The Prince Of Egypt. Matt grew up watching it.  In this episode, the lads take an esoteric adventure through the trippy, complicated, star-studded, Oscar-winning 1998 animated cult-classic "kids-movie" musical all about Meek Moses leading the people of Israel through the Red Sea. Check it out.  https://bestofbelfast/stories/prince-of-egypt  

Nadia Sayers is a professional model and Miss Universe Ireland 2020. She's also a passionate mental health advocate, speaker and educator with a Masters in Psychology.   After facing her own battles with depression and anxiety, Nadia went on to work in suicide prevention for six years before taking on her current role as Youth Development Manager at Hope 4 Life NI .   Her day job now involves goin...

Francesca Morelli is the Enterprise Development Officer at QUBSU and Co-Founder of VAVA Influence : Northern Ireland’s first dedicated Influencer Marketing Agency.   After growing up as part of the Morelli Ice Cream family, Fran began forging her own path in the world of tech start-ups by spending a year working in Paris before moving back home to start her own business.   In today’s conversation...

Roger Woodend is the Director of Strategic Sales at Amazon Web Services (AWS).   He was born in Belfast in 1975 and was raised in a council-estate in Coleraine before eventually leaving NI to study Politics in Glasgow.    Since then he’s lived and worked all over the world for telecom titans, tech-startups and even found the time to do an MBA before taking up his current role with Amazon today.  ...

***Experimental Episode*** So as you know we've been playing around with some different formats over the last year that differ from our typical 'life story' styled interviews — and today's episode is probably our weirdest and wonderful-est one yet. The idea was to catch up with Wim Hof Instructor, Health & Wellness expert, recent podcaster and now three-time Best Of Belfaster Scott Riley to talk a...

Kerri McCrea studied zoology at Queen's before moving to Thailand in 2013.    Since then, she and her Thai-Karen husband Sombat have set up their own elephant project called Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary which works with local communities to bring elephants home to the forest and away from a life of work in the tourism industry.   In today’s episode we talk about: Kerri’s love for animals from...

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://bes...

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 stranges...

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...

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...

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 McCart...

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 (incl...

[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 th...

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.   T...