In the Hot Seat: Recent Episodes
Stevie Henning
In the Hot Seat is an interview format podcast with a new special guest each week from the world of current affairs, politics, entertainment and sport.
Aloha! In this weeks' episode I was over the moon to have the chance to speak to, and record with, a comedian who is tearing it up in England and the North East, Cal Halbert.
Cal rose to fame in his first appearance on Britain's Got Talent in 2011, followed by a second appearance in 2016 alongside his comic counterpart Alfie Joey. While unfortunately on both occasions he didn't make it to the semi-final stage, he recounts some of the brilliant stories from his time behind the scenes as well as some of the A-Z impression rundown which saw the judges give 4x Yes votes and a standing ovation!
I defy you not to laugh your head off throughout the episode as Cal broadcasts his vast array of talent across his celebrity impressions - from Sir Billy Connolly to Tony Blair, Andy Murray to Kevin Bridges, Boris Johnson to Donald Trump and many more in between.
As always, if you like the episode or have any feedback don't hesitate to reach out and let me know - hearing from you on what you like helps me shape future episodes, and don't forget to hit the subscribe button to be first in the know for new episodes dropping! Thanks as always.
Wow. One word to summarise how I felt coming off recording an episode with the broadcasting and commentating legend that is Ryle Nugent. Ryle - Head of Sport for RTE for 8 years, CEO of Premier Sports Asia and a voice and commentator known to so many millions over the years, joined me to discuss his pathway to profession, iconic moments and so much more.
Join us as we discuss Ryle's approach to a sporting colossus, combining a love for sport with a full time profession, incredible memories from Rugby World Cup's, Summer Olympics, Six Nations Championships, Ryle's passion for the growth of Women's sport and our favourite podcast questions - what would he tell an 18yo Ryle Nugent, why social media needs regulation & the importance of talking in looking after your mental health.
A thoroughly enjoyable episode to record - I can't thank Ryle enough for a chat that genuinely could have gone on for hours and hours.
Welcome back to the podcast! After a much longer hiatus than planned, the podcast is back and with a bang - with one of the best and most inspiring guests I've ever spoken to.
Allister MacSorley is one of life's great ones - but someone who's personal story over the last few years - where he faced life-changing injuries while carrying out his job as a motorcycle paramedic - will leave you gobsmacked and on the edge of your earphones / speakers.
Join us and listen as Ali regales us with what he faced at the Armoy road races in Northern Ireland in 2018, the critical events that followed in the seconds and minutes after his crash, his road to recovery, gratitude to family & friends and I urge you not to be inspired by his zest for life in 2022 and his objectives for the years ahead.
Please let us know what you think of the episode on all social media platforms or by getting in touch via the website at www.inthehotseatpodcast.com - and please - if you enjoy the episode, please give it a share and let people know about it.
Your support with the pod as always, is so very much appreciated. Thank you.
This week I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with BLK BOX CEO and Founder, Greg Bradley. BLK BOX – if you don’t know – are a Belfast-born company who specialize in the design & manufacture of some of the best quality gym equipment in the world right now, as well as selling to and installing with key partners such as
With a mission to be the best fitness equipment company in the world, hear directly from Greg about what drives him and his business forward, what world class leadership looks like looking after a 100-employee strong company and how he integrates continuous professional development into everything he and his employees do, to constantly move forward and improve.
I thoroughly enjoyed my chat with Greg who – as always – was as open and transparent about his business and himself as I had anticipated he would be. I know you’ll enjoy the chat too, so sit back, relax and let us take it away…
Join me in this weeks' episode as I speak with Martin Buckley -a Dublin born business and brand guru - and someone who knows a fair bit about leadership!
Martin has seen a professional career rising through the ranks of Doc Marten before an 18 year career at Nike which saw him lead the categories of Golf, Tennis, Skateboarding and Football globally.
An absolute gentleman of the highest degree, Martin shares with us some of what he has learnt through the years as well as fitting in stories of his time working with professional athletes such as Rory McIlroy, Nick Kyrgios, Kevin De Bruyne, Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Maria Sharapova, Nyjah Houston and so many more.
Really hope you'll enjoy the episode - if you do, I would be ever so grateful if you would click subscribe and share the podcast wherever you can - it may sound sad but seeing the numbers boost each week honestly makes doing all this so worth it! Thanks as always for your support.
Welcome back! It's been a while...8 weeks in fact since we released our episode with Will Addison of Ulster Rugby. After some gentle life recalibration figuring out a new routine with new job and a 15 month old baby etc, this episode with Doug signals a return to our new weekly episodes...hurrah!
In this week's episode I spoke with Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Doug Beattie MC MLA. A recipient of the Military Cross during his 27 years working full time in the British Army, Doug has served his country in places all across the world - Bosnia, Berlin, Iraq, Afghanistan...and South Armagh. Hear him talk about his military upbringing, some details of his family life up to the age of 16 and how he navigated serving in the Army alongside a family of his own - and then moving into the realm of politics and all that it brings with it.
I really enjoyed recording this one with a true gentleman and trust you will take something from it you didn't know about Doug yourself. Enjoy - and please help the podcast out by spreading the good word, liking and sharing on social media, and subscribing up for downloading new episodes free of charge (downloads help SO much better than streams!).
Until next week. Enjoy!
In this weeks' episode of the podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with former Sale Sharks captain & current Ulster and Ireland back Will Addison.
Join us as he candidly chats through;
- Growing up in the Lake District on the family farm
- How taking on a sheep 1v1 helped his tackling game
- Love of competitive sports, including a childhood of skiing
- Being spotted by & then fast-tracked through the Sale Sharks academy
- Captaining Sale and representing them 114 times before his move to Ulster
- What drove the Ulster move, and how long it was in the planning for (including a thank you to Dwayne Peel and Mark Jones!)
- Frustration with injuries, and how real early retirement could have been not too long ago...
- Irish Rugby caps, and his ambitions for the future with Ulster & Ireland
- Thoughts on the Lions tour of South Africa
- Social media for players and the need for regulation and ID verification
- A discussion on mental health
- Best players played with and against
One of my most enjoyable episodes to record yet - so much so it's being published earlier than usual! Sit back, enjoy and don't forget to give the podcast a follow or suscribe.
Welcome to Season 2 of the In the Hot Seat podcast!
Delighted to have In the Hot Seat for the first week of the new season - a man I have a great deal of respect for - former BBC Security Correspondent turned political commentator and author - Brian / Barney Rowan.
In the episode we chat through a whole host of areas across Northern Irish politics and the future of Stormont beyond the global pandemic, but most importantly we discuss Barney's newest book "Political Purgatory: The Battle to Save Stormont and the Play for a New Ireland".
Join us as we chat through and hear from Barney on his quite brilliant stories from time spent with individuals you might not have expected - ranging from David Ervine (former leader of the PUP) to Rory McIlroy.
In this weeks' episode of the In the Hot Seat podcast, we explore Gordon D'Arcy's career in detail with the man himself, likely in many ways you won’t have heard before, as well as a host of other points surrounding the game of rugby;
- An in-depth review of why D'Arcy got into rugby, and the fast track he saw from schools rugby to province and national team in record time
- Travels with Ireland on Rugby World Cups and time with the British and Irish Lions in 2005 and 2009
- His incredible record with Leinster and Ireland, which saw his teams crowned Celtic League champion 4x times, Heineken Cup winners 3x times, Amlin Challenge Cup winners 1x time, 2x Six Nations titles with Ireland (including 1x Grand Slam) and a Six Nations Player of the Tournament award in 2004
- Leinster's performances this season and the state of the provincial game / rivalries
- Looking at the state of the game of rugby in 2021 - Gordon's thoughts on AIL pathways to professional rugby, Academy players playing in the AIL, concussion levels in rugby & any fears for the professional game as it navigates the COVID pandemic
- Mental Health, Mindfulness & Building Resilience - Looking after yourself from a physical, mental and emotional POV
This was an absolute joy to record, edit and listen back to, so I hope you'll find it just as enjoyable yourselves. If you do, please hit the follow / subscribe button to be first in the know when new episodes drop - with a number of rugby episodes landing in the next few weeks and months, as well as of course episodes which don't touch rugby! Enjoy, and speak soon.
In this weeks' episode, I spoke with the brilliant man behind the NI Greenways and Bikefast initiatives in Northern Ireland - Jonathan Hobbs.
Jonathan - a keen rail enthusiast and cyclist himself - took to forming these initiatives in 2012 and 2013 respectively - and has seen a multitude of successes representing all of Northern Ireland in lobbying government and Ministers for Instrastructure for better active travel amenities and spending by the NI Executive.
Join us on the episode as we explore a little of Jonathan, the man behind the accounts, as well as a detailed look at what his initiatives set out to do, some of the highlights and lowlights of the last 9 years, and a detailed discussion about the benefits and the major pitfalls of running a social media account in 2021.
As always, I trust you'll enjoy the episode - if you do please help the podcast out by hitting the subscribe or follow button, and share on your social media or amongst friends, family and colleagues where possible. Thanks a mil, and speak soon!
You can follow Jonathan and his work on Twitter over at @nigreenways
In this weeks' episode I was given an absolute treat by speaking with Northern Ireland's very own broadcasting royalty - Pete Snodden. Pete has been on our airwaves with Cool FM for over 20 years and throughout that time has become a voice we all instantly recognise.
What I hadn't anticipated with Pete prior to speaking with him to arrange a recording - was just how in sync we were on our mindset of critical thinking and reflecting on the world around us and our own roles in it - in the episode we explore some fantastic themes in conversation - with hard work, making your own luck and good ethics and values repeating themselves throughout.
We also discuss Pete's life, the things that matter most to him and how the last 12 months of a global pandemic have been for him, his career and that of the team he works alongside in producing NI's biggest breakfast radio show from 6am every weekday morning on Cool FM.
I trust you'll enjoy this episode as much as I did recording - and I would just ask that if you do - please like and share any posts on social media if you can, share this amongst any family, friends and colleagues - and hit that subscribe button wherever you get your podcasts to be notified first on any new episode releases.
After a short one week hiatus, the podcast is back with a bang and a very special episode at that, with the lovely Donal O'Shaughnessy.
Donal has been a GP working in his village in County Down for the best part of the last 40 years, but also ventured into sports medicine when undergoing his training - taking in stints at club level rugby in the local game as well as long stints with the Ulster set-up at junior and senior level, then moving into the Irish National Team and in the early 1990's started working with The Barbarians - a role he still holds to this day.
Join us on this special episode to hear Donal regale us with stories of his past, his studies and breaking into sports medicine, and some of the incredible and funny tales of his time travelling the world with some of the best players and coaches that both Ireland - and with the Barbarians - the world has ever seen grace the game of rugby union.
If you enjoy the episode, please make sure to share it amongst your friends, family and colleagues, and anyone you think might also enjoy it. Stay safe, and speak soon.
In this weeks' episode, I welcomed Jonny McCambridge on the podcast to talk about all things mental health, his lived experiences with depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts which culminated in the release of his book "Afraid of the Dark" in January 2021, available at all good booksellers.
Jonny is quite simply an incredible human being - for sharing his story so candidly but also for opening himself up in both the book and this episode so that his story could help others who are either going through similar times themselves or just for anyone who would benefit in hearing his experiences and musings.
We speak on the episode across a range of topics, including;
- Launching the blog "What's A Daddy For?"
- Feedback so far on the book since its launch in Jan 2021 and some of the people it has already helped
- Jonny's own experiences with mental health, charted back to 18yo when he first sought help with a local GP and was left exiting the GP surgery in a worse state than when he went in
- Northern Ireland's mental health facilities and provisions, and steps you can take to seek help if needed
- Details from within the book about being admitted to hospital after thoughts on suicide, and the toll his professional life took on his own mental and emotional well-being
- His love and admiration for his wife Debs and son James, who he calls out - alongside wider family - as his anchors who have kept him afloat at the toughest times
- What Jonny would say to his 18yo self if given the opportunity
Ultimately this is an incredible discussion with a brilliant person. The overriding message throughout is that if you or anyone you know is feeling in any way similar to what Jonny details, that talking is absolutely the first step and every step afterwards. To communicate, to talk and to listen are so important for all of us, and never more so one year on from a global pandemic impacting our lives.
Please sit back and enjoy the episode - I'm certain you will - and make sure to get out and buy the book "Afraid of the Dark" if you are able to - available at all good booksellers.
In this special episode - the third part of a COVID mini-series after episodes with Dr Lindsay Broadbent and Diane Thompson - I speak with respiratory physiotherapist Jenny Finney.
Jenny - in her own brilliant way - takes us through what it has been like on the hospital wards fighting COVID-19 for the last 12 months for her and her colleagues, outlining moments she thought she would never see with a third surge and the tragic circumstances of some patients in the care of the hospital during that time.
At a time when we're hearing of roadmaps and a long-awaited and eagerly anticipated route out of lockdowns and the pain and angst of the last 12 months, Jenny covers in the episode the reasons why we shouldn't suddenly become complacent and need to remain vigilant in the fight against this virus. I was blown away listening to Jenny speak through these points and doing so, so eloquently.
Enjoy the episode - and if it does hit you like it did me both recording and listening back - share this amongst your family, friends, colleagues and so on. The message within it is too important not to share - at a time when many could, through no fault of their own, assume that we are through this.
In this weeks' episode I spoke with Ulster Rugby & Northampton Saints legend Neil Best. Neil - living in Singapore now plying his post-professional playing trade in the marine industry - takes us through some of his highlights and lowlights from his playing career that spanned Ulster, Ireland, Northampton Saints, Worcester Warriors and London Scottish, including some hilarious stories that you would come to expect from a player who enjoyed his time off the pitch as much as he did on it.
We spoke on a number of subjects;
- Living in Singapore for the last 5 years and how the country has dealt with the pandemic, including Besty having to self-isolate back in March 2020
- His early days with Ulster having just come through both a degree and a Master's at Queen's University, to earning his first development contract with the province
- His highlights and lowlights across his 122 caps for Ulster, which included the lifting of the Celtic League in 2006 and Celtic Cup in 2004
- Featuring for Ireland at the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, and some hilarious stories of what went on behind the scenes
- Moving to Northampton Saints to play under Jim Mallinder in 2008, and why he felt such an affinity with the club, to the point he continued living there while playing for Worcester Warrior and London Scottish
- Post-playing career and moving into the Marine Industry as a Loss Adjustor, with all that that has entailed
- Life in Singapore, playing & coaching rugby - setting up Singapore Irish and continuing to play at an amateur level (pre-pandemic)
- His thoughts on the Six Nations and his favourites to win the tournament
Hopefully you enjoy the episode as much as I enjoyed speaking with Neil - if you do, please like, share and subscribe the episode wherever you see it on social media. I have some really brilliant guests lined up for the coming weeks and months and look forward to sharing them with you all.
In the second episode of the podcast mini-series documenting the fight against COVID-19, I spoke with Diane Thompson - a Band 6 Physiotherapist working in the Southern Trust at Craigavon Area Hospital. Diane has been working on the frontline with COVID since March 2020 when a pandemic was called, impacting all our lives in such incredible and never-before-seen ways.
Diane takes us through how it has been for her and her colleagues facing this unknown virus, how it impacted her role within the Trust and the modifications needed to allow care to be given safely, her personal experiences seeing the devastating impact COVID has had to patients' and families first hand and how she has dealt with it all on a personal level, and importantly - what she looks forward to most when circumstances allow for it.
As I mention in the episode introduction, these are stories you won’t hear widespread across the TV or radio, and one of the reasons I wanted to record these episodes with Diane and others was to help in any way platform these people and the work they do. We all hear frontline staff or key workers and think of them as superheroes to have gone through what was such an unknown to us all pre-March 2020 - so what better way than to show them our respect, listen to how they have dealt with the last 12 months and be there as a helping hand and someone to talk to. If you know anyone who is frontline staff in your family or friends circle, reach out to them: ask them how they are and just listen. I'm so grateful I did so with Diane as I learned so much of her role and what has gone on over the last number of months.
Additional COVID-19: On the Frontline episodes will drop sporadically over the next couple of weeks, but for those not wanting to listen to COVID episodes, my usual interview episodes will re-commence on Monday 1st March with a fantastic guest who regales us with some brilliant stories. Thanks all, and look after yourselves.
In this weeks' episode - a special episode marking the first of a limited time "mini-series" on the fight against COVID-19 released across February 2021, I speak with the remarkable Dr Lindsay Broadbent - virologist and research fellow at Queen's University, Belfast.
In the last 12 months since the inception of the COVID-19 global pandemic, Lindsay has become one of the most sought-after guests for TV and radio shows discussing the intricacies of the virus - particularly given her innate knack of breaking down complex scientific terminology and explanation, and getting the key details across in a way that the vast majority of society will understand.
We discussed, amongst many other points of note;
- Lindsay's life pre-virology studies
- Her research studies and PhD topic, and the details around the virus she specialised in pre-COVID
- Taking us back to January 2020 and how she and her colleagues reacted and prepared for what was to follow
- A detailed breakdown of how vaccines work and specifically talking about the 3 vaccines currently at play in the UK - Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Oxford AstraZeneca - and how they are different to each other
- Mutations and variations - how these vaccines could be adapted to combat any new mutated threats which may reduce efficacy of current vaccines
- School transmission amongst children and the importance of washing masks after each use, and not re-using (without hot washes) where possible
- Social Media & blocking idiot trolls
- Lindsay's journey with mental health through her lifetime and how she has handled the media interest of the last 12 months
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with each of my guests to date, but this is perhaps my most enjoyable episode to record yet. As you'll hear yourself, Lindsay is an absolute delight and such a pleasant person to speak to. I felt better informed and educated after having spoken with her for just over an hour, and I trust you may do also! Sit back and enjoy the episode, and don't forget to feed back if you enjoyed it.
In this week's episode I spoke with Graham Keddie, Managing Director of Belfast International Airport. Graham has been in the aviation industry for over 3 decades and been MD of BFS since 2014 - quite simply, if there's anything in the aviation sector worth knowing, Graham knows it.
In the episode, Graham gives candid responses and discussion on each of my question - where we covered the below and much more;
- Graham's own history in aviation & the multiple roles he has held and airports/cities worldwide worked in
- How COVID-19 will see 30-35 years of continued growth for the airport practically vanish into thin air (losing 4.5million passengers during a pandemic)
- The actions the airport has had to take to function throughout a pandemic with fractional passenger numbers vs any of the last three decades
- Growth plans for Belfast Intl Airport and its infrastructure - including structural plans around the airport buildings and a discussion on the possibility of a better road network to the airport and a train line feeding the airports' public transport network
- An airports' metrics in how they measure success and progression
- "Security gate-gate" - details of the problems the airport faced in 2018 with 11x days of backed up security lines
- Air Passenger Duty - Why this is so important for the UK governments to waive in order to bring the airport and airlines in line with EU countries & accelerate potential growth post-COVID
- How Brexit has impacted the airport, if at all
- A discussion on mental health & what we need to be talking about much more than we do
- What Graham would say to his 18year old self, and why
This was a hugely enjoyable episode to record with a gentleman - someone I've followed on social media for the last few years and who I genuinely wish every success for along with his management team and airport staff, as we all navigate through and out of this pandemic in the coming months and years.
I would love to hear your thoughts! On this episode, on other episodes, on who you would like to hear from in future episodes, and so on. Please as always like and share this episode wide, but also get in touch with me on social media by searching In the Hot Seat or Stevie Henning - on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn and let me know your thoughts! Look after yourselves, stay safe and speak very soon.
In this weeks' episode, I spoke with the hugely inspirational Chris Lynch. Born in Northern Ireland with osteogenesis imperfecta - or as you and I might know it more commonly as "brittle bone disease", Chris has been overcoming adversity from the time that he was a baby all the way through to adulthood.
Suffering his first fracture as a baby while his parents changed him, he was then diagnosed and what followed has been a life with major milestones, incredible achievements and a massive amount of life experiences which he speaks through on the episode and honestly, I felt inspired by so much of what he had to say.
Chris also speaks in detail about how he worked on "The Disability Paradox" - a TV episode as part of the True North series on BBC, and still available on iPlayer for anyone who wants to watch it - I would strongly encourage you to do so as it's a fascinating watch.
In the episode, Chris presents and co-produces as he studies his own life and that of others with disabilities in NI and the UK to understand the "disability paradox" - which is to ask, can you have a disability and lead a happy and fulfilled life.
After listening back to this episode, I can safely say Chris has done so and, while his disability may have presented more roadblocks that anyone would care to see - even to this day - Chris has overcome all of these to become one of the most inspirational people I can recall seeing on TV and then luckily, having the opportunity to meet and become friends with.
I hope you enjoy the episode - if you do please don't forget to like & share on social media and with your friends & family. Your support as always is hugely appreciated - and in a week where we featured in Belfast Telegraph's "Podcasts worth a listen", I sincerely hope you think this one was worth a listen, and come back for more every week! Look after yourselves, and speak soon.
In this weeks' episode - a must listen in my eyes for everybody out there - I spoke with Siobhan O'Neill, Mental Health Champion for Northern Ireland. Siobhan was appointed MHC following the agreement of the "New Decade, New Approach" deal which saw the Northern Ireland Assembly back up and running after 3 years of no first-hand government in NI - and it was Siobhan's many years of psychology and mental health research & teaching that put her forward as the best person for the role.
In the episode, Siobhan talks with me on a range of subjects;
- More on her background & the appointment of MHC for NI
- Tips & guidance on "self-care" and why it could be the most important thing you could focus on in 2021
- Developing a world-class 10 year mental health strategy for Northern Ireland and the roll-out which will happen over the coming months and years
- Schools & the impact of home-schooling in a pandemic to a child's development and social skills
- How to turn stress into a positive by channeling it to action with purpose
- How we as a society move out of a pandemic later in 2021 and what we all need to remember and not take for granted moving forward
- Focusing on the present - not the past and not the future - but being in the now and building routines of communication and looking after yourself in the right ways to stay on top of everything
This was a really enjoyable and thought-provoking episode to record - and one I'm honoured to have had the chance to chat through with the delightful Siobhan O'Neill. I hope you enjoy the episode and please - more important than ever - share this widely as we don't know who amongst us might be struggling and needing some helpful guidance and somebody to know they care as much as in this current time.
Look after yourselves, and speak soon!
In this week's episode, I spoke with the hugely inspirational Irish Hockey international Matthew Bell from Northern Ireland. Matthew is 27 years old, has 105 Ireland caps to his name (an incredible feat in itself at that age) and was playing hockey professionally for his club Crefelder HTC in Germany in late 2019 when, after a period of dizzy spells and sickness, was to be told the news that he had a brain tumour the size of 3 golf balls.
In the episode we explore Matthew's upbringing, his relationship with his family who have been his side from the very start, the journey he took with his illness from diagnosis through to rehabilitation & the outlook it has taught him to have for life moving forward.
Amongst other things, we touch on;
- How Hockey was always the #1 goal, from childhood all the way to playing professionally and representing Ireland
- The story in detail of how Matthew was to be told of his diagnosis, the resulting journey he and his family were forced to take as he underwent multiple surgeries and further stresses in working out how to get him home to Northern Ireland for cancer treatment
- Matthew's ambitions in recovery & getting back to full fitness to represent Ireland again and qualify for the 2024 Olympics
- A hopeful turn-out for Banbridge Hockey Club at the end of the 20/21 season
- And his gratitude for his family, friends, hockey community and healthcare staff who stood by his side in his most difficult times
I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed speaking with Matthew and being awe-struck at this journey. If you do enjoy the episode, please like, share, retweet and pass it on to help it go wider - and don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for new episode releases every Monday morning. Thanks as always for the support, and for listening.
In this week's episode - the first of 2021 - I spoke with the fantastic Stephen Watson, sports reporter for the BBC and someone who has graced our screens for what feels like a lifetime - in the best possible way.
What Stephen doesn't know about Northern Irish sport is simply not worth knowing, and it's that passion that comes through in this episode.
We spoke about a range of topics, including;
- Being a sports reporter in the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic with no live sport to report on
- Doorbell ringing 5minutes before going live on air - from the conservatory!
- Stephen's battles with his kidney - from first transplant 30 years ago to discovering his kidney was failing while filming a documentary on the renal unit in Belfast City Hospital, through to his dialysis journey & receiving his second transplant in late 2019
- What kept him going during that time - a passion for work & devoting free time to working with Age NI and speaking with those who have nobody to speak to - not realising how much it was also helping himself
- Covering some of the biggest sporting events & tournaments in NI and worldwide
- What Stephen makes of Ulster Rugby's season so far, and what constitutes a successful season for the province
- Rory McIlroy and what lies ahead in 2021 and beyond
- Whether NI will ever see a world-class motor-racing venue in Stephen's lifetime
Make sure to hit a like, share, retweet and subscribe if you enjoy the episode.
Thanks a million, and see you next time!
In this weeks' episode with the one and only Darren Cave, Ulster Rugby legend - we covered a raft of topics and could have spoken for much longer on a number of topics.
As I mention at the start of the episode, this was recorded the Monday before Christmas - unfortunately just before the news broke about Marcell Coetzee's impending end-of-season move to the Bulls - I bring this up because Marcell's important to Ulster is mentioned a number of times (rightly) but the reason you won't hear us discussing his move is because we weren't aware of it at that time.
Amongst these were;
- Looking back at Cavey's 12 years with Ulster Rugby as well as his 11 caps with the Irish national team (including massive frustration while on Summer tours)
- How the professional game has changed since he started in 2006/2007 with Ulster and where he left it in 2019
- Behind the scenes of Ulster Rugby - the training ground move to the Kingspan Stadium & how he felt Ravenhill on a Friday was kept magical for the players
- What do Ulster need to move to the next level?
- Favourite memories with the province & any regrets
- Announcing his retirement in 2019 and his huge frustration at lack of playing time playing a part in the decision
- Fatherhood & how it has helped the transition from playing full-time to post-retirement
- Dealing with injuries, particularly post-retirement - a detailed discussion about services laid on by clubs to retired players
- Social Media harassment of players and why something needs to be done for the sake of mental health
- Best players he has played with and against
- His view on Ireland's best centre pairing
- And finally, what he would say to an 18yo Darren Cave & advice to youngsters playing the game
This episode has heaps to listen back and laugh to, great stories being told and insights into the world of professional rugby at Ulster. A huge thanks to Darren Cave for his time and candidness in recording this episode. As always, keen to hear your thoughts on if you enjoyed this or if not, why you didn't - and if you can share / Retweet / post anything on these episodes, it is so hugely appreciated!
In this week's episode (Ep #009) I had David Blevins of Sky News in the "Hot Seat" to talk through his career spanning 25 years at Sky and some of the key moments and events that have shaped that time with the broadcaster here in Northern Ireland. This was honestly one of my favourite recordings yet, as David is so insightful with his stories and musings on key themes & topics, so much so whatever your background or interest in politics & current affairs, you absolutely will take something away from this episode.
Amongst many other topics, we discussed;
- Reporting on the Omagh Bombings and the lasting impact that has had on David's association with the town
- Live on the Frontline: How it feels to report from the front lines of violence with rioting and disputes alongside gunshots, bomb blasts and more
- The impact of reporting on this violence to journalists' mental health & mindfulness and the importance of good support
- Interviewing US Presidents, Irish Presidents, Prime Ministers and First/Deputy First Ministers & memorable moments from those interviews
- The importance of protecting good & proper journalism from accusations of fake news, evolving with the prevalence of social media & condemnation of threats to journalists for simply doing their jobs
- Reporting on Stormont in 2020 & the impact of COVID to how news correspondents need to work differently with the regulations
As above, I know if you listen to this you will find it engrossing and entertaining in equal measure (take it from someone who has listened to it back 3x times and would happily go back again!).
As with every episode, I'm extremely keen to get any feedback you might have or any suggestions you might also have on guests I should look to have on in the future. Please do get in touch with me - on Twitter @steviehenning or @inthehotseatpod, or on Instagram @stevie.henning or @inthehotseatpodcast - every like, share, Retweet and subscription means more than you could know to me, so please keep sharing if you're enjoying these.
I'll be back with one more episode next week prior to Christmas, but in the meantime I wish you all a very happy Christmas and New Year with your families, however different they may be this year. Stay safe and look after yourselves.
In this weeks' episode I was delighted to interview one of the kindest and nicest people you will ever meet walking this earth - a man who has an unrivalled passion for all things Belfast and particularly the two industries (Hospitality & Arts) he holds dear - Gerry White.
Gerry founded Jawbox Gin in 2016 after years of debating whether to do so or not, and in the episode he talks us around the planning for that, how he came to find his distillery & some incredible stories around launching a gin that has, since launching, won National Gin Awards and sits on the shelf of all top off licenses and supermarket shelves.
We discussed a whole range of topics, including;
- COVID's Impact to the NI Hospitality Industry
- The life & times of Gerry White pre-Jawbox Gin
- How Gerry found the inspiration for the name, the bottle design & more
- The "Perfect Serve" - In a podcast-first, we pour a gin together and toast to Jawbox's continued prosperous future
- The importance of Local Arts & Design to Gerry and how he promotes local talent wherever he can
- What's next for the Jawbox Gin brand...including small details of what's to come in 2021
This was such an enjoyable episode to record with a truly great man, and one I know you will enjoy at home - Gerry's stories alone could sell out a theatre!
Sit back and enjoy the episode, and if you enjoy this one and/or are enjoying the other episodes, every like, Retweet, share on social media & subscription to the podcast is so massively appreciated by me. Thank you all for listening, and speak to you soon!
In this special episode, I speak with Margaret Gallagher, Head of Local Campaigns for the NSPCC in Northern Ireland across a range of topics.
This episode is a critical listen for so many of us - parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles, friends of those with kids, siblings and so on.
I'm confident there won't be anything spoken about in this episode that you won't walk away from feeling more informed and educated on how to handle conversations with children on issues but also how to ensure they are staying safe.
Margaret and I covered a number of themes, as below;
- How have children coped throughout the COVID-19 pandemic?
- What advice can parents & relatives take from the NSPCC's learnings to reassure children throughout these times
- Online safety through increased online interaction, e.g. distance learning, use of social media apps such as TikTok etc
- A radically different Christmas for many families, financially & practically, and how this can be managed for families and discussions with children
- The importance of good mental health & mindfulness for both adults and children, and support functions that are there to help
- Some local campaigns the NSPCC are running across interaction & engagement in the critical 0-3 years of a babies' life as well as the PANTS campaign designed to make conversations about a difficult subject like sexual abuse, easier to speak about from a child's POV
I took so much from this conversation with Margaret, and know that you will too. Keep this episode saved to whatever device you listen to, as there may well be advice you can refer back to at a later date or whenever some elements may apply more specifically to your circumstances. If you enjoy the episode, as always if you could please share this widely with everyone you think might benefit in listening, and any new subscriptions to the podcast are massively appreciated.
Thanks, and stay safe!
In this episode of the podcast, we speak to the brilliant Northern Irish comedian, Shane Todd.
You might know him as one of his alter-ego sketch characters - Mike McGoldrick, Keith Cruise, Wee Dean Davidson & more, but join us as we talk all things comedy, Shane's career path and obstacles along the way, the impact of COVID to his livelihood and ability to gig & how it's been becoming a father during lockdown - amongst much more.
- Shane's career path and obstacles along the way
- The impact of COVID to his livelihood and ability to gig
- Becoming a father during lockdown
- An exclusive on a new gig planned for November 2021
- How Mike McGoldrick was created
- Battling trolls on social media
- & Why we should install 90x statues outside Stormont for each of our MLAs
Really hope you enjoy the episode - remember to subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already - you'll get notifications first, as soon as a new episode drops - and if it's possible to do so, share the pod wide with family & friends and leave comments and reviews on the platform you use.
See you next time for a special one-off episode!
In this episode we were joined by the brilliant John Cooney - Ulster & Ireland scrum-half.
If you're a rugby fan you're not going to want to miss this episode, but it has so much and more for you even if you're not!
We covered a number of themes and topics on the episode, including;
- John's career path from schoolboy rugby and on to provincial rugby, seeing him compete at 3 of Ireland's 4 province teams - Leinster, Connacht & Ulster
- Some of the best - and most difficult - times at each of those provinces
- How he has battled multiple injuries & included mindfulness in his recovery to ensure long-term resilience
- Elation & disappointment with the national team, and his focus following his latest frustrations
- How John, his girlfriend and dog (who makes an appearance on the episode) have made Belfast & Ulster their home
- The use of social media by professional athletes & the highs and lows associated with it
- What's on the plan for the next 5 years - personally & professionally
This was such a refreshing episode to record with a professional athlete who gave us an incredible insight into his background, what makes him tick and advice for others on dealing with injury and setbacks. You can find John on Instagram at @johncooney00 and the podcast at @inthehotseatpodcast, while on Twitter it's @inthehotseatpod
All support is massively appreciated - please remember to subscribe and leave a comment/rating where it's possible to do so - thanks again for listening and see you soon for Episode 6!
In this special episode, recorded to recap the US Election and the victory called for President-Elect Joe Biden, we speak with Niall Stanage, a Belfast-born White House columnist living in Washington D.C. reporting for The Hill newspaper.
Niall has lived in the US since 2004, and covered Barack Obama's 8-year term at the White House - writing a book covering Obama's rise to Presidency, titled "Redemption Song: Barack Obama: From Hope to Reality". He has also extensively covered the last 4 years of the Trump administration alongside the most recent campaign trail for both candidates for President of the United States.
Niall gives us his unique and eloquent take on a number of topics;
- Where does the US stand now post-election, with legal disputes delaying any concession from the current President?
- What happens next, and what we can expect to see from President Joe Biden in his first year in office
- Memories of his coverage of Barack Obama's election victory and subsequent Presidency, and anecdotes from his time covering the Trump administration
- Charting his career path from school years in Belfast, studying at Oxford University and subsequent job roles in Belfast, Dublin, New York and now Washington D.C.
If you enjoy the episode, please make sure to subscribe to the podcast and share on social media where possible with family and friends - any and all support very much appreciated.
To follow Niall's work more closely, make sure to follow him on Twitter at @niallstanage and check out The Hill website to see his articles on all things US Politics. Thanks for listening!
In this episode we're joined by the brilliantly insightful Emma deSouza, a civic rights' campaigner who fought legal battles with the UK Home Office over her rights within the Good Friday Agreement.
Following her marriage to husband Jake in 2015, after deciding on Belfast as their new family home, Emma knew her rights as an Irish citizen under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement yet encountered a number of immigration legal disputes as the UK government contested the terminology from within the Agreement they had a direct part to play in.
Emma takes us through the timeline of her legal battles, her background as an Irish person growing up in Northern Ireland and what the future holds for her and Jake from both a professional and personal nature.
You can keep up to date with Emma and her work by visiting her website at weareirishtoo.com or her Twitter profile at @EmmandJDeSouza
If you enjoy the episode, please make sure to subscribe to stay up to date with new episode drops, give us a 5* rating on iTunes and share via social media and family & friends. All support is so massively appreciated, so thank you.
In this episode we speak with 3x hugely interesting guests from the Arts & Hospitality industry;
- Brian Donaldson - Self-employed chef & representative for #ExcludedNI
- Stevie Higginson - Proprietor & chef of Square Bistro, Lisburn
- Neil Collins - Self-employed musician
Throughout the conversation we explore how both industries have navigated COVID-19 and the restrictions and regulations enforced upon them, how mixed messaging and inconsistency from government has impacted livelihoods and mental health and what it will take for us all to get out the other side of COVID-19 with the Arts & Hospitality industries still intact.
In this first episode of the In The Hotseat podcast, we interview Aodhán Connolly, Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC) on all things Brexit & how the retail industry has managed to navigate COVID-19 and a global pandemic.
Aodhán outlines why we should feel optimistic that a trade deal will be agreed between Britain and the EU, just over 2 months out from Britain officially leaving - and explains how retailers have adapted over the last 7 months with COVID.
We also hear from Aodhán and find out a bit more about the man behind the beard! From what makes him tick, to how he looks after his physical and mental health.
Make sure to subscribe to the podcast on whichever platform you're using to listen and if you're able to, please give it a 5* rating - all support is hugely appreciated!