10forty

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, including overseas deployments — even celebrating his 18th birthday in Liberia. He reflects candidly on life overseas, early lessons in responsibility and the realities of military life, which he looks back on with genuine pride.

We dive into:
• Life in the army and the mindset required to perform under pressure
• Advice for parents whose son or daughter is considering joining the Defence Forces
• What to do if you’re thinking about leaving the army and transitioning to civilian life
• How 90% of our actions are driven by the subconscious mind
• Martin’s approach to coaching, business and becoming the person you want to be known as

Martin also explains the inspiration behind writing his book Change Your Jacket, including the powerful moment that sparked it — a simple question about why someone wore a different jacket and what they had to do to earn it. We discuss the full process of writing the book, identity change and the mental shift required when moving from soldier to civilian.

Other key topics include:
• Why ideas “pick you” when you’re in the right state of mind
• How Martin was selected as the face of a VW pickup truck ad (2026) from over 400 candidates
• Sending out the right “vibrational frequency”
• Practical steps to change your situation
• Why you shouldn’t commit to an identity you’re no longer happy with
• Getting yourself tuned into “Unstoppable FM”

We also talk about Martin’s work today, his business and his mission to help others reinvent themselves mentally, physically and professionally.
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🔗 Connect with Martin Brady
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-brady-a219ba169/
• Podcast – Reinventing Yourself: https://open.spotify.com/show/2WMJItYWFdxSyJXqohnXkS
• Book – Change Your Jacket: https://www.amazon.ie/Change-your-jacket-military-performance/dp/B0FGB5PBFY

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in mindset, personal transformation, military life, or becoming unstoppable in the next chapter of their life.

This episode is proudly sponsored by:

Top Drawer Talent — Supply Chain & Procurement Specialists, helping businesses hire top-tier talent across Ireland and internationally.

Nesta Storage — secure, flexible storage solutions for businesses and individuals, offering modern facilities, short- and long-term options, and peace of mind when space matters.

IT.ie — trusted IT support and managed services, delivering reliable technology solutions that keep businesses connected, secure, and running smoothly.

HERE WE GO!

Are you interested in sharing your career journey on the podcast? Whether you're keen to talk about your path or promote a specific job or career route, we'd love to hear from you.

Drop us a line at [email protected] — we’ll get the coffees in! ☕

Sponsorships: Want to partner? Reach out to us at [email protected]

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 taught. From there, we trace his unconventional path to becoming one of Ireland’s most respected tech founders.

We go deep on Manna — how the operation actually works day to day, the global expansion plans and Bobby’s ambitious moonshot to make Manna the largest drone delivery business in the world. He openly shares what it’s like taking venture capital for the first time, why he decided to do it, the trade-offs involved and the current burn rate required to build something truly category-defining.

This episode is packed with insight on hiring and firing at scale. Bobby explains his hiring philosophy, including his obsession with “downloading people’s brains” during final-round interviews, how he evaluates raw potential over credentials and whether he’d hire someone straight out of the Junior Cert. We also discuss boards, giving up shares and the real benefits strong governance can bring when done properly.

One of the standout moments is Bobby’s story about running an incubator of 25 Leaving Cert students — and how several of those students still work with him today. It leads into a powerful conversation on what’s broken in the education system, what he would change and how he believes a more modern, skills-first approach should look for young people.

We also ask the big questions:
• Would he ever sell Manna?
• What does he look for in people he wants to work for him?
• How should founders think about capital, control, and ambition?

To round things out, Bobby shares how he spends his downtime — often coding or “vibe coding”, constantly learning, building, and experimenting.

If you’re interested in building businesses, hiring exceptional people, raising capital, or thinking differently about education and work, this episode is not to be missed.

Connect with Bobby
Twitter: https://x.com/realBobbyHealy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhealy?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app

Manna: https://www.manna.aero/
This episode is proudly sponsored by:

Top Drawer Talent — Supply Chain & Procurement Specialists, helping businesses hire top-tier talent across Ireland and internationally.

Nesta Storage — secure, flexible storage solutions for businesses and individuals, offering modern facilities, short- and long-term options, and peace of mind when space matters.

IT.ie — trusted IT support and managed services, delivering reliable technology solutions that keep businesses connected, secure, and running smoothly.

HERE WE GO!

Are you interested in sharing your career journey on the podcast? Whether you're keen to talk about your path or promote a specific job or career route, we'd love to hear from you.

Drop us a line at [email protected] — we’ll get the coffees in! ☕

Sponsorships: Want to partner? Reach out to us at [email protected]

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 Australia, the lessons he brought home, and how he landed his first role in real estate—before going on to set up Ray Cooke Estate Agents and open his first office in Clondalkin, a move that would become the foundation of a hugely successful business.

Ray breaks down:
• The different routes into becoming an estate agent
• How to obtain your licence and what people often get wrong starting out
• What it really takes to build and scale a property business
• The roles he’s currently hiring for
• And what he looks for when hiring

A great-listen for anyone interested in property, entrepreneurship, sales, or building a career from the ground up.

This episode is proudly sponsored by:

Top Drawer Talent — Supply Chain & Procurement Specialists, helping businesses hire top-tier talent across Ireland and internationally.

Nesta Storage — secure, flexible storage solutions for businesses and individuals, offering modern facilities, short- and long-term options, and peace of mind when space matters.

IT.ie — trusted IT support and managed services, delivering reliable technology solutions that keep businesses connected, secure, and running smoothly.

HERE WE GO!

Are you interested in sharing your career journey on the podcast?

Whether you're keen to talk about your path or promote a specific job or career route, we'd love to hear from you.

Drop us a line at [email protected] — we’ll get the coffees in! ☕

Sponsorships: Want to partner? Reach out to us at [email protected]

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 intensive care, working as an ICU nurse in one of the most demanding environments in healthcare.

While working full-time in critical care, Andy began investing in UK property from abroad — learning how to build wealth remotely while living and working in the UAE. That same curiosity and drive eventually led him to launch Secret Abu Dhabi.

What started as a content idea quickly grew into the go-to media platform for Abu Dhabi, covering food, lifestyle, culture, events, and hidden gems across the city. Today, Secret Abu Dhabi is a trusted voice for locals, expats, and visitors alike.

In this episode, Andy shares:
How working in ICU shaped his mindset and work ethic
Making bold career moves and relocating internationally
Investing in UK property while living in the UAE
Building and scaling a media brand from the ground up
What it really takes to spot opportunity and back yourself

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone considering a career pivot, building a side hustle alongside a demanding job, or creating something meaningful in a new market.

🎙️ From night shifts to news feeds — this is the rise of Secret Abu Dhabi.

Connect with Andy
Connect with Andy Edwards on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-edwards-39a6aa187/
Visit Secret Abu Dhabi: https://secretabudhabi.ae/
Follow Secret Abu Dhabi on Instagram:
👉 Search Secret Abu Dhabi on Instagram for daily food, lifestyle, events, and hidden gems across the capital
This episode is brought to you by Top Drawer Talent — the Supply Chain & Procurement Specialists.

HERE WE GO!

Are you interested in sharing your career journey on the podcast? Whether you're keen to talk about your path or promote a specific job or career route, we'd love to hear from you.

Drop us a line at [email protected] — we’ll get the coffees in!
☕ Sponsorships: Want to partner? Reach out to us at [email protected]

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 to play by the rules, to building a cult following and carving out a unique space in the Irish food world. Drawing on lessons from his market stall beginnings and a typical Dublin upbringing, David brings raw honesty about the grit it takes to run a modern food business.

This episode dives deep into brand building, resilience, and what it really takes to stand out in a crowded market.

Whether you’re a founder, foodie, or just looking for inspiration to do things your own way — this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Contact David

https://www.instagram.com/baked_to_death/?hl=en

https://www.tiktok.com/@baked_to_death?lang=en

Drop In

353 Ballyfermot Rd, Cherry Orchard, Dublin 10, D10 WN70

This episode is brought to you by Top Drawer Talent — the Supply Chain & Procurement Specialists.

HERE WE GO!

Are you interested in sharing your career journey on the podcast? Whether you're keen to talk about your path or promote a specific job or career route, we'd love to hear from you.

Drop us a line at [email protected] — we’ll get the coffees in! ☕

Sponsorships: Want to partner? Reach out to us at [email protected]