Digg Podcast

• E158: Leader Lessons for Unshakable Confidence with Marie Gleeson

  Marie Gleeson is a former Irish Naval Officer, leadership consultant, and keynote speaker who helps leaders build confidence, adapt to change, and inspire high-performance teams.Marie shares powerful leadership lessons from her military career, from commanding ships in unpredictable seas to making critical decisions under pressure.She reveals how to develop leadership skills that earn trust, stay composed in fast-changing situations, and lead teams with clarity and purpose. Marie discusses the mindset shifts, communication strategies, and decision-making tools every business leader needs to thrive in uncertain times.For practical insights on confident leadership, team management, and navigating change in business, this conversation with Marie Gleeson offers strategies you can apply immediately.Links from EpisodeMarie GleesonLinkedIn - https://ie.linkedin.com/in/mariegleesonnavmarleadership Brought to you in partnership with ScoreApphttp://scoreapp.com/digg Get 50% Off the first month using the discount code diggLocation Partner for Series 12 - Carrickdale Hotel and Spahttps://www.carrickdale.com/ Use Digg20 to receive 20% off all stays booked for 2025, once booked by the end of September

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• E157: Living with ME/CFS: Shelley Cowan’s Fight for Freedom and Accessibility

  At 15, Shelley Cowan was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition that left her confined to bed for 12 years and using a wheelchair for another decade. Today, she walks with assistance, but her real strength lies in her incredible spirit and unwavering determination.In this episode Shelley takes us back to the beginning: the moment her life changed, the darkest days spent in isolation, and the powerful, emotional moment she stood up again for the first time. She talks about internal battles, physical pain, the pressure to appear strong, and the courage it takes to keep showing up.Shelley also shares her work as co-founder of JustUs, an inclusive social group for adults with disabilities, and her mission through Access Avenue, helping businesses become truly accessible. And in one of her most powerful achievements to date, Shelley climbed the Stairway to Heaven in 2024 - 3.72 miles of grit and heart, all to raise funds for a cause close to her.This is a conversation about hope, inclusion, and finding joy in every possible moment, no matter the obstacles.Links from EpisodeShelley CowanInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/shelleycowan_/ Access Avenue Websitehttps://accessavenue.co.uk/about-me-inspirational-speaker/ Brought to you in Partnership with McNicholl Caravanshttps://mcnichollcaravans.com/ Location Partner for Series 12 - Carrickdale Hotel and Spahttps://www.carrickdale.com/ Use Digg20 to receive 20% off all stays booked for 2025, once booked by the end of September

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• E156: How to Turn Bold Ideas into Global Clients: Ryan Crown, Crown Creative

  Ryan Crown is the founder of Crown Creative, a Belfast-born, globally operating creative agency working with some of the biggest names in hospitality, including The Dead Rabbit, Waldorf Astoria, St. Regis, Marriott and Hilton. In this episode, Ryan shares the bold moves that took him from freelancing as a student to designing award-winning brands and interiors for world-class hotels, restaurants, and bars.From landing his first role in New York through sheer self-belief, to building long-term creative partnerships with global clients, Ryan opens up about risk-taking, strategy, building the right team, and the power of good work attracting more good work. He also tells the inspiring story of co-founding Belfast’s Neighbourhood Café and how applying the same brand-building principles locally has created a space that’s thriving.Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creative, or business leader, this conversation is packed with insights on brand strategy, scaling internationally, and why passion and people are at the heart of lasting success.Links from EpisodeCrown CreativeInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/crowncreative/?hl=en LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/crowncreative Website - https://crowncreative.com/ Brought to you in partnership with ScoreApphttp://scoreapp.com/digg Get 50% Off the first month using the discount code diggLocation Partner for Series 12 - Carrickdale Hotel and Spahttps://www.carrickdale.com/ Use Digg20 to receive 20% off all stays booked for 2025, once booked by the end of SeptemberThis episode was recorded in Crown Creative Studio in Cathedral Quarter, Belfast.

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• E155: Learning Disabilities, Inclusion, and Success: The Inspiring Story of James Martin MBE

  James Martin MBE is an Oscar and BAFTA-winning actor, Mencap ambassador, and an inspiring advocate for people with learning disabilities.Karen Gilgunn is a senior representative of Mencap Northern Ireland, working to promote inclusion, dignity, and opportunities for individuals with learning disabilities.James Martin is the first person with Down Syndrome to win an Oscar. In this episode, they discuss:James’s journey from working in Scalini’s and Starbucks to winning an Oscar.How he overcame early predictions that he would never speak.The vital work Mencap is doing to support families amid growing challenges.The Do You See Me campaign and their record-breaking marathon relay team.James’s love for cooking, especially his famous cheesy garlic bread and how he started his acting career with Belvoir’s Babosh drama group.Advice for families and individuals navigating learning disability diagnoses.Why identity and inclusion matter, and how we can all play a role.Links from EpisodeMencap Northern Ireland:https://northernireland.mencap.org.uk/ Do You See Me Campaign – advocating for visibility and inclusionhttps://www.mencap.org.uk/what-we-do/campaigns-and-activism/do-you-see-me Follow James Martin on: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jamesmartin3488/?hl=en  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesmartin848 Are you an employer looking to build a more inclusive workplace? Then get in touch with MENCAP.Brought to you in Partnership with McNicholl Caravanshttps://mcnichollcaravans.com/ Location Partner for Series 12 - Carrickdale Hotel and Spahttps://www.carrickdale.com/ Use Digg20 to receive 20% off all stays booked for 2025, once booked by the end of September

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• E154: From RUC to PSNI: Judith Gillespie CBE on Leadership, Legacy & Resilience

  Judith Gillespie CBE is the former Deputy Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the first woman to hold that rank in Northern Ireland’s policing history.Judith shares her extraordinary leadership journey through the Troubles, the transition from the RUC to PSNI, and the deeply personal experiences that shaped her career, including the darkest days of policing and the heavy cost of terrorism. She opens up about leading under fire, championing inclusion in a male-dominated profession, and the balance between motherhood and public duty. This is a deeply human conversation packed with insights on resilience, integrity, institutional transformation, and building public trust.A must-listen for business leaders, entrepreneurs and decision-makers seeking inspiration and clarity in the face of challenge.Links from EpisodeJudith GillespieLinkedInhttps://uk.linkedin.com/in/judith-gillespie-6a9245275 Brought to you in partnership with ScoreApphttp://scoreapp.com/digg Get 50% Off the first month using the discount code diggLocation Partner for Series 12 - Carrickdale Hotel and Spahttps://www.carrickdale.com/ Use Digg20 to receive 20% off all stays booked for 2025, once booked by the end of September

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