EE442 - Mentor Moment with Keith Barry: Why Going Against the Algorithm Works
When everyone else is chasing trends, mentalist and hypnotist Keith Barry goes the opposite direction. In this Mentor Moment, Keith reveals how leaning into long-form content—when everyone else was focused on short-form Reels—helped him go viral and land major event bookings. He also shares how he uses platforms like LinkedIn in unconventional ways to connect with decision-makers and why valuing yourself, your energy, and your unique approach is key to standing out.
🎧 This bite-sized insight is taken from Episode 397 of The Entrepreneur Experiment Podcast, where Keith shares his full journey and business lessons. If you want to hear more from Keith, listen back to the full episode now.
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EE441 - From 0 to 5 Million Views in 1 Week: The Adults-Only Café That Went Viral
In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary sits down with Alan Andrews, the unapologetically honest founder behind Old Barracks Roastery and Guji Coffee Bar. Known for his bold social content and Ireland’s most controversial coffee shop (no kids allowed, dogs welcome, €15 cups of coffee), Alan lifts the lid on the real cost of starting and scaling a successful hospitality business.
He breaks down the myths that plague the coffee industry — from delusional €10K startup budgets to the glorification of hustle culture — and explains why €100K is the minimum buy-in for building a sustainable, profitable coffee business. Alan also shares the deeply personal reasons behind his adults-only policy, how he prioritises family without sacrificing growth, and why honesty (not trends) should drive your brand strategy.
This episode is a masterclass in branding, business modelling, and living by your values — one cup at a time.
Show Notes:
In this episode, we cover:
☕ The Real Costs of Starting a Coffee Shop
Why €10K won’t cut it, and what you actually need to spend
How Alan built a coffee bar in Limerick for €100K — and what that buys you
The weekly turnover benchmark every shop needs to survive: €10K
📈 Sustainability in Hospitality
Are you building a job or a business?
The industry’s problem with low-barrier entry and poor planning
Why coffee deserves the same pricing architecture as wine or steak
🔥 Polarising Branding & Standing Out
The €15 coffee that sparked national debate
Adults-only cafes: creating intentional spaces for deep connection
Why Alan doesn't care if everyone likes him — and how it’s his superpower
🎯 Transparent Social Media Marketing
Alan’s viral TikToks on coffee costs and customer misconceptions
How to win on social in 2025: go real, go niche, get honest
"The customer isn’t always right — sometimes they’re just not your customer."
👨👧 Entrepreneurship & Fatherhood
The hidden reason Alan created a kid-free cafe
How divorce and co-parenting shaped his time philosophy
The ultimate goal: build a business that doesn’t cost you your family
💬 “You didn’t even buy yourself a job — you bought yourself a trap. You’re working 14 hours a day, making no money, and calling it entrepreneurship.”
Links & Resources:
Visit Old Barracks Roastery (Birdhill): https://oldbarracks.ie/
Follow Alan on TikTok: @oldbarracksroastery
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In this Mentor Moment, Gary Fox speaks with Sahil Bloom — investor, writer, and creator — about how his definition of success has transformed. Once focused purely on financial outcomes, Sahil now measures success through time, people, purpose, and health, seeing money as a natural byproduct rather than the goal.
He also shares a refreshing take on imposter syndrome, reframing it as a sign of growth and a tax on personal progress, and explains why asking “Why not me?” is the mindset shift every founder needs when stepping into bigger rooms.
This is a short but powerful conversation packed with perspective shifts to help you redefine success on your own terms.
To listen to the full episode, go to episode number 401.
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EE439 - From 5 Cafés to 800 Locations: How Bobby Kerr Built and Sold Insomnia Coffee
In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with one of Ireland’s most recognisable business voices, Bobby Kerr — founder of Perk, former CEO and Chairman of Insomnia, investor, broadcaster, and champion of Irish enterprise.
Bobby shares his remarkable journey from starting his first business at 39 — remortgaging his house with a newborn at home — to building Insomnia into over 800 locations across Ireland through smart partnerships, relentless drive, and a willingness to bet on himself.
He reveals the lessons learned from navigating the arrival of Starbucks, the power of merging with competitors to scale, and why focusing on multiple revenue streams saved the business more than once. Bobby also opens up about selling in 2018 after a cancer diagnosis, the freedom he’s designed for himself since, and the businesses exciting him today, from Bread 41 to Irish tourism.
Whether you’re an early-stage founder or a seasoned entrepreneur, Bobby’s story is a masterclass in vision, resilience, and knowing when to play the long game.
Show Notes
In this episode, we cover:
☕ How Bobby spotted Ireland’s coffee culture shift before it happened
🏪 The first Perk café on Grafton Street — and why a turnover-based rent deal was a game-changer
📉 Surviving Starbucks opening next door (and why it helped sales)
🤝 The three-way merger that became Insomnia — and why owning 30% of something bigger was better than 100% of his own
📈 Growing from 5 cafés to 200+ shops and 600 convenience store locations
💡 Creating three revenue streams: high street, concessions, and convenience retail
🛑 The importance of multiple revenue streams to de-risk a business
⚡ Why Bobby sold in 2018 after recovering from cancer
🍞 Why Bread 41 is his “most exciting” current project
🌍 Opportunities in Irish tourism and the bakery market
🎯 What he looks for when backing founders (and why it’s “the jockey, not the horse”)
📚 Bobby’s top book recommendations, daily habits, and best investment advice
Links & Resources
Bread 41 – Award-winning Irish bakery: https://bread41.ie/
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
The Spider Covenant by Brian Klein
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In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Áine Kerr, the award-winning journalist, serial entrepreneur behind startups including Storyful (acquired by News Corp), and Kinzen (acquired by Spotify). From teaching in Dublin classrooms to building Storyful alongside Mark Little, leading global journalism partnerships at Facebook, and launching her second successful startup, Áine shares the lessons she’s learned from a “squiggly career” defined by reinvention, resilience, and purpose.
Áine reveals the realities of startup life, why suffering and recommitment are part of the journey, and how she built extraordinary teams that continue to shape the future of technology and media. Whether you're a first-time founder or a seasoned entrepreneur, this episode is a masterclass in perseverance, finding your “why,” and creating impact-driven businesses.
Show Notes
In this episode, we cover:
🔥 How Áine transitioned from teacher to journalist to tech entrepreneur
🚀 The early days of Storyful and the lessons from its sale to News Corp
💡 Why she started Kinzen and how it was acquired by Spotify
📈 The importance of radical transparency, resilience, and “recommitting to the suffering” of startup life
🤝 How to build high-performing teams that outgrow even the founder
🌍 Ireland’s entrepreneurial tipping point and why local ecosystems matter
🧠 The power of asking the right questions and leading without ego
🎯 Why duality (fear and courage) is key to any founder’s journey
💬 “If you have radical clarity on your why, people will back you; even if you have to do half a dozen resets and pivots.” – Áine Kerr
Links & Resources
Áine Kerr on LinkedIn
Kinzen
Rethink Ireland
Gaisce – The President’s Award
The Shona Project
Dogpatch Labs
AwakenHub
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Every week, I sit down with extraordinary founders to explore how they build thriving businesses, maintain peak physical health, and cultivate sharp, resilient minds.
This is your journey to learn from the best—world-class entrepreneurs, elite thinkers, and peak performers who have mastered success in business, body, and brain.
This isn’t just a podcast; it’s a blueprint for a new kind of founder—one who balances ambition with wellness, hard work with mental fitness, and success with purpose.
Together, we’ll discover the habits, systems, and strategies they use to create their unique formulas for success.
Join me as you learn how to build like a founder, train like an athlete, and think like an artist—so we can all find our formula for success.
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