The Natural Resilience Podcast

What do you do when you’re told you’re not good enough?

In this episode of The Natural Resilience Podcast, I sit down with Gareth Steenson, former professional rugby player, to explore how rejection can either break you or build you.

Gareth shares the honest story behind being overlooked, doubted and rejected early in his career — and how he used that experience as fuel. We unpack the “chip on the shoulder” mentality, the culture of winning inside elite sport, and the mindset required to turn setbacks into sustained success.

For founders, CEOs, entrepreneurs and ambitious professionals, this conversation goes far beyond rugby. It’s about grit. It’s about resilience under pressure. It’s about identity, belief and the standards you hold yourself to when no one else is watching.

In this episode, we explore:
• How rejection can become a competitive advantage
• The psychology of high performance and elite sport
• Building a culture of winning
• Turning setbacks into fuel
• The power of belief when others doubt you
• Why resilience is a daily practice, not a personality trait

At Natural Resilience, we believe adversity is not the obstacle — it’s the training ground. Gareth’s story is a powerful example of how embracing rejection can sharpen your edge, strengthen your mindset and ultimately drive long-term success.
If you’re navigating business challenges, leadership pressure or personal setbacks, this episode will challenge you to rethink rejection — and use it.

Subscribe to the channel for conversations on leadership, resilience, founder health and high performance.
If you’d like to experience these conversations live, join us at our next Natural Resilience live podcast event. Tickets available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-natural-resilience-podcast-live-event-tickets-1691771808019?aff=oddtdtcreator

—
Ciaran May
Founder, Natural Resilience

Plate Up for Success | Stevie B on Nutrition, Discipline & High Performance In this episode of the Natural Resilience Podcast, I sit down with Stevie B — private chef, performance-driven health advocate, and founder of the “Plate Up” concept — for a powerful conversation on nutrition, discipline and sustainable high performance.

Titled “Plate Up for Success”, this episode explores how fuelling the body properly isn’t just about aesthetics — it’s about clarity, resilience, energy and leadership. For founders, athletes and ambitious professionals, nutrition is often the hidden lever. Stevie breaks down why discipline is the key to freedom, how structure creates long-term flexibility, and why the food you consume directly impacts your performance in business and in life.

🔶 In This Episode We Cover: • How nutrition fuels leadership and mental clarity • Why discipline creates freedom — not restriction • The psychology of food and performance • Building sustainable habits instead of chasing extremes • How founders can optimise energy and output • Why your body is your most important asset This conversation goes beyond meal plans. It’s about building a lifestyle that supports long-term success, resilience and high performance.

 🔶 About Stevie B Stevie B is a private chef and health-focused entrepreneur known for helping high-performing individuals fuel their bodies for optimal output. Through his “Plate Up” philosophy, he champions balance, intentionality and consistency over short-term fads.

🔶 About Natural Resilience Hosted by Ciaran May, the Natural Resilience Podcast explores leadership, mindset, performance and wellbeing through conversations with elite performers, entrepreneurs and industry leaders.

Learn more: 🌐 www.naturalresilience.co.uk

🎟 NEXT LIVE PODCAST EVENT The next Natural Resilience Live Podcast takes place on: 📅 Thursday 5th March 📍 The Balmoral Hotel, Belfast If you’d like to experience these conversations live — secure your ticket here: 👉 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-natural-resilience-podcast-live-event-tickets-1691771808019?aff=oddtdtcreator

Behaviour Never Lies Your results are driven by your values, not your goals. In this episode of The Natural Resilience Podcast, I’m joined by performance consultant Seamus Fox, who works closely with CEOs and founders on what he calls the inner compass — the values and priorities that shape every decision we make. We explore why behaviour is often the clearest mirror of what we truly value, not what we say we value, and how misalignment between your values and your day-to-day actions can quietly lead to stress, burnout, and loss of authenticity. This conversation is especially relevant for founders operating under pressure — where too much time spent on low-value tasks, constant firefighting, and a lack of delegation or automation can pull you further away from what matters most. In this episode, we discuss: How values are formed and why they become your real priorities Why your behaviour reveals more than your intentions The hidden link between misalignment and founder burnout How high performers protect energy by delegating and automating Building a life and business in true alignment with what matters most If you're a founder striving for performance without losing yourself in the process, this one will land. Learn more about Seamus Fox: Seamus’s Website: https://share.google/fR7v5sPXaUaSlUCHE 🎙 Join us live in Belfast — Natural Resilience Live Podcast Event I’m hosting a special live podcast event on 5th March, bringing together founders, leaders, and high performers for an unforgettable evening of conversation and connection. I will be interviewing national broadcaster Cate Conway and former world boxing champion, Ryan Burnett. Tickets available here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-natural-resilience-podcast-live-event-tickets-1691771808019?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe, share it with another founder, and leave a comment — what value is currently driving your priorities? #NaturalResilience #FounderHealth #Leadership #Values #Performance #BehaviourNeverLies

In this powerful episode, I sit down with former world-title contender, boxing manager and CEO, Jamie Conlan, for an in-depth conversation about resilience, identity, leadership and navigating life at the highest levels of sport and business.

Jamie opens up about:
Growing up in West Belfast and how those early experiences shaped his mindset

The influence of key figures who helped guide him into the boxing world

His rise through the professional ranks and the realities of fighting for a world title

The emotional and physical demands of elite-level sport

Transitioning from athlete to manager, promoter and CEO

The lessons he takes from the ring into decision-making, leadership and business strategy

This episode is packed with insights for founders, leaders and anyone navigating high-pressure environments. Jamie’s journey is a blueprint for reinvention: how to grow, evolve and lead. 

This episode was recorded live at our "Breaking Bread, Building Connections" event. If you want to attend the next Breaking Bread, Building Connections event, join the waiting list here: 👉 https://businessnetwork.scoreapp.com

The Natural Resilience Live Podcast takes place on 5th March in Balmoral Hotel, Belfast where we will be interviewing national broadcaster, Cate Conway and former world boxing champion, Ryan Burnett. Tickets are available here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1691771808019?aff=oddtdtcreator

We would love it if if you could subscribe to our Youtube Channel so that we can continue to bring you the best interviews from leaders in sport and business across Ireland.

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ABOUT BREAKING BREAD, BUILDING CONNECTIONS

A premium event series bringing together founders, CEOs and leaders for meaningful conversation, connection and community. Intimate fireside chats. Real stories. Real insights. High-end networking with heart. 

ABOUT NATURAL RESILIENCE

Founded by Ciaran May, Natural Resilience helps leaders and founders create more health, wealth and freedom through performance coaching, live events, retreats and the Fit Founders Club.

Paddy’s rise is extraordinary:

from a working-class lad in West Belfast,
to selling out the SSE Arena,
to performing to global audiences across America, Canada and Australia.

 But behind the success is a story few people truly know.

Paddy opens up about:

Growing up in West Belfast and the humour that shaped him
The altercation where he had his finger bitten off while working as a doorman
The mental health struggles that followed
How stepping onto a stage and making people laugh became the lifeline that pulled him back
His natural gift for storytelling and capturing the characters of working-class Belfast
The mindset, graft and courage it takes to go from local gigs to world tours
The role he played in the meteoric rise of the comedy scene in Ireland.

This conversation is equal parts hilarious and deeply human. It’s a reminder that resilience often grows in the darkest moments and that purpose can emerge from trauma when you keep showing up. Whether you're a founder, leader, creator or someone navigating your own adversity, Paddy’s story will resonate far beyond comedy.

👉 The Natural Resilience Podcast - Live event takes place in Balmoral Hotel, Belfast on 5th March 2026 where we will interview National Broadcaster Cate Conway and former world boxing champion Ryan Burnett live on stage.
You can tickets here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/169177...

⭐ ABOUT THE NATURAL RESILIENCE PODCAST Hosted by Ciaran May, the show explores human performance, resilience, leadership and mindset with some of the most inspiring figures from business, sport, entertainment and public life.

⭐ ABOUT PADDY McDONNELL Paddy is a comedian, writer and performer known for his storytelling genius and his ability to bring humour to the everyday realities of working-class life. His international tours and sell-out arena shows have cemented him as one of Ireland’s most compelling comedic voices.