Unfiltered with Sarah Jane Foster

Paddy Dunning joins Unfiltered with Sarah Jane Foster to share the entrepreneurial mindset behind some of Ireland's most iconic creative and entertainment businesses.

From bringing Michael Jackson to Westmeath and building Grouse Lodge Recording Studios to creating The Button Factory, The National Wax Museum, The Irish Rock 'N' Roll Museum Experience and now the world's largest moving statue, Paddy shares the lessons he has learned from a lifetime of creativity, risk-taking and innovation.

He opens up about entrepreneurship, reinvesting profits, spotting opportunities others miss, the future of music, the impact of AI, and why some of the best businesses are built by solving problems nobody else sees.

Whether you're a founder, creator, entrepreneur or someone with a big idea, this episode is packed with practical lessons on vision, perseverance and building things that matter.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN

• How to spot opportunities others overlook

• Why the best businesses solve missing problems

• The importance of reinvesting in your vision

• How Paddy built multiple iconic Irish businesses

• What Michael Jackson was really like in Westmeath

• Why musicians need new revenue streams

• The future of AI and creativity

• How to think bigger when building a business

• Why legacy matters more than success

• The mindset behind building the world's largest moving statue

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Michael Jackson In Westmeath

04:09 Inside Grouse Lodge Studios

06:01 How Musicians Actually Make Money

10:40 The Best Advice Paddy Ever Received About Money

13:18 Building Ireland's First Sound Training College

15:42 The Story Behind The National Wax Museum

18:00 Lessons From Tourism & Business

18:45 Why He Built The Button Factory

19:46 Creating The Irish Rock 'N' Roll Museum

22:49 The Giant Project Explained

25:35 Building The World's Largest Moving Statue

27:40 How The Giant Will Transform Cities

29:31 The Future Of Music & Technology

30:14 Why Creators Should Embrace AI

31:32 Legacy, Giving Back & Impact

32:56 How Paddy Switches Off

33:44 Final Thoughts

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SPONSOR

This episode was sponsored by Apache Pizza Mullingar.

https://www.apache.ie/promotions

Dáithí Ó Sé joins Unfiltered with Sarah Jane Foster to share the lessons he learned from over 25 years in television, broadcasting and life.

From being asked to leave school twice to becoming one of Ireland's most loved television presenters, Dáithí reflects on the opportunities, risks and mindset shifts that shaped his remarkable career.

He opens up about taking chances when opportunities appeared, why he stopped caring what other people think, the reality of fame, fatherhood, the Rose of Tralee, social media, confidence and the importance of living without regret.

Whether you're building a business, pursuing a dream or navigating criticism, this episode is packed with practical life lessons and perspective.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN
• Why you should stop caring what other people think

• The difference between the pain of discipline and the pain of regret

• How Dáithí built a 25-year career in television

• Why backing yourself is often the biggest risk worth taking

• The importance of staying present and enjoying the moment

• How fame changes your perspective

• Why confidence comes from experience

• The reality behind long-term success

• What the Rose of Tralee really means to him

• How fatherhood changed his life

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Meet Dáithí Ó Sé

00:45 How He Accidentally Started In Television

03:30 The Boat Job That Changed Everything

09:36 Leaving Security Behind For RTÉ

11:59 The Pain Of Discipline vs The Pain Of Regret

13:42 Why He Doesn't Share Everything

15:00 Prayer, Perspective & Staying Grounded

16:20 Learning To Live In The Present

18:18 The Power Of Lists

19:50 When Did He Realise He Was Famous?

22:12 Fame & Social Media

22:44 Why Success Takes Time

23:49 Stop Caring What People Think

25:25 Why People Gravitate Towards Him

27:01 The Success Of The Today Show

29:01 His Rose Of Tralee Rituals

32:35 Why The Rose Of Tralee Matters

37:16 Rachel Duffy & The Courage To Be Judged

41:37 Hair Restoration & Self Confidence

47:10 Being Comfortable In Your Own Skin

48:04 What Other People Think Is None Of My Business

50:20 His Cancer Diagnosis

54:29 Why You Should Always Get Checked

56:13 The Problem With Social Media

57:27 How He Met His Wife Rita

01:03:05 How Fatherhood Changed Him

01:04:29 Career Highlights

01:05:18 Working With Snoop Dogg & Keanu Reeves

01:07:36 Being Nominated For A Grammy

01:08:57 What He Wants To Be Remembered For

01:10:26 Outro

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SPONSOR
This episode was sponsored by Glass Online.

https://glassonline.ie

Nathan Carter joins Unfiltered with Sarah Jane Foster for one of his most honest interviews yet, opening up about fame, ambition, relationships, success and the pressure of always wanting more.

From growing up in Liverpool and moving to Ireland at just 19 years old to becoming one of the biggest names in country music, Nathan reflects on the journey that changed his life. He shares the lessons he learned from success, the realities of life in the public eye and why he still finds it difficult to switch off.

Nathan also discusses grief, songwriting, business, friendship, dating, managing change and what keeps him motivated after achieving more than most people dream of.

Whether you're a founder, creator, entrepreneur, musician or someone striving for the next level, this episode is packed with insights on ambition, resilience and staying grounded while building a successful career.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN

• Why success never feels quite enough

• How Nathan built a career from a passion for music

• The realities of fame and public perception

• Why ambition can be both a gift and a curse

• How to navigate change in business and life

• The importance of staying grounded

• Lessons from moving country at 19 to chase a dream

• What grief taught him about life

• Why relationships matter more than success

• How to keep growing after achieving your goals

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Being Confident

00:54 Misconceptions About Nathan Carter

02:44 Nathan Carter As A Child

03:43 Nathan Carter's Favourite Foster & Allen Song

06:40 Wanting To Be A Musician In School

07:41 Growing Up In Liverpool

09:47 Being Close With His Nan

10:34 What Nathan Would Do If He Wasn't A Singer

12:47 Nathan's Love Of Cars

13:54 Buying A Mercedes For His Nan

16:23 Fame & How People Change

18:50 Moving To Ireland At 19

20:31 Building A Band

21:48 Why Change Can Be Healthy

24:59 Nathan's New Management Team

26:08 Writing Songs

30:36 Writing Wings To Fly

34:13 A Day In The Life Of Nathan Carter

38:13 Dating & Relationships

39:06 Nathan's Ideal Date

40:59 Philomena Begley & The Viral Music Video

44:25 Success At A Young Age

47:42 Managing Ceol

49:45 What Keeps Nathan Up At Night

50:53 How Nathan Wants To Be Remembered

52:01 Outro

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SPONSOR

This episode was sponsored by Lakeland Interiors.

https://lakelandinteriors.ie/

Foster & Allen join Unfiltered with Sarah Jane Foster to share the lessons, discipline and mindset that helped them build one of Ireland's most successful music careers over five decades.

As Mick Foster's granddaughter, Sarah Jane brings a unique perspective to the conversation, exploring both the public success and private lessons behind one of Ireland's most enduring music acts.

Having sold more than 20 million albums worldwide and performed across the globe, Mick Foster and Tony Allen reflect on the sacrifices, opportunities and decisions that shaped their extraordinary journey. From playing local pubs to performing on Top of the Pops and touring internationally, they share the business, marketing and life lessons that kept them relevant for over 50 years.

Whether you're a founder, creator, entrepreneur, musician or someone building something for the long term, this episode is packed with insights on consistency, resilience, professionalism and building a lasting legacy.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN

• Why consistency beats talent over the long term

• How Foster & Allen built a global brand before social media

• The importance of showing up every day

• Why professionalism matters

• How they marketed themselves before the internet

• The discipline required to sustain success

• Why they never chased trends

• How to build a career that lasts decades

• The importance of knowing your audience

• Why passion alone isn't enough

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Meet Foster & Allen

02:22 The Beginning Of Foster & Allen

04:29 Making Music A Full-Time Career

05:22 The Marketing Strategy That Started It All

08:02 Realising Success Was Happening

11:34 Lessons From Their First Jobs

13:12 Why They've Lasted 50 Years

14:38 The Story Behind The Famous Green Suits

17:42 Performing On Top Of The Pops

22:25 Why They Never Wrote Their Own Songs

23:45 The Best Part Of Being Foster & Allen

29:14 Favourite Places To Perform Around The World

31:26 The Importance Of Promotion

35:35 Business Lessons For Success

38:39 How Music Marketing Has Changed

42:10 Their Favourite Interviewers

46:07 Behind The Scenes Of Their Music Videos

50:49 Work-Life Balance & Family

52:00 Why Consistency Matters

54:45 Knocking Take That Off Number One

57:16 Bringing A Hit Song Back To Life

58:30 Performing In Croke Park

01:03:00 Facing Fear & Learning New Skills

01:07:27 Their Most Memorable Career Moments

01:08:06 How They Want To Be Remembered

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SPONSOR

This episode was sponsored by The Westmeath Examiner.

Established in 1882, The Westmeath Examiner has been a trusted news source for generations, providing coverage of political, sporting, economic and community events across County Westmeath and beyond.

Visit:

https://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maria Harte joins Unfiltered with Sarah Jane Foster to share how she turned a lifelong passion for food into a thriving personal brand by trusting her instincts, embracing authenticity and finally backing herself.

From losing her father at a young age to navigating motherhood, ADHD and a successful career in marketing, Maria opens up about resilience, self-belief and the importance of creating something that feels true to who you are. She shares how consistency, creativity and taking imperfect action helped her build an engaged audience and land a regular spot on national television.

Whether you're a founder, creator, entrepreneur or someone waiting for the "perfect time" to start, this episode is packed with practical lessons on confidence, authenticity and taking the first step.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN

• Why waiting for the perfect time is holding you back

• How Maria built a successful personal brand from a passion project

• The importance of authenticity in content creation

• Why consistency matters more than perfection

• How ADHD shaped her creativity and career

• The power of trusting your instincts

• Why you don't need to follow every trend

• How to overcome imposter syndrome

• The importance of asking for opportunities

• How to back yourself even when you're scared

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Meet Maria Harte

02:22 When Food Became An Obsession

04:31 Losing Her Father At Seventeen

06:04 Why She Chose Marketing Over Cooking

07:45 Resilience, Confidence & Self-Belief

09:21 Starting Her Food Content Journey

10:22 Why Consistency Matters

11:44 Living With ADHD

14:07 Getting Diagnosed As An Adult

17:23 Motherhood, ADHD & Burnout

23:48 Starting Before She Felt Ready

24:35 Building An Authentic Personal Brand

25:06 Why She Doesn't Follow Trends

27:09 The Problem With Social Media Copycats

28:40 How She Landed Virgin Media

29:55 The Importance Of Asking

30:41 What's Next For Maria Harte

31:05 Her Dream Of Writing A Cookbook

31:13 Outro

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SPONSOR

This episode was sponsored by Home Instead.

https://www.homeinstead.ie/