The Natural Resilience Podcast

In this powerful episode of The Natural Resilience Podcast, I sit down with Leah McCourt for a conversation that goes far beyond the cage.While many people know Leah as one of Ireland's most successful mixed martial artists, this discussion focuses on the person behind the fighter. We explore the role that faith has played throughout her life, the challenges and responsibilities of raising children as a single mother, and the resilience required to navigate adversity while remaining true to your values.Leah shares her honest reflections on motherhood, identity, purpose, belief, personal growth, and the realities of balancing elite performance with family life. Whether you're interested in leadership, resilience, faith, personal development, parenting, or sport, this episode offers powerful lessons that extend far beyond MMA.Topics covered in this episode include:• Leah McCourt's journey through professional MMA• Faith, belief, and spirituality in challenging times• The realities of single motherhood• Building resilience through adversity• Balancing family, career, and personal purpose• Mental strength and emotional wellbeing• Identity beyond achievement and performance• Leadership, responsibility, and role modelling for children• Lessons from elite sport that apply to everyday lifeThis episode is a reminder that resilience is not simply about enduring hardship—it's about finding meaning, staying grounded in your values, and continuing to move forward when life becomes difficult.If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who would benefit from hearing Leah's story.

What really happens when you bring ambitious founders together and build a business growth programme around health, accountability, leadership and real human connection instead of hustle culture?In this solo episode of The Natural Resilience Podcast, I reflect honestly on the first five months of the Fit Founders Club — a founder-first programme designed for business owners who want to scale sustainably without sacrificing their health, family life or themselves in the process.Over the past five months, we’ve brought together a room of founders, CEOs and entrepreneurs from across Northern Ireland for a completely different type of business community. Not another WhatsApp group. Not another networking event based on surface-level conversations. A genuine environment built around performance, resilience, accountability, systems, wellbeing and long-term thinking.In this episode, I break down:What’s worked so far inside the Fit Founders ClubThe biggest lessons from working closely with ambitious foundersWhy loneliness and pressure are still massive issues for business ownersThe importance of health, sleep, stress management and recovery in leadershipHow accountability changes behaviourWhy in-person connection matters more than everThe power of getting founders out of reactive modeWhat I’ve learned personally as a facilitator and founderThe challenges, surprises and unexpected wins from the programme so farWhere the Fit Founders Club is heading nextI also share insights from some of our recent experiences and workshops, including:Private founder sessions at BlackBox FitnessLeadership and systems workshopsWHOOP performance tracking and health educationEOS-inspired business planningFounder vision presentationsConversations around sustainable high performanceBuilding a founder operating system that supports both business growth and personal wellbeingThe Fit Founders Club was built on a simple belief:You should not have to destroy your health, relationships or peace of mind in order to build a successful business.This episode is for founders, entrepreneurs, CEOs, business owners and leaders who are trying to build something meaningful whilst navigating pressure, responsibility and ambition in the modern world.#FitFoundersClub #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #FounderLife #Resilience #HighPerformance #MentalHealth #BusinessOwner #CEO #Founder #NaturalResilience #Podcast #PerformancePsychology #LeadershipDevelopment #SustainableHighPerformance #EOS #Accountability #HealthAndPerformance #NorthernIrelandBusiness

What does it really take to build a consumer brand from scratch in one of the most competitive industries in the world?

In this episode of The Natural Resilience Podcast, I sit down with Laura Murphy — founder of Oatco Superfuel, recent Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient, and entrepreneur who secured investment from Steven Bartlett on Dragons’ Den.

Laura shares the real story behind building Oatco — from the early uncertainty and pressure of starting a business, to scaling a brand across major retailers while balancing motherhood, ambition and the realities of modern entrepreneurship.

We discuss:• The origin story behind Oatco Superfuel• Why Laura believes “natural energy” is the future of functional nutrition• The truth about building a startup behind the social media highlights• What it was really like stepping into Dragons’ Den• Negotiating live on television with Steven Bartlett• The pressure that comes with rapid visibility and growth• Building a business from Omagh, Northern Ireland• Motherhood, resilience and identity under pressure• What success actually means beyond money and headlines

This is a conversation about far more than business.

It’s about resilience, belief, pressure, purpose and what it really takes to build something meaningful when there are no guarantees.

If you enjoy conversations around entrepreneurship, resilience, leadership, mindset and high performance, make sure to subscribe to The Natural Resilience Podcast.

#LauraMurphy #Oatco #DragonsDen #StevenBartlett #Entrepreneurship #FounderStory #NaturalResilience #Podcast #Forbes30Under30 #BusinessPodcast #Mindset #Resilience #NorthernIreland #WomenInBusiness #Leadership

In this powerful episode of the Natural Resilience Podcast, I sit down with undefeated professional boxer Caoimhin Agyarko to explore a story that goes far beyond the ring.

From growing up in West Belfast to surviving a near-fatal stabbing, Caoimhin’s journey is one of resilience, identity, and relentless belief. Left for dead as a teenager, he fought his way back — not just to survive, but to pursue a mission: becoming the first black Irish world champion.

This conversation dives deep into the mindset required to overcome adversity, handle pressure, and stay focused when everything is on the line.

We explore the reality of life as a professional boxer, the unseen challenges behind an undefeated record, and the internal standards that drive elite performance.
If you’re interested in mindset, resilience, high performance, or powerful real-life stories — this episode will stay with you.
In this episode, we cover:

Caoimhin Agyarko’s upbringing in Belfast
The stabbing incident that nearly ended his life
His recovery — physically and mentally
The mindset behind staying undefeated
Pressure, identity, and representing something bigger
His goal to become the first black Irish world champion
What resilience really means under pressure

About Caoimhin Agyarko:
Caoimhin Agyarko is an undefeated Irish professional boxer competing in the light-middleweight division. Known for his composure, technical ability, and mental strength, he is one of Ireland’s most exciting rising fighters and is on a mission to make history.

What does it take to become a world champion, and what happens when everything changes overnight?In this episode of the Natural Resilience Podcast, I sit down with former unified world champion boxer Ryan Burnett to explore the mindset, discipline and self-belief required to perform at the very highest level.From growing up in Belfast to representing Ireland at the youth Olympics, Ryan’s journey is built on years of unseen work, relentless standards and a refusal to settle. He went on to become a unified world champion, defeating elite fighters such as Lee Haskins and Zhanat Zhakiyanov on the biggest stage.But this conversation goes far deeper than belts and titles.We dive into the reality of elite performance the pressure, the sacrifices, and the mindset required to keep showing up when the stakes are at their highest. Ryan also opens up about the moment his career changed during his fight with Nonito Donaire, and how he navigated the identity shift that followed early retirement from the sport.This episode is about resilience in its truest form.Not just the resilience required to succeed but the resilience required to adapt, rebuild and find purpose again when life doesn’t go to plan.We also touch on the importance of mental health, brotherhood in sport, and Ryan’s decision to run the Belfast Marathon in memory of his close friend Ricky Hatton.Whether you’re an athlete, entrepreneur or leader, the lessons in this conversation apply far beyond the ring.In this episode, we cover:The mindset required to become a world championDiscipline, routine and daily standardsPerforming under pressure on the biggest stageDealing with injury and unexpected setbacksLife after elite sport and identity beyond successResilience, self-belief and long-term growthIf you enjoy the episode:Subscribe for more conversations on performance, leadership and resilience.