About this episode

Trevor Macken shares his journey from a troubled childhood to becoming a successful entrepreneur and recovery advocate.

We kick off Season 10 by sitting down with Trevor Macken from Ashbourne Paving, to explore his extraordinary journey from a troubled childhood and social anxiety to becoming a successful entrepreneur, recovery advocate, and business owner. Trevor opens up about the challenges that shaped his early life, his battle with addiction, and the long road to recovery. He shares how construction became a turning point, leading him into business and giving him a renewed sense of purpose. We also discuss the realities of social media, the pressures surrounding appearance and cosmetic procedures, and why honest conversations around mental health are more important than ever. Trevor reflects on the mentors who helped change his life, the importance of second chances, and his vision for the future as he continues to grow his wellness and beauty business. This is an inspiring conversation about resilience, self-belief, and proving that your past doesn’t have to define your future. Podcast Main Sponsor: Snickers Workwearwww.snickersworkwear.ie Recording Venue: N2 Electrical Wholesalers www.n2electrical.ie

People in this episode

Hosts: Stephen Buckley, Keith Delahan

Guest: Trevor Macken

Topics covered

• entrepreneurship
• mental health
• addiction recovery
• social media
• resilience
• self-belief

Keywords

• entrepreneur
• social anxiety
• addiction
• mental health
• construction
• wellness
• beauty business

Sponsors

Snickers Workwear

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Ashbourne Paving, N2 Electrical Wholesalers

More episodes of Insight: The Stripped Back Podcast

• S10 E3 - Going Out On Your Own with Eric Grant · July 19, 2026 · 1h 1m
• S10 E2 - The Story Behind Bereavement with Cian Doyle · July 12, 2026 · 1h 14m
• Bonus Episode - Your Trade Is Not Your Limit · June 24, 2026 · 9 min
• Bonus Episode - Navigating Your Apprenticeship · June 19, 2026 · 11 min
• Bonus Episode - Safety At Work · June 18, 2026 · 9 min
• Bonus Episode - Neurodiversity In The Trades · June 15, 2026 · 13 min

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