Stripping back the noise
At The Stripped Back Podcast, Stephen Buckley and Keith Delahan set out to give the trade industry a genuine, honest voice. As working electricians themselves, they wanted to cut through the polished corporate messaging and have real conversations with the people working on the tools, running businesses and shaping the industry.
What started as a podcast focused on the trades has grown into something much bigger. Today, The Stripped Back Podcast brings together voices from across all career backgrounds and walks of life, from business and construction to the arts, sports, entertainment, education and much more.
We explore the real stories behind careers, businesses and industries, covering everything from skills, training and apprenticeships to mental health, leadership, entrepreneurship, creativity, performance and the changing world of work.
Our aim is simple: strip it back, cut through the noise and have genuine conversations with interesting people about the things that really matter.
Whether you’re starting your career, building a business, pursuing your passion or simply curious about the people and stories shaping the world around us, there’s a place for you here.
Our authentic voice from the tools
As electricians ourselves, working full-time in the trade, we saw first-hand the gaps that needed to be addressed, from the lack of visibility around apprenticeships and the stigma surrounding mental health, to the everyday challenges of running a contracting business and the disconnect between decision-makers and the people working on the ground.
That’s why we created The Stripped Back Podcast, a platform for honest, open conversations without the filters, corporate polish or scripted answers.
Our roots are firmly in the trades, and that will always be a huge part of who we are. But those roots have opened the door to something much bigger. What started as a podcast built around electricians, tradespeople and the people shaping the industry has grown into a platform exploring all walks of life, from business and entrepreneurship to sport, the arts, entertainment, personal stories and everything in between.
What makes The Stripped Back different is our authenticity. We’re tradesmen first, not traditional media personalities. We understand what it means to work hard, build something from the ground up and face the challenges that come with it. That genuine connection creates an environment where our guests can drop the guard, speak openly and share the real stories behind their careers and experiences.
Our aim has always been to create conversations that matter, whether that means inspiring the next generation of apprentices, giving tradespeople a voice, challenging perceptions, or simply allowing people from completely different backgrounds to share their experiences.
The trades gave us our foundations. Now we’re opening the doors wider.
Connecting our community
Through our “About Us” page, we’re aiming to connect with three key groups: apprentices and young people considering a trade, experienced tradespeople and business owners, and potential brand partners who genuinely want to engage with the industry. For apprentices and newcomers, we want you to see the immense opportunity in the trades – not just a job, but a career path filled with progression, independence, entrepreneurship, and pride. You’ll feel represented and understood here. For seasoned professionals, we want you to recognise that this platform is built by people who live your reality – early mornings, site pressures, deadlines, staff management, and constant industry change. We’re not outsiders; we’re part of your community. For potential partners, understand that our audience is authentic, engaged, and deeply rooted in the real construction community across Ireland and the UK. We’re building trust, not just numbers.
Reshaping the trades, building the future
Beyond just building an audience, our ultimate goal is to create real, lasting positive impact within the trade sector across Ireland and the UK. We want The Stripped Back Podcast to fundamentally reshape how the trades are perceived, especially by young people, parents, and schools. Apprenticeships are often seen as a secondary option; we aim to elevate them to their true status: skilled, respected, and financially rewarding career paths. We hope to inspire more young people to enter the industry with confidence, showing them the progression, business ownership, leadership opportunities, and long-term stability available. Moreover, we strive to strengthen the collective voice of the trades, fostering honest conversations around mental health, industry standards, training quality, innovation, and the real challenges contractors face daily. By influencing better dialogue between tradespeople, suppliers, educators, and decision-makers, we’re actively contributing to positive, transformative change for the sector’s future.
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