“American Uncle” Tony Novosel on Study USA & the Transformational Power of Travel

“American Uncle” Tony Novosel on Study USA & the Transformational Power of Travel

Author: Matthew Thompson April 29, 2024 Duration: 48:48

Tony Novosel MBE is a former motor mechanic, steelworker, and semi-retired academic from Pittsburgh who has dedicated his life to serving Northern Ireland.

In this episode, we talk about:

  • How the collapse of the steel industry was the best thing that ever happened to him

  • Why he first decided to visit Northern Ireland 50 years ago

  • (And why he's been 85+ times since!)

  • Acting as "the American uncle” for NI students on the Study USA programme, (which is is managed by British Council Northern Ireland on behalf of the Department for the Economy)

  • The transformation power travel has had on his own life and the lives of his students

  • Why we tend to oversimplify narratives

  • The grassroots movements that led to a hugely successful academic book about NI

  • Being awarded an MBE

  • And advice he'd give to any student interested in studying overseas!

Check it out.


There's a deeper, richer narrative woven into the fabric of Northern Ireland, and Best Of Belfast: Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast is where you'll hear it. Host Matthew Thompson sits down each week with the remarkable individuals who are shaping this place, moving the conversation far beyond familiar headlines. This isn't about nostalgia or simplified history; it's a living, breathing collection of over three hundred conversations that reveal the true pulse of the city and its people. You'll find a genuine connection here, a break from the noise, as you listen to stories from an astonishingly diverse range of voices. From NASA scientists and Oscar-winning artists to billion-dollar founders and nonagenarian athletes pounding the pavement at local park runs, the guest list is as unpredictable as it is inspiring. Tuning into this podcast feels like pulling up a chair in a Belfast pub for a fascinating chat you won't find anywhere else. It’s an ongoing exploration of society, culture, and place, dedicated entirely to the incredible things happening right now, hosted by someone who knows that the best stories are always told by the people who live them.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Best Of Belfast: Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast
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