Joseph Kennedy III on Famous Last Names, Figuring Stuff Out & Northern Ireland

Joseph Kennedy III on Famous Last Names, Figuring Stuff Out & Northern Ireland

Author: Matthew Thompson October 16, 2023 Duration: 48:56

Joseph Kennedy III currently serves as the Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs.

In today's episode we talk about:

- Growing up in a family known for public service

- How the assassination of his uncle (JFK) and granda (Bobby Kennedy) impacted his family

- Moving to the Dominican Republic as a young man

- Dealing with the expectations people have of him because of his last name

- President Biden calling to offer him a job

- His love and admiration for C.S. Lewis

- The “one thing” he wishes he could give to every person in Northern Ireland

- And advice he’d give to an 18-year-old version of himself

Check it out!

//

https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/joseph-kennedy-special-envoy

//

Full bio:

Over four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, Mr. Kennedy built an impressive legislative record around economic policy, health care, and civil rights. Representing a district that spanned from the suburbs of Boston to the proud post-industrial communities along Massachusetts’ South Coast, Mr. Kennedy sat on the House Energy & Commerce committee and spearheaded bipartisan efforts to extend mental health coverage, support the domestic manufacturing industry, and defend access to legal assistance for struggling families.

In addition to his work as Special Envoy, Kennedy also serves as President of Citizens Energy, a non-profit energy company founded to help low-income families meet their basic energy needs. Through innovative programming, Citizens has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to benefit millions of families across the United States. He is also the founder of Groundwork Project, an advocacy organization dedicated to supporting local community organizing efforts in under-resourced and historically disenfranchised communities.

He is married to Lauren Birchfield Kennedy and they have two young children, Eleanor and James, and a rescue dog, Banjo.


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: 50

Best Of Belfast: Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Leon McCarron on Adventure, Iraq & The Garden of Eden [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:08
Leon McCarron is an award-winning writer, broadcaster, and explorer from Northern Ireland. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Geographical Society of Philadelphia's Explorer of the Year. He is known…
Otto Jaffe & The History of the Jewish Community in Northern Ireland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:14
[Rebroadcast: This episode first aired 2nd November 2020] Sir Otto Jaffe was one of the leading entrepreneurs responsible for the boom of the Linen Industry here in Belfast in the 1800s. Through a lot of hard work and de…
Hospitality Legends: Ryan Jenkins, Owner of ROAM Restaurant [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:08
Ryan Jenkins is a 30-year-old self-taught chef from West Belfast and the owner of ROAM: an award-winning restaurant in Belfast city centre. In today's episode we talk about: Stumbling into hospitality at 19-years-old How…