How do you go from founding one of Europe’s most disruptive airlines to transforming Ireland’s approach to giving?

In this episode, Dr. Dec Ryan—first CEO of Ryanair and founder of the One Foundation—talks candidly about what drove him to philanthropy, the lessons he learned from both failure and success, and why he believes Irish giving needs to be bolder, smarter, and less afraid to break a few eggs.

From mental health to migrant rights to rural bookshops, Dec shares the stories behind his biggest projects, his no-nonsense philosophy on charity, and what really matters when you want to make an impact.

If you’ve ever wondered what real, purposeful giving looks like—or what’s holding it back—this is the episode for you.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• What sparked Dec Ryan’s shift from Ryanair to philanthropy
• Why the One Foundation chose a “spend-down” approach
• How personal experience shaped their mental health giving
• What Ireland gets wrong (and right) about supporting migrants
• Lessons learned from failures, and how to actually make an impact

GUEST DETAILS

Dec founded The One Foundation in 2004. He was inspired by Dale Carnegie and Chuck Feeney, especially the latter’s concept of “giving while living”. The One Foundation was named after the U2 song “One” which contains the lyric “We carry each other”. Dr Ryan is also the founder and Managing Partner of Irelandia Aviation which has built 5 low-cost carriers to date incluidng Ryanair.

MORE INFORMATION

Looking to learn more about the power of strategic giving and effecting real change? Visit https://www.philanthropy.ie/ to learn more.
The Philanthropy Ireland Podcast is produced by DustPod.io

QUOTES

• I’m not mad on the word philanthropy—love the word giving. – Dr Dec Ryan
• Sometimes when you throw 50 grand at a charity, it floods them… You think they’re able for it, and sometimes they’re not. – Dr Dec Ryan
• One of the best measures of success is that they don’t need us anymore. – Dr Dec Ryan
• If people got 10% of the crack I got out of the crew, you’d do it every day. – Dr Dec Ryan
• You have to break a few eggs along the way. Failure isn’t frustrating—it’s just part of the process. – Dr Dec Ryan

KEYWORDS

#Philanthropy #GivingBack #MentalHealth #IrishCharity #Impact #SocialChange #Leadership

Fresh from selling his business for €150 million, James Murphy faced a life-changing question: what do you do with wealth that feels like “too much to keep”?

In this candid conversation, James shares how he and his family turned a business exit into the Life’s Too Good Foundation, a structured approach to giving that has supported projects from consent education in Irish universities to girls’ entrepreneurship in Malawi and climate action in the West of Ireland.

Blending business discipline with deep social purpose, James reveals what he’s learned about impact, family, and why structured philanthropy matters more than ever.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• Turning a €150m business exit into a force for good.
• Why James Murphy believes structured giving matters more than one-off donations.
• How family values and legacy shape the Life’s Too Good Foundation.
• The business mindset Murphy brings to philanthropy — structure, due diligence, and strategy.
• Stories from flagship projects: consent education in Galway, girls’ empowerment in Malawi, and climate action in the West of Ireland.
• Balancing wealth, responsibility, and humility while keeping a low profile.
• Advice for anyone considering philanthropy — from exits to everyday giving.

GUEST DETAILS

James Murphy is the Founder and CEO of Lifes2good, having set-up the company in 1997. Born in Galway, he attended St. Jarlath’s College in Tuam and then attained a B. Comm in NUIG before qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1986. James then moved to Brussels where he worked for Coopers & Lybrand. He returned to Ireland in 1991 to join BMR-Slendertone where he built the brand, and then he sold out his participation in 1997 to start up Lifes2good.

Under James leadership, Lifes2good has grown from a small distribution company to a global enterprise. James made the company’s first acquisition in the UK in 2003. In 2007 he acquired the Viviscal brand when this business had a turnover of €700k. The company continued to grow with further expansion throughout Europe and the US. Lifes2good grew the business worldwide with offices in Ireland, UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Portugal. The Viviscal business grew to €50m in 2016 and in January 2017, Lifes2good successfully sold the Viviscal brand to the US Conglomerate Church & Dwight for €150m.

James is a believer in lifelong learning. He has attended the Leadership 4 Growth programme at Stanford University in California and he continues to follow Business Development programmes in the IMI. He was one of the finalists in the Ernst &Young Entrepreneur of the Year programme in 2013.

James has supported worthy causes in Galway down through the years and visited Kenya in 2005 and supported small local businesses in Nairobi slums. He set up Lifes2good Foundation in 2017. The main sectoral focus of the Foundation is on vulnerable women and children but he also has an interest in supporting organisations working in active and vibrant communities that can positively impact on the society around them. The main geographical focus of the Foundation is on Galway / West of Ireland and two developing countries.

MORE INFORMATION

Looking to learn more about the power of strategic giving and effecting real change? Visit https://www.philanthropy.ie/ to learn more.

The Philanthropy Ireland Podcast is produced by DustPod.io

QUOTES

• "I just felt that that was far too much money for me personally to have and to keep and to invest." – James Murphy
• "Everybody talks about an overnight success. It was an overnight success in 10 years– James Murphy
• "We've just far too much wealth and we need to start giving it away and doing something really different." – James Murphy
• "You want the best people, you have to pay them properly — charity is no different." – James Murphy
• "We don’t just bring funds, we bring structure, reporting, and due diligence — that comes from business." – James Murphy
• "It’s not all about passing wealth on. What matters is showing the next generation how to do good with it." – James Murphy

KEYWORDS

#Philanthropy #GivingBack #Impact #WealthWithPurpose #StructuredGiving #FamilyLegacy #SocialImpact #BusinessForGood #JamesMurphy #LifeTooGoodFoundation

Every successful entrepreneur and business owner reaches a crossroads where wealth becomes more than personal achievement. It becomes opportunity. The Philanthropy Ireland Podcast explores the profound question that keeps many of these awake at night: How can success create lasting change beyond my lifetime?

Join us for intimate conversations with business leaders who've discovered that giving isn't just about writing cheques, it's about writing the next chapter of their life's story. Through candid interviews, you'll hear how philanthropy has transformed Irish communities and enriched the lives of the givers themselves in ways they never anticipated.

Coming this September to Apple, Spotify and YouTube.