Recession, Paralysis & 90 Grand in Debt. - How Niall McMahon Survived It All

Less Than 1% Chance of Walking Again. Three Doctors. Three Hammer Blows. One Decision to Never Give Up.Niall McMahon opened Alfie's on South William Street in Dublin in 2008, the same year the recession began. He survived debt, pandemics, rising costs and 18 years of one of the toughest industries in the world. Then, in November 2023, a blood vessel in his spine burst without warning. Within days, he was paralysed.In this episode, Ryan sits down with Niall for one of the most powerful conversations Made in Chaos has ever had, two men who've been through near-identical journeys comparing notes on paralysis, recovery, mindset and what it really takes to come back from the unthinkable.What we get into:Growing up in the restaurant business, his parents built Joelle's from a trucker caféOpening Alfie's the day before his 30th birthday during the worst recession in living memory90 grand in debt with nothing in his pocket, and the walk on Bray beach that changed everythingThe Japanese TV show that saved his menu and his businessThe cavernoma, the blood vessel he was born with that nobody knew was thereThree consultants, three hammer blows: wheelchair for life, less than 1% chance, permanent bladder damageThe moment he lifted his knee 2 inches and said goodbye to the Bentley wheelchairPat, the roommate who gave him everything and was dead 4 months laterThe hill, the biscuits and the last day at the NRHWhy the doctors who deliver bad news need to think about how they deliver itWhat both Ryan and Niall believe is the real difference between people who come back and those who don'tRyan Curtis is a former Irish MMA fighter who was paralysed from the neck down and told he would never walk again. He rebuilt his life from the ground up. Made in Chaos exists to platform guests who've faced real adversity and come out with wisdom worth sharing.Follow: @madeinchaospod | @chaoscurtis🖊️ Sponsored by The Ink Factory, Temple Bar — Ireland's highest rated tattoo studio. theinkfactory.ie | @theinkfactory