What does it take to build not just a successful outdoor business, but a genuine culture of adventure that lasts for half a century?
That is the question at the heart of the latest episode of the Outsider Podcast, sponsored by Great Outdoors. As the iconic Irish retailer celebrates 50 years in business, Matt sits down with Ken and Derek for a conversation that goes far beyond gear and retail. What unfolds is a story about mentorship, friendship, Irish adventure, and the kind of workplace that can shape the course of an entire life.
“So I got a Saturday job, and Derek was already here on his Saturday job. So we were the two Saturday boys.”
In this chat, Ken and Derek are not just talking about a business, they are talking about a place that helped define who they became. Both Ken and Derek were shaped by the culture set by the original founders, Gerry and Leslie, and both eventually helped carry that culture forward into a new era. Before ownership, before leadership, before any grand vision of the future, they were simply two young lads working Saturdays. As Ken puts it, “So I got a Saturday job, and Derek was already here on his Saturday job. So we were the two Saturday boys.”
“We weren’t just working in a shop, we were working in a business,”
But beneath the humour is something more meaningful. What this episode really captures is the idea that Great Outdoors was never just a shop. Again and again, Ken and Derek return to that point. “We weren’t just working in a shop, we were working in a business,” Ken says, and it becomes one of the defining themes of the conversation. For them, Great Outdoors was a place of education, mentorship, possibility and shared obsession. It was a place where staff were encouraged to learn, travel, test gear, take responsibility and immerse themselves in the culture of the outdoors.
“The initial spirit of adventure and sense of adventure was set by Leslie and Gerry.”
That culture to have been shaped early by the founders, Leslie and Gerry, whose influence is felt throughout the episode. Ken and Derek speak about them with real affection and gratitude, describing how they were brought into expedition stories from the very beginning. One of the strongest passages in the podcast looks back to the early days of Irish Himalayan ambition and the way the staff were made to feel part of those bigger missions. Derek recalls, “The initial spirit of adventure and sense of adventure was set by Leslie and Gerry.” It is a line that says a lot, not only about the people who started the business, but about why Great Outdoors has endured.
That spirit of adventure is also what gives this episode its broader appeal. This is not just a podcast for gear obsessives or people interested in retail history. It is about the Irish outdoors in a much wider sense. There is real insight here into how outdoor culture in Ireland has changed over the years, from a time when expedition travel felt distant and rare to a moment when adventures like Kilimanjaro, the Camino or trekking in the Alps have become far more accessible to everyday people.
For anyone who has ever walked through the doors of Great Outdoors, there will be plenty here that feels familiar. For anyone who has not, this episode offers a strong sense of why the store matters. And for anyone interested in the evolution of outdoor culture in Ireland, it is full of stories and insights that make it well worth your time.
“You can’t work in a shop forever”
At one point in the conversation, Derek recalls being told that you cannot work in a shop forever by his careers guidance counsellor in school. His response now is perfect. “It turns out you can.” In the context of this episode, it feels like much more than a joke. It feels like a quiet statement about purpose, about sticking with something meaningful, and about building a life around what you love.
Watch or listen to the full episode below.
To learn more about Great Outdoors and its 50 year story, visit GreatOutdoors.ie
