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

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

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.