The Monday Media Diet with Ciarán McGuigan

I’ve long admired the execution of Ciarán McGuigan with The Malin. Happy to have him with us this week. -Colin (CJN)

Tell us about yourself.

I’m Ciarán McGuigan – founder of The Malin. We’re a growing network of hospitality-forward workspaces. I also run my family’s furniture company, Orior – so creating beautiful, functional spaces has always been second nature. With The Malin, I wanted to build something that feels less like an office and more like a place you actually want to be. Somewhere you feel seen, comfortable, and inspired to do your best work. We’re growing, but intentionally – keeping the focus on quality, service, and a strong sense of belonging.

Describe your media diet.

I am constantly on the go, so most of my media intake is digital. I’m not on social media, so I’m taking in global newspapers like The New York Times, Wall Street Journal or the FT. I also often check The Real Deal and Commercial Real Estate to keep a pulse on what’s happening in the world of real estate. And since our members are spread out across industries and highly entrepreneurial I’m reading Inc., Fast Company, Bloomberg to get updates on where there is innovation. I find independent media to be a great source of fresh thinking – favorites include Emily Sundberg’s Substack, Thesis Driven, and our own The Malin Journal, for thoughtful writing on work culture, creativity and the changing nature of community.

What’s the last great book you read?

Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara. It’s all about how small, thoughtful gestures can transform an experience – something I think about constantly in building spaces like The Malin. The idea that service can be both generous and deeply personal really stuck with me. I grew up in a small town in Ireland, everything was about relationships – my family was in the furniture business, but it might as well have been hospitality. It was about looking after one another on the factory floor, but also our clients, making sure deadlines were met and expectations were exceeded. It wasn’t evident at the time at all that I’d be getting into the hospitality industry, but looking back there is a clear throughline to what I’m doing now. Guidara built a career on details, blowing people’s minds by anticipating their needs and giving them what they didn’t know they needed. This book is a must read for any entrepreneur.

What are you reading now?

Keith McNally’s memoir, I Regret Almost Everything. It’s sharp and full of behind-the-scenes grit. A good reminder that building something iconic is shaped by instinct, missteps, and momentum – not careful planning. Keith came to the city and was intent on making a name for himself and he did that by creating community in new neighborhoods around the city, he was the anchor in Meatpacking so early on with Pastis. He’s a firebrand and certainly does things his own way. It’s really inspiring as someone who also shoots from the hip and rolls up my sleeves. I try to embrace the same irreverence that McNally embodies in what we’re doing at The Malin. And my go-to for a late night bite when I’m in SoHo is Balthazar.

What’s your reading strategy when you pick up a print copy of your favorite publication?

I’m a visual person, so I start by flipping through and seeing what catches my eye – it’s an instinctive way to take it all in. Then I circle back with a tea (Irish Breakfast, specifically!) and settle into the front-of-book or culture section. I always read the contributor’s notes and editor’s letter; they set the tone. Then once I’ve done a survey I pull out the larger features I can make time for. There are always one hundred million calls flying in from so many time zones, the moments I get to really sit down with a longform piece can be rare, and late in the evening, I prefer to sit down with a book to unwind.

Who should everyone be reading that they’re not?

The newsletter The Red Hand Files, by Australian musician Nick Cave. It’s not reading in the traditional sense, but it’s one of the best perspective resets I know. About once or twice a month, Cave replies to letters from fans – often weaving together multiple questions around shared themes – and his answers are raw, thoughtful, and deeply human. He writes about love, self-doubt, grief, and creative struggle with vulnerability, but also with humor and lightness. What I admire most is how open he is about learning from this exchange; the project has brought him as much as it has his readers. I know that Cave is not widely known, but definitely someone I’d love more people to be familiar with.

What is the best non-famous app you love on your phone?

The BBC Sport app. It’s straightforward, reliable, and gives me exactly what I need without the noise – especially when I’m trying to keep up with football from across the Atlantic. Before I got into business I was a professional footballer (aka soccer player) throughout Europe. I still play regularly and am an avid fan.

Plane or train?

Definitely plane. I’m crossing the Atlantic pretty frequently and jumping around America at the rate I do is really only possible in the air. This is one of the few moments I can actually read – provided the Wifi is down.

What is one place everyone should visit?

The west coast of Ireland. There is a village called Ballyconneely, tucked between Clifden and Roundstone, that is my happy place and where I like to disconnect. It’s raw, windswept, and feels like stepping back in time. I head out there with my wife and son in our van as much as I can. I love to windsurf and it’s great to be able to get away without getting on an airplane, which I do way too much of.

Tell us the story of a rabbit hole you fell deep into.

SCAD has been an endless rabbit hole in the best way. It’s where I met my wife as well as some of my closest friends – people I’ve gone on to build both The Malin and Orior here in the US with. I’ve stayed connected to that community ever since, and now we’re opening The Malin in Savannah this month. It’s become a kind of north star for me, a place that continues to show up in meaningful ways. SCAD tapped me when I was playing football and offered me a scholarship to join them in Savannah. A lot of those teammates also work with me today. It was pretty formative for my career in the least expected way.