Brendan O'Connor

Joining Dearbhail to discuss the stories in Sunday's newspapers are: Keire Murphy, Senior Policy Officer at the ESRI & Sunday Independent columnist; Derek Mooney, Public Affairs Consultant & former Fianna Fáil Advisor; Mick Clifford, Special Correspondent with the Irish Examiner; and Aisling Meehan, Farmer, Solicitor & Tax Consultant.

Actor Eileen Walsh is well known for her roles on stage, films like Small Things Like These and The Magdelene Sisters, and TV shows like Catastrophe. She'll feature shortly on RTÉ One's Come to Your Census. She talked Dearbhail through the music that has soundtracked her life, from Annie Lennox to John Prine.

Daddy and daughter duo Salish and Jordan Matter are the latest YouTubers, who make content aimed at kids, to move to Netflix. Broadcaster Aifric O'Connell talks Dearbhail through the various YouTubers who have made the move to the streaming platforms – from Ms. Rachel to ‘MrBeast' - and why.

Joining Dearbhail to preview the best films and TV shows this week are Zara Hedderman, Culture Journalist, and Michael Doherty, Movies Editor with the RTÉ Guide.

Northern Irish author Jan Carson's new novel is ‘Few and Far Between'. She tells Dearbhail about her strict, Evangelical, Presbyterian upbringing, breaking free from insularity in university, a stint in America and her hopes for Northern Ireland post-Good Friday Agreement.

This week we saw unprecedented exchanges between Pope Leo and the Trump administration. The Pope said that the world is being ‘ravaged by a handful of tyrants', and the President has said Leo should focus on being a ‘great pope and, not a politician'. Theologian, Gina Menzies, gives Dearbhail her analysis.

Do you tend to put tasks on the long finger? Neuroscientist Dr Sabina Brennan explains why we procrastinate. She outlines some different types of procrastination like Productive Procrastination and Pleasure-Seeking Procrastination and offers solutions for the one in five of us who have problematic procrastination.

RTÉ Sport presenter, Jacqui Hurley, Travel Blogger, Marie Noonan and former Luxury Travel Editor of the Daily Telegraph, John O'Ceallaigh join Dearbhail to talk about some trips of a lifetime they have taken. They talk about destinations like Japan, Vietnam, Ecuador, Australia, Palau and Antarctica, and where to holiday in Ireland in a campervan!

It's often overlooked as a form of exercise, but WALKING is actually an extremely beneficial form of exercise – that's according to personal trainer, Karl Henry, who called in to give Dearbhail a walking masterclass.

Head Chef at Mount Congreve Gardens in Waterford, Jean-Baptiste Dubois, came up to Dublin to talk Dearbhail through four recipes for French dishes, with an Irish twist. He also discussed his zero-waste kitchen, and gave tips for how listeners can make better use of ‘left-overs'.

Joining Brendan are: Mary Regan, Political Editor with the Irish Independent and Sunday Independent; Gerard Howlin, Irish Times columnist and Public Affairs Consultant; Anna Marie McHugh, Assistant Managing Director of the National Ploughing Association; and Assistant Professor of Politics and International Relations at UCD.

Former Republic of Ireland soccer player Niall Quinn joins Brendan to share the five songs that have soundtracked his journey from the pitch to the boardroom. From Nat King Cole's ‘Too Young' to The Pogues' ‘A Rainy Night in Soho,' he gives us a personal look at the music that defined the milestones of his life and career.

Irish Times Consumer Affairs Correspondent Conor Pope joins the show to highlight the essential apps you need before you head to the airport. From bagging the best currency rates, to finding the best taxi apps to navigate local transport safely, Conor explains how to make your holiday smoother and cheaper.

Joining Brendan to preview the best films and TV shows this week – including Season two of Beef, Margo's Got Money and Big Mistakes are; Sarina Bellissimo, presenter of The Bellissimo Files, and John Maguire, film critic with The Business Post.

Artist, Mary Duffy talks to Brendan about living without arms. She talks about how her parents found it hard to accept her disability, how living independently was the greatest achievement of her life, defying expectations and the surprise of finding a lifelong love in her husband, Denis.

Chartered psychologist Allison Keating explains the psychology behind love languages, how they shape our relationships, and why understanding them can transform how we connect with others.

Irish Times political editor Pat Leahy joins Brendan to discuss the fuel protests, what's driving the anger on the ground, and how the Government is responding to growing pressure. He also looks at the broader political implications and what this unrest could mean going forward.

TV architect Dermot Bannon talks Brendan through what's hot and what's not in our homes right now. He talks about retrofitting, the benefits of insulation but also how smaller interventions, like a new countertop or a Velux window can make the biggest difference.

Consultant dermatologist Professor Catriona Ryan breaks down the world of “tweakments”, from Botox to skin boosters, and what people should know before going under the needle.

Baker and founder of 2210 Patisserie Una Leonard joins Brendan to talk about the joy of baking at home, why she loves recreating tastes from her childhood and how to make the retro treat; the cheesecake bun!

Joining Brendan to discuss the stories in Sunday's newspapers are: Oisín Coghlan, Public Policy Advisor; Ellen Coyne, Political Correspondent with the Irish Times; Finian McGrath, Former Independent TD and former Minister of State for Disability Issues and Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Professor at the European University Institute.

TV and radio Presenter Kathryn Thomas talks to Brendan about her new two-part documentary series for RTE ‘Young Forever: The Death of Ageing?'. She talks about how it feels to age in the public eye, what made her decide to get Botox and the effect technology has had on how we view ageing.

Singer and interfaith minister Nóirín Ní Riain joins Brendan to talk about the story of the resurrection and why it has such resonance for humanity today. Nóirín also sings an Alleluia to praise the lord on this Easter Sunday.

Grainne Humphreys, Director of the Dublin International Film Festival and Dave O' Callaghan, host of the ‘Here and Back Again' podcast talk Brendan through the hits and misses of the week's movies and TV shows.

Comedian Emma Doran talks through key moments in her life and the soundtrack that went alongside them; from becoming pregnant in her leaving cert year, to getting her comedy career started. Her choices range from Jerry Lee Lewis to Liberty X and Katy Perry. Emma talks about her upcoming tour dates and a debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Chef and influencer Trisha Lewis looks back on her transformation journey seven years on and tells Brendan how accepting that this will be a lifelong process for her has changed her mind set. She also makes a case for ditching the New Year's resolutions in favour of springtime goals, as she takes on the camino with her crew of transformers.

U2's The Edge introduces the band's new song “Song for Hal” which was written to remember their friend Hal Wilner, who died during the pandemic, a time when a lot of people died alone.

Award-winning crime author Tana French talks about moving around a lot as a child, settling in Ireland at 17, learning the codes and the nuances, her early acting career, being an outsider and an insider at the same time and how she views modern Irish society

Ex-Fine Gael TD & current President of Cycling Ireland, Ciaran Cannon, gives tips on embarking on your first European Greenway Holiday. Where to go, what to bring and the sheer joys of cycling to a different destination every day.

Pastry Chef and founder of Grá Chocolates, Gráinne Mullins, brings us an easy-to-make three-layer chocolate cake recipe and promises it'll be the most delicious chocolate cake you've ever eaten.

Joining Brendan to discuss the lead stories in Sunday's newspapers are: CEO of Spunout and board member of Cybersafe Kids, Sinead Keane; Managing Director of Baggot Investment Partners, Peter Brown; Sunday Times columnist and commentator, Alison O'Connor; and professor of US and International Politics at UCD's Clinton Institute, Scott Lucas.

Writer Rita Ann Higgins tells Brendan about writing one of Ireland's first 'sexy poems', what first inspired her and how she is still learning from her grandchildren. She also reads from her newly-published ‘greatest hits' collection, ‘Jiving with Wasps'.

Producer with the Irish Independent, and host of the No Encore podcast, Dave Hanratty tells Brendan about the arrest of ‘looksmaxxing' influencer, Clavicular. Who is he? Why has he been arrested? And why has he been accused of shooting a dead alligator?

Joining Brendan to preview the best films and TV shows this week – including The Young Offenders, Saturday Night Live UK and Rory McIlroy: the Masters Wait – are Irish Times arts journalist, Nadine O'Regan; and host of the Extra Vision podcast, Andy McCarroll.

Award-winning author, Colm Tóibín, talks to Brendan about his childhood stammer, his wild years in Barcelona, and his latest short-story collection ‘The News from Dublin'. He also introduces five pieces of music that have inspired him.

Screenwriter and actor, Stefanie Preissner tells Brendan about her passion for slow vacuuming: how a robot vacuum can redistribute domestic chores, cleaning her fake grass and finding the perfect vacuum online. She also describes the perils of robot vacuums cohabiting with small children.

This week, a 20-year-old in California was awarded six-million dollars after a jury found Meta and Google had intentionally built addictive platforms which harmed her mental health. With thousands of similar cases in train, Wicklow teacher and educator with the Sexual Exploitation Research & Policy Institute, Eoghan Cleary, gives his analysis.

Specialist in obesity, Professor Donal O'Shea outlines how our food environment has become unhealthy, with an abundance of high fat, salt and sugary processed foods. He describes the tricks companies use to sell more volume. With evidence that highly processed foods are unhealthy, Donal outlines what changes we should make to guard our health.

Caroline Reidy, head of HR Solutions at NFP talks Brendan through how to negotiate a pay rise, and what mistakes to avoid.

Founder and CEO of FiXX Coffee, Anne Abberton, offers Brendan her top tips for making great coffee at home, or at work. Should you grind yourself, or buy pre-ground beans? She also discusses the pros and cons of using a moka pot, French press, aeropress or filter coffee.

Joining Brendan to discuss the Sunday newspapers are Dan O'Brien, Chief Economist, Institute of International and European Affairs; Louise Burne, Political Correspondent at the Irish Examiner; Brid Smith, Ballyfermot community activist and former People Before Profit-Solidarity TD and Declan Power, Security and Defence Analyst

Footballer, psychotherapist and sports analyst, Richie Sadlier, brings Brendan through his Life in Five Songs, including live performances by Oasis, Tina Turner, and Queen. And he told Brendan about his new SPHE programme LetsTalkSPHE.com.