Brendan O'Connor

Nadine O'Regan, Irish Times Arts journalist, and Andy McCarroll, Host of the Extra Vison Podcast talk Brendan through the best TV and Cinema this week.

Joining Brendan to talk through what's making the news today are: Tabitha Monahan, Political Reporter at the Irish Independent; Oisin Coghlan, Public Policy Advisor; Susanne Rogers from Social Justice Ireland and Seán O'Neill McPartlin, Director of Housing Policy at Progress Ireland. RTÉ Sport's Tony O'Donoghue previews Ireland v Hungary

"Godfather of AI" Professor Geoffrey Hinton won a Nobel Prize for his early work on machine learning which were the foundations for modern Artificial Intelligence today. He left his role with Google to free him up to talk about his safety concerns around AI. He told Brendan why he thinks AI is now at a point where it can think and understand.

Matthew McConnell, Editor of Outsider.ie, tells Brendan everything you need to know about buying an effective raincoat AND maintaining its waterproofing

Hollywood actor, Jane Seymour, and her partner of two years, musician and producer, John Zambetti, are back living in Ireland this winter, so they dropped in to talk Brendan through the music that has soundtracked each of their lives. Their choices included Fleetwood Mac, Paul McCartney, and Johnny Cash.

The continuing explosion in demand for new wight-loss drugs is raising difficult questions about how society talks about weight, and how it treats people with weight loss. Professor Donal O'Shea, endocrinologist and HSE Clinical Lead for Obesity, brings Brendan up to date.

The new Sky show, 'All Her Fault', shines a light on marraige, motherhood, judgement and who-does-what around the house. Author Edel Coffey, and Kara Heriot Co-founder of Mum Talks have watched it and talk about navigating the momosphere, the schoolgates, the WhatsApp groups and how the demands of motherhood have changed over the years.

Prof Caitríona Ryan, from the Institute of Dermatologists explains the causes and treatments for acne, why it's not just a teenage phenomenon and why you should never squeeze a spot!

Most of us can roast a chicken, but how can we make it next level? Chef, teacher, TV presenter and co-founder of Ballymaloe Cookery School, Rory O'Connell, shared his tips on gravy, spuds, and the veg too, to make tomorrow's roast extra special.

Joining Brendan to talk through what's making the news today are Louise Bayliss, Head of Social Justice and Policy at Saint Vincent de Paul, Dr Aman de Sondy, Head of Department and Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Islam at UCC, Ellen Coyne, Political Correspondent with the Irish Times and Sarah Carey, Columnist with the Irish Independent.

Ultra cool and charming radio icon Ian Dempsey talks Brendan through his life in five songs, from his early days working in pirate radio, his imminent 65th birthday to giving up smoking 6 months ago, and his eclectic music taste which includes David Bowie, Paul Brady and Supertramp.

The Disney – Pixar classis first premiered on November 22nd, 1995, starring the voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, as Sherrif Woody and Buzz Lightyear. Toy Story 5 is due for release next year but Sinead Fox, Parenting Blogger was in studio to mark the animation classic on its 30th anniversary.

John Maguire, film critic with The Sunday Business Post and Grainne Humphries, Director of the Dublin International Film Festival give us the definitive TV and movie watchlist for the week ahead.

Psychotherapist and author Richard Hogan joins Brendan to talk about how to be a good dad, how the job has changed through the generations, how to change the cycle if you grew up in dysfunction and why today's parents are over-correcting the mistakes of their own parents.

David Robbins, Co-director of the Institute for Climate and Society gives his take on why the messaging around climate change is not working and explains why it needs to move away from jargon and acronyms towards solutions.

Influencer and model Shauna Lindsay talks to Brendan about experiencing a stroke at the age of 30. She describes how she was doing boxing work in the gym when her entire left arm went numb when she punched the boxing pad.

Singer Songwriter, Dermot Kennedy, Poet, Rita-Ann Higgins, Professor of Politics at DCU Gary Murphy, and Social Justice Campaigner Ruairí McKiernan look back at the two terms of Michael D Higgins' presidency as he prepares to depart the Áras next week.

The Gut is the "second brain" with the biggest collection of nerve cells outside of the brain itself. Registered Dietician Sarah Keogh talks to Brendan about the community of bacteria and viruses living in your gastrointestinal tract that make up your microbiome and how to make them work for us.

Need a comforting warming soup recipe? Chef Domini Kemp can deliver. From home-made stock and an easy fish soup to a vegan friendly red pepper soup and leak and chicken soup, these hugs in a bowl will set you up on cold winter days.

Joining Brendan to analyse the Sunday papers are; Gerard Howlin, Public Affairs consultant and Irish Times columnist; Scott Lucas, Professor of US and International politics at the Clinton Institute in UCD; Louise Byrne, Political Correspondent at the Irish Examiner; and Dr Emma Howard, Economist.

Colm Tóibín took on the task of exploring what makes a good love story. Drawing on the works of Nina Simone, Derek Mahon, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and more, he suggests that while we may not all have 'one true love', most of us have at least one 'what if?'

Broadcaster Afric O'Connell on the "absolutely razor-sharp" new album Lily Allen and the ongoing fallout from the soap opera story behind it.

Brian Lloyd, Freelance entertainment journalist and broadcaster, and Sarina Bellisimo, Broadcaster and entertainment journalist review the best of this week's TV and cinema.

Actor Jeremy Irons joined Brendan to talk about his new film, 'Palestine 36'. He also reflected on his boarding school years, choosing his acting roles, fatherhood, life priorities, playing the viola in his Cork castle and winning a style award for his fashion choices.

Producer/director and colleague and friend of Manchán Mangan, Brian Reddin, spoke to Brendan en route to the Hill of Uisneach today for a celebration of the life, and scattering of the ashes, of the late broadcaster and scríbhneoir

Clodagh McKenna joined Brendan to talk about her new cookbook 'Clodagh's Happy Cooking'. She also talked about her childhood in Cork, getting happiness lessons from her mother, her career, turning 50, taking over the farm on the grounds of 'Downton Abbey' in England with her husband, Harry Herert who also made an impromptu appearance in studio!

High blood pressure is known as the silent killer. GP, Dr Brendan O'Shea explains why it's important to monitor your blood pressure and what steps you can take to reduce it when necessary.

Prof Ronán Collins talks about his life in fishing, from early days line-fishing as a boy in Kinsale, to embracing the wilderness of far-flung regions. And he explores the meditative nature of fly-fishing, describing the river as his 'Buddhist temple'.

Joining Brendan to analyse the Sunday newspapers and Catherine Connolly's election are Irish Times' political editor, Pat Leahy; former Fine Gael TD, Noel Rock; Sunday Times' columnist, Alison O'Connor; VP of Academic Affairs at Mary Immaculate College, and former Labour candidate, Niamh Hourigan; and former Fianna Fáil minister, Mary Hanafin.

Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon and best-selling author Harlan Coben talk to Brendan about their joint novel – a thriller about an army surgeon who uses her skills to conduct questionable operations for supremely wealthy, international clients... Gone Before Goodbye.

Mark Little – entrepreneur and journalist – casts his eye over the recent Presidential election campaign to see what it might tell us about politics and media in 2025.

Radio and TV producer Eoin Sweeney and writer Henrietta McKervey join Brendan to review the best of this week's TV and cinema, including Nobody Wants This, Regretting You and Oíche Shamhna: An Ancient Mystery.

As the full tallies began to land, Brendan was joined by Sinn Féin TD, Claire Kerrane; Fine Gael Minister of State, Emer Higgins; Communications Consultant and Labour Party member, Lorna Fitzpatrick; DCU Politics Professor, Gary Murphy; newspaper columnist, David Quinn; Former Fine Gael TD, Michael Ring; and RTÉ's Barry Lenihan.

Former Irish Olympian and European indoor gold medalist, David Gillick talks to Brendan about the excitement, heartbreak and anxiety of competing in top-level sport, and transitioning to a post-athletics career, as outlined in his memoir “The Race”.

The Connolly campaign mobilised artists and musicians to the cause over the summer. One of whom was her childhood friend from Shantalla, musician Mary Coughlan, who joined Brendan on the line.

Joining Brendan to talk through the Sunday newspapers are Lisa Chambers, Director of Public Affairs at Consello and former Fianna Fáil TD and Senator, Oisin Coghlan, Public Policy Advisor, Jennifer Bray, Political Editor with the Sunday Times and Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Professor of Politics at the School of Law and Government at DCU .

Musician and podcaster Niall Breslin AKA Bressie has taken a new direction with his new album of piano compositions, ‘The Place That Has Never Been Wounded'. He talks to Brendan about his early love of piano; using music to calm you down and why he feels modern culture can swindle us out of spending time with the people we love.

Podcaster and Broadcaster, Fionnuala Jones tells Brendan where the Gen Z obsession with Halloween comes from, the top costume trends for 2025 from the Kiss Cam couple to Travis and Taylor as well as tips on the best low effort pun costumes!

Irish Times Arts Journalist, Nadine O'Regan and Dave O'Callaghan, host of the Here and Back Again Podcast talk Brendan through the hits and misses from the week's watchlist from the new Bruce Springsteen movie to the BBC adaptation of Rónán Hession novel Leonard & Hungry Paul.

Dr. Trudy Meehan, Lecturer and researcher in positive psychology at the RCSI talks to Brendan about navigating the suicide of her ex- partner and how she has guided her daughter through her grief. She and her daughter have written a book ‘The Way Home' to help others deal with the deep grief of losing a loved one to suicide.

Irish Times Crime and Security Correspondent, Conor Gallagher talks to Brendan about how modern-day financial scams work; the skill of the people making scam calls, how they manipulate unsuspecting victims to defraud them of large sums, and the fallout when people fall victim.

Elizabeth Day, presenter of the ‘How To Fail' podcast has written a new novel, ‘One Of Us'. She talks about growing up in Northern Ireland, navigating elite circles in Cambridge and how she's observed weight loss drugs become a lifestyle choice. She also chose five songs that have meant something special to her throughout her life.