Brendan O'Connor

Joining Brendan to talk through highlights from the Sunday newspapers is political editor with The Irish Independent, Mary Regan; Irish Times columnist and public affairs consultant, Gerard Howlin; Nutriband founder and former presidential hopeful, Gareth Sheridan and Emeritus Professor at the European University Institute, Brigid Laffan.

Writer Michael Harding joins Brendan to discuss death, mental health and the natural world – all themes in his latest novel ‘Midwinter'.

Cork singer-songwriter Lyra explains why – over 50 years after they formed - Fleetwood Mac are enjoying a resurgence with younger listeners.

Director of the Dublin International Film Festival, Grainne Humphries, and host of the "Xtravision" podcast Andy McCarroll, discuss the best TV and film of the week, including Celebrity Traitors, House of Dynamite and Mr. Scorsese.

Author Colum McCann, who has worked closely with two grieving fathers, on either side of the Israeli/Palestinian divide, speaks to Brendan about this week's peace deal in the long-running conflict.

Former US Poet Laureate, Billy Collins – dubbed ‘America's favourite poet' – joins Brendan to reflect on his approach to writing and reads two poems, including one from his latest collection, ‘Dog Show'. Billy will be in Dublin for ‘An evening with Billy Collins' on 21st October. More details: PoetryIreland.ie

In a wide-ranging conversation filled with laughter, agony (or ecstasy) aunts, mother and daughter, Ann and Róisín Ingle, join Brendan to discuss ageing, birthdays and men.

Consultant Endocrinologist Professor Mary Ryan tells Brendan about melatonin: what helps the body to produce it naturally, what impact it has, and the side effects of taking it inappropriately.

Catherine Fulvio talks Brendan through some of her favourite, hearty pasta dishes for Autumn – and answers the age-old question: does the shape of your pasta impact the flavour?

Ireland and Lions Men's Rugby Coach Andy Farrell tells Brendan about becoming a teenage father, his own playing career and his evolution to coaching for Ireland and The Lions, marking the publication of his autobiography ‘The Only Way I Know'.

Joining Brendan to discuss the Sunday papers are Dr. Laura Bambrick, Social Policy Officer, ICTU; Larry Donnelly, Law Lecturer at the University of Galway; Ellen Coyne, Political Correspondent with the Irish Times and David W. Higgins, Economist.

Actor and broadcaster Baz Ashmawy joined Brendan to talk about first discovering funk and disco in Cairo, backpacking, the return of his TV shows ‘The Money List', ‘DIY SOS: The Big Build' and ‘Faithless'. He also chose five songs to reflect his life ranging from Duran Duran to Weezer to Foster The People.

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you'll know that Taylor Swift's new album The Life of a Showgirl was released on Friday. As Swift is famous for using her lyrics to settle old scores, journalist and broadcaster, Jenn Gannon, dropped in to decode the latest songs and explain whose noses should be out of joint this time around.

Michael Doherty, RTE Guide Movies Editor and Arts journalist Zara Hedderman join Brendan to preview the film and TV highlights of the week.

Do discount shop reading glasses harm your eyes? Does staring at screens really harm our eyesight? If you need glasses to eat a meal, is something wrong? Kirk Stephenson, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at the Mater Private Network, gives Brendan tips on minding your eyes as you age.

Chef, writer and co-founder of Ballymalloe Cookery School gives Brendan a lesson in making traditional Irish soda bread, which she claims is baked from start to finish in less than 30 minutes. She covers white, brown, gluten free and even gives a few pimped-up versions with fruit and chocolate!

Author and Broadcaster Manchán Magan joined Brendan to open-up about his widespread cancer, his disdain for pity, drinking his own urine in the Himalayas, the curse of being a writer and his latest book, "Ninety-Nine Words for Rain (and One for Sun)".

Is there such a thing as a ‘good‘ separation? What are the right words to use when breaking-up? How can we move on afterwards? What should – and shouldn't - you tell the children? Psychotherapist, Richard Hogan, joined Brendan to talk through break-ups, separation, and divorce.

Just three weeks after Manchán Magan's remarkable final interview with Brendan, two of Manchán Magan's friends, Blindboy and Liam Ó Maonlaí, pay tribute to the writer, documentary-maker, and thinker.

Scandanavia is an increasingly popular holiday destination, but its different countries sometimes merge into one in our imagination. So Stockholm-based Irish journalist, Philip O'Connor, gave Brendan a guide to Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and – controversially - Finland.

Donegal-born visual artist Myrid Carten has made her first feature-length film, ‘A Want In Her', chronicling her mother Nuala's mental illness and alcoholism journey. She offers a behind the scenes look at how her mother, who was once a social worker, then became a street drinker and how their mother-daughter relationship was affected.

Joining Dearbhail to discuss the Sunday papers are: Kevin Doyle, Group Head of News at Mediahuis Ireland; Lucinda Creighton, Founder and CEO of Vulcan Consulting and former Minister of state for European Affairs; Dr. Barra Roantree, Economist at Trinity College Dublin and Bobby MacDonagh, Former Irish Ambassador to the UK, the EU and Italy.

Baker, Author and Founder of 2210 Patisserie, Una Leonard talks to Dearbhail about how her own history of disordered eating and her mother's cancer diagnosis, led her to found her own bakery, and inspired her second book “Good Together” - a celebration of meals and deserts to be shared with loved ones.

Dr Ruth Freeman, Director at Research Ireland tells Dearbhail about how the discovery of a million-year-old skull in China has upended our understanding of human evolution.

Irish Times Film Critic, Donald Clarke, and host of The Bellissimo Files podcast, Sarina Bellissimo, join Dearbhail to preview film and TV highlights of the week, including ‘The Walsh Sisters', ‘One Battle After Another' and ‘How Are You? It's Alan (Partridge)'.

Activist and survivor of rape, Blathnaid Raleigh joins Dearbhail to talk about her new memoir Aftermath. She talks about how she coped in the years following her horrific rape, the devastating effect the trauma had on Blathnaid and her family, her experience of the justice system and finding solace with her beloved horses.

As flu season rolls around, do you still need to get a Covid booster? Does the shingles vaccine have an impact on dementia? And how does disinformation fuel vaccine scepticism and herd immunity? Professor Cliona O'Farrelly, Chair in Comparative Immunology & Biochemistry at Trinity College Dublin answers these and other vaccine related questions.

Broadcaster and self-build enthusiast, Harrison Gardner chatted to Dearbhail about the construction jobs most of us can do ourselves, from pouring concrete to tiling. He's on a mission to empower homeowners to save money by investing time in their houses. Harrison is back on RTE on Wednesday October 1st with a new season of Build Your Own Home.

Writer and filmmaker, Zlata Filipovic, shot to international fame when her childhood diary, during the Bosnian War saw her dubbed ‘The Anne Frank of Sarajevo'. She tells Dearbhail about the songs that evoke her early experiences of war, moving to Ireland as a teenager, and building a career and family here over the past 30 years

As Traitors comes to an end and the presidential election heats up, performance coach Enda McNulty talks to Dearbhail about what makes a competitive person, are they born or made and is the drive to win always a good thing?

Chef Alannah Sheehan joins Dearbhail to give us all the tasty tips on how to batch cook delicious dinners without sacrificing your Sunday to the kitchen or compromising on flavour.

Joining Brendan to discuss the Sunday papers are: Siobhán Fenton, writer and former deputy head of press for Sinn Féin; Dan O'Brien, Chief Economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs and columnist with The Currency; Louise Burne, Political Correspondent at the Irish Examiner, Prof Gary Murphy, Professor of Politics at DCU

Actor and broadcaster Carrie Crowley joins Brendan to talk about her career, playing Mammy Walsh in the upcoming RTÉ TV series 'The Walsh Sisters', her forthcoming play 'Konstantin' and going back to TV after 20+ year hiatus. She also picked five songs that chart her life ranging from Willie Nelson to Kermit The Frog

A beloved figure will return to our screens: Alan Partridge - sports anchor, turned chat show host, turned radio DJ, turned stand-in BBC presenter. He'll be fronting a new BBC show called "How are you? It's Alan (Partridge)". TV producer and director, Brian Reddin, celebrates the occasion with a look at Alan's enduring appeal.

Film critic for the business post John Maguire, and writer Henrietta McKervey, join Brendan to talk through the week's best films and TV shows

Boomtown Rats frontman Bob Geldof on 50 years of the Rats, why the Ireland of his youth was a 'Banana Republic', moving to London, observing social change, setting up Band Aid and Live Aid, grappling with overnight becoming 'Captain Africa' and his thoughts on modern-day free speech and cancel culture.

Neuroscientist Brian Pennie has practical tips on how to calm yourself in the moment when the red mist descends.

Academy award winner, Brenda Fricker, invited Brendan into her home to talk about the events that have shaped her life. Her memoir is called 'She Died Young - A Life in Fragments' - published by Head of Zeus. And her new film, The Swallow, is on release at selected cinemas. The interview covers difficult themes.

Joining Brendan to discuss the Sunday papers are Pat Leahy, Political Editor of the Irish Times, Elaine Burke, Science and Technology journalist, Scott Lucas, Professor of US and International politics at the Clinton Institute in UCD and Brenda Power, Columnist with the Irish Daily Mail and Sunday Times.

Having turned 50 in May, Jamie Oliver is in a reflective mood when he speaks to Brendan. He talks about his dyslexia, and shares health hacks on getting more fruit and veg, how to make treats healthier [like tofu with chocolate!], and how to get a good night's sleep.  Jamie's new book is ‘Eat Yourself Healthy: Food to change your life'.

With the evenings drawing in, poet Enda Wyley chose uplifting poems to read. Nourishing poems of Soul and Light and The Poetry Pharmacy Returns, ‘The Washing' by Jaan Kaplinski; ‘Rain' by Raymond Carver; ‘Romanesque Arches' by Tomas Tranströmer; ‘Although the Wind,' by Izumi Shikibu; ‘This Moment' by Eavan Boland; and ‘The Door' by Miroslav Holub.

Irish Times Arts Journalist, Nadine O'Regan and host of the Screenland Podcast, Brian Lloyd join Brendan to talk through the week's best films and TV shows, including ‘The Long Walk', ‘Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale' and ‘Spinal Tap II: The End Continues'.