Brendan O'Connor

Joining Brendan to digest the Sunday papers are; Political Correspondent, Sarah McGuinness, Chief Economist with Deloitte Ireland, Kate English, Former Irish Ambassador to the UK and the EU, Bobby McDonagh, and Sunday Independent Columnist and Former Head of the Housing Agency, Conor Skehan.

Dr Sabina Brennan talks to Brendan about caring for her mother when she was diagnosed with dementia, and how it might help others in understanding loved ones with a diagnosis of a similar condition. She charts her experience in her new book, ‘Still Me: A neuroscientist's guide to caring for someone with dementia'.

In light of the cancellation of Late Night with Stephen Colbert on CBS in the US, Dave Hanratty, Host of the No Encore podcast, brings us through some of the most memorable American late night television shows, and the reasons why audiences just aren't watching anymore.

Fionnuala Jones, Podcaster and Presenter Donald Clarke, Chief film Correspondent for The Irish Times join Brendan to give some of their recommendations for what to watch on the big and small screen this week.

Comedian Alison Spittle has a new show, ‘Big', that she's bringing to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and is based on her own weight loss journey using prescription injections. She explores her relationship with her body going back to childhood and how she navigates people's reactions to her weight.

Podcaster and author David McWilliams joins Brendan to discuss how factors such as a rising population, smaller family sizes, and out of date accommodation are contributing to the housing crisis.

Psychotherapist Richard Hogan on why there is a loneliness epidemic in a world that has never been more connected; why the World Health Organisation has said teenage girls are the loneliest group in the world; how loneliness can harm and what we can do to combat it.

Summer can be an expensive time for people with holidays, back to school costs, and entertainment costs such as festivals and day trips, not to mention the increase in grocery and hospitality costs across the country. The Money Doctor John Lowe gives Brendan some tips on how to manage summer finances and how not to get overwhelmed by rising costs.

Chef and Instagrammer Alannah Sheehan gives us some healthy alternatives to sweet meals and treats including some easy recipes for protein balls, chia pudding, granola, and more.

Joining Brendan to digest the Sunday papers are; Political Correspondent, Louise Burne, Larry Donnelly, Law Lecturer at the University of Galway, Brenda Power, Columnist with the Sunday Times & The Irish Daily Mail and Marc Ó Cathasaigh, Primary School Teacher and Former Green Party TD for Waterford.

Actor Tom Vaughan-Lawlor talks to Brendan about five songs that shaped his world, from the golden age of ‘80s blockbusters like the Goonies with Cyndi Lauper to how he relieves homesickness with The Tulla Ceili Band. He chats about how he coped with the whirlwind of fame with Love/Hate and the buzz he gets from being on stage again.

Brendan gets a crash course in the competitive sport of road bowling from the secretary of Ból Chumann na hÉireann, Séamus Ó Tuama and enthusiast Michelle Forde who is the founder of the popular Road Bowls in Ireland Facebook and TikTok accounts.

RTÉ Guide Movie Editor Michael Doherty and Culture Commentator Senita Appiakorang give Brendan their recommendations for the best T.V. and films to watch for the week ahead.

Writer Deepa Paul joins Brendan to discuss her memoir Ask Me How It Works which charts her experiences after she made the decision to have an open marriage. She talks about the effects it had on her relationship with her husband, navigating jealousy, the freedom she found in other partners and how it has altered her ideas around commitment.

Summertime brings its own unique set of challenges from hot pillows, overheating rooms, to spoiling food and sunscreen stains, Life Hacks expert for the Irish Examiner, Denise O'Donoghue, gives Brendan her top tips on how to survive the little annoyances of the season

Rugby fan, Michael Flatley, joined Brendan to give live analysis of the first Lions v. Australia rugby test match in Brisbane. Happily, the matched finished Lions 27 - Australia 19. But when conversation turned to the imminent Irish Presidential race, Michael confessed he has been approached by many serious people asking him to consider a run.

Neuroscientist and Clinical Psychologist Professor Ian Robertson gives advice about habits, what it takes to make new ones, how to break bad ones and what you can do to keep good habits in your daily routine.

Sarah Slattery of The Travel Expert.ie offers alternative holiday locations for last minute bookers who want to escape the crowds of the popular destination spots and where to find the best deals to bag that special trip.

One of the big viral food trends this summer is sweet sandwiches. Caryna Camerino of Camerino Bakery joins Brendan.

Joining Brendan to dissect the Sunday papers are Naoise Dolan; novelist and Sunday Independent columnist Gerard Howlin; former government advisor and Irish Times columnist; Tanya Ward, of the Children's Rights Alliance Peter Brown; from Baggot Investment Partners.

Tom Inglis, sociologist and author, on his new book ‘Unbecoming Catholic' which details his own personal experiences with religion, with Catholicism and what being ‘religious' in contemporary Ireland means and how faith and our beliefs should develop.

Oscar Dunbar, grandson of singer and actress Marianne Faithfull, talks about their grandmother-grandson bond, her finding sanctuary by living in Ireland and the pair of them writing and recording a song together, ‘Love Is', in the months before her death last January.

Sarina Bellissimo, Entertainment journalist and broadcaster and Dave O'Callaghan, host of the Here and Back Again Podcast have picked their recommendations for the best TV and films to watch for the week ahead.

Met Eireann's Liz Walsh joins Brendan to give a weather update as Ireland's highest recorded temperature could be broken today.

Rita Ann Higgins, and entrepreneur & journalist, Mark Little. We asked ChatGPT to “write a poem in the style of Rita Ann Higgins.” We then asked Rita Ann Higgins to read it on air, alongside one of her REAL poems. Finally, we asked Mark and the listeners to guess which was the ‘real' poem.

Artist and writer, Corina Duyn, wrote a very powerful letter to Brendan about her experience living in care since the age of 59. She has lived with M.E. for more than 25 years. Corina's book of collages “In Bed I Cut Words” is published by Creative Ireland, and distributed by the Irish Hospice Foundation. CorinaDuyn.com and corinaduyn.blogspot.com

RTÉ's Des Cahill reflects on Katie Taylor's epic overnight boxing win, previews the weekend's crunch GAA semi-finals and looks ahead to the Wimbledon finals between Jannik Sinner v Carlos Alcaraz and Amanda Anisimova v Iga Swiatek.

Former football manager and player Roddy Collins picks five classic songs that remind him of childhood holidays around Ireland, his late father and his 48 year love story with his wife, Caroline.

Chartered physiotherapist Aisling Frawley explains why we shouldn't be running in very hot sun and has tips on how to maintain your fitness over the summer months.

As the summer heats up, is it possible to put on a spread of tapas dishes at home? Nicky Foley from Solas Tapas Bar in Dingle [and The Fish Factory] says yes, and he talked Brendan through recipes for Pan con Tomate, potato tortilla, chickpea stew and Prawn pil pil.

Joining Brendan to dissect the Sunday papers are Mick Clifford, Special Correspondent, The Irish Examiner, Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Professor in the European University Institute, David W. Higgins, Economist and Dr. Máire Treasa Ní Cheallaigh, Doctor and Columnist with the Irish Independent.

Best-selling author Joseph O'Connor joins Brendan to talk about his theory that 1975 was a seminal moment for music. The socio-economic and historic moments that informed this year which saw monumental, groundbreaking albums released from Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, ABBA, Patti Smith and the significant influence they had on music.

In the week that the Dalai Lama marked his 90th official birthday [and confirmed his future reincarnation], Brendan marks the occasion by chatting to Denis Staunton, Irish Times China Correspondent, about how the new Dalai Lama will be located, what the role involves, and why we might soon have TWO Dalai Lamas.

Freelance Culture Journalist, Zara Hedderman and Host of the Extra Vision Podcast, Andy McCarroll, give their big and small screen recommendations for the week ahead.

Best friends, comedian PJ Gallagher and writer Stefanie Preissner join Brendan to talk about the bond they have developed through their adulthood, the unique intimacy and value of platonic relationships, how humour sustained them and how they managed to navigate the difficult moments of their lives together.

A trend with Leaving Cert holidays seems to be parents letting their kids go on holidays, on condition that they allow their parents to track their location during the holiday. Cyberpsychology lecturer at IADT, and co-host of the ‘In Bits' podcast, Dr Nicola Fox Hamilton, chatted with Brendan about the rights and wrongs of tracking technology.

Founder of the fansite OasisWTS Gareth Dunleavy gives Brendan his verdict on the opening night of the Oasis reunion tour, Live ‘25 at the Cardiff Principality Stadium and his thoughts on the reuniting Gallagher brothers.

Steve Wall shares five songs that changed his world, the influence and power of Rory Gallagher, the excitement of the Beatles. He talks about the songs that sowed the seeds of the formation of The Stunning, how art and artistry has changed in Ireland and the new phase of his life as an actor.

Fresh off the boat from an Irish language course on Inis Meáin, travel writer,Thom Breathnach, talks holidays where you learn something new. He told Brendan about DIY and construction courses at Common Knowledge in Co Clare; a blacksmithing course at Hot Milk Forge in North Antrim; and a wild tea foraging tour with Two Green Shoots in Glengarriff.

Eileen Dunne-Creszenci gives Brendan a tour of the dishes that make an Italian summer from a simple melon starter to flavourful pasta salads and the zingy delight of a sgroppino cocktail.

Joining Brendan to dissect the Sunday Papers are Mary Hannafin, Barrister and former Fianna Fail Minister for Education; Scott Lucas, Professor of US and International politics at the Clinton Institute UCD; Lorna Fitzpatrick, Communications Consultant, and Oisín Coghlan, Public Policy Advisor.

LGBTQ+ activist, journalist and DJ Tonie Walsh talks to Brendan about the songs that soundtrack his life. He recalls his 'lyrical childhood' and speaks about the transgressive power of simply dancing as a gay man at the Hirschfeld Centre. And he reflects on the challenges still faced by the gay community today.