Brendan O'Connor

Joining Brendan to dissect the stories making the headlines today, are Executive Director of TASC, Shana Cohen; Special Correspondent for the Irish Examiner, Mick Clifford; Chief Economist with Deloitte Ireland, Kate English; and John O'Brennan, Professor of European Politics at Maynooth University.

Podcaster and writer, Blindboy talks Brendan through the soundtrack to his life, including songs by Stevie Wonder, Randy Newman and Gil Scott-Heron.

Broadcaster Aifric O'Connell tells Brendan about some of the best live music and comedy gigs in Ireland next year, to help anyone putting tickets on their Christmas list.

Writer Henrietta McKervey and host of the ‘Here and Back Again' podcast, Dave O'Callaghan join Brendan to discuss some of the best film and TV this week. Their choices include ‘Eternity', ‘Ripple' and ‘President Connolly: How The Race Was Won'.

Psychotherapist Richard Hogan offers advice on how to navigate difficult family relationships over Christmas, answering listeners' questions about unsupportive partners, difficult siblings and ungrateful children.

Managing Director of Baggot Investment Partners, Peter Brown, explains to Brendan why a trillion dollars was wiped off the value of cryptocurrencies in recent weeks, and how best to understand the deeply volatile crypto markets.

Actor Patrick Duffy, AKA Bobby Ewing from Dallas, and his partner, actor Linda Purl, talk about their new RTÉ show, ‘Duffy's Pub' which will air on RTÉ One on Dec 28th at 6.30pm. They told Brendan about touring Irish pubs, their relationship with the late Manchán Magan and bringing Patrick's father's ashes home to Ireland.

Chartered Physiotherapist Aisling Frawley tells Brendan why we experience stiffness in our head, neck and shoulders, and talks him through some easy exercises, to unstiffen those muscles and keep deeper problems at bay.

Pastry Chef and CEO of Grá Chocolates, Grainne Mullins talks Brendan through some delicious recipes to help you celebrate the festive season.

Joining Brendan to dissect the stories making the headlines today, were Mary Regan, Political editor with The Irish Independent; David W. Higgins, Economist; Youth Advocate Natasha Maimba; and Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Professor at the European University Institute.

Psychologist and writer Tony Bates and his old pal Denis Cagney join Brendan to talk about reconnecting more than 50 years after first striking up a conversation at school. Denis and Tony share the wisdom that comes with age and their life experience. They talk about what their friendship means now, and Denis shares the reality of living with MND.

Entertainment journalist, Sarina Bellisimo and TV and radio producer Eoin Sweeney cast a discerning eye over the TV shows and movies that are worth a watch this week.

Actor Benedict Cumberbatch tells Brendan about his activism, the waste created in the making of a movie, why toxic masculinity needs to constantly be called out, how becoming a father affected his acting and how his own grief surfaced when playing a grief-stricken husband and father in his latest film, ‘The Thing With Feathers'.

As President Zelensky's chief of staff resigns following an anti-corruption scandal, Christopher Miller, Ukraine Correspondent with the Financial Times talks to Brendan about how this crisis will impact the ongoing peace plan, but also the consequences for the country, its government and its people.

There are 12,000 lakes in Ireland. Pól O'Conghaile, Travel Editor of Independent.ie talks about the tourism amenities added to many Irish lakes over the years and which are the most beautiful ones to visit.

On the eve of the second anniversary of the death of her husband, Shane McGowan, writer Victoria Mary Clarke talks about grief, ice baths and breath work. She also chose five songs that chart her life, from ‘Haunted' by Shane & Sinead O'Connor to Bob Dylan, Kneecap and Van Morrison.

Occupational psychologist and shaman, Leisha Redmond McGrath talks to Brendan about the small changes you can make to create a better day at work, how to make better connections with people to and how to bring joy to your workday.

Café owner and chef Maggie Roche brings Brendan the best and tastiest toasted sandwiches for all moods and taste buds. She talks Brendan through an epic Christmas toastie recipe, how to pimp up the classic ham and cheese and makes a case for a nutella toastie!

Joining Brendan to discuss the Sunday papers are Pat Leahy, Political Editor of the Irish Times; novelist, Catherine Prasifka; Brenda Power, Columnist with the Irish Daily Mail and Sunday Times; and Larry Donnelly, Law Lecturer at the University of Galway.

Homeless campaigner, and founder of The Alice Leahy Trust, Alice Leahy, tells Brendan about her vocation, her late husband Charlie, and how she nearly became a vet and now reminds people several times a day that she is not a nun. Marking the publication of her new book ‘Outsiders' she chooses five songs that form the soundtrack to her life, includi

Donald Trump's MAGA movement is embroiled in internal disputes over the status of white nationalist, Nick Fuentes, and the surprise resignation of Georgia Congresswoman, Marjorie Taylor-Green. Publisher of TheBriefing.ie - Liz Carolan - tells Brendan about the faultlines now emerging in the American right, over Israel, isolationism and Jeffrey Epst

Arts journalist, Zara Hedderman and Entertainment Editor at the RTE Guide, Michael Doherty tell Brendan about the TV and Cinema highlights of the week to come, including ‘Wicked: For Good', ‘Stranger Things' and ‘DJ Carey: The Dodger'.

Comedy legend John Cleese tells Brendan about Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, the power of laughter, and his reflections on what happens after death. He also explains the impetus behind his book, Fawlty Towers: Fawlts and All, and his new documentary, John Cleese Packs It In.

Actor and screenwriter Stephanie Preissner joins Brendan for the first of a two-part series on gift-buying this festive season. This week Stephanie offers her top tips on buying for the men in your life. Tips included VOYA products, Closca cycle helmets, and contour whiskey glasses from Current.

Kerryman, Oisin Murphy – who recently won the British Flat Jockeys Championship title for the fifth time – tells Brendan about his destructive relationship with alcohol, the constant need to keep his weight down, and why he tested positive for cocaine in France, as detailed in his new book ‘Sacrifice'.

Caryna Camerino, owner of Dublin's Camerino Bakery, tells Brendan about some American desserts, for anyone hoping to mark the American holiday this week.

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.