Spirit Radio's Podcast

Marinet Brennan, Cognitive Communication Specialist and founder of ‘NeuroPotential', speaks to Kieran about her family's story, that's now led to her founding a company called ‘NeuroPotential'. Did you know that the brain has a lifelong ability to adapt, and rewire? Marinet also shares how services provided by NeuroPotential can help  maximise our brain's potential,  and that we can enhance our ‘brain habits' like memory, attention spans, or focus at work. More information is at www.neuropotential.ie

Stephen Byford, East Regional Worker with Christ in Youth Europe (CIY), speaks to Kieran about the importance of investing in young people and their potential, and also encouraging churches to think long-term about Youth Ministry. Stephen shares about the upcoming CIY Event in July called MOVE that runs for 5 days from the 28th July - 1st of August 2025 at Clongowes Wood College, Clane, County Kildare, and is geared towards 14-18 year olds. More information is www.ciy.eu  

Jonny Sommerville, Content Producer for Scripture Union and Jesus Film, speaks to Kieran about CSSM that runs in Greystones, Wicklow from the 12th-26th July - and the volunteering opportunities. Jonny shares his own volunteering story at CSSM and how it's now shaped his faith and his career path. CSSM is a non-residential 2 week camp that's been running yearly in Greystones, Wicklow since 1896 by Scripture Union. www.scriptureunion.ie

Elaine Dunne (Chairperson of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers) speaks to Kieran about the news that Childcare fees for parents paying the highest rates in the country are to see those fees capped from September. Elaine highlights the many continuous challenges facing childcare and creche facilities across Ireland.

Chartered Psychologist Dr Sheena Kumar speaks to Kieran sharing advice to students and parents with the first full week of Junior and Leaving Certificate State examinations commencing.

Broadcaster Nikki Hayes joins Kieran in studio to share her story and journey of overcoming addiction, thanks to the services provided by Tiglin.

Singer-Songwriter and Actress Clare O'Malley, speaks to Kieran in studio about her debut double single release ahead of her debut EP. Clare shares about the single 'New Heights' and also her career that includes being Jedward's backing singer when they competed in Eurovision as a hugely popular act, to her own solo career being reviewed by the New York Times as ‘one of the most astonishing performances they'd  seen that year.”

David Quinn from the Iona Institute speaks to Kieran on ageing populations, and declining birthrates, with the news that the number of deaths continues to exceed the number of births across the EU. This trend has now been occurring for almost ten years, according to the latest Eurostat figures. Deaths now outnumber births by around a million. David also shares how Denmark has now raised its retirement age reflecting this.  

John Edwards of the Walking Free Ministry joins Kieran in studio to share his testimony of how over 30 years ago he experienced an incredible encounter with God, that has him clean and sober now for 3 decades, after 20 years of his life being an addict and alcoholic. John Edwards is now embarking on a ‘prayer tour of Ireland'. More info at www.walkingfree.org

Anne Heffernan shares her story of volunteering in Haiti for a year, and how her time there has been documented in a newly published book called "Living in a Land That Time Forgot" which is available at www.BuyTheBook.ie

Brothers Jay & Allen Bobinac join Kieran in studio to share about receiving the Lord Mayor's Award that recognises their impact in serving Dublin's Homeless Community.

Lara Lewis (Media spokesperson for Irish School of Motoring - and Qualified ADI Driving instructor), speaks to Kieran about her road safety advice ahead of the bank holiday weekend, for learner drivers, newly qualified novice drivers, and experienced drivers. Lara also highlights the new speed cameras that are in place across the country ahead of the June Bank Holiday weekend.

Spirit Radio's Lydia O'Kane spoke with Shane Duffy, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, who is a visiting Fistula Surgeon in Uganda as part of the SafeBirth4All campaign spearheaded by a coalition of organisations including Misean Cara. Shane spoke to Lydia - on the Morning Show presented by Kieran about the very serious health condition called Obstetric Fistula which is a debilitating childbirth injury resulting from a prolonged or obstructed labour without access to emergency medical intervention that some 2 million women in developing world countries suffer from. To support the work of Misean Cara go to MiseanCara.ie and to support doctors like Shane Duffy going to Uganda to help these women.

Kerry McLaverty (CEO of LauraLynn, Ireland's Children's Hospice) speaks to Kieran about how Children's Hospice Week  focused on highlighting the challenges facing parent and families caring for a child with palliative care needs. LauraLynn is continuing to ask the public to help bring care to these families by donating to support the work of Laura Lynn - at www.lauralynn.ie

Spirit Radio's news reporter Lydia O'Kane spoke to Ruth Cooke (Head of Fundraising and Supporter engagement with Christian Aid Ireland), to mark the 80th anniversary of Christian Aid. This interview broadcast was aired out on The Morning Show presented by Kieran.

Florence Olufemi-Ojo (founder of the business M.I.O Prints and singer with Discovery Gospel Choir) speaks to Kieran ahead of Africa Day (Sunday 18th May). Florence speaks about her own business, the importance of Africa Day, and the news that Discovery Gospel Choir will headline Africa Day celebrations taking place at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin.

Emma Olahan, Career Service Director at Minding Creative Minds, speaks to Kieran about the Creative Careers Summit ‘Creativity at the Crossroads' which is taking place next Tuesday 20th May at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Golden Lane in Dublin, bringing together over 300 creatives across more than 30 disciplines throughout the day from 8.30am. To book tickets: www.mindingcreativeminds.ie

Enda Leahy (CEO of the Irish Tech Firm Courtsdesk and Director of the Kilkenny Law Festival) speaks to Kieran about the pro's and con's about AI and the field of Law - and the upcoming Kilkenny Law Festival. Kilkenny Law Festival – the brand new festival takes place at the Pembroke Hotel, Kilkenny and historic Hole in the Wall venue from Friday, May 16th to Sunday May 18th. Tickets and the full schedule are available at www.kilkennylawfestival.com

Cora Barnes of 3Q Recruitment speaks to Kieran celebrating our nurses across the country today for International Nurses Day, to honour them for the incredible contribution they make to our  health and wellbeing.

Anita Forde, Special Olympics Athlete and Team Ireland medal winner speaks to Victoria about what she's achieved through the Special Olympics and also the Special Olympics Ireland's Collection Day fundraiser.

Chartered Psychologist Dr Sheena Kumar speaks to Wendy on why people struggle with saying 'no'.

Father Mark Darmody and his teenage daughter Cara Darmody speak to Wendy about why Cara is preparing a 50-hour protest outside Leinster House from 20th May for better autism services. In this conversation Mark and Cara highlight the Government and HSE's legal failings in regard to the Disability Act 2005 for not assessing children within 6 months.

Luke Silke, Parliamentary Assistant to the Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín, speaks to Wendy about the Grace Report - the long awaited final report of the Farrelly Commission into the ‘Grace' foster home abuse case. ‘Grace' a disabled girl, was one of 47 children placed with a foster family and stayed there for 20 years despite credible allegations of abuse at the home.

Professor Tobias Winright (Professor of Moral Theology at St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth) speaks to Spirit Radio's Rob Clarke marking the passing of Pope Francis on The Morning Show.

Journalist Michael Kelly (and of Aid to the Church in Need Ireland) speaks to Wendy marking the passing of Pope Francis.

Psychotherapist and Director of GenSpect Stella O'Malley, speaks to Wendy about the news of the UK Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of a woman is to be based on her biological sex under equality laws.

James Bradshaw (Vice-Chair of Evangelium) speaks to Wendy about the upcoming Evangelium 2025 event and how there has been an increase in young adults attending this Catholic conference in recent years.

Tim Robertson (Head of Strategic Partnerships at Compassion UK) speaks to Wendy about the work of Compassion which includes a child sponsorship programme and how it's transforming children's live.

Jenny Belle (Kova International, and Screentime presenter with Spirit Radio) speaks to Wendy about The King of Kings film arriving to Irish cinemas nationwide.

Voice Actor James Arnold Taylor speaks to Olga at Spirit Radio about his role in the new film The King of Kings on the Morning Show on Spirit Radio with Wendy.

Jana Lunden (Founder of the Natural Women's Council) speaks to Wendy about concerns regarding cancel culture taking place in Ireland following a hotel venue cancelling their recent conference on ‘Safeguarding Children's Education' due to objections and complaints.

Delphine Chui (Spokesperson for ADF International) speaks to Wendy about a case in the UK where a lady (Livia Tossici-Bolt) was put on trial and has been convicted as guilty for offering consensual conversation in a buffer zone near an abortion facility.

Nancy Gifford, Co-Director of Apologetics at Premiere Christian Radio in the UK, speaks to Spirit Radio's Lydia O'Kane about the news that in the last 5 years there has been an increase of 87% of Bible sales with purchases by the GEN Z generation in the UK according to figures compiled by SPCK Group, the Christian publishers.  

To mark Autism Awareness Day, Wendy spoke to Lisa Domican, who told her about her own children, and the inspiration behind 'The Grace App', and what she feels needs to be done to support autistic children and their parents. The Grace App for Autism helps autistic and other special needs children to communicate effectively, by building semantic sequences from relevant images to form sentences. The app stores a basic picture vocabulary of Foods, Things I like, Places, Colors, Sizes and Shapes on an iPhone/iPad or iPod Touch with a function for creating a sentence that can be read together. There is also a facility for finding and taking photographs of all the other things that each individual user may need. It is a portable means of supporting the communication development of the user, wherever they go and is proving invaluable in improving vocalisations through consistency of use over time. Grace and the other children have also learned to share what they see and photograph independently, as a result of using the App. https://www.graceapp.com/

Financial adviser and analyst Karl Deeter speaks to Wendy about the latest mortgage news in Ireland including planned changes to Central Banks Consumer Protection Code 2025 and how Avant Money (the consumer finance company that provides loads and mortgages) has announced it's newest mortgage product ‘The Flex Mortgage' with it being available to both new and existing customers from this April.

Chartered Psychologist Dr Sheena Kumar speaks to Wendy about personality categories such as introverts, extroverts and ambiverts? Dr Sheena shares about understanding and what we can learn from these personality types.

Fiona Mallone, Corporate Partnership manager with the Down Syndrome Centre, speaks to Wendy about the importance of early intervention therapy to help develop communication skills and muscle development for children with Down Syndrome to support them in longterm education and employment.

Brandon Scott, Promotions and Communications Officer with Aid to the Church in Need Ireland, speaks to Wendy about the conflict, killings, persecution and horrors facing people of faith and also communities and refugee camps being attacked in the Congo.

Jana Lunden, Founder of the Natural Women's Council (a grassroots non-profit in Ireland dedicated to protecting the well-being of children, women and families) speaks to Wendy on the growing concerns about the content being taught in schools particularly in regard to age appropriateness and highlighting what is being taught without parental consent. Jana shares why it's so important that parents are informed and stay vigilant in investigating what content is being taught and spoken about in their child's school. ‘Do You Know What Is Happening In Your Child's School' conference ran by Natural Women's Council is taking place on the 5th April from 12.30pm-7pm at Johnstown Estate, Enfield, Co.Meath - more info at www.naturalwomenscouncil.ie

Sleep Consultant Lucy Wolfe of SleepMatters.ie speaks to Wendy about her top tips for getting a good night's sleep for World Sleep Day.

Seán Defoe (Bauer Media political correspondent) speaks to Spirit Radio's news reporter Lydia O'Kane live from Washington D.C. ahead of the Taoiseach Micheál Martin's visit to the White House today to meet with US President Donald Trump.  

Minister Neale Richmond (Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora) speaks to Wendy about the political upcoming visit from Irish politicians, including his own visit to Kenya and Tanzania, and looking to the Taoiseach's upcoming meeting with US President Trump.

Sister Jo (Vice-Chair of the Misean Cara Board of Directors) speaks to Spirit Radio's News Reporter Lydia O'Kane on Mornings with Wendy  ahead of International Women's Day. Sr Jo is a retired missionary sister with the congregation of the Presentation Sisters, having spent two decades in Ecuador and Peru as a missionary.

Shaunagh Bethel shares how God is at work in her life through this Life in 5 testimony interview on Mornings with Wendy.

Katie Maguire shares about her short film 'Warrior' which showcases her health journey of living with Lyme Disease, raising awareness about the often unseen challenges of living with a chronic invisible illness.

Bishop Keith Butler speaks to Rob Clarke ahead of the upcoming Dublin Encounter Event this weekend. For more information about the Dublin Faith Encounter event visit: keithbutler.org/ireland. Bishop Keith Butler is also the host and speaker of the Live Your Faith program that airs out on Spirit Radio every morning after the 6am news.  

Lorraine Keane (Founder of Fashion Relief) speaks to Wendy about 'Fashion Relief 'which is Lorraine's pre-loved clothing Boutique in the Frascati Centre, Blackrock, Dublin. Lorraine also shares about female health and Perimenopause, and her health journey with this.

Todd Komarnicki (Film Director of Bonhoeffer) speaks to Wendy about his new film 'Bonhoeffer' which shares the true story of the Pastor and Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer and how he stood against the Nazi regime in Germany during WW2.

Mary Flemming - Founder and CEO of ChangeClothes.org (a clothing reuse hub in Dublin) speaks to Wendy about how we dispose of 164,000 tonnes of clothing waste a year, making Ireland the second highest producer of textile waste in the EU.

Maria Maynes, journalist with Gript Media, speaks to Wendy about the latest house pricing news for Ireland. Did you know that the price of a typical home in Ireland is now €200,000 more expensive than in 2013? Maria also shares latest news that Australia has passed a law banning the purchase of existing homes by foreigners in an effort to boost housing supply - and looking at could Ireland do the same?

Dr Lorcan Sirr (Lecturer and housing policy analyst at TU Dublin and Visiting Professor at University of Galway) speaks to Wendy about the numbers of vacant houses and properties in Ireland, with tens of thousands of homes remaining vacant despite a national housing crisis.