Podcasts about be grand

¿Sabías que ya puedes volverte dueño de una propiedad comprando metro por metro? En este episodio me senté con Nicolás Carrancedo, director general de Be Grand, para que nos comparta sobre esta novedosa forma de invertir en bienes raíces sin vaciar la cartera, de manera práctica y sencilla. Ve más información sobre @begrand enhttps://www.Sumametros.mx

Be Grand se ha convertido en uno de los principales grupos en el desarrollo de proyectos inmobiliarios de lujo en la Ciudad de México, pero, ¿quién es su dueño?

You know that thing you hate where you go home at Christmas and meet someone from your old school? Well that's not so bad when the guy from your school just happens to be one of the funniest people working in comedy today as joining Andy for a Christmas pint is comedian and fellow Arklow Christian Brothers alumni Peter McGann.  You'll know Peter from his incredible videos such as Filter Dad, Woody at a House Party and the dawn chorus of a Stephen's Day “I'd say there's a few sore heads this morning!”. No one can capture the absolute hilarity of a grim situation like Peter.  Peter chats to Andy about the roles of Zig, Zag and Alan Partridge played in making him the comic he is today, battling imposter syndrome and the importance of your own voice when creating work.  Plus as both Peter and Andy went to the same school there is an awful of CBS based chat including the fear of hearing “so what are you at?” And Peter's long search for a nickname.  Also Andy throw's a very loosely themed Christmas tape test at Peter as tis' the season.  So enjoy this episode and also from all at Be Grand towers, have a wonderful and happy Christmas. 

This week's guest on Be Grand is the author and journalist Roisin Kiberd. Roisin is the author of the incredible book The Disconnect : A Personal Journey Through The Internet which is a wonderfully honest, funny and brave book dealing with mental health, dating, energy drinks and of course, the internet.  Roisin joins Andy to chat about The Disconnect including how putting a spotlight on your problems can allow you to move on, struggles with sleep and how no matter how bad things get there is always hope.  Plus Roisin chats jam, how being curious lead to a love of horror movies and joins Andy is a trip down memory to discuss his favourite topic..Antics Indie Nightclub.  Also this being Be Grand means Roisin chats all things school including the amazing true fact about her Junior Cert, fitting in at Cambridge and being the badass that she is Roisin takes on the latin leaving cert paper.  JJ72 Sunt Refrigerant…that's latin for “JJ72 are cool” apparently 

Marcela Cabrera gerente comercial Be Grand manda un mensaje a los golfistas

Joining Andy on Be Grand this week is one of the most influential (and soundest) podcasters in the business, Cassie Delaney,. You'll know Cassie from hosting amazing podcasts like Before Brunch, The Creep Dive as well as being the founder of the TaleTales Podcast Network. Cassie chats to Andy about the incredibly unusual job she wanted as a child before she turned her attention to a career creating art until college life and terrible taxis changed her mind - for a while.  Cassie also talks about her incredibly ambitious and brilliant to change how content is monetised in Ireland with her new venture -  Outcaster. All this and of course all the usual Be Grand Leaving Cert messing including a trip down Gothic Architecture  memory lane and an incredibly lovely answer about friendship in the traditional English Paper Essay Round. Follow Cassie on Twitter at https://twitter.com/CassieLorraine  And find out all about Outcaster at https://outcaster.io/

The nights are getting a little bit darker so it seems only fitting to start talking all things that go bump in the night so who better to do that than a modern master of Horror so joining Andy this week on Be Grand is writer, producer and director Jed Shepherd.  Jed was the producer and writer of the found footage surprise smash hit of lockdown “Host” as well as this year's insanely good fun “Dashcam”. Jed chats to Andy (and puts up with Andy's fan boy-ing) about how this ghostly Zoom tale came to be and how it felt to have taken the horror world by force.  Jed also chats about how his culture and school days played an important role in instilling a love of horror as if he wasn't being told stories of creatures by his mother he would most likely be found reading ghost stories in the school library.  Also Jed talks about his ambitious and important plans in other to change the very business of horror in England in the hope of more a accessible entry point to aspiring young horror film makers.  All this plus…the dreaded Tape Test returns…

Joining Andy on this edition of Be Grand is author and podcaster Sophie White. Sophie is the author of incredible books such as The Snag List and the honest, brilliant and funny Corpsing: My Body and Other Horror Stories.  Sophie joins Andy to chat how a Bi Polar Incident in her early twenties derailed her plan for life which saw her leave her artistic ambitions and among other things end up as a chef in New Zealand. Sophie also talks about her journey to becoming a writer, what makes a perfect story and the advice she would give to anyone wanting to take a chance.  Andy and Sophie also chat about their shared battles with alcoholism and of course answer some leaving cert questions including the mighty - tell me about the Spire in Dublin there.  Sophie's new book Where I End is released in October. 

Norwegian pop icons A-ha once said “The Sun Always Shines on TV” and who better to investigate this claim than a man who knows more about TV than anyone you're likely to meet - Boyd Hilton.  Boyd is the TV editor for Heat magazine and one of the hosts of the mighty Pilot TV Podcast so if Boyd recommends a show to you, chances are it's probably great. Boyd has been championing great TV since the foundation of Heat Magazine and chats to Andy about standing up for Queer as Folk, Lost beaches and getting actually lost in the woods for the OA.  Also Boyd talks his extremely different school play, breaking into writing and then tells, very possibly..the most rock and roll story ever in Be Grand.  So enjoy this episode of Be Grand featuring the mighty Boyd Hilton. 

After more than a year away it's finally time to go back to school as Be Grand returns and lads, do we have an absolute banger to come back with it. Joining Andy on the first episode of season four is Darragh Ennis who is also known to many as The Menace on the greatest quiz show on TV, The Chase.  Darragh chats about his unusual path to becoming a chaser which famously started with him appearing as a contestant before a Twitter storm erupted over his then teammates. Plus Darragh takes us behind the scenes of the show including the aspect of the show he hates most… Also Darragh and Andy chat their shared experience of feeling lost in school and not really caring about what happens next and how like the best things in life, a little bit of luck is needed to find your path. Plus the leaving cert quiz which …emmm, Darragh does very well in obviously.

This is the tale of Sure It'll Be Grand, #Podcast so brave on the Inter-webs! A so so review on all of the platforms, #PiratesOfTheCaribbean. Review on the way on the ocean's breeze! Follow us on social media:Twitter: https://twitter.com/sure_grandFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/itllbegrandSupport the show: https://supporter.acast.com/sure-itll-be-grand Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello Everyone   Thank you all for your continued support, we really appreciate it.    Shout out to everyone on #FilmTwitter & @britpodscene of whom we are very proud to be members of.    Thanks on the episode to the following great people For Retweets On Twitter!    Louis Riehm (@louis_riehm) Podcast HQ (@PodcastHQ) sundram (@kasaltsundram55) Tim Fulton (@timfulton21) Tom Byrne (@TornByMe) John Craggs - Actor (@johncraggsactor) Sure It'll Be Grand! (@sure_grand) Amanda (@AmandaaaBourne) The Podcast That Wouldn't Die! (@TPodcastTWDie) Spoilerpiece Theatre (@Spoilerpiece) Billy Dees (@BillyDees) What Should We Watch (@WSWWatchpodcast) WTM - Watch This Movie (@WatchThis_Movie) Jason (@Nerdrovert) Mike, Mike & Oscar (@MMandOscar) Four's a Crowd (@FoursACrowdPod) Right Stuff Reviews (@ATRSMovieBlog) Be you tiful (@Beyouti82072603)   Special thanks on this episode to these supportive people & podcasts. Gill Roberts (@GillRoberts), cassie burton (@Cassie_H_Burton), The VHS Strikes Back (@vhsstrikesback), Jamie Russell (@JamieRu17498667), Cinema Recall (@cinema_recall), Qui-Gon Glyn (@realGlynDavies), Shaun Panda Nicolson (@PandaShaun), Emma @ The Movies (@EmmaAtTheMovies), Mr. Positivity Wolfie T (@PositivelyWolf1), Jamie Irwin (@WYF_Podcast), L J Human (@LukeHuman), Ryan L. Terry (@RLTerry1), The Light Sittingbourne (@LightSittingbrn), Ben - FilmBusters (@filmbustersben), Apple Park Films (@AppleParkFilms), The Movie Journey (@themoviejourney), Ian McIntyre (@REALIanMcIntyre), Mrs Miriam (@misled007), Movies On The Way (@Moviesontheway) & Of Course Chris Watts (@thechriswatt) . Thanks for all the tags, follows and mentions. You are legends!   Super Special thanks to Glyn as his question was plucked from Marc's Mail Sack!   Lastly Podbean who make it so easy for us to publish each week   PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS PODCAST CONTAINS SPOILERS AND SOME QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE   00:00 - 10:41        Intro, Missing Link Marc, Middle Age Conundrum, Short Chafe, Ice Cream Man Shithousery & Thanks! 10:41 - 12:27        Special Promo - The VHS Strikes Back (@vhsstrikesback) 12:27 - 16:20        What's That Film?  16:20 - 17:45        Who's In Marc's Mail Sack? 17:45 - 25:04        Question Time With A Question From Glyn On Top Leading Ladies! 25:04 - 49:36        Review Of The Suicide Squad & What Else We Watched 49:36 - 1:03:56      Homework Discussions On Grizzly Man & They Live Then Outro   Please send us some questions via email or Twitter and we will endeavour to bring you some interesting discussion through Marc's Mail Sack. If you like what you hear please leave a like or a comment on your favoured download platform.    Find us on Twitter at @movie_drone Email us at moviedronepodcast@hotmail.com Now Also On Instagram at movie_drone   Also Download episodes on the Podbean App, Pocketcast App, Pandora, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, Castbox, Podknife plus many other podcast apps!   Thanks for Listening Steve and Marc

Hello Everyone   Thank you all for your continued support, we really appreciate it.    Shout out to everyone on #FilmTwitter & @britpodscene of whom we are very proud to be members of.    Thanks on the episode to the following great people For Retweets On Twitter!    Louis Riehm (@louis_riehm) Blood & Black Rum Podcast (@bloodnblackrum) Sure It'll Be Grand! (@sure_grand) Marc Seager (@Seags06) St. Paul Filmcast (@STPaulFilmcast) The Podcast That Wouldn't Die! (@TPodcastTWDie) Well Kept & Unclean (@WKUCComedyPod) Spoilerpiece Theatre (@Spoilerpiece) Billy Dees (@BillyDees) What Should We Watch (@WSWWatchpodcast) WTM - Watch This Movie (@WatchThis_Movie) Jason (@Nerdrovert) Mike, Mike & Oscar (@MMandOscar) ronnie cassol (@ronniehowlett3) Ian McIntyre (@REALIanMcIntyre) Four's a Crowd (@FoursACrowdPod) Right Stuff Reviews (@ATRSMovieBlog) Be you tiful (@Beyouti82072603)   Special thanks on this episode to these supportive people & podcasts. Gill Roberts (@GillRoberts), cassie burton (@Cassie_H_Burton), The VHS Strikes Back (@vhsstrikesback), Miriam #Savedbyhisgrace72 (@Cali77553), Jamie Russell (@JamieRu17498667), Cinema Recall (@cinema_recall), Qui-Gon Glyn (@realGlynDavies), Shaun Panda Nicolson (@PandaShaun), Emma @ The Movies (@EmmaAtTheMovies), Mr. Positivity Wolfie T (@PositivelyWolf1), Jamie Irwin (@WYF_Podcast), L J Human (@LukeHuman), Ryan L. Terry (@RLTerry1), The Light Sittingbourne (@LightSittingbrn), Ben - FilmBusters (@filmbustersben), Apple Park Films (@AppleParkFilms) & The Movie Journey (@themoviejourney). Thanks for all the tags, follows and mentions. You are legends!   Super Special thanks to Gill as her question was plucked from Marc's Mail Sack!   Lastly Podbean who make it so easy for us to publish each week   PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS PODCAST CONTAINS SPOILERS AND SOME QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE   00:00 - 09:46        Intro, When I'm Cleaning Grills, Dirty Little Bastard, Not Safe Briefings, No Nuts & Thanks! 09:46 - 12:08        Special Promo - The Good Evening, Kiddies! Podcast (@gekpodcast) 12:08 - 15:22        What's That Film?  15:22 - 15:50        Who's In Marc's Mail Sack? 15:50 - 22:20        Question Time With A Question From Gill On Movies From Rides! 22:20 - 33:40        We Meet Chris Watts (@thechriswatt) And Discuss The Upcoming Movie The Mire 33:40 - 1:03:41      Review Of Old With Chris Watt  1:03:41 - 1:19:41    Homework Discussions On Blow Out & The Hurt Locker Then Outro   Please send us some questions via email or Twitter and we will endeavour to bring you some interesting discussion through Marc's Mail Sack. If you like what you hear please leave a like or a comment on your favoured download platform.    Find us on Twitter at @movie_drone Email us at moviedronepodcast@hotmail.com Now Also On Instagram at movie_drone   Also Download episodes on the Podbean App, Pocketcast App, Pandora, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, Castbox, Podknife plus many other podcast apps!   Thanks for Listening Steve and Marc

Well, we did it... We finally finished something! 24 movies, a whole tv show, and a bunch of nonsense - season one of Sure It'll Be Grand has been a blast. What better way to bring us to a break than with a look back at some our, and yours, favourite moments, episodes and movies from the last few months. Plus: a look at what we have coming up for season 2. It's been one hell of an adventure so far and thank you all so much for listening. We'll see you all soon for season 2!Follow us on social media:Twitter: https://twitter.com/sure_grandFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/itllbegrandSupport the show: https://supporter.acast.com/sure-itll-be-grand Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dubland is back and back to talking about poor old Paul Mescal's biology. Suzanne also makes an ethical defence for preventing a portion of society from accessing healthcare. There's the latest turn in Dubland's on point reaction to Covid-19. Suzanne gets a Covid test, it's great fun, although, she must reiterate, she didn't need one. PJ is incredulous at the description of the test. PJ compares pregnancy to a banned extreme sport. There's a ken doll. PJ tells us about the skip he hired and the improvement in the house thereafter. Leaks are literally impossible to fix so PJ has to shower with a plumber. There's some classic PJ about half an hour in. There are new rules for what goodies kids are allowed to eat. It's interesting. Suzanne is bringing her kids up to be Evian drinking Divas, and the grannies are no help. There's a bit about sports books, and running and sore body parts. It's Dubland! Be Grand. Go buy a t-shirt and enjoy Dubland. (https://www.headstuff.org/shop/) This episode is sponsored by The UX Design Institute. (https://www.uxdesigninstitute.com/dubland)

On this very special episode of Be Grand, it’s time to go way back.  Back to a wild, strange and alien time and place that we call the year 2005.  A time of NME, floppy fringes, skinny jeans, retro stylings, eyeliner and something called indie.  Oh, and the small matter of a groundbreaking, life-affirming club night that brought indie music to Dublin in a way that just hadn’t been witnessed before and made the place feel like the centre of a musical universe.  This is the story of Antics. Hitting the much-missed Harcourt Street venue of Crawdaddy in November 2005 like a meteorite that had first crashed through a Top Shop warehouse and a guitar factory, Antics was the brainchild of three friends named Craig Harper, John Goucher and Dave Parle.  Tired of the stale scene surrounding them and with nowhere that played the kind of music they or their mates were into, the DJs took their growing love of the indie rock boom of the early 21st Century and gave it a home in the heart of the city; a home that Andy would soon call his own, like Roger in Sister Sister. Craig joins Andy to talk about Antics’ incredible legacy and the special place it holds in the hearts of anyone who attended.  From the early days of half-empty dance floors to the soaring heights that saw the likes of James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem behind the decks, Craig gives us a firsthand account of what it was like to pour your heart into something and have it succeed.  Also joining Andy to talk style, tunes and VK Ice is his beloved Antics crew of Colm O’Brien, Tony McDermott, Niamh Farrell, Cat Bradley and Meg Dunne.  Plus there’s a brilliant contribution from ace journalist Andrea Cleary, who charts the rise and fall of the indie scene from 2005 to the strange half-life it now inhabits. An epic episode of Be Grand that we loved making, this celebrated a wee Wednesday night in happier times when fashions changed, songs were sung and lifelong friendships were forged. Don’t forget to review and subscribe!  Stay safe and enjoy! https://twitter.com/gottheshift https://twitter.com/BeGrandAndy https://twitter.com/emordino https://twitter.com/TonyMcDermot https://twitter.com/Ham_Sandwich https://twitter.com/AndreaCleary_

TW: This episode features discussions of abuse. Joining Andy this week on Be Grand is Dalal Alshohaib, whose story of escaping a forced marriage is both a harrowing and inspiring tale, which took Dalal from Saudi Arabia to the States, before finding a happy ending in Ireland.  After growing up in Saudi Arabia, Dalal’s life changed completely when at the age of eight her family moved to the United States. Here Dalal fell in love with the culture and enjoyed incredibly happy schooldays. However a move back Saudi Arabia saw Dalal struggle with an oppressive culture she was no longer used to. This was followed by an increasingly abusive situation at home and at the age of 18, she was given the news that she would be forced to marry a man she had never met.     Dalal chats to Andy about the dark times that followed, as this marriage obliterated all feelings of hope as she felt she life was no longer her own, and the measures she took in order to survive.     The story does however have a happy ending as Dalal eventually escaped this marriage, and fled the country to start a new life in Ireland with a man she truly loved. Dalal talks to Andy about how even now she will never take for granted the simple joy of sitting on the sofa, watching tv, with someone you truly feel safe with.  Dalal’s story is a truly astonishing one and she hopes it is proof to people in similar situations that there is hope, no matter how dark things can be. 

Joining Andy this week on Be Grand is Senator Eileen Flynn. Eileen made history recently as the first person from the travelling community to be elected to the Oireachtas.  Eileen talks to Andy about growing up and how the legacies and lessons of her parents would stay with her throughout her life. These include how her father’s love of the news would provide Eileen’s first taste of politics and what she thinks he would have said when she made the airwaves plus how her mother’s kind way of dealing with the racism shown towards her and her sister always made them feel okay.     Plus as suicide rates among the travelling community remain shockingly high Eileen talks about what urgently needs to be done to try and combat this and the struggle with trusting a system that has constantly let you down.  All this plus Eileen’s first sparks with activism which lead to sparks of a… different kind and keeping your twin out of trouble.     A genuine inspiration, Eileen’s story proves that you might just get to where you want in life despite what people think you can do.  @Love1solidarity 

We love and admire all of the wonderful guests who’ve visited the Be Grand principal’s office over the last couple of years, but for purely personal reasons this week’s guest occupies a very special place in Andy’s heart.  A game-changer in both the figurative and literal senses, we are overjoyed to welcome the legendary John Romero. As the creative visionary behind the classic titles Wolfenstein 3D, Quake and the immortal Doom series, John’s work had a transformative effect on the computer game industry, popularising the first-person shooter and bringing an ultra-violent, adrenaline-fuelled intensity to gaming that anyone who played the games at an impressionable age has never forgotten.  These were games that you didn’t just play - you lived.  John takes Andy back to where his story began, recounting how playing Pac Man in an arcade as a kid inculcated in him a lifelong love of the medium and drove him to delve into not just how games functioned but what they could be.  He also discusses how it feels when you realise you’ve created something that has never been seen before, the pride he feels in his legacy and in the community that has evolved around his games, which has led to countless friendships and relationships that wouldn’t have existed otherwise. Just in case you didn’t think he was cool to begin with, John also talks about going to school on an army base and what it was like to have a step-dad who may or may not have been a spy.  There’s also discussion on John and Andy’s mutual love of horror cinema, seeing Star Wars for the first time, and what question he’d set should Doom ever make the Leaving Cert syllabus. This episode is the story of a man whose work will live forever and what is possible with hard graft, talent and abundant love for the medium. Remember to subscribe, like and review where possible.  Stay safe! https://twitter.com/romero https://www.instagram.com/begrandpod/ https://twitter.com/HiAndyGaffney https://twitter.com/gottheshift

Han and Chewie, Morecambe and Wise, drunk texting and guilt - all famous double acts. Today’s guest in the Be Grand playground knows all about this topic as he is half of one of the most popular double acts in Irish radio history - Dermot and Dave. Yes, Be Grand is very lucky to be joined by the wonderful Dave Moore! Dave joins Andy to chat about his truly brilliant and adventurous road to radio, which features so many twist and turns, it feels like the man has lived ten lives. Stories include his childhood love of heavy metal leading him to pursue a career in a band, only to put that on hold to live (and get shot) in Russia, before being called home again by his love for music...and all before he had sent off his first demo to a radio station! Speaking of life turns and taking chances, Dave tells Andy the genuinely lovely story of how a letter to two aliens from the Planet Zog about a certain Velcro Girl would be the start of a romance fit for the big screen. Plus of course, he tells the story of how he met the other love of his life (Dermot) and the days on the radio show that will live with him forever. Andy and Dave also chat about their love of boybands, the importance of bag stains in a chippers, and Be Grand breaks out the dreaded French tape test.  A lovely nice warm episode which features two old mates having a chat, which is made all the easier when your mate is Dave Moore, one of the nicest and most talented men you could meet. @DaveTodayFM   

This week’s Be Grand has been 65 million years in the making as joining us is palaeontologist Dr. Caitlin Colleary for a dino filled chat.     Caitlin is a molecular palaeontologist and curator of vertebrate palaeontology at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and she joins Andy this week to discuss why kids (and adults) have always fallen in love with the magic of dinosaurs.    Caitlin answers the dinosaur themed questions that Andy has always wanted to ask, such as what happened to the dinosaurs, could we bring them back and what do the movies get wrong. The answer to that last question may genuinely shock you. She also discusses how the mistakes of the past could help us in the future.     All this and the normal Be Grand fare, including possibly the coolest answer to our opening TV question we’ve ever had. A genuinely fun and interesting episode with Dr Caitlin delightfully putting up with Andy’s excited childlike questions.     Be Grand - the podcast that is so preoccupied with whether it could, it never stops to think about if it should.  https://twitter.com/hypothecait https://www.cmnh.org/  

CW: This episode of Be Grand features descriptions of racist attitudes and their impacts, which may cause distress. Joining Andy in the Be Grand schoolyard this week is Boni Odoemene, co-founder of the Black And Irish Instagram account, which aims to highlight and celebrate the struggles and successes of Ireland’s black community.  At a time when the brutal injustices and cruel prejudices inflicted on black people have rarely been more apparent, Boni explains why the perception of black culture and history in Ireland needs to be fundamentally reassessed, starting with how changing the narrative in the Irish education system can help our society evolve and eradicate anti-black attitudes.  Boni also describes some of the truly vile and disgusting acts of racism he and his siblings have suffered, the trauma of which once led him to contemplate bleaching his own skin. This will understandably be a difficult listen for some and Boni deserves enormous admiration and respect for his openness and willingness to discuss what he’s endured.  But the chat also features some of Boni’s most joyous school experiences, such as the intricacies of schoolboy football and the importance of the perennial schoolyard currency that is Football Sticker collection.  To top it all off there is the usual Be Grand silliness taking in Friday night excursions to Xtra Vision (sadly missed) and an absolute masterclass in how to do a Leaving Cert resit based on those two cornerstones of education - 1920’s cinema and, the sound of this and every other summer, Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky”. This was one of the most important episodes we think we’ve produced.  It was an honour to chat to a gent like Boni and maybe with the work and advocacy exhibited by groups like Black And Irish, the world may one day become a better place. Please remember to like, review, subscribe and share.  Stay safe! https://www.instagram.com/black_andirish/ https://www.facebook.com/BlackandIrish https://twitter.com/bonbonod https://www.instagram.com/begrandpod/ https://twitter.com/HiAndyGaffney https://twitter.com/gottheshift

Probably best to have the number for Liveline on speed dial for this one as this week’s guest on Be Grand is Doctor Caroline West.  A writer and lecturer who holds a PhD and MA in Sexuality Studies, Caroline is the host of the excellent Glow West podcast as well as a sex columnist for Evoke and she swings by the studio to discuss Ireland’s troubled relationship with sex, its history as a taboo subject in Irish society and the disastrous consequences of this suppression that has left the country playing catch-up in terms of sex positivity. There’s also a discussion on how sex is often portrayed on TV, ranging from the cringe-inducing mistakes that blight the depiction, to the impact of Eurotrash on a younger Caroline’s worldview, and the trouble with Normal People*. And we ain’t talking about Paul Mescal’s shorts, here. Finally, there’s the story of how Caroline and another former guest on Be Grand once got into a heated debate with an Irish TV personality on The Sugarhill Gang.  Look, this is Be Grand - you want sophisticated discussion, you listen to the London Review of Books podcast, okay? Remember to like, review and subscribe or even recommend us to a friend. Stay safe and take care! https://iamcarolinewest.com (https://iamcarolinewest.com/) https://twitter.com/CarolineWest_IE https://twitter.com/glow_west_ https://twitter.com/HiAndyGaffney https://twitter.com/gottheshift https://www.instagram.com/begrandpod/

This week, Be Grand becomes Bflat Grand as our guest is the composer Sarah Lynch, who has composed for film, television, and gaming.    One of the most powerful tools a movie has to tell its story is music. From the excitement of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” to the sadness of “Schindler’s List”, a good score can elevate a scene into greatness. Sarah joins Andy to chat about the process of creating a score for film and computer games, and what it feels like to go from playing the fiddle to get into pubs as a teenager, to hearing the John Williams orchestra play your score. She also chats about being mistaken for Ed Sheeran’s “Galway Girl” and playing music for the TV phenomenon “Normal People”, having lived the “Normal People” life in Trinity College herself.  Sarah currently features as part of Women in Harmony whose cover of “Dreams” is raising money for Safe Ireland. This wonderful project also features Be Grand’s good pal Niamh Farrell, plus tonnes of other incredible artists whilst raising money for an incredible worthy cause. You can find more info on Sarah’s Twitter page linked below and you can donate to Safe Ireland by texting SAFE to 50300 to donate 4euro. https://twitter.com/lynchsc

Our guest this week on Be Grand is the screenwriter Kevin Lehane. Kevin’s credits include his booze fuelled alien West of Ireland invasion movie ‘Grabbers’ and writing for Neil Gaiman’s ‘Likely Stories’.  Kevin joins Andy for a very honest chat, lifting the lid on the world of screenwriting as they chat about the highs and lows of trying to get your story told. Kevin chats about the amazing feeling of seeing your vision literally come together in front of your eyes, and how seeing a poster for your movie up in the local cinema might be best feeling ever, plus how sometimes you have to let go of the things you most loved about a project. Kevin also tells Andy the one thing he wish he knew about screenwriting when he first started.     Kevin chats about the difficulty of being the only kid with an English accent in an Irish class and of course this being Be Grand, Kevin and Andy chat about a mutual love of ‘Star Trek’.  This episode only features not one, but two genuinely amazing stories about Xtravision. Other podcasts might just drop one local VHS rental story in but Be Grand thinks you deserve better than that.    So join Kevin and Andy as they chat fighting aliens, arch rivals on results day and try to discover what hard water is.  As always if you like what you hear please rate, review and subscribe.  https://twitter.com/KevinLehane https://twitter.com/HiAndyGaffney https://www.instagram.com/begrandpod/ http://www.theshift.ie 

This week’s guest on Be Grand is a presenter, producer and something of an Oracle when it comes to electronic entertainment (or “video gaming” as your parents call it) - the mighty Lucy James of GameSpot who kindly joins Andy to chat about what made her the person she is today. Lucy hails from the industrial city of Newcastle in England’s northeast and she talks about her formative years there as a wannabe psychologist with a passion for criminology and Star Trek* before a chance encounter with a certain Rockstar Games title set in the Wild West shifted her perspective and a new found love of gaming soon took over. Lucy explains what it is about gaming she fell in love with and how, in an increasingly uncertain world where we need to maintain social distancing rules, gaming is something that can forge ties between people and provide a much-needed source of escapism in dark times. In the wake of the murder of George Floyd and of the brilliant achievements of the Black Lives Matter protests in just a few weeks, Lucy also addresses how prejudice and unexamined white privilege manifest in the games industry as well as what challenges await if it’s to change for the better. Then there’s a novel theory on how your favourite character in Top Gun can be used as a barometer for your maturity (Andy does note fare well, you’ll no doubt be astonished to learn) before both contributors put their psychology qualifications to the test and try to determine how they can influence a room full of people. An absolute badass who understands both the fun and importance of games, Lucy is a joy of a guest. She’s deserving of special thanks because she somehow found time to chat to Andy in the same week as she was hard at work launching GameSpot’s charity streams throughout June to raise money for both Black Lives Matter and Covid-19 relief efforts. Details for all the streams can be found on Lucy’s Twitter at the link below. Remember to like, subscribe and leave a nice review!  Stay safe and take care. https://twitter.com/lucyjamesgames https://twitter.com/hiandygaffney https://twitter.com/gottheshift   * Look, it’s probably easier if you just assume that every future guest on Be Grand is a Trekkie. It will save us from having to type it all the time.

Joining Andy in this edition of Be Grand is singer songwriter Paddy Hanna. Paddy is one of the most exciting talents around, with a skill for writing a catchy ear-worm, a voice that sounds like Scott Walker and a charismatic wit, which makes him the perfect performer.    Born with an eye for the darker underbelly and the outsiders of life, Paddy’s childhood would come to greatly influence him, from his love of horror movies to his enduring predilection for the outlaws in life. Paddy learned it’s always more fun to do the thing that people are not expecting (such as befriending your school principal just because you want to). This attitude has guided him throughout his life, influencing decisions in his career and ultimately teaching him the most fun you can have in life is proving people wrong.  Paddy also chats to Andy about the times in life he thought he had lost it all, his experience of hanging out with a Star Trek captain and how he has learnt that the best things in life are worth waiting for.   Paddy Hanna’s third album ‘The Hill’ will be released on September 25 and is available to pre-order via https://www.strangebrew.ie/. Its lead single ‘Cannibals’ is available now on all digital platforms.  www.paddyhanna.bandcamp.com (http://www.paddyhanna.bandcamp.com/) www.soundcloud.com/paddy-hanna (http://www.soundcloud.com/paddy/hanna) http://www.breakingtunes.com/paddyhanna www.twitter.com/paddyhanna (http://www.twitter.com/paddyhannamusic) http://www.facebook.com/Paddyhannamusic www.strangebrew.ie (http://www.strangebrew.ie/)  

In an episode so epic in scope and so dramatic in its execution that it instantly reduces the likes of Avatar, the MCU films and the Skywalker Saga to a pitiful irrelevance*, Andy is joined on a truly blockbuster edition of Be Grand by Empire magazine’s very own James Dyer. As a journalist for one of the biggest movie magazines on the planet as well as a contributor to its spin-off podcast and the host of its sister TV podcast Pilot, James arrives at Be Grand Towers bearing a genuine treasure chest of stories from his many adventures in Hollywoodland.  Stories such as his time spent with Arnold Schwarzenegger, getting to see the James Cameron Museum of, er, James Cameron and everything you wanted to know about what kind of things happen to a film journalist that you were afraid to ask. As someone who spent his some of his childhood running around the sets of Star Wars it’s no surprise that the saga is of massive importance to James so Andy, of course, needs no encouragement to delve deep into their mutual love (adventure, excitement, a podcast host who won’t go off on his own agenda - a Jedi craves not these things).  But it’s not all a walk on the light side however as James discusses the uncertain future of the franchise after a rocky year. James has an olympian knowledge and passion for film, which made this a wonderful episode to produce and should be a treat for movie buffs as the intrepid duo also chat movie scores, what makes a good reviewer and what the future holds for cinema as all the old certainties that underpinned our way of life are up-ended.  All that plus James even turns answering a leaving cert question using Star Trek First Contact as his text into a beautiful meditation on life.  We honestly think this episode is box office gold and hope you will too! https://twitter.com/jamescdyer https://twitter.com/empiremagazine https://twitter.com/PilotTVMag https://twitter.com/gottheshift https://twitter.com/HiAndyGaffney * Not strictly true

This week, Una and Andrea assess how the lockdown has impacted how they think about the world and are sharing some lockdown learnings. Are you seeing the world differently? What has lockdown brought up for you. Meanwhile, the Greens are running in the burning building otherwise known as the It’ll Be Grand coalition, Leo Varadkar thinks handing out food parcels is Trumpian, SOUND, and every teenager’s dream comes true as the Leaving Cert is cancelled.

it might be the podcasting equivalent of sitting anxiously outside the principal’s office but somehow, quite mystifyingly if we’re honest, Be Grand lurches ominously forward like a battle-scarred T-800.  This week, Andy is joined by his old buddy and Hamsandwich front woman Niamh Farrell.   In this, the second episode recorded during lockdown, Niamh talks about the challenges that any spiring musician can expect to face, like how you shouldn’t necessarily take it as a bad omen if your debut gig took place on 9/11 or how to continue singing when Bon Jovi’s road crew is carrying out some minor construction work directly behind you as you perform. Also how you should keep going even when your band’s morale is at its lowest and how you should ignore the people attempting to drown you in bull excrement (figuratively, of course). Plus there are the fixtures of Be Grand: the “Frank Sinatra” moments and how having your heart broken can be your City on the Edge of Forever (ask your friendly Star Trek fan for that reference).  A badass, a grafter and a great friend, Niamh Farrell is living proof that everything, even during a pandemic, can Be Grand. Remember to like us on iTunes.  Stay safe! https://twitter.com/niamhsandwich https://twitter.com/Ham_Sandwich https://twitter.com/begrandpod https://twitter.com/gottheshift

If history teaches us anything, it’s that the third entry in any franchise often turns out to be a waste of everyone’s time: Spiderman III, The Godfather Part III, Alien 3 and The Dark Knight Rises.  But, in keeping with the spirit of the podcast, if Andy had actually learned anything (a tall order as anyone who went to St. Kevins C.B.S. will testify) he wouldn’t have made Be Grand, which returns, gloriously, for its third resit.  And there’s no one better to kick things off than best-selling author and broadcaster Caroline Foran. With the world we once knew seemingly disintegrating before our eyes, many of us are no doubt struggling with anxiety.  Having battled with the condition all her life, Caroline is the ideal guide to help us navigate this new terrain.  For her, the time she realised that something had to change was when she landed what she thought was her dream job but then found herself overwhelmed by feelings of anxiety and despair.  Tired of the control it exercised over her life, Caroline resolved to interrogate the reasons behind the condition and the means by which it disrupted her wellbeing.  Her story and the knowledge she gained was documented in her best-selling book Owning It (available in all good bookshops), which was a huge success and led to her writing a sequel of sorts, The Confidence Kit, as well as producing a chart-topping podcast that delved deeper into how anxiety can affect a life and how we can deal with it. It wouldn’t be Be Grand without talking about our guest’s school days and Caroline explains how the illness made what should have been a happy time in her life a living nightmare as she struggled with feelings that she didn’t even have a name for and also expresses her hope that today’s school students have a better idea of when to say “enough is enough”.  If any of this sounds too gloomy then be reassured by the fact that there’s also discussions on what it’s like for a book you’ve written to become a hit, how the dark days are sometimes “The City on the Edge of Forever” (one for Star Trek fans) and what we all really want to know… what exactly does Chris Pine smell like? Be Grand is delighted to return for a third season and is grateful for all of its listeners and fans.  Please remember to subscribe and leave us a review wherever you drink from the trough of podcasting goodness. Stay home, stay safe, stay sane and we’ll see each other again soon! https://twitter.com/begrandpod https://twitter.com/CarolineForan https://twitter.com/HiAndyGaffney https://twitter.com/gottheshift

Andy Gaffney of Be Grand joins us to talk about a film that's been very important to him since he was a mere teen, Cameron Crowe's Vanilla Sky. We had an absolutely fascinating chat about how films change with us, accidental arthouse cinemas, sleep paralysis, hypnosis, and the possibility (based on Sarah's coat) that we're all currently in Andy's dream. Andy is @HiAndyGaffney. His podcast Be Grand is brilliant, Alan's been on it. You should check out the other shows on his network, The Shift. Alan is @alan_maguire. Juvenalia is his main thing right now. Sarah is @griffski. Her many books are in all good bookshops. This episode was produced and edited by Cassie and Alan. Thank you to Dee McDonnell for our artwork. We have a Patreon! You can get bonus episodes and free lil bits of merch. It's patreon.com/juvenalia Sarah, Cassie, and a very cool group of women writers, many of whom have been Juvenalia guests, have launched a new project called Rogue. For €4 a month you get four great, exclusive, articles in your inbox every Sunday. You should check it out. Juvenalia is a Tall Tales podcast

 Joining Andy this week on Be Grand is writer, lecturer, porn star and podcaster Conner Habib, which is to be fair, an amazing CV.  One of the most engaging curious minds you could chat to Conner has from a young age sought out to understand the world on his own terms.  Growing up in Pennsylvania an early visit to shop specialising in spells and witchcraft would set fire to Conner’s imagination and set him off a life long interest and belief in the power and benefits of the Occult. Conner chats to Andy about how this belief has changed his world view and shares his insights on life, death and reincarnation.  With a tremendous self belief Conner has always chased after what he wanted which saw him achieve his dream of becoming a porn star and offers Andy a crash course into this world such as what he loves about it, what he hates about it and what is down time like on set when everyone is just hanging around?  The occult, porn and growing up, honestly what more could one need? 

Hitting start on controller two this week on Be Grand is author and content creator  Úna-Minh Kavanagh. Úna-Minh is the author of Anseo which is a memoir of a journey which started in Vietnam and documents a childhood spent in Kerry where her mother and grandfather would instill a love of the irish language. Inspired to write this love letter to irelsnd after a horrific racist incident in Dublin Úna-Minh talks to Andy about how from growing up a woman of colour in school to her time engaging online she is more than capable and practiced with dealing with trolls who just want to cause pain. Also Úna-Minh chats why the irish language is so important to her and why we need to celebrate life while we’re still here. Plus as a dedicated member of the twitch community Úna-Minh talks a love of video games and how she uses them to spread messages of what’s important to her. An absolute badass who is dedicated to no matter how hard a nasty a bad guy is, be it bowser or a bully , in the end hate will never win.  All this and the return of the dreaded tape test.

Van Halen was hot for them, Pink Floyd shouted at them and Elton John needed them, yes this week’s Be Grand is all about teachers.  As a show that is 75 percent about school (the rest being jj72, Andy wanting to be in a boyband and the phrase “eerrrmmm”) the next logical step was to get a teacher on the show to answer the questions that you have always wanted to know so joining Andy this week is teacher and comedian Siobhan Brosnan.  Do teachers know their own nickname? What happens when hormones hit the school yard and did the teacher you fancied know you fancied them? Siobhan is on hand is answer all of these and more. Plus why the the old teachings methods have to change and why kindness to the student will always be the most important thing a teacher would give to a student.  So enjoy this episode of a podcast that still thinks of Andrew Lincoln as Mr Casey and not the zombie hunting sign carrying so and so he would become.  https://twitter.com/siobhan_brosnan

Joining Andy this week in the Be Grand schoolyard is author and journalist Caelainn Hogan.  Caelainn is the author of Republic of Shame, which looks at Ireland’s shameful history with mother and baby homes, where the relationship between church and state allowed their treatment of “fallen women” to grow into an epidemic.  As well as this debut book, Caelainn’s work has taken her around the world, writing about Boko Haram, human trafficking in Nigeria and parents choosing if it’s safe enough to bring their children for cancer treatment in Syria.  Caelainn chats to Andy about how our dark history isn’t as far in the past as people may think, the moments on her travels that will stay with her forever, and how incredibly moving it is that no matter how dark things get people will always cling to the idea that things can get better and life keeps moving on. Much like her work, this episode of Be Grand deals with both the dark and the light as Caelainn also joins Andy in a celebration of Chuck Norris, recounts her time as a hostess in the dying days of the boom and also the importance of the rainbow jumper. https://caelainnhogan.wordpress.com/ https://twitter.com/CaelainnH

Hit podcast Juvenalia specialises in taking their guests on a nostalgic journey through their formative years with abundant wit, grace and warmth.  Longtime listeners of Be Grand (all six of them), on the other hand, are more accustomed to listening to what might as well be a drunken uncle with a JJ72 fetish who’s just been handed a microphone as he rants in the corner of the living room on Christmas Day.  So, in a long-overdue act of self-improvement, Andy this week seeks advice from Juvenalia host and Not The RTÉ Guide creator Mr. Alan Maguire. Alan talks about what he’s learned in his time chatting to people about the idiosyncrasies of pop culture’s past and what are the common themes that surface when we look back with fondness.  There’s also a profound discussion on the subtle art of nicknaming a teacher and how the smallest decisions you make in your school years can change your life in ways you’d never imagine. https://twitter.com/alan_maguire https://twitter.com/juvenalia_pod

We have a Christmas Special..Ho Ho Ho. Welcome to the Be Grand loosely three ghost themed Christmas Carol special with returning hero Fiona Hyde. Fiona rejoins Andy to talk all things Christmas from presents of the past, ham based romance of the present and a Tupac filled future.  Plus this being a bumper special we joined by some old friends.. Caroline O’Donoghue on why The Muppet Christmas Carol is the greatest thing ever Barry Fitzgerald the superhero Scientist on the science of Santa  and Pat Power chilling with us a Christmas ghost story  https://twitter.com/begrandpod https://twitter.com/gottheshift

This week joining Andy in the Be Grand school yard is the poet, activist and founder of Fried Plantains Collective,  Osaro Yemi Azamosa. Osaro spent the first 12 years of her life in Nigeria, the country of her birth and where she found a life of happiness and joy and tells Andy all about what an average day was like just doing the normal kid stuff of going to school and messing afterwards. Osaro’s life would change however when her family moved to Ireland and extremely difficult years throughout her teens followed. Osaro speaks about how abuse, time in direct provision and a crippling anxiety effected her. However it was these dark times as well as her realisation of her sexuality and queerness and thus finding the organisation Belong To that have fueled her work as a spoken word poet and allowed to her find happiness.  Osaro is also the founder of the Fried Plantains Collective - a group seeking to showcase music of African origin being produced in Ireland and dedicated to enhancing the visibility of LGBTQIA+ people of colour.  She made her Dublin Fringe debut last year in The Mouth Of A Shark - a theatre production that examines the stories of people who migrated or sought asylum in Ireland and those who left the country for political reasons. This is a very special episode of Be Grand and we're delighted that Yemi graced us with her time, shared with us her extraordinary story and even performed a piece of her work.  If you like what you heard, remember to review the podcast on iTunes and other outlets and stay tuned for our upcoming Christmas special. https://twitter.com/begrandpod https://twitter.com/gottheshift

Everyone loves a good crossover episode. First, it was the Griffin family making an appearance on The Simpsons. Then Mulder and Scully teamed up with the cops from, well, Cops. And who could forget when Doctor Doug Ross treated Rachel Green? Well, this week Be Grand finally joins this illustrious company as it crosses over with sister pod I Don’t Know Her and welcomes the great Bláithín de Burca to the guest’s chair (Well, we say “welcomes” but presumably she’s pretty familiar with the chair by this stage considering she sits in it every week). Fresh from her recent triumphant Fringe show Blá Blá Blá, which you really need to see, Blá joins Andy to talk about the experiences that have contributed to her becoming the hilarious force of nature that she is today. Blá talks about growing up in North Dublin, how a year spent in Brussels taught her the value of making friends fast as well as the importance of the Irish language. Then there’s the art of writing a joke, advice for any wannabe comics who might be listening and her views on the state of the comedy industry as we move into the third decade of the century. A lovely, fun, warm experience featuring two old friends chatting… yes, you really should watch the episode of Voltron where Lion Voltron meets Vehicle Voltron. Until then, you could do a lot worse than listen to this week’s special episode of Be Grand. Bláithín de Burca is one half of the I Don’t Know Her podcast out every week on The Shift, star of Try Channel videos and an ass-kicking standup to boot. Remember to click subscribe and to review us on iTunes or wherever you get your daily podcast fix. Enjoy! https://twitter.com/BeingBla https://twitter.com/idontknowherpod https://twitter.com/begrandpod https://twitter.com/gottheshift

M People once exhorted that you have to “search for the hero inside yourself” and, while they meant well, practical advice on how to actually become a superhero has been rather thin on the ground… until now. Barry Fitzgerald is a scientist who has literally written the book on that very subject and in the process has earned him the name the Superhero Scientist. Leaving aside the fact that Barry is a bona fide, super-intelligent scientist, his passion is examining his love of the superhero myth and using it to expand on the science behind the mask (or cowl, if you’re a DC fan) as a way of introducing people to the wonders of the physics, whether that be via workshops, white papers or his brilliant books “Secrets Of Superhero Science” and “How To Build An Iron Man Suit” Like many of the best examples of the genre, this week’s episode centres on a classic team-up as Andy and Barry wax lyrical on their love of superhero fiction, while Barry provides some much-needed grounding in contrast to Andy’s emotional incontinence when it comes to a certain line of dialogue from the latest Avengers blockbuster. Topics include which superhero we’re most likely to encounter first, the healthcare benefits provided by the technology powering Tony Stark’s Iron Man suit and there’s even a discussion on the physics of time travel, which you’ll find evidence of if you look up the description of the very first episode of this podcast*. Finally, Barry treats Andy to a masterclass in Be Grand’s “What were your jams?” fixture and answers some English paper questions on Shakespeare but with a rather “Asgardian” twist. You can find more info about Barry including appearances and buy his books at the links below. Remember to review us on iTunes and/or wherever you get you drink from the trough of podcast goodness! https://bwscience.com/ https://twitter.com/begrandpod * May not be evidence of anything beyond our shameless desire to plug this show

Little did we realise when crying along to Radiohead singing about “A green plastic watering can/For a fake Chinese rubber plant” back in the Nineties that we were effectively advocating ecological genocide but thankfully Be Grand’s latest guest is here to set us straight – zero waste consultant and founder of Zero Waste In The Vale, Aoife Blight. Aoife drops in to talk to Andy about what it means to be “zero waste”, the practical changes we can all effect in order to ensure a plastic-free future, how the birth of her child first inspired her to change her ways and what ultimately will be the consequences for the planet if we don’t take drastic action to reduce the amount of plastic waste we currently produce. If all of that sounds rather bleak then don’t worry as, this being Be Grand, there is also discussion on how spending your school work experience on the set of that fixture of Irish children’s TV The Den is just about the coolest thing ever, how Jurassic Park’s Dr. Ellie Sattler is a fountain of inspiration and finally an abundance of exam questions centred on body hair and its idiosyncrasies. So, pour yourself a cuppa and settle in for a plastic-free episode of Be Grand with your old pal Andy. If you like what you’ve heard please remember to review us on iTunes or wherever you consume your daily podcasts! https://www.instagram.com/zerowasteinthevale/ https://twitter.com/begrandpod

Pour yourself something warm and join Be Grand around the fire for a few chilling tales from the very best story  tellers.  From the stormy seas of Scotland with Rab Fulton to the trenches with Ciaran O’Brien no where is safe from the dark…not even Andy’s home town of Arklow as historian and writer Pat Power tells us a haunting tale of the monk who did a deal with the devil.. Plus a haunted plane. So something for everyone really.  Credits  Rab Fulton is a writer and story teller based in Galway. his Celtic Tales is a weekly story telling night in craine bar galway from may to november The young man was read by Ciaran O’Brien, a man whose voice should be on everything. He’s new to this but you can support him at http://patron.com/Sarklor where you can subscribe to new readings or have write and record a personal story for you. Music and effects on that story came from Kevin MacLeod at ncompetech.  Pat Power is wicklow based historian and writer. Brother Taigh and the devil and the shophouse visitor were written by Pat Power.  Special thanks to Lisa on this.  And Cait is the damm dance teacher in Ireland , find her at Galway Swing. 

This week on Be Grand we’re honoured to be joined by Philippa Ryder, founder and director of Under The Rainbow - a new charity and mental health service that promotes diversity and inclusion in the Irish workplace. The episode is almost derailed very early in proceedings (though regular listeners will no doubt be accustomed to that by this stage) when Philippa makes the mistake of bringing up her love of Star Trek, which leads to Andy making a futile attempt to out-geek his guest.  There is method in the madness however as Philippa relates how the show provided an enduring source of strength for her growing up and functioned as a crucial reminder that a beautiful future was possible despite the darkness of the present.  Any Trekkies listening will be in for a treat! Philippa also talks about what it was like coming of age in the conservative Ireland of the Seventies, a time when gender roles were strictly enforced and one was discouraged from exploring their identity, before describing the freedom she felt when she could finally be herself. Finally, Philippa chats to Andy about the pressures faced by someone coming out as transgender, the importance of pronouns and if things are improving in terms of transgender rights in Ireland, and her time representing her country at the Gay Games.  So join Philippa and Andy as they boldly go back to Philippa’s school days and ask the big questions such as - Kirk or Spock? http://undertherainbow.ie (http://undertherainbow.ie/) https://twitter.com/begrandpod https://twitter.com/gottheshift

This week Andy is joined on Be Grand by writer, journalist and podcaster Caroline O’Donohue and becomes, quite possibly, his new best friend in the process. As the host of the championing chick-lit podcast Sentimental Garbage, Caroline is the ideal person to talk to about all the artistic guilty pleasures you enjoy but were too afraid to discuss lest you be judged.  Andy takes full advantage of this to go on a deep dive about which Simpsons characters he and Caroline most closely resemble and also treat listeners to a world-first: a “Billy Zane-Off”  Caroline also elaborates on what it’s as like to make the daunting move to London to follow her dreams and her “Frank Sinatra Moment” - the 2018 release of her debut novel Promising Young Woman. Settle in for a bumper packed edition of Be Grand but when you’re talking to someone as full of joy as Caroline, you gotta roll with it.  You’re welcome to that ear worm. https://www.czaroline.com/  https://twitter.com/Czaroline

This week on I Don't Know Her disaster has struck your favorite duo as faith has ripped them apart! Aoife's body has succumbed to the pressures of being a constant badass and has left her bedridden but worry not as Bláithín is joined by producer Andy to chat dating The Rock, why fast and furious is a masterpiece and people need to step off talking crap about the legend that is Greta Thunberg. Plus with Karen also in her sick bed Andy takes a page out of his own podcast Be Grand and throws some exam exams at Bláithín. We shall overcome. 

There have been some unlikely and, let’s face it, unwanted comebacks over the years. The Librarians, starring Christian Kane, got a second series in 2014… Liverpool somehow managed to beat AC Milan to the Champions League in 2005… but neither of these can hold a candle to Be Grand, which has returned in glorious fashion for a second series despite nobody in their right mind wanting that. And to kick things off, we’re delighted to bring you a very special guest indeed. Razan Ibraheem is a journalist whose work has appeared in The Guardian and is a regular contributor on politics for Irish TV and radio. Though based in Ireland, Razan was born in Syria and has dedicated her work towards spreading awareness of and educating people about the ongoing Syrian War as well as highlighting the plight of refugees driven from their homes as a result of the conflict. She has spoken about this at the United Nations and was awarded International Woman of the Year by Irish Tatler. Before tackling the Leaving Cert, Razan chats to Andy about what it was like growing up in Syria, what needs to happen to help the people of the battered nation and the unforeseen consequences of having a picture of Ronan Keating at home. Be Grand is back and there’s nobody better to reassure us that things might actually end up okay than Razan and her brilliant dedication to helping others. https://twitter.com/IbrahRazan https://twitter.com/begrandpod https://twitter.com/gottheshift

In 1963 Cliff Richard promised fun and laughter on a summer holiday but, rather selfishly, wanted to dole them out over a week or a two. Well, this summer holiday, end-of-term special of Be Grand is jammed to the brim with both fun and laughter but mainlines it in about one hour twelve minutes. Take that Cliff, you lazy, lazy man. Joining us to celebrate the end of term in the halls of Be Grand High is the one and only Fiona Hyde. Anyone who follows her on Twitter will know that Fiona is the funniest person in any room she inhabits and she joins Andy to discuss, in trademark hilarious fashion, what it was that drove her to actually steal people's actual pockets during her school days, her time as an agony aunt and also what it was like that time she went to war with the mayor of Galway.  Also, having just returned from a globetrotting jaunt, Fiona tells us what she learned as a solo traveller, what she missed about home and also her tips for anyone thinking of doing the same. So do enjoy this sun-soaked episode of Be Grand that promises to be almost as enjoyable as a school tour spent down the Bray Bowl. Take care! https://twitter.com/andgoseek

Break out your PVC glue and get your parents' permission, as this week's Be Grand lets its inner Neil Buchanan out! Cork artist Amy Louise O’Callaghan joins Andy to talk about her art which reimagines Irish pop culture icons in the style of Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli.  Amy talks about how she first fell in love with Japanese culture and how Anime has made her the artist she is today. She also chats about how being an artist has changed in the digital age, how you can use it to find your voice and what it's like going through school during the era of social media.  And have you ever wondered what it would like to see a bunch of drunk people in a field in Ireland in an anime style? Well thanks to the 2014 Leaving Cert, you will wonder no more!  So this is a Be Grand, this is a Be Grand….THIS IS Be Grand. Art Attack reference there... https://www.redbubble.com/people/amylouioc?ref=side-nav-account&asc=u

In 1994, the great scientist Carl Sagan said that, “Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark.” Twelve years later, Gary Barlow said, “All the stars are coming out tonight.” What links these two proclamations? Beyond Andy’s personal view that Sagan could have replaced Robbie, absolutely nothing. But it’s one way of saying that this week’s episode of Be Grand is about the stars and its absolutely fantastic guest is astronomer David Moore! David is the founder of Astronomy Ireland and is familiar to many of us from his close encounters with real-life extraterrestrials Zig and Zag on The Den. In a star-studded discussion, David goes into detail on everything from what we could really expect should aliens ever make contact to what cosmic vistas you should make space for on your interstellar bucket list. Also, prepare to have your mind blown as David tells some amazing stories about how solar eclipses have altered the course of human history on more than one occasion. So, please do enjoy an episode that famous pop star Carl Sagan would refer to as a “humbling and character building experience” and that Take That themselves have officially called “Please stop calling our clients. Mr. Barlow categorically does not want to meet you for a cup of tea and a quick game of snooker.”

They say that a lie travels halfway around the world while the truth is still doing its shoelaces.  If we're to take that metric as gospel, and we're credulous types at Be Grand, then this week's guest's jokes and memes have routinely circumnavigated the globe while the lie is still arguing with its satnav over how to get off the M50.  So positive and funny she could make a brick smile, we're delighted to welcome stand-up comedian, Joe.ie contributor and writer Justine Stafford. Topics of conversation range from the experiences of growing up in Nobber (and if that didn't set Justine on the path to doing stand-up we don't know what did), the subtle differences between fertiliser and manure (crucial information for anyone who, like Andy, has an uncle whose approval they crave), asking for extra paper during an exam and what it was like to be a kid running around a farm knowing that all you wanted to do was to make people laugh. This episode also includes a very open and honest chat on Justine's experiences with an eating disorder in her school days and the challenges this brought with it.  If discussions of Bulimia and Anorexia are a trigger for you or someone who might be listening please do be warned and take care. TW: *Anorexia*, *Bulimia*, *eating disorder* https://twitter.com/justinestafford https://www.joe.ie/author/justine-stafford/99

Get your press hats and Pulitzers ready as this week Be Grand is chatting to journalist Jennifer McShane. Jennifer joins Andy to chat about how a childhood love of movies would forever decide what she wanted to be, how she and Andy both share an obsession with the work of Cameron Crowe and how to survive in the very choppy waters of freelance journalism. Jennifer also talks living with Cerebral Palsy and how despite the challenges she has devolved a positive outlook on life. All this and Jennifer and Andy discover the apparent ultimate doss leaving cert paper - Art Appreciation. 

Almost every human being alive today will at some point have to deal with something that is almost impossible to prepare for - the anguish of grief.  Yet despite its universality it is understandably something that most of us find difficult to discuss.  That doesn't apply to Sasha Hamrogue, co-host of the wonderful Grief Encounters podcast, which invites people to talk about how their lives have been impacted by this most painful emotion.  Sasha is the subject of this week's edition of Be Grand and she joins Andy in exploration of their shared experiences of loss, the most common traits Sasha sees in own pod's guests and why it's vital that society offers greater compassion than it does currently. Sasha also talks about her experiences in an American high school where, much to our distress, she learned that not all Jocks resemble Chris "Captain America" Evans.  Then there's the ten years she spent working at MTV and how she somehow held on to her sanity despite despite coming into contact with Nicholas Cage.  To cap it all off, Sasha discovers the ultimate Be Grand hack for maximum points... mentioning JJ72.

Listeners of a sensitive disposition or those with agonising memories of accidentally watching the “romantic” scenes from a film in the company of their parents might want to listen to this week’s Be Grand on headphones as sex researcher and educator Kate Dawson braves the questions (and soon realises she has her work cut out). Kate’s research has focused on porn literacy and she joins Andy to talk about to what extent pornography is accepted in 21st Century Ireland as well as the need for people to be more open with their partners when it comes to their sexual preferences.  Kate also gives advice on how parents can educate their children about sex in a world where porn is now ubiquitous.   There’s also discussion on how one becomes a sex researcher in the first place and just why has it taken the 2008 Leaving Cert Biology paper to teach Andy things he really should have known an awfully long time ago?

It's five stars all round this week as Be Grand is only delighted to welcome the legend that is Helen O'Hara.  Helen is a film critic at Empire magazine and whose voice has graced the publication's incredibly popular Film Podcast.  As well as describing what it's like to be a reviewer for one of the most widely-read cinema periodicals in the world, Helen has invaluable advice for anyone looking to break into the industry and shares her "film critic origin story" explaining how she ended up doing one of the coolest jobs imaginable.There's also discussion on the pressure that comes with reviewing gargantuan Hollywood blockbusters, how geek culture has conquered the planet and the future of cinema in the age of streaming.  Then there's the small matter of the notorious 1996 Leaving Certificate English paper on one of the most famous texts in the English language - Avengers: Infinity War.  How will Helen fare?  A blockbuster episode worthy of every single one of the precious five stars that Empire awarded to Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones.

In the same week that the first photographs of a black hole were successfully taken, the Be Grand podcast continues this commitment to expanding the boundaries of human knowledge as robotics expert Conor McGinn drops in for a chat.  Conor is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at the Robotics & Innovation Lab at Trinity College Dublin whose pioneering work is changing the future. Topics include how to make a robot funny, the need for diversity in engineering and his team’s remarkable work constructing a robot to combat loneliness.  Then there’s the question on everyone’s* mind: in the event of a robot apocalypse, is Wicklow safe?  Tune in to find out what elements of a machine uprising are movie nonsense and what possibilities should genuinely trouble us.  Will this be the episode when Andy’s galaxy brain ascends to a higher level of consciousness or will this be the moment when the frontier pushes back? * Andy’s

Finbar McHugh joins Andy this week on Be Grand. The Galway based artist has pretty much turned the city into his canvas and is changing the way people think about graffiti artists. His project Time saw Finbar take over Galway University Hospital and challenged people to think about how they use time and that the most important things can come from a spilt second decision. His most recent exhibition Floating for the Baboró Arts Festival showcased a different side of his work and looked at the abstract power of day dreaming.  Finbar also chats about the need for change in how art is taught in leaving cert, his first steps in graffiti and tries to help Andy figure out what you call the things after earthquakes, all in the name of 2006 Geography. Finbar also takes on the nightmarish task of drawing Andy. Poor poor Finbar, 

Dropping into the Be Grand studios for a chat today is world-renowned health and wellness coach, as well as award-winning author, Alison Canavan.  An advocate of an holistic approach to self-care, emphasising the importance of treating the mind, body and spirit as a whole, Alison’s work has taken her from Ireland to the United States and she’s received glowing reviews for her book Minding Mum. Before turning her hand to wellness and writing, Alison was also one of Ireland’s most successful models, spending two decades in the spotlight after being catapulted to fame at age 15. She joins Andy to talk about what it’s like seeing your face on a billboard everywhere you go, her battles with addiction and what needs to change with regards to mental health services in Ireland. Plus, Alison tries to win some coveted Leaving Cert points by talking about that fixture of the exam, the 1995 action epic Die Hard With A Vengeance.

On this week's edition of Be Grand, Andy is joined by radio presenter and producer Mike Hogan for a masterclass in broadcasting, something that regular listeners to the podcast will agree is badly needed.  Currently overseeing the breakfast show on Classic Hits 94-105 FM, Mike reminisces about his early days in pirate radio and his private school education before the two gents analyse and discuss the venerable yet intimidating institution that is the Irish Debs. Join Andy and Mike as they take a trip back to the heady days of 2001 and seek to answer a question we've all pondered at some stage...just how good was Shaggy? 

Michelle Ebbin is a renowned expert in touch therapy and natural wellness. She’s an author, inventor, entrepreneur, and mother. Her new book The Touch Remedy was just released through HarperElixer. Michelle appears regularly in the media, including The Dr. Oz Show, The Doctors, and The View, to discuss the benefits of touch and encourage everyone to bring more touch into their daily life. http://www.basicknead.comJournalist and new grandmother Cheryl Harbour gets right to the point of what modern grandparents really need to know from the time they begin anticipating the birth to the end of the first year. Each chapter provides interesting facts and observations about what has remained the same and what has changed about childcare over the years, what you can do to support the physical and emotional wellbeing of your grandchild and, most important, what you can do to make the most of the experience.With a foreword by Hillary Rodham Clinton, including her personal reflections on the birth of her first grandchild, Good to Be Grand is for smart and sophisticated grandparents eager to embark on their grandparenting journeys with enthusiasm, knowledge, and confidence. http://www.cherylharbour.com