Brendan O'Connor

Clinical Psychologist Dr Maureen Gaffney has spent six decades in the world of psychology, writing bestselling books 'Flourishing' and 'Your One Wild and Precious Life'. Her latest book is 'About Life: Notes on Staying Grounded in Unsettled Times', based on lessons she's learned from her personal and professional life on how to live your best life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hector Ó hEochagáin joined Brendan to talk about facing brain surgery last summer, having had a small tumour removed. He's marking 30 years of TG4 with his new South American adventure series. HIs latest book, Irish Words for Every Occasion: Conversations in Irish for every day of your life, is the last in a trilogy designed to get people talking rather than worrying about the modh coinníollach. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actor John Connors is starring in the new RTÉ series, The Galway Bay Murders. He talks Brendan through his life and career through the prism of five songs ranging from Patsy Cline to Damien Dempsey to DMX. He also speaks about losing his father to suicide, being segregated into a traveller class in primary school, going to anger management classes as a child, his love of boxing, his close bond with his grandfather and developing religious faith later in life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you feel that Christmas sometimes drags, Communications Consultant and Travel Enthusiast Lisa Regan has travel ideas for breaking up the 'Twixmas' period by taking a break to cities like Paris, Copenhagen, Tallinn or London. Or the potential blue skies in Spanish cities like Malaga or Seville See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zara Hedderman, Arts and Music Journalist, and Brian Lloyd, Freelance entertainment journalist and host of the Screenland Podcast join Brendan to discuss the biggest new shows and films this week. Their previews include: Dr Marie Cassidy Investigates Ireland's Last Witch Trial, Slow Horses, Norm: The Tale of Norm McDonald, The Lowdown, Wildwood, The Devils. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Creedon joins Brendan to discuss the five songs that have been there at turning points in his life. He shares a special recording of his late father Con singing. He remembers what Rory Gallagher meant to a generation of Cork teenagers and brings us all back to the styles and sounds of Ireland's discos in the late 70's and early 80's See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining Brendan to discuss the main stories in Sunday's newspapers are: Harry McGee, Political Correspondent with the Irish Times. Brenda Power Columnist with The Daily Mail and the Sunday Times. Hazel Chu, Deputy Leader of the Green party and Dublin City Councillor, and Larry Donnelly law lecturer, NUIG & Legal Counsel of Democrats Abroad. Updates from Tel Aviv from Channel 4's Matt Frei. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining Brendan to discuss the main stories in Sunday's newspapers are: Harry McGee, Political Correspondent with the Irish Times. Brenda Power Columnist with The Daily Mail and the Sunday Times. Hazel Chu, Deputy Leader of the Green party and Dublin City Councillor, and Larry Donnelly law lecturer, NUIG & Legal Counsel of Democrats Abroad. Updates from Tel Aviv from Channel 4's Matt Frei. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Irish International James McClean joins Brendan to talk about his critically acclaimed autobiography 'The Walls'. Brendan and James have a wide-ranging chat about trauma, therapy, politics, fatherhood and his long marriage to Erin, who he has known since they were teenagers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stylist and personal shopper Cathy O Connor talks Brendan through the trends landing in the high street this season. From terracotta tinted sunglasses to embracing maximalism, she gives tips on how to look up to date without being a slave to fashion and above all still feeling like yourself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Psychologist and author Professor Katriona O' Sullivan asks why aren't we having more fun?? She joins Brendan to talk about how joy and pleasure have taken a back seat in our modern world, and how we need to factor "joy planning" into our lives. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chef Maggie Roche from the Little Acorn Stór talks Brendan through making the perfect pie at home. She has delicious recipes for savoury, veggie and sweet pies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining Derabhail to discuss the main stories in Sunday's newspapers are: Liz Carolan, Publisher of the Briefing.ie; Professor Rónán Collins, Consultant Physician in Geriatric and Stroke Medicine, at Tallaght University Hospital; Elaine Loughlin, Political Editor of the Irish Examiner and Declan Power, Security and Defence Analyst. Naomi O'Leary, Irish Times Europe Correspondent, joins from Paris with an update on the protests and riots there. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chef and businesswoman Clodagh McKenna joins Dearbhail to talk about her tenth cookbook, Clodagh At Home, and her new ITV1 show, Clodagh: Cooking At Home. She talks about life on Broadspear Farm, its seasons, her beehives, what to do with pumpkins and why her pal Richard E. Grant loves her tarte tatin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the same week that Kelly Clarkson had an online spat with an expensive toyshop, claiming they suggested she couldn't afford a $15k animatronic bird, Fionnuala Jones, entertainment journalist, brings us through other examples of celebrity entitlement and celebrity 'Do You Know Who I Am?' moments over the years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grainne Humphries, Executive Director of the Dublin International Film Festival and John Maguire, Film Critic at the Business Post join Dearbhail to discuss the biggest new shows and films this week. Their previews include: The Diplomat, Crystal Lake, Nobody Wants This, Chasing Millions, A Want In Her, NAZA, Whalefall and John Le Carre: A New Life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kyle MacLachlan has acted in so many productions from the groundbreaking Twin Peaks to the era-defining Sex and the City. He tells Dearbhail about his early acting life, how meeting director David Lynch changed everything for him, his years with Linda Evangelista, playing golf with Paul McGinley and why he's currently a TikTok sensation. These are stories from his new memoir, Fictional Selves. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mary Carolan is the legal affairs correspondent for the Irish Times. She joins Dearbhail to talk about Dolphin House, a specialised District Court, just on the edge of Temple Bar, that only hears family law matters. She explains the differences between Barring Orders and Protection Orders and shares her insights from attending the court. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pagan Priestess Deirdre Wadding, founder of Coire Sois/The Irish School of Spirituality guides Dearbhail through the Celtic season of Samhain. She explains its mythology, why it's a festival of remembrance and where some of its customs come from. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Emma Heatherington joins Dearbhail to talk about her latest novel ‘Together for Christmas’, cracking the code of romantic fiction, and her shock of receiving an incurable cancer diagnosis. The writing never stops and she is learning to live in the moment. She speaks about her love of country music, ghost writing songs for country artists and creating her own musical. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Head of HR Solutions at NFP, Caroline Reidy, tells Dearbhail how applying for a job nowadays has changed significantly from the days of the two-page CV. She advises job seekers to really do their homework on the job they're applying for, what to do and say in the interview process and how to best use AI to help you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chef and Author Trisha Lewis joined Dearbhail to talk eggs. How to elevate the humble egg from breakfast to your main meals. She uses eggs to add good quality protein, whether it’s the obvious omelette, Asian stir-fried dishes or the exotic shakshuka. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining Brendan to discuss the main stories in Sunday's newspapers are: Professor of Political Economy at UCD, Aidan Regan; barrister and former Fianna Fail Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin; political columnist with The Sunday Times, Alison O'Connor; principal of St Aidan's Community School, Tallaght, Kevin Shortall. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Writer Ann Ingle joins Brendan to discuss her new book ‘Still Here: Everything I Know About Being Older’. She describes letting go of pride, embracing technology and struggling with the sharp fall-off in physical contact. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Broadcaster and ‘intergenerational translator’ Aifric O'Connell joins Brendan to talk about the rise of the ‘Fall girl aesthetic’. She tracks its origins from ‘Christian girl Autumn’ and identifies its patron saint as Taylor Swift. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Writer Henrietta McKervey and Film and TV producer, Eoin Sweeney join Brendan to discuss the biggest new shows and films this week. Their choices include a documentary about the woman who prosecuted Donald Trump, ‘Ask E. Jean’; Irish true crime series ‘The Case I Can’t Forget’; and the latest season of long-running medical comedy ‘Scrubs’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Broadcaster Brian Dowling and Dancing with the Stars judge Arthur Gourounlian join Brendan to discuss their family life together and their remarkable careers. Brian charts his journey from winning Big Brother to a multifaceted TV career and Arthur describes fleeing Armenia to escape war and finding his feet as a dancer and choreographer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Musician and mental health advocate, Niall Breslin, joins Brendan to discuss his new podcast series ‘Severed Minds’. It explores the history of the lobotomy in the United States, through the stories of Walter Freeman, who popularised and frequently performed the procedure, and of Gretchen Reb, one of the many patients whose life he destroyed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Poet Rita Ann Higgins joins Brendan with a new poem ‘Elder Speak’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Community Pharmacist and host of the Irish Pharmacy Podcast, Sheena Mitchell, talks to Brendan about how to manage your blood sugar. She explains how blood sugar works, and why common sense will regulate it better than any social media fad. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Psychotherapist Dr Richard Hogan joins Brendan to discuss resilience. He explores how to cultivate it in yourself and your children. Richard also talks about his difficult relationship with his father, who died recently. He reflects on how writing about his pain with his dad, helped to rekindle their relationship. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chef and restauranteur Domini Kemp joins Brendan with some fresh suggestions for easy midweek dinners. She describes how to switch out ingredients, to spice up tray bakes, salads and bone broth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining Brendan to discuss the main stories in Sunday's newspapers are: Máiría Cahill, Northern Irish author and columnist; Dan O'Brien, Chief Economist with the Institute of international and European Affairs; Laura Bambrick, Social Policy Officer with ICTU and Gary Murphy, Professor of Politics at DCU. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dublin actor Aidan Gillen has appeared in everything from Love/Hate to The Wire to Game of Thrones. His latest show is Stuart Carolan’s ‘Tall Tales & Murder’ on RTÉ One. He talks Brendan through his life and career through the prism of five songs ranging from Art Garfunkel to The Rolling Stones to Fairport Convention. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining Brendan to pick out the week's best offerings on the big and small screen are: Nadine O'Regan, Arts and Features writer with the Irish Times and Dave O'Callaghan, Host of the 'Here and Back Again' podcast. Some of the productions they discuss are: Digger, Celebrity Traitors UK, Kill Jackie and East of Eden. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brendan is joined by writer, director and actor Sharon Horgan, who talks about her latest TV series 'Youth'. Drawing from her own experience, she talks about ageing, dating in your 50's, and being part of the 'sandwich generation'. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Broadcaster, Musician and Punk, Tom Dunne, charts the arrival of Punk to Ireland, why it took root in Belfast and Cork before Dublin, he talks about some of the amazing punk bands that came out of Ireland and what Punk’s legacy is. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author and global thinker Naomi Klein has a knack for capturing the zeitgeist in her previous books like ‘No Logo’, ‘The Shock Doctrine’ and ‘Doppelganger’. Her new book is ‘End Times Fascism: And the Fight for the Living World’ in which she suggests powerful elites are weaponising modern crises to build private escape routes for themselves while urging everyday people to reject doom and collectively defend the living world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Registered Dietician Orla Walsh helps decipher all the different yoghurt types on offer in supermarkets and their various health claims. She says most people should be trying to incorporate this superfood into their diet to boost bone, heart and gut health. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chef, teacher, TV presenter and co-founder of Ballymaloe Cookery School, Rory O'Connell talks us through what makes a food a comfort food? And why do the foods we grew up with have such a hold on us? His Comfort Food recipes include Rice Pilaff with Chicken, Courgettes and Coriander and Pumpkin, Leek, Fennel and Tomato Soup. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining Brendan to discuss the main stories in Sunday's newspapers are: ESRI research professor, Alan Barrett; Anglo Celt managing editor, Linda O’Reilly; public policy advisor, Oisín Coghlan; Irish and Sunday Independent political editor, Mary Regan; RTE Soccer Correspondent, Tony O’Donoghue and Belfast Telegraph correspondent, Allison Morris. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Magician and mentalist Keith Barry joins Brendan to select 5 songs that have influenced his life. Keith talks about his late father Ken who died last year; on becoming a celebrity magician in Dublin & LA; shutting down a Bangles concert with a giant flame trick and explains how the music of Fergus O'Farrell's Interference makes him cry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Culture journalist and host of ‘The Bellissimo Files’, Sarina Bellissimo joins Brendan to talk through the best new offerings on the big and small screen. Her choices include divorce drama, ‘War’, Brad Pitt’s survivalist epic ‘Heart of the Beast’ and Aidan Gillen’s latest series ‘Tall Tales and Murder’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Louise O’Neill joins Brendan to discuss her first memoir ‘A Bigger Life’. It details a dramatic break-up, which led her to completely reconsider her life and priorities. From returning home, to travelling in Thailand, to dating her way across Europe, she outlines the huge mix of emotions she went through from joy to embarrassment to unexpected tears. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Poet Enda Wyley joins Brendan with a selection of autumnal poems, including classics by John Keats and Seamus Heaney, and lesser-known gems by Vona Groarke and Ru Borsen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.