Weekend Breakfast with Alison Curtis

Ever since he left Love Island in 2018, my next guest has used his growing platform to advocate for better mental health especially in younger people. This led to his appointment as the UK’s ‘Youth Mental Health Ambassador’ He is also a best-selling author, founder of a wellness brand and all this while still working as an emergency A & E Doctor. I chatted to him about his brand new book ‘A Better Day: Your Positive Mental Health Handbook’ a toolkit for kids and teens. In the interview we discuss the topic of suicide and Doctor Alex was personally affected by this when his younger brother Lyr took his own life. If you need to seek help or talk to anyone please contact: Samaritans Ireland on 116 123 samaritans.org Pieta – 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444 pieta.ie

Graham Herterich aka 'The Cupcake Bloke' joins Alison live in studio to tell us all about his newest book. From old Irish tales to 4 ingredient recipes, this book covers it all. For the full chat click the play button below.

Lilly Higgins joined us LIVE from Electric Picnic where she is part of the Theatre Of Food. Aisling Bea said of Lilly's new book: “Things to see, eat smell and do I am a long time lover of Lilly Higgins recipes and now all these great home tips and tasty treats in one place. Its like all my favourite bits of instagram but in one handy book"

Nadiya Hussein's life changed forever when she entered and then won the 2015 Great British Bake Off. Since that day Nadiya has presented her own hugely popular cookery shows that include 'Fast Flavours', 'Nadiya Bakes' and 'Nadiya's Time To Eat' plus 'Nadiya's American Adventure' and 'Nadiya's Asian Odyssey' She has also published SEVENTEEN books. She is a busy, busy lady but she took the time out to chat to Alison Curtis on Weekend Breakfast and talk about how her kids are such teenagers, her love of the humble baked bean, the fabulous new book Nadiya's Everyday Baking and loads more. We heart Nadiya.

Some schools have already gone back but all will be back at some stage this week. So who better to talk us through some top tips on settling our kids back into the classroom and into a routine than Parenting and Early Childhood Education Expert Dr. Mary O’Kane! drmaryokane.ie Alison spoke to her on Weekend Breakfast.

It's nearly time to jump around...but it needn't be a house of pain!! It's Sunday evening and you have the feet up and the telly is on to the new boxset.. then suddenly you remember..."Aaaarrrgghhh!! School lunches!!" Well fear not. Here to help us gear up for the marathon ahead… best selling author and owner of a cookery school - Jolene Cox aka One Yummy Mummy She has all the best tips oneyummymummy.com On Instagram too @oneyummymummy View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jolene + Lil's Cox (@oneyummymummy1)

Finally, a show to rival The Rose Of Tralee! Weekend Breakfast scoured every county in Ireland to find the best man or "Bros(e)" to come on air and display their greatest talent! Alison welcomed John in Limerick ( a truck driver by day and as silky voiced as Celine Dion by night!) and another John in Cork (a Lab Manager who is very well respected in his field...literally) He really mooved us to tears.

Aine Duffy is one of the most creative self-starting musicians in Ireland. She created her Duffbox (a converted Donkey Box) during the pandemic while searching for a way to continue gigging safely. She also built her own passive home for 12k! The Duffbox is still on tour, it’s been great fun, to see the people’s faces alone with the happiness and the craic. Áine Duffy will play for hundreds of children in direct provision centres around Cork in the coming weeks. The Duffbox Children’s Project is funded by Cork County Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. She is now considering expanding her Duffbox idea by renovating a campervan which can be used by visiting musicians for both accommodation and transport when coming to Ireland to tour. It also turns out herself and Billie Eilish are closely related and she is trying to find a way to get her family tree book to her! Follow her many adventures @aineduffymusic

The most important part of Weekend Breakfast is you guys! We LOVE engagement with our listeners whether they are on the way to sports practice, or music event, or sitting at home with a cup of tea. Wherever you are we love to hear from you. And sometimes you guys are listening in the strangest places - and this has to be the most unique ever! This week we got a slimey email or I should say Snail Mail from Kieran Corley in Monaghan. • Bragan Skincare is a family business – Kerri and Donal his kids help out!! • Kieran has over 500,000 snails!! • Fed with Vegs and fruit • No offence but they don’t have any ears! • It is particularly effective against skin conditions such as eczema, scar tissue, nappy rash and many other painful skin conditions... It has proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. There’s even a skateboarding snail called Derek!! Check Kieran and his snails out and support Irish here: Bragan Skincare - braganskincare.com @braganskincare on Insta, Facebook and Tik-Tok SNAIL FACTS: • In 500 BC the Roman Empire recognised snail balm • as a natural skin treatment • Snails are Hermaphrodites (they have both male and female sexual organs). • A snail has 22,000 teeth. • Each snail will lay approximately 100 eggs. In the wild only 3% will survive. • If conditions are not perfect, a snail can curl up in its shell and remain dormant for 3 years before emerging unscathed (but probably a little hungry). • A snail has no ears and very poor eyesight. • Like big cats do by urinating, a snail leaves lots of information about itself for other snails in it's slime.

"CHEEEEEESE!" Aardman Animation has embedded itself into popular movie culture with memorable characters like Wallace & Gromit, Shaun The Sheep, and many more. George Watson is one of the genius minds behind Aardman. He is a model maker responsible for many of their best works including Chicken Run 2 which he has just finished working on!