Brendan O'Connor

Ciarán Cannon, former TD and president of Cycling Ireland, shares his passion for cycling tourism. He talks about fundraising rides like the Paris to Lourdes charity cycle. He explains why European greenways are ideal, family-friendly and accessible. He highlights flat routes, facilities, e-bikes, budget options and finishing your trip with a city or beach recovery.

Tana French, award-winning crime novelist known for the Dublin Murder Squad and Cal Hooper books, reflects on a nomadic childhood and decade in theatre shaping her observational craft. She discusses rural Irish life, using murder to reveal community fault lines, themes of youth vulnerability, and how socialisation shapes women's sense of threat.

Trisha Lewis, a health and fitness influencer who documented a multi-year weight-loss transformation, reflects on seven years of change and newfound self-love. She explains why she prefers spring starts over January and argues for small, kind habits rather than rigid resolutions. She also talks about non-linear progress, managing food triggers, ambitious new goals, and leading fitness retreats.

Emma Doran, comedian and social-media performer known for parenting sketches, chats about music that shaped her and life on the road. She recalls karaoke sparks, leaving a day job to tour, viral parenting videos, and preparing for her Edinburgh Fringe debut. Short, funny stories about family, relationships and the soundtrack of her life.

The Edge, U2 guitarist known for his atmospheric playing, introduces and sings lead on a tribute song for producer Hal Wilner. He recounts how the song came together during the pandemic. Short reflections on friendship, loss, and honoring a creative life frame the conversation.

Gráinne Mullins, pastry chef and founder of Grá Chocolates, shares baking know-how and crowd-pleasing recipes. She walks through a three-layer chocolate cake and explains why cocoa powder gives a lighter chocolate flavour. Learn tips on baking in three tins, buttercream and ganache basics. She also offers a spring rhubarb-and-custard cake idea and practical troubleshooting for reliable results.

Previews of standout TV and film picks including The Young Offenders season five and a gritty medical drama. Discussion of a sympathetic Tourette’s-centered Netflix film and a vulnerable Rory McIlroy documentary. Takes on a time-travel mob comedy, a glossy dark Apple TV+ drama with John Hamm, and a ballerina action thriller. Quick thoughts on Super Mario and The Magic Faraway Tree.

Dave Hanratty, Irish Independent producer and No Encore podcaster, profiles Clavicular, a looksmaxxing streamer. He outlines extreme beauty hacks, toxic rhetoric aimed at young men, ties to the manosphere and racist figures. Hanratty also covers Clavicular’s online reach, alleged arrest in Fort Lauderdale, and a bizarre alligator shooting probe.

Scott Lucas, UCD politics professor offering geopolitics insight; Alison O'Connor, newspaper columnist on domestic politics; Peter Brown, investment boss with market and economic know-how; Sinead Keane, youth mental health and online safety advocate. They dissect modular garden homes and housing policy. They debate big tech’s legal and regulatory turning point and compare it to gambling and tobacco. They assess Gulf shipping risks and energy consequences.

Rita Ann Higgins, an Irish poet and writer known for frank, working-class and women's voices, reads from her new 'greatest hits' and reflects on beginnings. She talks about leaving school for factory work, finding poetry after illness and motherhood, using humour and overheard speech, erotic poems in conservative Ireland, grandchildren's lessons, aging with gusto, and a dark comedy TV project.