The Hard Shoulder
Newstalk
The Hard Shoulder on Newstalk. Join us every weekday afternoon from 4-7pm for a round-up of the day’s events, interviews with the people at the centre of the stories – and a bit of craic along the way. CONVERSATION THAT COUNTS | Ireland’s national independent talk station for news, sport, analysis and entertainmentListen to Newstalk at http://newstalk.com/listenlive | Download the GoLoud app now, the new home for Newstalk
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 14, 2025 • 16min
You Are What You Eat: Dried Fruit
Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joins Jonathan Healy to discuss dried fruit - their benefits, and how you can use them!
Nov 14, 2025 • 8min
Sport with Mick McCarthy
Off The Ball's Mick McCarthy joined Jonathan Healy on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action…
Nov 14, 2025 • 8min
Should single parents get the same amount of parental leave as two?
Calls are ongoing for measures to ensure that children in single-parent families have access to the same amount of parental leave as those in two-parent families.To chat more about this, Jonathan Healy is joined by Carly Bailey from One Family.
Nov 14, 2025 • 8min
Trump orders Epstein investigation on everyone (but himself)
US President Donald Trump has been responding today to the latest trove of emails by Jeffrey Epstein with a Truth Social post calling it “THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN HOAX”. He has asked the FBI, Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice to launch an investigation into those Epstein reportedly had a relationship with. This includes, as listed in Trump’s social media post: “Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, J.P. Morgan, Chase, and many other people and institutions”.For more on this, Jonathan Healy is joined by BBC News’ North American Correspondent, Anthony Zurcher.Image: Reuters
Nov 14, 2025 • 13min
Reactions to Ireland's incredible win over Portugal
We can keep dreaming of following Ireland to the World Cup in North America next Summer, as Ireland claimed a historic victory against Portugal last night in the Aviva…Newstalk’s Henry McKean got thoughts from the public, and joining Jonathan Healy to chat about the game and our hopes for Sunday is former Irish International, Ray Houghton, and Commentator and Broadcaster, George Hamilton.
Nov 13, 2025 • 10min
Movies and TV: The Running Man, Being Eddie Murphy, Caroline Flack
John Fardy, Presenter of Screentime on Newstalk and Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast joined Ciara Doherty on The Hard Shoulder to review the latest TV and movie releases…
Nov 13, 2025 • 12min
Will AI take all of our jobs? - Josh Crosbie Reports
Over the past few years, AI is becoming more and more apparent in our daily lives. It's used in all factors of people's lives, but how much is it being used in critical digital infrastructure? And, how many jobs are at risk?Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosbie has been investigating, and joins Ciara Doherty to discuss.
Nov 13, 2025 • 9min
What problems will the new Government housing plan face?
Throughout the show today, we have been discussing the government's new housing plan launched today, which promises 12,000 new-build social homes each year, and the delivery of an additional 300,000 new houses by the end of 2030.How realistic is this, and what problems might the Government face in delivering it? Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss is Architect Róisín Murphy and Pat Dennigan, CEO of Focus Ireland.
Nov 13, 2025 • 15min
The Thursday Interview: Lynn Ruane
Senator and author Lynn Ruane joins Ciara Doherty for this week’s Thursday Interview!
Nov 13, 2025 • 18min
Does the new Government housing plan do enough?
Earlier in the show, Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins, joined to discuss the Government's new Housing Plan, which was launched today.But, does this new plan do enough?Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss this is Eoin O’Broin, Sinn Féin Housing Spokesperson, Conor Skehan, former Chair of the Housing Agency and DIT Lecturer in Planning and Killian Woods, Senior Business Reporter with The Business Post.
