The Hard Shoulder
Newstalk
The Hard Shoulder with Kieran Cuddihy on Newstalk. Join Kieran 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. Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App. You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 15, 2025 • 11min
How are you enjoying the weather?
How are people around Ireland enjoying this beautiful week of weather?Joining Kieran to discuss how it is impacting them is John McCarthy, owner of Lahinch Surfing, Yasmin Khan of TEDDY’S Ice Cream Dun Laoghaire, Gary Anderson from the Seafood Shack on the Pier in Killybegs and Karen O’ Neill, Senior Operations Manager from Beyond the Trees Avondale.
May 15, 2025 • 10min
How to do Stuff: Picking a fast food restaurant
Life can be full of confusing things, but no need to worry! Every Wednesday, Simon Tierney will be showing you ‘How to do Stuff’ - bringing his best tips for those things you might not think about.This week, Simon joins Kieran to discuss how to handle one of the most difficult debates you can have: picking what to get for a takeaway!
May 14, 2025 • 11min
What impact will AI have on music and creativity?
A lot is said about how AI impacts our daily lives, but how will it change our music, and will it hinder artists’ creativity?Joining Kieran to discuss is Dr. Martin Clancy, Senior AI Research Fellow at DCU and Policy Fellow at Trinity College Dublin.
May 14, 2025 • 10min
How to sleep during hot summer nights
One downside of the beautiful summer weather is that when it’s time to hit the hay, it can be quite uncomfortable to fall asleep in the heat.Joining Kieran is to give her tips on how to not lose sleep during warmer weather is Sine Dunne, Sleep Professional and Founder of SiEST Sleep.
May 14, 2025 • 7min
Tech Takeover: Gardaí issue warning on online misinformation
For this week’s Tech Takeover, Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joins Kieran to discuss the Gardaí’s warning of misinformation online following the tragic death of Kevin Flatley, and the bad actors surrounding it.
May 14, 2025 • 10min
Could the housing crisis be solved in 100 days?
As the Government is scrambling to come up with plans to increase housing delivery, Kieran’s guest claims not only to have the best ideas to solve the housing crisis, but that he’ll do it in 100 days to boot.Ronan O’Reilly is the Managing Director of NewKey Homes, and joins to discuss.
May 14, 2025 • 10min
Eurovision kicks off! - Henry McKean Reports
Newstalk Reporter Henry McKean is in Basel Switzerland for this year’s Eurovision! He joins Kieran to discuss what things are like on the ground, including his chat with Ireland’s Eurovision representative EMMY.
May 14, 2025 • 9min
Has remote working destroyed Ireland’s work ethic?
Has remote working destroyed Ireland’s work ethic?At a recent Mansion House event, businessman Denis O’Brien said he thinks that it has, and claims that an “entitlement culture” has come, where employees feel they can dictate terms to employers.Peter Cosgrove is the Managing Director of Futurewise, and joins Kieran to discuss.
May 14, 2025 • 13min
Leaving Cert set to have big reform - will it work?
The Leaving Cert is set to change in the next school cycle with more projects, portfolios, and fewer final exams.Some say it’s a long-overdue fix to a high-stress system while others say it’s rushed, unclear, and wide open to problems like AI and unfair marking. So, what’s the assessment?TJ Hegarty, Founder and CEO of Breakthrough Maths and Eric Nelligan, Assistant Principal at St Munchin's College Limerick join Kieran to discuss.
May 14, 2025 • 8min
Gateway to Europe: Adie McGuinness & Clare Kelly
Kieran was joined in Toronto by Adie McGuinness, Co-Founder of Ireland Gateway to Europe and Chair of Sigmar Recruitment and Clare Kelly, Head of Partnerships and Growth at Sigmar to set out the scene for this year's Gateway to Europe trip!
