Just because the lights are on and the tree is up, doesn't mean fun and laughter for everyone in the audience. So, how can we survive the celebrations if we're not feeling festive this season and how can we can mind our minds this Christmas?Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports.

This week Kieran Cuddihy was joined by the presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis and Saoirse Hanley, Features writer at the Independent to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran to look at healthy meals you can have in December, before the inevitable indulgence on Christmas!Image: @aisling_larkin_ on Instagram

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has sealed a massive trade agreement with South America.The deal has been 25 years in the making and seeks to create a free-trade zone spanning more than 700 million people.It’s a deal that is opposed by France, which fears that an influx of cheap poultry and beef imports would undercut farmers.Denis Drennan, President of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association joins Kieran to discuss.

Off The Ball's Ger Gilroy joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action…

Met Éireann have issued a red weather warning for 6 counties in the west, as Storm Darragh is set to bring stormy conditions across the country…Joining Kieran for more on this is Met Éireann Meteorologist Joanna Donnelly, Sean O’Neill Head of Communications, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Graeme McQueen, Media Relations at DAA and Blake Boland, Spokesperson for Dublin Bus.

All this month the Hard Shoulder is looking back on 2024’s biggest moments in the news, and who were at the heart of it.You don't have to look back far to find one of the biggest stories of the year, and that was the election of the 47th President of the United States: Donald J. Trump.What led to that moment, and how has America settled into the prospect of four more years of Trump?Joining Kieran to look back is Martin Nutty and John Lee, hosts of the Irish Stew Podcast.Image: Evan Vucci / AP

The Irish Greens are hosting the 39th European Green Party Congress this weekend.The Green vote here was wiped this day last week, but this is a trend which is being  witnessed European wide…So what does the future hold for the Green agenda?Oisín Coughlan, Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth joins Kieran to discuss.

Up and down the country, trees and lights will be up in preparation of the biggest event (for some) of the year: The Late Late Toy Show!Do we love this institution, or is it a glorified advert?Joining Kieran to discuss are Comedians Jim Elliot and Julie Jay. And Newstalk’s Henry McKean got thoughts from the public!

For this week’s Thursday Interview, Kieran is joined by Donal O’Shea Consultant Endocrinologist and HSE National Clinical Lead for Obesity to discuss his concerns regarding the scale of processed food we are eating, how to tackle obesity and why he chose to dedicate his career to healthcare.