

Brendan O'Connor
RTÉ Radio 1
Brendan O'Connor has all you need for the weekend with time to pause and reflect on the week just gone. Featuring a selection of human interest, consumer and lifestyle stories, as well as keeping you up to date on the news stories that matter. Listen live Saturday and Sunday at 11am - 1pm on RTÉ Radio 1.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 27, 2025 • 54min
The Newspaper Panel
Joining Brendan to digest the Sunday papers are; Political Correspondent, Sarah McGuinness, Chief Economist with Deloitte Ireland, Kate English, Former Irish Ambassador to the UK and the EU, Bobby McDonagh, and Sunday Independent Columnist and Former Head of the Housing Agency, Conor Skehan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 27, 2025 • 7min
Golden age of Late-Night comedy
In light of the cancellation of Late Night with Stephen Colbert on CBS in the US, Dave Hanratty, Host of the No Encore podcast, brings us through some of the most memorable American late night television shows, and the reasons why audiences just aren’t watching anymore.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 27, 2025 • 13min
The Watchlist
Fionnuala Jones, Podcaster and Presenter Donald Clarke, Chief film Correspondent for The Irish Times join Brendan to give some of their recommendations for what to watch on the big and small screen this week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 27, 2025 • 28min
Dementia care: "Remember that the living, loving person is still in there"
Dr Sabina Brennan talks to Brendan about caring for her mother when she was diagnosed with dementia, and how it might help others in understanding loved ones with a diagnosis of a similar condition. She charts her experience in her new book, ‘Still Me: A neuroscientist's guide to caring for someone with dementia'.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 26, 2025 • 38min
Alison Spittle: “Weight has been a constant war in my life”
Comedian Alison Spittle has a new show, ‘Big’, that she’s bringing to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and is based on her own weight loss journey using prescription injections. She explores her relationship with her body going back to childhood and how she navigates people’s reactions to her weight.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 26, 2025 • 10min
How not to be broke in the summer break with John Lowe
Summer can be an expensive time for people with holidays, back to school costs, and entertainment costs such as festivals and day trips, not to mention the increase in grocery and hospitality costs across the country. The Money Doctor John Lowe gives Brendan some tips on how to manage summer finances and how not to get overwhelmed by rising costs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 26, 2025 • 7min
Recipes: Healthy alternatives for breakfast, dessert and snacks
Chef and Instagrammer Alannah Sheehan gives us some healthy alternatives to sweet meals and treats including some easy recipes for protein balls, chia pudding, granola, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 26, 2025 • 13min
David McWilliams-Housing and Immigration
Podcaster and author David McWilliams joins Brendan to discuss how factors such as a rising population, smaller family sizes, and out of date accommodation are contributing to the housing crisis.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 26, 2025 • 31min
Dr Richard Hogan – Loneliness
Psychotherapist Richard Hogan on why there is a loneliness epidemic in a world that has never been more connected; why the World Health Organisation has said teenage girls are the loneliest group in the world; how loneliness can harm and what we can do to combat it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 20, 2025 • 8min
“Even Theo Von loves Road Bowling!”
Brendan gets a crash course in the competitive sport of road bowling from the secretary of Ból Chumann na hÉireann, Séamus Ó Tuama and enthusiast Michelle Smith who is the founder of the popular Road Bowls in Ireland Facebook and TikTok accounts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.