Brendan O'Connor

Tom Inglis, sociologist and author, on his new book ‘Unbecoming Catholic’ which details his own personal experiences with religion, with Catholicism and what being ‘religious’ in contemporary Ireland means and how faith and our beliefs should develop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oscar Dunbar, grandson of singer and actress Marianne Faithfull, talks about their grandmother-grandson bond, her finding sanctuary by living in Ireland and the pair of them writing and recording a song together, ‘Love Is’, in the months before her death last January.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarina Bellissimo, Entertainment journalist and broadcaster and Dave O’Callaghan, host of the Here and Back Again Podcast have picked their recommendations for the best TV and films to watch for the week ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Met Eireann's Liz Walsh joins Brendan to give a weather update as Ireland's highest recorded temperature could be broken today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chartered physiotherapist Aisling Frawley explains why we shouldn’t be running in very hot sun and has tips on how to maintain your fitness over the summer months.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this thought-provoking discussion, Rita Ann Higgins, a satirical poet from Galway, Ireland, and tech expert Mark Little explore if AI can truly craft poetry on par with humans. They compare an AI-generated poem to one of Rita's original works, discussing creativity, authenticity, and the soul's essence in artistic expression. The duo also addresses the ethical implications of AI in the arts and the mixed feelings many have about technology's impact on human creativity, prompting listeners to reflect on the evolving landscape of art in a digital age.

RTÉ’s Des Cahill reflects on Katie Taylor’s epic overnight boxing win, previews the weekend’s crunch GAA semi-finals and looks ahead to the Wimbledon finals between Jannik Sinner v Carlos Alcaraz and Amanda Anisimova v Iga Swiatek.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artist and writer, Corina Duyn, wrote a very powerful letter to Brendan about her experience living in care since the age of 59. She has lived with M.E. for more than 25 years. Corina’s book of collages “In Bed I Cut Words” is published by Creative Ireland, and distributed by the Irish Hospice Foundation. CorinaDuyn.com and corinaduyn.blogspot.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former football manager and player Roddy Collins picks five classic songs that remind him of childhood holidays around Ireland, his late father and his 48 year love story with his wife, Caroline.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the summer heats up, is it possible to put on a spread of tapas dishes at home? Nicky Foley from Solas Tapas Bar in Dingle [and The Fish Factory] says yes, and he talked Brendan through recipes for Pan con Tomate, potato tortilla, chickpea stew and Prawn pil pil.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.