Newstalk Weekend

Joining Stefanie Preissner for this week's installment of Ask the Expert is horticulturalist & podcaster, Paul Smyth.

39 years since the birth of the internet and the promises of bright sunny uplands of discovery and free and open conversation, logging on can seem more like an exercise in futility in trying to avoid bogus stories, erroneous opinions, and dangerous conspiracy theories. So, how do we negotiate this minefield? How are we supposed to know if something is the truth or a conspiracy theory for instance? Orna Young, Executive Director of Fact Check NI joined Steffanie Preissner to discuss.

In the dark days of winter, Erica-Cody delighted us with her dance skills, and as the days grew longer, we saw her presenting skills on 'The Main Stage' but now she has returned to her first love: creating music. Stefanie Preissner is joined by Erica-Cody to chat about the release of her brand new single 'Love Like This', & more.

This week we learned that unemployment in the Irish economy fell to a 21-year low of 4.2% but what does this mean for employees and employers alike going forward and are we all seeing the benefit of these upward trends in reality? Damien McCarthy, CEO of the HR consultancy firm 'HR Buddy' and outreach worker Maya, join Stefanie Preissner to discuss.

Joining Stefanie Preissner is comedian, Fred Cooke. Together they discuss how he has been getting on over the past two years, juggling marriage & parenthood while being on the road, and getting back on stage.

With the innumerable actors on our screens from all walks of life, from all corners of the globe seamlessly embodying their roles as well as pulling off whatever accent that comes with it, it begs the question: Why are Irish accents so often butchered on screen? Joining Stefanie to chat about this are journalist Sarina Bellissimo and accent coach and actor Aisling Goodwin.

Kickstarting Your Weekend this week is Noreen Roche, Owner of Epona Retreat Centre in Cork where she runs workshops aimed at helping guests tap into the spiritual benefits of being with horses and the vast energy of the universe.

Joining Stefanie Preissner for this week's installment of 'What's Going On?' is journalist, Jen Hogan & broadcaster, Adrian Kennedy.

Many people may remember the story of two little boys making their way on their own from Dublin to London to New York in 1985 - a trip involving a DART, a ferry, a train, and a full-sized jumbo jet. Garret Daly, was so intrigued by the story that he made a documentary about it. He joins Tom Dunne to discuss.

Joining Tom Dunne for this week's installment of Ask the Expert is John Lowe, The Money Doctor.