Lunchtime Live

Welcome to The Pod Squad! We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to. Newstalk’s Jess Kelly and Neil Kavanagh join Andrea Gilligan to review ‘13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle’! Image: BBC

Sláintecare reforms are being introduced into the health system, which are playing a role in pushing up the cost of health insurance. VHI announced rises earlier in the year, as did Laya Healthcare and Irish Life Health… So, is private health insurance still worth the cost? Joining Andrea to discuss is Dr Brian Turner, Health Economist in UCC, Pharmacist Sheena Mitchell (@wondercare_irl) on Instag...

It’s time for some summer memories! We chat to some well known names and faces and reminisce over those long summer days. Comedian Dara O’Briain joins guest host Mairead Ronan to reminisce!

Many people are heading to Stradbally in their droves this weekend ahead of Electric Picnic. The annual music festival will see acts from Chappell Roan to Hozier and Kneecap take to the main stage. If you are heading to Laois this weekend, who should you go and see? Joining guest host Mairead Ronan to discuss is Arts Journalist and Broadcaster, Pat Carty.

Ireland introduced a rounding system in 2015 to reduce the use of 1 and 2 cent coins. Cash transactions are rounded to the nearest 5 cents, helping to lower minting costs and simplify cash handling. While the system offers practical benefits for businesses and the public, it also raises concerns about pricing and fairness. Do you think the rounding system for cash payments in Ireland is fair, or d...

From dad rock to locker scams, Emily Keegan from the Newstalk Newsroom joins guest host Mairead Ronan with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

School secretaries and caretakers across the country began indefinite strike action yesterday in a campaign to secure access to the public service pension scheme, as well as the same occupational sick pay and bereavement leave schemes as teachers and Special Needs Assistants. Joining guest host Mairead Ronan to discuss this is Assistant Principal and member of Aontú, Eric Nelligan, Hannah Davy fro...

With more and more electronics being used in your home - how can you manage all of the cables without having them look like an eyesore, or worse, a tripping hazard? Well, the Home Squad are here to talk about hiding your cables! Joining guest host Ciara Doherty to discuss is Jenny Sheehan, former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ (@workerscottage on Instagram) and Sarah Carroll (@sand.and.deliver on In...

Would you consider exercising with friends instead of meeting them in the pub? More and more people are choosing to socialise over a work out - and making new friends doing it! Where has this come from? And why is it so addictive? Joining guest host Ciara Doherty to discuss is Fitness Coach Louise Hayden and listeners.

Southwest Airlines in the US has just changed its long-standing policy for plus-size travelers, one that for over 30 years allowed them to get a second seat for free or be reimbursed if needed. But now, that’s no longer guaranteed. So, what does this mean for passengers of size? Is it fair to ask them to pay for an extra seat in order to fly comfortably, or even to fly at all? What about accessibi...

For many, holidays are the perfect escape from reality and the daily grind. Some people see them as a chance to switch off completely, indulging in relaxation while being looked after from morning to night. Others, however, bring their everyday habits with them, with many happily cooking up a storm in their holiday accommodation instead of leaving the kitchen behind. Would you cook when abroad, or...

We’ve decided to do a deep dive on some of our favourite albums to explore the stories behind them. What did the artists really think of each other? Where did the inspirations from the songs come from? Joining guest host Ciara Doherty to discuss is Head Tour Guide at the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience, Alan Buckley, who’s going to talk through Kings of Leon’s ‘Youth and Young Manhood’, ahea...

A recent study carried out by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre discovered that younger men have “troubling attitudes” towards sexual consent, with 43% of men under 45 agreeing that “sometimes people say no when they want convincing”... With ‘consent’ considered to be a grey area, do we need to have more discussions around what is ‘consent’? And how do we talk about it with our partners? Joining guest...

The Relay for Life is a 24-hour event run by the Irish Cancer Society, with multiple events taking place all across the country. Westlife’s Shane Filan and his wife Gillian will be taking part in the Sligo event on September 13th, and join Andrea to discuss!

Lunchtime Live's Reasons to be Happy looks at some of the news stories that you might have missed that will leave you feeling more optimistic. 98FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

Sport Ireland have set up a ‘Respect the Ref’ campaign, which will cost up to €70,000, is aiming to tackle abuse faced by referees and match officials. Do referees deserve more respect both on and off the sidelines? Joining Andrea to discuss is Secretary of the Dublin branch of the Irish Soccer Referees’ Society and President of the national body, Sean Slattery, Off the Ball’s Adrain Barry, Kilken...

Every Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be talking Making Babies. Andrea will be joined by Professor Shane Higgins, Master of the National Maternity Hospital to cover every area of trying to have a baby. From the very start of knowing how to prepare, right up to pregnancy – and all the bumps in the road in between. This week, Shane joins Andrea to discuss going into labour at home.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are officially engaged, and the internet can’t get enough. As the worlds of pop and pro sports collide, we’re diving into the magic of power couples: what makes them iconic, why we’re so obsessed, and how two people can become even more influential together than apart? Joining Andrea to discuss is Mikie O'Loughlin, Showbiz Editor of RSVP and Holli Breslin, Entertainme...

Why does there seem to be such a struggle for parents to get their children into a Special Education Needs (SEN) school? Listener Rachel Lowry got in touch with the show with her struggles, and joins Andrea to discuss, along with other listeners with similar problems.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Wedding Planner Lyndsey Moynagh to answer all of your wedding-related questions! 

Newstalk reporter Laura Donnelly joins Andrea to discuss Electric Picnic’s lineup and weather forecast ahead of events kicking off this weekend. 

Wexford mother Laura Molloy joins Andrea to discuss how a local school bus crisis is impacting her family. 

A cleaning company recently targeted by extortionists was bombarded with one-star reviews on Google three weeks ago.  Livia Andoreanu from Happy Clean, a domestic cleaning service in Blanchardstown, Dublin, joins Andrea to discuss her situation.  Lily Store in Limerick’s Elaine Clogan and food writer Dee Laffan also join the show to discuss the impact of bad reviews on a business. 

Following on from an earlier discussion about animal welfare, listener Sophie Murray joins Andrea to discuss the theft of her mother's dog from her Dublin home.

Waterford pet shop owner Tara O’Connor recently came across a litter of pups found at a puppy farm in Wexford.   Animal welfare rescued the dogs, but their condition was so bad they all died from illness or had to be euthanized.  Tara joins Andrea to discuss the need for stronger enforcement of animal welfare laws, alongside Co-founder of My Lovely Horse Rescue, Martina Kenny.