The Watchlist

Writer Rita Ann Higgins tells Brendan about writing one of Ireland’s first 'sexy poems’, what first inspired her and how she is still learning from her grandchildren. She also reads from her newly-published ‘greatest hits’ collection, ‘Jiving with Wasps’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining Brendan to preview the best films and TV shows this week – including The Young Offenders, Saturday Night Live UK and Rory McIlroy: the Masters Wait – are Irish Times arts journalist, Nadine O’Regan; and host of the Extra Vision podcast, Andy McCarroll.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining Brendan to discuss the lead stories in Sunday’s newspapers are: CEO of Spunout and board member of Cybersafe Kids, Sinead Keane; Managing Director of Baggot Investment Partners, Peter Brown; Sunday Times columnist and commentator, Alison O’Connor; and professor of US and International Politics at UCD’s Clinton Institute, Scott Lucas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Producer with the Irish Independent, and host of the No Encore podcast, Dave Hanratty tells Brendan about the arrest of ‘looksmaxxing’ influencer, Clavicular. Who is he? Why has he been arrested? And why has he been accused of shooting a dead alligator?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, a 20-year-old in California was awarded six-million dollars after a jury found Meta and Google had intentionally built addictive platforms which harmed her mental health. With thousands of similar cases in train, Wicklow teacher and educator with the Sexual Exploitation Research & Policy Institute, Eoghan Cleary, gives his analysis.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Founder and CEO of FiXX Coffee, Anne Abberton, offers Brendan her top tips for making great coffee at home, or at work. Should you grind yourself, or buy pre-ground beans? She also discusses the pros and cons of using a moka pot, French press, aeropress or filter coffee.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Specialist in obesity, Professor Donal O’Shea outlines how our food environment has become increasingly unhealthy, with an abundance of high fat, salt and sugary processed foods. He describes the numerous tricks companies use to sell increasing volume. With mounting evidence that highly processed foods are unhealthy, Donal outlines what regulatory and personal changes we should make to navigate this environment and guard our health.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caroline Reidy, head of HR Solutions at NFP talks Brendan through how to negotiate a pay rise, and what mistakes to avoid.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Award-winning author, Colm Tóibín, talks to Brendan about his childhood stammer, his wild years in Barcelona, and his latest short-story collection ‘The News from Dublin’. He also introduces five pieces of music that have inspired him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Screenwriter and actor, Stefanie Preissner tells Brendan about her passion for slow vacuuming: how a robot vacuum can redistribute domestic chores, cleaning her fake grass and finding the perfect vacuum online. She also describes the perils of robot vacuums cohabiting with small children.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.