Victoria Mary Clarke “I’m haunted by Shane and Sinead”

Actor Benedict Cumberbatch tells Brendan about his activism, the waste created in the making of a movie, why toxic masculinity needs to constantly be called out, how becoming a father affected his acting and how his own grief surfaced when playing a grief-stricken husband and father in his latest film, ‘The Thing With Feathers’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are 12,000 lakes in Ireland. Pól O’Conghaile, Travel Editor of Independent.ie talks about the tourism amenities added to many Irish lakes over the years and which are the most beautiful ones to visit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the eve of the second anniversary of the death of her husband, Shane McGowan, writer Victoria Mary Clarke talks about grief, ice baths and breath work. She also chose five songs that chart her life, from ‘Haunted’ by Shane & Sinead O’Connor to Bob Dylan, Kneecap and Van Morrison.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Occupational psychologist and shaman, Leisha Redmond McGrath talks to Brendan about the small changes you can make to create a better day at work, how to make better connections with people to and how to bring joy to your workday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As President Zelensky’s chief of staff resigns following an anti-corruption scandal, Christopher Miller, Ukraine Correspondent with the Financial Times talks to Brendan about how this crisis will impact the ongoing peace plan, but also the consequences for the country, its government and its people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Café owner and chef Maggie Roche brings Brendan the best and tastiest toasted sandwiches for all moods and taste buds. She talks Brendan through an epic Christmas toastie recipe, how to pimp up the classic ham and cheese and makes a case for a nutella toastie!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Arts journalist, Zara Hedderman and Entertainment Editor at the RTE Guide, Michael Doherty tell Brendan about the TV and Cinema highlights of the week to come, including ‘Wicked: For Good’, ‘Stranger Things’ and ‘DJ Carey: The Dodger’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining Brendan to discuss the Sunday papers are Pat Leahy, Political Editor of the Irish Times; novelist, Catherine Prasifka; Brenda Power, Columnist with the Irish Daily Mail and Sunday Times; and Larry Donnelly, Law Lecturer at the University of Galway.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump’s MAGA movement is embroiled in internal disputes over the status of white nationalist, Nick Fuentes, and the surprise resignation of Georgia Congresswoman, Marjorie Taylor-Green. Publisher of TheBriefing.ie - Liz Carolan - tells Brendan about the faultlines now emerging in the American right, over Israel, isolationism and Jeffrey Epstein.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Homeless campaigner, and founder of The Alice Leahy Trust, Alice Leahy, tells Brendan about her vocation, her late husband Charlie, and how she nearly became a vet and now reminds people several times a day that she is not a nun. Marking the publication of her new book ‘Outsiders’ she chooses five songs that form the soundtrack to her life, including Ralph McTell’s ‘Streets of London’, ‘The Parting Glass’ and ‘I Dreamt I Dwelt In Marble Halls’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.