The Watchlist

Joining Brendan to dissect the stories making the headlines today, were Mary Regan, Political editor with The Irish Independent; David W. Higgins, Economist; Youth Advocate Natasha Maimba; and Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Professor at the European University Institute.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Entertainment journalist, Sarina Bellisimo and TV and radio producer Eoin Sweeney cast a discerning eye over the TV shows and movies that are worth a watch this week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Psychologist and writer Tony Bates and his old pal Denis Cagney join Brendan to talk about reconnecting more than 50 years after first striking up a conversation at school. Denis and Tony share the wisdom that comes with age and their life experience. They talk about what their friendship means now, and Denis shares the reality of living with MND.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.

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.

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.

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.

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.