John Cleese: “I had a big laugh about my divorce; then I had a breakdown”

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.

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.

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.

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.

Kerryman, Oisin Murphy – who recently won the British Flat Jockeys Championship title for the fifth time – tells Brendan about his destructive relationship with alcohol, the constant need to keep his weight down, and why he tested positive for cocaine in France, as detailed in his new book ‘Sacrifice’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comedy legend John Cleese tells Brendan about Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, the power of laughter, and his reflections on what happens after death. He also explains the impetus behind his book, Fawlty Towers: Fawlts and All, and his new documentary, John Cleese Packs It In.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actor and screenwriter Stephanie Preissner joins Brendan for the first of a two-part series on gift-buying this festive season. This week Stephanie offers her top tips on buying for the men in your life. Tips included VOYA products, Closca cycle helmets, and contour whiskey glasses from Current.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caryna Camerino, owner of Dublin’s Camerino Bakery, tells Brendan about some American desserts, for anyone hoping to mark the American holiday this week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nadine O'Regan, Irish Times Arts journalist, and Andy McCarroll, Host of the Extra Vison Podcast talk Brendan through the best TV and Cinema this week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Godfather of AI" Professor Geoffrey Hinton won a Nobel Prize for his early work on machine learning which were the foundations for modern Artificial Intelligence today. He left his role with Google to free him up to talk about his safety concerns around AI. He told Brendan why he thinks AI is now at a point where it can think and understand.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.