Colum McCann “With my brain condition - the medicine altered me more than the pain”

Joining Brendan to discuss the Sunday papers, are publisher at TheBriefing.ie, Liz Carolan; research professor at the ESRI, Alan Barrett; Sunday Independent and Irish Daily Mail columnist, Brenda Power; Irish Times Political Editor, Pat Leahy; and professor of US and International Politics at UCD’s Clinton Institute, Scott Lucas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Culture journalist, Zara Hederman joins Brendan to discuss a growing controversy in the latest season of ‘Love is Blind’, a dating show r. After one participant met his fiancée, he told her he was used to dating “who work out all the time”, sparking a furore of commentary about the intersection of physical attraction, misogyny and body shaming.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Award winning novelist, Colum McCann joins Brendan to discuss the songs that have formed the soundtrack to his life, including Ray Charles’ ‘Hit the Road, Jack’ and Colm Mac Con Iomaire’s ‘The Minbar of Saladin’. He also tracks his literary childhood, his 9/11 novel and his attempt to emulate Jack Kerouac by cycling across America.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining Brendan to discuss the best TV and films coming this week, are Business Post film critic, John Maguire and Irish Times arts journalist, Nadine O’Regan. Their choices include ‘Vladamir’, ‘DTF St Louis’ and ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From salsa to tzatziki, and hummus to pesto, Chef Alannah Sheehan gives Brendan a how-to guide to making dips that are quick, simple and super tasty.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Writer Ann Ingle, and her daughter, Irish Times journalist and Co-host of the Women’s Podcast, Róisín Ingle join Brendan to discuss the changing nature of sex, the cultural highs and lows of their year, and how our parents’ choice of partner impacts our own.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dietician Sarah Keogh joins Brendan to discuss how much protein we really need, and the impact of eating too much or too little and gives her verdict on protein powders and bars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following joint US/Israeli strikes on Iran overnight, Iranian-American journalist Borzou Daragahi joins Brendan with the latest updates, as the impact of the attacks becomes clear and the Iranian leadership vows retaliation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actor Colin Farrell and campaigner Emma Fogarty join Brendan to discuss their deep friendship, their campaigning work on EB (known as ‘butterfly skin’) and their new documentary ‘The Slightest Touch’ which premieres at the Dublin International Film Festival this weekend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brendan gets the lowdown on the best films and TV shows this week with Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster/Podcaster and Dave O’Callaghan, Host of the Here and Back Again Podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.