Darina Allen - “I have become a spice nerd!”

Actor Jason O’Mara has just moved home to Dublin after over 20 years in L.A. He’s acted in DC’s Batman, Band of Brothers, Life on Mars, The Good Wife, The Lincoln Lawyer and will be in RTE’s These Sacred Vows next month. He chose five songs to represent his life ranging from Simon & Garfunkel to The Jesus and Mary Chain to Max Richter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining Brendan this week are: Eamon Ryan, former government Minister and Chair of the European Housing Advisory Board,Prof Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Professor at the European University Institute, Mary Regan, Political editor of the Irish and Sunday Independent and Dan O’Brien, Chief Economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Writer, Henrietta McKervey and TV and Radio Producer Eoin Sweeney talked Brendan through the hits and misses from the big and small screen this week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elaine Burke, host of the ‘For Tech’s Sake’ podcast on why we’ll all be talking to our computers in 2026 and how AI will infiltrate all spheres of life this year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin, joins Brendan to explain how the brain develops over the decades and why 32 is a crucial age for the brain’s re-wiring.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chef Darina Allen talks to Brendan about her favourite curries for these cold winter evenings, her inspiring travels to India and Sri-Lanka in search of new recipes and why using fresh spices is a game changer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singer-songwriter Chris De Burgh and Ross-O'Carroll-Kelly creator Paul Howard joined Brendan to talk about becoming friends later in life, wine-related escapades and the importance of banter and laughter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Architect Róisín Murphy wades in on the Great Radiator Debate with her views on how to run a radiator, the cost benefits of turning the radiator down a degree or two, where to best position a radiator and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Channel 4 News’ Foreign Correspondent Páraic O’Brien talks to Brendan about the potential collapse of the regime in Iran.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Musician Gavin Friday joins Brendan on the 10th anniversary of David Bowie’s death to talk about what Bowie meant to him as a teenager growing up in Dublin, having dinner with his hero (and not seeing eye to eye!) and his enduring influence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.