iRadio's Groupchat

Seven budding radio journalists joined iRadio for a special show this week.

On the TY Takeover, we looked realities of life for teenagers in 2026, and the difficulties in getting part-time jobs. We reflected on the the future the Gaeltacht, and the funding that is needed. Also, have you noticed 'The Traitors Phenomenon'? We examined it with this season's OG Traitor Carla Geary.

The TY Media week programme is funded by Coimisiún na Meán with the Television Licence Fee and has been devised by Learning Waves in association with iRadio.

Making friends as an adult isn’t always easy - especially once college ends, people move abroad, and everything feels like it revolves around the pub.

Leah chats to Redmond Newell , founder of Galway-based Social Beyond the Pub, about why he started the group and the big response it got from people in their 20s looking for a more relaxed way to meet others.

They talk about why making friends can feel more daunting in your 20s, the extra challenge for people in rural areas, and how price, lifestyle and “the next morning” are changing how young people want to socialise.

Plus, Redmond shares what to expect from their next meet-up at Wildlands in Moycullen - and why showing up solo might be the best way to do it.

What started as a simple idea between two Galway friends has turned into Clean Cut Meals - one of the West of Ireland’s biggest meal prep success stories.

Valerie chats to co-founder Michal Dyer about spotting the gap in the market after a J1 in San Francisco, and how they went from cooking meals at home for friends to building a food business in Clarinbridge.

They get into the real challenges early on - cash flow, securing a kitchen, and the strict rules that come with food production - plus why they scaled slowly, the reality behind food safety concerns, and Michal’s straight-up advice for any young entrepreneur thinking of taking the риск.

Money is something we all have to deal with, but it can feel like you’re expected to know the basics without ever being taught them.

Valerie is joined by Tom Hodgkinson, better known as Capital Conditioning on TikTok, to talk budgeting in real-life terms - from “paying yourself first” to simply getting a clear picture of what’s coming in and going out each month.

They also unpack what investing actually means, how it differs from saving, and why inflation matters more than people realise.

Plus, with the new Irish investment account announced as part of Budget 2027, Tom breaks down what the thresholds and limits really mean for the average person who wants to start investing without the jargon.

Fresh concerns are being raised about the growing use of nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) in Ireland, particularly among young people —-and the risks are far more serious than many realise, from loss of consciousness and nerve damage to burns, paralysis and potentially permanent spinal cord injury.

Valerie is joined by Senator Teresa Costello, who’s been sounding the alarm after collecting hundreds of discarded canisters during clean-ups in Tallaght and hearing first-hand stories of people ending up in wheelchairs.

They discuss why nitrous oxide feels like a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”, how easy it is to access online, the role social media plays in normalising it, and what needs to happen next - from education and enforcement to cross-department action and new legislation.

Beauty trends move fast, from viral ingredients to “must-have” routines and eye-watering price tags… but what’s actually worth it?

Valerie is joined by content creator Sam Kelly, who has over a decade of experience in the beauty and pharmaceutical industry, to break down what’s driving the boom in Irish beauty brands and how to spot the ones doing more than just looking good on Instagram.

They chat the ingredients everyone should know (retinols, SPF, hyaluronic acid), what’s overhyped right now (including PDRN and “skin flooding”), and what’s genuinely worth picking up this Black Friday - without falling into overconsumption.

Valerie is joined by comedian Anna Clifford, one half of Comedy for Witches, for a chat about astrology, crystals, seasonal living and the general chaos of being a woman in your 30s.

Anna tells the story of how she went from acting to stand-up, why her first gig in Vancouver had her shaking, and the addictive “natural high” that keeps comics coming back.

They get into the “owl hags” identity, taking back words used against women, and how much of the witchy stuff Anna genuinely believes (and laughs at).

Valerie chats to Lorcan Healy, founder and CEO of EOS Elite, the Irish sports performance brand built around helping people push beyond their limits.

Fresh out of school in 2018, Lorcan set himself a big goal: become a professional footballer and a business owner by 30. He shares how that ambition started, how EOS Elite began with a simple gap in the market for decent grip socks, and how he taught himself everything from registering a company to building a Shopify site.

From a deflating pop-up in Belfast to raising over €25,000 for Breast Cancer Ireland, Lorcan breaks down the mindset of “every day over some days” and the vision to bring an Irish running brand to the world stage.

Social media is such a big part of family life now - but what happens when you’re sharing not just the fun bits, but the reality of parenting a child with additional needs?

Valerie is joined by TikTok creator and salon owner Deborah Hannigan, who opens up about life as a mum of three, including Ezra, who has a rare genetic disorder and global developmental delay.

They chat about finding support online when there’s very little information, the emotional rollercoaster of diagnosis, and why Deborah feels a responsibility to highlight the challenges families face in Ireland.

This episode contains discussions around suicide. Listener discretion is advised.

Valerie is joined by mental health advocate and content creator Aidan Loughnane (Running With Aidan) for an honest conversation about what it really looks like when you’re not okay - and how hard it can be to say it out loud.

Aidan shares his journey with anxiety, panic attacks and OCD from his teens, the day he felt he couldn’t go on, and the devastating loss of his brother.

They talk therapy, the power of opening up, why “you can’t see the sky from the trees” when you’re in it, and how running helped him find purpose again.

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