iRadio's Groupchat

How good are you at actually switching off from work? For so many of us, the working day doesn’t end when we leave the office - it follows us home through emails, Teams notifications, and that constant “I should just check” feeling.

Valerie is joined by organisational psychologist Cliodhna O’Dea from Clio Coaching to unpack why we struggle to properly detach, and what “psychological detachment” really means in everyday life.

They chat simple switch-off rituals, how to create boundaries when you work from home (including the genius “fake commute”), and when a quick email check turns into a stress spiral.

Controlling behaviour in a relationship can start small - a mood shift when you wear something you love, go out with friends, or do anything that doesn’t suit them. But over time, it can turn into isolation, gaslighting and coercive control.

Valerie is joined by Molly Smyth from The Healing Gals Podcast to break down the early warning signs, the difference between “protective” and controlling, and why things like wanting your passwords or monitoring your phone is a massive red flag.

They also talk cheating red flags, gut feeling vs relationship anxiety, and the first practical steps to leaving — even when you still love them.

Nicola Brennan is making headlines in the GAA world after becoming manager of Leitrim club Melvin Gaels’ men’s football team - stepping in mid-championship with almost no time to spare.

She chats to Valerie about how the call came out of the blue, why her first reaction was a straight “no”, and what made her take the chance anyway while still playing championship football herself.

Nicola also opens up about the realities for women in the game - the funding gap, the progress that’s been made, and what still needs to change.

Plus, her message to any young woman thinking about coaching: don’t overthink it, just go for it.

Looking for something new to watch as the evenings get darker? This week, Valerie is joined by Eimear Powell, who shares film and TV reviews on social media, to chat recommendations for every mood - from gripping cinema trips to proper cozy comfort watches.

Eimear talks about training as an actor at Bow Street, falling out of love with the spotlight, and why she started posting accessible, no-nonsense TikTok reviews to get back into the world of film.

They also dive into new releases including The Lost Children of Tuam and Verity, plus why Carrie still hits 50 years on — and what the new TV adaptation gets so right.

More than 300,000 public sector workers have taken part in a 24-hour strike, shutting schools and disrupting healthcare, courts and other services as talks on a new pay deal drag on.

Valerie is joined by Seamus Burns from Well to Teach to explain how the day unfolded on the picket line, what kind of support teachers and SNAs have been getting from parents and the wider public, and why this isn’t just about pay.

Jordan Breen is a 27-year-old full-time artist from Enniskillen who’s turned Irish-themed paintings into prints that are now selling all around the world. In this episode, he chats about how drawing was always his first love, why he fell out of love with art at university, and how COVID pushed him back into painting when he needed purpose.

He opens up about taking the scary leap from pub work to going full-time, the self-doubt and imposter syndrome that came with it, and what finally made things “pop off” on social media.

More than 300,000 public sector workers across Ireland are set to take part in a 24-hour strike - with schools and colleges closed, healthcare appointments cancelled, court sittings suspended and local authority services disrupted.

Valerie is joined by Scott Miller from SIPTU’s Communications Department to explain what’s behind the breakdown in pay talks, why unions say the government’s offer effectively amounts to a real-terms pay cut, and how the cost of living crisis is shaping the dispute - especially for younger workers.

They also unpack what “respecting the picket line” actually means in practice, what happens in an emergency, and what could come next, including further strike action later in October.

Leah Cahill is back, and since we last spoke she’s taken a massive step: after a DNA test and the help of an organisation in China, she found her birth parents - and travelled to meet them in person for the first time.

She talks honestly about the overwhelm of that first day, her biological mother’s reaction, and what it was like meeting her sister and feeling an instant connection — even with a language barrier (and some surprisingly good AI translation).

Leah also reflects on how new information has reshaped her “origin story”, identity and adoption journey, and shares advice for anyone thinking of starting their own search.

Can you bring an iced latte into a job interview… or is that an instant red flag? Valerie digs into the “unwritten rules” of getting hired - and whether we’re all overthinking interview etiquette.

Careers coach Angela Burke joins us with the practical do’s, don’ts and grey areas: the biggest interview mistakes people make, why “saying what you think they want to hear” can backfire, and how to stop underselling yourself.

They also tackle online interviews (how to come across confident on camera), plus the reality of AI screening CVs - and how to make sure your application actually gets seen.

Could the government become the new Cupid? Singapore has rolled out a matchmaking service for government workers aged 21–35, using a Nobel Prize-winning algorithm to pair people based on interests, habits and values - with one date at a time and no endless swiping.

Valerie asks: could something like this work in Ireland, and would you trust the government to find you a partner? Matchmaker Mairead Loughman from Love HQ joins the chat with a surprisingly optimistic take, unpacking loneliness, “time wasters”, and why a human element still matters alongside AI.

They also dig into what really drives compatibility, the realities of dating expectations, and whether birth-rate motivation changes the whole conversation.