iRadio's Groupchat

Social media star Andrea Woods joins Leah on iRadio’s Groupchat to talk about taking the leap from TikTok to stand-up, and why she’s putting her energy into her comedy career, Crack with Andrea.

Andrea chats about starting content during COVID after moving home from London, the one video that sparked it all, and what it’s like building a community of hundreds of thousands online.

She also opens up about dealing with trolls, not giving negative comments power, and how she’s learned to turn tough experiences into something positive.

Plus, Andrea previews her brand new show Notions at the Auld Shebeen in Moate on October 30th — expect a wild, funny, interactive night.

Feeling stuck in your job, tempted by a career change, or just wondering if a degree matters as much as it used to? Leah is joined by careers coach Angela Burke to break down what’s really happening in today’s job market - and why “experience is the new degree” can be true (with a few important exceptions).

Angela shares practical ways to identify your transferable skills, stop underselling yourself on your CV, and bring your strengths to life with real evidence and outcomes.

Plus, they tackle a listener question on how to job hunt while working full-time, what motivates change, and how long finding a new role can realistically take.

The taxi industry is booming, with almost 1,900 new licences issued last year – and now there’s a new Irish-owned app aiming to change how we book and pay for taxis.

Leah chats to Abi Mar, a taxi driver who’s just launched Cabi, a cashless taxi app connecting passengers with vetted independent drivers, with options like pet-friendly and 6- and 8-seaters. Abby explains what was missing from the market, why Cabi’s fees are designed to be fairer, and how the app adds a sense of safety for both drivers and customers.

They also get into what it’s really like being a young woman in a male-dominated industry, the SPSV test process, and why rural towns still struggle for taxis.

Leaving Cert season can make it feel like points and college are the only way forward - but they’re not. Leah is talking apprenticeships on iRadio’s Groupchat, and why earning while you learn can be the right fit for so many people.

Katie O’Connell from Cavan breaks down what a metal fabrication apprenticeship actually involves, from reading engineering drawings and cutting steel to bending, shaping and welding finished components - and what a typical 9-to-5 day looks like on the job.

She also opens up about being the only girl on the floor, the college phases of an apprenticeship, and why the “second choice” stigma is seriously outdated.

September can feel strange - summer’s fading, the evenings are getting darker, and after Electric Picnic a lot of people are hit with those post-festival blues. But if that low mood is sticking around, it could be something more.

Leah is joined on iRadio’s Groupchat by therapist and mindset coach Lynda Duffy to chat about seasonal affective disorder (SAD), why reduced daylight affects our sleep, energy and motivation, and the signs it’s time to take things seriously.

September has that “fresh start” energy - back to school, back to college, back to routine - but when it comes to food, it can quickly turn into pressure to change everything at once.

Leah is joined on iRadio’s Groupchat by registered dietitian and performance nutritionist Sinead O’Donovan with simple, realistic tips to get your eating habits back on track without the all-or-nothing mindset.

They chat balanced meals (what to add, not what to cut), quick breakfast ideas like overnight oats and smoothies, and how to eat well on a budget with frozen fruit, tinned foods and own-brand staples.

For more advice you can visit www.sineadodonovan.com

Electric Picnic is almost here - tents packed, people on the road to Stradbally, and the excitement of a weekend of music, mates and freedom. But festivals can be intense too: big crowds, broken routines, little sleep, and for some, alcohol and other substances.

Valerie is joined by Mick Ledden from PsyCare Ireland to share practical, no-nonsense ways to mind your head at a festival - from what to pack for comfort and sleep, to making a simple safety plan with friends when phones die and coverage drops.

According to new research teachers are under more pressure than ever - and the Teachers Union of Ireland says keeping them in the job is now as big a challenge as recruiting them. Valerie is joined by Seamus from Well to Teach to unpack what’s really driving burnout, from workload and paperwork to “initiative overload” and constant new curriculum changes.

Seamus also explains why so many teachers are struggling to secure stable contracts, the impact of housing and cost-of-living, and why some feel pushed towards teaching abroad.

Sober social activities are on the rise, and Valerie McHugh is joined by Kate Duggan, founder of Elevate FitFest, to chat about why more people are looking for great days out without alcohol being the centre of it all.

Kate explains what Elevate FitFest is really like: a two-day health, wellness and lifestyle festival at the stunning Shanbally House and Gardens in Nenagh (September 5th and 6th), packed with classes, talks, workshops and cooking demos.

They also get into the “no intimidation” vibe for beginners, what’s new this year (spinning and floating sound baths on the lake), and the real behind-the-scenes challenge of building a festival with a tiny team.

The Chase has been on in nearly every Irish house at some stage - and this week Valerie McHugh is joined by one of its newest fan favourites, Irish Chaser Darragh “The Menace” Ennis, ahead of his Irish quiz tour this September.

Darragh chats about the surreal moment you realise you’re a “household name” and the mad backstory of how he went from contestant to Chaser… all because he needed money for a new front door.

Plus: what filming The Chase is really like, how he keeps his knowledge sharp.