iRadio's Groupchat

This week on iRadio Groupchat Business Spotlight, chatting to Donna Bergin, founder of Solace Skincare - and she’s just taken a huge step, opening her very first physical shop in the Craft Village in Spiddal.

Donna explains what “solid skincare” actually is, why organic Irish beef tallow is her hero ingredient, and how it can help dry, reactive and sensitive skin - without that “beefy” smell people might expect.

She also shares how she went from markets and online orders to big growth through TikTok, the importance of simple ingredients and transparency, and what it means to build a brand rooted in nature, community, and the Gaeltacht.

Leaving Cert results are in, and now all eyes are on CAO Round 1 offers - landing tomorrow at 2pm for thousands of students.

Valerie McHugh is joined by guidance expert Niamh Dwyer from My Career Plan to break down what “grade deflation” actually means, how CAO points are shaped by supply and demand, and why this year feels especially uncertain with more students in the mix.

They also chat through the biggest trends in course choices - from health and teaching to journalism, the environment, maths and AI - plus what to do if you don’t get your first choice, from appeals and available places to PLCs, apprenticeships and studying abroad.

And for parents and supporters: how to stay calm, where to get reliable advice, and the national helpline number (1800 265 165).

Solo travel can feel totally different for women - especially when it comes to hotel stays and that constant “what if?” in the back of your mind.

Valerie McHugh is joined by Irish content creator I am Fiaya to chat about the safety tips she shares online, from not giving strangers your information to avoiding lifts with people you don’t know.

They also get into what hotels could be doing better - key-card-only elevator access, cameras on every floor, security on the door at night, and even the idea of women-only floors.

It all comes down to tomorrow for people living with Friedreich’s ataxia, as the HSE decision on funding Skyclarys is due.

Valerie McHugh is joined by 28-year-old trainee solicitor and campaigner Emily Felix, who speaks honestly about the nerves, the hope, and the exhaustion after months of fighting for a drug patients say is life-changing — and already approved in 11 other European countries.

Emily also explains what day-to-day life with Friedreich’s ataxia can look like as it progresses, and why the “cost” conversation feels so dehumanising.

The Irish Farmers Calendar is back – and this year it’s levelling up with a brand-new Tradesman special.

Shauna Byrne, creative director and owner, joins the show to chat about how the calendar became such a hit in Ireland and abroad, why the humour and “tongue-in-cheek” vibe keeps people coming back, and how the lads don’t just show up, take the photos and disappear.

They also get into the balance between fun and objectification, the “real bodies” approach, and whether the calendar has ever sparked actual romance.

From hard hats to high heels, Rachel Foley is fresh off a huge win in the Bahamas – bringing the Miss Galaxy International crown home to Ireland for the first time.

Rachel joins iRadio’s Groupchat to talk about the moment her name was called, why it still hasn’t fully sunk in, and how she’s using her new platform for more than just pageantry.

Working in construction as a health and safety officer, she opens up about proving herself in a male-dominated industry, building respect on site, and why she wants more young women to go for it.

They also unpack what people get wrong about pageants, the reality behind the scenes, body confidence, and the charity work that comes with the crown.

Alex is in for Valerie this week, and he’s joined by movie reviewer Amy Prendergast (AreYouBuzzin) to break down two of the biggest films of the summer: Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

They chat about why The Odyssey is getting so much hype, what makes Nolan’s 70mm IMAX experience so different, and where in Ireland you can actually see it the way it was intended.

Then it’s on to Brand New Day - why it works even if you’re not a hardcore Marvel fan, how it brings Spider-Man back to his roots, and Amy’s ratings...

Leaving Cert results are almost here – and with a record 71,698 students opening envelopes, it’s no surprise the nerves are kicking in.

Alex is joined by guidance counsellor and Leaving Cert Guidance creator Donnchadh O’Mahony to talk through what results day can feel like, and why it’s not the be-all and end-all, even if it feels huge right now.

They break down what to do if you don’t get the points or the course you wanted, the options people often forget (PLCs, apprenticeships, studying abroad, available places, gap years), and what happens if you miss a minimum entry requirement.

Valerie is joined on iRadio’s Groupchat Business Spotlight by Garreth O’Sullivan from Athlone, who’s taken a huge leap: swapping a secure career in An Garda Síochána for entrepreneurship.

Garreth breaks down DockHive, his power bank rental company, and how it works in real life – tap your card or scan a QR code, grab a power bank with multiple cables, and drop it back to any DockHive point around Ireland.

He also chats about building the software in Ireland with privacy in mind, the surprising challenges behind the scenes, and why you don’t need a business degree to back yourself and go for it.

Leah Cahill joins Valerie McHugh ahead of an incredibly emotional trip: travelling back to China to meet her birth parents for the very first time.

Adopted at 18 months and raised in Trim, Co. Meath, Leah opens up about growing up knowing she was adopted, the teen years where she just wanted to “fit in”, and the complicated feelings that came with being Chinese in Ireland.

She also shares how she found her birth family far quicker than she ever expected, the nerves around translation and first meetings, and why she’s documenting it all online - plus her honest advice for anyone considering searching themselves.