Lunchtime Live

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Keith Cassidy, Psychotherapist and Executive Director of Smarmore Castle Private Addiction Rehab Centre joins Andrea to answer any of your questions about addictions services.

With Halloween fast approaching and kids beginning to dress up, has it gotten out of control?

From decorations to buying costumes, and the stress of it all, Halloween has become another major expense for parents.

Has Halloween gone too far?

Joining Andrea to discuss Maria Rushe, Parenting Blogger and  Dominique McMullan, Presenter and Host of ‘IMAGE The Motherload’.

During the week, Access for All had made a post about lifts at DART stations being out of use, but that information was only available at DART stations, not online.

On top of the inaccessibility issues, a number of DART stations will be closed this bank holiday weekend due to engineering works, conveniently lining up with major road closures in Dublin due to the marathon.

How does DART inaccessibility and disruptions affect you?

Joining Andrea to discuss is Maia Dunphy, Broadcaster & Writer, Jim Aughney, Dublin Marathon Director, Sean O'Kelly, Disability Activist and Co-Founder of Access for All and more.

Do we find more tat nowadays in charity shops?

Is fast fashion filling them now, and are we treating them as dumping grounds for unwanted or broken pieces?

Joining Andrea to discuss this is Kathy Donaghy, Journalist, author and columnist, and Pat Kane, sustainability advocate and Chief Sustainability Officer at Antaris.

Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joined Andrea with a roundup of some of the stories from across the country this week.

Limerick City and County Council are in hot water as they posted a video promoting Christmas in the city. Why? It was generated by artificial intelligence.

This comes as Fontaines D.C. also stated yesterday that they did not know AI was used in their music video for hit song 'Marianne.'

This begs the question: does AI have any place in the creative industry?

Joining Andrea to discuss is Steven Mangan, Creative Director of Ringers, Artist Niall O'Loughlin and more.

Is your kitchen counter full of appliances, or are you always looking for neat gadgets that can be stored away?

This week, The Home Squad are here to chat about kitchen appliances that matter!

Joining Andrea to discuss is Jenny Sheehan, Co-Host of ‘Rip it up: The Renovations Podcast’ (@workerscottage on Instagram) and Jenny Butler, Interior Architect & Design Director of Jennifer Anne Interior.

Under new rules set to come in, Airbnb guests will no longer have to do the annoying cleaning jobs before check out.

They can no longer be asked to empty bins, strip beds and do the dishes...

So, is this a positive step or more work for hosts?

Andrea is joined by an Airbnb host to discuss.

There has been a significant wave of online discussion and public debate following this campaign by Cuan called ‘We Consent’, which is about personal boundaries. The debate continues from both sides, with some believing that grandparents have every right to hug their grandkids, and that this is ‘woke gone wrong’, with others asking why shouldn't kids be asked whether they consent to hugging their grandkids or not?

What do you make of it all?

Joining Andrea to discuss is Tony Griffin, author of 'Teenagers Book of Life', Broadcaster Claire Ronan, Nessa Hill, Barrister and CEO of Neurodiversity Ireland and more.

Many listeners have had loved ones pass, and been left with the stressful practicalities following that death…

So, how do you navigate the stress and grief, as well as the practical arrangements?

Andrea’s guest, Solicitor Jacquelyn Dunne, is the creator of The Journey, an estate planner, and joins to discuss.