Welcome to The Pod Squad!

We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.

Today FM’s Cathal Minogue and Editor of DMG Media Sarah-Jayne Tobin join Andrea to review ‘My Dad Wrote a Porno’ on its tenth anniversary!

Traffic congestion. Those long lines of brake lights, the endless stop-and-go, the clock ticking past your morning meeting time… we’ve all been there.
But, have you ever stopped to think about what all that gridlock is really costing us, not just in fuel or frustration, but in productivity, health, and even happiness?

Joining Andrea to discuss is Mark Wall, Kildare South Labour TD, as well as listeners.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Elizabeth Oakes, Founder of Pure Reflections, joins Andrea to answer any of your questions around water cremation.

We all have them, we all use them, and some of us would rather forget them: nicknames! From childhood tags that never seem to die, to the affectionate (or not-so-affectionate) labels we pick up at work or online, nicknames say a lot about who we are, and how others see us.

So, the question is - why are we so obsessed with using them?

Newstalk’s Henry McKean has been out asking the public, while Andrea is joined by Independent MEP Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan and listeners to discuss.

November is Remembrance Month in the UK. In honour of this, celebrities, football teams and people around the world wear a red poppy to remember soldiers that have fought for the British army in wars of years gone by.

However, not everyone is comfortable wearing the poppy, given the British Army’s history, particularly in Ireland.

But. would seeing an Irish person wearing the poppy offend you, or would you feel indifferent?

Andrea is joined by Aontú Leader and Meath West TD, Peadar Tóibín, as well as listeners, to discuss.

Mick Kelly of Grow It Yourself shared a story on his instagram page of his local newsagent, following an impressive revamp. But, with the new and improved look and stylish new coffee machine, came a sight that Mick did not welcome: an aisle filled with ultra processed foods and sugar-laden snacks snaking up along by the registers with the stands at what he calls ‘pester-height’ for younger shoppers. Is this every parent’s nightmare, having successfully navigated the shop and avoided the aisles specifically containing all the biscuits, sweets, crisps and chocolate - only to be hit by another row of temptation upon reaching the checkout?

How do you manage to keep your kids and yourself from grabbing a bar of chocolate or a bag of jellies – are you a label scrutinizer and do you avoid all ultra-processed foods or do you think that the old saying of ‘everything in moderation’ holds weight?

Joining Andrea to discuss is Grow it Yourself’s Michael Kelly, Lecturer in retail management at Technological University Dublin Damien O’Reilly and listeners.

Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea Gilligan with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

Two MEPs have condemned the sale of childlike sex dolls on fast fashion retailer Shein. Both Barry Andrews and Regina Doherty are shocked with what they have come across and have called for a €5 levy on ultra-fast fashion purchases from China, as the sale of these dolls violates both our moral and legal obligations to protect children.

What needs to be done to tackle the sale of these products and how can we prevent these platforms from advertising certain explicit and harrowing content?

Joining Andrea to discuss Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews, Arts and Culture Journalist Ashley Chadomoyo Malone, Traitors Contestant Faye Louise Brennan as well as listeners.

This week, the Home Squad are in Cork to discuss wall finishes, and how you can get them just right!

Joining Andrea to discuss is Ger Cooney from Ger Cooney Design and Kate Hobbins-Lockett from Interiors By Kate Hobbins-Lockett.

Black Friday is coming up this month, which for those online shoppers amongst you, could be a time to start burning up the debit card.

But, there are unfortunately plenty of tricks and scams we need to watch out for when we’re shopping online...

Joining Andrea to discuss this is Financial Planner with Castle Capital, Leah McMahon.