Irish-Canadian author Ed O'Loughlin talks to Róisín Ingle about what motivated polar explorers to embark on perilous adventures into the unknown, the importance of making literary prize lists, and not being "worth it" for Twitter trolls.

The former Irish Times foreign affairs correspondent was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2009 for his first novel, Not Untrue & Not Unkind, and his third novel, Minds of Winter, was published last August.

Irish singer Paddy Casey and his daughter Saoirse joined Róisín Ingle this week to help ease you into the New Year with a bevy of tunes.

Paddy spoke about his upcoming new album and took a look back at his career, playing his new song Everything Must Change along with his biggest hit Saints and Sinners.

His daughter, 20-year-old Saoirse Casey, sang two of her own songs during the podcast and talked about her plans to release an album some time in 2017.

The spotlight is on Santa this week on Róisín Meets. Mathematician Hannah Fry explains The Indisputable Existence of Santa Claus, while Róisín's daughters Joya & Priya report back on their trip to meet the man in the red suit at home in Lapland. And, as if that wasn't enough, we also have a festive ditty from Paddy Casey to get you in the mood for Christmas.

There's Christmas cheer aplenty as the Piccolo Lasso choir sing carols on the Róisín Meets podcast. Listen to the children's renditions of Deck the Hall, Joy to the World and O Holy Night, led by choirmaster extraordinaire, Ite O'Donovan.

You can catch the Piccolo Lasso choir on December 18th at St Kevin’s Church, Harrington Street, SCR, Dublin 8, where they will also perform with a mini orchestra on Christmas day.

On this week's Róisín Meets, music memorabilia dealer and founder of www.popicons.com Laurence Carpenter talked to Róisín Ingle. He told her how selling Michael Jackson memorabilia kick-started his business and how he caught the 'collecting' bug from his father. He also spoke about some of the items currently in his collection, including a bag of underwear belonging to Bob Dylan fans, and revealed how he made $140,000 in one night, clearing his debts in the process.

On this week's Róisín Meets the cast of the play Murder of Crows tell the Róisín Ingle why Irish theatre needs more youth productions. Katie Honan, Amilia Stewart and Aisling O'Mara talk about why teenagers don't go to the theatre and how productions with young actors can help. They also talk about Waking the Feminists, Can't Cope, Won't Cope, and perform two extracts from Murder of Crows.

Cyberpsychologist Mary Aiken is this week's guest on the Róisín Meets podcast. She tells presenter Róisín Ingle that the internet is not fit for purpose. She explains why young children should not be allowed online, the dangers of teens getting caught up in Dark Nets and how science needs to catch up with developments in technology.

On the latest Róisín Meets podcast, singer Cathy Davey tells Róisín Ingle why children need empathy lessons. She talks about returning to music with new album New Forest after six years building the animal rescue she founded with her friends, My Lovely Horse Rescue, and how she got into trouble for writing dirty poems at school. Cathy also plays two songs - Thylacine off the latest album and All of You, from her second album Tales of Silversleeve.

British perfumer Jo Malone talks to the Róisín Meets podcast this week about her autobiography Jo Malone: My Story. She tells presenter Róisín Ingle what it was like growing up with her unique sense of smell and how she created a global brand from her kitchen. Jo also talks about being told she may not survive an aggressive form of breast cancer when her son was just two years old and how years later after leaving the company she founded, she started all over again with her brand Jo Loves.

Roddy Doyle is this week's guest on the Róisín Meets podcast. He talks about his latest children's book, Rover and the Big Fat Baby, The Commitments and writing for Roy Keane. The author also talks about the free children's writing workshops he co-founded, Fighting Words, and reveals he has a new book for adults on the way next September.