Blue-green algae, pollutants – and cocaine?

The health of Northern Ireland’s lakes and rivers has been in the spotlight for some time and now scientists have found the widespread presence of drugs – including cocaine, painkillers and anti-depressants – in some of our major waterways.

And, while the water sampled is not the same stuff as comes out of our taps, it does point towards another pressure point for Northern Ireland’s marine environment.

Journalist Kathryn Torney and the study’s lead author Dr Billy Hunter joined Tara and Declan on the pink sofa to discuss some of the surprising findings and answer key questions – what does the level of cocaine tell us about drug abuse? What does increased levels of caffeine do to fish and other animals? And could more antibiotics in the water lead to more antibiotic resistance?

Get in touch: [email protected]

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) is the biggest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland, with more than 200,000 members across the island.

And it has never had its moderator, or head of the church, resign in its 185-year history – until three weeks ago.

The announcement that Rev Trevor Gribben was stepping down due to serious safeguarding failings over a 13-year period, and that the police were starting a criminal investigation, has rocked the Church.

Further revelations in the days and weeks since have led to major questions – could there be a public inquiry? Can the Church’s leaders restore confidence? And will people come forward with allegations of abuse that lay bare those safeguarding failings?

According to BBC Talkback presenter William Crawley, they already are coming forward and this story could be just beginning.

He joined Declan in the studio to outline everything you need to know about the Presbyterian Church crisis so far and what could happen next.

If you have been affected by any of these issues, there is support and information available at the BBC Action Line: https://bbc.in/4rB5Zw6

Get in touch: [email protected]

When Aidan Walsh announced his retirement from boxing last month, and said he was doing so with relief, it was clear his relationship with the sport is complicated.

There were great days, not least winning a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics and representing Ireland at the highest stage with sister, and fellow boxer, Michaela.

But there were dark days too, when he struggled under the pressure of performing and suffered under the emotional jabs of some of the coaches he encountered.

He joined Tara and Declan on the pink sofa to talk about why he's delighted to quit, how the smell of boxing gloves makes him stressed and why he doesn't know exactly where his Olympic medal is.

Michaela Walsh also called into the studio to talk about her relationship with brother Aidan and how her boxing journey continues, possibly to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast, you can find information and support on the BBC Action Line.

Get in touch: [email protected]

Taxes, child benefits, electric cars and milkshakes - yes, we’re talking the Budget and how it could affect you.

To help us along we invited some past guests of the programme back on to better understand what it all means.

These guests all come from different circumstances – factory worker and new homeowner Jamie Jennings; single mum Louise McCullough; full-time worker Marc McKee who has a side-business as a content creator; plus libel lawyer Paul Tweed.

And while everyone’s financial picture is different, a lot of their concerns – from home ownership to childcare and tax hikes – will feel familiar.

So they kindly called in, while Ulster University professor Jodie Carson joined Tara and Declan on the pink sofa to help make sense of how people could see the benefits, and drawbacks, of this Budget. Boil the kettle or grab a milkshake if you like…

How is the Budget affecting you? Get in touch: [email protected]

Jim Browning has more than four million followers on YouTube, is a star of the BBC’s Scam Interceptors programme and makes his living uncovering and exposing people trying to grift their way to your money – but no-one knows who he really is.

Once a Northern Ireland-based engineer with a curiosity about who was behind those annoying phone calls, now he’s a ‘scam-baiter’ who looks to turn the tables on scammers.

But moving in such dangerous territory means, for his safety, he uses a fake name and keeps his face hidden. He agreed to speak to Tara and Declan for today’s episode of The State of Us while wearing a hoodie and mask.

We’re glad he did though as he talks everything scam, from pig butchering and helping the police to what you should do when you get a scam call, email or text.

For more information on scams and what to do (and not to do), visit the BBC Scam Safe 2025 site: https://www.bbc.co.uk/topics/cz0x47klllzt

Get in touch: [email protected]

The Christian religious education (RE) taught in schools in Northern Ireland is unlawful, the UK Supreme Court has ruled.

In a unanimous judgement the UK's highest court allowed an appeal by an unnamed father and daughter from Northern Ireland.

BBC News NI education correspondent Robbie Meredith joins Tara Mills and Declan Harvey to explain what it will mean for schools and pupils going forward.

From nativities and assemblies to RE and sex ed – what is going to change?

Get in touch: [email protected]

Earlier this week, Tara and Declan spoke to two fathers who lost their sons in a crush outside a County Tyrone hotel almost seven years ago – and during the conversation were struck by the fact that many young people were caught up in chaos outside the Greenvale Hotel.

So in this episode they spoke to two of them – Jack McCullagh and Darragh Dalton, close friends of two of three teenagers who died that night, Morgan Barnard and Connor Currie.

Jack and Darragh are now young men who since that night have done GCSEs, A-levels, degrees and set themselves up for careers – but who are still waiting for the day when they could be called to give evidence in court about that night.

They told Tara and Declan about how their lives have moved on since Greenvale, the lingering trauma they still cope with and how closure is so important to them and the victims’ families.

Meanwhile, Declan also speaks about talking to Mary Bullock, mother of the crush’s third victim Lauren Bullock, who has, until now, not spoken publicly about what happened. And we also have an update on where the criminal case is at as its long delay through the court system continues.

Get in touch: [email protected]

It is almost seven years since three teenagers went to a St Patrick's night disco in County Tyrone and did not come home.

Morgan Barnard, 17, Connor Currie, 16 and Lauren Bullock, 17, died in a crowd crush involving hundreds of young people outside the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown in March 2019.

Their families say that delays in the legal system have been like a ‘second trauma’.

Morgan's dad Jimmy, and Connor's dad Eamonn have been speaking to Tara and Declan for today's episode of The State of Us.

For help and support: www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

Get in touch: [email protected]

Blue Lights’ winning streak looks set to continue, with season three of the award-winning police drama attracting plenty of attention from TV fans and critics alike.

This season Michael Smiley, best known for roles in the likes of Spaced, Alien: Earth, Black Mirror and Bad Sisters, joined the cast as intelligence officer Paul ‘Colly’ Collins, whose long history with Ch Insp Helen McNally, played by Joanne Crawford, quickly becomes apparent.

In today’s episode of The State of Us, recorded live at the Belfast Media Festival, they both joined Tara Mills and Declan Harvey to talk playing police officers, the “dance” of getting a scene right and their own, sometimes long-distance, relationship with Northern Ireland.

Episode contains strong language.

Get in touch: [email protected]

Darragh MacIntyre is an investigative journalist with BBC Panorama.

When it comes to being at the forefront of breaking news stories, there’s not much Darragh hasn’t done over his career. From talking to paramilitaries and looking at the crimes of the Catholic Church, to getting the first UK interview with Virginia Giuffre.

He joined Tara Mills and Declan Harvey in front of a live audience at the Belfast Media Festival to talk about the current crisis engulfing the BBC, his work as an investigative journalist, and the time he jacked it all in to become a Donegal pub landlord.

His latest film, The Disappearance of Captain Robert Nairac is his third time to collaborate with Alison Millar.

Over his career he has won a number of Royal Television Society Awards, Irish Film and Television Awards, and Celtic Media Awards.

Get in touch: [email protected]