Highlights From Lunchtime Live

There has been a lot of talk about the hit show Adolescence recently.It has brought a lot of conversations to the fore – especially about the ‘manosphere’, influencers like Andrew Tate and dissatisfaction among young men.Joining Andrea to discuss toxic masculinity and men’s mental health is Human Potential Coach Ben Bidwell, Eimear Murphy from REIM Training Solutions, Chris Sherlock, Author, Mental Health Advocate and Anti-Bullying Campaigner as well as listeners.

Are you a football chanter?What is it about chanting at a football game that you love so much? What joy does it bring out in you?Apparently, over half of fans believe self-deprecating songs are a big part of football's fun.Joining Andrea to discuss is Off the Ball’s Johnny Ward, Ciaran Bradley from Newstalk’s Digital Team and Maeve De Burca, former Ireland player and Pundit.

From loo of the year to takeaway troubles, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

British MP Andrew Rosindell has called for Ireland to rejoin the Commonwealth, arguing it could strengthen trade, diplomacy, and cultural ties. He believes membership would foster shared values of democracy and peace, offering Ireland new opportunities for global cooperation, despite the historical complexities between Ireland and the UK.What do you think?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Ray Bassett, former Senior Diplomat for Jamaica, Bahamas, Canada and Australia, as well as listeners.

If you don’t like the look of your radiator at home - no need to worry! The Home Squad are here to talk about what you can do to cover them up.Andrea is joined by Jenny Sheehan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ and Róisín Lafferty, Founder & Creative Director of Róisín Lafferty Design House to discuss.

Makeup Expert Michelle Ragazzoli Stone joins Andrea to share her five favorite beauty products. With her years of experience and eye for quality, she’ll walk you through the essentials she swears by for creating flawless looks!

The lack of speech and language therapists in the country is having a profound impact on Irish children.That’s according to Andrea’s guest, Eoghan O’Byrne, Principal of St Mary’s National School in Limerick City. He joins, along with Sarah Kelly, SpeakEasy Speech and Language Therapist and listeners to discuss.

This weekend the Endometriosis Association of Ireland are having their annual conference.It'll bring experts in front of people living with the condition to help gain understanding and knowledge.Andrea will be there, and so will Dr Larisa Corda, an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and Serena Massey, CEO of Endometriosis Association of Ireland. They join to discuss.

One Irish man is making it his mission to visit every Irish pub in the world.Colm Dalton, originally from Kerry, now living in London, joins Andrea to discuss.

How little is too little when it comes to clothes at the gym?An article in the Times UK writes:‘I’m in the gym with semi-clad young women. Where do I look?’ writes Robert Crampton, ‘At my gym, whose patrons are three-quarters women in their twenties and thirties, I often feel as if I’ve wandered into the girls’ changing room by mistake’.What do you think?Have you noticed a lack of clothing at the gym?Andrea is joined by Paul Byrne, Director of Body Byrne Training, Nathalie Lennon, Content creator & personal trainer, Paulette Egan, Co-Founder of athletics clothing brand I-Spy clothing as well as listeners to discuss.

The cost of health insurance, energy, broadband, mobile and television services are all due to go up next month.So, several of your bills are going to rise, and soon.Joining Andrea to discuss why this is happening and what you can do is Irish Independent Personal Finance Editor, Charlie Weston and Michael Kilcoyne, Chairman of the Consumer Association of Ireland.

Lunchtime Live's Reasons to be Happy looks at some of the news stories that you might have missed that will leave you feeling more optimistic.98FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…Image: CMAT

‘No European city would tolerate the decay and dereliction visible in Dublin’ that is according to Independent Senator Michael McDowell writing in the Irish Times this morning.What do you think? Is Ireland an outlier in Europe when it comes to dereliction?Andrea is joined by Architect & Lecturer in Griffith College, Róisín Murphy, Robin Mandal from the Dublin Democratic Planning Alliance and more to discuss.

Every Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be talking Making Babies.Andrea will be joined by Professor Shane Higgins, Master of the National Maternity Hospital to cover every area of trying to have a baby. From the very start of knowing how to prepare, right up to pregnancy – and all the bumps in the road in between.This week, Shane joins Andrea to debunk baby making myths!

Ryanair has launched an exclusive discount scheme for frequent flyers.Ryanair Prime will cost €79 for a full 12-month subscription – they say it could save Irish flyers hundreds of euros.Joining Andrea to discuss is Journalist with the Irish Examiner Cianan Brennan, John Gibbons, Environmental Journalist and Commentator and listeners to discuss.

The Government has been accused of ‘sticking two fingers up’ to the public on a day of Dáil chaos…Yesterday, scenes of unprecedented heckling were witnessed inside the chamber...So, what do you think of what happened in the Dáil yesterday?Andrea is joined by Newstalk’s Political Correspondent, Seán Defoe, as well as listeners to discuss.Image: Paul Murphy

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Seanie Clifford, AKA the CV Doctor, to answer any of your CV questions!

How often we should shower depends on factors like skin type, lifestyle, and climate.While daily showers work for some, others may benefit from showering less frequently.But, do we judge people who don’t shower daily?Andrea is joined by Aesthetician Eavanna Breen to discuss.

Lifeguards at one of Dublin’s top beaches have been issued with a dedicated sharps bin for syringes due to the volume of drugs paraphernalia being found along the shore.The latest incident reports compiled by lifeguards at Dollymount, which cover the 2022 and 2023 bathing seasons, recount a persistence of drug use and antisocial behaviour – including a man found to have overdosed in the sand dunes.Logbooks for previous years contained details of bathers being pricked by discarded syringes.So, is drug use and anti-social behaviour an issue on our beaches?Darragh McDonagh, Journalist with the Irish Mirror, Deputy Lord Mayor and Green Party Councillor, Donna Cooney and Dave O’Reilly Chair of Tidy Towns Greystones and listeners join Andrea to discuss.

‘Catch-up’ friendships are those where interactions are infrequent and centered around updates on life events.Often shaped by distance or changing priorities, these relationships can be comforting, but may lack the depth of more consistent connections.So, are you caught in a ‘catch-up’ friendship?Andrea is joined by Sarah Jayne Tobin, Editor with DMG Media, Laura Mullet, Journalist and stylist and Today FM’s Cathal Minogue to discuss.