Highlights From Lunchtime Live

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.Newstalk’s Rory Galvin and Journalist and Stylist Laura Mullet join Andrea to review ‘The Reserve Drivers’!Image: Acast

Anti-mass tourism protests have erupted across Italy, Spain and Portugal as campaigners call for a curb in tourist numbers.The rising cost of living and lack of available housing is among their grievances but will these protests stop you from travelling abroad this summer?Joining Andrea to discuss is Stephen Burgen, Freelance Journalist in Barcelona, Yvonne Reddin, Freelance Writer and Content Creator and more.

Our summer memories series is back!We chat to some well known faces and reminisce over those long summer days.This week, Architect and Presenter Dermot Bannon joins Andrea to reminisce!

Winning the lotto sounds like a dream come true, but what happens next can be overwhelming. With millions suddenly in your account, how do you avoid costly mistakes and make the most of it?Joining Andrea to share the key steps you should take if you strike it lucky in the Euro Millions tonight is Paul Merriman from Ask Paul.

If you’ve been anywhere on TikTok or Instagram, you might have seen the uproar related to a new Sabrina Carpenter album cover.The cover sees Sabrina’s hair being pulled while crawling on all fours.For fans, this is nothing new, but many people are shocked online and wondering if Sabrina has more responsibility to be a role model…Joining Andrea to discuss is Ruth Breslin, Director at The Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy Institute, Nadia Adan, Owner of Ashford Motors, Journalist Brenda Power and more.

Do we let kids quit hobbies too quickly? Is walking away a sign of giving up - or just part of figuring out what they love?Joining Andrea to discuss is Karen Beckett, Chartered Psychologist, Steve Cummins, Father and Comedian and more.

From Tidy Towns to dirty dentures, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

As property prices get further out of reach, people are committing to longer commutes to get houses.You can get much more for your money if you leave the cities, but is the commute worth it?Andrea is joined by Professor in Transportation at Trinity College Dublin, Brian Caulfield, as well as listeners.

If you’re looking to sell your home, you want to make sure it looks perfect when potential buyers come to give it a look. So, what are the best things to do?The Home Squad are here to talk about staging your home!Joining Andrea to discuss is Jenny Sheehan former ‘Home of the Year’ winners who is on Instagram as @workerscottage and Kate O’Driscoll, who you might know on Instagram as @victorianrathmines.

Sarah Jessica Parker has said she really doesn’t like taking pictures with fans, preferring to have conversations over selfies.What do you think about this?Joining Andrea to discuss is Owen McQuail, owner of Some Neck Guitars, Broadcaster Meghann Scully and more.

A new ad campaign by the Road Safety Authority shows blood on the hands of those who drink and drive, as well as those who don’t call it out.But, is it too gruesome? Or do we need this shock factor to call out those who drink to drive?Joining Andrea to discuss is Sarah O’Connor, Director of Partnerships and External Affairs at the RSA, Dominic Brophy, Director of Professional Driving Instructors Association, Mairead McDonnell Teacher and Psychotherapist, as well as listeners.Image: RSA

As work becomes increasingly sedentary, the need to prioritise physical activity and wellbeing in the workplace has never been more important. Integrating movement into the workday isn’t just good for health — it boosts productivity, morale, and long-term performance.Joining Andrea to discuss is Darina Dunne, Chair of the The Irish Physical Activity Alliance, Behaviour Change Consultant Marianna Costello and Colin Ryan from the HR Buddy.

We’ve decided to do a deep dive on some of our favourite albums to explore the stories behind them.What did the artists really think of each other? Where did the inspirations from the songs come from?Joining Andrea to discuss is Head Tour Guide at the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience, Alan Buckley, who’s going to talk through 1992’s ‘A Woman’s Heart’!

Have you had to deal with a disruptive or unruly passenger while aboard a flight? Well, in a bid to tackle what they call an “industry-wide” issue - low fares airline Ryanair are set to introduce a €500 fine for passengers who have been removed from the plane due to unruly behaviour. But, is this a fair measure - will it act as enough of a deterrent, and have you had a flying experience ruined by a rude and disruptive passenger?Joining Andrea to discuss is Travel Writer Joan Scales, as well as listeners.

The average cost for health insurance has gone up €480 in the past two years.Insurers are saying it's down to an increase in medical claims, the higher costs of medicine and a big increase in people having procedures done in private hospitals.So, is there anything we can actually do about it?Andrea is joined by Dermot Goode, Health Insurance expert with Totalhealthcover.ie to discuss.

Music festival Beyond the Pale has a new backer and is all set for this weekend.But, there were rumours during the week that it was going to be shut down.So, what’s going on with the event?Joining Andrea to give the latest update is Beyond the Pale Festival Organiser, Declan Forde.

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…

This week is National Carer’s week.We have spoken to carers many times on this show – about the impact they make, and the supports they need.Last year we campaigned on it, asking: who cares for the carers?So, has anything changed in the past year?Andrea is joined by listeners 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 discuss all things inducing labour.

How hard is it for students to get a summer job?Are there part time summer roles out there, or have they all dried up?One listener got in touch because this is an issue his daughter is having…He joins Andrea, along with the CV Doctor Seanie Clifford to discuss.