Spirit Radio Podcasts

Chef Neven Maguire – New book “One Pan Wins”

Rhoda Tutty was in studio with Wendy to chat about her life, family and the things that inspire and influence her.

Josh Garrels spoke to Wendy about his upcoming concerts in Ireland and how he has built his career on deeply personal, introspective lyrics and exploratory sounds that range from pastoral indie folk to hip-hop.

Dr.Andrew O’Regan spoke to Wendy about the ICGPs appearance before the Oireachtas Health Committee and how GPs across the country feel let down and misrepresented by them.

Noel & Becky Kenny were in studio with Wendy to chat about the ‘One Day in Lesotho’ Gala Ball which is coming up in on the 3rd of October to raise money for the project https://www.one-day.co/

Conor Nolan – Youth Development Officer with Bodywhys spoke to Wenday about the fact that the the global “Wellness” economy is due to reach $9 trillion by 2028 – but who is really benefiting from this? Many suggestions promoting self care and self improvement are designed to profit from body insecurities.

This week on Prayer Coach, we’re reflecting on one of Jesus’ most challenging teachings — forgiveness. In Matthew 18, Peter asks Jesus how many times we should forgive someone, and Jesus responds with the powerful parable of the unforgiving servant. Susan Heaney chatted with Kieran about how to take that teaching out of Scripture and into our everyday lives

There can be huge pressure on new parents to get their baby into a routine — and to feel like they’re doing something wrong if their baby doesn’t follow one. But do babies actually need strict routines? Kieran spoke to Emma Lewis, The Mama Coach  about expectations, comparisons and outside advice.

Pete the Vet joined Nikki Hayes to answer your questions this week. Whatever you would like to ask Pete on Tuesdays Pet Slot you can email [email protected]

Pastor Ishmael from Hope Church in Ennis joined Nikki Hayes as this weeks Prayer Coach. Ishael refelcted on Hebrews:11

Rev Gareth McFadden has found a rather unusual way to put his faith into action — by getting on the road and taking on physical challenges to raise money for Christian Aid.   His fundraising has helped support people living in poverty and crisis, while also becoming part of his own journey to better health. Gareth joins us now to tell us about the challenge and why Christian Aid is a cause so close to his heart. 

Scientist Phil Smyth chats to Nikki Hayes about the Space X Crash and what space junk/debris means for us going forward

Irish sailor Karl Smith is taking on an extraordinary challenge — to become the first Irish person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world.   It’s a 30,000-mile journey, but Karl has an even bigger reason for doing it: raising €1 million for Parkinson’s research, care and support, inspired by his dad’s diagnosis.  

Irish Cinema is experiencing a resurge with more and more people returning to theatres to watch the big blockbusters. Paul Wren from Odeon Cinemas joined Nikki Hayes to talk about why he thinks this is happening

Trish from Mary’s Meals chats about their annual Step by Step to Feed the Next Child challenge.   It’s a wonderful event that sees people across Ireland put on their walking shoes and make their way towards Knock, all while raising vital funds to provide school meals for children living in some of the world’s poorest communities.   This year, walkers will cover more than 200 kilometres across a number of routes before arriving in Knock.   For more click HERE

David Quinn from the Iona Institute talking about the Government’s new National Strategy for Women and Girls.   David has raised concerns that the strategy places a very strong emphasis on women’s participation in the workplace, while potentially undervaluing the choice to prioritise family and home To read in full CLICK HERE

We hear it more and more “Burnout” .. are we more prone to it these days? Clinical Psychologist Sheena Kumar joined Nikki hayes to discuss

  The Odyssey is one of the world’s great stories of adventure, struggle and the longing for home. But what can this ancient Greek epic teach us about Christian faith?  Pedro Esteva explored that question in his recent article for The Irish Catholic, “The Road Home: Why Christians Should Read The Odyssey”, and he joins us now to tell us more.  To read article in full CLICK HERE  

Nick Park, joining us to talk about an inspiring story of faith and resilience. Since the war in Ukraine began, displaced Ukrainians have planted around 160 churches across Europe — creating new communities of faith while rebuilding their lives far from home.

The Coombe Women’s Hospital has been at the heart of Dublin life for 200 years, and now some of that incredible history is being brought to life in a special collaboration with The Little Museum of Dublin. Daryl Hendley Rooney, curator at the Little Museum, to tell us more about the exhibition, the stories behind it and some of the fascinating treasures that help tell the Coombe’s story. Visit Little Museum of Dublin HERE

If snakes, spiders and crocodiles aren’t exactly your idea of a fun day out, James Hennessy might just change your mind! He’s the founder of the National Reptile Zoo in Kilkenny, Ireland’s only dedicated reptile zoo, where the aim is to get people closer to these fascinating and often misunderstood creatures. And if you fancy getting up close and personal with some of the zoo’s residents, you can find out more here: Visit National Reptile Zoo

Imagine finally getting your dream outfit together for the Dublin Horse Show… only to discover your dress and hat have gone missing! That’s exactly what happened to Pamela Ryan — but thankfully An Post came to the rescue, locating her outfit just in time. And it was definitely worth the stress, because Pamela went on to be crowned Best Dressed at the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show, walking away with a €10,000 prize!

Today we’re talking food, business and a great Irish success story. Mohammed Rashid founded Safco Fine Foods in 2012 after spotting a gap in the market for fresh, natural and halal foods. From becoming Ireland’s first wholesale falafel producer to now supplying major retailers, Safco has come a long way. Mohammed joined Lydia O’Kane on the show

Climate change is something we hear about constantly — but when it comes to tackling it, should we be putting more of our money where our mouth is? From government spending and business investment to the choices we make as individuals, there’s a huge financial question at the heart of the climate debate.  Environmentalist, TED speaker and conservation educator Susan Adams joins us to ask: should we actually be investing financially in climate change — and what would that investment achieve? 

Now, if you fancy going somewhere a little bit different, somewhere that feels like a real adventure, Bhutan could be the place for you.   Travel expert Brian Bloomer is heading there later this month, travelling through Kolkata and the tea country of Darjeeling before making his way into Bhutan itself.   He’ll be exploring some incredible places, including Thimphu, Punakha and Paro, and of course taking on that famous climb to Tiger’s Nest. Brian, this sounds like some trip!  click HERE to find out more on custom trips with Travel Counsellors

Electrolytes seem to be everywhere at the moment — powders, tablets, sports drinks and supplements all promising to help with hydration, energy and recovery. But how important are they and do we really need to be adding them to our daily routine?   And what about energy drinks — are they giving us a useful boost or doing more harm than good? Alex Dobbs from Grassroots Nutrition joins us to separate the facts from the marketing.

We’re talking now about Unshamed 2026, a Christian women’s conference in Ireland that grew from a podcast created to break the silence and shame around issues affecting women’s bodies, minds and souls.   Following the success of the She Is conference in 2023, Unshamed was born to create a safe space where women can speak openly, connect and support one another. Chloe Hannan joins us now to tell us more. 

We can be very good at guarding ourselves from the world—but are we as intentional about guarding our hearts? In Proverbs we’re reminded to “guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”   Shaun Loughlin, who writes The Daily Dose, a daily devotion designed to help us bring God into the ordinary moments of our day shares what it really means to guard our hearts and protect what we’re allowing to shape us. Check them out HERE  

Shankill Tennis Club has been at the forefront of developing the sport in Ireland, with a programme that has grown significantly and has welcomed players of all ages and abilities. Joining Kieran was Liam O’Donaghue from the club and Riya Devereux one of the winning athletes who represented Ireland at the International Blind Tennis World Championships, where she won two bronze medals.  

Pete answers your pet questions which you can email anytime to [email protected]

Anthony Crossy is a podcaster, evangelist and speaker from Northern Ireland whose passion is helping people discover hope, purpose and faith in Jesus through honest conversations and real-life testimony.   Through his podcast and ministry, he’s reaching people with a message of grace, restoration and encouragement. 

Pregnancy is one of life’s most incredible journeys, but it can also bring moments of uncertainty, excitement and plenty of questions. For many parents, prayer becomes a source of peace, strength and reassurance as they prepare to welcome a new life into the world.   Joining us today is Emma Lewis, better known as The Mama Coach and she’s going to talk about praying over your pregnancy and your newborn and how faith can become a source of comfort from bump to baby 

Time for “Life in 5 “and our guest today is Camille Dillon grew up in France and now living in Balbriggan. She’s in Ireland 40 years next month. She’s ridden Icelandic ponies and bird watched at dawn in Trinidad and Tobago.    

August is one of the busiest months of the year for family holidays, and while the excitement is building, so too can the nerves—especially for younger children facing their first flight or a long day of travel.   Parenting expert Jen Hogan joins us with practical advice on how parents can prepare children before they even reach the airport, making the journey as enjoyable as the destination

Our Prayer Coach slot today is Fr Brian Shortall from Halston Street Parish in Dublin 7, who’ll help us unpack why Paul’s timeless words in 1Corinthians remain just as relevant today and how we can live them out in our everyday lives.  “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs… Love never fails.” — 1 Corinthians 13:4–8 

Today we’re talking about a very special ship that’s bringing books, knowledge and a message of hope to people around the world. Logos Hope is home to the world’s largest floating book fair, welcoming thousands of visitors in each port and offering more than 5,000 titles to people of all ages.   Joining Kieran to tell us more about this incredible project are Salome Isler-Mey, Project Coordinator for Logos Hope, and Ruchir Rana. 

we’re talking about a question that’s on the minds of musicians, artists, writers, and creatives everywhere: Will AI kill creativity?  Joining us is Louis Hemmings, who brings a thoughtful perspective to the conversation about AI, music, and what makes human creativity truly unique. As AI becomes increasingly capable of creating music, poetry, and art, we’re left asking what this means for the future of human creators. 

CEO of Spirit Radio Rob Clarke encourages us to pray more in this world of dis-ease we are living in today

Erin Galvin, founder of Inheritance Ministries. Erin’s heart is to help people discover the healing, freedom, and identity found in Jesus Christ through teaching, discipleship, prayer, and ministry.  Through Inheritance Ministries, Erin also shares Blessed & Anointed Fragrance Oils, created as prophetic reminders of God’s presence, healing, and promises. She is passionate about seeing people experience restoration and wholeness through Jesus, including through the ministry of Soul Fracture Restoration. 

Harmony M. Klingenmeyer, founder of Hear Their Voices Ministries, ordained minister, published author, and passionate advocate for Christ-centered foster care and adoption.  Harmony and her husband, Scott, have adopted three sons from foster care and have walked alongside many families through reunification and healing. Through her journey, Harmony discovered a unique calling to help bring healing to those impacted by trauma through her ministry, Soul Fracture Restoration. 

The Head 2 Head Challenge is back with members of the emergency services joining forces to raise money for Charity. This year it’s for the Bray Senior fund and will include members of the Fire Service, Coastguard, Gardai and Defence Forces alongside members of the public walking Wicklow Head to Bray Head along the coast. Firefighter Brian Murray joined Nikki Hayes to discuss

This week’s Prayer Coach is evangelist Dermot Landy, who joins us to reflect on what it means to live a life transformed by Christ. Through his ministry, Dermot encourages people to deepen their faith, seek God in prayer, and share the hope of the Gospel with others. Dermot’s reflection this week is based on Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” — Galatians 2:20 This powerful verse reminds us that following Jesus is not simply about adding faith to our lives, but allowing Christ to shape who we are, our choices, and how we live each day.

Richard O’Shea is captain of the Global Mercy, the world’s largest purpose-built civilian hospital ship, operated by Mercy Ships. Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to communities through free surgical care, medical training, and practical support, serving alongside local healthcare systems across Africa and beyond. Richard is home for a few weeks before returning to the ship in September as the Global Mercy heads to Ghana for its next mission.

The Irish Bible Institute (IBI) equips students to grow in their understanding of the Bible, theology, and Christian life. Through accessible courses, including evening and degree programmes, IBI helps students deepen their faith, engage with Scripture, and prepare to serve their churches and communities. Rachel Kelleher and Anthony Breen are  IBI students and they talk about their experiences studying theology and how it has shaped their faith and understanding.   For more info click HERE

Derek Farrell, Chairperson and Director of the Arthur McCluskey Foundation, a charity dedicated to helping some of the poorest communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.   Following a hugely successful visit earlier this year, Fr. Svet from Medjugorje will return to Ireland from the 21st to the 27th of August 2026, visiting Dublin, Louth, Waterford, Cork, Kerry and Clare.   The week promises evenings of prayer, reflection and hope, while also raising awareness of the Foundation’s ongoing humanitarian work   

Many electricity customers are wondering why some overnight electricity tariffs are going up when we’re constantly told Ireland is producing more renewable energy than ever. We also hear about surplus wind energy that can’t be used.  So why is that happening, and could we be making better use of that energy?  Joining me first is Alan Wyley from EnergyCloud Ireland and then we speak with Peadar Toibin from Aontu

Glendalough Hermitage Centre Pilgrim Walks – Cormac O’Ceallaigh Following the tradition of pilgrimage, a series of walks has been organised to mark St Kevin’s Day in Glendalough. Participants will walk towards Glendalough following a choice of 8 different routes and distances to suit everyone from 2 km to 15 km which will merge along the way with other walkers from the same area. If you’re thinking of walking all you need to do is – Pick one of the routes and then contact the group leader who will give you the details on the route’s length, starting time, location as detailed above. Each person will walk all or part of their chosen route finishing with a ‘gathering’ of walkers sharing refreshments at the Brockagh Resource Centre, Laragh from 1.30 pm onwards. For more information on the walks see https://glendaloughhermitage.ie/glendalough/ 

Our Holiday Doctor, Joe Supple is off to Tunisia and it’s not his first time.  

Pete is back in studio answering your pet questions Mary from Galway asks:”My 8-year-old Labrador has started slowing down on our walks and seems a bit stiff when getting up after resting. Is this just part of getting older, or should I be concerned about arthritis?” Declan from Cork asks:”We recently adopted a rescue cat, and she spends most of her time hiding under the sofa. She’s eating and using the litter tray, but we’re worried she’s unhappy. How long does it usually take for a rescue cat to settle into a new home?” Siobhán from Kilkenny asks:”My cockapoo, Teddy, insists on carrying a potato around the garden every day. He doesn’t chew it or eat it—he just proudly parades around with it before hiding it in a different spot. Is this normal dog behaviour, or have I got Ireland’s first potato-farming dog?” If you have a question for Pete for next weeks show email [email protected]

The Head2Head Challenge has returned, bringing together members of our emergency services for a unique and inspiring journey from Wicklow Head to Bray Head.   This year, firefighters, Coast Guard volunteers and members of An Garda Síochána will take on the challenge together, not only to test themselves physically, but to raise vital funds for charity and highlight the spirit of teamwork that exists across all emergency services.   Joining us today are Brian Murray from Bray Fire Service, and Jennifer Carrick from An Garda Síochána.