Are cookies watching your online holiday booking habits and costing you more? Is 2am on a Wednesday the best time to book a flight online? Conor Pope of The Irish Times talks Dearbhail through hacks and myths for cheaper holidays.

Founder and Artistic Director of Druid Theatre company, Garry Hynes joins Dearbhail to talk about the songs of her life, the death of her beloved wife, Martha O’Neill and the 50th Anniversary of the Galway-based theatre company which she founded, Druid. The conversation co-incides with the publication of ‘Druid Theatre: Fifty Years’.

Poet Enda Wyley pick outs poems to ring in the New Year, and get us through the cold winter months – blending humour, optimism and wonder at the natural world.

The differences between the Full Irish and the Ulster Fry, and the little nuances that make a fry special.

“We lost trust... during Covid we saw an increase in free-birthing” Prof Shane Higgins – Outgoing Master of Holles St Hospital

Following dramatic strikes in Venezuela, US President Donald Trump announced the capture of Venezuelan President, Nicholas Maduro. Chief Diplomatic Correspondent with The New York Times, Steven Erlanger; and Sky News Washington Correspondent, David Blevins bring Dearbhail up to speed on this breaking story.

Joining Dearbhail McDonald to discuss the stories in this Sunday's newspapers are: Prof Niamh Hourigan, Sociologist, Vice-President of Academic Affairs at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick; Harry McGee, Political Correspondent, Irish Times; Tanya Ward, Chief Executive, Children's Rights Alliance and Cormac Lucey, Economics Columnist, Sunday Times.

Michael Doherty, Entertainment Editor at the RTE Guide and arts journalist Zara Hedderman pick out their highlights from a bumper week of Christmas TV specials and major movies. Spanning the big and small screen over Christmas week and into the New Year, their choices include Saipan, Oppenheimer and An Cailín Ciúin.

Acclaimed chef and broadcaster Rick Stein joined Brendan to discuss all manner of Christmas cooking concerns, including how to keep turkey moist, why choosing the right starter is key for a successful Christmas dinner and how he copes with is own grief at this time of year.

Joining Brendan to discuss the stories in this Sunday's newspapers are; Professor of Politics at DCU, Gary Murphy; Barrister and former Fianna Fail Minister, Mary Hanafin; Political Correspondent at the Irish Examiner, Louise Burne; and Public Policy Advisor, Oisin Coghlan.

Christmas Hacks expert Denise O'Donoghue talks us through some top tips this festive season, on packing the car, making the most of 'the big shop', and keeping your turkey moist

Two teams made up of Ireland's greatest minds battle it out to be crowned the champions of Brendan O'Connor's inaugural Big Quiz of the Year 2025. Pat Shortt, Emer McLysaght, Fionnuala Jones and Brian Dobson grappled with questions on the year's bestselling memoirs, mystery voices, the political year as well as a special round called Who is Taller

Actors Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley talks to Brendan about their raw and emotional performances in 'Hamnet' - which have received glowing reviews, multiple Golden Globe nominations, and sparked hopes of further success at the Oscars.

Father Iggy O'Donovan talks to Brendan about the meaning of Christmas, and how we understand God and meaning in a world beset by war, conflict and suffering.

Actor, screenwriter and gifting expert Stefanie Preissner gives her top tips for the women in your life – whether they're your friends, partners, mothers or nieces. She chooses Tymos and bags to journals and scented LED candles.

Prof Katriona O’Sullivan from the Dept of Psychology in Maynooth University talks about having her own sexual empowerment epiphany in her early twenties and explains how women should think about their own sexual pleasure, how to communicate, how to instigate and how to spice things up.

Irish Times columnist Brianna Parkins joined Brendan on the line from the scene at Sydney’s Bondi Beach where 12 people so far have been confirmed to have lost their lives in a terrorist shooting.

The Nadine O’Regan, Irish Times Arts journalist and Brian Lloyd, Freelance Entertainment journalist, cast a discerning eye over the TV shows and movies that are worth a watch this week.

Joining Brendan to discuss today’s newspapers are Dr Muireann Lynch, Senior Research Officer with the ESRI; Former Irish Ambassador to the United States, Dan Mulhall; Sunday Times Columnist Alison O’Connor, and Prof Luke O’Neill, Professor of Biochemistry at Trinity College Dublin.

Author Joseph O’Connor won the An Post Irish Book of the Year this week for ‘Ghosts of Rome’. He joined Brendan to talk about his delight and gratitude, moving home to Ireland on Christmas week 25 years ago and he also read a Christmas-themed poem, ‘Solstice at Newgrange’.