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Society & Culture

Grey Matters

The Communications Clinic

Grey Matters is a bold and insightful podcast series that confronts the realities of growing older in Ireland with unflinching honesty, sharp humour, and deep compassion. Hosted by two of the nation’s most respected voices, Terry Prone and Fergus Finlay, the series tackles the overlooked challenges, persistent stereotypes, and the triumphs of Ireland’s older generation. Combining rigorous debate with warm camaraderie, Grey Matters invites listeners into a candid conversation about age, identity and the future of Irish society. Grey Matters is produced by The Communications Clinic.

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  • 28 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 30 min
  • English

Episodes 28

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  • S2 · E9
    Yesterday · 34 min

    Silver Splitters

    Would you leave your marriage if there were no financial consequences? We surveyed people entering the last third of their lives, and the answer surprised even us: over one in four women said they’d seriously consider divorce, compared to just over one in ten men. Terry Prone and Fergus Finlay are joined by Valerie Cox to ask why. They discuss temptation, duty, and the real price of doing the laundry.

  • S2 · E8
    October 21 · 35 min

    How Ireland has Changed

    Loneliness, and a withdrawal from the community organisations that keep older people connected, are among the biggest challenges facing older people in Ireland today, according to author and former TD Liz McManus. This week Liz joins Fergus to talk about her short story collection Tiny Bruises and a life that has taken in architecture, politics and writing.

  • S2 · E7
    October 14 · 39 min

    What's funny when you're old?

    Comedy expert Brendan Balfe joins Terry and Fergus this week to explore what makes great comedy, share some of his favourite comedians and discuss his career, humour, and talent behind a truly good laugh.

  • S2 · E6
    October 7 · 42 min

    Before We Die

    Tony Murray and his son Conor join Fergus on this week's episode of Grey Matters to discuss what it means to be an older parent, and a sibling, of an adult with an intellectual disability, and why they believe the State’s approach to housing and care must change.

  • S2 · E5
    September 30 · 28 min

    Grandparents Under Pressure

    This week Grey Matters looks at their recent survey findings that 56% of women regularly mind grandchildren, compared with 37.8% of men, while 15.4% of women feel a lot of pressure to help with grandchildren, compared with just 1.4% of men. Returning guest Valerie Cox joins Terry and Fergus to react to the findings and to discuss what they say about the expectations placed on older women in Irish families.

  • S2 · E4
    September 23 · 34 min

    How to Beat Ageism in the Job Market

    What does ageism look like when you’re trying to find a new job? In this episode, Terry and Fergus are joined by careers expert Sarah Geraghty to explore the barriers older workers can face, from being “ghosted” after sending hundreds of applications to navigating AI screening tools and age-coded language in job adverts. Sarah shares practical advice on making your CV current and evidence-based, using your network to get in front of decision-makers, and recognising the transferable skills that come with experience. The conversation also looks at age bias in the workplace, from missed promotions to exclusion from training.

  • S2 · E21
    September 16 · 33 min

    How To Get Your Book Published

    This week, Terry and Fergus sit down with one of Ireland's best literary agents, Jonathan Williams. They discuss how unpublished writers can get their books on shelves, writing advice and Jonathan's career working with some of the biggest authors in Ireland.

  • S2 · E2
    September 9 · 35 min

    Wish you were here..and insured - with Conor Pope

    On this week's episode of Grey Matters, Terry and Fergus sit down with Conor Pope on the questions older listeners actually want answered: how to switch health insurance without losing cover, why travel insurers and car-hire firms quietly penalise customers once they pass a certain age, and why taking out travel insurance the moment you book, not the moment you travel, could save you from disaster.

  • S2 · E1
    September 2 · 30 min

    Fergus Takes a Hospital Pass

    Terry and Fergus are back for Season Two of Grey Matters. This week they discuss Fergus's health diagnosis last spring and reflect on vulnerability, ageing, family, the Irish healthcare system. Fergus opens up about the support of his wife and children, the realities of recovering from major surgery and why, ultimately, he considers himself incredibly lucky.

  • S1 · E25
    July 8 · 13 min

    Cruises: Paradise or Floating Nightmare?

    On this week's episode, Valerie Cox joins Terry and Fergus to debate the older generation's love of cruises. A devoted cruiser for more than 25 years, Valerie explains why small-ship voyages have taken her from Venice and the Greek Islands to Iceland and the Nile, and why she believes they're one of the most relaxing ways to travel. Terry, however, can't understand the appeal. From seasickness and sinking ships to onboard viruses and being surrounded by strangers, she argues there are plenty of reasons to stay firmly on dry land.

  • S1 · E24
    July 1 · 39 min

    What Happens When the Salary Stops?

    Financial planner Eoin McGee joins Terry and Fergus to talk money, ageing, and the moment a lifetime of saving turns into a lifetime of spending. From inheritance tax thresholds and the €3,000 gift exemption, to the risks of equity release loans and the hidden signs of elder financial abuse, Eoin brings 27 years of frontline experience to one of the most avoided conversations in Irish family life: what happens to the pot once you stop filling it.

  • S1 · E22
    June 17 · 24 min

    Refusing to Retire

    In this weeks episode of Grey Matters, Terry and Fergus argue that longer lives, better health, and evolving expectations are reshaping attitudes as people approach the traditional retirement age. The podcasters challenge the idea that retirement at 65 remains a natural or desirable milestone for everyone.

  • S1 · E21
    June 10 · 26 min

    The Hidden Human Rights Crisis in Older Care

    In this episode of Grey Matters, Fergus Finlay speaks with human rights lawyer Maeve O'Rourke about the rights of older people in Ireland. Together they explore how care can sometimes become control, why autonomy and dignity matter at every stage of life, and whether some practices in healthcare and residential care would be considered unacceptable if applied to any other group in society. A challenging and thought-provoking conversation about ageing, independence and human rights.

  • S1 · E20
    June 3 · 29 min

    The Things We Keep

    In this week's episode of Grey Matters, Terry and Fergus explore the stories behind the things we keep. From family heirlooms and treasured photographs to everyday objects that carry unexpected meaning, they discuss why possessions become intertwined with memory, identity and grief. They examine what our attachment to certain items says about us, and why letting go can sometimes be just as important as holding on.

  • May 27 · 27 min

    How To Build Age Friendly Communities

    In this week's episode of Grey Matters, Terry and Fergus are joined by Cathrina Murphy, Age-Friendly Programme Manager with Fingal County Council, to explore how Ireland is catering for the needs of an ever-increasing population of older people.

  • S1 · E18
    May 20 · 25 min

    How To Age Well

    This week on Grey Matters, Terry and Fergus are joined again by Dr Diarmuid O’Shea, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and consultant geriatrician, to discuss how we can age well and the obstacles we face in doing so.

  • S1 · E17
    May 13 · 22 min

    Happiness

    In this episode of Grey Matters, Terry Prone and Fergus Finlay discuss how we perceive happiness and how happiness evolves as we age. In a deeply personal episode, the hosts reveal how love and relationships have made the single greatest impact on their own happiness and discuss how the loss of a loved one can change everything.

  • S1 · E12
    May 6 · 24 min

    Grey Divorce

    Longer lives are reshaping relationships in unexpected ways. In this episode of Grey Matters, Terry Prone and Fergus Finlay explore the global rise of “grey divorce”. From retired husband syndrome in Japan to shifting dynamics at home in Ireland, they ask whether longevity is forcing couples to rethink who they want to spend their future with.

  • S1 · E15
    April 29 · 31 min

    Can you prevent Dementia?

    On this week's episode Terry is joined by Dr Diarmuid O'Shea President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and Consultant Geriatrician, to discuss dementia. With a growing ageing population in Ireland, Grey Matters highlights why awareness and prevention have never been more important.

Showing 1–20 of 28 episodes