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The Hard Shoulder

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The Hard Shoulder Podcast with Ciara Kelly and Shane Colman is your essential drivetime companion—bringing fresh perspective and energy to your drive home.

CONVERSATION THAT COUNTS | Ireland’s national independent talk station for news, sport, analysis and entertainment

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  • 643 episodes
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Episodes 643

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  • October 28 · 11 min

    How close is your home to a high frequency bus service?

    New figures from the Central Statistics Office reveal that eight in ten households are located within two kilometres of a bus stop while almost seven in ten are near a high frequency bus service. Joining Ciara to discuss this is Adrian Kavanagh, Geography Lecturer at Maynooth University and Brian Caulfield, Professor in the School of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin.

  • October 27 · 11 min

    Diet advice - what should you actually follow?

    When it comes to our diet, we seem to be constantly bombarded with evolving nutritional advice, from new fads and trends to ultra-processed foods and superfoods. How do we cut through the noise and know who or what to believe? Professor Christopher Gardner of St Stanford University has been researching nutrition for over 30 years and has written a new book ‘Food Sense’ which he says gives “straightforward, science-backed advice on what to eat and why”. He’s here with us today, Professor Gardner, you’re very welcome.

  • October 27 · 6 min

    Midnight launch for new ‘romantasy’ novel - Ciara Treacy Reports

    Book lovers flocked to Chapters Bookstore in Dublin last night for a sold-out midnight release party for the latest edition of the global phenomenon 'romantasy' series, ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’. Newstalk's Ciara Treacy joined in on the festivities to find out why this beloved series was worthy of a late-night launch party...

  • October 27 · 6 min

    New Oxfam report reveals greenhouse gas emissions of top 0.1%

    The richest 0.1% of the world’s population produces more greenhouse gas emissions than the poorest 44% combined, according to a new report from Oxfam. Joining Shane to discuss this is Sadhbh O’Neill, Climate and Environmental Researcher.

  • October 27 · 9 min

    What are the common misconceptions about epilepsy?

    Kelly Earley, columnist at The Journal and co-host of podcast ‘For Tech's Sake’, like many of us thought she had a fair understanding of what epilepsy was; that is until she was recently diagnosed with it. Since then, Kelly has discovered the hidden symptoms and daily challenges that come with the condition. She joins Shane to discuss…

  • October 27 · 9 min

    The Bookshelf with Lindsey Fitzharris

    Lindsey Fitzharris, American author and Medical Historian joins Shane to place her favourite book on the Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

  • October 27 · 8 min

    INMO reports dangerous overcrowding with 777 patients without a bed

    There are 777 admitted patients without a bed in hospitals around the country, according to figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. Today's figure marks the second highest number of patients waiting for a hospital bed on a given day this year. Joining Shane to discuss this is Tony Fitzpatrick, Director of Professional Services and Industrial Relations with the INMO.

  • October 27 · 6 min

    Consumer watchdog reminds retailers to have clear pricing for paper bags

    Retailers across Ireland have been reminded by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to clearly display prices for paper bags. The CCPC has written to retailers around the country to remind them they must display prices for paper bags and similar products in line with consumer law. For more on this, Shane is joined by Conor Pope, Irish Times Consumer Affairs Correspondent.

  • October 27 · 9 min

    Israel elections take place today - where do things stand now?

    Millions of Israelis are heading to the polls today to vote in a pivotal election. For the first time since the October 7th attacks, voters are choosing a government in the shadow of the Gaza war, a conflict that has reshaped the country's politics, security priorities and international standing. For more on all of this, Shane is joined by Bel Trew, Chief International Correspondent with The Independent.

  • October 27 · 8 min

    Is ‘Mé Féinism’ ruining society as we know it?

    There was an interesting piece by Justine McCarthy in The Irish Times last week in which she argues the more we tolerate ‘Mé Féinism’ the less likely we are to treat each other as human beings... Be it cyclists on footpaths or shouty phone calls on buses and trains that shred your nerves: is Mé Féinism getting worse? Joining Shane to discuss this is Joe O'Shea, Editor of CorkBeo.ie and Newstalk’s Dylan Hand.

  • October 27 · 10 min

    LED lights and issues with driving attitudes - what is going on?

    Drivers are being warned about the dangers of increasingly bright vehicle headlights. Separately, 3,500 speeding fines, 146 drink or drug driving arrests, 300 caught driving with mobile phones all occurred over the bank holiday weekend… What is wrong with driver attitudes? Joining Shane to discuss this is Ger Herbert, Motoring Editor with the Sunday Independent.

  • October 27 · 8 min

    New CSO paper shows how inflation impacts different households

    The Central Statistics Office (CSO) published a paper today on how it estimates the inflation rate affects different types of households in Ireland depending on age, household composition, income, and other characteristics. Joining Shane to discuss the findings and what they mean is Emma Howard, Economist at TU Dublin.

  • October 27 · 12 min

    Does remote work impact productivity?

    A forthcoming study by the National Economic and Social Council is expected to conclude there's no clear-cut evidence about the impact of remote and hybrid employment arrangements on productivity in the workplace… But is this really the case? Joining Shane to discuss this is Emmet Malone, Work Correspondent with the Irish Times and Maeve Mc Elwee, Executive Director of Employer Relations with IBEC.

  • October 26 · 15 min

    Looking ahead to the Israeli election

    Israelis go to the polls tomorrow for the first time in 4 years in what is anticipated to be one of their most consequential elections ever. Polls suggest that Gadi Eisenkot, the former head of the IDF, is currently ahead of current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by riding a wave of anger after the October 7th attacks, but it looks unlikely that either will be able to form a clear majority. Joining Ciara now to discuss is Ruth Eglash, Senior Correspondent with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, and John Costello, a former journalist who has lived in Tel-Aviv for nearly 20 years.

  • October 26 · 14 min

    Breast Cancer Awareness Month: how to manage the news

    Every year around 3,600 women in Ireland, and around 30 men, are told they have breast cancer. But when the treatment ends and hospital appointments stop, the questions don’t, and neither does the impact on the people around them, partners, parents and children. ARC Cancer Support Centre CEO Amy Nolan, and Hazel Chu, the deputy leader of the Green Party, and Breast Cancer Ireland Ambassador join Ciara to tell us more.

  • October 26 · 9 min

    Dublin Marathon: How to recover

    If you were one of the thousands who crossed the finish line in the Dublin Marathon yesterday, you may be sitting there this morning with legs that don’t want to work, and wondering what comes next. The months of training are done, the big day has been and gone, and now there’s the small matter of recovery. And it’s not just about the legs.  Well to walk Ciara through how to recover properly is Running Coach and Author Mary Jennings.

  • October 26 · 10 min

    U.S. elections: what to expect

    Election season is in full swing at the moment, having just had elections in Brazil and Serbia, and with an election due in Israel tomorrow. But one of the most important elections this year will happen next week in the US as voters head to the polls for their midterm elections. Joining Ciara to tell us what to expect is Scott Lucas, professor of US and International Politics at the Clinton Institute in UCD.

  • October 23 · 27 min

    Winners and Sinners

    This week, Ciara and Shane were joined by Off the Ball’s Cameron Hill and presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis, to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists...

Showing 121–140 of 643 episodes