Listen! With Frank Mitchell
1,514 episodes — Page 1 of 31
5568: LISTEN¦ 'It makes you think about the history and origins of words and names -it's a positive thing' - Cllr Anthony Flynn spoke to Frank after Belfast City council approved its first Ulster Scots dual language signs
Oct 8, 202615 min
6668: LISTEN¦ Should we be cutting overgrown grass verges outside our homes? UUP MLA John Stewart has challenged the infrastructure minister over the state of public spaces. Should we take matters into our own hands?
Sep 24, 202611 min
5567: LISTEN¦ 'I've spoken to district nurses, carers, OTs saying they're can't afford it, they're having to pay to go to work' - MLA Claire Sugden says health care workers may be forced out of their jobs because of fuel price rises
Sep 24, 20268 min
5566: LISTEN¦ 'I'd worry the most vulnerable will be hardest hit' - Cllr Brian Smyth reacts to the news Belfast Metropolitan College has made 'unprecedented' cuts, with 2,500 places and some courses going
Sep 23, 20266 min
5565: LISTEN¦ Enemies Within - the gripping inside story of how the most notorious loyalist godfather, Johnny Adair, build up an extensive terror network that at one time was responsible for more deaths than the IRA. Frank spoke to author Aaron Edwards
Sep 18, 20263 min
5564: LISTEN¦ 'AI could kill all humans' within the next decade - according to an expert in the field. How worried should we be? Frank spoke to Dr Deepak Padmanabhan from QUB and cyber security expert Wayne Denner
Sep 15, 202619 min
5563: LISTEN¦ Who decides which flags can be flown in public spaces? Frank spoke to Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw, after it emerged that contractors sought support from 'community representatives' before a contentious flag was removed
Sep 10, 202613 min
5562: LISTEN¦ Why has nearly £200m been spent on the A5 road project before an inch of tarmac has been laid? Frank spoke to DUP MLA Stephen Dunne and Civil Engineer Karen McShane
Sep 10, 202623 min
5561: LISTEN¦ 'People have a fixation on what the military was here during a military operation - things have moved on - people need to move on' Independent MLA Doug Beattie spoke to Frank about a row at a jobs fair in Derry
Sep 9, 20269 min
5560: LISTEN¦ Should children of parents receiving benefits continue to be given priority for funded pre-school places? The Education Minister says he's 'levelling the playing field' but anti-poverty campaigners say it'll widen the attainment gap
Sep 8, 20267 min
5559: LISTEN¦ Star Trek at 60 - who is your favourite captain? How has it remained so popular, six decades on? Frank spoke to super-fan Jess Odell from USS Caroline, NI's biggest Star Trek fan community
Sep 8, 20267 min
5558: LISTEN¦ Do we have a responsibility to 'shop local'? A Bangor shopkeeper got a big reaction, when he posted a video warning that relying on online retailers would limit local choice and jobs
Aug 31, 202612 min
5557: LISTEN¦ What does your front door say about you? A replica of the famous glossy black 10 Downing Street door has been installed in Manchester, as a symbol of No.10 North - is there a more famous door in the world?
Aug 28, 202610 min
5556: LISTEN¦ Should we ban smartphones from schools? A study by Kings College London found restrictions improved pupils' behaviour. Peter spoke to Charlotte Carson from Smartphone Free Childhood NI
Aug 28, 20268 min
5555: LISTEN¦ 'It sometimes seems abstract, but means real damage to public services - the health service is damaged, same goes for the education and transport system' - Matthew O'Toole outlines the damage caused by a summer of 'inaction' by the Executive
Aug 24, 202613 min
5554: LISTEN¦ Why is there no refuge for male victims of domestic abuse, in NI? Despite accounting for one third of those who suffer abuse, there's a lack of specialised support. Frank spoke to Carey Baxter from Mens Alliance NI
Aug 18, 202611 min
5553: LISTEN¦ Who should be responsible for keeping children safe online? In the latest in our Shared Island Perspectives series, Adrian Kennedy spoke to top online safety expert Wayne Denner and Alex Cooney, CEO of Cyber Safe Kids
Aug 17, 202629 min
5552: LISTEN¦ Should dads get longer paternity leave? Northern Ireland has one of least generous paternity arrangements in Europe. Frank spoke to Alliance MLA Peter McReynolds who's been pushing for change
Aug 12, 202611 min
5551: LISTEN¦ Why the delay in tackling uniform costs? Despite a bill being passed that would allow for a uniform price cap, 7 in 10 parents are still struggling under the cost burden. Frank spoke to independent councillor Paul Doherty
Aug 12, 202616 min
5550: LISTEN¦ A councillor has raised concerns and a review has been ordered after around 50 cattle were shot dead at a farm in Tyrone, while members of the public watched, as part of a government-ordered enforcement operation
Jul 30, 202615 min
5549: LISTEN¦ Would jail have been appropriate punishment for a nursing assistant convicted of making & sharing 'demeaning' videos of dementia patients? Frank spoke to Majella Beattie from Care Champions Ireland, Siobhan Casey and UUP leader Jon Burrows
Jul 28, 202628 min
5548: LISTEN¦ Should young people ditch university in favour of a trade? The PM's announced a shake-up of education that would see a greater emphasis on vocational and skills-based training. Frank spoke to Richard Kirk from Workplus
Jul 28, 202612 min
5547: LISTEN¦ 'He never acted like a star, though he was one - he treated you like one - he was also a genius broadcaster' - Mike Nesbitt and Adrian Logan, former colleagues of Gerry Kelly paid tribute to the legendary broadcaster who died aged 77
Jul 27, 202613 min
5546: LISTEN¦ 'I've never met a man with less ego - it was very pure, about the music - he just wanted to write really good songs and wanted them to get to the people' - Brenda Boyd Kennedy spoke to Frank about the release of Bap Kennedy's new album
Jul 20, 202611 min
5545: LISTEN¦ 'These things come as a massive shock to everyone in the area - it's important we look after each other - it's been an horrendous incident' North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows spoke to Frank after a murder investigation was launched in Ballymena
Jul 14, 202610 min
5544: LISTEN¦ This week on Shared Island Perspectives, U105 and LMFM examine one of the most urgent and difficult issues facing communities across the island of Ireland — violence against women and gender-based violence.
Jun 29, 202628 min
5543: LISTEN¦ 'To hear 20,000 people singing it back to you is magic - you never get tired of it' - Johnny B O'Brien and Johnny 'Smacks' McMahon, better known as The 2 Johnnies, spoke to Frank ahead of their show at Féile
Jun 25, 202618 min
LISTEN¦ '100% of the staff who took part in an online consultation said that care is not safe' - Helen Hamill from the Save Our Acute Services campaign said an RQIA inspection report on the South Western Acute Hospital raised serious concerns
Jun 25, 20267 min
5541: LISTEN¦ 'Our school estate is too big, it's not sustainable - Education Committee chair Nick Mathison spoke to John as the EA raised concerns over a £600m shortfall in maintenance funds
Jun 18, 20269 min
5540: LISTEN¦ 'Those liberal elites in the chamber were more interested in following ideology than protecting our children' - TUV's Timothy Gaston responded to criticism of unionists voting down a move to increase the age of criminal responsibility
Jun 16, 202618 min
5539: LISTEN¦ Flooding is one of the biggest natural hazards facing NI, but despite nearly £100m spent, a new report has criticised how Stormont handles the risk. Frank spoke to Alliance's Andrew McMurray who has called for long term planning and funding
Jun 16, 20267 min
5538: LISTEN¦ As climate extremes become our new normal, the island of Ireland faces a shared environmental reality - navigating it through different political/legislative lenses. Frank spoke to Green Party NI leader & CEO of Friends of the Earth Ireland
Jun 12, 202624 min
5537: LISTEN¦ 'I think it'll be really interesting to play near where I was born - my grandad was the master in the primary school on the loughshore' - Brianna Corrigan spoke to Frank ahead of her appearance at the Friends Goodwill Festival
Jun 11, 20265 min
5536: LISTEN¦ 'It doesn't suck - we're still very grateful for it, each and every time' - Def Leppard guitarist Viv Campbell talked to Frank about how it feels to have thousands of fans singing your songs back to you
Jun 11, 202611 min
5535: LISTEN¦ 'Imagine someone coming into your home, chasing you out of the house and burning your home down...this is about basic humanity' - after homes, cars and a Glider bus were burned in a night of rioting, Frank spoke to public representatives
Jun 10, 202628 min
5534: LISTEN¦ 'People are very shaken, they're shocked' - local SDLP councillor Carl Whyte and Alliance MLA for North Belfast Nuala McAllister spoke to Frank, after a Somali man was arrested over a brutal knife attack
Jun 9, 202616 min
5533: LISTEN¦ 'The narrative around our boys at the moment is that they're a problem' - in a new documentary, Gareth Southgate looks at the challenges facing young men and boys. Frank spoke to Rhonda from MAPNI about the work they're doing
Jun 9, 20266 min
5532: LISTEN¦ Is pumping iron the key to a long life? A Harvard study involving more than 147,000 people found lifting weights for two hours a week reduced the risk of early death. Frank spoke to top PT Tiernan McCarthy
Jun 3, 202612 min
5531: LISTEN¦ Should teens guilty of serious offences like rape go to prison? As MLAs debate increasing the criminal age of responsibility, writer Malachi O'Doherty argues that it may not always be productive, if the goal is rehabilitation
Jun 2, 202625 min
5530: LISTEN¦ In the latest episode of our Shared Island Perspectives series, we examine the growing cost-of-living pressures facing families and businesses across the island of Ireland.
May 21, 202626 min
5529: LISTEN¦ Are rules making drivers with ADHD or anxiety issues eligible for a blue parking badge being exploited? The Taxpayers Alliance has raised concerns amid a rise in the numbers being issued
May 20, 20266 min
5528: LISTEN¦ Masterchef's youngest contestant, Killyleagh's Adam Morrison, talked to Frank about how it feels to be selected from thousands of applicants, cooking in front of the cameras and against the clock and putting NI food and producers on the map
May 20, 20267 min
5527: LISTEN¦ Should we ban 'conversion therapy'? In 2021, MLAs voted to ban the practice, but as yet, no legal change has been made. A doctor, Gareth Patterson, originally from NI, wants to see the law change
May 8, 202618 min
5527: LISTEN¦ Could a review of the PSNI's handling of the Katie Simpson deter victims from coming forward? Would more female officers help? Ex-PSNI officer Linzi McLaren said there have been 'great strides, but there still needs to be a lot more done'
May 7, 202612 min
5526: LISTEN¦ Potholes - are the roads looking better, following an eight-week push that saw around 10,000 repairs? The DUP's Peter Martin highlighted figures that suggest we could be on course to fix fewer this year than in 2025
May 7, 20269 min
5525: LISTEN¦ In the latest in our Shared Island Perspectives series, we're looking at healthcare - two jurisdictions, one island - two different approaches to delivering care. Will we ever see the long-promised transformation?
May 6, 202627 min
5524: LISTEN¦ 'Police had a difficult job, but they should have shut it down much sooner, they should have been more prepared' Independent councillor Paul Doherty spoke to Frank after scramblers and cars were recklessly driven in West Belfast
May 5, 202612 min
5223: LISTEN¦ Could Stormont's childcare strategy help the economy, as well as hard-pressed families? Business groups have said making it affordable is 'essential' especially for female workers
Apr 30, 202610 min
5522: LISTEN¦ Should bare-bummed bikers be banned? The annual World Naked Bike Ride is due to take place in London, but a petition has been launched, over safeguarding concerns. Frank spoke to Gary Kennedy from British Naturism
Apr 30, 202610 min
5521: LISTEN¦ Should fox hunting be banned? A bill has been brought at Stormont, five years on from the last attempt to outlaw hunting with dogs. Frank spoke to the bill's sponsor, Alliance's John Blair
Apr 28, 20264 min