Newstalk Weekend

Joining Anton in conversation this week is journalist, broadcaster, author, and campaigner Mariella Frostrup.

Joining Anton to go through the main stories from the Sunday papers is Valerie Cox, journalist & author; Colm O’Gorman, Human Rights Campaigner; and Gabija Gataveckaite, Political correspondent with the Irish Independent.

Grainne Whalley from Traditional Cheese Company & Aisling Flanagan from Velvet Cloud, who are currently camped out in the Phoenix Park for this year’s Bord Bia Bloom festival, join Anton to talk about the state of the cheese sector in Ireland and try a sample or two.

Just weeks before a planning decision is expected from An Bord Pleanála over the future of nighttime flights at Dublin Airport, Fingal County Council has reignited High Court proceedings over existing flight restrictions. Joining Anton to discuss the issues is Daniel McConnell, Editor of the Business Post.

Anton is joined in conversation with Independent Senator Frances Black. Together they discuss the Occupied Territories Bill, her possible tilt at the presidency, and more.

Joining Anton to answer all of your parenting questions for this week's Ask the Expert is Jessica Alexander, author of ‘The Danish Way Every Day: A Practical, Age-By-Age Guide to Raising Confident, Capable Kids Like the Happiest People in the World’.

Patrick O'Donovan, Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media, and Sport, joins Anton to discuss the €6.7m spent by the Arts Council on its abandoned IT project, RTÉ's write-down of €3.6 million on a partly failed IT project, and more.

Dr Michelle McKeown, Lecturer in Environmental Geography & Principal Investigator at the Environmental Research Institute at UCC joins Anton to explore the science - and in some cases the lack thereof - that underpins some of Hollywood's best and worst disaster blockbuster movies.

Joining Anton to go through the main stories in the Saturday papers is Gerald Howlin, Public Affairs consultant and Irish Times columnist & Hazel Chu, Green Party councillor & former Lord Mayor of Dublin.

Richard Satchwell has been found guilty of the murder of Tina Satchwell. The body of the 46-year-old was discovered under the stairs of the home they shared in Youghal, Co. Cork, in October 2023. Paul Byrne, Broadcaster with Cork’s 96FM, joins Anton to discuss.

Nikki Hayes was a familiar voice on the airwaves in the late 2010s. Presenting and DJing on 2FM and SPIN 1038. But after losing jobs and facing personal challenges, Nikki’s addiction battle with alcohol worsened, eventually becoming homeless in 2023. But after receiving treatment for nearly two years, she is back presenting and is seeking to rebuild her career. Nikki joined Anton to reflect on her career and the struggles she has faced.

A controversial new Olympics-style sporting event where athletes will be permitted – and even encouraged – to use performance-enhancing drugs is set to debut in Las Vegas next year. The self-styled ‘Enhanced Games’ will allow athletes to use performance-enhancing substances without being subject to drug tests, though cocaine and heroin are among the substances not permitted. So, what does this mean for the integrity of sport, and what are the physiological considerations with the use of PEDs? Joining Anton to discuss was David Nolan, Assistant Professor of Sport and Exercise Science at the DCU School of Health and Human Performance.

Emmet Oliver, lecturer in the business school at Trinty College Dublin, Noirin O’Sullivan, former Garda Commissioner  Peadar Toibin, Leader of Aontú and Paul Hosford, Deputy Political Editor at Irish Examiner Joined Anton to review the stories making the Sunday papers and the major stories of the week.

The Project: how project 2025 is reshaping america describes how the trump administration is heavily influenced by a 1,000-page document called project 2025. David Graham is a staff writer for The Atlantic and he joined Anton to discuss his new book

Over 126,000 passengers are expected to go through Dublin Airport Today a record number for the airport. Joining Anton to discuss the record, what’s driving demand at the airport and how the airport can manage the future demand expected at the airport. Graeme McQueen Spokesperson for Dublin Airport

Meta has warned that it will take a €200m European Commission fine for breaching digital market rules to the White House, highlighting the growing tensions between Washington, Brussels, and big tech. Joining Anton to discuss is Adrian Weckler, Tech Editor of the Irish Independent & presenter of The Big Tech Show Podcast.

Now, earlier this week, we heard the news that Independent Ireland TD Kenneth O’Flynn asked Oireachtas management for a La-Z-Boy recliner to be supplied for his Leinster House office for “breaks and informal meetings”. This got us thinking, would I put a La-Z-Boy in my office? If so, how would that work exactly? Joining Anton for more on this was Anne Tuohy, aka the Room Junkie

60% of operations were unnecessary at one hospital, 79% were unnecessary procedures at another. those were two of the most damning statistics outlined by a joint clinical audit of hip surgeries at both the Children’s Hospital Ireland and Cappagh Hospital. Joining Anton with the latest on the story was Niamh Griffin, Health Correspondent with the Irish Examiner 

Over sixty people, including families with young children, queued in the rain overnight at the Seven Mills housing development between Clondalkin and Lucan in Dublin.With dozens queuing since 3 o clock yesterday afternoon in a desperate attempt to get one of the new homes.Many brought deck chairs, blankets and sleeping bags as they prepared to brave the elements until the houses go up for sale this morning. Barry Whyte Newstalk Chief Reporter  was one of those looking to purchase one of the houses, he joined Anton to discuss the experience.

Gavin Friday, singer, songwriter, and musician, joins The Anton Savage Show to discuss his first new solo album in 13 years and the work-life balance of a touring artist.

John Ihle, Deputy Business Editor at the Sunday Times Ireland  and Sinead O’Carroll, Editor of the.Journal.ie  join The Anton Savage Show for this week’s panel, discussing everything from politics and pop culture and all the headlines on today's paper.

For this week’s Ask the Expert Anton was joined by Sarah Keogh, Dietician and Founder of Eatwell, to discuss Coeliac Awareness Month and your nutrition questions

Colin Butfield, co-founder of Open Planet Studios and a longtime collaborator of Sir David Attenborough, joins The Anton Savage Show to discuss climate storytelling, documentary filmmaking, and his new project with Sir David, Ocean: Earth's Last Wilderness.Listen here.

Former Tánaiste, Joan Burton, joins The Anton Savage Show to reflect on the anniversary of the 2015 Marriage Equality referendum and what the result meant for Irish society and politics at the time, and what it's legacy remains.Listen here.

Paul Brandus of West Wing Reports joins The Anton Savage Show with the latest from the United States, including protests on the Brooklyn Bridge, Trump’s proposed tariffs affecting major retailers like Walmart, and shipping disruptions linked to conflict in the Red Sea.Listen here.

Professor John Crown, consultant medical oncologist; Ursula Savage, political commentator; and Philip Ryan, Head of Content at The Sunday Times Ireland, join Anton to review the Sunday papers and discuss the big stories of the week.Listen here.

Jerry O’Sullivan joins The Anton Savage Show with the latest on the investigation into the disappearance of Michael Gaine, the missing Kerryman, after human remains were discovered on his farm. Get all the latest here.

Author of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, Sir Alexander McCall Smith joins The Anton Savage Show to talk about writing, storytelling, and the enduring charm of his beloved characters.His new book, The Lost Language of Oysters, is due to be released in June, but you’ll get all discussion on his career and latest works here.

John Relihan, Ireland’s master of fire cooking and co-founder of Pitt Bros BBQ, joins The Anton Savage Show with his top tips for grilling this summer — from charcoal choices to cooking low and slow.Listen here.

Five teenage girls won big at the VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas Texas. The all-female team from Sacred Heart Secondary School in Tullamore are the first all-female robotics team to win the prestigious judges award at the World Championships.The team’s STEM coordinator, Sindy Meleady joins Anton to discuss the huge victory for the team.Listen here.

Professor Tony Holohan, director of the WHO collaborating centre on one health at University College Dublin sits down with Anton to reflect on the career and character of his friend Dr Mike Ryan, as the leading Irish WHO official was removed from his role in the past week.Listen here.

Psychotherapist and author Richard Hogan joins Anton to discuss a statement from the UK’s Education Secretary on how children need to start building resilience and emotional strength as key to preparing them for life’s challenges.Listen here.

The Camogie skort scandal that has seen so many protests across games over the past month continues.Most recently, AIB has come out in support of players, whereas other sponsors have stayed quiet.Anton is joined by Waterford Senior player Niamh Rockett to go through the latest.Listen here.

Paul Hayes, CEO of Beachhut PR, and journalist Lise Hand join The Anton Savage Show for this week’s panel, discussing everything from politics and pop culture and all the headlines on today's paper.Listen here.

John Boyne's quartet of interlinked novels, titled "The Elements", consists of 'Water', 'Earth', 'Fire', and 'Air'. The quartet explores the themes of trauma, responsibility, and guilt through four individual stories, each with a different narrator and connected by the elements. John joins Anton to chat about the latest, and final installment, 'Air'.

When it comes to life and the amount of it we actually have to spend on Earth, it can be hard to figure out how best to utilise the time we have and to make it our own. Oliver Burkeman is an expert in this field whose books include ‘Meditations for Mortals’ and 'Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals'. He joins Anton to discuss.

Over the next 9 months, the Oireachtas Committee on Drugs Use, chaired by Gary Gannon, will meet as it finishes its final report into the Citizens’ Assembly on drug use. Some of the recommendations included within that final report were a whole government approach to drug use in Ireland, the need to involve drug users in shaping drug policy, and a recommendation that possession of drugs for personal use be decriminalised. Gary Gannon, Social Democrats TD for Dublin Central joins Anton to discuss.

Joining Anton to go through the main stories from the Sunday papers is Green Party leader, Roderic O’Gorman; Journalist & Broadcaster, Claire Brock; and Gary Murphy, Professor of Politics at DCU.

Following yesterday's Munster senior camogie final between Cork and Waterford being postponed amid the ongoing skorts controversy, Waterford Camogie player, Tara Power, joins Anton to discuss the fallout and what next steps need to be taken in order to resolve the issue.

This weekend will see Darkness Into Light take place. The annual dawn walk brings thousands of people together in communities across Ireland and beyond to support suicide prevention and mental health services. Joining Anton to talk about the meaning behind Darkness Into Light and why the work it supports is so vital is Labour MEP Aodhán Ó’Ríordáin. 

We all know about the iconic cuisines of the world from Italian to French, but do we underappreciate irish food? A new show airing on BBC called 'Anna Haugh's Big Irish Food Tour' is a 15-part series explorong the magic of our own food and cuisine and will feature the likes of Katherine Ryan, Dennis Taylor, Angela Scanlon, Ed Byrne, Shayne Ward, Laura Whitmore, Vanessa Feltz, Diarmuid Gavin, and Eilish O’Carroll. Anton is joined by Anna ot chat about it all.

Joining Anton for this week's installment of As the Expert is Brian Burke, RTÉ Super Garden Judge, and Woodie's DIY and Garden Expert

Wellfest will take place in IMMA at the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham this weekend and will see movement, mindfulness, fitness, and food take centre stage. One of the headliners is globally recognized celebrity fitness trainer to the stars, DB DONAMATRIX – he joins Anton to chat about his career and more.

The Munster senior camogie final between Cork and Waterford has been cancelled amid the ongoing controversy around the wearing of skorts. Joining Anton to discuss the decision and the issues more broadly is Fine Gael Senator, Evanne Ní Chuilinn.Also joining Anton to run through the main stories form th Saturday papers is Barry Kenny, Corporate Communications Manager with Irish Rail & Brenda Power, columnist with the Sunday Times and the Irish Daily Mail.

A group of cross Oireachtas politicians is demonstrating at 2pm in Dublin today against what they believe are government efforts to undermine Irelands long tradition of neutrality by the removal of the triple lock. Joining Anton to discuss the issues is People Before Profit TD, Paul Murphy. 

Paul McClean is a Dublin-born, Los Angeles-based architect who designs and builds some of the most incredible mansions for Hollywood's elite. Paul joins Anton to chat about his career.

Yesterday, Kilkenny and Dublin faced off in the Leinster senior camogie semi-final; however, before the match could get going, both teams initially came onto the pitch wearing shorts instead of the regulatory ‘skorts’, and almost saw the match being completely called off as a result. This is because under rule 6(b) of the sport’s code, playing gear must include a skirt/skort/divided skirt. Joining Anton to discuss the issue is Kilkenny corner-back, Michelle Teehan & Anna Geary, former Cork camogie captain & presenter of the docu-series 'Why Girls Quit Sport'.

$967 billion of intangible assets have been held in Ireland by multinational corporations as part of sophisticated tax avoidance schemes, a Business Post investigation this weekend revealed. Killian Woods, Senior Business Reporter at Business Post, joins Anton to discuss.

Joining Anton to run through the main stories from the Sunday papers is Lynn Boylan, MEP; John Cunningham, Relationship Director at Morgan McKinley; Kate O’Connell, Former Fine Gael TD; and Conor Faughnan, CEO at Royal Irish Automobile Club & commentator on transport & related issues.

The ESB has flagged with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) that the volume of electricity demand from data centres is jeopardising the delivery of network capacity for key priorities of housing, transport, and climate. Lynn Boylan, Sinn Fein MEP for Dublin, joins Anton to discuss.