In this episode, Niall sits down with Jason Osborne from Gript Media to discuss his controversial view that abstaining from pornography should form part of the Catholic Confirmation pledge for young people.

The conversation explores growing concerns about children’s exposure to explicit material at increasingly younger ages, the impact of smartphones and internet access, rising phone dependency, vaping trends, and wider pressures facing families today.

Listeners also weigh in — some arguing modern parents have dropped the ball, while others say soaring living costs and busy dual-income households are the real challenge.

Have parents failed this generation, or are they simply navigating a much tougher world? Tune in for a thoughtful and sometimes provocative discussion.

Niall is joined by journalist Derek Byrne to discuss new restrictions in England that will ban vaping in cars carrying children, playgrounds, areas outside schools and hospitals, and anywhere smoking is already prohibited. Under the rules, vaping is effectively being treated like cigarettes — with fines for those caught vaping in cars with under-18s.

The move has reignited debate about whether vaping has gone too far, with some arguing it’s addictive, heavily marketed to young people, and should never have been allowed in the first place.

Should Ireland introduce similar bans in public places, cars, and outdoor areas where children are present? Call in and have your say — Niall wants to hear what you think.

Today on the podcast, Niall is joined by John McGuirk, editor of Gript Media, and social commentator Karl Deeter to discuss the controversial case of Irish citizen Seamus Culleton, who has been held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since last September after allegedly overstaying a visitor visa for many years.

Originally from Co Kilkenny, Culleton had been living in the United States since 2009 and was arrested near his Massachusetts home before being transferred to a detention facility in Texas. His deportation has recently been temporarily postponed by a US court while legal efforts continue. Supporters say he has built a life in America and is married to a US citizen, while critics argue immigration laws must be enforced consistently.

The case has sparked wider debate about undocumented Irish people in the United States. Estimates vary widely — from roughly 10,000 to as many as 50,000 undocumented Irish residents — many of whom have lived there for decades, often working, paying taxes, and raising families with American-born children.

Karl and John bring differing perspectives on how cases like Culleton’s should be handled: whether compassion, practicality, and long-standing ties should carry weight, or whether immigration law must apply equally regardless of nationality or length of stay.

We’re asking listeners: should undocumented Irish in the US be offered an amnesty, allowing them to remain legally, or should enforcement take its course even when families and livelihoods are at stake?

Join the conversation and share your views.

Today on the podcast, Niall speaks with Independent TD Michael Collins following a political row over Ireland’s planned international football fixture against Israel. Collins has accused Sinn Féin of “political grandstanding” after party leader Mary Lou McDonald said it would be “unthinkable” for Ireland to play Israel, home or away, while the war in Gaza continues.

The match is part of a scheduled UEFA international competition fixture involving the Republic of Ireland men’s national team. Under normal UEFA regulations, if a team refuses to play a sanctioned competitive match for political reasons, it would likely have to forfeit the game — usually recorded as a 3-0 loss — and could face additional fines or disciplinary sanctions.

Politically, the issue has divided opinion. Some politicians and campaigners argue sport should reflect ethical and humanitarian concerns, while others say international sport should remain separate from politics and that refusing to play could harm Irish football, players, and supporters without changing events abroad.

Niall and Michael Collins discuss whether calls for a boycott are justified, whether politics is increasingly influencing sport, and what the consequences could be if Ireland took such a stand.

We’re also asking you:

Do you support Ireland playing the match?

Will you be watching if it goes ahead?

And should politics and sport always be kept separate?

Join the conversation and let us know your view.

This week, Niall dives into an intriguing story involving former US president Barack Obama and the question that never seems to go away — aliens.

Speaking recently on a podcast with Brian Tyler Cohen, Obama said that while the universe is vast and statistically life could exist elsewhere, the chances Earth has actually been visited by extraterrestrials are “low.” He joked that aliens aren’t being hidden in Area 51 and said he saw no evidence of alien contact during his presidency.

He later clarified that his comments came during a quick-fire question round — but reiterated that although life elsewhere is possible, there’s no proof they’ve ever reached us. Obama has even joked before, including in an interview with James Corden, that he checked whether secret alien labs existed when he entered office — and was told they didn’t.

So tonight, Niall asks the big question for listeners:

Are we alone out there… or do you think aliens exist — and maybe have already visited Earth?

This week, host Niall sits down with Senator Sharon Keoghan to unpack the controversy surrounding recent comments about diversity recruitment in the Irish Defence Forces.

After the Defence Minister spoke about making recruitment more diverse — including the possibility of international protection applicants joining — Senator Keoghan described the idea as “madness,” questioning loyalty, national security, and whether fast-tracking citizenship through military service could pose risks to Irish society.

But is it really such a radical idea? Or, as some commentators argue, could broadening recruitment be one of the few realistic ways to address falling enlistment numbers — especially when public debate continues about the purpose, cost, and role of Ireland’s Defence Forces?

Niall and Senator Keoghan explore:

• The reasoning behind her remarks

• The Defence Forces’ role in modern Ireland

• Whether diversity in recruitment strengthens or weakens national security

• And the bigger question: do we actually need a standing defence force at all?

A thoughtful, challenging conversation about defence, identity, and the future of Ireland’s military.

In this episode, Niall is joined by podcaster and social commentator Elaine Mullally for a lively and thought-provoking discussion on welfare, responsibility, and fairness in today’s society.

They unpack controversial comments from UK MP Rupert Lowe, who suggested that healthy people on benefits who refuse work should be required to clean streets and public spaces — or risk losing their payments. Is this a reasonable expectation tied to taxpayer support, or does it cross the line into forced labour?

Together, Niall and Elaine explore the wider questions:

Should long-term unemployed people be required to contribute community work to receive benefits?

Where is the balance between social support and personal responsibility?

And what impact could such policies have on dignity, opportunity, and society as a whole?

It’s a nuanced conversation with strong views on both sides — and, as always, listeners are invited to make up their own minds.

In this episode, Niall sits down with Cathal Leevy from PAWs — the animal welfare party — to tackle a debate that’s stirring strong opinions: are zoos an outdated concept?

The discussion follows recent comments by Ruth Coppinger, who called zoos a “Victorian concept” and suggested they should be phased out, arguing conservation funding would be better spent protecting animals in the wild rather than in captivity — particularly at places like Dublin Zoo.

But not everyone agrees. Minister of State Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran has defended the zoo’s role in conservation, education, and tourism, highlighting inspections by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and its long-standing place in Phoenix Park.

Niall and Cathal explore the ethics of captivity, conservation realities, animal welfare concerns, and the cultural place zoos still hold today — before asking listeners directly:

Are zoos an outdated concept, or do they still serve an important purpose?