Highlights From Lunchtime Live

A report from iWish has revealed 67% of teenage girls lack information regarding STEM careers. How do we break down barriers and encourage young women to pursue careers in STEM?Jess spoke to Caroline O'Driscoll, Corporate and International tax partner with Deloitte Ireland and co-founder of iWish, Eve O'Callaghan, a sixth-year student and STEM prefect at Mount Anville Secondary School, and Catherine Flanagan, Guidance Counsellor and TY Coordinator at Mount Anville.

TV Reviewer Sheena McGinley joined Jess to discuss her favourite boxsets to watch as the days get wintry and the evenings get dark.

It’s International Fraud Awareness Week, and we’ve teamed up with Bank of Ireland to help educate and inform how to protect our online profiles.When protecting yourself online, the rule is simple: Stop, Think, Check. Brian Honan, CEO of BH Consulting and listeners joined Jess to discuss. 

Every week, Cut-the-Cost offers tips and advice on how to save on everything from energy and the weekly shop to modern essentials like broadband and phone contracts.This time, Aoife Kearns joined Jess to unwrap the cost of wrapping paper ahead of Christmas.

Does your wearable tech help or hinder you? Does it encourage you on or just make you feel guilty if you don’t hit your goals?Fitness Goose Andrew Moore joined Jess to discuss.

There are 130,000 people with a gambling addiction in Ireland.We’re constantly being bombarded with ads to set up online betting accounts. It’s made very easy for us – but it is much harder to shut down an account than it is to close one.Jess spoke to Gambling Councillor Tony O'Reilly and other callers with personal experience of a gambling addiction.

We saw much disruption as Storm Debi swept across the country earlier this morning Red weather warnings were in place for 10 counties with power supplies, school openings and public transport affected.  But how do these weather warnings work and when are they sent out? Jess was joined by Gerry Murphy, Meteorologist and Weather Forecaster with Met Eireann. 

A letter written into the Irish Independent today detailed how someone had loaned a friend the sum of €600. The letter explained it had been two years and the friend hadn’t mentioned it since. Creating a difficult moral dilemmaBut is it ever a good idea to lend money to a friend? Does it lead to unhealthy Relationships? and how can you say no to a friend or loved one who has requested a loan?Joining Mairead Ronan to discuss this was Comedian Jim Elliot and Listeners of the show.

Have you ever wondered how animals are supplied and trained for Films and TV shows?Well for this week's edition of Ask Me Anything Mairead Ronan was joined by Eddie Drew, Animal Wrangler and Animal Co-Ordinator from Copsewood Aviaries in Bray who has been supplying animals for productions for many years

A sober festival is happening in Cork this weekend. Ecstatic Picnic aims to create a space where people can dance and connect through the medium of rave music without the hangover. The festival is open to all but is strictly a non-drug or alcohol use event.But are Gen Z ditching alcohol in favour of healthier lifestyles? When they do drink, are they doing it in a much more balanced way? And can you have a fun sober night out?To discuss this further Mairead Ronan was joined by Naoise Galvin, organiser of the festival, Natalie aka DJ Natmac, Stephanie from Babes Without Beers and Paul Walsh, Founder of Club Loosen sober rave to discussClub Loosen will be holding their New Year's Eve sober rave event on the 31st December in Complex Dublin, tickets will be announced this Monday.

Yesterday, Jozef Puska was convicted of murdering the 23-year-old primary school teacher Ashling Murphy who had gone out for a run in Tullamore, County Offaly in January last year.Mairead Ronan was joined by the CEO of Parent Line, Aileen Hickie, Gender Equality Rights Representative at UCC Alison Ní Threasaigh, Alexandra Ryan CEO of Goss.ie, Stylist Laura Mullet as well as listeners of the show to discuss.

Dr Afif EL Khuffash, Consultant Neonatologist and Pediatrician at the Rotunda Hospital, spoke to Mairead about how we can spot the difference between good advice and medical misinformation when googling symptoms.

Would you relocate to the countryside? Mairead spoke to city slickers who made the move to the countryside.

'(I Am) Robbie Williams' the four-part Robbie Williams documentary has taken Netflix by storm.Mairead spoke to TV Reviewer Sheena McGinley, Former Xpose Presenter Glenda Gilson and Ray Dolan.

Listener Daniel got in touch about a poor experience he had in Dublin airport.Mairead Ronan spoke to Daniel and other callers about whether we are too accepting of bad service in Ireland.

Listener Elaine got in touch in regards to the price she is paying for extra classes and activities in her child's primary school.

Keele University researchers have found that swearing can increase a person’s pain tolerance by up to 33%. The research found that swearing can help one withstand pain and even create intimacy with others.Mairead was joined by  physicist, engineer and science communicator, Phil Smith and comedian, Steve Cummins to discuss the benefits of swearing.

The latest annual report from Bodywhys, The Eating Disorder Assocation of Ireland, found that calls to their helpline have jumped by almost 10% compared to 2022. Mairead spoke to callers Jess, Lisa, Micheál and Eoin on their experience living with an eating disorder For more information on Bodywhys  visit www.bodywhys.ie  The Bodywhys helpline: 01 2107906 - The helpline offers a non-judgemental and confidential support and information service.  

Spotify is planning to only start paying artists for streams after a track has reached 1,000 streams.  The company is set to adjust its royalty model in 2024. A new minimum annual threshold for streams will apply for a song to become eligible for royalties.Mairead spoke to Claire Beck, DJ and Broadcaster with Today FM, singer and songwriter, Mary Coughlan and Andrew Hendy from the Mary Wallopers.

Journalist John Gibbons posted an image of an SUV taking up half a footpath in Dun Laoighaire which sparked outrage online. Mairead Ronan asked John Gibbons and callers if it is time we ban SUVs from built up areas.