Highlights From Lunchtime Live

Craig Ballentine from Co. Tyrone is currently stranded in Dubai after he was arrested over a negative review he posted online relating to a dog grooming centre.He could be facing up to 2 years in prison if found guilty…Radha Stirling, CEO of campaign group Detained in Dubai is working on getting Craig home, and joins Andrea to discuss.

For Lung Cancer Awareness Month, two listeners, Samantha and Gillian, join Andrea to share their stories.They are both fighting the same disease, but are both non-smokers.

This year on Lunchtime Live we’ve been looking at things that we can do in order to make ourselves that bit happier and healthier.This week, while you’ll usually hear her on the Pod Squad, Shelly Gray from Today FM joins Andrea to discuss climbing Mount Kilimanjaro!

Gym owners say they are baffled at a Fine Gael proposal to increase VAT on gym memberships. Would an increase from 9% to 11% force gyms to increase their prices?Darina Dunne is the Chair of the Irish Physical Alliance, and this is something that she and the IPAA have been critical of...She joins Andrea, as well as Karl Dunne, Chief Executive of Ireland Active and more to discuss.

Dr Niall Breen from the Portmarnock GP Clinic joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries.

Doing just five extra minutes of exercise a day could help lower blood pressure.So, if you usually go for a 20 minute walk, make it 25!If your cycle to work is about half an hour, could you do another 5 minutes around the corner? Could that really make that much of a difference?Joining Andrea to discuss the benefits is John Belton, Wellness Coach and owner of No.17 PT, Human Performance.

You have probably noticed that election posters have popped up all over the country throughout the weekend.The General Election has been called for Friday, November 29th and between now and then you will certainly receive a flood of candidate leaflets and election paraphernalia.What do you think about election posters? Are you fine with them, or are you sick of them already?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

A new survey commissioned by An Post reveals that young people between the age of 18-24 have emerged as the biggest users of cash.Do you use cash? Does it help you to budget better?Joining Andrea to discuss is Sinead Ryan, Consumer Expert and Presenter of the Home Show on Newstalk as well as listener James in Donegal.

This is Lunchtime Live’s Big Batch. Every Monday we’ll be learning new easy to cook batch recipes to keep you eating well. No more staring into an open fridge looking for inspiration!Adrian Martin, Owner of Luigi Malones Temple Bar and the Wildflower Restaurant in Dublin joins Andrea this week to discuss prepping for having a baby - and the importance of stocking up the freezer for those early days!Follow the hashtag #LLBigBatch for all our recipes.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary made some controversial comments about teachers being on “the dole” at an election event at the weekend where he endorsed Fine Gael TD Peter Burke, doubling down on them while on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.What do you think about Michael O’Leary’s comments about teachers?Andrea is joined by Rodney Farry, Journalist with the Westmeath Examiner, Labour General Election candidate for Kildare North Angela Feeney, Sarah Calvey, Principal of Castlebar Educate Together NS and more.

The General Election campaign will formally begin later today when Taoiseach Simon Harris asks President Michael D. Higgins to dissolve the Dáil. Harris will travel to the Áras to trigger a three-week campaign ahead of polling day on Friday November 29th. Joining Andrea to react to his speech and discuss what to expect is Craig Hughes, Political Correspondent with the Irish Daily Mail, with Newstalk’s Political Correspondent Sean Defoe and Newstalk Reporter Andrew Louth reporting on the ground.

Have playdates become too competitive?Writing in the Irish Independent today, Tanya Sweeney talks of homemade smoothies, crudites and educational games – very different from the past!Tanya, as well as Katie Makk from the Opinions Matter podcast, join Andrea to discuss.

On November 9th 1995, 21-year-old JoJo Dullard was on her way home from Dublin, where she had met with friends earlier that day. However, Jo Jo didn’t make it home to Callan, Co Kilkenny. 29 years on, her family are still urging anyone with information about where she might be to come forward.JoJo’s sister Kathleen joins Andrea to discuss.Image: PA

From a dog surviving 150 wasp stings to protests against a new McDonalds - Newstalk’s Eamonn Torsney has the stories from around the country that you might have missed this week.

Does smoking seem to be becoming fashionable for young people?The dangers of smoking are well known at this stage, but there are a number of young, influential celebrities, including Ireland’s own Paul Mescal, who continue to smoke.There has been an increase in the amount of smoking on TV shows and in movies; of the 10 films nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, all except ‘Barbie’ feature smoking.What do you think? Are we in danger of having smoking being seen as ‘cool’?Andrea is joined by Entertainment Journalist Sarina Bellisimo, Newstalk Reporter Bella Finn and more to discuss.

From placement to painting them, how can you give your radiators a more prominent place in your house?Well, the Home Squad are here to chat about heating your house, but stylishly!Andrea is joined by Jenny Sheahan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ and Roisin Lafferty, Founder and Creative Director of Roisin Lafferty to discuss.

The long-awaited General Election has finally been called: it will happen on November 29th.The Taoiseach will ask President Michael D Higgins to dissolve the Dáil tomorrow.So, what do you need to know now?Joining Andrea to discuss what we can expect, and how you can register to vote if you haven’t already, is Newstalk Political Correspondent Seán Defoe.

Have you ever been told that there is a minimum 2 item purchase in a shop? Gordon posted about his experience lately when trying to buy a candle in Rituals in Kildare Village. Gordon joins Andrea, along with Stylist Laura Mullet, Damian O'Reilly, Lecturer in Retail Management at TU Dublin and more to discuss.Image: Kildare Village

Listener Siobhan Cunningham got in touch with the show about her story of a cardiovascular misdiagnosis.She joins Andrea to discuss, along with Dr Angie Brown, Medical Director at The Irish Heart Foundation.

From the arrival of Big Bird to a Christmas favourite, 98fm’s Ciaran O’Connor has plenty to chat about on this week’s throwback Thursday.Image: Disney