Highlights From Lunchtime Live

Are we too busy looking for red flags in people rather than seeking out the green flags?Writing in the Irish Independent today, Tanya Sweeney questions was she looking for the wrong things?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Tanya, Cathal O’Sullivan, Content Creator with Today FM and Mark Fennell, Life Coach, Speaker and Author.

Marie Markey got in touch with the show to explain her poor experience buying wheelchair accessible tickets at a show.She joins Andrea along with Graham Merrigan and Bernard Mulvaney, full-time Carer and Disability Rights Activist to discuss.

From Puppy of the year to Michael Flatley being challenged to a dance off, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea with his stories from across the country!

It appears that hundreds, if not thousands, of people in Dublin were victims of a huge hoax yesterday evening.A rumour is understood to have circulated online that a Halloween parade was due to take place in the city centre.Pictures and footage posted on social media show huge crowds lined up along O’Connell Street waiting for the hoax parade to get underway.Were you one of the disappointed masses tricked by the hoax parade? And should Dublin actually have one?Andrea is joined by people who were there to discuss.

For the autumn season, you might want to do a bit of a makeover to your house. Well, the Home Squad are here to give you some tips!To discuss, Andrea is joined by Jenny Sheahan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ and Emma Delaney, Senior Interior Designer from April & the Bear.

Thousands of people in Ireland could qualify for a UK pension, but aren’t aware of it.And apparently, the time is running out to claim it.Peter McElroy, from myUKpension.ie joins Andrea to discuss.

Charlene Masterson was abused by her father over a seven-and-a-half-year period after first blackmailing her.In 2021, David Masterson was jailed for 17 years.Charlene joins Andrea to share her story.If you have been affected by any of the issues raised, you can call the Rape Crisis Centre on Freephone - 1800 77 88 88.

What’s the going rate for trick-or-treaters this Halloween? Is your household a mini or full size bar one? And whatever happened to monkey nuts?Joining Andrea to discuss the right amount of Halloween treats is Newstalk’s Tech Correspondent Jess Kelly, Off the Ball’s Adrian Barry and owner of LNH Edit, Laura Nolan Horgan.

From the GAA to the Nightmare Before Christmas, Newstalk Reporter Laura Donnelly joins Andrea with plenty to look back on for this week’s Throwback Thursday!Image: Disney

At least 95 people have died, with dozens still missing, in southern and eastern Spain following its deadliest flash flooding in three decades.Torrential rain, amounting to a year’s worth in just eight hours in some areas, hit cities such as Valencia and Malaga - with many finding themselves trapped in their homes and cars.Andrea is joined by Irish listeners living in the area to hear their experiences.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Pet Behaviourist and Trainer, Suzi Walsh to learn more about the world of pet behaviour and answer your questions!

Are you good for taking supplements? Maybe so, but are you taking them correctly? Possibly not.Andrea is joined by Kathy Maher, Community Pharmacist in Duleek to discuss the common mistakes.

Parents in the UK can be fined £80 per day per child for school absences.Despite this, many parents are still choosing to take their children out of school to save on exorbitant travel prices during school holidays.There have been calls to review marketing and pricing of ‘rip-off’ family holidays from companies which charge thousands more for holidays taken during school breaks.What do you think?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Lisa O'Sullivan Shaw, @modernirishmom, Rachel Harper, Principal of St Patrick's National School in Greystones, Yvonne Reddin, Freelance Travel Journalist, Steve Cummins, Comedian and Co-Founder of Zoomparty.ie and more.

Andrea is joined by Eoghan Tomas McDermott, Managing Director of The Communications Clinic and Mark Kelly, Founder of AI Ireland to discuss.

Lunchtime Live's Reasons to be Happy looks at some of the news stories that you might have missed that will leave you feeling more optimistic.Newstalk News Anchor Eamonn Torsney joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

A new study has found that almost half of parents in Ireland give their children pocket money.And, digital currency, such as Revolut, is by far the most popular way to pay out pocket money – with almost 60% of parents saying they use it.The survey, by the Teachers’ Union of Ireland Credit Union, also discovered that almost nine in ten say that children should earn the money by carrying out some household chores.What has your experience been of paying out pocket money? Do children understand the value of money?Andrea is joined by John Lowe from MoneyDoctors.ie as well as listeners to discuss.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every Tuesday so you always have something new to listen to.98fm Producer Russell Alford and Laura Donnelly from Newstalk’s Newsroom join Andrea to review something she’s been very excited to hear: NIcky Byrne HQ!Image: Acast

Saoirse Ronan was on the Graham Norton show on Friday with Paul Mescal and Eddie Redmayne. She has been praised online for highlighting what women have to deal with, that men aren’t even aware of, when discussing learning self defence for film roles.Is there a lot of this kind of thing that women have to absorb, that men aren’t even aware of?And has daylight savings impacted it? Have the darker evenings made you more conscious of going out in the evenings?Joining Andrea to discuss is Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly and Journalist and Stylist, Laura Mullet.

Remember the Halloween’s of your childhood, where you'd drape a black bin bag over yourself and be a witch, or decorate the house with homemade things? Nowadays, shops are full of decorations aimed not just to scare, but terrify you!So, has Halloween become too gory?Andrea is joined by Horror Consultant Dr Sarah Cleary and listeners to discuss.Richard Quinlan also joins to share an upsetting experience he had due to the use of fireworks around the season as well.

How do you talk to your children about racism?Bethan O'Riordan and Stef McSherry, hosts of The Mum Mind Podcast, were discussing this important subject recently, and it can be difficult for parents to sometimes navigate.They, alongside Conor Buckley from the Human Collective, join Andrea to discuss.