Róisín Meets...

Irish-Canadian author Ed O'Loughlin talks to Róisín Ingle about what motivated polar explorers to embark on perilous adventures into the unknown, the importance of making literary prize lists, and not being "worth it" for Twitter trolls. The former Irish Times foreign affairs correspondent was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2009 for his first novel, Not Untrue & Not Unkind, and his third novel, Minds of Winter, was published last August.

Irish singer Paddy Casey and his daughter Saoirse joined Róisín Ingle this week to help ease you into the New Year with a bevy of tunes. Paddy spoke about his upcoming new album and took a look back at his career, playing his new song Everything Must Change along with his biggest hit Saints and Sinners. His daughter, 20-year-old Saoirse Casey, sang two of her own songs during the podcast and talked about her plans to release an album some time in 2017.

The spotlight is on Santa this week on Róisín Meets. Mathematician Hannah Fry explains The Indisputable Existence of Santa Claus, while Róisín's daughters Joya & Priya report back on their trip to meet the man in the red suit at home in Lapland. And, as if that wasn't enough, we also have a festive ditty from Paddy Casey to get you in the mood for Christmas.

There's Christmas cheer aplenty as the Piccolo Lasso choir sing carols on the Róisín Meets podcast. Listen to the children's renditions of Deck the Hall, Joy to the World and O Holy Night, led by choirmaster extraordinaire, Ite O'Donovan. You can catch the Piccolo Lasso choir on December 18th at St Kevin’s Church, Harrington Street, SCR, Dublin 8, where they will also perform with a mini orchestra on Christmas day.

On this week's Róisín Meets, music memorabilia dealer and founder of www.popicons.com Laurence Carpenter talked to Róisín Ingle. He told her how selling Michael Jackson memorabilia kick-started his business and how he caught the 'collecting' bug from his father. He also spoke about some of the items currently in his collection, including a bag of underwear belonging to Bob Dylan fans, and revealed how he made $140,000 in one night, clearing his debts in the process.

On this week's Róisín Meets the cast of the play Murder of Crows tell the Róisín Ingle why Irish theatre needs more youth productions. Katie Honan, Amilia Stewart and Aisling O'Mara talk about why teenagers don't go to the theatre and how productions with young actors can help. They also talk about Waking the Feminists, Can't Cope, Won't Cope, and perform two extracts from Murder of Crows.

Cyberpsychologist Mary Aiken is this week's guest on the Róisín Meets podcast. She tells presenter Róisín Ingle that the internet is not fit for purpose. She explains why young children should not be allowed online, the dangers of teens getting caught up in Dark Nets and how science needs to catch up with developments in technology.

On the latest Róisín Meets podcast, singer Cathy Davey tells Róisín Ingle why children need empathy lessons. She talks about returning to music with new album New Forest after six years building the animal rescue she founded with her friends, My Lovely Horse Rescue, and how she got into trouble for writing dirty poems at school. Cathy also plays two songs - Thylacine off the latest album and All of You, from her second album Tales of Silversleeve.

British perfumer Jo Malone talks to the Róisín Meets podcast this week about her autobiography Jo Malone: My Story. She tells presenter Róisín Ingle what it was like growing up with her unique sense of smell and how she created a global brand from her kitchen. Jo also talks about being told she may not survive an aggressive form of breast cancer when her son was just two years old and how years later after leaving the company she founded, she started all over again with her brand Jo Loves.

Roddy Doyle is this week's guest on the Róisín Meets podcast. He talks about his latest children's book, Rover and the Big Fat Baby, The Commitments and writing for Roy Keane. The author also talks about the free children's writing workshops he co-founded, Fighting Words, and reveals he has a new book for adults on the way next September.

Mike McCartney talks to Roísín Ingle about life in the shadow of his Beatle brother. He is joined by journalist and Ross O'Carroll Kelly creator (and friend of the show) Paul Howard. Paul has written a new book about McCartney's friend, the Guinness heir Tara Browne, who died in 1966 at the height of the Swinging Sixties.

Former Coronation Street actor Kevin Kennedy and his The Commitments Musical co-star Andrew Linnie are this week's guests on the Róisín Meets podcast. The actors talk about getting their big breaks in the business, working with Roddy Doyle and Kennedy tells presenter Róisín Ingle about getting sober 18 years ago.

Author, columnist & playwright Michael Harding is this week's guest on the Róisín Meets podcast. He tells presenter Róisín Ingle that he never fails to spare, "the gory details of this sad eejit," in his writing and talks about the importance of authenticity. Harding discusses his new book, Talking to Strangers and he explains how an evening of storytelling can get "flirtatious and dangerous".

The stars and the director of Mattress Men talk to Roisin Ingle about the documentary on this week's Roisin Meets podcast. Michael Flynn, better known as his YouTube persona Mattress Mick is joined by the man who help create the character, videographer Paul Kelly, and director Colm Quinn to talk about the film.

Leo Moran and Davy Carton from the Saw Doctors joined Róisín Ingle for this week's podcast. They talked about going back on the road after a three year break, glorifying the mundane and writing new songs. The lads also played some of their greatest hits and their song Everyday, which featured in The Women's Podcast recently.

Irish author and writer of the Oscar winning film Room, Emma Donoghue, talks about her latest novel, The Wonder, on this week’s Róisín Meets podcast. She also talks to presenter Róisín Ingle about the “relentless” partying in the film world, meeting Cate Blanchett and stealing ideas for her stories from her children.

Cook and new author Sophie White talks eating your way through the bad times with her book Recipes for a Nervous Breakdown on this week’s Róisín Meets podcast. She also talks to presenter Róisín Ingle about her own mental health problems, her father’s Alzheimer's disease and being OK with bad parenting.

Derval O'Rourke, one of Ireland's greatest ever sprint athletes and now a best-selling cookbook author, meets Roísín to talk about honest, healthy food (with not too much kale), Pat Hickey and the OCI ticket scandal, who really deserves to fly first class to the Olympics, and the unwelcome circus that surrounds athletes every four years.

This week Roisin Ingle meets Seana Kerslake the star of newly released and already highly acclaimed Irish movie A Date for Mad Mary. The 24-year-old Dubliner from Tallaght got her first break in experimental movie Dollhouse by Kirsten Sheridan and is now being talked about as the new Scarlett Johansson. We just think she's the new Seana Kerslake. She talks to Roisin about growing up, acting and feminism.

Country music royalty Carlene Carter is the final Music Month final on the Róisín Meets podcast. She talks about growing up with Johnny Cash as a stepfather, battle addiction and finding love again. Carlene plays three songs live, including her version of Cash's hit, written by her mother June, Ring of Fire.