Soundscape

Simon Tierney is joined by a panel of guests to do a run down of the best examples of Irish ingenuity, as voted for by Newstalk listeners, from the hypodermic needle to the humble cheese and onion crisp...

This programme was presented, produced and edited by the 2025 TY Media Week Students. This project was funded by Coimisiún na Meán.

Presented and produced by TY students.

Henry McKean ignites our festive spirit is this year's Christmas Cracker! Neven Maguire serves up some eleventh-hour Christmas dinner wisdom. We're on the hunt for the ultimate Christmas chart-topper with Pete Waterman, the maestro behind Stock Aitken & Waterman. Then there's "Mr. Christmas" himself, the one who keeps the yuletide vibe alive 365 days a year.In a harmonious twist, the National Symphony Orchestra serenades us with the enchanting Home Alone Soundtrack. The Ramparts, an all-male acapella ensemble, takes center stage to serenade us with their vocal prowess. For those looking to burn off some holiday indulgence, there's the Goal Mile.And, of course, we've got your Christmas Cocktails covered, courtesy of the Shed Distillery. Cheers to a truly spirited celebration!

Christian, Jack, Travis and Art look at the issues of online gambling.

Alannah, Hannah, Travis and Sophie look at the issue of copyright in music. Alannah chats with John Caddel from Today FM.

Part 1 of TY Takeover: Charlotte, Rachel and Abbie look at the issue of pushy parents on the sidelines in sport

Join Jess Kelly as she sits down with three junior ambassadors from The Shona Project to discuss the realities of being a girl in 2023.

Speaking to George Hook on Newstalk in 2008, the legendary actress Angela Lansbury spoke of her love for Ireland and explained that she sought Cork out as a sanctuary to shelter her family from the excesses of the drug culture in Hollywood. “We really needed to get away from California and the drug life and all of that,” she told George. “We had our problems, there’s no question about it so coming to Ireland was like beginning all over again and it afforded us that time to get back to basics really. We bought a house down in Cork and we gardened and I learnt to cook, really cook for the first time and used all the produce from the garden and so on. The kids worked around and got jobs in Ballymaloe House and places. We started a whole new life.” Speaking about Murder, She Wrote, the long-running TV series for which she has became a household name playing amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher, Angela admitted that while she loved playing the character: “I can’t put my nose out the door that people don’t recognise Jessica Fletcher so I have no real private life at all. The only place I’m really at ease is Los Angeles where people don’t watch Murder, She Wrote."

The votes are tallied and the public has spoken. Simon Tierney hosts the countdown of the five greatest Irish heroes of the last 100 years. Legends from the world of politics, sport and entertainment compete for the top spot, but there can be only one. Journalist Michael O'Regan, writer & broadcaster Barbara Scully, and Deputy Political Editor from The Irish Examiner, Elaine Loughlin give their take on the nation's choices

Simon Tierney presents another St. Patrick’s Day edition of Ireland’s Call on Newstalk.  In this two hour special Simon spoke to  the re-pats…quite simply, the Irish who have spent time living abroad but who have now repatriated back to these shores, because they just couldn’t resist the pull of the old sod.   Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

In the latest edition of Irelands call, Simon Tierney explores the stories of those who have made Ireland their home...the new Irish...those who have moved here for professional or family reasons and those who want to make this country their home but may be stuck in the purgatory of Direct Provision.    Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Success has become synonymous with financial wealth, influence and status.   But can we define success in another way -- one that welcomes a broader range of accomplishment?  It may not be as obvious as you think.   In this hour, TED speakers share ideas for what makes us successful. Tony Robbins makes it his business to know why we do the things we do. The pioneering life coach discusses the "invisible forces" that motivate everyone's actions. When Angela Duckworth was teaching seventh graders, she quickly realized that IQ wasn't the only thing separating the successful students from those who struggled. She explains her theory of "grit" as a predictor of success. Smile! It just might make you a success. Ron Gutman says your smile can be a predictor of how long you'll live -- and that a simple smile has a measurable effect on your overall well-being. Follow your passion? It won't make you successful, says Mike Rowe. He believes blue-collar workers, the people who make life possible for the rest of us, are unjustifiably degraded in society today -- and might be the most successful people. The conversation continues with Mike Rowe. The host of Dirty Jobs explains why he considers blue collar workers some of the happiest and most successful people he knows. Alain de Botton examines our ideas of success and failure -- and questions the assumptions underlying these two judgments. He makes an eloquent, witty case to move beyond snobbery to find true pleasure in our work. Listen and subscribe to Soundscape on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.          

Jason Reynolds is an award-winning author and National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. This hour, Jason speaks with Manoush about reaching kids through stories that let them feel understood. Host Manoush Zomorodi and her guest, National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Jason Reynolds, kick off the conversation with a look at Jason’s writing and impactful work with kids. He shares his journey from childhood through the start of his writing career. Host Manoush Zomorodi and author Jason Reynolds continue their conversation about Jason's path to becoming a New York Times bestselling author, despite nearly giving up on writing in his early 20s. Jason also reads a selection from his book Long Way Down, which he says is a call for empathy for children and their experiences. Host Manoush Zomorodi ends her conversation with author Jason Reynolds with a look at the work he does as National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, and a special announcement from the Library of Congress.   Listen and subscribe to Soundscape on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Food is one of life's greatest pleasures yet many of our food systems are flawed. This hour, TED speakers look to the past to reconnect with what we eat, and the present to reimagine our food future. Forager and TikTok influencer Alexis Nikole Nelson shares how the great outdoors has offered her both an endless array of food options and an outlet to reconnect with her food and her culture. The loss of Native American food traditions has been taking place for centuries. At Owamni, chef Sean Sherman is trying to change that by serving food that celebrates and preserves Lakota cooking. Social entrepreneur Jasmine Crowe has one mission: feed more, waste less. Her company Goodr is tackling food waste and getting food to those who need it most. How should we ethically feed our world? Are we supposed to return to organic pastoral practices or trust new technology? Journalist Amanda Little believes the answer lies in the middle.   Listen and subscribe to Soundscape on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

This week on the TED Radio Hour - Journalist Saleem Reshamwala tries to bring the openness of a traveller’s mindset to every new person, place and idea he encounters. This hour, Reshamwala gives us a tour of surprising people and places from his podcast Far Flung - Lima, Nairobi, and prehistoric New Jersey -- to inspire new perspectives on travel and cultures. Host Manoush Zomorodi and Saleem Reshamwala explore some of the unique perspectives Saleem has gained by traveling and reporting in places like Lima, Peru, where he met Liberato Kani, a Peruvian hip hop artist who raps in the indigenous language of Quechua as a form of resistance and Andean pride. Saleem Reshamwala talks with Manoush Zomorodi about some of his favorite places and ideas from his podcast, including the fun, fierce, and frivolous African art movement AFROBUBBLEGUM, which was co-founded by the filmmaker and TED speaker Wanuri Kahiu in Nairobi, Kenya. Host Manoush Zomorodi and Far Flung host Saleem Reshamwala continue their discussion about travel by looking at Saleem’s reporting in New Jersey and what he learned from paleontologist and TED Speaker Ken Lacovara, who sees places as much more than just the way they exist today. Listen and subscribe to Soundscape on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

This week on the TED Radio Hour - How can we create public places that feel welcoming and safe for everyone? This hour, TED speakers examine our physical and digital spaces—how they run, who they serve, and how to make them better. First up we ask if public places always fully meet the needs of a community? Shari Davis explains how participatory budgeting can give us all a voice in creating safer and more equitable public spaces. Next we speak to Eli Pariser who has an optimistic vision for our digital public spaces. He says that by structuring them like real-life parks, libraries, and town halls, we can create more welcoming, safe places online. The we meet Wikipedian Jake Orlowitz who describes how volunteers update the world's largest encyclopedia. And co-founder Jimmy Wales says the site must not only be a neutral space, but one that encourages diversity. Finally we have Artist Matthew Mazzotta who says that every community needs public spaces to gather, discuss, and address issues. He works with towns to reimagine overlooked buildings and give them a new public purpose. Listen and subscribe to Soundscape on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.      

This week on the TED Radio Hour - An SOS From The Ocean. For centuries, humans have relied on the oceans for resources and food... but even the deepest sea has its limits. This hour, TED speakers discuss how we can save our seas to save our planet. First up - Whales are more than just beautiful creature, they play a vital role in the ocean's ecosystem. Marine biologist Asha de Vos explains why protecting whales is crucial for protecting the entire sea. For marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, not knowing where our seafood comes from isn't just a mystery— it's a problem. She says we should reconsider what we eat and how we take it from the sea. In 1998, Alasdair Harris went to Madagascar to research coral reefs. He's worked there ever since. He explains the true meaning of conservation he learned from the island's Indigenous communities. Finally - Legendary oceanographer Sylvia Earle has been exploring and working to protect our oceans for more than half a century. Her message has stayed the same: we're taking our oceans for granted. Listen and subscribe to Soundscape on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Ahead of this week’s release of her new single, platinum-certified musician & Netflix star Haley Reinhart joins Ronan Mullen to discuss her remarkable journey. Having first shot to fame on American Idol, the Chicago native has since established herself as a trailblazing singer-songwriter,  encompassing genres from jazz & soul to rock and roll. The expansive scope of her range came into full focus on her 2019 record Lo-Fi Soul, Haley’s fourth studio album. Meanwhile, her take on the Elvis Presley classic, “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” received a platinum plaque from the RIAA and generated over 150 million Spotify streams and 70 million YouTube views within three years of its release. As a sought-after talent, she not only regularly collaborates with Post Modern Jukebox, but she also dueted with legendary star Jeff Goldblum on two tracks from the chart-topping jazz standards collection, The Capitol Studios Sessions. Beyond the realms of music, Haley stars in Bill Burr’s Netflix sitcom F Is For Family, and will soon debut in her first feature film: ‘We Can Be Heroes’.

In this week's Soundscape podcast, we hand over the national airwaves to a group of Transition Year students to discuss what really matters to them, in TY Teen Talk. This Transition Year Media Week programme is funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the Television License Fee and has been devised by Learning Waves.”     [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2020/02/13114407/TY-TEEN-POD.mp3"][/audio]