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The Hard Shoulder

Newstalk
Olympics
Kellie Harrington
Rhasidat Adeleke
Metro Link
Twitter
Olive Oil
Dublin Airport
Dublin
Driving Safety
Paul O'donovan
Fintan Mccarthy
Camogie
Social Media
RFK Jr.
US Election
Driver Behavior
Paris 2024 Olympics
Transportation Infrastructure
Corinthians Boxing Club
Nigel Farage

The Hard Shoulder on Newstalk. Join us every weekday afternoon from 4-7pm for a round-up of the day’s events, interviews with the people at the centre of the stories – and a bit of craic along the way.

CONVERSATION THAT COUNTS | Ireland’s national independent talk station for news, sport, analysis and entertainment

Listen to Newstalk at newstalk.com/listenlive | Download the GoLoud app now... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes6351Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Hard Shoulder

Latest Episodes

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joins Ciara Doherty to discuss the preparation you can do to make sure Christmas dinner goes off without a hitch!

EU leaders have pledged a €90 billion loan for Ukraine to meet urgent financial needs, but failed to agree on the preferred option for securing that loan against Russia’s frozen assets in the bloc.

For more on the implications of this, Ciara Doherty... more

Over the last twenty-five years, Ireland has changed. Our voices got louder. Our culture reached further, and some extraordinary people helped shape it all. From trailblazers in the arts and social change, to leaders in sport, music and on the big sc... more

With burglaries peaking over the festive season, a new national survey reveals that the impact of a break-in goes far beyond lost valuables.

The research shows that almost half of victims feel unsafe in their own homes afterwards, and a significant n... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Dr. Lisa Cunningham
Consultant in emergency medicine
Episode: How toxic are some of your cleaning products?
Regina Bushell
Chair of Seas Suas, a representative group for independent childcare providers
Seas Suas
Episode: Will the new Action Plan for Childcare work?
Norma Foley
Minister for Children
Episode: Minister Norma Foley talks new Action Plan on Childcare
Muireann Lynch
Senior Research Officer at the ESRI
Economic and Social Research Institute
Episode: Should households expect to pay for national grid upgrades?
Mairead Farrell
Spokesperson on Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation with Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Episode: Should households expect to pay for national grid upgrades?
Michael Regan
Fianna Fáil councillor in Galway
Fianna Fáil
Episode: How important is the Fianna Fáil Presidential race review?
Fionnan Sheahan
Ireland editor with the Irish Independent
Irish Independent
Episode: How important is the Fianna Fáil Presidential race review?
Emma Howard
Economist at TU Dublin
TU Dublin
Episode: Rate of inflation at highest point since February 2024
Sadhbh O'Neill
Project lead for Feminist Communities for Climate Justice, a joint project of the National Women's Council and Community Work in Ireland.
National Women's Council
Episode: Should we tolerate our public transport failing?

Host

Jonathan
Host of a weekday afternoon talk show focusing on current events, culture, and interviews with leading figures around timely topics of interest.

Reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars from 222 ratings
  • Stop shouting

    In all the Newstalk podcasts I have to turn up volume to hear guests and turn it down to hear presenter . Also you do not know more than your guest and stop talking across them and trying to be funny …grow up !

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    nxxxtt
    Ireland3 months ago
  • No Barrel Left Unscraped

    Friday’s show is always underwhelming.

    Maybe time for a new producer and someone to replace the bumpkin.

    Need to do something. The rest of the week is not much better these days. Disappointed!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mac an tSionnaigh
    United States8 months ago
  • Deeee seeeevning

    It’s “this evening” - awful show with terrible overuse of THEEEEEEE before everything. Note to presenter: reading a quotations book and spouting random clever references does not make you clever.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Johanes989
    Ireland9 months ago
  • Cringe

    This guy is so disingenuous. The posh accent is actually cringe

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    El Sham
    Irelanda year ago
  • Great!

    Kieran is a breath of fresh air after George/Ivan. Good command of detail and wry sense of humour at times. I like the travel slot, the head to head/common ground. Better week in review possible of a Friday. Very good at uploading podcasts quickly which is great.. V good on insta/social. So far this show is my preference to last word/Drivetime. Great show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    polcoranoraknot
    Ireland2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Feedback includes concerns about audio quality, specifically with volume inconsistencies during episodes.
Some listeners have expressed a need for more engaging content, particularly around frequent or familiar topics.
Mixed reviews exist regarding some hosts' presentation styles, with calls for improved interview techniques.
Listeners appreciate the humorous take on serious topics and the depth of discussion with guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#164
Ireland/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#27
Ireland/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How bad is Ireland’s GP shortage?
Q: How serious is the GP shortage now?
The GP shortage is especially pronounced in the commuter belt due to increased population, but improvements are being made to address this issue.
How bad is Ireland’s GP shortage?
Q: What has led to the increase in foreign doctors coming to train in Ireland?
Increased training places and changes in immigration laws, along with Ireland's reputation for providing excellent training, have drawn more overseas applicants.
How bad is Ireland’s GP shortage?
Q: Is this a negative that nearly half of all trainee GPs have come from outside of Ireland?
While there's an increase in GPs trained in Ireland, the concern lies in the retention of these doctors who may eventually return to their home countries.
Government changes mind on disbanding the RSA - why?
Q: What do you think the RSA could do to improve and accelerate the road safety message?
Susan highlights the increase in lives lost on the roads this year, emphasizing the RSA's lack of acknowledgment of serious issues.
Government changes mind on disbanding the RSA - why?
Q: Do you accept that that is the right course of action?
Shane expresses disbelief in the government's reasoning, saying the focus on costs sends the wrong message about road safety.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Hard Shoulder

What is The Hard Shoulder about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A mix of discussions focused on contemporary social and cultural issues, featuring interviews with noteworthy figures at the forefront of current stories. The content often balances serious topics with light-hearted banter, creating a dynamic flow between analysis, opinion, and entertainment. Typical episodes explore various themes such as political developments, health, and local events, aiming to engage listeners with a blend of information and humor that helps to contextualize newsworthy events while inviting audience participation in critical conversations.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Hard Shoulder?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Hard Shoulder. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Hard Shoulder and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Hard Shoulder get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Hard Shoulder?

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How many subscribers and views does The Hard Shoulder have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Hard Shoulder has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Hard Shoulder?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Hard Shoulder:

1. The Pat Kenny Show
2. The Last Word with Matt Cooper
3. Today with David McCullagh
4. The Anton Savage Show
5. Brendan O'Connor

How many episodes of The Hard Shoulder are there?

The Hard Shoulder launched 9 years ago and published 6351 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Hard Shoulder?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Hard Shoulder?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Hard Shoulder from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Hard Shoulder?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Hard Shoulder. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Hard Shoulder?

Recent guests on The Hard Shoulder include:

1. Dr. Lisa Cunningham
2. Regina Bushell
3. Norma Foley
4. Muireann Lynch
5. Mairead Farrell
6. Michael Regan
7. Fionnan Sheahan
8. Emma Howard

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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