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The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Today FM
Ireland
Donald Trump
Iran
Artificial Intelligence
Climate Change
Premier League
United States
Manchester City
Kevin Keegan
Gianni Infantino
Oasis
Manchester United
E-Scooters
Daniel Kinahan
El Niño
World Cup
Katie Taylor
Energy Prices
Copenhagen
Ed Sheeran

On Ireland's most cutting edge current affairs show, Matt and his guests provide a running stream of intelligent opinions and heated debates on the issues that matter most to Irish listeners. You might not always agree, but you'll never want to miss a Word.

PublishesDailyEpisodes3533Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Latest Episodes

Writer Veronica Roth is the latest guest on The Culture Club!

Author of the bestselling young adult series Divergent, which she has recently revived, Roth joins The Last Word to discuss her favourite music, movies and of course books.

Catch the fu... more

Documentary-maker Sinéad O'Shea talks to Will O'Callaghan about her feature length film, All About The Money. It centers on former US heir to the Cox family fortunes, who sold his shares and set up a commune, and how he ended up in Ireland.

To catch... more

A new survey by Royal London has shown that most people predict they’ll need over €3,500 per month to live comfortably in retirement, but just 40% of those asked are confident that their current savings make that possible. Charlie Weston joins Will O... more

Former Ireland footballer James McClean has released his autobiography ‘The Walls’.

He speaks to The Last Word about growing up in Derry, the criticism he received when he refused to wear a remembrance poppy while playing football in the UK, and the... more

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Recent Guests

James McClean
Former Republic of Ireland international footballer and author of The Walls
Episode: The Last Word Meets James McClean
Vincent Browne
Journalist and broadcaster
Episode: The Life And Times Of Charles Haughey
Marion McKeone
US correspondent and journalist
Episode: The Last Word On The US: Polls Show Democrats Could Win Senate & House In Midterms
Cal Thomas
American political commentator and columnist
Episode: The Last Word On The US: Polls Show Democrats Could Win Senate & House In Midterms
Dave Hanratty
Music writer and host of the No Encore podcast
No Encore
Episode: The Week Trending: Airbnb Guests Freed From Chores, Fontaines DC Condemn AI, & Is Dublin Really The 6th Best City In The World?
Emma Nolan
Episode: The Week Trending: Airbnb Guests Freed From Chores, Fontaines DC Condemn AI, & Is Dublin Really The 6th Best City In The World?
Paul Kearns
Journalist based in Tel Aviv
Episode: Seismic Election Expected Next Week As Israelis Go To The Polls
Andy O'Donoghue
Technology journalist and commentator
Episode: Tech Thursday: Websites Across The World Vulnerable To Hacking
Emma Heatherington
Bestselling author of eighteen novels, including Together For Christmas
Penguin
Episode: Emma Heatherington: Together For Christmas

Hosts

Matt Cooper
Host of The Last Word, central figure in most episodes, with a long-running role in Irish media
Danny McConnell
Host and audience-facing presenter, often filling in for Matt Cooper and contributing to segments including personal finance

Reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars from 578 ratings
  • Love Matt Cooper

    In general, I absolutely love this show and Matt Cooper is a fantastic host. The only negative - and it’s a big one - is Cal Thomas. It baffles me as to why Today FM platform such a right wing Trumpian bigot who uses every opportunity to ‘other’ anyone not from the ‘West’ as cave dwelling bombers. He is absolutely disgusting and is a blight on the show.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    YerOne73
    Australia3 months ago
  • John Gibbins

    He is an absolute tool 🙄

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Big Mikey 1
    Ireland5 months ago
  • Cut the ads!

    I’m giving one star because although I like listening to most of the content when I tried to listen to a 20 minute podcast I had to give up after 6 ads! There aren’t that many ads in a podcast that’s an hour long! A radio show shouldn’t need all this advertising on their segments from the show. I didn’t even make it to the end and I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more. Very disappointing Today FM!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Musicmas9
    Irelanda year ago
  • Covid clown

    Remember this presenter during the scam demic

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    thatonedinosaur
    Irelanda year ago
  • Update podcasts faster

    I like the content but the segments are either updated irregularly or not at all. I often miss them live but try to catch them later on the pod and a lot of the time they’re just not there

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    AdamConnaughton
    Irelanda year ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality coverage on current affairs with credible guest insights and clear host guidance.
Guests deliver sharp, informed commentary; dynamic banter keeps debates lively.
Some listeners seek quicker podcast updates and more balanced perspectives.
Engaging host with strong interviewing, but audiences call out heavy advertising and upload delays.
Editorial voice and guest variety attract a dedicated audience, though pacing and tech clarity could improve.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Ireland Built Its National Children's Hospital (At Any Cost)
Q: How did the price get so spectacularly out of control?
Cullen points to underestimated costs, overoptimism, institutional rivalry, an elaborate design and a difficult inner-city site. Delays and external events, including Brexit, the war in Ukraine and the pandemic, added further pressure.
How Ireland Built Its National Children's Hospital (At Any Cost)
Q: Did you find when you started digging into it for the book, did you discover that the problems were far worse than even you could have imagined?
Cullen says he looked beyond the construction figures to the history of children's healthcare and the inadequate conditions in older hospitals. He argues that the country's healthcare improved while infrastructure for seriously ill children lagged.
How 32 Irish Female Writers Came Together To Write About Their Fears
Q: What scares the crap out of you?
Sam Blake says escalators frighten her, partly because she often fell downstairs as a teenager. Her contribution to the anthology is about birds, inspired by her love of Daphne du Maurier.
How 32 Irish Female Writers Came Together To Write About Their Fears
Q: Tell us about Fear. Where did the idea come from, and what made you decide to bring together a collection of stories exploring this particular emotion?
Sam Blake explains that the anthology grew from a WhatsApp group of Irish female crime writers, where members shared their unusual fears. She proposed turning those conversations into a short-story collection, and the group immediately embraced the idea.
The Last Word On The US: Trump Criticises Zelensky
Q: Do you think there is still a realistic possibility of a negotiated settlement? Do you think relations now between Washington and Kiev is so strange that progress is becoming increasingly difficult?
McKeone calls the negotiations a charade, arguing that Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff lack the authority and formal qualifications to negotiate for the United States. She says Trump's personal grievances toward Zelensky shape his approach.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Last Word

What is The Last Word about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show blends current affairs with sharp cultural and policy takes, often pairing heavy-weight topics with accessible, conversational banter. Recent episodes mix aviation safety and regulatory issues with political commentary, along with tech buying guidance for students and in-depth discussions on sports governance and notable global affairs. A hallmark is a rigorous panel approach combined with approachable storytelling, including travel and culture segments that ground complex issues in everyday experience. The format frequently features high-profile guests, policy-minded conversations, and sector-specific experts, making it useful for listeners who want timely context on politics, economy, technology, and society in Ireland and beyond... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Last Word?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Last Word:

1. The Pat Kenny Show
2. Path to Power
3. Today with David McCullagh
4. Brendan O'Connor
5. The Indo Daily

How many episodes of The Last Word are there?

The Last Word launched 21 years ago and published 3533 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Last Word?

Recent guests on The Last Word include:

1. James McClean
2. Vincent Browne
3. Marion McKeone
4. Cal Thomas
5. Dave Hanratty
6. Emma Nolan
7. Paul Kearns
8. Andy O'Donoghue

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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