Rephonic
Artwork for Brendan O'Connor

Brendan O'Connor

RTÉ Radio 1
Ireland
Artificial Intelligence
Dublin
Donald Trump
Cork
Swimming
Pokemon
Sea Swimming
Waterford
Travel
Adoption
Blazing Salads
Car Technology
Boundaries (concept)
Hydration
Climate Change
A Nation Once Again
Six Nations
Prediction Markets
Dew Rolling

Brendan O'Connor has all you need for the weekend with time to pause and reflect on the week just gone. Featuring a selection of human interest, consumer and lifestyle stories, as well as keeping you up to date on the news stories that matter. Listen live Saturday and Sunday at 11am - 1pm on RTÉ Radio 1.

PublishesDailyEpisodes113Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentaryNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Brendan O'Connor

Latest Episodes

Chartered physiotherapist, Aisling Frawley discusses the true value of warming up before sustained exercise. She talks Dearbhail through some key warm-ups for anyone going for a run, playing a match, or heading to the gym. She also provides tips on w... more

Best-selling writer Caitlin Moran talks ditching doomscrolling, finding hope in a heartfelt, practical way and how her "furry Fitbit" dog Luna reminds her to play; all explored in her new book 'How to be Hopeful: A Year of Living Joyfully'.

See omn... more

As US President Donald Trump visits Ireland, Dearbhail is joined for live analysis by CEO of ActionAid Ireland, Karol Balfe; Professor of Politics at UCC, Theresa Reidy; Aontú leader, Peadar Tóibín; US political strategist, Lindy Li and Law Lecturer ... more

Broadcaster and comedian Patrick Kielty talks about stand-up during dark times and family life with his boys, as he takes us through his life in five songs, with stories about Roy Orbison playing the Parochial Hall in Dundrum Co. Down and The Stone R... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Ciara O'Brien
Business and technology journalist for the Irish Times
Irish Times
Episode: "When a new Grand Theft Auto comes out many people take a day off work to play it"
Róisín Kiberd
Writer and journalist; author of The Most Normal Woman, Essays on Appearances
Tramp Press
Episode: "‘Mar-a-Lago Face’ is now being requested from cosmetic doctors"
Jacqui Hurley
RTÉ Sports presenter
RTÉ
Episode: "There won't be a dry eye in Croke Park tonight when 'Grace' is sung before Katie's fight"
Bronagh Gallagher
Actor, singer, and activist from Derry
Actor/Singer
Episode: Bronagh Gallagher - "I met Aretha and told her she was our queen"
Lucy Fisher
Whitehall editor, Financial Times
Financial Times
Episode: 'Dan Jukes was often described as "like a son" to Nigel Farage'
Yotam Ottolenghi
Chef, author of Ottolenghi Simple Too; co-author Verena Lochmuller
Ottolenghi (brand)
Episode: Yotam Ottolenghi - "I crush crisps onto my salads for fun!"
Pól Ó Conghaile
Travel editor of the Irish Independent
Irish Independent
Episode: Off-Peak Travel - "A €30 flight jumps up to €250 during midterm break"
Ryan Caldwell
Former Ulster and Ireland rugby player, author of White Lines, A Rugby Life Broken and Rebuilt
Author, former rugby player
Episode: "How did I go from playing for Ireland to a prison cell?"
Garron Noone
Musician, comedian, social media influencer
Independent artist
Episode: Garron Noone - “I couldn’t leave the house, so they sent me to the priest!”

Host

Brendan O'Connor
Host of the show

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 773 ratings
  • The Race-to-the-Bottom continues.🙄

    This show was once a staple. I have difficulty describing what it’s become. It has degenerated into a cooking show apart from the now very very occasional worthwhile guest. Time for a new production team or cancel the show.

    “Sprucing Up Your Packed Lunch”-Seriously! Why even bother. Nonsense!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mac an tSionnaigh
    United Statesa month ago
  • The Race-to-the-Bottom continues.🙄

    This show was once a staple. I have difficulty describing what it’s become. It has degenerated into nonsense apart from the now very very occasional worthwhile guest. Time for a new production team or cancel the show.

    “Sprucing Up Your Packed Lunch”-Seriously! Why even bother. Nonsense!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mac an tSionnaigh
    United Statesa month ago
  • Propaganda

    Propagandist

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Lenboy70
    Ireland2 months ago
  • The Race-to-the-Bottom continues.🙄

    This show was once a staple. I have difficulty describing what it’s become. It has degenerated into nonsense apart from the now very occasional worthwhile guest. Time for a new production team or cancel the show.

    “Sprucing Up Your Packed Lunch”-Seriously! Why even bother. Nonsense!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mac an tSionnaigh
    United States3 months ago
  • John carney interview

    An excellent interview Brendan! What an interesting guest John Carney is. I could have listened to you both for hours. He was so open,natural,funny. All the qualities you need in a good guest. Definitely bring John back again! It’s great when you have someone who’s not afraid to talk about their life,someone who’s not guarded and cagey! Well done to you both!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    fiomah
    Ireland4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate thoughtful, human-centered conversations and credible guest perspectives.
Some reviews criticize pacing or editorial choices but praise strong interview moments and guest diversity.
Positive notes frequently mention host empathy and engaging interviews with notable guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

"‘Mar-a-Lago Face’ is now being requested from cosmetic doctors"
Q: What was it about Botox and the beauty industry that drew you in?
She describes Botox as one of the most expensive and intriguing substances, noting its dual uses in aesthetics and medicine, and explains how its Irish production, in particular, captured her imagination, while also acknowledging the broader moral and feminist questions surrounding its popularity.
"‘Mar-a-Lago Face’ is now being requested from cosmetic doctors"
Q: Listen, it is, I was wondering how this book started for you.
The guest explains that her writing often begins from a personal curiosity about how we care about appearances, and she is drawn to subjects that seem shallow at first glance but reveal depth and complexity when explored.
Paul Howard on Irish unity - “A new capital in the bellybutton of Ireland”
Q: So what are you going to do with it now?
Howard describes not having concrete touring plans yet, since the work was tailored to the actors in the project, but hints at continued development and potential future adaptations.
Jon Ronson - “When men try out vulnerability, women sometimes recoil in horror”
Q: Do you see a path back to structure and meaning for this generation?
He offers a cautious optimism, suggesting that restoring meaningful structures and environments—beyond social media—could redirect energy toward healthier pursuits, while acknowledging that current dynamics have a powerful momentum that will take deliberate societal effort to shift.
Jon Ronson - “When men try out vulnerability, women sometimes recoil in horror”
Q: What does the book suggest about the appeal of content creation as a route to significance?
Ronson argues that many young men (and some women) are drawn to online fame as a substitute for traditional institutions, with algorithms amplifying extreme or provocative content as a shortcut to social validation and money.

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 Brendan O'Connor

What is Brendan O'Connor about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show is a weekend current-affairs and human-interest program anchored by a personable host who guides conversations across a wide spectrum of topics. It features interviews with artists, chefs, health professionals, climate researchers, and public figures, blending personal storytelling with practical insights on healthcare, food, culture, and policy. Across episodes, listeners can expect thoughtful questions, accessible explanations of complex topics, and a mix of panel moments and in-depth conversations. A distinctive thread is the emphasis on human experiences—from creativity and resilience to health and climate action—delivered with warmth and humor that make weighty topics approachable for a broad audience.

Where can I find podcast stats for Brendan O'Connor?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Brendan O'Connor. 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 Brendan O'Connor and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Brendan O'Connor get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Brendan O'Connor, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Brendan O'Connor?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Brendan O'Connor, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Brendan O'Connor have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Brendan O'Connor 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 Brendan O'Connor?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Brendan O'Connor:

1. Today with David McCullagh
2. The Pat Kenny Show
3. The Claire Byrne Show
4. The Last Word with Matt Cooper
5. The Indo Daily

How many episodes of Brendan O'Connor are there?

Brendan O'Connor launched 7 years ago and published 113 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 Brendan O'Connor?

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 Brendan O'Connor?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Brendan O'Connor 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 Brendan O'Connor?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Brendan O'Connor. 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 Brendan O'Connor?

Recent guests on Brendan O'Connor include:

1. Ciara O'Brien
2. Róisín Kiberd
3. Jacqui Hurley
4. Bronagh Gallagher
5. Lucy Fisher
6. Yotam Ottolenghi
7. Pól Ó Conghaile
8. Ryan Caldwell

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days