Best The Lads Associate Podcasts (2025)

President John F. Kennedy attended a state dinner in Iveagh House on 28 June 1963 during his iconic visit to Ireland – here’s how the night unfolded.By RTÉ

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Meet George Ryan, the Tipperary Don Quixote in 18th century Peru 7:09

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3M ago7:09

7:09

The Tipperaryman's adventures as a grandee at large in South America involved everything from coca collection to debt collecting. By Richard Fitzpatrick, Maynooth University.By RTÉ

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Is it possible to create a healthy, tasty beer with no alcohol? 7:05

3M ago7:05

7:05

The sober-curious movement has seen sales of non-alcoholic drinks rocket, but do these beverages come with health benefits? By Ana Soriano and John Kenny, TeagascBy RTÉ

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How RIP.ie became an unlikely Irish cultural phenomenon 7:12

4M ago7:12

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Aside from publishing death notices and condolences, RIP.ie is also a rich source of significant personal, cultural and historical data. By Shannon Mora, TCD.By RTÉ

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Why micro-retirement has become a new workplace trend for Gen Z & millennials 6:09

4M ago6:09

6:09

One of the main factors driving the demand for micro-retirement breaks is the employee's desire to achieve a better work-life balanceBy RTÉ

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How bonus points have changed Leaving Cert Maths 8:35

4M ago8:35

8:35

There's no doubt that bonus points are driving the uptake of Higher Level maths, but the initiative has had unintended consequences. By Niamh O'Meara, University of Limerick; Páraic Treacy, MIC Limerick and Mark Prendergast, UCCBy RTÉ

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Here are 10 landmark GAA sites to visit in 2025 10:10

4M ago10:10

10:10

A bucket list of GAA destinations to explore, all offering unique social insight and powerful historical connections to Gaelic gamesBy RTÉ

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Why exemptions from studying Irish are an increasing phenomenon 5:39

5M ago5:39

5:39

We need a comprehensive plan for Irish in education and one that addresses the issue of exemptions in an inclusive fashionBy RTÉ

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How do EVs perform in the real world? Here’s what one Cork driver discovered 8:09

5M ago8:09

8:09

Gerald Bruton has learned a lot about range anxiety and capitalising on cheap electricity since buying his first EV at 81 years of ageBy RTÉ

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Why are my bills going up (and up) mid-contract? 8:13

6M ago8:13

8:13

Mid-contract price hikes may be legal, but the practice has been criticised as being unfair to consumers during a cost of living crisisBy RTÉ

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Do you have a middle-ageing brain? 5:58

6M ago5:58

5:58

Recent research suggests middle age could mark a shift in brain ageing with our blood in our 40s more informative about our brain in our 60s. By Sebastian Dohm-Hansen Allard, UCC.By RTÉ

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Why money doesn't always motivate employees 7:24

6M ago7:24

7:24

Research suggests the relationship between pay, motivation and performance is much more complicated than you might think. By Ann Masterson and Karen Feery, TU Dublin.By RTÉ

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Why you should be collecting and using rainwater 5:29

6M ago5:29

5:29

Rainwater harvesting is a possible small solution to some very big problems - and not just watering the garden. By Ruth Quinn, ATU Sligo.By RTÉ

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Why do we work? 24:52

7M ago24:52

24:52

A deep dive into the motivations, purposes and challenges about why we clock in from 9 to 5By RTÉ

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How social media has impacted on young people's mental health 57:42

7M ago57:42

57:42

Social media has amplified what young people think about body image, self-esteem and mental healthBy RTÉ

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All you ever wanted to know about Jupiter 33:02

7M ago33:02

33:02

Your guide to the Giant Red Spot, those large ocean-bearing oceans and the conditions which could support life on the planetBy RTÉ

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Where have all the Patricks gone? 48:48

8M ago48:48

48:48

The Patricks of Ireland have left a formidable mark, but the minds of new parents appear to have moved away from using that nameBy RTÉ

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How do you create a bike-friendly neighbourhood? 38:47

8M ago38:47

38:47

Here’s a checklist for communities who want to take action on traffic congestion, pollution and green transport in their areaBy RTÉ

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What can be done with 11,000 tons of used wind turbine blades? 30:25

8M ago30:25

30:25

Wind turbine blades don't last forever and 11,000 tons of them are due to be decommissioned in Ireland by the end of 2025, so where do they go and can they be reused?By RTÉ

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Rain, floods & storms: why weather conditions are getting wetter 49:35

8M ago49:35

49:35

We all can clearly see the effects of climate change on our weather events, with violent storms becoming more commonplace bringing damage and flooding in their wake. Here's why we need to look at the increasing deluges in a different way and what the future may hold for such a critical resource.By RTÉ

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The story of 3 wild Irish lives 1:05:08

9M ago1:05:08

1:05:08

Ireland has certainly been known for distinctive personalities over the years. Here, we profile the high times and unique worlds of Kerry music promoter Bill Fuller, Dublin artist Kathleen Cox and activist, politician and doctor Kathleen Lynn.By RTÉ

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How we’re tricked into buying new appliances 7:19

9M ago7:19

7:19

Different aspects of environmental literacy affect our repair or replace behaviour when it comes to home appliances. By Emma Delemere DCU.By RTÉ

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How the way you walk tells the story of your health 6:30

10M ago6:30

6:30

Your gait is a fundamental clinical measure of your health, including future changes in cognitive and emotional health. By Aidan Boran DCU.By RTÉ

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The golden age of video games is over 11:51

10M ago11:51

11:51

After years of blockbuster titles and massive creativity by designers and developers, video games just feel so tired now. By James O'Sullivan UCC.By RTÉ

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5 things our deposit return scheme can learn from other countries 9:47

10M ago9:47

9:47

From holders on bins to donating your deposit, there are plenty of small ways for us to collect even more bottles and cans. By Aoife Ryan-Christensen, Brainstorm.By RTÉ

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Where did all the historical Irish weather data go? 8:35

11M ago8:35

8:35

Hidden and lost weather observations contain hugely valuable information about historical climate variability and changes. By Kevin Healion, Simon Noone, David Smyth, Peter Thorne, Maynooth University; Ciara Ryan, Met Éireann and Ed Hawkins, University of Reading.By RTÉ

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How competitive is the Irish broadband market? 6:51

11M ago6:51

6:51

We should consider such factors as ease of movement between providers, increasing broadband speed and falling prices. By Catarina Marvão, TU Dublin.By RTÉ

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Do you work with a psychopath? Here's how to know 6:20

11M ago6:20

6:20

It is easy to be fooled by the charming behaviour of a psychopath in the workplace, but their meanness is a particularly sinister trait. By Melrona Kirrane, DCU.By RTÉ

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'Ireland's gate to hell': a Co Roscommon cave and the Otherworld 6:07

11M ago6:07

6:07

Oweynagat is a cave linked to many colourful tales in Irish folklore, especially around Halloween. By Gary Dempsey, ATU.By RTÉ

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Tornadoes in Ireland: yes, we get them and here's how many 8:25

12M ago8:25

8:25

We don't yet fully understood the science of tornadoes, but we get a surprising number of them in Ireland every year. By Aoife Ryan-Christensen, Brainstorm.By RTÉ

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From Germany to the US, the countries who plotted to invade Ireland 8:37

12M ago8:37

8:37

History records that Ireland has long occupied a place in the strategic military planning of other nations. By David Murphy, Maynooth University.By RTÉ

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Meet Anne O'Brien, the legendary soccer star from Inchicore 6:32

12M ago6:32

6:32

A 'wizard on the ball', O'Brien became one of the first Irish women to play the game at an international level 50 years ago. By Helena Byrne, British Library.By RTÉ

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Why we need a new bidding process for buying homes in Ireland 6:44

1y ago6:44

6:44

Reforming the bidding process could potentially achieve some much needed stability for prospective home owners. By Aoife Ryan-Christensen, Brainstorm.By RTÉ

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Here's the real cost of your morning rush hour commute in Dublin 10:22

1y ago10:22

10:22

The travel costs of getting from your home to work includes much more than just the price of petrol or the bus fare. By Conor O'Driscoll, University of Groningen and Kevin Credit, Maynooth University.By RTÉ

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Why do some people have no sense of direction? 6:36

1y ago6:36

6:36

When it comes to knowing where you are, multiple factors feed into your ability to know where things or places are located. By Aoife Ryan-Christensen, Brainstorm.By RTÉ

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A step by step guide to how one Cork homeowner cut his energy costs 6:47

1y ago6:47

6:47

Gerald Bruton's campaign to cut energy costs and emissions involved both new technologies and behavioural change. By Ken Bruton, UCC.By RTÉ

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Why doctors and nurses should use more plain language and less jargon 6:10

1y ago6:10

6:10

We need a prescription to end the confusion of patients leaving hospitals, pharmacies and GP surgeries with more questions than answers. By Laura Jane Sahm, UCC.By RTÉ

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How Irishman William Howard Russell invented modern war reporting 8:07

1y ago8:07

8:07

The Dublin-born correspondent of The Times became synonymous with the work of the war reporter in the 19th century. By David Murphy, Maynooth University.By RTÉ

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5 reasons why it’s so difficult to get a divorce in Ireland 7:21

1y ago7:21

7:21

Getting divorced in Ireland is not as simple as just signing a piece of paper and moving on. By Méabh Browne, TU Dublin.By RTÉ

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Wreckers and levellers: evicting Ireland's poor during the Great Famine 9:06

1y ago9:06

9:06

These reviled figures were involved in the evictions of some 250,000 Irish families during the 1840s and 1850s. By Ciarán Reilly, Maynooth UniversityBy RTÉ

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The successful 'back to basics' approach of farming in The Burren 5:48

1y ago5:48

5:48

The BurrenLIFE project developed a blueprint for sustainable farming to meet the needs of both farmers and the environment. By Anne Kinsella, Teagasc.By RTÉ

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Why Irish field names and local placenames need to be recorded 6:40

1y ago6:40

6:40

These names are real signifiers of our diverse native landscape and are shaped by local knowledge and past generations. By Aengus Ó Fionnagáin, University of Limerick.By RTÉ