Listen Now

We're back for a one-off episode! Rachel and Ben were matched on First Dates and enjoyed the process so much that rather than dating each other, they decided to make a podcast about it. They chat about why they applied, what was going through their heads on the date and where they both are now. You can find Ben's Bridgerton podcast here. You can follow him on Twitter here.

It's safe to say that we've all stared at screens a lot more this year than any other year. Getting used to Zoom, Teams or even Skype hasn't been easy and our spines are definitely suffering because of it. Ciara has been working remotely for 4 years though so she's well used to it. She joins Rachel to chat about what those 4 years have been like, the advice she's been dishing out all year the those of us trying to get used to working from home and why she made the decision to move to Offaly in the middle of a pandemic. Follow Ciara on Twitter. Become a DTP patron.

Coming home for Christmas is something that Irish people love to do. There was plenty of controversy over an Irish Times article where some people said they would be coming home and not obeying the restrictions around isolating. Others have made the difficult decision not to come home at all. Darragh McKenna is one of those people. He joins Rachel to discuss what it's been like to be in Sweden throughout COVID, the decision not to come home to Ireland for Christmas and how it's been to watch Ireland from afar. Follow Darragh on Twitter. Become a DTP patron.

This is not goodbye forever, but it's goodbye for now. Thanks for everything.

Going to college is one of the most exciting parts of your life. It's a time where you can drink too much, meet new people and still manage to emerge with some qualification. COVID has of course changed all that with an increased focus on remote learning and lot more time spent looking at screens. So how are students coping and responding? Joining Rachel is a panel of students; Danny, a first year student in UCC, Michael a final year student in GMIT and Katie, a mature student in UCD to discuss their experiences and what it's been like to do college through COVID. Become a DTP patron.

It's a bit of an understatement to say "2020 has been a year". But it's especially been a year in Irish politics. An election that nobody really won, COVID and GolfGate are just some of the things that have plagued the political landscape. So who better to give his take on the year that's (almost) been than Group Political Correspondent for Communicorp, Seán Defoe.  Follow Seán on Twitter. Become a DTP patron.

Content Warning: This podcast contains descriptions of child sexual abuse and rape. It may not be suitable for all listeners. In 2020, Túsla ruled that Mick Finnegan's allegations of sexual abuse by a member of St John's Ambulance were "founded" when he was a teenager. Mick was groomed, abused and raped as a teenager by someone in power and by someone he trusted. That abuse has left deep scars, both physically and mentally. Mick joins Rachel to discuss what happened to him, how he was failed, how he has begun to heal and how he has learnt to forgive his abuser. Jack Power's article can be found here. The documentary on Mick can be found here. Follow Mick on Twitter. Become a DTP patron. If you have been affected by any of the topics raised in this podcast, there are services available to you. Dublin Rape Crisis Centre: 1800 778 888 One In Four: 01 662 4070 Childline: 1800 66 66 66 Crisis Text Line: 50808 Rape Crisis Network Ireland: 091 56 36 76

A topic that isn't easy to talk about is sexual health and in particular, sexually transmitted infections. The symptoms aren't pretty and sometimes they're not even detectable. That's exactly what happened to Jason Doyle when he was diagnosed with syphilis. Since then Jason has been working in community testing and is determined to make STIs less of a taboo subject as well as making information about them freely available. He joins Rachel to discuss his own experience as well as the development of his app iKnow.  Find out more about iKnow here. Become a DTP patron.

Content Warning: This episode contains extensive discussion about eating disorders and anorexia, it may not be suitable for everyone.  Eating disorders aren't easy to talk about. In fact according to the Butterfly Foundation, only between 5-15% of those suffering from an eating disorder will seek help with 85% reporting that treatment is hard to access. Aoife Mawn is one of those who did. She joins Rachel to discuss her eating disorder and battle with anorexia, why she doesn't believe you can be 100% recovered and how it took her a long, long time to realise she had a problem at all. If you have been affected by any of the topics raised in this podcast please contact the Bodywhys Helpline on (01) 2107906 or head to their website.

CONTENT WARNING: This podcasts contains discussion around suicide and attempted suicide. It may not be suitable for all listeners.    Oran Sludden has been through a lot for a 21-year-old. Described as a GAA prodigy when playing for his club, Oran suffered three cruciate injuries that kept him out of action for months. The isolation of the recovery sent him into a downward spiral, resulting in a dependency on alcohol and gambling. After two suicide attempts, Oran checked himself into a mental health facility in Derry and has been using 2020 to recover. He joins Rachel on the podcast to discuss his experience, chat about his recovery and setting up Project Hope and Beyond and the incredible power of opening up.     If you have been affected by any of the topics discussed in this podcast, please reach out to the following services; Crisis Volunteers: @Text5080   Samaritans: 116 123 Aware: 1800 804 848   Pieta House: 1800 247 247 Become a DTP patron. Project Hope & Beyond Oran's piece with the42.ie 

Dating is never easy but dating in a pandemic is nigh on impossible. The apps are dead, nobody wants to meet up (for good reason) and nobody knows when things are going to go back to normal. Teresa Coyne is one of these people. She joins Rachel to chat about dating pre-COVID and now, having to do some work on herself and becoming the Microsoft Paperclip to help men dump her. There is also a terrible Sinead O'Connor impression that we can only apologise for. Follow Teresa on Twitter. Become a DTP Patron.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode is a conversation about assisted suicide and may not be suitable for all listeners. The passing of Gino Kenny's Dying with Dignity Bill into Committee Stage has sparked a national discussion about death. Ireland has a history of doing death well but that doesn't mean we're comfortable talking about the prospect of our own death. Alannah Murray was on DTP a few months ago to talk about being in a wheelchair. She returns today to discuss why she's in favour of dying with dignity, having to face her own mortality several times in her childhood and living with an illness that will eventually kill her. If you have been affected by any of the topics raised in today's episode please contact Samaritans at 116 123. Become a DTP Patron. 

CONTENT WARNING: This podcast contains references to suicide and may not be suitable for all listeners.  Tom Savage is the founder of Three Red Kings, a website dedicated to Munster and Irish rugby. He's also a distinguished writer and commentator on the game. In fact, if you look at Tom's life, you'd never know that he'd recently been diagnosed with schizophrenia. He joins Rachel on the podcast to chat about the 14 years of "carnage" of delusions and paranoia that led to him going to a Garda station last year to report that people were following him and ending up in a psychiatric ward. He speaks candidly about his battle with his multiple realities, where he is now and what it's like to not be able to rely on what your mind is telling you. Become a Three Red Kings patron. Become a DTP Patron. Follow Tom on Twitter.

CONTENT WARNING: This podcast contains references to sexual assault. Transpeople have had to deal with a lot of shit over the past few years. The row over self-identification in England and Wales has led to a surge in transphobia in Ireland too. With JK Rowling being the latest British "feminist" to add her voice to the debate, it seems that trans people are the victims of the arguments that were made against giving LGBTQ+ people their rights 30 years ago. So why is this happening now and how do we stop it happening in Ireland? Joining Rachel on the pod to discuss it all is activist Aoife Martin. Become a DTP patron.  

It's long been asked why female participation in sport drops off in their teenage years compared to men. There is a multitude of answers but one of the main ones could be the perceived lack of female role models in sport and sports writing. Emma Duffy is one of these role models. An avid sports fan, she spends her days working for the 42 and her night's training or watching sport. She joins Rachel on the pod to chat about her love of sports, her love of her job and why you should never be afraid to mix it with the lads. Sign up to the 42 here. Follow Emma on Twitter. Become a DTP patron.

The way we consume our news has been changed forever by the introduction of the internet and social media. The most obvious example of this is Twitter where thousands and people can now follow their favourite journalists from across the world. One of the more popular Irish journalists is Virgin Media's Richard Chambers. He joins Rachel to discuss how Twitter has changed the way news is reported, the advantages and disadvantages of being so accessible to people and his "rivalry" with Gavan Reilly.  Follow Richard on Twitter. Become a DTP Patron.

Having a new baby is exciting and stressful at the best of times, nevermind in the midst of a global pandemic and lockdown. Things have changed for parents of newborns in a number of ways with grandparents having to keep their distance from their new grandchildren. So what's that been like for parents? Writer and terrible-take machine Steve O'Rourke returns to DTP to fill Rachel in on how the last few months have been for himself and his family with the arrival of his new son. Follow Steve on Twitter. Become a DTP Patron.

COVID has decimated the Irish arts scene with the cancellation of live performances until further notice. With no end in sight, the precarious industry now faces a battle for survival with artists having to find new ways to make a living. So how is the Irish music scene going to survive and what will it look like going forward? Joining Rachel to attempt to answer these questions as well as to set out the stall for why there are enough men with acoustic guitars in the Irish music scene is producer and singer Semi Olusa. You can find Semi's music here. Become a DTP patron.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder affects around 2% of the Irish population yet very little is understood about it. Its causes are unknown yet its effects are extremely real. Yet often, we only see the "neat freak" symptoms portrayed in popular culture rather than the debilitating intrusive thoughts that can overpower the sufferer on any given day. Journalist David Monaghan is one of these people who deals with OCD on a daily basis. He joins Rachel to discuss his diagnosis, his coping mechanisms and how something as simple as trying to learn a Green Day song on guitar can set off an avalanche of intrusive thoughts that are completely uncontrollable.  Follow David on Twitter. Become a DTP patron. 

It's safe to say that the Green Party haven't exactly impressed in their opening few weeks in the new government. Not only have they been dealing with criticism from the public, but criticism has been pretty forthcoming from within the party too. One of the more vocal critics is co-chair of the Just Transition Greens and Green Party Councillor, Lorna Bogue. She joins Rachel to discuss her issues with the programme for government, her experience in the Green Party and her vision for an Ireland that serves everyone. Follow Lorna on Twitter. Become a DTP Patron!