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Emmet Ryan Connected editor and journalist with The Sunday Business Post joined Mario today to talk sport in the era of Covid.  Are you still getting enjoyment from watching sport in the absence of fans? To hear the full chat press the Play button below.  [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2020/10/11135517/Emmet-Ryan.mp3"][/audio]  

David Quinn, Director of the Iona Institute and columnist with the Sunday Times joined Mario today to discuss his idea of conservatism , his opinions of assisted suicide, church services in the pandemic and more on Mario`s Sunday Roast. To hear the full chat press the Play button below.  [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2020/10/11154706/David-Quinn.mp3"][/audio]

Leader of The Late Late Show House Band -the Camembert Quartet, Paddy Cullivan joins Mario today for this week's story behind the song. He pays tribute to Eddie Van Halen who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 65. The chosen song is "Jump" , released in December 1983 as the lead single from their album 1984. This was  Van Halen's most successful single to date, reaching number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100. To hear the full chat press the Play button below. 

In early November in the states democracy will appear to be hanging by a thread - not only might Trump "refuse to leave" if he loses - he may also attempt to steal a lost election by exploiting a peculiar loophole in the American electoral system. Mario discusses the loophole in more detail on Mario`s Sunday Roast panel; To hear the full chat press the Play button below.  [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2020/10/11151646/Democracy.mp3"][/audio]

This weekend saw us celebrate world mental health day- so we are allowing ourselves to be "Covid Cranky". Suzanne Kane co-host of the Dubland Podcast brings the covid cranky topic to the roast. She feels that while we are all doing our best to keep a positive outlook - its completely ok to admit you might be in an absolute fouler or tell someone to shove your zoom quiz! To hear the full chat press the Play button below.  [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2020/10/11135611/Suzanne-Kane.mp3"][/audio]

Aileen Hickie, Barrister and CEO of Parentline joined Mario for the panel on Mario`s Sunday Roast where many topics get thrashed over and debated. Aileen brought the subject of "witch hunting" and "curtain twitching" to the panel . She is finding the blaming of younger people in society for not taking care in the pandemic completely unfair , in her view they are being unfairly positioned as trouble makers. To hear the full chat press the Play button below.  [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2020/10/06095313/Aileen-Hickey.mp3"][/audio]

CNN Reporter Donie O`Sullivan talks to Mario on Mario`s Sunday Roast on the week that was in US Politics . To hear the full chat press the Play button below.  [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2020/10/06122200/Donie-O-Sullivan.mp3"][/audio]

Mario discusses the de-platforming of scientist and author Richard Dawkins from Trinity College. The College Historical Society (the Hist) has rescinded its invitation to Richard Dawkins to address the society next year. The chairperson of the Hist- Brid O`Donnell read his Wikipedia page and researched him briefly and released a statement on her Instagram page advising she had been “unaware of Richard Dawkins’ opinions on Islam and sexual assault until this evening”, adding that the society “will not be moving ahead with his address as we value our members comfort above all else”. There was much discussion after this announcement that this perhaps was the wrong decision and the object of debate in some cases will unavoidably, well. cause offense? Marios discusses! To hear the full chat press the Play button below.  [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2020/10/06104103/Richard-Dawkins.mp3"][/audio]

Nicola Tallant is the foremost authority on gangland crime in Ireland. A journalist for 20 years she is three times winner of the prestigious Newsbrands Crime Journalist of the Year Award and currently holds the title. Nicola says: “In writing this book I hope to take the reader right into the dark heart of gangland, a place where a bullet in the head is just another way of doing business. The Witness is undoubtedly the most extraordinary story of my career. Joey 'The Lips' O'Callaghan was groomed into the underworld as a young child but as he became a man he broke all the rules and his story is a testament of how good can win out over bad.” The evidence he gave won murder convictions against two of the most violent drug bosses in Ireland. Relocated to England with a new identity, Joey had to face the world alone, and soon realised it was he who had received a life sentence. 15 years on, the ripple effects of the gunshots that rang out that night continue to leave a devastating legacy for everyone. To hear the full chat press the Play button below.  [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2020/10/06092052/Nicola-Tallant.mp3"][/audio]

Pamela Blake producer with Today FM joined Mario today to take a look at a song from one of the most iconic albums of the 90s -Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette. Alanis was due to play the 3 Arena this month, and this song along with the other classics on the album Jagged Little Pill no doubt would have been performed.         Alanis Morissette made the album in 1994 in a explosion of creative freedom. She was just after being dropped by her Canadian record label because she wanted to create her own music. She was 19 years of age when she went against the industry, reclaimed her image back after many years as a teenage pop star in Canada. The album “Jagged Little Pill” co-written and produced by Glen Ballard, won Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album and Album of the Year, and was ranked by the Rolling Stone as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. It has also been made into a musical performed on Broadway.     The song "Right Through You" is a rebellious grunge song with lyrics directed at creepy record bosses who preyed on female artists . Her lyrics explicitly depicting how they were only interested in preying on the artist rather than being interested in their career. To hear the full chat press the Play button below.  [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2020/10/04212623/See-Right-Through-You.mp3"][/audio]  

Last week Today FM's Matt Cooper revealed on The Last Word for first time that he has been living with Type 2 Diabetes . Matt is busy man but quite a health conscious one and his announcement took many by surprise. Matt joined Mario on Mario's Sunday Roast to chat about his diagnosis, saying, "We do a health spot on the Last Word and I thought it would be a bit dishonest not to discuss Type 2 diabetes without saying 'well actually as it happens, I have the condition and this is my experience with it" and be of use to some people listening." To hear the full chat press the Play button below. where Matt brings us through the full story of how he discovered he has Type 2 diabetes. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2020/08/31180007/Matt-MSR.mp3"][/audio]

Philip O’Connor is a journalist and broadcaster and this autumn, as America goes to the polls to select a new president in what promises to be one of the most exciting and divisive political elections in history, Philip is aiming to do something that has never been done before . Record 50 podcasts from all 50 states in just 50 days. Every day will bring a new update from the American heartland to help people better understand the issues that matter to ordinary Americans. Philip joined Mario for Mario's Sunday Roast to discuss his plan of action, 'Instead of sitting at a desk rewriting press releases or talking to academics and other journalists and regurgitating opinion polls that turn out to be wrong, I’m going to hit the road through all 50 states for 50 days and see what they have to say. "I’m going to visit diners and laundromats, gyms and gas stations, main streets and city halls to find out exactly what they are thinking and what will influence how they cast their votes." [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2020/08/21183623/Podcasts-MSR.mp3"][/audio]

Sunscreen was released in 1999, and is a spoken word recording, consisting of a series of nuggets of wisdom or advice for people, set to a nice mellow but downbeat electronic track. The voiceover is provided by an Australian actor called Lee Perry. The backing is the choral version of "Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)", a 1991 song by Rozalla, used in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet. Broadcaster Joe Donnelly joined Mario for Mario's Sunday Roast to chat about the Story Behind The Song 'Sunscreen.' On why he thinks the song strikes such a chord Joe says, "I think it was one of those songs that will have really meant something to people leaving school or college at the time, or embarking on – or ending – a relationship. "At it’s heart the piece – to me anyway – is about time and age. It’s about trying to limit the amount of regrets you’ll have in your life. It’s about self-compassion and kindness. It’s about coming to terms with how quickly the past becomes the past. "One of my favourite lines is: ‘Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth, oh, never mind / You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded’. It’s just part of life and growing up that you realise so many things after time has passed, when you’re looking back. I saw a great line recently, can’t quite recall it fully, but it was something like: ‘Life experience is the exam for which there was no text book’. I think that’s kind of the essence of this song. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2020/08/21181049/TSBTS-MSR.mp3"][/audio]

TikTok made headlines this week as Donald Trump signed an executive order banning it, forcing the company to sell its American branch. The order comes as news of TikTok's plans to sett up a data centre in Ireland were revealed. There are numerous concerns about the apps privacy settings and how much access the app has to stuff like your clipboard and exact location. People complain about Facebook and it’s use of data but TikTok is apparently worse.   So what is it about TikTok that has seen usage of the App explode over the last 12 months and why does Donald Trump hate it so much? Internet comedian Michael Fry joined Mario for Mario's Sunday Roast to discuss. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2020/08/11154844/MSR-TIKTOK.mp3"][/audio]

Back in the spring of 1993 New Order hit us with Regret. Things were never the same for New Order after the release of this track so it’s a bit of a swan song for the band. It was New Order’s biggest hit aside from Blue Monday. This week Today FM's Paul McLoone picked Regret for The Story Behind The Song on Mario's Sunday Roast. Paul says Regret brings back loads of memories of his time as The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show producer, as years ago Paul chose this as the theme tune for the Breakfast show. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2020/08/10170320/TSBTS.mp3"][/audio]

American indie pop band Foster the People released Pumped Up Kicks as the group's debut single. Despite it's upbeat melody, the lyrics describe the homicidal thoughts of a troubled youth. The lines in the chorus warn potential victims to "outrun my gun" and that they "better run, better run, faster than my bullet." Today FM's Suzanne Kane joined Mario for Mario's Sunday Roast, to delve into The Story Behind The Song. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2020/08/05174254/MSR-TSBTS.mp3"][/audio]

With school out for summer as the Dail takes it's usual six week long holiday, we took a look back at some Dail moments which stand out more than others. There's nothing more like car crash TV when it all kicks off amongst our representatives. John Drennan, political correspondent, joined Mario for Mario's Sunday Roast, to go behind the scenes of the most memorable spats in the Dail. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2020/08/05171115/MSR-DAIL-SPATS.mp3"][/audio]

All schools are set to reopen next month.   One of the big questions now is how will kids adapt psychologically to being back in school. Will younger kids experience separation anxiety after having spent several months with their parents (and vice versa)? Will older students adapt to all of the changes brought into the classrooms? Aileen Hickey, CEO, Parentline joined Mario's Sunday Roast to chat about the concerns she feels parents will have about a return to school. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2020/07/31152417/MSR-BACK-TO-SCHOOL.mp3"][/audio]

It's hard to believe that Pulp's Common People was released 25 years ago. The overall theme of the song is the over-romanticised empathy with “poor folk” popular among wealthy students. As for the women talked about in the song? There were rumours that it was the wife of former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis but Cocker still hasn’t revealed it. Alison Curtis joined Mario for The Story Behind The Song. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2020/07/30180927/TSBTS.mp3"][/audio]

The world today looks very different to the world we remember from six months ago. We lost a lot of freedom in the first half of 2020, all in a bid to try and halt to the spread of Covid-19. The whole world shut down in March 2020, and we have been struggling with the repercussions of not being able to leave our homes, see our family, and plan our future ever since. If someone had told you how 2020 would pan out last year you would have said, 'That will not happen.' However, should we start getting used to the idea that our world is changing and there's no going back? And the biggest changes are yet to come? Environmental commentator John Gibbons joined Mario's Sunday Roast to walk us through an essay getting a lot of traction online. It outlines the end of human civilisation, decade by decade, starting with the breakdown of life as we know it in the 2020s, to the breakdown of vital systems in the 2030s to the eventual eradication of human life by the 2040s. The author of the essay, Umair Qaque says, 'The end of human civilization is now easy enough to see, over the next three to five decades. It’s made of climate change, mass extinction, ecological collapse, and the economic depressions, financial implosions, political upheavals, pandemics, plagues, floods, fires, and social breakdowns all those will ignite.' You can read the full essay here. Catch Mario and John's full chat by pressing the play button below. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2020/07/27145754/MSR-Gibbons.mp3"][/audio]