Spirit Radio Podcasts

Dr Kevin Hargaden, Social Theologian of the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice in Dublin. 

Is here to talk about COP30 and continues to campaign for climate justice, housing rights and a theology that connects faith with pressing social and environmental challenges.  

The Centre works on issues from ecological justice to housing policy, integrating theological reflection with advocacy and action. 

Brandon Scott is with Aid to the Church in Need, reporting on the humanitarian and spiritual impact of the war in Gaza.  

Through testimonies from local clergy — including a Catholic priest who has remained in the Strip — his work highlights the deepening humanitarian and health crisis and the urgent calls for an end to the conflict. 

Bishop Michael Router, Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh and chair of the Council for Healthcare of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, has welcomed Pope Leo XIV’s message for the 34th World Day of the Sick. 

The Pope is urging society to measure itself by how it cares for the most vulnerable — including the sick, elderly, addicted, unborn, poor and hungry.  

I’m joined now by political commentator Larry Donnelly to talk about the case of Seamus Culleton, a 42-year-old Irish man from County Kilkenny who has been held in a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Texas for over five months despite holding a valid U.S. work permit, being married to a U.S. citizen, and having no criminal record.  

His situation — and the reported conditions in detention — has sparked concern here in Ireland and questions about immigration enforcement and diplomatic responses. 

Today we remember six believers imprisoned across Iran, China, Eritrea, Vietnam, Pakistan, and North Korea—some without trial, some serving life, one awaiting execution—because they preached, prayed, or opened their homes in Jesus’ name.  

Their stories expose the true cost of faith in today’s world. David Turner from Church in Chains joined Kieran to discuss.

Last week the Taoiseach Micheál Martin visited Aughrim in Co. Wicklow, meeting householders, business owners, local authority staff and community representatives to hear firsthand about the impact of the recent floods — a stark reminder of the challenges communities face as rainfall and river levels continue to rise across Ireland. 

Declan Finn is a local business man and he joined Kieran to tell us about what the flooding has caused and what the visit meant 

Today is “World Safer Internet Day” and amid a sharp rise in AI‑driven scams and deepfake ads impersonating public figures, the Tánaiste has vowed a government clampdown on deepfake financial fraud. 

A move that comes as investment scams using convincing AI‑generated video and voices are increasingly targeting people online. 

Joining Kieran to discuss this is Tech Journalist Emmett Ryan. 

Joining us today on World Safer Internet Day is Alex Cooney from Cybersafe Kids Ireland. Alex and her team work to protect children and young people online, helping parents, schools, and communities understand the risks of social media, gaming, and online content — and most importantly, how to keep kids safe in the digital world. 

Earlier this month, a motion brought before Cork City Council by Councillor Albert Deasy sparked strong reaction and debate.  

The motion welcomed the Dáil’s decision to reject proposals to extend abortion access up to viability and to remove the three-day reflection period, while also calling for stronger, practical supports for women facing crisis pregnancies.  

An article that caught our  eye in The Irish Catholic has raised concerns that a recent Council of Europe report on banning so-called ‘conversion practices’ is being used to advance contested gender-affirmation policies across healthcare, education and religious settings.  

One of those voicing concern is Independent Senator Ronan Mullen.

Today we’re speaking with Ger Ganely from Tiglin, an organisation working on drug and addiction support in Ireland.  

There’s growing concern about the recreational use of nitrous oxide — often called laughing gas — especially among young people. While this substance is legal and has legitimate uses, its misuse has been linked to serious health harms, including neurological damage and even spinal injuries, and it’s increasingly visible in communities across the country.  

Ger’s here to help parents and caregivers understand what they should watch out for and how to protect their families. 

Lesley Anne Clare, mum to little Sienna, a Dublin girl born with *diplegia cerebral palsy whose family has been at the centre of a major community‑led fundraising campaign so she could access a specialised surgery abroad. 

Sienna’s journey has touched so many people and sparked bigger conversations about access to treatments not available here in Ireland. 

Lesley Anne and her family have led fundraising efforts to pay for Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy surgery for Sienna — a procedure not currently available in Ireland — with local groups like firefighters even climbing Ireland’s highest mountai...

Sister Laura from Glencairn Abbey in County Waterford, Ireland’s only Cistercian monastery for women.  

Before entering monastic life, Sister Laura worked as a social worker in Dublin, with degrees from UCD and Trinity College. Today, she lives a radically different life — one rooted in prayer, simplicity, and up to 12 hours of silence each day.  

At a time when religious vocations are declining, her journey offers a fascinating insight into why some young women are choosing a cloistered life in the modern world. 

Senator Aubrey McCarthy, an independent member of the Seanad. 

 Recently, he’s been raising key issues — from tackling ‘one-punch’ assaults after the tragic death of Martin Linn, to pushing for a seller’s legal pack to help home buyers. 

Aubreys also been celebrating everyday achievements like winners at the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Awards.