Highlights From The Pat Kenny Show

As Donald Trump’s foreign policy manoeuvres shift from Venezuela to Greenland, much of his rhetoric has caused deep alarm within Europe and beyond. The Trump Administration has made it clear that they intend to acquire the Arctic territory one way or another. However, is the commentary around all this missing some historical context? Newstalk reporter Simon Tierney has been investigating.

A young scientist project has found a glaring gender disparity within math's based school subjects. Three first year students from Kinsale Community School found that from fifth class, girls lose confidence in their ability, thus making them less likely to study the discipline.Joining Pat to discuss their project which is part of The Young Scientist Exhibition was Cushla O'Reilly, Elise O'Sullivan and Caoimhe Ni Charrigan alongside Eoghan O'Leary, teacher at Kinsale Community School and Head of Math's at the Tuition Centre.

Father and 12-year-old son named after suspected murder-suicide in west Dublin. Father and son named locally as Wayne O’Reilly and his son Oisin. Barry White, Chief News reporter Newstalk spoke to locals on their reaction to this tragedy.

A desperate father searching for his runaway daughter gets caught up in a murder case and stumbles upon secrets that could destroy his family for good in New Harlan Coben Netflix Drama Runaway starring James Nesbitt and Minnie Driver.John Fardy tells us all about this show.    

What a week of Premier League managerial sackings. It feels hard to think of a time before the cult of the manager but we didn't always have managers in sport. To take us inside how it all came about, OTB managing editor Adrian Barry.

A 37 year old woman was shot dead by an ICE officer in the American city of Minneapolis yesterday. The woman was in her car and shot by an ICE officer in front of the car as she attempted to drive away.We get the latest on this stateside with Terry Sheridan, Senior Director of News, WSHU Public Radio.

How Your brain changes as you age with big changes happening  at 9, 32, 66, and 83. Luke O’Neill, Professor of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin explains all. 

In Poland, TikTok accounts with AI-generated women have been advocating a Polish exit from the European Union and promoting far-right politics. So is anti-EU sentiment on the rise in Poland and are societies becoming more vulnerable to AI content? Pat discusses this further with John O’Brennan, Professor of European Politics, Maynooth University.

Ahead of Patrick Nevin’s release from prison, we speak to one of his victims who we are calling “Zara” who tells us her story. Listener discretion is advised.

Ireland is set to vote against the contentious Mercosur trade deal tomorrow, the Taoiseach and Tánaiste have confirmed.  This may keep the peace within the coalition, but will it spell trouble for Ireland’s rapport with Brussels? Pat discusses this and more with Daniel McConnell, Editor of the Business Post.

Another bout of cold weather is fast approaching us with Storm Goretti on the way. The storm has wreaked havoc already on the continent, with over 1,000 travelers stranded at Schiphol airport. In other news, the sanctioned Marinera Tanker was finally seized in the North Atlantic yesterday by US Forces, in conjunction with the UK Defence Ministry.Pat discusses this and more with Enda Brady, TV Anchor with TRT World.

The dark history of the white genocide myth. From 18th Century France to the Dreyfus affair, Enoch Powell, Rhodesia, the alt-right - and a chunk of current EU Leaders too!All to discuss with David Robert Grimes, Disinformation Expert, Author of The Irrational Ape.

How to take care of your skin in the winter months, cold weather and post Christmas indulgence. Professor Niki Ralph, consultant Dermatologist with the institute of dermatology gives us advice and guidance.

This spring, the man known as “The Tinder Rapist” will be free to leave the midlands prison in county Laois. Patrick Nevin, previously ofnow of no fixed abode, has been in custody since 2014 for the attack of three women over an eleven day period in 2014. We get the details from Stephen Breen, Crime Editor, The Irish Sun.

In 1636 for a few glittering months the tulip sat at the centre of the first great speculative bubble in European history. A single flower bulb, not even in bloom yet, had just changed hands for more than the price of a fine house with a garden on the smartest canal in Amsterdam. We now call it Tulip Mania, Diarmuid Gavin tells us more.

There’s something about the New Year that cinema understands better than almost anything else. That strange pause between who we were and who we might become. And some of the best films don’t just use New Year’s Eve as a backdrop they use it as a turning point.” Lisa Cannon, Head of Studio, DMG Media tell us all about these films.

Over the past number of days we have been focusing on events in Venezuela. Conditions on the ground continue to be unpredictable with the maduro regime essentially intact without him. Jeeny Maltese is a Venezuelan-Irish chef and has been watching events from afar but also attempting to make contact with friends and family back in Venezuela.

As most of us return to work this week a quarter of workers say they are unhappy in their jobs. With almost one in ten planning to hand in their notices in January, a new survey has revealed and work place trends for 2026.  Pat discusses this further with Donal O'Donoghue, Managing Director Sanderson Recruitment. 

Inspired by her father’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, former CNN and RTÉ journalist Fionnuala Sweeney, explores both the challenges and the constantly evolving therapies, for dementia, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the symptoms and how to live well longer.Professor Seán Kennelly, Head of the Institute of Memory and Cognition at Tallaght University Hospital and Consultant Geriatrician and Fionnuala both joined Pat to chat about the The Many Faces Of Alzheimer’s podcast.

Oil prices fell sharply last year, and they are expected to stay low for 2026. Sadly though, the Irish motorist isn’t going to see it. M50 a ‘cash cow’ as drivers pay higher tolls on increasingly congested roads. Total funds collected could have covered the construction cost more than 30 times over. All to discuss with Conor Faughnan, Transport Commentator and Independent Motoring Expert for Carzone.