Highlights From Lunchtime Live

Is there any need for wedding speeches anymore?TV Chef Gordon Ramsay said he was a “hot mess” before daughter Holly’s wedding speech.What’s your stance on wedding speeches? Do you love or loathe them?Joining Andrea to discuss is Wedding Planner Lyndsey Moynagh, Barry McLoughlin from the Communications Clinic, owner of Crofton Motors in Dublin Joey Donnelly and Speech Writer Cormac Lally.

It’s one of the things you’ll come across in your parenting journey: pocket money. Should children get pocket money, should they “earn” it, and what can it teach them? And, how much should they get?Joining Andrea to discuss is Paul Merriman, Founder of Ask Paul and CEO of Fairstone and Psychotherapist Bethan O'Riordan.

Lunchtime Live's Reasons to be Happy looks at some of the news stories that you might have missed that will leave you feeling more optimistic.98FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

Every Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be talking Making Babies.Andrea will be joined by Professor Shane Higgins, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, to cover every area of trying to have a baby. From the very start of knowing how to prepare, right up to pregnancy – and all the bumps in the road in between.This week, Shane joins Andrea to go back to basics, and discuss how to get pregnant.

If you’re feeling in need of a detox, or a break after the Christmas madness, maybe it’s time to think about a health holiday.The wellness economy has doubled in size since 2013, and doesn’t seem to be stopping…So, could it be for you?Joining Andrea to discuss is Host of Zen & Tonic Wellness Activity Holidays Sinéad Kennedy and Host of Alive and Kicking on Newstalk, Clare McKenna.

Jim Ahern is co-owner of Trade Path and a bricklayer by trade. He contacted the show because he believes there are too few real opportunities for people to pursue a trade in this country, and that something needs to change if we’re serious about getting more men and women into the workforce…So, are apprentices struggling to find work?Jim joins Andrea to discuss, as well as listeners.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Ann Teahan, Founder of Neatly Home Organisation to answer all your questions about decluttering, which a lot of people may want to do at the start of the new year!

Have you seen the film ‘Saipan’?Apparently, two thirds of Irish people have said they won’t watch it…Would your loyalty to Roy Keane keep you away? Or would it be the reason you’re rushing to the cinema?Joining Andrea to discuss is Off the Ball’s Adrian Barry and The Echo’s Features Editor, John Dolan.

In recent months, we’ve been warned about the risks of posting our children on social media.Many parents now cover their faces with emojis, believing it’s a safer option. But cyber-security experts say even these photos still train facial recognition systems and build data profiles…So, do you use emojis to hide your children’s faces, and did you think you were protecting them?Joining Andrea to discuss is Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly, Broadcaster & Parenting Podcaster Rebecca Horan, Lisa O'Sullivan Shaw, @modernirishmom on Instagram and Host of The Opinions Matter Podcast, Katie Makk.

Today is Nollaig na mBan, a day traditionally dedicated to recognizing the women who carried the workload over Christmas. As many head out to celebrate with friends, it raises an interesting question: is Nollaig na mBan still relevant today?Is it a feminist tradition, or has it become a capitalist one?Joining Andrea to discuss is Wellness Advocate, Keri Deeney, Irish Independent Columnist, Mary McCarthy and Fashion Broadcaster Rosalind Lipsett.

It's How I live well time! Where someone joins to discuss what they do to improve their life...This week, Andrea is joined by Endocrinologist Dr Mary Ryan to discuss what good hormone health looks like, and how you can achieve it!

Listener Christian got in touch with the show over something a lot of people might be doing this year: ice skating. One rink in Belfast would cost 8 pounds for an adult to skate - while prices in Dublin could be double that!Why is this the case, and do we need a permanent ice rink in the city?Christian joins Andrea to discuss, as well as Aaron Gili, President of the Irish Ice Hockey Association, John Hetherington, Treasurer of Flying Ducks Inline and Ice Hockey Club and more.

Dr. Nina Byrnes, GP at Generation Health Medical Clinic to tackle your medical queries.

In January, we get bombarded with New Years resolutions, fitness trends and "new year, new me" chat. But Elaine Power, host of What’s Trending in F1?’ podcast says January doesn’t have to be endured!She joined Andrea to discuss...

With many people dusting off the Christmas cobwebs and returning to work this week, for some the commute won’t stretch much further than the kitchen table or a spare bedroom.Working from home has become the new norm for many, easing the daily strain of long commutes and heavy traffic.But despite this shift, our roads still tell a familiar story. Traffic congestion appears to peak mid-week, as more people choose to head into the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.So what does this mean for those who would rather stay at home and avoid the commute altogether? Could flexible working eventually lead to quieter roads during the middle of the week — or is congestion here to stay?Joining Andrea to discuss was CEO of Kinore, Larissa Feeney, Founder and Chair of Grow Remote, Tracy Keogh, and Co-Founder, Rent a Recruiter, Jamie Groom along with callers.

Over in the UK, pets are increasingly being treated as a priority within the family. More people are choosing not to have children, instead deciding to adopt or buy pets as companions.For many couples, getting a pet has even become a way of testing their relationship before committing to parenthood. Some embraced the challenge and went on to have children of their own, while others discovered that their pets provided all the family they needed.So are pets becoming the new children?Joining Andrea was Freelance Journalist, Andrea Smith. Jen Hogan, Irish Times Journalist and Vet Pete Wedderburn  And Owner of Outpaws and Wedding Woof Laoise Downes

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to. This Weeks its Icons by Goal. Newstalk’s Tom Douglas & Editor of DMG Media Sarah Jayne Tobin

According to Irish Businesses Against Litter Coffee cups are the most commonly found litter. Their survey found that coffee cups were found in one fifth of the sites they looked at.So is it time an extra charge is applied to them a even a outright ban on them ?Joining Andrea was Dave O'Reilly, Greystones Tidy Towns Chairman. Baker & Owner for Bread 41 in Dublin Eoin Cluskey, Finbar Filan, Chair of Sligo Tidy Towns, Donna Cooney, Green Party Councillor for Clontarf and John Lynch, Sustainability consultant down with Down2earth materials

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Sports Broadcaster and Journalist Cathal Mullaney joined Andrea to answer any of your questions

Getting married this year and hoping to be a bit more sustainable?   Bronwyn from Ballintubbert House in Laois joined Andrea to offer advice as well as Jessica O’Sullivan – Freelance Writer.