Praise has been given to Taylor Swift's new album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ by one of Ireland’s most renowned poets.   Speaking in the Telegraph, Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Muldoon compared Taylor’s use of humour to that of her namesake Jonathan Swift.  Paul Muldoon, legendary Irish poet, joins Kieran to discuss the album and the relationship poetry has with music.

The Kuhner Report on WRKO AM680 Radio in Boston is hosted by Jeffrey T. Kuhner, "Liberalism's Worst Nightmare," he is a conservative nationalist, who champions God, country and family. He joins Kieran to discuss US politics and to chat about the explosion of protests in American Universities after a failed crackdown at Columbia University.  Image: Reuters

This week The Journal revealed that Ireland has only 3 hospital beds for adults with eating disorders. Why is this the case, and how does this affect people with eating disorders currently? Joining Kieran to give her experience is Lauren in Dublin, who suffers from an eating disorder and has been through HSE services. Also joining Kieran to discuss why this might be happening is Dr Art Malone, Co-Chair of the Eating Disorder Special Interest Group in the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland, and Consultant Psychiatrist with the HSE and Harriet Parsons, Psychotherapist and training & development manager at Bodywhys.ie.

People have been divided online after comedian Arj Barker kicked a breastfeeding mother out of a gig in Australia.   Was this the right thing to do and do mothers have fair rights to be allowed to go to gigs with their children? Kieran is joined by comedian Jim Elliot and Siobhan O’Neill White from Mams.ie to discuss.

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by John Lee, Executive Editor with Daily Mail Group Ireland and Niamh Maher, Commercial Creative Director with Journal Media. Harriet Alexander, Senior Features Reporter at The Times also calls in to discuss Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction being overturned. Image: Etienne Laurent, AP

Road safety is being highlighted as an area that needs to be seriously addressed as 69 people have died on Irish roads already this year. Campaign groups are calling for penalty points to be doubled and attention has also turned to enforcement by gardaí. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie has been asking people if they have ever been breathalysed and what they think deters dangerous driving.

Minister of Justice Helen McEntee has faced some criticism after being unable to give a clear answer to Independent Clare TD’s Michael McNamara’s question regarding the take back system for Asylum Seekers.  Michael McNamara, Former Chair of the Oireachtas Covid Committee and Independent TD for Clare joins Kieran to discuss.

Newstalk's own, Simon Tierney joined Kieran Cuddihy for the series 'The Shopping Trolley Hotline'. The series will give listeners pause when they’re filling their trolleys, to consider their options. This week Simon brought a selection of soda breads…

This is The Soapbox. Today, Kieran was joined by Pat Carty from Hotpress to discuss what he’d cull from the internet.

Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews has said he would support a tax or levy on the purchase of fast fashion clothing.   Joining Kieran is Spokesperson for SPARK, Single Parents Acting for the Rights of Kids, Louise Bayliss to discuss.

Jess Kelly, Newstalk Technology Correspondent joined Anton for the Tech Takeover. This week Jess looked at the US potentially banning TikTok if their parent company ByteDance don’t divest the company within a year.

The increasing road death stats were discussed before the Oireachtas, and Kieran’s guest has seen first-hand the impact drink driving can have.  Stevo Timothy was the driver in a fatal motorbike crash killing his friend John Laffey back in 2005. The crash also left Stevo with two broken bones in his neck and seven in his back, leaving him in full paralysis from the upper chest down.  He has also admitted alcohol played a role in the crash, and joins Kieran to share his story.

Newstalk is partnering with Make-A-Wish Ireland to celebrate Wish Week. Join us all week as we talk to some incredible children and their courageous families, and hear how Make-A-Wish Ireland have been beacons of light for children facing the toughest battles of their lives.   Make-A-Wish Ireland is dependent on the generosity of the public. You can donate online at makeawish.ie/donate.   One happy recipient of a wish was 15 year old Sam Dunne, who has Neuromuscular Scoliosis whose wish for a trip to Centre Parcs was made real.    His mother Ciara joined Kieran to talk about the experience and how important it was.

Classic Hits Broadcaster and Candidate for the European election in the Dublin constituency for Independent Ireland Niall Boylan joins Kieran to discuss why he decided to make the decision to run for political office.

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Ellen Butler, Newstalk Reporter and Kieran Cunningham, Chief Sports Writer with the Irish Daily Star.

The new pedestrian bridge in Galway is set to have a new name! Droichead an Dóchais or Bridge of Hope has been chosen, and a naming ceremony will take place in a few weeks.  It seems a bit bland, doesn’t it? Do we need to have an honest question about how we name things here in Ireland? Newstalk’s own Simon Tierney joins Kieran to discuss how we as a country name things.  Image: Galway City Council

This is The Soapbox. Today, Kieran was joined by Newstalk’s Sue Murphy to discuss the concept of ‘mom guilt’.

Over in Berlin a group of Irish Activists in Berlin have been told they are not allowed to speak Irish outside the Bundestag, even though it is recognised as an EU language...   Kieran joined by a member of the Irish Bloc in Berlin, Aodhán Donnelly, to discuss.

Dr Ciara Kelly, Newstalk Breakfast presenter, joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss some of her favourite books…

Should Bambie Thug boycott Eurovision? Over 400 Irish artists have written a letter to Ireland’s Eurovision entrant Bambie Thug asking the singer to boycott the competition. They say Bambie should stay “on the right side of history.”  Joining Kieran is Musician and Singer, Mary Coughlan to discuss. Image: Andres Poveda Ltd