Actress, Comedian, Writer and all round bad ass Tara Flynn joins Andy on the very first episode of Be Grand : The Leaving Cert Resit. She has a crack at some questions from 1987, chats about if her skills in voice over work is any good for picking people up and how Abba had her out on the streets.

Sex Siopa is the sex shop that is changing sex shops. Founded by Shawna Scott , Sex Siopa’s aim is to provide customers with a fun safe place that offers body safe products. Shawna joins Andy to discuss growing up in Seattle, the high school experience , how a much underrated Irish rock band played a role in her coming to ireland and how important it is to have an open chat about sex and sex products.  Andy also makes Shawna draw Carlow which was a leaving cert question in 2012 and makes her feel at home with some SAT questions. Hup ya pup.

Globe trotting adventurer Allan Dixon joins the show this week. Allan talks about how the Quokka brought him fame, his tips for the perfect animal selfie and pitching his ideas to a billionaire. Also Andy tests Allan's knowledge on 2008 and why volcanos go boom boom. Which in fairness, saying things like "Why do Volcanos go boom boom?" is probably why Andy made a bag of his leaving cert in the first place.

On this week's edition of Be Grand, Andy is joined by radio presenter and producer Mike Hogan for a masterclass in broadcasting, something that regular listeners to the podcast will agree is badly needed.  Currently overseeing the breakfast show on Classic Hits 94-105 FM, Mike reminisces about his early days in pirate radio and his private school education before the two gents analyse and discuss the venerable yet intimidating institution that is the Irish Debs. Join Andy and Mike as they take a trip back to the heady days of 2001 and seek to answer a question we've all pondered at some stage...just how good was Shaggy?

Dropping into the Be Grand studios for a chat today is world-renowned health and wellness coach, as well as award-winning author, Alison Canavan.  An advocate of an holistic approach to self-care, emphasising the importance of treating the mind, body and spirit as a whole, Alison’s work has taken her from Ireland to the United States and she’s received glowing reviews for her book Minding Mum. Before turning her hand to wellness and writing, Alison was also one of Ireland’s most successful models, spending two decades in the spotlight after being catapulted to fame at age 15. She joins Andy to talk about what it’s like seeing your face on a billboard everywhere you go, her battles with addiction and what needs to change with regards to mental health services in Ireland. Plus, Alison tries to win some coveted Leaving Cert points by talking about that fixture of the exam, the 1995 action epic Die Hard With A Vengeance.

Finbar McHugh joins Andy this week on Be Grand. The Galway based artist has pretty much turned the city into his canvas and is changing the way people think about graffiti artists. His project Time saw Finbar take over Galway University Hospital and challenged people to think about how they use time and that the most important things can come from a spilt second decision. His most recent exhibition Floating for the Baboró Arts Festival showcased a different side of his work and looked at the abstract power of day dreaming.  Finbar also chats about the need for change in how art is taught in leaving cert, his first steps in graffiti and tries to help Andy figure out what you call the things after earthquakes, all in the name of 2006 Geography. Finbar also takes on the nightmarish task of drawing Andy. Poor poor Finbar,

In the same week that the first photographs of a black hole were successfully taken, the Be Grand podcast continues this commitment to expanding the boundaries of human knowledge as robotics expert Conor McGinn drops in for a chat.  Conor is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at the Robotics & Innovation Lab at Trinity College Dublin whose pioneering work is changing the future. Topics include how to make a robot funny, the need for diversity in engineering and his team’s remarkable work constructing a robot to combat loneliness.  Then there’s the question on everyone’s* mind: in the event of a robot apocalypse, is Wicklow safe?  Tune in to find out what elements of a machine uprising are movie nonsense and what possibilities should genuinely trouble us.  Will this be the episode when Andy’s galaxy brain ascends to a higher level of consciousness or will this be the moment when the frontier pushes back? * Andy’s

It's five stars all round this week as Be Grand is only delighted to welcome the legend that is Helen O'Hara.  Helen is a film critic at Empire magazine and whose voice has graced the publication's incredibly popular Film Podcast.  As well as describing what it's like to be a reviewer for one of the most widely-read cinema periodicals in the world, Helen has invaluable advice for anyone looking to break into the industry and shares her "film critic origin story" explaining how she ended up doing one of the coolest jobs imaginable.There's also discussion on the pressure that comes with reviewing gargantuan Hollywood blockbusters, how geek culture has conquered the planet and the future of cinema in the age of streaming.  Then there's the small matter of the notorious 1996 Leaving Certificate English paper on one of the most famous texts in the English language - Avengers: Infinity War.  How will Helen fare?  A blockbuster episode worthy of every single one of the precious five stars that Empire awarded to Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones.

Listeners of a sensitive disposition or those with agonising memories of accidentally watching the “romantic” scenes from a film in the company of their parents might want to listen to this week’s Be Grand on headphones as sex researcher and educator Kate Dawson braves the questions (and soon realises she has her work cut out). Kate’s research has focused on porn literacy and she joins Andy to talk about to what extent pornography is accepted in 21st Century Ireland as well as the need for people to be more open with their partners when it comes to their sexual preferences.  Kate also gives advice on how parents can educate their children about sex in a world where porn is now ubiquitous.   There’s also discussion on how one becomes a sex researcher in the first place and just why has it taken the 2008 Leaving Cert Biology paper to teach Andy things he really should have known an awfully long time ago?

Almost every human being alive today will at some point have to deal with something that is almost impossible to prepare for - the anguish of grief.  Yet despite its universality it is understandably something that most of us find difficult to discuss.  That doesn't apply to Sasha Hamrogue, co-host of the wonderful Grief Encounters podcast, which invites people to talk about how their lives have been impacted by this most painful emotion.  Sasha is the subject of this week's edition of Be Grand and she joins Andy in exploration of their shared experiences of loss, the most common traits Sasha sees in own pod's guests and why it's vital that society offers greater compassion than it does currently. Sasha also talks about her experiences in an American high school where, much to our distress, she learned that not all Jocks resemble Chris "Captain America" Evans.  Then there's the ten years she spent working at MTV and how she somehow held on to her sanity despite despite coming into contact with Nicholas Cage.  To cap it all off, Sasha discovers the ultimate Be Grand hack for maximum points... mentioning JJ72.

Get your press hats and Pulitzers ready as this week Be Grand is chatting to journalist Jennifer McShane. Jennifer joins Andy to chat about how a childhood love of movies would forever decide what she wanted to be, how she and Andy both share an obsession with the work of Cameron Crowe and how to survive in the very choppy waters of freelance journalism. Jennifer also talks living with Cerebral Palsy and how despite the challenges she has devolved a positive outlook on life. All this and Jennifer and Andy discover the apparent ultimate doss leaving cert paper - Art Appreciation.

They say that a lie travels halfway around the world while the truth is still doing its shoelaces.  If we're to take that metric as gospel, and we're credulous types at Be Grand, then this week's guest's jokes and memes have routinely circumnavigated the globe while the lie is still arguing with its satnav over how to get off the M50.  So positive and funny she could make a brick smile, we're delighted to welcome stand-up comedian, Joe.ie contributor and writer Justine Stafford. Topics of conversation range from the experiences of growing up in Nobber (and if that didn't set Justine on the path to doing stand-up we don't know what did), the subtle differences between fertiliser and manure (crucial information for anyone who, like Andy, has an uncle whose approval they crave), asking for extra paper during an exam and what it was like to be a kid running around a farm knowing that all you wanted to do was to make people laugh. This episode also includes a very open and honest chat on Justine's experiences with an eating disorder in her school days and the challenges this brought with it.  If discussions of Bulimia and Anorexia are a trigger for you or someone who might be listening please do be warned and take care. TW: *Anorexia*, *Bulimia*, *eating disorder* https://twitter.com/justinestafford https://www.joe.ie/author/justine-stafford/99

If the celebrated Fashion Weeks of Paris and Milan proved to be just outside your budget this year then despair no more as the supermarket own-brand alternative that is Be Grand Fashion Week is here and what better way to inaugurate such a prestigious event than by talking to professional glamour person Mary Cate Smith? A writer and stylist whose work has appeared in The Irish Times, The Irish Tatler and Woman’s Way among other publications, Mary Cate proves to be a fountain of knowledge when it comes to the fashion world, discussing in detail her personal sartorial icons, why “just copy Dermot O’Leary” isn’t particularly good advice when it comes to styling, and also elaborating on the unusual career trajectory that saw her move from being a drama teacher to a successful writer and personal brand. The fashion industry isn’t immune to some of the challenges society is facing so Mary Cate also talks passionately about why the industry needs to become more socially and environmentally conscious with respect to how it sources its materials and treats its workers as well as what changes she would like to see happen. Finally, the two dedicated followers of fashion use the slingshot effect (pioneered by Kirk et. al.) to travel back to the year 2001 and discover how Mary Cate’s presidential inauguration speech would have sounded and, in a first for the show, take on the Leaving Cert Music Paper while trying not to be sued by Queen in the process. So enjoy the podcast that may be loud but never square with the mighty Mary Cate Smith! https://twitter.com/marycesmith/ https://marycatesmith.com

In 1994, the great scientist Carl Sagan said that, “Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark.” Twelve years later, Gary Barlow said, “All the stars are coming out tonight.” What links these two proclamations? Beyond Andy’s personal view that Sagan could have replaced Robbie, absolutely nothing. But it’s one way of saying that this week’s episode of Be Grand is about the stars and its absolutely fantastic guest is astronomer David Moore! David is the founder of Astronomy Ireland and is familiar to many of us from his close encounters with real-life extraterrestrials Zig and Zag on The Den. In a star-studded discussion, David goes into detail on everything from what we could really expect should aliens ever make contact to what cosmic vistas you should make space for on your interstellar bucket list. Also, prepare to have your mind blown as David tells some amazing stories about how solar eclipses have altered the course of human history on more than one occasion. So, please do enjoy an episode that famous pop star Carl Sagan would refer to as a “humbling and character building experience” and that Take That themselves have officially called “Please stop calling our clients. Mr. Barlow categorically does not want to meet you for a cup of tea and a quick game of snooker.”

Break out your PVC glue and get your parents' permission, as this week's Be Grand lets its inner Neil Buchanan out! Cork artist Amy Louise O’Callaghan joins Andy to talk about her art which reimagines Irish pop culture icons in the style of Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli.  Amy talks about how she first fell in love with Japanese culture and how Anime has made her the artist she is today. She also chats about how being an artist has changed in the digital age, how you can use it to find your voice and what it's like going through school during the era of social media.  And have you ever wondered what it would like to see a bunch of drunk people in a field in Ireland in an anime style? Well thanks to the 2014 Leaving Cert, you will wonder no more!  So this is a Be Grand, this is a Be Grand….THIS IS Be Grand. Art Attack reference there... https://www.redbubble.com/people/amylouioc?ref=side-nav-account&asc=u

In 1963 Cliff Richard promised fun and laughter on a summer holiday but, rather selfishly, wanted to dole them out over a week or a two. Well, this summer holiday, end-of-term special of Be Grand is jammed to the brim with both fun and laughter but mainlines it in about one hour twelve minutes. Take that Cliff, you lazy, lazy man. Joining us to celebrate the end of term in the halls of Be Grand High is the one and only Fiona Hyde. Anyone who follows her on Twitter will know that Fiona is the funniest person in any room she inhabits and she joins Andy to discuss, in trademark hilarious fashion, what it was that drove her to actually steal people's actual pockets during her school days, her time as an agony aunt and also what it was like that time she went to war with the mayor of Galway.  Also, having just returned from a globetrotting jaunt, Fiona tells us what she learned as a solo traveller, what she missed about home and also her tips for anyone thinking of doing the same. So do enjoy this sun-soaked episode of Be Grand that promises to be almost as enjoyable as a school tour spent down the Bray Bowl. Take care! https://twitter.com/andgoseek

There have been some unlikely and, let’s face it, unwanted comebacks over the years. The Librarians, starring Christian Kane, got a second series in 2014… Liverpool somehow managed to beat AC Milan to the Champions League in 2005… but neither of these can hold a candle to Be Grand, which has returned in glorious fashion for a second series despite nobody in their right mind wanting that. And to kick things off, we’re delighted to bring you a very special guest indeed. Razan Ibraheem is a journalist whose work has appeared in The Guardian and is a regular contributor on politics for Irish TV and radio. Though based in Ireland, Razan was born in Syria and has dedicated her work towards spreading awareness of and educating people about the ongoing Syrian War as well as highlighting the plight of refugees driven from their homes as a result of the conflict. She has spoken about this at the United Nations and was awarded International Woman of the Year by Irish Tatler. Before tackling the Leaving Cert, Razan chats to Andy about what it was like growing up in Syria, what needs to happen to help the people of the battered nation and the unforeseen consequences of having a picture of Ronan Keating at home. Be Grand is back and there’s nobody better to reassure us that things might actually end up okay than Razan and her brilliant dedication to helping others. https://twitter.com/IbrahRazan https://twitter.com/begrandpod https://twitter.com/gottheshift

Philip Boucher-Hayes is one of Ireland’s most respected broadcast journalists and his career has seen him report on topics varying from climate change to the idiosyncrasies of the Irish diet. Despite the fact that this is a man who has reported from war zones, he now faces his most daunting challenge yet as he comes face-to-face with Andy “Ever Watch Emmerdale?” Gaffney. As a correspondent for RTE Philip has reported on the Kosovo War, the aftermath of the 2004 St. Stephen’s Day Tsunami, the 9/11 Attacks and broke the news of 2006 Israeli blockade of Lebanon. He’s presented several programmes including “What Are You Eating?” and has a documentary on climate change in the pipeline. Philip joins Andy to discuss growing up in a school where it was impossible to shake the feeling of impostor syndrome, the psychological toll exacted by some of the devastating events he has reported on as well as confronting the legacy of ruining the humble chicken fillet roll for the entire nation (well, strictly speaking, just Andy and his mate Brian). Andy also reminds Philip about their previous encounter, a story you will need to hear to believe… https://twitter.com/boucherhayes https://twitter.com/begrandpod https://twitter.com/gottheshift

This week Andy is joined on Be Grand by writer, journalist and podcaster Caroline O’Donohue and becomes, quite possibly, his new best friend in the process. As the host of the championing chick-lit podcast Sentimental Garbage, Caroline is the ideal person to talk to about all the artistic guilty pleasures you enjoy but were too afraid to discuss lest you be judged.  Andy takes full advantage of this to go on a deep dive about which Simpsons characters he and Caroline most closely resemble and also treat listeners to a world-first: a “Billy Zane-Off”  Caroline also elaborates on what it’s as like to make the daunting move to London to follow her dreams and her “Frank Sinatra Moment” - the 2018 release of her debut novel Promising Young Woman. Settle in for a bumper packed edition of Be Grand but when you’re talking to someone as full of joy as Caroline, you gotta roll with it.  You’re welcome to that ear worm. https://www.czaroline.com/  https://twitter.com/Czaroline

This week on Be Grand we’re honoured to be joined by Philippa Ryder, founder and director of Under The Rainbow - a new charity and mental health service that promotes diversity and inclusion in the Irish workplace. The episode is almost derailed very early in proceedings (though regular listeners will no doubt be accustomed to that by this stage) when Philippa makes the mistake of bringing up her love of Star Trek, which leads to Andy making a futile attempt to out-geek his guest.  There is method in the madness however as Philippa relates how the show provided an enduring source of strength for her growing up and functioned as a crucial reminder that a beautiful future was possible despite the darkness of the present.  Any Trekkies listening will be in for a treat! Philippa also talks about what it was like coming of age in the conservative Ireland of the Seventies, a time when gender roles were strictly enforced and one was discouraged from exploring their identity, before describing the freedom she felt when she could finally be herself. Finally, Philippa chats to Andy about the pressures faced by someone coming out as transgender, the importance of pronouns and if things are improving in terms of transgender rights in Ireland, and her time representing her country at the Gay Games.  So join Philippa and Andy as they boldly go back to Philippa’s school days and ask the big questions such as - Kirk or Spock? http://undertherainbow.ie https://twitter.com/begrandpod https://twitter.com/gottheshift