In just one decade, Ireland’s birth rate has fallen by 30%. It’s a statistic that is worrying economists and demographers, who warn it could threaten Ireland's future workforce and place financial strain on the state pension scheme. In her new documentary, Ireland’s Population Crash, RTE broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan explores why the country is having fewer babies. In today’s episode, the veteran presenter joins Róisín Ingle to discuss how the housing crisis, childcare costs and the rise of smartphones are among the reasons why more people are choosing not to become parents and what it could mean for the country’s future.

But first Irish Times features writer Nadine O’Regan is here to discuss some cultural stories of the week, including the comments made by Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins about age-gap relationships and how Irish singer-songwriter Gemma Hayes became a victim of Ai fraud.

The first episode of Ireland's Population Crash is available to watch on RTE1 on Wednesday November 4th at 9:35pm, with episode 2 out on November 11th.

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In today’s episode, Róisín Ingle is joined by clinical psychologist, parenting expert and bestselling author Dr Shefali to talk about raising children in the algorithm era. Dr Shefali’s work regularly appears on the New York Times best seller list and she is a regular on Oprah’s Super Soul Sundays. Her latest books, Raising Conscious Daughters and Raising Conscious Sons, tackle some of the biggest challenges facing families today. In this wide-ranging conversation, the pair discuss the pressures facing girls in a culture obsessed with appearance and perfection, the crisis of modern masculinity, and her warning that many boys are now being mentored by pornography and the manosphere rather than trusted adults.

But first, Irish Times podcast producer Suzanne Brennan is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week, including the crisis in Ireland’s national care system which is putting extremely vulnerable girls at risk and the reaction to Joanne McNally’s American TV debut on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

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In her new book of essays, The Most Normal Woman, writer Roisin Kiberd examines society’s obsession with beauty and the lengths people go to to keep up appearances. Kiberd argues that many of the things we do in pursuit of beauty are not really about attractiveness at all - they're about our desire to be accepted, understood and recognised. In today’s episode, the writer joins Róisín Ingle to share her thoughts on constantly changing beauty standards and our never ending quest to improve ourselves.

But first, Irish Times podcast producer Suzanne Brennan is here to discuss some of the stories of the week, including the return of Lena Dunham’s hit TV show Girls and why best-selling author Sally Rooney’s books will no longer be distributed in the UK.

Our next book club book is Stations by Louise Kennedy.

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