Podcasts

The Last Word with Matt Cooper

On Ireland's most cutting edge current affairs show, Matt and his guests provide a running stream of intelligent opinions and heated debates on the issues that matter most to Irish listeners. You might not always agree, but you'll never want to miss a Word.

Latest episodes

Meath, Kerry, Donegal And Tyrone Advance To The All-Ireland Gaelic Football Semi-Finals

19 hours ago - 24 mins

The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Last Word On Travel: Dubrovnik

21 hours ago - 11 mins

The Last Word with Matt Cooper

BBC Says It Regrets Not Cutting Live Stream Of Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury Set

21 hours ago - 10 mins

The Last Word with Matt Cooper

The Week Trending: The Rise Of Mamdani, The €48m Bezos Wedding & Will The BBC Show Kneecap At Glastonbury?

4 days ago - 26 mins

The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Are Prize Bonds Still A Worthwhile Investment?

4 days ago - 12 mins

The Last Word with Matt Cooper

The Best Wines To Try This Summer

4 days ago - 17 mins

The Last Word with Matt Cooper

In Praise Of Walking - How We Do It, And Why It's Good For Us

Walking is something many of us take for granted, but it has a number of physical and mental health benefits. Shane O'Mara is Professor of Experimental Brain Research at Trinity College Dublin. He has written a book, In Praise of Walking, all about the science of how we walk and why it's good for us. Shane says that the moment we first learn to walk "signals a really important change in development". "We're designed by evolution to engage in moderate levels of walking right throughout the course of the day, right throughout the course of our lives." "We can easily walk 10 km a day almost for indefinite periods of time, and it confers enormous benefits on us physically and mentally." These physical benefits include better digestion and increased strength in our legs and heart. Walking is also good for mental health issues such as depression, and may even help decrease the risk of dementia. Shane says: "Our modern world is not designed to facilitate movement, but people underestimate how good a walk will make them feel." He joined us on The Last Word to explain more about the joys of walking. Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page.