The Liveline presenter took over from Gay Byrne five years ago following the passing of the former Late Late Show presenter.
It marks the eighteenth instalment of the TV show with the RTÉ presenter in which public and influential figures reveal how their lives were shaped, detailing their experiences, choices, values and beliefs.
This season launches with an extended 35-minute special episode, as Joe sits down with Sinéad Burke, chief executive of Tilting the Lens, who is a disability advocate and accessibility consultant.
Ms Burke has highlighted the lack of inclusivity within the fashion and design industries.
However, she refuses to be a fashion victim, consulting with industry leaders, designers, retailers and magazine editors to ensure that clothes made for, with and by disabled people are visibly embedded in their business models.
She talks candidly with Duffy about love in its many forms, revealing the source of her own drive and ambition and the challenges she faces navigating the world as a little person.
“One of my very big goals for myself was to be able to live independently, particularly as a disabled person who is self employed and as a woman. I can’t even articulate what it means because it was so far from what I believed could happen for me really personally,” Ms Burke tells Duffy on episode one.
Audiences will also hear about her career that has taken her from a teaching role to the cover of Vogue and to the Obamas in the White House.
This season, Duffy also speaks with former RTÉ broadcaster and journalist, Bryan Dobson; the legendary World Champion and Olympic silver medal-winning athlete Sonia O’Sullivan and popular British actor Ricky Tomlinson.
Former Senator, scholar and civil rights activist David Norris; Travellers’ rights activist Catherine Joyce Collins; Irish tenor and gold medal winning para-athlete Ronan Tynan will also feature.
Actor and theatre director Olwen Fouéré; journalist, writer and drama critic Fintan O’Toole and actor, writer and farmer Mary McEvoy also speak to Duffy.
Joe Duffy said: “Make no mistake, The Meaning of Life is a deeply researched, heavily thought-through recorded interview programme that befits the title and the subject.
“I am proud to present it with such strong professional backing from a great team.”
Roger Childs, Commissioning Editor of Religious Content at RTÉ said: “Ever since Gay Byrne sat down to interview the show’s first guest the late, great Sinéad O’Connor, on a cold January day in 2009, The Meaning of Life has captivated audiences.”
He said the show reveals different sides and depths to public figures from all walks of life.
“Five years after Gay’s sad death, Joe Duffy has made the series his own and we’re delighted that it continues to attract such diverse and interesting guests to sit in ‘the chair opposite,” Mr Childs said.
The Meaning of Life airs on Sundays at 22:30 on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, from October 20.
