Moncrieff

On December 1st, Dublin City will be hosting its first ever World AIDS Day Festival. To mark the occasion, Seán is joined by Robbie Lawlor, who is one of the organisers, to chat about the importance of HIV testing.

New research has found that we lose up to three days a year searching for where we parked our cars. So, why do we forget, and how can we improve our memories? Joining Seán to discuss is Memory Expert, Dr. Gillian Murphy, from UCC.

Can you really teach empathy? The University of Galway have developed a module on empathy, which they are looking to have rolled out in classrooms to assist teachers help Transition Year students learn the vital life skills of empathy. But, what is it all about? Dr Charlotte Silke is the Lead Researcher with Unesco Child and Family Research Centre, and joins Seán to discuss.

Bank of Ireland is going to offer what they call a ‘trading down’ loan, also known as a bridging loan. What’s significant about this, is that this is the first time a major bank has offered this product since the boom times… It begs the question, even in a cost of living crisis: is the boom back? Henry McKean has been investigating, and joins Seán to discuss.

Every Christmas, for no apparent reason, there's something that your kids will really want. These kinds of fads happen all the time in the digital age, but before the world wide web, Cabbage Patch Kids became a huge craze around the festive season. Joining Seán to discuss is Greg McKevitt, Journalist with The BBC. Image: Cabbage Patch Kids

“But what can I do?” That could be the refrain of our whole generation. We’re faced with largescale problems and existential issues, but most don't think we have the power to do anything about them, so how can we really bring about change? Michael Brownstein is Professor of Philosophy at the City University of New York (CUNY) and co-author of ‘Somebody Should Do Something: How Anyone Can Help Crea...

When you buy a cheap garment, how long do you actually expect it to last? Valerie Flynn, of The Journal Investigates, has been running some tests, and joins Seán to discuss.

A survey of 7000 mothers by NBC television in the United States has found that mums who have more than 4 kids have lower stress levels than those with fewer children. Joining Seán to discuss this is Emma Lewis, of @EightLittleLewisKids on Instagram, from Co. Down…

Have you ever seen a photo of yourself and thought “I look amazing?” - chances are low, and for many people, getting photos taken is awkward and embarrassing… And, whether you’re out for dinner in a big group or on holidays, often you might be very critical of photos of yourself. But why? And do we need to embrace the so-called vanity? Irish Independent Columnist, Tanya Sweeney, joins Seán to disc...

It has been announced that a question regarding sexual orientation will appear on our next census, in 2027, for the first time. But, why is this required, and how will it work in practice? Joining Seán to discuss is Pádraig Rice, a Social Democrat TD for Cork South Central and Health Spokesperson for the Social Democrats…

We’ve all been told about the risks of AI taking jobs away from employees. But is there also a risk for the employers in overuse of AI and allowing it to make decisions in the recruitment process? Michelle Murphy is Director at Collins McNicholas Recruitment Agency, and joins Seán to discuss.

303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were kidnapped by gunmen from St. Mary's School, a Catholic institution in a very remote part of the north west of Nigeria, over the weekend. The school is managed by the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, and Seán is joined by their Congressional Leader, Donegal native Sister Mary Barron, to discuss…

Thursday will be the one year anniversary of the Israel and Lebanon ceasefire agreement. But, this has been far from a peaceful year for Lebanese people… Sally Hayden has been living in Beirut, and recently visited the South of the country where daily life is still dictated by fear of the IDF. She joins Seán to discuss.

For a relatively small country, Ireland has had its fair share of mainstream international success in the music business over the years: U2, Van Morrison, Westlife, Thin Lizzy. These have all been familiar to radio listeners around the world for decades. But, an article in The Guardian on Friday suggested that we now have the world’s best alternative music scene. Is that true? Dylan Murphy is a Mu...

Things can feel heightened this time of year, as the run up to Christmas leads to forced cheeriness and merriment, but for so many people, it is also the most difficult time if you are grieving or lonely… Author and artist Victoria Mary Clarke joins Seán to discuss. If any of this has affected you: you can avail of the Samaritans 24/7 Freephone Helpline - 116 123, or you can go online to alone.ie...

Seán’s guest spent two weeks aboard the Neoliner Origin, the world’s largest sailing cargo ship, for its maiden voyage from France to the US. But, could sail replace crude oil to power the world’s cargo vessels? Joining to discuss is Environmental Journalist and author of the upcoming book ‘Present Tense: How we reckon with the end of the world’, Michaela Cavanagh.

How does Ireland’s deportation system actually work? Joining Seán to discuss is Cormac O’Keefe, Security Correspondent with the Irish Examiner, who got a rare inside look into how the process actually works…

If you're in a relationship, and aren't really feeling that person a Christmas present, is this the best time to dump them? Do you have a breakup story around this time of year? Newstalk's Henry McKean has been asking the public, and joins Seán to discuss.

Can you be a unionist and be in favour of a United Ireland? Well Seán’s guest certainly was a unionist, and has written a book called ‘The Irish Unity Dividend’. Ben Collins joins to discuss.

Golden toilets have been hitting the headlines recently, with Zelensky’s Chief of Staff under pressure after detectives found a golden toilet bowl in his lavish bathroom, while another gold toilet was sold for more than 10 million euros at auction last week… But, what is it about solid gold toilets that the rich and famous love so much? And, does Trump use a golden loo himself? Pip Rich is the Edi...

Seán’s guest arrived in Antarctica at the height of the Covid pandemic. Part of her role as a Doctor was to try and keep Antarctica as the last continent on earth that was free from the disease. Now, her experiences are being told in a brand new podcast series entitled ‘The Coldest Shift’. Joining to discuss is Rachel Varnam, former Medical Officer with the British Antarctic Survey… Image: Audiobo...

The Italian Minister of Agriculture has called for an “immediate investigation” after he discovered a supermarket in Brussels selling jars of pre-made carbonara sauce containing pancetta and cream. So, why is he so upset? Joining Seán to discuss is Luca Di Marzio, owner of Rosa Madre Restaurant in Dublin…

Seán’s guest stopped straightening her hair a number of years ago and began to grow it out. Now, the Guinness World Records has just certified that she has the world’s largest afro. Jess Martinez joins to discuss!

A new documentary ‘Testimony’ is out in cinemas today, and tells the compelling stories of the survivors of the Magdalene laundry, in their own words… Filmmaker Aoife Kelleher has spent years making this film, and joins Seán to discuss.

Around 500 million years ago, animals first ventured out of the oceans and onto land… Since then, life has evolved in wondrous and unforeseeable ways to this new environment, with everything from dinosaurs to bats roaming around above the waves. And, in the case of ourselves, even venturing into orbit. So, could life entering the cosmos be the beginning of a similar evolutionary leap? Caleb Sharf,...