Moncrieff

A new Guinness World Record has been set for the largest collection of socks. At 1,531 pairs, former CBS Philadelphia News Anchor Jim Donovan is king of the sock drawer. He joins Seán to discuss!

We hear so much about how the Gen Z youth of today are spending their Friday nights drinking matcha, doing yoga and meditating. Well, student and Lifestyle Columnist with the Irish Examiner Jane Cowan has decided to bring back debauchery. In a very anti-January sentiment, she wants people in their twenties like herself to embrace the chaos of the decade and go out more… She joins Seán to discuss.

Cork city is the 38th most congested city in the world. Seán’s guest believes that a cable car network might offer a simple solution to a complex problem… Joining to discuss is Kathriona Devereux, Presenter of ‘10 Things to Know About’ on RTÉ television and a columnist with the Echo…

We’re no strangers to saying no to a perfectly good cuppa when we’re actually dying for one, but could our shared struggle in saying what we mean be getting in the way of us getting what we want? Stephen Lucek, Assistant Professor in Linguistics at University College Dublin, joins Seán to discuss the unique quirks that make up the Irish language…

Lego has “reinvented” the brick and is set to release its new line of ‘smart’ toys. The new Lego Smart Play System includes smart bricks with responsive lights, a color-recognition scanner to sense its surroundings, can play almost any sound, and can detect the way it is twisted, turned and tapped during play. Lego says this tech will react to how kids play, and then “play back” to help kids bring...

Influencer James Kavanagh lost his yellow coat a few years ago and he still misses it. Why does losing an item of clothing or a ring sometimes hold such sentimental value? Why do so many of us struggle to be able to move on? Henry McKean has been out asking the public what they have lost, and joins Seán to discuss.

As the fallout over the Maduro situation continues, Venezuela continues its pursuit of its vast gold reserves from the vaults of the Bank of England, where they have been held since the 1980s. Ireland too keeps much of its gold reserves on Threadneedle Street in London… Joining Seán to untangle this is Richard Partington, the Guardian's Senior Economics Correspondent…

With Ireland assuming the rotating Presidency of the EU Council from July, what are some things we can expect will be on its agenda?  Joining Seán to discuss why the EU Presidency will be pivotal for our domestic and foreign policy is Andrew Forde…

This week, the UK has introduced a total ban on all junk food advertising on TV and online. This means that companies will be prohibited from advertising unhealthy foods before 9pm and at all times on the internet. In the list of banned foods are those with a high sugar, salt, and fat content, which even include porridge, cereal, and yoghurts. Joining Seán to discuss the impact of this is Lana Rep...

It has been revealed that Meghan Markle’s jams are proving popular with over one million jars snapped up by shoppers... But, just why is jam so sought after, whether it has a royal connection or not, and just how easy it is to make at home? Chef Darina Allen of Ballymaloe Cookery School joins Seán to discuss. Raspberry Jam Makes 3 x 450g (1lb) pots Raspberry jam is the easiest and quickest of all...

Why don’t writers retire?  Novelist Julian Barnes is bucking the trend having announced his retirement coinciding with his 80th birthday, saying that his next book will be his last, but just why is it so rare for creatives to stop working and instead...’’keep going until the grim reaper cuts you down in your study”. Columnist for the Irish Independent Mary Kenny continues to write and joins S...

The Chinese electric vehicle company BYD has now overtaken Tesla for the first time to become the world’s biggest selling EV brand. Joining Seán to discuss this, and the future of the electric vehicle market is John Hayes, Lecturer in Electronic Engineering at UCC…

Is Ireland too timid when it comes to our architectural ambition? Sinead O’Sullivan, a Business economist, has been writing about this in the Irish Times and joins Seán to discuss…

A US-based Irish therapist says Trump’s America is causing a rise in depression and anxiety among his clients. Eamonn McKay is a Therapist based in California, and is moving back to Ireland over concerns his US citizenship will be revoked… He joins Seán to discuss. Image: Reuters

Joanna Fortune joins Sean to discuss listeners' parenting queries...

Even if you’ve never heard the name, you would recognise the iconic Wilhelm scream, which has been used in countless movies. But, where does it come from, and why is it used so much? Steve Lee is a Sound Effects Wrangler and Founder and CEO of the Hollywood Sound Museum. He joins Seán to discuss.

During the Taoiseach’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday, the two bonded over the shared love of an Irish novel which is somewhat lost and forgotten here in Ireland, but which has sold millions of copies in Russia. Joining Seán to discuss is Zoe Comyns, Creator of the Lyric FM documentary ‘Ethel Voynich - Music Mystery and Manuscripts’...

In Scandinavian countries, you might see dog sledding in snowy conditions. Apparently, we have something like it in Ireland, but with a twist... Joining Seán to discuss is President of Canicross Ireland, Louise Jones.

The 100th birthday of the first census conducted by the Irish Free State is coming up. What was the significance of this one, and how were they conducted a century ago? Joining Seán to discuss is Columnist with the Irish Examiner, Colin Sheridan.

Young people are being accused of not being “work-ready” because of the decline of the Saturday job. The UK’s former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Alan Milburn, has recently said that teenagers are increasingly unprepared for the workplace due to the slump in weekend work outside of school hours. But, are our youth becoming lazy, and are we seeing a “crisis of opportunity”? Caroli...

These dark winter days make getting outside difficult, but with three quarters of children spending less time outside than prison inmates, one school in Wicklow is determined to do things differently... The Outdoor Primary School offers an unusual learning experience for students who primarily learn in the woods. Louise Nelson, Principal of Wicklow’s Outdoor Primary School, joins Seán to discuss.

The release of Wicked: For Good has seen the return to the big screen of the stereotypical image we have of witches. They have green skin, a conical hat, a cauldron, and they fly on a broomstick. But where did that depiction come from? Laura Kounine is an Associate Professor of Early Modern History at the University of Sussex and joined Sean to discuss.

Olivia Fahy joins Moncrieff with her picks for what to stream. On the list this week: Season two of The Night Manager a British spy thriller television series, Traitors UK is back for the 4th season this time to its original structure of non celebrity partcipants. And mystery writer Harlen Coben has a new series on Netflix called Run Away

Psychologist and Neurologist, Ian Robertson, joins sean  to discuss and explore a counter-intuitive idea for the new year:  that boredom isn’t something to fear, but something we urgently need to relearn.   He argues that our constant urge to scroll and stay stimulated is eroding our ability to think, feel and create freely. Ian makes the case for boredom as a temporary relief from...

As a new year rolls around, more and more people will be looking to get on the property ladder during 2026. But what is the forecast for the year, and how should you go about trying to purchase a new build? Joining Sean to analyze the current trends in the housing market. offer tips to buyers, and discuss whether we can expect the housing crisis to improve or worsen in 2026 was  Suzanne Tyrre...