Moncrieff

Nearly half of all family households in the EU now consist of a one-child family, according to the German data company Statista. And that trend is likely to increase as births fall. The only child, once the exception, is becoming the norm. So, are there characteristics associated with being an only child, or does it just depend on how you’re raised? Friend of the show Mary McEvoy joins Stefanie Pr...

Most of us don’t discuss our own death, but perhaps we should!  Should we be having conversations around death and how we’d like to be remembered?  Guest host Stefanie Preissner is joined by Joe McNamara, Director of Corrigan & Sons Funeral Home Dublin.

Modern slang words such as ‘sitch’ and ‘noobie’ are among almost 2,000 new entries in the Scrabble dictionary. In a first major update since 2020, officials have spelled out the need to keep the game up to date.  Feargal Weatherhead, Current All Ireland Scrabble Champion, joins Luke O’Neill to discuss.

The 13th of August marks International Left-handers Day! To discuss what it’s like to be in the minority of handedness, guest host Luke O’Neill is joined by proud ciotóg Margaret Leahy, from Fable Tours.

Guest host Luke O'Neill was joined by Dr Eva Orsmond, Medical Doctor and Health advocate to discuss the ever-hot topic of Ozempic, and the rebound effect your weight can have when you stop taking it.

This weekend the Electric Picnic Music and Arts festival returns to Stradbally in Co. Laois, with one of the highlights being the Theatre of Food.  Over the 3 days of the festival, the Theatre of Food will feature the likes of Trisha Lewis, JP McMahon and more. One of those featured is Graham Herterich, also known as the Cupcake Bloke. He joins Luke O’Neill to discuss.

If you’re an avid social media user, then it’s likely you’ve stumbled across the tradwife trend taking TikTok by storm. The trend, which has been dubbed “the real housewives of the internet”, is mostly young women promoting the art of home-making, raising children, baking and keeping a tidy home, while the husband goes to work to provide for the family. This, of course, raises questions in terms o...

Luke O’Neill’s guest is a member of the so-called Smug Hair Club, alongside other hirsute celebrities, such as Cillian Murphy, Brad Pitt and George Clooney. But, is there any evidence to back up their smugness?  Journalist Jonathan de Burca Butler has been writing about this in the Irish Examiner, and joins to discuss.

Luke’s next guest may not be an Olympian, but last week she achieved a feat of athleticism to rival anything accomplished at the Olympics in Paris – and requiring just as much intensive training and support. Luke O’Neill is joined by Una Cameron, World Record Holder for sheep shearing.

In times gone by it was normal for Irish workers to take a fixed lunch hour, often done collectively and often accompanied by booze. Now the routine more often involves a solitary sandwich at one’s desk. But should the lunch hour be revived? Joining guest host Luke O'Neill to discuss is Michael Moynihan, Columnist for the Irish Examiner.

We had Dad Jokes and Dad Dancing, but now we have a new entry to the Dad canon… Dad TV. But, what makes a show Dad-like?  Joining Seán to discuss is Pat Stacey, TV critic for the Irish Independent and the Herald. Image: Amazon Prime

A well intentioned anti-litter campaign has fallen foul of those who seek to preserve the Yorkshire dialect. But, how can a single apostrophe cause so many problems? Joining Seán to discuss is Rodney Dimbleby, Chairperson of the Yorkshire Dialect Society.

‘Sex before coffee” is the go-to cliche of Scandinavian romantic habits, but in each country, it means something different.  In Iceland it literally means every romantic endeavour will start with sex.   So, why is this?  Seán is joined by Zoe Williams, Guardian Columnist, to discuss.

It is the 75th anniversary of George Orwell’s iconic book, 1984. Joining Seán to remember the story, its impact, and what we can learn from it today is Dorien Lysnkey, author of ‘The Ministry of Truths: A Biography of George Orwell's 1984’.

The debs are a rite of passage for most Irish students.   However, traditions and customs around the big night vary across the country.  Joining Seán now to discuss this is Alan McCardle, Managing Director of Debs Ireland.

Next month The Annual Jigsaw Puzzle World Championships kick off in Spain, with hundreds of competitors representing around 75 different countries. But, how does it work, and how can jigsaw puzzles be competitive? Seán is joined by Irish competitor Siobhán Quinn to learn more.

With a record number of people in prison in Ireland, is it time that we looked at alternative options for people who commit low level offences?  Saoirse Brady is the Executive Director Irish Penal Reform Trust, and joins Seán to discuss.

A couple who masqueraded as Peruvian whilst living in Slovenia have been ousted as Russian Sleeper agents.  The couple’s two children have had their lives turned upside down, as they never knew of their parents' real identity.   For more on this, Seán is joined by Amanda Ohlke, Director of Adult Education at the International Spy Museum.

Over the past 2 years, the bilingual street signs scheme has slowly been rolled out in Northern Ireland. But how does it work and why has the recent defacement of one particular sign led to the PSNI opening a hate crime investigation? Joining Seán to discuss is Claire Hanna, SDLP MP for South Belfast and Mid Down.

The War in Ukraine has had impacts on many aspects of society, but one you may not have thought about is the impact on books.  Louisa Cameron of Raven Books in Blackrock visited Ukraine recently to have a look at this and joins Seán to discuss.

Over the last few months we’ve seen some amazing examples of photojournalism.  From the now iconic photo of Donald Trump after his assassination attempt, to the pictures of burned out Luas tramps after the Dublin riots, these pictures paint a thousand words.    Niall Carson is a Photojournalist with PA Media Group and has been doing this job for 25 years. He joins Seán to discu...

Matt Barr apparently has the UK’s largest penis, and believe it or not, it’s not what it’s cracked up to be. He details his issues in his upcoming book ‘A Long Story’, and joins Seán to discuss what life is like.

While much of the soap market has moved towards the pump format, there is still a devoted customer base for the original bar. One man in Dublin turned a lockdown hobby into a successful business, offering Guinness and Barry’s Tea soap for men. Joining me now is John Larkin, Founder of The Black Stuff. Image: The Black Stuff

Just one man is currently studying to join the priesthood, with another starting his studies this September. This is due to a crisis of faith, according to Father Seamus McEntee, Vocations Director for the Archdiocese of Dublin. He joins Seán to discuss.

As many listeners prepare to fly abroad for their holidays, spare a thought for those who struggle to even get on a plane due to aerophobia. Statistics show that 1 in 5 Irish people have a fear of flying. Joining Seán to discuss is Dr JF Leader, Psychologist with Fear of Flying Ireland.