Moncrieff

Spotify users will be familiar with the never-ending options of new music thrown at them, but how do the algorithms actually work? Joining Seán to discuss is Glenn McDonald, former ‘data alchemist’ for Spotify and author of new book ‘You Have Not Yet Heard Your Favourite Song’...

Are you brushing your teeth correctly? A study says only 10% are! So, what can we do to give our teeth the best chance? Joining Seán to discuss is Dr Jennifer Collins, Clinical Director with Dental Care Ireland.

A 2,000 year old wine poured into an urn in Spain has recently been discovered, and it’s still in liquid form! Mick O’Connell from Neighbourhood Wine joins Seán Moncrieff to discuss what this means - and of course - if you can drink it.

There’s a court case going on in Italy and an impending investigation by the United Nations regarding the powers the Pope has as leader of the Vatican, including wiretapping! Joining Seán to discuss is Patsy McGarry, Religious Affairs Correspondent with the Irish Times.

From CleanTok to ASMR and everything in between, there’s a lot of weird and wonderful content to choose from on social media – and we’re hooked! Elaine Burke from the 'For Tech's Sake' podcast joins Seán to talk about the more unusual content categories that have us fully invested. 

As another superstar lands on Irish soil, it’s time to roll out the family tree. So who exactly was Taylor Swift’s great great great granny?  Joining Seán to find out is Fiona O’Mahony, Head of the Irish Family History Centre at EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum.

This Thursday a plaque will be unveiled outside a former internment camp in Wales, featuring the names of 37 Kerrymen who spent time incarcerated there in 1916. Joining Seán to discuss is Cllr. Jim Finucane, outgoing Chairman of Kerry County Council.

Miles Astray has won a major AI photography competition but has now been disqualified. Why? Because his photograph is natural, with no AI input whatsoever. But why did he do this?  Miles joins Seán to discuss. Image: Miles Astray

If you’re the owner of any Guinness memorabilia, it may be worth a pretty penny! David Hughes is a collector who’s interest piqued following his stint as a research chemist at Guinness’ London brewery in the 70s and 80s. David’s personal hoard of collectibles is under the hammer now. He joins Seán to discuss the collection. Image: Guinness Storehouse

It’s estimated there are 20,000 ‘stolen children’ who have been captured by Russians since the full scale invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago.   They were taken across the border after their towns were invaded, and their families killed.   Sean Fleming, Minister of State at the Dept of Foreign Affairs, recently heard first hand accounts from some of the 400 children who...

The number of Irish people doing house swapping holidays has exploded over the past number of years. But how exactly does it work? And should you be squeamish about strangers sleeping in your bed?  Joining Seán to discuss is Sinead Canney, Founder of LetsSwap.ie .

We all have something we do that other people think is gross. It could be anything from picking your nose to chewing with your mouth open, but what is the most disgusting of all? Newstalk’s Henry McKean joins Seán to find out.

When you hear Wuhan in China, most would immediately think of the initial Covid outbreak in 2019.   However, it’s now home to the world’s largest experiment in driverless cars.   500 robot-taxis are already whizzing around the city of 11 million people, 4.5 million cars, eight-lane expressways and towering bridges – and Baidu have announced they’ll add 1,000 more into the fleet...

As the Natural History Museum prepares to close its doors in September for major building works, the process of moving thousands of very old specimens out is a delicate one.  Joining Seán to discuss this is Paolo Viscardi, Keeper of the Natural History Museum.

With Ireland’s wins at the European Athletic Championships in Rome last week, the tricolour has been somewhat unavoidable. But why are we so obsessed with the flag and what does it stand for in today’s Ireland? Joining Seán to discuss is Columnist for the Irish Examiner, Colin Sheridan.

North and South Korea have recently been sending balloons towards each other - with the South sending soap operas and KPop in them, and the North sending bags of rubbish.  UCD’s Graham Finlay joins Seán to discuss this, and other examples of psychological warfare throughout history.

A mathematician at Oxford University claims that he has cracked the code of the hotel breakfast buffet. But what is the best way to make the most of it?  Joining Seán to discuss is Culinary Consultant and TV Chef, Aisling Larkin.

Have you ever wanted to teach your cat (or dog) Irish? Well, Anne Cakebread, illustrator and creator of the book ‘Teach Your Cat Irish’ joins Seán to discuss how this is possible!

Sunday is Bloomsday, but one thing that makes Ulysses so special is the role of food in the book. Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire, Chair of the MA in Gastronomy and Food Studies at TU Dublin, has been writing about this and joins Seán to discuss.

A new coffee making process uses ultrasonic sound waves to create an apparently stronger and less bitter beverage. But how does it work?  Joining Seán to explain is Dr Francisco Trujillo, a senior lecturer in the school of chemical engineering at the University of New South Wales.

The election counts have finally finished, where we saw crushing defeats and exhilarating wins at counting centres. What could also be seen were the winners often being lifted up into the air in celebration. Why is this a thing? To discuss, Seán is joined by Green Party TD Patrick Costello.

An Irish photographer has a new exhibition which is running currently as part of the Belfast Photo Festival. Richard Mosse’s work focuses on documenting the deforestation of the Amazon where he has spent an extensive amount of time.  He joins Seán to discuss.

A 25 year old man from Cork called Patrick O'Connell died as a prisoner of war in a German prison camp during World War Two. The indignity didn’t end there. Posthumously, he became a victim of Nazi medical experiments.  Now, a project is aiming to trace his family and return some honour to him and other victims.  Joining Seán to discuss is Dr. Aisling Shalvey, Project Coordinator with th...

The 13th of June is World Albinism Awareness Day, a condition that gives a person very light skin, hair and eyes - and can affect their quality vision. Jonathan DeBurca Butler went out to find people with the condition to learn more, and joins Seán to discuss. Image: Albinism Fellowship

SoftBank has developed AI voice-conversion technology to reduce call centre operators' psychological stress by altering the voices of angry customers to sound calmer.  But for many of us, calling a customer care line is the last resort. So what is the best way to navigate them in order to reduce stress for everyone?  Conor Pope is the Consumer Affairs Correspondent at the Irish Times, an...