Moncrieff

The Austrian government has finally made a decision on what to do with the house that Hitler was born in. Nearly 8 decades after Adolf Hitler’s suicide, the Austrian government has begun transforming Hitler's birthplace into a police station. Derek Scally, Berlin Correspondent for the Irish Times spoke to Sean about the history of the building and how the decision came about.

You have heard of 'toxic positivity' but one philosopher is putting forward the alternative – 'depressive realism'.   Dr Julie Reche is from Ukraine but she is now visiting faculty at UCD and UCC, having come to Ireland as a refugee with her daughter. Her new book is called 'Negative Psychoanalysis for the Living Dead: Philosophical Pessimism and the Death Drive'. Julie spoke to Sean.

Gianluca Grimalda has spent the last six months travelling around the largest island in the Soloman Islands archipelago, finding out how its people have been impacted by climate change.   He has been traveling by cargo ship, ferry, trains and coaches, but due to a number of unfortunate incidents, he’s delayed his return to the Kiel Institute for World Economy in Germany.   The...

Chief Technical Officer of Anatomy at Trinity College Dublin, Philomena McAteer, spoke to Sean about how one can go about donating their body to science.

A new study by eBay suggests everyday tasks are the best way to wind down. Watering plants and hanging out the washing were deemed the most popular tasks for de-stressing.   Aggie McKenzie, Author of AggiesTips.com and host of How Clean Is Your House spoke to Sean about the benefits of cleaning.

An airline which offers bespoke travel services for dogs and other pets is drawing the attention of climate campaigners. K9 Jets operates a number of routes where pets can travel in comfort and style alongside their owners, and they are planning a Dublin route in 2024. Joining Sean was, Co-founder of K9 Jets Adam Golder,

In Germany, those who fail to pay for public transport can face prison time. Most ticket swindlers are incarcerated as they can't afford to pay the fine given to them. But a loophole has been found in German Law. The fine doesn't have to be paid by the offenders themselves and can be paid by anyone. Arne Semsrott , Founder of Freiheitsfonds (The Freedom Fund) has been doing just that freeing...

Mike Jack of Canada has broken the record for consuming the most amount of Carolina reaper peppers, the world’s hottest pepper with 1.64m Scoville heat units. Mike consumed 50 peppers, in 6 minutes and 49.2 seconds and went on to eat 135 peppers in total ! But how does one prepare for such as task, is it dangerous and what explains the popularity of competitive chili pepper eating? Guinness World...

Former broadcaster Fergal Keane when renovating an old farm shed discovered a large batch of unexploded ordnance. Specifically, Gelignite thought to trace back to the War of Independence.  Following the discovery the former journalist contacted authorities where a bomb squad of the Irish army conducted a controlled explosion. Fergal joined Sean on the show to discuss his extraordinary discove...

Celebrating 100 years of Brendan Behan, the Museum of Literature Ireland has remembered the literary giant's life through an audio-visual tribute. The Borstal Boy writer, who was considered the first Irish celebrity, was considered a genius in field however his struggle with alcoholism took him at the ripe age of 40.  Behan departed, leaving audiences with the legacy of his words and his cele...

It’s the first week in October, and according to Nature’s Calendar of mircoseasons, it is Beech Nuts Fall season. Which, is one of the 72 microseasons in Nature’s Calendar, based off the traditional Japanese method of using small changes in nature as indication for what time of year it is.   One of the authors of 'Nature’s Calendar: The British Year in 72 Seasons', Lulah Ellender joined...

A new ESRI report shows Ireland's gambling problem is far worse than previously thought, with 130 thousand people considered problem gamblers, a figure 10 times higher than previous estimates.   But with gambling comes lies, deception and balancing a double life.   Davy Glennon, former Galway and Westmeath hurler and joined Sean to discuss... Image: Sportsfile

Bono's daughter, Eve Hewson plays a working class mum from the flats. There has been some criticism online over her casting in this role. Henry McKean joined Sean to discuss...

By now, we’ve all heard of or seen the pictures of the Sphere in Las Vegas where U2 were the first act to perform in the $ 2.3 billion venue. Outfitted with surround LED screens and lights to ensure a concert experience like no other. But, what do you think of it being built on your door step? Or better yet, wedged between residential flats?  That’s the plan for the world’s next Sphere venue...

A letter written by Christopher Columbus after his return to Europe after his time in the Carribean is up for auction later this month. But why is this document so significant and how does it help us to understand the true motivations of this controversial figure? Jarlath Regan was joined by Caroline Dodds Pennock, Lecturer in International History at the University of Sheffield and author of On S...

Over the past few decades, The way we consume coffee has changed dramatically in Ireland, with the lazy method of milk and sugar being replaced in popular culture by cappuccino’s and mocha’s.    But how does coffee consumption differ internationally, and has the importation of different coffee cultures changed the way we here in Ireland consume coffee? Jarlath Regan was joined by St...

“Don’t let the bed bugs bite” is becoming more of a manifestation rather than a nice sentiment in Paris as the city is facing a bed bug epidemic. The infestation of bed bugs has been brought to attention worldwide as people share the reality of what the epidemic of bed bugs looks like – from bites to fecal matter left on sheets.  Jaralth Regan was joined by bed bug expert from Bed Bug LTD Dav...

They say that your skin and teeth are a good indicator of your overall health but as it turns out so is your fridge.  If your fridge is chaotic and all over the place, your diet will most likely be a reflection of that.  That is the philosophy subscribed to they those who participate in fridge architecture which is the strict organisation and stocking of your smeg or whirlpool.  Jar...

Over the last few years there has been an increase in the number of US prisons using social media in order to recruit people to write to their inmates.  Some have even gone as far as posting videos with the prisoners asking for people to reach out to them – similar to a dating profile.  But did you know, the Irish Council For Prisoners Overseas offers a similar service.  Leslie Alco...

Former students of St. Conleth’s College in Dublin are seeking an apology from the school as their French teacher was a former member of the SS during the Nazi occupation of France and they alledge that he assaulted them. Irish Times journalist Ronan McGreevy, whose new book 'The Kidnapping: A hostage, a desperate manhunt and a bloody rescue that shocked Ireland’' is out in late October, has been...

Aertel, Ireland’s teletext service is coming to an end next week after nearly 40 years. What impact did it have on us and will we miss it? Henry McKean joined Sean to discuss...

Do you know much about your local council? Would you want to see them take more responsibility in your area?   In last week’s Irish Times, Michael McDowell wrote about the challenges facing Dublin City, and he blamed the council for a lack of activity.  But is the real issue a lack of power and authority held within the council’s remit?   Ciarán Cuffe, Green Party MEP, for...

Irish hospitals produce an extraordinary number of plastic medical grade aprons for incineration every week. But a start up in Cork is attempting to disrupt the norm. Sean was joined by Dr. Mary O’Riordan, Co-Founder of HaPPE Earth... Image: HaPPE Earth

People often say that they “feel the love” but where exactly do we feel love? Well, researchers from Aalto University in Finland set out to do exactly that. The study at Aalto categorised 27 different types of love from true love to self love and the love for religion.   Sean was joined by Pärttyli Rinne, Researcher at Aalto University to discuss...

What is the worst or best social media campaign that you’ve ever seen? The market to compete with social media advertising is huge and businesses leave us either captivated or cringing. Some of these campaigns are very memorable and inventive whereas others, just entirely miss the mark. But what makes a social media campaign successful? And what makes it flop?  Sean was joined by Columnist fo...