Moncrieff

It was this very week a quarter of a century ago when Gilmore Girls premiered. It’s also ‘Gilmore Girls Season’, when every autumn devoted fans rewatch the series. But, what is it about the formula of this programme that attracts legions of repeat viewers? Joining Seán to discuss is Dr. Jess Shine, from the Media Communications Department of MTU in Cork…

From Putin’s alsatian to an alligator in the White House, pets have played a surprising role in politics. Joining Seán to discuss is Peter Cardwell, Journalist and author of ‘Political Animals: The secret life of the political pets of Westminster and Washington’...

This Saturday will see the annual World Porridge Making Championships take place in Scotland. Mayo’s Rebecca Holohan will be representing Ireland, and she joins Seán to discuss!

‘Change is possible’ - that’s the message of Doctor and Neuroscientist Brian Pennie, who is about to deliver his first talk at Maynooth University since his studies there. The university is celebrating 25 years of its Psychology Department, and is hosting a number of free events to mark the occasion, which are open to the public. The event is taking place on October 8th, and coincides with the day...

Are we ruder in traffic than before? Have we lost our manners? Have we lost all courtesy and decency, and have we stopped saying thank you to the bus driver? Newstalk’s Henry McKean has been investigating, and joins Seán to discuss.

We saw overnight the detention, by Israeli forces, of activists on the Sumud Flotilla headed for Gaza, including a number of Irish citizens... It comes as we await further news of any type of progress following a proposed peace deal proposed by Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu. All the while the people of Gaza remain under constant bombardment having been displaced from the place they call home...

The Simpsons is the longest-running sitcom in US history, but is the world’s favourite yellow family still relevant? US-based Journalist and Simpsons enthusiast, Alan Siegel, says the show didn’t just reflect America, it reshaped it forever. With the 37th season out this week and a new movie in the works, he says the Simpsons are still going strong. He joins Seán to discuss his new book ‘Stupid TV...

Are we obsessed with drinking water? Hydration has been at the centre of social media trends and even has its own hashtag on TikTok: #WaterTok. Buzzy new viral products like gigantic 5L bottles or the Stanley Cup have fuelled this ‘water mania’ – but is there such a thing as drinking too much water? Joining Seán to discuss is Dietitian Aoife Quinn…

As the cold evenings close in, now is the ideal time to set up a bird table in the garden, or even attached to a window if you live in an apartment. But, how do you do it, and are there certain foods that will attract specific species? Joining Seán to discuss is Niall Hatch, Head of Birdwatch Ireland…

There’s one thing that unites Irish people everywhere: we love to give out about the state of the place… but, heaven help anyone else who dares do the same. Today, we’re exploring the tug-of-war that happens among emigrants: those who left Ireland with a dream in their suitcase, and came back with stories and maybe just a bit of snobbery. Irish Times contributor Céire Sadlier has written about jus...

Imagine uprooting your life, spending thousands of euros, jumping through every hoop - only to land in a country with no job waiting for you. That’s the nightmare facing migrant nurses arriving in Ireland, scammed by recruitment agencies promising work that simply doesn’t exist. Seán is joined by Varghese Joy from Migrant Nurses Ireland, who wants to expose how suspected visa fraud is leaving skil...

The U.S. Federal Government has ground to a halt in what’s known as a ‘shutdown’. But, what exactly does that mean, and why does it keep happening? To help make sense of it all, Seán is joined by Scott Lucas, Professor of International Politics at the Clinton Institute in UCD.

Wallpaper is back in, and it’s louder, bolder and more vibrant than ever. Wallpaper is all the rage for 2026, and have been hailed by interior designers across the country for the personality and warmth they can add to a room. With peel-and-stick options, even renters can join the design revolution. Joining Seán to discuss is Interior Designer, James McNamara…

Increasingly, in cases of death by suicide or mass shootings, CTE is a factor. It's a condition that can bring dramatic changes to someone, more likely to affect those in contact sports, but ongoing research indicates that a genetic disposition may play a role... Joining Seán to discuss is Dr Colin Doherty, Head of the School of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin and Consultant Neurologist at St....

Have you ever seen or heard something unusual or unnerving that you can’t explain, have you ever had an encounter with paranormal activity? Well if you have, Seán’s next guest would like to hear about it. Margaret McGrogan, an Applied Psychologist and PhD candidate at University of Galway, is leading the first national anonymous survey to explore these unusual and unexplained experiences. She join...

A brand-new exhibition showcasing the breadth of Picasso’s work will be opening at the National Gallery of Ireland. ‘Picasso: From the Studio’ will be the first Irish exhibition of this scale to showcase the Spanish master’s art since his death in 1973. The first ever display of Picasso’s work in Ireland was organised by Trinity College students in a library storage room back in 1969. This time ar...

A survey has revealed just how much people like to gossip. Here in Ireland is it a part of the fabric of society? Newstalk’s Henry McKean has been getting all the gossip, and joins Seán to discuss!

While Elizabeth Shaw may not be well known here in Ireland, the Belfast-born author has been a household name in Germany ever since she travelled to the GDR after World War II, to participate in the building of the communist state through her hugely popular children’s books. Joining Seán is Fergal Lenehan, an Irish Academic Researcher based in Germany who has co-written (with Sabine Egger) the aft...

People are being reminded about the importance of complaining. According to Irish Examiner Consumer Columnist, Caitríona Redmond, complaining can actually serve the common good. Last summer, Caitríona was looking forward to a relaxing family holiday, but things didn’t go quite as planned. The three-star hotel she was staying in fell far short of what had been promised, and thanks to complaints lod...

Whenever you see an advert for a car brand on television, the visuals usually centre on open roads in a vast landscape, with the driver emanating a sense of freedom... Seán’s guest says the notion that a car gives you freedom is a complete myth! Ciaran Brennan, Communications Officer at the Irish Environmental Network joins to discuss.

A man who has spent the past four decades tending to the graves of the only two unclaimed victims of the 1985 Air India disaster has been honoured by an Indian cultural group. Finbarr Archer, who is the official driver to the Lord Mayor of Cork, was working for an undertaker at the time of the terrorist attack. All 329 passengers and crew on board Air India flight 182 were killed in June of that y...

In Davina McCall’s new book, she talks about the challenge of keeping sex interesting and less functional while couples try to conceive. So, how do you keep the heat alive? Joining Seán to discuss is Helena Tubridy, former Midwife turned Fertility Coach…

A Councillor in Limerick city is calling for businesses to take more responsibility for their shopfronts and to reduce the scourge of shoddy signage. Joining Seán to discuss is Maria Donoghue, an Architect and Independent Councillor in Limerick…

This week, the White House released a video of the new ‘Presidential Walk of Fame’, featuring portraits of American Presidents. But, one particular frame didn’t feature a President at all. Instead, it showed a machine. Newstalk’s Simon Tierney has been investigating, and joins Seán to discuss. Image: @WhiteHouse on Twitter

While the Saudis have invested enormously over the past few years into sports such as soccer and golf, they are now stepping into the cultural arena, with the Riyadh Comedy Festival kicking off this weekend. It has an almost unbelievable line up on the cards, from Dave Chapelle to Whitney Cummins and Jimmy Carr. But, is this an attempt to whitewash the regime? Joining Seán to discuss is Liam Kelly...