Moncrieff

Amal and George Clooney have a no phones rule for guests, their policy is to allow a safe and frank conversation. So, what rules do you have for your house guests and how long is too long for someone to stay? Newstalk’s Henry McKean has been talking to the public, and joins Seán to share what he’s heard.

Has cocaine become completely normalised? A new report published by the Department of Health has highlighted that cocaine users are now older and better educated than ever before. The typical cocaine user is changing as older people embrace the party drug. For more on this, Seán is joined by Professor Colin O'Gara, Addiction Psychiatrist and Head of Addiction Services at St. John of God Hospital…

Comedians Julie Jay and Colm O’Regan join Seán in Lighthouse Cinema to talk all things comedy, and the work-life balance that is needed in their careers. Julie Jay and Colm O’Regan will be performing at the Paddy Power Comedy Festival this weekend. For more information go to ppcomedyfestival.com .

Seán’s guest’s latest book, ‘Strange Sally Diamond’, went straight to number one in Ireland. Liz Nugent, one of Ireland’s foremost crime writers, joins live in Lighthouse Cinema to discuss!

A traditional Irish basket for collecting harvested onions had been lost to history, until Seán’s guest managed to recreate one so accurately that it is now being celebrated by those in Kerry who remember the original. Joining to discuss is Diane Southey from Saille Baskets in Kerry...

Do you make the effort when you are abroad to speak the language? Even just a ‘gracias’ or ‘merci’ can go a long way. So, are we good at attempting to speak another language (despite mispronouncing the words) or do we end up just increasing our volume in English? Travel Writer Joan Scales joins Seán to discuss.

Who are you? When someone asks you that question what first springs to mind? Your nationality? Your job? Your sexual orientation? Your religion? How useful are these concepts in actually describing us, and should we even be identifying as any of these things? Alexander Douglas is the Author of ‘Against Identity: The Wisdom of Escaping the Self’. He joins Seán to discuss.

‘One bill per table’ - that’s the new rule being rolled out across all restaurants in Mallorca to stop tourists bickering over the bill and wasting staff time. Surely splitting the bill can’t be that hard for restaurants, or can it? Chef and Restaurateur in Galway, JP McMahon, joins Seán to discuss.

Seán’s guest used to be a pilot with a major airline before he developed ‘eco-anxiety’, causing him to quit flying. He now features in a new documentary entitled ‘Guilt Trip’. George Hibberd joins to discuss.

You may be aware that the Taoiseach was on a state visit to Japan last week. What you may not know is that Japan has something of a thriving community of traditional Irish musicians, who are indigenous Japanese, with no ancestral ties to Ireland. Rieko Yamashita is the Chair of Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann Japan, and joins Seán to discuss. Image: John John Festival

What can philosophy teach us? And just how can applying philosophical logic help when assessing major news stories and global conflict? Co-Founder of Hear Listen, a community based philosophy project, Dr Robert Grant joins Seán to discuss.

Nora O’Connor has been the Postmistress in Ballyduff in Kerry since 1984, after her family ran the post office there since the 1860s when the Penny Black was first introduced. This month, the doors have finally been closed for the last time. Nora joins Seán to discuss. Image: Google Maps

Whether it's been tucked away and forgotten about, or left to you through inheritance - the humble attic could be containing treasures right above your noses! Joining Seán to discuss is Sara Kenny, owner of Sara Kenny Fine Art.

Does the price of barbecue food go up when the weather is good? And should you be stocking up on certain household items at particular times of year? With the cost of groceries continuing to go up, people are feeling the pinch now more than ever. Consumer Columnist with the Irish Examiner, Caitriona Redmond, joins Seán to discuss.

While over a million Irish people emigrated to the UK during the 20th century, the narrative over these people’s experiences varies, with the mythology surrounding the ‘No blacks, no dogs, no Irish’ signs often contributing to the way we perceive this great migration. But, is there any evidence that these signs actually ever existed? Joining Seán to discuss is Journalist Michael Murphy, who has be...

Getting an ingrown toenail during the summer can be a real pain, if you want to be in sandals and flip flops during the good weather. So, how do you prevent one, and what can be done if it's too late? Joining Seán to discuss is Podiatrist Niall Donaghue, from the Cure Spa Clinic in Dublin, who has all the grisly details…

Last week saw Ireland's long-awaited Defamation Bill passed in both the Dáil and the Seanad. However, not everyone is satisfied that the bill is sufficient to prevent so-called SLAPP cases and therefore to protect free speech. Jessica Ní Mhainín is Head of Policy and Campaigns at Index on Censorship. She joins Seán to discuss.

Every so often you’ll spot those headlines about derelict homes going for one euro in Italy, and you might ask yourself if the dream matches the reality. However, some people who do the scheme end up spending far more money, so what does life in rural Italy really look like? Stephanie Woods Barry, who runs a travel instagram @stephmylife bought in Abruzzo with her husband, and she joins Seán to di...

1,500 illegally traded tarantulas were recently seized by officials in Cologne Bonn airport. But, how dangerous are tarantulas, and are they still popular as a pet? Joining Seán to discuss is Michel Dugnon, Principal Investigator of the Venom System Lab at the University of Galway…

In an upcoming talk at the Sugar Club in Dublin on August 20th, Dr Shane Cassidy, a Music Therapist and Director of Neurolinks, will discuss how music can be used to help people with neurological conditions. But, what exactly is the link between the brain and music? Dr Cassidy joins Seán to discuss.

Is Trump really a madman, or is he simply following in the footsteps of Richard Nixon and acting out the Madman Theory in International diplomacy? Joining Seán to discuss this is Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame, Michael Desch. Image: Reuters

There are calls for the government to follow through on the promises made to ensure marine preservation and the protection of our ocean environments. It is vital for marine life to be protected and for more on this, Seán is joined by Ecologist Pádraic Fogarty...

With cars relying more and more on touchscreen technology, is there a growing safety concern, and is it time to return to good old-fashioned buttons? Joining Seán to discuss is Ger Herbert, Motoring Editor and Columnist with the Sunday Independent…

While you might be scared of spiders yourself, you probably don’t want to pass this fear onto your kids, so how do you manage the transfer of phobias? Joining Seán to discuss is Rebecca Quinn, Principal Psychologist at the Tree House Practice in Dublin…

What age are we at our happiest, and does it surprise you that happiness can dip in your mid-forties, especially in women? Newstalk’s Henry McKean has been happily investigating, and joins Seán to discuss.