Moncrieff

A cancer diagnosis is life changing, but for many families affected by cancer, the financial toll of treatment is something to consider... Just as your income is down, there are more bills coming in than ever. The Irish Cancer Society estimates that households affected by cancer are spending an extra €700 a month at a time when their average loss of income is double that at €1,500 per month. For m...

With the weather as wild and unpredictable as it is between Storm Éowyn and Storm Herminia, there may be no better time to embrace a day pottering... But, why is a day on the sofa actually good for you? And who doesn't do a bit of 'bed rotting'? James Kavanagh, Influencer and TV Presenter, is a self-proclaimed expert on the subject and joins Seán to discuss how to do it properly...

Between 1933 and 1945, Franklin Delano Roosevelt served an unprecedented four terms as US President. The backdrop to this was, of course, the spectre of World War 2. But, with Republicans speaking about an unprecedented crisis in America that only the new president can solve, could we possibly see a third Trump term? Scott Lucas is a Professor & Political Analyst at the Clinton Institute, Univ...

Hundreds of thousands of people are without power and water in the afermath of Storm Éowyn, but one side of this is that strangers are coming together to help each other. Henry McKean was a recipient of that help, and joins Seán to discuss what he saw.

Perhaps you’ve always dreamed of performing in a major theatre in front of a big crowd, but you always felt that your singing voice wasn’t quite up to it… Well, don’t let that stop you! Amhráin na Mara (Songs of the Sea) takes place on January 28th at the Cork Arts Theatre, and this is a gig in which the line between performer and spectator will well and truly be crossed. Eamonn Ó Ceallaigh is a S...

With today’s storm causing havoc across the country, should more of us be prepping? One particular aspect of prepping that Tom Dunne’s guest has been investigating are grab bags. But, what is a grab bag and how does it work? Joining to discuss is Breda Graham, adventurer and Journalist for the Irish Examiner…

It was 30 years ago this week that Mat Utd’s Eric Cantona infamously kung fu kicked a fan at Crystal Palace. But, why did it happen, and what was the fall out? Joining Tom Dunne to discuss is Thom Gibbs, Senior Sports Writer for the Daily Telegraph, who has been investigating…

Breaking news: the Loch Ness Monster is not real! Well, that’s what guest host Tom Dunne’s guest says anyway - and that instead, we should be spending our time looking for aliens! Professor Tim Coulson is Professor of Zoology at Oxford University and the author of ‘The Universal History of Us: A 13.8 billion year tale from the Big Bang to you’. He joins to discuss. Image: Britannica

After being delayed due to the LA wildfires, this year’s Oscar nominations have just been announced live in Hollywood. So, how have the Irish fared, and what movie has received the most nominations? Joining Seán to discuss is Film Critic Esther McCarthy… Image: Oscars

Audiobooks have become big business, and naturally you may have listened to some big name actors narrating your favourite novel. But, they’re certainly not always narrated by Hollywood alumni, and that’s at least partly because it’s quite a specific skill that requires one to carefully walk the line between narrator and character actor. That’s not something every actor can do. So, what does it tak...

In order to better understand how policies could affect human outcomes and how people might react to various catastrophes, the UK Ministry for Defence has now enlisted the help of sci-fi authors… Joining Seán to discuss is Emma Newman, Science fiction author and producer of the ‘Imagining Tomorrow’ podcast.

Could somebody online be pretending to be you? There’s been a national fascination with ‘catfishing’ recently, but can it really happen to anyone? Surely, nobody would want to impersonate your normal, everyday life… Well, this happened to Aoife Howard Ring and she joins Seán to discuss.

A huge and putrid plant called a corpse flower is about to bloom at any moment, and is currently being watched by thousands around the world on a YouTube livestream. Joining Seán to discuss is John Siemon, Director of Horticulture and Living Collections at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney…

When was the last time you got your shoes repaired instead of just buying a new pair? Within your answer to that you may recognise the plight of the cobbler… There are less than thirty left in the country. So, is this a dying trade, or could talk of the circular economy begin a revival of business? Michael Rossiter is a Cobbler in Kilkenny, and joins Seán to discuss.

The days of drinking instant coffee from a flask are over! Enter spreadable coffee from a tube… Joining Seán to discuss is Philippe Greinacher, Co-Founder of No Normal Coffee… Image: No Normal Coffee

Speaking yesterday, the UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen made clear the global organisation’s desire for a pluralist democratic Syria. But considering the unpopularity of the UN on the ground in the country ,and the factionalised nature of the political landscape there, is that a realistic aim? Dr Rahaf Aldoughli is Lecturer in Middle East and North African studies at Lancaster University, and joins...

Dublin City Council has this week rolled out light boxes across all libraries in the capital. But, what are they, and why would you use one? Joining Seán to discuss is Ciara Dardis, Divisional Librarian with Dublin City Libraries in charge of events and partnerships…

Have you thought about taping your mouth shut to get a better night’s sleep? A new viral craze has seen people put tape to stop themselves breathing through their mouth overnight... Professor Annie Curtis, Associate Professor at the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences at RCSI, joins Seán to discuss.

This month’s LA wildfires may yet prove to be the most devastating natural disaster in U.S. history... It is already the country’s most costly wildfire on record. You’ve seen the pictures of devastated neighbourhoods reduced to ashes, with the Pacific Palisades no different to many other neighbourhoods in the LA area. Except for the fact that one house seemed to have survived the onrushing flames...

A council in Greater Sydney has banned thong and g-string bikinis at its public swimming pools, causing outrage among pool users. Despite the outrage, sales of thongs are up at Marks & Spencer… So, why is there policing on what women can wear? Seán is joined by Édaein O'Connell, Freelance Journalist, to discuss.

In the past, Ireland as a country has assumed a certain level of immunity from espionage. It perhaps comes from our neutrality, our geographical location or our alliances, but in recent times, not only is Ireland not without espionage, it is in fact a major target in the 21st century… So, how prepared are we to deal with this threat? Dr Edward Burke is Assistant Professor in the History of War sin...

Does it really pay to be loyal, or are we giving away too much information? The Consumer Columnist for the Irish Examiner, Caitriona Redmond took a long hard look at supermarket loyalty cards, and whether they are really worth having. She joins Seán to discuss.

What's the difference between a stoat, a weasel, a mink and a pine marten? A citizen science survey of Ireland is currently trying to map the Irish stoat. Joining Seán to discuss is Vicky Knight, Species Conservation Officer with Vincent Wildlife Trust…

In the last couple of weeks Italy brought in a new law making surrogacy a “universal crime”. This has been seen as part of a larger international reaction against the practice of surrogacy. So, with the Assisted Human Reproduction Act set to be enacted later this year, how will all of this affect Irish couples looking to avail of the practice? Annette Hickey is a Family Law Solicitor and one of Ir...

In 2019, it was discovered that the Bigmouth Buffalo fish was the world’s longest-lived freshwater fish, surviving to an age of at least 127 years old. But, this wasn’t the most incredible thing that the researchers discovered. The fish actually appears to be aging backwards! Dr. Alec Lackmann is Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Minnesota Duluth, and joins Seán...