Moncrieff

Silence is something we often take for granted, we don't get to enjoy life without distractions nearly enough… Although many believe that these moments in silence are ‘wasted time’. To discuss his relationship with silence, Seán is joined by Psychologist and Founder of Jigsaw, Dr. Tony Bates.

If you have walked past Trinity College Dublin in recent years, you’ll have noticed that the front lawn is no longer a pristine lawn of green grass, but rather a wild meadow. At this time of the year in particular it can look a little unruly, and this has provoked the ire of a number of people, including the writer of today’s Irish Times Letter of the Day. Collie Ennis is the Biodiversity Officer...

Are we doing enough in terms of AI? And is our government really prepared for the monumental shifts set to happen as more and more companies use AI? Well, what about the idea of positioning Ireland as an ‘AI island’ of expertise? This is something that is being proposed by Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne, who is Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence. He joins Seán to discuss.

What was it like to be gay and going out in the 1970s and 80s? Hana Flamm has been uncovering the Dublin queer pub scene, speaking to people about their memories and experiences as young gay people in those times. She is documenting this in part of a series for GCN, where she is delving into the history of the scene, and joins Seán to discuss. Image: GCN

As we approach the end of the summer holidays, children all across the country will be going back to school, but for many children, this will look a lot different. During the past few months, children and families in Direct Provision centres have been told to pack up and uproot their life. These forced transfers often result in families separated and children ending up in a new school every couple...

This week is the annual Elvis Week, marking 48 years since the passing of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, with many events taking place at Graceland, his iconic home in Memphis. While his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, has traditionally been portrayed as a Machiavellian character, a new book portrays him in a different light. Joining Seán to discuss is Peter Guralnick, author of the new book ‘The Colonel...

The grim reality of the underbelly of the Internet is one of sexual exploitation, child abuse and offenders who trade off illegal pornographic content… But, what can be done to tackle this, and are we doing enough to ensure that the internet is a safe place? And, just how difficult is it to report and enforce crimes in this area? Mick Moran, CEO of the Irish Internet Hotline, and former Garda work...

Are we missing out by not living alone? One in five of us stick with a partner to keep living costs down and be under the same roof. What are the differences between going solo and pairing up? Henry McKean has been speaking with the public for their thoughts, and joins Seán to discuss.

A new play, ‘The Robinson Experiment’, explores the extraordinary story of one of Ireland's mass emigration programmes during the 19th century. Joining Seán to discuss is Cora Fenton, Producer at CallBack Theatre Company… Image: CallBack Theatre

The Occupied Territories Bill is winding its way through the Oireachtas. Tabled originally in 2018, the bill would ban trade with the illegal settlements in the West Bank. But, considering the ongoing actions of the Israeli government in Gaza, should Ireland consider a complete trade embargo on Israel? John O'Brennan is Professor of European Politics at Maynooth University, and he has been writing...

What are your plans for Friday night? A whole swathe of people have skipped the pub, and instead are flocking to saunas with friends and forging connections with complete strangers as they sit and sweat together... But, just why are saunas so popular, and are they really a new phenomenon in Ireland? Rosanna Cooney, Journalist and author of ‘Sweathouse’, joins Seán to discuss.

Sales of convertible cars have slumped majorly over the past two decades. But, why is this, and are they not the epitome of cool anymore? Or, is it just because of the terrible weather in this part of the world? Joining Seán to discuss is Dave Humphries, Motoring Journalist with CompleteCar.ie …

You might not give it much thought, but the way you cut your sandwich can have an effect on how you enjoy it. Now, a man on social media is causing heads to turn with his unique ‘Y-shaped 3 cut’ sandwich technique. Joining Seán to dissect this is Journalist and Food Writer, Shamim de Brún…

The old maxim that ‘sex sells’ has been applied to many industries, but perhaps magazines is one of the most relevant. Seán’s guest was the Editor of UK Glamour Magazine for 17 years and has a unique insight into the challenge she faced between creating interesting content, and the reality that sex sold more copies. Jo Malvin joins to discuss.

Since the dawn of the internet, the way in which we browse and search the internet has remained mostly the same. In the past year that has changed, with AI summaries now appearing at the top of search feeds. But, many websites utterly rely on you clicking on their feed for revenue. So, could these overviews be slowly killing the internet as we know it? Joining Seán to discuss this is Lily Ray, Vic...

Seán’s guest, Izz Alkarajeh, is a Palestinian man who runs a popular restaurant in Cork with his wife Eman. They have now co-authored a new cookbook, and he joins, fresh from a visit to his family in the West Bank, to discuss. ‘Jibrin’ is available now to buy in Eason’s or online at izz.ie . Image: Blasta Books

New data from the UK restaurant scene shows that more and more people are choosing to dine earlier, with the 6pm slot up considerably in bookings. Joining Seán to discuss is Food and Drink Writer Ali Dunworth, who is a big fan of early evening dining…

Whether you’re planning a getaway or are just back from some time off, you might notice that you sleep better on holiday. But, are those lie-ins really beneficial, and can you make up for all the lost sleep in a two week holiday? Professor of Applied Psychology, Samantha Dockray from University College Cork joins Seán to discuss.

Anyone serving time in prison has a story about how they ended up there - which can be used to help others from ending up in the same situation. Senator Lynn Ruanne and Filmmaker Grace Dyas worked together to put those stories from Mountjoy prisoners into a book, and the Senator joins Seán to discuss.

Today marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of the Great Emancipator, perhaps the most influential figure in Irish history, and an inspiration to equality campaigners around the world. Joining guest host Tom Dunne to discuss is Patrick Geoghan, Director of the Trinity Long Room Hub, Presenter of Talking History on Newstalk, and a Biographer of Daniel O’Connell…

With cocaine addiction, particularly among women, on the rise and alcohol dependency remaining an ongoing issue – what support is out there for people in need of treatment? As they publish their report revealing how many people are coming forward to access addiction support services, Tom Dunne is joined by Deputy Head of Services at Coolmine Therapeutic Community, Anita Harris…

The controversy and scramble last summer to get tickets for the upcoming Oasis gigs this month was probably a good indicator of just how beloved the band really is... But, as we prepare for their gigs in Croker, Tom Dunne’s guest spent time with the band in their early days, and has written a book detailing their meteoric rise to international stardom. John Robb, author of ‘Live Forever’, joins to...

Recent research undertaken by Ernst & Young shows that Gen Z has a significantly different approach to finance than previous generations. But, why is this, and will it make them vulnerable in the future? Joining guest host Tom Dunne to discuss is David Looney, Financial Advisory Director of Alpha Wealth in Cork…

On the 6th of August 1945, US bombers dropped the first nuclear bomb, nicknamed ‘Little Boy’, over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. 80 years later, guest host Tom Dunne is joined by Ronan McGreevy, Journalist and Historian, to walk through what happened, and the legacy of the bomb today.

Traditionally in this country, a bride would have taken her new husband’s surname upon marriage. While this doesn’t happen as much nowadays, are Gen Z women now taking up the tradition again? Joining guest host Tom Dunne to discuss is Saoirse Hanly, Columnist with the Irish Independent…