Highlights from Moncrieff

An article in a New York magazine has claimed that a harmless crush you may have on a coworker or barista is not only harmless, but may actually rejuvenate your relationship…The author argues that not only are crushes inevitable, but can actually be healthy – by telling your partner you fancy someone else, it can put you both ‘in the mood.'Could this ever be the case?Sexologist Emily Power Smith joins Seán to discuss.

More than 300 children in Ireland are currently waiting for life-changing wishes according to Make-A-Wish Ireland.Last year over 229 wishes were granted, its highest number to date. The nationwide fundraising campaign, in partnership with Newstalk, which has been running all week finishes today with Donation Day.Now in its 18th year, Wish Week brought us powerful stories from children and families across Ireland to listeners, highlighting the life-changing impact of a wish for children living with critical medical conditions.We asked Henry McKean to get involved and he joins Seán to discuss!

A Tralee student is making history by being the first Irish student of non-Chinese descent to take on Mandarin for his Leaving Certificate exams.Ethan Gilroy, 6th year student at Mount Hawke in Tralee, joins Seán to discuss.

Once Hollywood's bread and butter, suspense thrillers have been lost to dwindling attention spans…Films now must cater to double screens; does that mean we have lost the art of suspense?Joining Seán to discuss is Tim Robey, Film Critic with the Daily Telegraph.

It's time to answer the age-old question: how do you pack your groceries?Do you divide bags by food group, by weight?Do you pack as you go at the till, or move aside after paying to arrange the goods?Is there a standard procedure for packing the big shop?Home Economist Agnes Boucher Hayes joins Seán to settle it all…

The fuel crisis due to the war in Iran, as well as blockades from the national fuel protests, has shown our reliance on these forms of energy. Is the answer to all of this a pivot to greater reliance on renewable energy? How would it work?Hannah Daly, Professor in Sustainable Energy in UCC joins Seán to discuss.

We have all found ourselves swearing blind to someone that something isn't where it should be… You get someone else to look, and low and behold, they find it straight away!We've all been victims of losing things in plain sight, and apparently there are psychological reasons for this…Enda Murphy, Psychotherapist and author, joins Seán to discuss.

Last year, Revenue's service dogs or sniffer dogs found over €100 million of drugs, tobacco and cash. Henry McKean visited Dublin Port and met the dogs in action, as well as Alan Foley, Revenue's National Detector Dog Programme Manager.He sent in this report.

Cian Griffin is a content and community marketer and Gaylgeoiri online. Cian recently got a circumcision due to phimosis.Phimosis is a common medical condition that occurs in all male children. This is where the foreskin is tight and cannot retract over the head, or glans, of the penis.It is estimated that in 95% of male children, the foreskin will develop and become retractile by the age of 12, or once the child enters adolescence.However, this is not always the case, and some men continue to suffer from phimosis into their teens and adulthood…Cian joins Seán to discuss.

A gorilla in Berlin Zoo has broken the world record for being the oldest gorilla in the world!Fatou is the world's oldest gorilla living in captivity, and has celebrated her 69th birthday…Joining Seán to discuss is Philline Hachmeister, Head of Communication in Berlin Zoo.Image: Berlin Zoo

Ireland's cities are full of architecture from all eras, including the famous Georgian house along Dublin city center.But, have you ever noticed that there are just some streets you hate walking down, whether they're too long, too open, or just wrong?Why do some of these streets work and some don't?Joining Seán to discuss is Designer and Founder of Boyne Creative, Eleanor Ruth.

On the 18th and 19th of April, the National Museum of Ireland will host a limited time exhibition at Collins Barracks to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Catalpa rescue mission.The mission involved the rescue of six Irish Fenians from a British penal colony in western Australia in April 1876 by a US whaling ship. After their rescue, the Fenians, who had been transported to Australia on the last convict ship, were brought safely to New York, much to the annoyance of the British who tried to intercept them as they sailed away.To discuss this and the exhibition, Seán is joined by Brenda Malone, Curator of Military History at the National Museum of Ireland.Image: National Museum of Ireland

Every Wednesday, Podcaster Cassie Delaney will join Seán to share some unusual stories on heinous crimes.This week, Cassie joins to discuss things that escalated in weird and unexpected ways!

Can procrastination be a good thing?Historian and author of ‘Self-Help from the Middle Ages' Peter Jones believe that procrastination can be used to our advantage. He joins Seán to discuss.

Despite Pope Leo being a relatively outspoken successor to Pope Francis, we are yet to see women be in any position of power within the Catholic Church. So, will we ever see this in the future?Joining Seán to discuss is Father Tony Flannery, a Redemptorist priest who was forbidden to practice by his superiors in Rome in 2012 for speaking up on many issues, including this one…

Seán's guest wrote a book over 10 years ago that he never suspected could become as relevant now as it has.Sorj Chalandon spent 25 years covering wars across Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Syria as a journalist. He then turned to novels, with his book ‘The Fourth Wall' utilising his memories and emotions of reporting on these wars, and turning them into a story.The book, set between Paris and Beirut in 1982 at the second Israeli invasion of Lebanon, follows the lives of Georges and his friend Samuel, a Greek Jewish Theatre Director and the staging of Jean Anouilh's ‘Antigone'.Sorj joins to discuss…

If you've taken a train journey in Ireland recently, you may have noticed something missing, the refreshment trolley. Once a familiar part of longer trips, it's disappeared from most routes since the pandemic, leaving passengers without even a cup of tea on board…So, is it time to bring it back?Joining Sean to discuss is Jenny McEntegart, Freelance Journalist.

It's Wish Week here on Newstalk, and we are highlighting the incredible work Make-A-Wish does in helping create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses…Seán is joined by Isabelle McCarthy, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and her dad Brendan to discuss the wish she had been granted…Let's make 2026 the biggest Wish Week yet! Every cent matters. Donate online at makeawish.ie/donate.

Apparently, socks are becoming more important when it comes to finishing off an outfit, but why is this, and why are they going beyond keeping your feet warm?Joining Seán to discuss is Laura Jordan, Image & Brand Consultant and owner of Style Savvy.

Today marks 120 years since the birth of Samuel Beckett. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1969, but he still remains to be more of a remote figure compared to the pantheon of Irish writers.Joining Seán to discuss his life and career is writer Dr. Fearghal Whelan.

Forget the candlelight, the cocktails and the carefully chosen corner table, new research suggests the real spark on a first date has little to do with where you are, and everything to do with what you say. A study from the University of Georgia has found that meaningful conversation not mood lighting or stylish surroundings is what truly drives attraction. So, could the secret to a great first date be as simple as asking the right questions?Joining Seán to discuss is Matchmaker Mairead Loughman.

Seán's guest is concert pianist Fiachra Garvey, who despite growing up on a working farm, decided to swap the vet lifestyle to pursue music…He joins to discuss!

A well-known and loved Irish phrase recently caused some confusion between an immigrant doctor and his patient.Dr Mohamed Elbadri had asked his patient whether he would be willing to quit smoking, to which the patient replied, “I will, yeah.”Three months later, during a check up, Elbadri was shocked to learn his patient had not quit, and had no intention of doing so!So, how often do our Irishisms get lost in translation?Joining Seán to discuss is Denise Deegan, writer, screenwriter and author of ‘The Little Book of Irishisms' under the pen name Aimee Alexander.

Seán's guest is so passionate about plants and nature, he turned his spare bedroom into a greenhouse!Jonny Balchandani, otherwise known as the ‘Bearded Plantaholic' has spent the last two decades nurturing thousands of plants in his home.Jonny joins to discuss!

What are the rules in your house when it comes to watching TV? No phones, no talking, no shoes on the sofa?A new survey suggests many of us have strict do's and don'ts, and they're causing more arguments than you might think…So, what are the nation's biggest TV-watching sins? Joining Seán to discuss is John Fardy, Presenter of ‘Screentime' on Newstalk.

There is an almost immediate intrigue and peak in curiosity when it comes to a leaked celebrity text.But, why are we so intrigued by it? Is it just human nature? Or do we just crave to know who celebrities really are behind the scenes?Joining Seán to discuss this is Head of Careers at the Communications Clinic, Sarah Geraghty.

Today is Erase Self Negativity Day, an opportunity to look within yourself for personal development and mental wellness. But, how exactly does it work, and is it effective?Joining Seán to discuss is Leslie Shoemaker, Counselling Psychologist & Lecturer in TU Dublin.

A study suggests a form of Munchausen syndrome by proxy may be driving some owners to invent symptoms or deliberately harm their animals…A study of around 90 veterinary surgeries in the Netherlands found that 83 per cent of veterinarians and technicians were familiar with the phenomenon.Joining Seán to discuss this is Registered Veterinary Nurse and Founder of Salty Dogs Kerry, Kathryn Scroope.

So called ‘no ring no bring' rules at weddings have become the centre of some debate. The controversial term refers to the practice of only allowing plus ones who are married or engaged. The practice is designed to keep guest numbers low and keep relative strangers out, but is marital status a fair way of judging commitment? Columnist Brianna Parkins joins Seán to discuss.

A new porch added to a medieval French cathedral has received backlash, being denounced as a ‘wart' and a ‘concrete UFO.'So, have we lost the art of visual interest in modern architecture, and does this impact us?Joining Seán to discuss is Rob Curley, Director of Maremoto Architects.

An entire Irish village has just gone up for sale, not just a few cottages but a fully restored estate in County Kildare, complete with a pub, a former schoolhouse, a restaurant, all for a cool €20 million.The village of Lyons, set along the Grand Canal, dates back to the 18th century and was brought back to life in the 1990s by Ryanair co-founder Tony Ryan. Today, it operates as a luxury hospitality destination, but now it's looking for a new owner to shape its next chapter.Joining Seán to discuss this is Eoghan Corry, Historian and local resident.

Ice baths and wild swimming are all the rage today, but is Freediving the next water based activity for Irish fin folk to flock too?Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports.

In honour of the Devil Wears Prada 2 premiere on the 1st of May, Meryl Streep joined Anna Wintour on the front cover of Vogue magazine to promote the movie. Meryl Streep's character Miranda Priestly in the original Devil Wears Prada was often rumored to be based on Anna Wintour herself… Joining Seán to discuss is Fashion Stylist Cathy O'Connor.   Image: Vogue

For years, we've been told to fear certain foods, cut out the carbs, avoid fat at all costs, and definitely don't touch sugar. But, how much of this is actually based on solid science, and how much is clever marketing dressed up as wellness? Today, we're taking a closer look at the foods that have been unfairly demonized by the diet industry, from eggs and potatoes to full-fat dairy… Seán is joined by Dietician Sarah Keogh to discuss!

The use of the term ‘narcissist' has exploded in recent years. So, are we getting better at recognising Narcissistic Personality Disorder? Or are we just labeling anyone we don't like as a narcissist? Dr Edel Marron, the founder of KOTA, a leadership and personal development consultancy focused on emotional intelligence, joins Seán to discuss.

Every Wednesday, Podcaster Cassie Delaney will join Seán to share some unusual stories on heinous crimes. This week, Cassie joins to discuss crimes committed by people you wouldn't expect!

With the current national fuels protest ongoing, how does it compare to protests in the past, and what could it achieve? Newstalk's Political Correspondent and host of ‘Let Me Explain' Seán Defoe joins Seán to look back on notable protests in Irish history, and what came from them.

There's a growing movement that's redefining modern motherhood called ‘Mommunes': these are intentional communities where mums come together to share childcare, support, and the ups and downs of parenting. In some cases, they're even living together under one roof…Joining Seán to discuss is Bernie Sinclaire, who lives in a ‘Mommune' in New York.

While we all remember the feeling of being stuck at home during the Covid pandemic, people with the anxiety disorder agoraphobia are usually afraid of stepping out of the front door…Karina Mongan is one person who suffers with agoraphobia, and joins Seán to discuss.

If you find yourself building a collection of clothes you're not interested in wearing anymore, is selling them online the best option?Máire Treasa Ní Cheallaigh, Columnist with the Irish Independent earned €1,000 in a year by selling her unwanted clothes on Vinted, and joins Seán to discuss.

One hundred years ago, on 7 April 1926, Irish woman Violet Gibson attempted to assassinate Benito Mussolini in a busy Roman piazza.Mussolini survived, with the bullet merely grazing his nose.Who was this Dalkey-born woman who attempted to change the course of history?Joining Seán to discuss is Patrick McGarty, Writer for the Irish Independent.

April Fool's Day last week saw its fair share of joke headlines and social media pranks. However, some practical jokes have been criticised as being in poor taste. Most notably, an offensive joke social media post from the Wicklow GAA has been condemned by TD Jennifer Whitmore and Tánaiste Simon Harris.With all this in mind, Terry Prone, Columnist with the Irish Examiner, joins Seán to discuss when pranks go too far…