Highlights from Moncrieff

Over the weekend, the UK Independent released a list of what they believe to be the worst movies directed by actors.This list includes films like ‘Lost River' by Ryan Gosling, ‘Charlie's Angels' by Elizabeth Banks, ‘The Beaver' by Jodie Foster and much more.But, are there some that are the outliers? Can actors direct? Or to go a step further, should some actors stick to directing?Guest host Fionnuala Jones is joined by Film Critic, Journalist and Columnist Esther McCarthy to discuss.

“What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other word would smell as sweet.”Those of you who know your Shakespeare will immediately recognise that quote from Romeo and Juliet, but how much truth is there in it?Is your name intrinsically part of your personality, or is it an incidental element of who you are?Writer and Filmmaker Molly Furey has been contemplating this very question in today's Irish Times. She joins guest host Fionnuala Jones to discuss.

New research by the Sex Workers Alliance of Ireland has revealed that 3 out 4 sex workers started because they were in financial difficulty.On top of this, migrant sex workers are facing major discrimination and marginalization when it comes to housing and trying to find some to stay.Linda Kavanagh is the Communication and Advocacy Manager for the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland, and joins guest host Fionnuala Jones to discuss.

If you've been looking for a new hobby, look no further!Scrapbooking is making the rounds once again! More and more people are commemorating the little moments with everything from receipts, scraps or even concert tickets.As well as remembering some core memories, scrapbooking has a lot of other benefits as well, including being a positive outlet for stress relief, enhancing your focus and improving your memory.Joining guest host Fionnuala Jones to discuss is author and Journalist, Aoife Barry and social media influencer James Kavanagh, both avid scrapbookers!

From giant engagement rings to vow renewals, the wedding business is booming, and one of the industries that is always influenced by celebrity culture.But, what are the big 2025 trends and what in particular are couples embracing to make their special day extra special these days?Wedding Expert Sara Kennedy, who runs The Aisle by Sara Kennedy, joins guest host Fionnuala Jones to discuss.

A new walking trend has been gaining popularity online: Japanese walking. What many have been calling ‘high intensity walking' is based on interval-style bursts of fast and slow walking.So far, it has been showing promising health benefits and not to mention, very convenient. All you need is a stop watch and somewhere to walk.Fiona Skelly, a Lecturer in Physical Activity and Health, joins guest host Fionnuala Jones to discuss.

Most people would say that giving someone a compliment is a good thing.But not everyone likes receiving a compliment, and often the context can turn a nice gesture into an awkward social moment.So, should we be offering strangers compliments or is it better to keep your thoughts, even the positive ones, to yourself?Pádraig Walsh is a Behavioural Psychologist and joins guest host Fionnuala Jones to discuss.

Ireland's 7,500km coastline stretching from Donegal to Dingle is slowly but surely slipping away in front of our eyes…Entire sections of our coastline are disappearing into the sea due to human activity and accelerated levels of climate change.To talk further about this radical rate of coastal erosion, Seán is joined by Environmental Geographer Michelle McKeown.

While we may be basking in the good weather and enjoying the heatwave, experts are urging pet owners to take extra care, especially when bringing their dogs for a walk in the sun.Dog's Trust have called on owners to stay vigilant to avoid heatstroke, and joining Seán with more on this is Pete Wedderburn, AKA Pete the Vet.

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 at Trinity College Dublin and 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

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.

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 of years.Cillian Quinn is the Policy and Programmes Coordinator of ActionAid Ireland, a charity that works with women and girls living in poverty, and he joins Seán to discuss.

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 and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley, and the Partnership That Rocked the World'...

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 working in this area of law enforcement. He 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

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.

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 about this in the Irish Examiner. He joins Seán to discuss.

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.

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…

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…

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, Vice President of Search Engine Optimization Strategy and Research at the marketing agency Amsive.

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 discuss.

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…

A new book has shed light on Abraham Lincoln's murderer, the infamous John Wilkes Booth.While Booth is thought of as a crazed, lone killer, author Scott Ellsworth's new book, ‘Midnight on the Potomac', reveals the gunman's true personality, and the political connections that fuelled Lincoln's assassination.Scott Elsworth is a New York Times best-selling author, writer and Historian, and he joins Seán to discuss.

After celebrity Katherine Schwarzenegger got engaged to Hollywood actor Chris Pratt, she sought the advice of a step-parenting coach to help her with the transition to a blended family. So, how does this type of therapy work?Joining guest host Tom Dunne to discuss is Sandra Schmidt, a Relationship and Parenting Trauma Therapist based in Kerry…

As the new Premier League season is set to kick off in around 2 weeks time, some of the biggest clubs will be trying to flog you their newest and latest football shirts.But, should you buy a retro one instead?In recent years classic football shirts have exploded in popularity, with them selling for many hundreds and in some cases thousands of euro.Joining guest host Tom Dunne to explain is Nigel Taylor, owner of Onsidejerseys.ie.

Over the weekend, a rather odd thing happened in Texas.Dozens of the state's Democrat Representatives decided to up and leave.But why? And was this a great act of peaceful resistance, or a treasonous betrayal of democracy?Gina London is an International Communications Strategist & Trainer, and a former Award-winning CNN correspondent. She joins guest host Tom Dunne to explain.

Tom Dunne's guest, Senior Features Writer with The Telegraph, George Chesterton, went on a bold, sometimes bloody, often brambly quest to reconnect with his masculinity, or perhaps just his sense of self, through four primal activities: deer stalking, butchery, foraging, and axe throwing.Amid a “feminised household,” teenage daughters, and midlife drift, he found himself longing for something more grounded, elemental, and visceral than a round of golf or a city commute. So, he got his hands dirty (literally) and discovered something deeper than manliness: presence, purpose and peace.He joins to discuss!

Anyone with small kids will know about those sneaky escapes to the bathroom to get a moment's peace, but the trend of so-called ‘bathroom camping' is now something that people do on a night out and even in the office.Kirsty Blake Knox, Columnist with the Irish Independent, has been writing about this phenomenon, and joins guest host Tom Dunne to discuss.

A new creature has claimed the title of Australia's heaviest insect…The discovered stick insect was very difficult to capture, but is proving fascinating to Entomologists.Joining guest host Tom Dunne to discuss is Angus Emmott from James Cook University in Australia…

Hemp is used for many things in the world, but did you know that it could be one of the solutions to the climate crisis?The plant can be used to make building blocks, and one of the biggest suppliers of them is based here in Ireland.Ronan McDermott is the owner of Hemp Build, and joins guest host Tom Dunne to discuss.