Highlights from Moncrieff

This year marks the 90th anniversary of a piece of legislation which had a profound impact on the way people socialised in this country.Joining Seán to discuss the Public Dance Halls Act of 1935 is Daniel Carey, a Post Doctoral Researcher at DCU…Image: Irish Photo Archive

The traditional Irish hotel and restaurant menu has evolved enormously over the past four decades, with many homegrown staples, such as lamb and salmon, no longer featuring as costs rise.Joining Seán to digest this is Paul Gallagher, Head of the Irish Hotels Federation…

We all know Darwin's Theory of Evolution - that we as humans all share a common ancestor. But, what else falls under the bracket of evolution? Is an iPhone a product of evolution? Or even JD Vance? Is everything evolving?Joining Seán to explain is Mark Vellend, author of ‘Everything Evolves: Why Evolution Explains More Than We Think, From Proteins to Politics'.

'Friendflation' is a new internet term, which defines the idea that it is too expensive nowadays to have too many friends, and all the dinners and nights out that go alongside it.Is this something you suffer from?Henry McKean has been asking the public, and joins Seán to share what he's heard.

We have had a huge amount of tourists visiting Ireland over the course of this summer, and generally they tend to frequent a lot of the same spots: the Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry, the Guinness Storehouse, etc.However, a new (and slightly odd) tourism attraction has recently emerged in Limerick city, thanks to Blindboy Boatclub.Fans of the author and podcaster have started flocking to Limerick's “bird shit district”.So, what is it? Blindboy Boatclub joins Seán to discuss.

In 1904, James Joyce travelled from Ireland to Trieste by train, getting a little lost along the way. Now, the novelist Caoilinn Hughes has retraced Joyce's journey in an attempt to understand the difference that over a century has made to this trip.He joins Seán to discuss.

This week, the Chicago Tribune announced that it was scrapping its film critic position entirely. Is there a danger that cultural criticism is on the way out, as influencers take precedence with so-called ‘content' rather than critical evaluation? Joining Seán to discuss this is Film Reviewer Esther McCarthy…

A lavender marriage is a marriage between a man and a woman. The catch? One, or both of them, is homosexual. In this scenario, why do these marriages happen?Joining Seán to discuss is someone whose husband is gay, Samantha Wynn, based in Los Angeles.

A recent study has found lower rates of cognitive impairment among seniors who frequently use computers, smartphones, and the internet than those who avoid technology or use it less often, but why is this?Joining Seán to discuss is Dr. Henry Mahncke, CEO of Brain HQ...

When you're buying a new car, you'd be mad not to take it for a test drive. How else could you really know whether it's the car for you?Yet, when we buy a house, a much more expensive and longterm purchase we barely kick the tires. We may have one or two twenty minute visits before making the call.There must be a better way. In America, more and more people are requesting a sleepover in advance of buying a property, but could that work here?Estate Agent Owen O'Reilly joins Seán to discuss.

Dolphins have long made the waters off Ireland home, with the first record of a dolphin in Irish waters being recorded as far back as 752 AD. But in recent decades, dolphins have been coming closer to shore, and this isn't necessarily a good thing.Ken O'Sullivan is an Underwater Cameraman and Filmmaker, and has been recording the animals for over 20 years.He joins Seán to discuss his new documentary covering the subject.

A lady was recently at a baby shower, and the mother to be was manifesting the sex of the baby, convinced it would work in her favour. Is this positive psychology actually borderline toxic on the basis there are some actual things that you can't possibly control or change?Henry McKean has been asking the public, and joins Seán to discuss.

For decades now there has been a widely held belief among researchers that we are at our happiest in early adulthood, and then as we age into our middle age, we get more and more gloomy and unsatisfied with our lives.But, new research suggests that for the first time in generations, the average 22-year-old is likely to be unhappier than their parents…So, why then are younger adults struggling so much with their overall happiness?Colman Noctor is a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, and joins Seán to discuss.

Seán's guest has spent the past 20 years recording her relationship with her son Jim. The culmination of this longitudinal project is ‘Motherboard', a film that will screen at the upcoming IFI Documentary Festival on Sunday September 14th, followed by a Q&A with Victoria and her son afterwards.Victoria joins Seán to discuss.

For many communities, there is a sense that as life gets busier some of the heart of the community can fade away; in Bluebell in south west Dublin, a new initiative is changing things and giving local people a safe place to go.Dr Tommy Coombes manages the Bluebell Community Development Project, and coordinates the regeneration programme. He joins Seán to discuss.Image: https://bluebellcdp.ie

When was the last time you got together with all of your oldest friends?Friendship changes as we get older, and it can get harder and harder to prioritise time with pals…Journalist and author Pat McCarry had great plans for his 20-year J1 reunion, but learned that life in your forties is very different to what you envisioned when you were footloose and fancyfree in your early twenties...Pat joins Seán to discuss.

Will Taylor Swift change the engagement ring industry after sharing shots of her giant ring and romantic proposal with NFL player Travis Kelce?Matthew Weldon is an Antique and Vintage Jewellery Expert, who owns Courtville Antiques. He joins Seán to discuss the history of engagement rings…Image: @taylorswift on Instagram

It is very likely that someone has said “one hundred percent” to you when what they actually mean is “yes”, but why has this affirmation become so commonplace?Joining Seán to unpack this is Gail Flanagan, Researcher in Applied Linguistics at the University of Limerick...

A new EU directive on pay transparency is going to change how open companies need to be about the salaries they offer to their employees, but what will this mean for cutting the gender pay gap?Joining Seán to discuss is Deirdre Malone, Head of Employment at EY Law Ireland...

Jonathan DeBurca Butler joins Seán Moncrieff to take listeners through the week's international stories…

Restorative Justice is a voluntary process where victims and offenders, with the help of an impartial third party, meet to resolve repair the harm done by the crime committed. While this process is available for ‘lower tariff offenses', more serious cases aren't always seen as eligible. So why is that, and should it be more accessible? Lecturer at the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice at UCD Professor Marie Keenan joins Séan to discuss.

Family dinner time seems to be increasingly under threat. A survey carried out in the UK found a minority of people at the table, with 45% eating in front of the TV. Hotelier, TV personality and author of Guide to Modern Irish Manners Noel Cunningham joins Séan to discuss.

The cost-of-living and housing crisis have made life extremely difficult for the young people of Ireland. Many have had to resort to emigration or living at home well into their thirties. Paul Lawford, though, decided he was going to find another solution to the problem by building himself a tiny house from scratch. Paul joins Séan to discuss how others can follow in his footsteps.

At the US Open this week, the world number two Carlos Alcarez sported a new tight haircut. He revealed in a post-match press interview that this was because his brother had tried to give him a trim but made a complete mess of it. How often do barbers have to perform this corrective surgery? Barber Phil Domino with Neighbourhood Threat on Fade St in Dublin joins Séan to discuss.

Those with an understanding of Irish history will know the Irish Republican Brotherhood played a pivotal role in the country's politics from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. The IRB officially dissolved in 1924... or did they? An organisation claiming to be the IRB still exists today, and Crime and Security Correspondent with the Irish Times Conor Gallagher has been writing about their activities. Conor joins Séan to discuss.

When it comes to art, the preferences of adults and small children rarely coalesce. Most parents are unlikely to choose to listen to Baby Shark in their spare time. But is it possible to make music that keeps both cohorts happy? DJ and Composer Graham Smyth's latest album aims to do just that. He joins Séan to discuss.

In advance of the Oasis gig, Richard Ashcroft was spotted walking around Stephen's Green in the company of some Irish wolfhounds. But the dogs weren't his – leading to the discovery that you can hire wolfhounds as part of a walking tour. Pickled with jealousy, Henry McKean declared if it's good enough for the former Verve frontman, it's good enough for him. Henry joins Séan to discuss.

Last week, experts at the UN-backed body of food security increased the food insecurity level within Gaza city to its highest and most severe classification. This officially proves that Gaza city and its surrounding areas are experiencing acute famine, despite the best efforts of aid workers and organisations Head of International and Migration at the Irish Red Cross Niall O'Keeffe joins Séan to discuss.

Grey is by far the most popular choice for cars in this country, but why is this and why have we ditched the colour spectrum of the 70s and 80s? Owner of Ashford Motors Nadia Adan joins Séan to discuss.

If you donate to a clothes bank, where do these clothes end up, and will someone even end up wearing them? A project called Voice Ireland decided to track some donations, and found that many end up as far away as Africa or South East Asia. Project leader with Voice Ireland Solene Schirrer joins Séan to explain why this happens.

More and more students are having to commute long distances due to the housing crisis, and having to hold down jobs while studying due to the cost-of-living crisis. So, has the traditional idea of the student party life died out? Deputy President of the DCU Students Union Lauren Joyce joins Séan to discuss.

The idea of getting older is something that many of us struggle with, and some people prefer to keep how old they are a secret altogether. TV star Kaye Adams recently confessed that she lied about being ten years younger for decades. Kaye joins Séan to discuss her experience.

A US study found that the smallest daily moments of company gain a lift from human connection. Is that true?Henry McKean has been speaking with the public, and joins Seán to share what he's heard.

After careful analysis, the age-old mystery over exactly how the enormous monoliths at Stonehenge were lugged all the way from Wales to Wiltshire may at last be explainable.Professor Jane Evans, Honorary Research Associate with the British Geological Survey, has been studying this, and joins guest host John Fardy to discuss.

A restaurant in Cheshire in England has just launched its first ever water menu, curated by a dedicated Water Sommelier. But, what exactly does that entail?That man, Doran Binder, joins guest host John Fardy to discuss his role.

Are you in the office every day, or do you have the luxury of working remotely?And just how close are you with your colleagues? You might have met your other half at work - or do your coworkers drive you bananas with their annoying habits?And how might AI change everything? Author Sylvia Leatham explores these questions in her debut novel ‘Chaos Theory', and joins guest host John Fardy to discuss.

It's that time of year when an odd quirk of modern Irish society comes to light.As our kids go back to school, we enter a period when our children are generally more formally clothed than the vast majority of the adult population.So, are school uniforms, or at least the ones we currently use outdated?Dr. Clare Moriarty has been writing about this in today's Irish Examiner and joins guest host John Fardy to discuss.

Barbara Scully and Declan Buckley joins Sean to find solutions to listeners' life problems...

Joseph O'Connor is among six Irish ­writers to share their thoughts on Dublin's literary history and their own writing journeys in a new video series – Dublin, One City, Many Stories – from the Irish Writers Centre. Mr O'Connor is the author of nine novels, including bestsellers Star of the Sea and Ghost Light.

Irish Times contributor Céire Sadlier joins Sean to explore why parents spend so much time talking about their children...

Joanna Fortune joins Sean to answer listeners' parenting questions...

Experimental archaeology is a field of study within archaeology that focuses on recreating past technologies, activities, and environments to better understand how people lived in the past.Sam Kean is the author of ‘Dinner with King Tut, How Rogue Archaeologists are Recreating the Sights, Smells and Tastes of Lost Civilizations' and an Experimental Archaeologist who has spent the last 5 years going around the world and understanding how people lived in Africa to the Roman Empire and Mesoamerica.He joins Seán to discuss.