Highlights from Moncrieff

As the housing crisis continues apace, some people might be considering a ‘doer upper', but how feasible is it to renovate a dwelling that is in a dilapidated state?Joining guest host Fionnuala Jones to discuss is Shay Lally, Dublin-based quantity surveyor and Director and Founder of RENEW.

The new kid on the block when it comes to nicotine is snus, little nicotine pouches. But how does it work and why are researchers concerned about the absence of regulation?Joining guest host Fionnuala Jones to discuss is Dr. Denise Proudfoot, who has been examining snus use.

New research has shown that sought-after workers are being offered salary increases of up to 8%, but employers are holding off on increments for most employees. So, where do you start if you decide to take matters into your own hands and ask for a pay rise?Joining guest host Fionnuala Jones to discuss is Peter Cosgrove, Future of Work Expert.

Comedian Claire Parker has built a devoted, largely female audience with her sharp, pragmatic take on modern womanhood.Blending stand-up with candid podcast conversations, she tackles everything from ageing and ambition to social media, self-worth, and the pressure women feel around motherhood.At 32, she's focused on being honest, vulnerable, and confident - without self-censorship or self-loathing.Claire Parker joins guest host Fionnuala Jones to discuss!

Issues around anxiety are fueling sick days and a ‘worklessness' crisis. Is it time we tried to get over any stigma around asking and seeking help once and for all?Henry McKean has been finding out, and joins guest host Fionnuala Jones to discuss.

Seán's guest is a student and decided to become a life model to help fund his art lessons. So, what is being a nude life model like?Johnny Murray joins to discuss.

€33m belonging to dead or missing patients is being held unclaimed in accounts managed by the HSE. So, how do you find out if you are entitled to any of this?Joining Seán to discuss is Mary Frances Fahy, solicitor and tax consultant at Fahy Neilan Solicitors, in Co. Roscommon…

‘What I Eat in A Day' videos have become commonplace across social media platforms like Tik Tok and Instagram but recently, the irreverent ‘What A Fat Girl Eats in a Day' has come to shake things up. The pioneering UK creative behind it, Christy Collins, is quietly fighting back against #SkinnyTok and stereotypes.She joins Seán to discuss the double-standards that started it all, and how attitudes have yet to change.

Once a symbol of old-school romance and prom-night nostalgia, the corsage is making an unapologetically modern comeback. Championed in the 1990s by Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, the floral flourish has re-emerged on today's runways and street style scene as a statement accessory with surprising versatility.Joining Seán to discuss this is Fashion Guru Laura Mullet.

They say everyone has a book in them - the tricky part is getting it out, and then onto a shelf. As author Richard Fitzpatrick releases his third book, he's lifting the lid on what it really takes to go from bright idea to published hardback; agents, advances, edits, rejection, royalties, and a lot more coffee than glamour…If you've ever thought, “I might write a book someday,” this might be the reality check, and the roadmap you need.Richard Fitzpatrick joins Seán to discuss.

Parts for deadly drones, and made by companies headquartered in Ireland, have made their way to Russia despite EU bans on such activity, thanks to downstream sales.Conor Gallagher, Crime and Security Correspondent of The Irish Times, has been involved in an investigation into this matter and joins Seán to discuss.Image: Reuters

As spring approaches, more and more people will be thinking about cleaning their windows, but did you know that there is a competitive window cleaning scene? Joining Seán is the man who holds the Guinness world record: Essex native Terry ‘Turbo' Burrows.

According to figures released to the Social Democrats, 150,000 passports have been lost by Irish people over the last 5 years. A further 15,000 were stolen in the same period.Joining Seán to discuss this is Aidan Farrelly, a Social Democrats TD...

If you think politics divides households, you've never witnessed a dishwasher debate.Knives up or down? Rinse or don't rinse? And is rinse aid a miracle worker or a marketing scam? Well, Catriona Redmond joins Seán to end the cold war at the kitchen sink, with the definitive guide to loading your dishwasher properly.Prepare to question everything you thought you knew about that bottom rack…

Turns out, slow and steady really does win the race!New research suggests older adults may be better at everyday tasks that require focus, not because they're faster, but because they take their time. So, should younger people be doing things more slowly?Dr Simon Hanzal from School of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Glasgow joins Seán to discuss.

An Amazon delivery driver has driven his van onto a tidal path in the UK and got stuck in the water after following his GPS instructions. This isn't the first time someone has gotten into trouble after trusting their GPS too slavishly.Joining Seán to discuss is Elaine Burke, Host of the ‘For Tech's Sake' podcast…

Tomorrow is the start of Lent - where those who lean towards religion may give up things in their lives for a period of time. However, people without a religious bone in their body will also be taking part. So, what is the psychology behind Lent, why do we do it?Psychologist Stella O'Malley joins Seán to discuss.

Late last week, the intelligence service of South Korea stated that it believed Kim Jong Un has “entered the stage of nominating [his daughter, who is 13 years old] as successor.” But, how exactly does succession work in the secretive state?Joining Seán to discuss is Hazel Smith, Professor of Korean Studies at SOAS, the School of Oriental and African Studies, in London…Image: Reuters

A science conference has been told that taking better care of your teeth and gums can cut the risk of developing more than 50 conditions and diseases, including dementia and arthritis.But why is this the case?Joining Seán to discuss is Caroline Robbins, Dentist with Kiwi Dental and Vice chair of Irish Dental Association GP Committee.

Four elm trees in a quiet square in Rathmines could help bring back Ireland's native elm.Experts believe the trees in Kenilworth Square may be resistant to Dutch elm disease, the fungus that has destroyed most elms across Ireland over the past 50 years.If confirmed, these rare survivors could provide the genetic key to restoring the native wych elm nationwide.Joining Seán to discuss is Arboriculturist Joe McConville.

With Ramadan kicking off tomorrow for Ireland's Muslim community, the next 30 days are a major challenge, both physically and mentally. There is a lot of commitment required to forego water and food between sunrise and sunset. But, what exactly are the practicalities of Ramadan on a day-to-day basis?Joining Seán to discuss is Ibrahim Noonan, the Imam of Galway Mosque…

While Community Employment schemes are available to sports clubs and organisations, some argue those resources should be more focused on essential community work, especially as volunteer numbers continue to fall.With more people commuting, less involvement in parish life, and fewer stepping forward to help, questions are now being raised about the future of community spirit, and whether CE schemes are becoming the backbone holding it all together.Joining Seán to discuss is Martin Murray, former Mayor of Whitegate in Cork.

Just 3 bus stops were built last year in Dublin, the year before it was 37. With 6 months of rain falling in 6 days, commuters are getting wet like never before. Henry McKean jumped on the bus to find out more, chatting to experts and passengers. He met Green Party Leader Roderic O'Gorman, who has raised the issue in the Dáil, and sent in this report.

Today is Friday the 13th a date that, for many, carries an uneasy sense of bad luck and looming misfortune. From religious folklore linking the number 13 to Judas at the Last Supper, to modern horror films that cement its ominous reputation, the superstition has endured for generations.But where does this fear really come from, and why does it still hold power in a country like Ireland, rich in folklore and tradition? Dr Kelly Fitzgerald, Head of the UCD School of Celtic Studies and Folklore, joined Sean to explain

Church launches marriage-themed computer game for Valentine's Day aimed at enticing more couples to the altar – What other video games try to encourage human behaviour (social engineering) and the marriages of gamers? Ronan Price, Journalist and games critic at Irish Independent joined Sean to explain all.

Chef Catherine Fulvio has launched a new Online cookery course for transition year students. The course aims to equip gen z with basic cooking skills so that they can cook easy and doable meals for themselves later in life. But is teaching Gen Z cooking online the best method? Catherine Fulvio Owner of Ballyknocken of House & Cookery School in Wicklow, joined Sean to explain why young people are learning the art of cooking online now.

There was a time when pubs would close for “holy hour” on Sundays. However, that was abolished in 2000, but what are the other strange things pubs in Ireland did back in the “good old days”Joining Sean to explain all the strange rules and traditions that used to exist in pubs was Mick Clifford from the Irish Examiner

New research has discovered that the tricolour is older than previously thought. Joining was joined by John Crotty, Historian and author of ‘The Irish Tricolour: the Truth Behind the Symbols and Struggles that Defined a Nation' who has been researching the matter

Copper Face Jacks opened its doors 30 years ago this week. The landmark nightclub has had its moments. From 2011 All Ireland Football Champions - Dublin Captain Bryan Cullen's 'See you all in Copper's' speech to George Best having a pint, to guards and nurses finding love. But is the stereotype true, finding your life partner on the dance floor with a vodka and redbull? Last night we sent Copper Face Jacks Goldcard member Henry McKean down memory lane, going back 30 years and he sent us this report. With the people who make Coppers special, the revelers, bouncers and DJs

Despite having had many in the past, Galway city now has no gays bars left. While some are saddened by this situation, Galway native Francis Conneely believes that there isn't really a need for gay bars anymore. He Joined Sean to explain

Sean was joiend by an Jane Howard an arts writer based in Adelaide who happens to have a particularly loud guffaw, which can sometimes even land her in trouble when she goes to live shows.

A US couple is set to buy an abandoned Spanish village, complete with a church, school and bar for €310,000. It's part of a growing trend across Spain, Portugal and Italy, where depopulated rural villages are being snapped up by foreign investors and transformed into tourism hubs and corporate retreat destinations. As rural “desertification” becomes a political issue in southern Europe, are these buyers breathing new life into forgotten communities or turning them into boutique playgrounds for outsiders? Jason Lee Beckwith joined Sean to explain why he bought the town and what its upkeep is like.

Luca Di Marzio, owner of Rosa Madre restaurant in Dublin. Earlier this week, a BBC reporter went viral after going around Milan, the host city of the winter Olympics, looking for a pizza with pineapple on it. One chef told him it is illegal. But why are Italians up in arms about it? Luca Di Marzio, owner of Rosa Madre restaurant in Dublin, joined Sean to explain

Joanna Fortune joins Sean to discuss listeners' parenting queries...

My next guest wanted to go public with her story so that other women who have undergone plastic surgery might feel empowered to undergo a cosmetic reversal. Joining Sean was Sarah Lavender Smith, a writer and mountain ultra runner from Colorado.

The Palace of Westminster, which houses Big Ben and the House of Commons, is falling apart. With parts of the rodent-infested building complex over a 1000 years old, the troubled iconic UNESCO world heritage site came to light last week when a mouse ran past the Leader of the Opposition during a televised interview. A new report has been published on the path forward. Joining Sean was a man who spends most of his days holed up there Mark Paul, London correspondent for the Irish Times.

Donald Ewing, Head of Education and Policy with Dyslexia Ireland. Donal is an educational psychologist and does assessments with people with dyslexia, and he joined Sean to explain what Dysgraphia which is often associated with poor handwriting

Where do people start when they need/want to preserve their digital legacy? Who can access your saved songs, your digtial notes, your blog/website, email addresses, can anyone? Subscriptions to netflix, gaming accounts, your Instagram, Dropbox – you might have crypto currency accounts, shopping apps, gambling/lotto apps, your utility bills the list is endlessSomeone is going to need access to these when you pass away, whether its for practical purposes or emotional /sentimental, so how should you plan for it?Jennifer Muldowney, AKA The Glam Reaper from Muldowney Memorials

The Government plans to introduce a three-year ban on family reunification for recognised refugees, along with new financial requirements. Ministers say it's about tightening the system — but critics argue it risks leaving spouses and children in danger. With just over 2,500 family members reunited since 2022, is this necessary reform or an unfair restriction? Nasc Chief Executive Fiona Hurley, joined Sean to discuss

An Irishman who travelled to America in the late 18th century has been honoured in Cork with a plaque for coining the term ‘United States of America'. Joining me now with the story is Michelle O'Mahony, a historian based in Cork...Image: National Museum of Ireland

A new study has found that bonobo monkeys can engage in make-believe in a very similar way to children. Joining Sean was Amalia Bastos, Lecturer in Comparative Psychology at the University of St. Andrews.

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