Highlights from Moncrieff

Can ‘swag gap' relationships truly last?This new ‘gap' that's been circling on social media refers to when one partner is much cooler than the other – in fashion, in lingo, in friends, and in hobbies.Users have taken to TikTok to share how their style clashed with that of their partner, and how relationships with such differences are inevitably destined to end.But, is that really the case?Joining Seán to discuss is Julie Cook, an author at The i Paper in the UK, who says her ‘swag gap' marriage is a perfect match…

Would you let your 2 year old cook? Well, Jamie Oliver thinks you should! So much so, he is bringing out a new series of cookbooks aimed at toddlers and their parents.Someone with a wealth of knowledge in this area is Chef and Author, Gina Daly. She joins Seán to discuss.

It was this very week a quarter of a century ago when Gilmore Girls premiered. It's also ‘Gilmore Girls Season', when every autumn devoted fans rewatch the series. But, what is it about the formula of this programme that attracts legions of repeat viewers?Joining Seán to discuss is Dr. Jess Shine, from the Media Communications Department of MTU in Cork…

From Putin's alsatian to an alligator in the White House, pets have played a surprising role in politics.Joining Seán to discuss is Peter Cardwell, Journalist and author of ‘Political Animals: The secret life of the political pets of Westminster and Washington'...

This Saturday will see the annual World Porridge Making Championships take place in Scotland.Mayo's Rebecca Holohan will be representing Ireland, and she joins Seán to discuss!

‘Change is possible' - that's the message of Doctor and Neuroscientist Brian Pennie, who is about to deliver his first talk at Maynooth University since his studies there.The university is celebrating 25 years of its Psychology Department, and is hosting a number of free events to mark the occasion, which are open to the public.The event is taking place on October 8th, and coincides with the day Dr. Brian Pennie recovered from his heroin addiction.12 years on, he has obtained a PhD and uses his platform to help people who are looking to turn their life around…He also hosts the ‘Change is Possible' podcast, which encourages everyone to pursue the very best version of themselves.Dr. Brian Pennie joins Seán to discuss.Image: @mu_psychology_ on Instagram

Are we ruder in traffic than before? Have we lost our manners? Have we lost all courtesy and decency, and have we stopped saying thank you to the bus driver?Newstalk's Henry McKean has been investigating, and joins Seán to discuss.

We saw overnight the detention, by Israeli forces, of activists on the Sumud Flotilla headed for Gaza, including a number of Irish citizens...It comes as we await further news of any type of progress following a proposed peace deal proposed by Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu.All the while the people of Gaza remain under constant bombardment having been displaced from the place they call home…One of those is Reham Mahdi Al Jarrah, who works for Christian Aid Ireland's local partner in Gaza, the Women's Affairs Centre…He joins Seán to discuss.To donate to Christian Aid's appeal as they support local partners in Gaza, visit: caid.ie/famine-gazaImage: Reuters

The Simpsons is the longest-running sitcom in US history, but is the world's favourite yellow family still relevant?US-based Journalist and Simpsons enthusiast, Alan Siegel, says the show didn't just reflect America, it reshaped it forever.With the 37th season out this week and a new movie in the works, he says the Simpsons are still going strong.He joins Seán to discuss his new book ‘Stupid TV, Be More Funny', and the legacy of the famous family from Springfield…Image: Disney

As the cold evenings close in, now is the ideal time to set up a bird table in the garden, or even attached to a window if you live in an apartment. But, how do you do it, and are there certain foods that will attract specific species?Joining Seán to discuss is Niall Hatch, Head of Birdwatch Ireland…

Are we obsessed with drinking water?Hydration has been at the centre of social media trends and even has its own hashtag on TikTok: #WaterTok.Buzzy new viral products like gigantic 5L bottles or the Stanley Cup have fuelled this ‘water mania' – but is there such a thing as drinking too much water?Joining Seán to discuss is Dietitian Aoife Quinn…

There's one thing that unites Irish people everywhere: we love to give out about the state of the place… but, heaven help anyone else who dares do the same.Today, we're exploring the tug-of-war that happens among emigrants: those who left Ireland with a dream in their suitcase, and came back with stories and maybe just a bit of snobbery.Irish Times contributor Céire Sadlier has written about just that, and says she gets defensive when people call Ireland a ‘kip.' She joins Seán to discuss.

Imagine uprooting your life, spending thousands of euros, jumping through every hoop - only to land in a country with no job waiting for you. That's the nightmare facing migrant nurses arriving in Ireland, scammed by recruitment agencies promising work that simply doesn't exist.Seán is joined by Varghese Joy from Migrant Nurses Ireland, who wants to expose how suspected visa fraud is leaving skilled nurses stranded, out of pocket, and out of work.

The U.S. Federal Government has ground to a halt in what's known as a ‘shutdown'. But, what exactly does that mean, and why does it keep happening?To help make sense of it all, Seán is joined by Scott Lucas, Professor of International Politics at the Clinton Institute in UCD.

Wallpaper is back in, and it's louder, bolder and more vibrant than ever.Wallpaper is all the rage for 2026, and have been hailed by interior designers across the country for the personality and warmth they can add to a room.With peel-and-stick options, even renters can join the design revolution.Joining Seán to discuss is Interior Designer, James McNamara…

Increasingly, in cases of death by suicide or mass shootings, CTE is a factor. It's a condition that can bring dramatic changes to someone, more likely to affect those in contact sports, but ongoing research indicates that a genetic disposition may play a role...Joining Seán to discuss is Dr Colin Doherty, Head of the School of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin and Consultant Neurologist at St. James' Hospital.

Have you ever seen or heard something unusual or unnerving that you can't explain, have you ever had an encounter with paranormal activity? Well if you have, Seán's next guest would like to hear about it.Margaret McGrogan, an Applied Psychologist and PhD candidate at University of Galway, is leading the first national anonymous survey to explore these unusual and unexplained experiences. She joins Seán to discuss…

A brand-new exhibition showcasing the breadth of Picasso's work will be opening at the National Gallery of Ireland.‘Picasso: From the Studio' will be the first Irish exhibition of this scale to showcase the Spanish master's art since his death in 1973.The first ever display of Picasso's work in Ireland was organised by Trinity College students in a library storage room back in 1969.This time around, the exhibition places Picasso in the context of his studios, highlighting the phases of his art and life.It will feature paintings, sculptures, ceramics, works on paper, as well as photographic and audio-visual works.Joining Seán to tell more is Curator of Modern Art at the National Gallery of Ireland, Janet McLean...

A survey has revealed just how much people like to gossip. Here in Ireland is it a part of the fabric of society?Newstalk's Henry McKean has been getting all the gossip, and joins Seán to discuss!

While Elizabeth Shaw may not be well known here in Ireland, the Belfast-born author has been a household name in Germany ever since she travelled to the GDR after World War II, to participate in the building of the communist state through her hugely popular children's books.Joining Seán is Fergal Lenehan, an Irish Academic Researcher based in Germany who has co-written (with Sabine Egger) the afterward for the book ‘How I Came to Berlin', Shaw's memoir, which has been newly published by Lilliput Press…

People are being reminded about the importance of complaining.According to Irish Examiner Consumer Columnist, Caitríona Redmond, complaining can actually serve the common good.Last summer, Caitríona was looking forward to a relaxing family holiday, but things didn't go quite as planned. The three-star hotel she was staying in fell far short of what had been promised, and thanks to complaints lodged by her and other guests, the hotel has now been downgraded.To tell us why speaking up can make a difference, she joins Seán to discuss.

Whenever you see an advert for a car brand on television, the visuals usually centre on open roads in a vast landscape, with the driver emanating a sense of freedom...Seán's guest says the notion that a car gives you freedom is a complete myth!Ciaran Brennan, Communications Officer at the Irish Environmental Network joins to discuss.

A man who has spent the past four decades tending to the graves of the only two unclaimed victims of the 1985 Air India disaster has been honoured by an Indian cultural group.Finbarr Archer, who is the official driver to the Lord Mayor of Cork, was working for an undertaker at the time of the terrorist attack.All 329 passengers and crew on board Air India flight 182 were killed in June of that year, when a bomb exploded on board the aircraft, approximately 190km off the south-west coast of Ireland on route from Montreal to Delhi…The flight, which was brought down off the coast of Cork, remains the worst aviation disaster in Irish and Canadian history.Finbarr Archer joins Seán to discuss.

In Davina McCall's new book, she talks about the challenge of keeping sex interesting and less functional while couples try to conceive. So, how do you keep the heat alive?Joining Seán to discuss is Helena Tubridy, former Midwife turned Fertility Coach…

A Councillor in Limerick city is calling for businesses to take more responsibility for their shopfronts and to reduce the scourge of shoddy signage.Joining Seán to discuss is Maria Donoghue, an Architect and Independent Councillor in Limerick…

This week, the White House released a video of the new ‘Presidential Walk of Fame', featuring portraits of American Presidents. But, one particular frame didn't feature a President at all. Instead, it showed a machine.Newstalk's Simon Tierney has been investigating, and joins Seán to discuss.Image: @WhiteHouse on Twitter

While the Saudis have invested enormously over the past few years into sports such as soccer and golf, they are now stepping into the cultural arena, with the Riyadh Comedy Festival kicking off this weekend. It has an almost unbelievable line up on the cards, from Dave Chapelle to Whitney Cummins and Jimmy Carr.But, is this an attempt to whitewash the regime?Joining Seán to discuss is Liam Kelly, Senior Culture Writer for the Daily Telegraph, who has been investigating…Image: Riyadh Comedy Festival

AI griefbots are personas made to fill in for a deceased individual. They can be used to help people grief a loved one's death, by talking to an AI program pretending to be them.So, how do they exactly work, and are they effective?Justin Harrison, tech entrepreneur and Founder of You, Only Virtual, joins Seán to discuss.

You know those saucy books your nana might read on holiday? What is it like to voice the audiobook for them?Joining Seán to discuss the world of erotica voiceovers is Davey Comerford, Quinn Voice Actor and Trainer.

Human towers, or ‘castells' as they are known in Catalonia, are hugely popular in their home country, but now there is a club in Dublin.So, how do human towers actually work?Joining guest host John Fardy to discuss is Irene Gabara, from Castellers d'Eire...Image: Castellers d'Éire

A Dublin-based Playwright is exploring deaf culture with a creative, innovative spin in his new play.Shane O'Reilly's play ‘Her Father's Voice' (with music by Tom Lane) will premiere at the Dublin Theatre Festival, with six performances from October 1st to October 5th.It draws on Shane's own experience as a child of deaf parents.This new work fuses theatre, opera, and film in a production that explores identity, family, and the unspoken consequences of life-altering decisions.Shane joins guest host John Fardy to discuss more…Image: Dublin Theatre Festival

Rihanna has posted on her socials that her new baby is called Rocki Irish Mayers. So, what's the connection to Ireland, and is it unusual to name a child with a placename or nationality?Joining guest host John Fardy to discuss is SJ Strum, a baby naming consultant and the author of ‘Baby Name Envy'...Image: @badgirlriri on Instagram

People who engage in small talk have the potential to live longer than those who don't.An article recently published in the Irish Examiner explored how small talk helps us feel a sense of belonging.While it is one of the most dreaded aspects of the workplace, experts say communication is a vital component of how we function as humans, and it can define how we perceive our environment.Joining guest host John Fardy to discuss is Clinical Hypnotherapist and Self-Leadership Coach based in Galway, Rachel Gotto.

As the Government commits to establishing more places in special needs schools and special needs classrooms, John's guest is calling for a different policy to be adopted, where children of all needs learn together in the same place.Professor Joe Travers, who is the Director of the Centre of Inclusive Pedagogy at DCU's Institute of Education says we are at a crossroads in relation to inclusive education in Ireland, and joins guest host John Fardy to discuss.

During a lengthy digression of his address to the UN yesterday, US President Donald Trump complained that the floors in the UN building are terrazzo instead of marble…So, why is he so upset, and what's wrong with good old terrazzo? Joining Seán to discuss is Architect and artist Róisín Murphy.Image: Reuters

The pile on against Gen Z is unrelenting, but have older generations always looked at young people with a sense of distaste?Corkonian Ross Frenett, CEO of Moonshot, a company working to end online harms, has been exploring this history, and joins Seán to discuss…

Could heat generated from data centres be the answer for our energy crisis?Heat produced in an Amazon data centre in Tallaght is already being used to heat student accommodation and local authority buildings.Joining Seán to discuss is Sadhbh O'Neill, Climate and Environmental Researcher.

When you think of Fashion you think of New York, London, Milan, but what about Limerick?Well, plans are afoot for Limerick to get its very own fashion museum, but just how stylish is the city, and how does the manufacturing history inform fashionistas there today?Celia Holman Lee, is the founder of one of Ireland's Longest Running Modelling Agencies, and she has been instrumental in this. She joins Seán to discuss.

One question that many find hard to understand is how ordinary Israelis can go about their daily lives with a genocide happening or their doorstep…Paul Kearns, an Irish journalist based in Tel Aviv, has been writing about this for the Irish Times, and joins Seán to discuss.

Do you wear shoes indoors? It might be time to stop, unless you enjoy carrying in bacteria from the less hygienic outside world…Dr Primrose Freestone, Associate Professor in Clinical Microbiology at Leicester University, joins Seán to discuss.

Is there anything Harry Styles can't do?The musician impressed fans by running the Berlin Marathon in under three hours… So just what kind of a feat is it to run a marathon this fast?John Kinsella is a mountain runner and he has run all the major marathons in under 2 hours and 30 minutes. He joins Seán to discuss.

A new book chronicles how the gay rights movement was organised in Ireland, and examines what lessons can be learnt from its losses and successes, and ultimately how these lessons can be passed on to future social movements.Joining Seán to discuss is Michael Barron, author of ‘How Ireland's LGBTQ+ Youth Movement Was Built: Civil Society in the Pursuit of Social Justice'...