Moncrieff Highlights

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.

With festival season kicking off in earnest this weekend with All Together Now, guest host Tom Dunne is joined by Journalist Pat Carty to discuss ahead of it - and much more!

On Monday, the annual Poc Fada will take place up the Cooley Mountains in North Louth.The sport has ancient traditions in Irish history, but it wasn't until the early 1960s where the competition as we know it today developed.So, what is it like to play in the Poc Fada?Joining Tom Dunne to explain is Brendan Cummins, former Tipperary hurler, who holds the record for the most Poc Fada wins.

While today marks the 50th anniversary of the Miami Showband Massacre, a new book explores the extraordinary impact the showbands had on Irish society more broadly, from the pleasure they brought to Irish people's lives during the dull economic landscape of mid-century Ireland, to the new ways of dancing that they ushered in…Joining guest host Tom Dunne to discuss is Rebecca Miller, Author of ‘Are You Dancing: Showbands, Popular Music, and Memory in Modern Ireland'.

Christmas is a good bit away from us, but down under in Australia for many, especially in Sydney, Christmas isn't just celebrated in December, but also July!The tradition apparently has Irish roots, with it originating from 6 Irish men walking into an Australian hotel.Garry Crockett is former owner of the Mountain Heritage Hotel in Sydney, and he joins guest host Tom Dunne to discuss.

If you're a fan of Star Trek, you'll be familiar with the concept of the ‘Prime Directive'. Put simply, the idea is that you avoid contact with people who haven't reached your level of technological development.This is more or less the approach of governments that still have uncontacted peoples living within the borders of their country today.But, what do you do when initial contact has already been made? How do you manage that situation without creating a catastrophe?John Reid is a Freelance Writer working with the Guardian on a series about uncontacted peoples and author of ‘Ever Green: Saving Big Forests to Save the Planet'. He joins guest host Tom Dunne to discuss.

Gen Z adults in the States, those currently in their teens and 20s, are becoming more frugal about what they spend on dates as they deal with higher living costs, according to a Bank of America survey. Is it similar here?Newstalk's Henry McKean has been out asking the public, and joins guest host Tom Dunne to share what he's heard.

In October, the EU's Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) regulation will come into force. The aim of the regulation is to ensure transparency when it comes to political ads on social media.But on Friday, Meta announced that they're banning political ads altogether.So, is this a victory or a loss for the EU's new regulations?Clare O'Donoghue Velikić is the Director of ODV Digital, a digital consultancy for the political and campaigning sector, based in Dublin. She joins guest host Tom Dunne to discuss.

This Friday will see the annual Oyster Swallowing Competition take place, as part of the Ballylongford Oyster Festival in Kerry. The festival is struggling however to attract women competitors and is currently calling all female oyster enthusiasts to participate…Joining Seán to discuss is Marie Hanrahan O'Neill, PRO of the Ballylongford Oyster Festival…

Are you a first time buyer desperately house hunting in a housing crisis?According to a report from Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, prospective home owners don't have much confidence or trust in estate agents or sellers, and instead turn to family and friends to get information when going through the process.Joining Seán to discuss this is Ciaran Mulqueen from the Crazy House Prices social media pages.

To discuss this, Seán is joined by Cass Sunstein, Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard and Author of ‘Manipulation: What It Is, Why It's Bad, What to Do About It'.Image: Cambridge University Press

Thousands gathered at Knock Shrine in Mayo last month for a ceremony where the Archbishop consecrated Ireland to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.While the image of the Sacred Heart is nowhere near as popular as it once was, it is clearly still very important to Irish people today.Professor of Ecclesiastical History at St Patrick's College in Maynooth, Salvador Ryan, joins Seán to explain the history of the iconic image.

Sea swimming has become all the rage in recent years and there are more than a few lovely places to engage in it this summer.Ireland has 98 Blue Flag beaches in all. How many have you swam at?Well after being faced with that question, Biddy Hughes and Orla Leahy decided to swim all 98 to raise money for the RNLI.They're currently on the northwest leg of the challenge, and Biddy Hughes joins Seán to discuss.You can donate here - https://www.gofundme.com/f/sea-fillies-fundraising-for-the-rnliImage: Achill Island

Many of us will have seen photos and images of starving children across our social media feeds and tv screens in the last number of days, as warnings that Gaza is slipping into a famine are echoed across the world.This comes as figures estimate that more than 60,000 people have died in the war…Joining Seán to discuss this is John Whyte, Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza.

Irish artist Jenny Brady's new film, ‘The Glass Booth / An Both Gloine', explores the worlds of interpretation and communication.Chris Guichot de Fortis is an Interpreter working for a Brussels-based defense organization, and one of those people interviewed. He joins Sean to discuss.Image: Project Arts Centre

Can you really turn back time? Well, what about by just not ever acknowledging how old you are?56-year-old Mariah Carey has come out to say that she “doesn't allow ageing” and that is what keeps her young...Really?Consultant Physician in Geriatric and Stroke Medicine, Ronan Collins, joins Seán to discuss.

You might be looking forward to a holiday at this stage in the summer, but if you are taking a trip abroad, just how gross is the airport?And, should you be wiping down the plane before you get comfortable?Anna Burns, Microbiologist and Nutrition Scientist, joins Seán to discuss.

While the many Irish pubs in China do a decent trade in Guinness, a major overhaul of where Chinese Guinness is brewed is getting people worried, and even threatening businesses.Joining Seán to discuss is Denis Staunton, China Correspondent of The Irish Times.

Often in the Irish countryside, motorists and pedestrians will offer a finger or hand salutation on passing each other. This is something that doesn't happen nearly as often in the city.Tina Pisco, Columnist with the Cork Echo, has been writing about it, and joins Seán to discuss.

Seán's guest suffered a mental health episode during lockdown while living in Italy. Diagnosed as psychosis, a condition she wasn't familiar with, her journey out of it has been a challenging task.Joining to discuss is Lisa Callaghan, an Ambassador for Shine, the mental health charity…Samaritans 24/7 Freephone Helpline - 116 123