Moncrieff
Episodes
What is the Poetry Slam World Cup?
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Poetry Slam World Cup takes place in Paris at the end of May, and Ireland will be competing.Holly Hughes will be Ireland’s representative at the...
Maser on his journey with street art
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The best of cutting edge and contemporary art will be showcased by the country’s leading galleries and artists at the first ever Art Evolve fair at ...
How to let go of a grudge
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The harbouring of a grudge can last a lifetime if unaddressed, but how exactly do they work on a psychological level?Joining Seán to discuss is Chart...
Are women sports fans unfairly stigmatised?
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Seán’s guest is a big Formula One fan and even travels to a few Grand Prix, but as a woman, she says she faces stigma as a sports fan, and her comm...
Would you use a therapy alpaca?
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Forget therapy dogs or cuddly cats, giant alpacas have been lifting the spirits of local residents in care homes in Wicklow and Wexford recently!It se...
How are earthquakes predicted?
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In mid-October, Brent Dmitruk told his tens of thousands of social media followers that an earthquake would soon hit at the westernmost point of Calif...
What happens to your social media after you die?
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you thought about what happens to your social media accounts after you die?Do those closest to you have your passwords to login to your Facebook ...
Do you like inter-generational family holidays? - Henry McKean Asks
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When families go on holiday - that can include other generations. Is that always a good idea? Do most families even like each other that much?Henry Mc...
Should Irish living abroad get voting rights?
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 2011, the Constitutional Convention endorsed a proposal to allow Irish citizens living abroad to vote in Presidential Elections.Making this reform ...
Are whole-grain foods really more healthy?
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Shops and advertising are keen to mention ‘whole-grain’ products, but what exactly does this mean, and how is a whole-grain product different from...
What are ‘untranslatable’ words?
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Language necessarily evolves to accommodate new ideas, new concepts and new cultural paradigms.But, what happens when a word exists in one language, b...
Is bingo making a comeback for Gen Z?
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“Bang on the drum 71, clickety click 66.”For listeners of a certain age, these phrases will immediately conjure up images of the old bingo hall.Bu...
Signal: What is the app behind the White House leak?
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The messaging app at the centre of the communications crisis in the White House is called Signal. But, how secure is it, how does its technology work,...
What does a Doula do?
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do new parents need more support? Well, have you ever heard of a doula?Doulas provide care and help to new mothers navigating the challenges of parent...
Are beard transplants the next big thing?
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
While hair transplant services are well known, beard transplants are now on the rise too. But, how do they work, and should we be wary?Joining Seán t...
How do celebrity wines work?
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With Amy Huberman becoming the latest celebrity to put a wine with her name on the shelves, she joins a long line of others such as Graham Norton, Kyl...
Cigarette butts - the “biggest litter scourge”?
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A group of tobacco companies has been compelled by the EU to provide funding for the clean-up of cigarette butts on Irish streets, due to the presence...
Are you sick of customer surveys?
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you sick of being asked to rate your experience? Whether it’s a taxi ride, a toilet stop or even a supermarket trip... it seems that companies a...
Why caviar is having a resurgence
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s official: caviar is back on menus, but this time, customers are being offered so-called ‘caviar bumps’ - little taster servings on the back...
One in three parents are putting their savings towards children
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do all your savings go to your children?A new report from the Central Bank has revealed that people are saving more, but they are also putting money a...
Knowing the ‘point of no return’ in a relationship
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever get the feeling your relationship is on its last legs?Science says there’s a ‘point of no return’ - a moment when it’s pretty much doomed...
What does the end of the universe look like?
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To the best of our scientific knowledge, 70% of our universe is made up of a mysterious force we call ‘Dark Energy’.Since its discovery in the 199...
How much should street food kitchens be regulated?
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With homeless figures reaching record highs – the latest statistics revealing that 15,286 individuals are homeless, including 4,603 children…Propo...
The best gigs in Irish history
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What was the best gig you were ever at? There have been many iconic gigs on Irish soil, but a new podcast focuses on three in particular that hav...
Do you usually eat alone? - Henry McKean Asks
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
According to a new finding from the 2025 World Happiness Report, 1 in 4 Americans are eating alone the vast majority of the time. But, how does that c...
Becoming a foster parent as a single gay man
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Seán’s guest always wanted to be a dad but, being a single man, it took him a while to pluck up the courage to investigate the possibility of becom...
Is any of your old tech valuable?
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a drawer in your house containing old mobile phones, maybe a Walkman or a Nokia 3210 from eons ago? Before you ditch them, consider whethe...
How a geophysical map of Ireland is being made
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past 14 years, a set of two specialised aircraft have been slowly charting every piece of land in Ireland in order to build a highly detailed...
What is the ‘Let Them’ theory?
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A parenting idea that is currently trending is called the ‘Let Them’ theory, in which parents essentially refrain from intervening and allow their...
What makes a good Music Manager?
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From U2 to Johnny Cash, we all know how much talent is required to get an album to number one. But, would these artists have been as successful if it ...
Which is the fairer sex for multitasking? - Henry McKean Asks
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
According to a new poll in the UK, men can multitask as much as women! This shocking revelation has left one question standing: is this really true?He...
Blobfish named ‘Fish of the Year’
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The blobfish, once labeled the world’s ugliest animal, has now been named Fish of the Year in New Zealand.Joining Seán to discuss why is Konrad Kur...
Does the new Mental Health Bill make sense?
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most treatment for mental illness is delivered on a voluntary basis in the community in Ireland, but a small portion of people are detained under an “...
2000 year old mummy returns to Cairo from Cork
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After 5 years, Artist Dorothy Cross has completed her ambition to repatriate a mummified body from Ireland to Egypt. But, how did it all begin?Dorothy...
How these storytelling events became so successful
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Just after the lockdown in 2021, Ciaran Gaffney told his friends that he’d like to hold a storytelling event with friends and family.The event was u...
Would you get a house sitter for your pet?
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With summer around the corner, you may be getting your arrangements ready for a break away. But, if you are a pet owner, getting them cared for can be...
How the pandemic has changed baby behaviours
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How has the pandemic affected babies born during lockdown? With fewer social interactions and a shift in routines, these babies have had unique experi...
How you can make your own vinyl records!
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The resurgence in interest in vinyl isn’t just restricted to the purchase of records. There is now a growing craze for getting custom records cut on...
Why are girls getting their period earlier?
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anecdotally it seems that girls are getting their period earlier, but is this true and should we be having ‘the talk’ a little earlier?Dr Geraldin...
What is a ‘bathroom divorce’?
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A couple in America have announced they have gotten a so-called ‘bathroom divorce’, and that it saved their marriage… but what is this, and is i...
What can we learn from the ‘Urban Fox Survey’?
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The ongoing Urban Fox Survey has now topped 2,000 sightings of the wily nocturnal mammal. But, what has been learned from the project?Joining Seán to...
The Russian & Chinese ‘influence networks’ in Ireland
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What are the Chinese and Russian disinformation campaigns affecting Ireland? A Norwegian study has found Ireland mentioned thousands of times in so-ca...
What it’s like to build your own home
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Seán’s guest set out on a journey 8 years ago to self-build a house for her and her son.Make-up Artist, Jade Kirwan, was given a site from her farm...
Why are ‘Irish’ tattoos so popular?
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tattoos and body art are becoming more popular - and for the weekend that’s in it, some people might fancy a permanent reminder of their Irishness…...
Vegetable orchestra wins Guinness World Record!
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
An orchestra in Austria, which uses exclusively musical instruments made out of vegetables, has just been awarded a Guinness World Record!Joining Seá...
Do kids ruin female friendships?
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do if you feel like you’ve been abandoned by your friends once they have kids? Seán’s guest offered advice to a reader in relation to...
Should restaurants be able to rate their customers?
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’ll be a busy weekend for restaurants across the country, as all sorts of people from all over the world descend for St Patrick’s Day.But, you b...
What are Ireland’s greatest inventions?
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are many amazing inventions from the Irish - ranging from submarines to the hypodermic needle. But, which invention is the greatest?Newstalk’s...
Man executed by firing squad in the United States
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Just a few days ago, the state of South Carolina carried out an execution by firing squad for the first time in many years, as the US struggles to fin...
How to get the balance right for a healthy lunch
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
While the midday meal used to be the largest meal of the day in Ireland, that culinary convention has been largely resigned to history due to busier, ...
Do Italians have a better pace of life? - Henry McKean Reports
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do Italians have a better life than us, and what does La Dolce Vita mean? Do they just appreciate life more? Henry McKean is in the Italian Alps at th...
Why are people choosing automatic over manual cars?
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Recent statistics show that more and more Irish people are choosing automatic over manual transmission cars. But which is better and does learning how...
The history of the Irish passport
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Epic, the Irish Immigration Museum, is currently seeking stories and heirlooms from the public for their upcoming exhibition to mark a hundred years o...
Why refillables are the next step for the cosmetic industry
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With 95% of cosmetic packaging being thrown away and cosmetics taking centuries to break down, the beauty industry has had to step up to the plate wit...
Why do we feel like we have less money for groceries?
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why does it feel like we have less money for groceries, even when the official price stats say otherwise? It’s a question many of us are asking as w...
What’s the ideal temperature at home?
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you always bickering over whether it’s too hot or too cold in your home?And does your other half want the heating boosted up while you would rat...
Spreading awareness for dense breast tissue reporting
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It is difficult to put into words the impact that losing a parent has on a child, no matter what age you are.Twenty five year old Martha Lovett Cullen...
What is a ‘Saturn Return’?
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What is a ‘Saturn Return’ – something to live by or complete nonsense?In astrology, there are two major times of transition in your life, and th...
Should we embrace being bald?
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Journalist Liam Collins was a proud bald man for over 30 years when he decided to try a hairpiece, but after his daughter failed to recognise him on t...
Pushing back against ‘always-on’ culture
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Since Covid and the introduction of working from home, people have been finding it increasingly difficult to switch off from work. So much so that a c...
How to thrive with thrifted furniture!
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine never having to go to Ikea ever again! Well, Seán’s guest has made this a reality by thrifting every piece of furniture she owns - bar the ...
Would you have an ‘adult sleepover’?
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you go travelling with friends, would you opt to sleep in the same bed with them? Well apparently, adult sleepovers are quite popular.Travel Writ...
How easy is it to renounce your citizenship?
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The new designated Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, holds dual Canadian and Irish citizenship, with his grandfather hailing from County Mayo. As ...
How the early days of radio impacted people’s lives
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new book explores the early days of radio one hundred years ago, and how it had a deep effect on people’s everyday lives.Joining Seán to discuss ...
The ups and downs of self publishing
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Has self-publishing opened up the market for terrible writers to publish their own stories?Author Bill Bryson has hit out that “Too many people are ...
Why are crows so noisy?
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Does the noise of squawking crows annoy you so much that you want to murder the… murder?Seán’s guest, Dr Michelle McKeown has been doing a deep d...
What are the music tastes of world leaders?
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This morning, King Charles presented his favourite playlist on a special programme on Apple Music called ‘The King’s Music Room’. But, what does...
How much does a babysitter cost? - Henry McKean Asks
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How much should you pay your babysitter, and have they become unaffordable for parents when you include the meal out?Henry McKean has been out asking ...
Why is a white dwarf star considered a ‘planet killer’?
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What is a white dwarf, and why are space scientists so excited by the latest discovery?It’s been dubbed a possible ‘planet killer’, but how coul...
Should the undocumented Irish in America be worried?
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the first week of his second term, Donald Trump made good on his promise to launch an immigration enforcement blitz, with nearly 1,000 people arres...
Is dating the secret to a long and happy marriage?
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given for a long and happy marriage?Former Royal now-turned Wellness Guru, Meghan Markle has been doling o...
Bird Flu Risks in Ireland - Josh Crosbie Reports
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Farmers have changed the way they farm hens, ducks and all types of poultry due to the detection of bird flu in Ireland.All birds now have to be house...
How to get out of a reading rut!
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you in a reading rut?With research showing that 4 in 10 people in the UK actually haven’t read a book in a year, what can you do to get back on ...
Isaac Newton’s beer mug goes on show in London
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
While Isaac Newton may be best known for his laws of motion, it is his beer mug that is going on show this week at the Royal Society in London...Joini...
Poverty and the Cost of Living - Henry McKean Reports
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, many families are now living in consistent poverty and are struggling to get by.Henry McKean has been ...
Malta’s Eurovision song changed for being too rude?
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Maltese entry to this year’s Eurovision is being forced to change the title of their song and some lyrics due to its resemblance to a swear word...
The growing problem of ‘public squalor’
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As dereliction increasingly becomes a problem in towns and cities across Ireland, one unfortunate consequence of this is public squalor.Joining Seán ...
Could the wooly mammoth be resurrected?
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anybody who has seen Jurassic Park will know that the park’s ferocious inhabitants are created by retrieving DNA from an ancient mosquito captured i...
Access To Political Representation for People With Disabilities
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most people would like to have a Government that is representative of the population, but there are some groups with very little representation.Dr Viv...
How to find out what colour suits you!
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know what colours suit you?Are you a cool summer, or a deep spring… or does that mean anything to you at all?It seems that Colour Analysis Co...
Can ‘greenwashing’ be seen in our food?
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You will inevitably encounter many phrases while out shopping trying to convince you how natural the food you are buying is. Does 'free range' actuall...
How big of a problem is ‘laptop squatting’?
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is your local cafe being ruined by ‘laptop squatters’?You know the type, they’re working remotely and tapping loudly on their laptops while drin...
Who does the most work at home?
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For most couples who live together, in a clichéd way, there seems to be some jobs that the man will do, and ones that the woman will.Freelance Journa...
Finding A Hobby As An Adult
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chloe McPolin, journalist with the Irish Independent is with Moncrieff today in speaking about a task we all have difficulty with; finding a new hobby...
Peppa Pig’s New Sibling
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mummy Pig, the mother of Peppa, the porcine heroine of the long running TV series, is pregnant.And as a TV show aims to express the undoubtedly diffic...
Henry McKean Reports: How Many Friends Do You Have?
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Henry McKean is out and about for NewsTalk to ask the question; ‘what is the right amount of friends?’
Why Psychologists Shouldn’t Have To Hand Over Notes In Sexual Assault Cases
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Psychologist and survivor, Dr Niamh Ni Dhomhnaill, sits down on Moncrieff to speak about the complications that could arise from handing notes to auth...
What a ‘Storyteller in Residence’ looks like
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Irish are famous for their storytelling. We love a good natter or a yarn down the pub, but it’s not something we really think of as a job.Unless...
Why can’t we remember being toddlers?
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What’s your earliest memory? And why can’t you remember anything before that, despite the fact that you obviously learned and remembered how to wa...
The role beards play in professional sport
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After 49 years with a very strict no beard policy, the New York Yankees have finally lifted their facial hair embargo, to much fanfare in America. But...
How do you handle a bad boss?
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It seems impossible to escape a terrible manager over the course of your career, but what’s the best way to deal with a bad boss?Margaret E. Ward is...
Questions to save for a boring dinner party!
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever found yourself stuck at a table completely bored out of your mind?Whether it’s a wedding, a dinner party, or an awkward first date - P...
The dark side of family influencers
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Influencers can seemingly make content out of anything, be it brushing their hair or playing a video game.For the most part, it is harmless enough, bu...
What are ‘micro retirements’?
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you feeling burned out at work?Well, it seems the new trend that is being embraced by some is ‘micro retirements’...So, could unplugging compl...
Is there an epidemic of nosy neighbours?
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you a nosy neighbour?We know that this country is property mad, but does that mean that we’re very nosy neighbours? Especially if a home nearby ...
How much do adult kids rely on parents? - Henry McKean Asks
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How often do your kids call you? Did you give them a deposit for a house or apartment?The question is: do adult children rely too heavily on their old...
What will our ‘technofossils’ look like?
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine for a moment that it’s a million years in the future.You’re walking along a rocky shoreline, when suddenly you notice something jutting ou...
The struggles with being on time
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you always running late?Some people are notoriously bad time keepers and it can be annoying to wait around for somebody who is constantly running ...
Do you use your phone in the shower?
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you bring your phone with you everywhere? And by everywhere, does that mean the toilet, and even the shower?Podcaster and Influencer Ellie Kelly ha...
What life is like in Usonia
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the late 1940’s, Frank Lloyd Wright built a planned community an hour north of New York City.The community remains an iconic example of Lloyd Wri...