Highlights From Moncrieff

In the good old days, being a successful comedian was all about getting on TV.Making Gay Byrne chuckle on The Late Late or even taking the mick out of Seán on Don’t Feed The Gondolas was a sure fire way to put bums on seats at your next live show!But, as with just about everything, social media has ripped up that rule book.Kyla Cobbler is a Comedian who understands this as well as anyone. She joins Seán to discuss…

Once upon a time, parents were told not to introduce potential problem foods, such as seafood, peanuts etc, to kids until they were a bit older. Now, the advice has been changed.Joining Seán to discuss is Juan Trujillo, Paediatric Allergist and Co-Director of the Centre of Excellence in Allergy at Cork University Hospital and UCC…

The Revenue Department in Ireland hires a lot of people - not just to make sure you're paying your taxes - but to prevent smuggling.One if its staff members, who managed to sniff out a quarter of a million in cash and €2 million worth of cigarettes, is a dog named Toby.Henry McKean went out to meet him!

This week is Wish Week on Newstalk and right across the station we have been hearing about the amazing families who have had their wishes granted with the charity.Maisie Randle, who is ten, was one of those children.Her mother Rebecca joins Seán to tell all about Maisie’s big trip to the Harry Potter studios...Let’s make 2025 the biggest Wish Week yet. Every cent matters. Donate online at makeawish.ie/donate!

Oxfam has teamed up with An Post for a new scheme where you can use the national postal service to pick up your donated clothes and other goods, for free! But, how does it all work?Joining Seán to discuss is Mark Sweeney, Donated Goods Strategy Manager for Oxfam Ireland…

Be honest, do you have a style uniform?According to the fashion experts, once men hit forty just keep buying the same clothes over and over again.So is it a style rut or just a sensible safe wardrobe choice?Fashion Stylist, Personal Shopper and owner of stylishguy.ie, Shane Burke, joins Seán to discuss.

Have you ever fancied a slower pace of life living on an island?Well, you may remember that the local community in Arranmore, which is an island off the coast of Donegal, were pioneering when it came to attracting remote workers to come and live on their beautiful shores...So, just how did they manage to grow population numbers for the first time in many years? And did the Croí Cónaithe scheme offering renovation grants make a difference?Adrian Begley from Arranmore Community Council joins Seán to discuss.

Last night, Senator Cory Booker broke the record for the longest speech ever on the senate floor in Washington DC, at just over 25 hours before he yielded the floor, but how exactly does filibustering work, and can it be effective?Joining Seán to discuss is Graham Finlay, Lecturer in the School of Politics and International Relations at UCD…Image: Reuters

You have probably seen the media coverage for the missing farmer Michael Gaine, but not every case gets as much public attention.So, how does a missing person case work normally?Joining Seán to discuss is Christy Galligan, former Garda Sergeant and Search Supervisor…

Over half a century ago, a series of special cameras were submerged in Loch Ness as part of a programme to capture footage of the monster sea serpent that was believed to live there. Now one of them has been discovered, bone dry and in impeccable condition.Joining Seán to discuss is Adrian Shine, from the Loch Ness Project and author of new book ‘A Natural History of Sea Serpents’...Image: Britannica

Since 2022, Irish employers have been required to publish details of what their male and female employees are being paid.Has it had any affect to gender pay gaps? And who is monitoring it?Jen Keane has read through all the reports and put up her findings on paygap.ie. She joins Seán to discuss.

If you’ve ever held the plank position as part of your exercise regime, you’ll know that one minute of that core exercise can feel like a lifetime. And now, the science appears to back that up. But, why does our perception of time alter so much when we’re exercising?Ruth Ogden is a Professor of the Psychology of Time at Liverpool John Moores University. She joins Seán to discuss.

What happens when the book you’ve worked so hard on ends up online without your control? This is the case for arts journalist and author Aoife Barry who is amongst many Irish and International authors faced with this conundrum... She joins us now to tell us how AI stole her book.

You don’t have to search too hard on the internet to find people complaining about useless men, but then again you don’t have to search too hard to find people complaining about anything on the internet!So, should we be concerned about a rise in hetero-pessimism among young women on social media?Rachel Connolly is author of the novel ‘Lazy City’ and she has been writing about this in The Guardian. She joins Seán to discuss.

In the early 1970s, a row broke out between President Richard Nixon and Taoiseach Jack Lynch over landing rights at Dublin Airport… but what lessons does the saga teach us about diplomatic relations between Ireland and America today? This story is part of the latest volume of documents on Irish foreign policy, covering the years 1969 to 1973, which was launched in Dublin yesterday.Joining Seán to discuss is Dr. Michael Kennedy, Head of the Documents on Irish Foreign Policy Research Programme…

A particular scene from the White Lotus, featuring the logo of a university in North Carolina, has prompted the institution to release a statement, but how and when can trademarks be used in television?Joining Seán to discuss is Sarah Kieran, Solicitor with Media Lawyer...Image: HBO

Would you consider doing an alternative Communion ceremony for your child?Many parents are choosing to raise their children in a non-religious environment, but are still seeking ways to mark milestones.Aoife Curran-Butler is a parent and a Celebrant, and she has developed a programme for so-called ‘Age of Reason’ ceremonies or ‘Aois na Cúise’...She joins Seán to discuss.Image: Aoife Curran-Butler

Many people dream of quitting their job and heading off to go backpacking around the world. But, what happens when the reality of hostels and solo travel sets in, and you make the decision to come home early?For a generation obsessed with social media, there can be shame and stigma in calling it a day and admitting defeat.Justine Halpin joins Seán to chat about deciding to come home just three weeks into a five month solo travel adventure…

Wayne Rooney was caught short when he was spotted urinating in public after a night out in London…How common is it here in Ireland to urinate in the street? Can’t forget spitting too! Henry McKean tries to find out, and joins Sean to discuss.

If you open up Google Maps while you’re driving through the Gaeltacht, you might notice that many of the place names are anglicised. Historian and Researcher at DCU Dr. Colm Mac Gearailt wants to change this situation, as he claims that it doesn’t reflect the lived experience of those who reside there.He joins Seán to discuss.