Highlights From Moncrieff

Could somebody online be pretending to be you?There’s been a national fascination with ‘catfishing’ recently, but can it really happen to anyone?Surely, nobody would want to impersonate your normal, everyday life…Well, this happened to Aoife Howard Ring and she joins Seán to discuss.

A huge and putrid plant called a corpse flower is about to bloom at any moment, and is currently being watched by thousands around the world on a YouTube livestream.Joining Seán to discuss is John Siemon, Director of Horticulture and Living Collections at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney…

When was the last time you got your shoes repaired instead of just buying a new pair?Within your answer to that you may recognise the plight of the cobbler…There are less than thirty left in the country. So, is this a dying trade, or could talk of the circular economy begin a revival of business?Michael Rossiter is a Cobbler in Kilkenny, and joins Seán to discuss.

The days of drinking instant coffee from a flask are over! Enter spreadable coffee from a tube…Joining Seán to discuss is Philippe Greinacher, Co-Founder of No Normal Coffee…Image: No Normal Coffee

Speaking yesterday, the UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen made clear the global organisation’s desire for a pluralist democratic Syria.But considering the unpopularity of the UN on the ground in the country ,and the factionalised nature of the political landscape there, is that a realistic aim?Dr Rahaf Aldoughli is Lecturer in Middle East and North African studies at Lancaster University, and joins Seán to discuss.

Dublin City Council has this week rolled out light boxes across all libraries in the capital. But, what are they, and why would you use one?Joining Seán to discuss is Ciara Dardis, Divisional Librarian with Dublin City Libraries in charge of events and partnerships…

Have you thought about taping your mouth shut to get a better night’s sleep?A new viral craze has seen people put tape to stop themselves breathing through their mouth overnight...Professor Annie Curtis, Associate Professor at the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences at RCSI, joins Seán to discuss.

This month’s LA wildfires may yet prove to be the most devastating natural disaster in U.S. history... It is already the country’s most costly wildfire on record.You’ve seen the pictures of devastated neighbourhoods reduced to ashes, with the Pacific Palisades no different to many other neighbourhoods in the LA area. Except for the fact that one house seemed to have survived the onrushing flames more or less unscathed…Michael Kovac is the Founder and Design Partner at Kovac Architecture Studio and the owner of that house. He joins Seán to discuss.Image: Reuters

A council in Greater Sydney has banned thong and g-string bikinis at its public swimming pools, causing outrage among pool users.Despite the outrage, sales of thongs are up at Marks & Spencer…So, why is there policing on what women can wear?Seán is joined by Édaein O'Connell, Freelance Journalist, to discuss.

In the past, Ireland as a country has assumed a certain level of immunity from espionage.It perhaps comes from our neutrality, our geographical location or our alliances, but in recent times, not only is Ireland not without espionage, it is in fact a major target in the 21st century…So, how prepared are we to deal with this threat?Dr Edward Burke is Assistant Professor in the History of War since 1945 at University College Dublin. He joins Seán to discuss.

Does it really pay to be loyal, or are we giving away too much information?The Consumer Columnist for the Irish Examiner, Caitriona Redmond took a long hard look at supermarket loyalty cards, and whether they are really worth having.She joins Seán to discuss.

What's the difference between a stoat, a weasel, a mink and a pine marten? A citizen science survey of Ireland is currently trying to map the Irish stoat.Joining Seán to discuss is Vicky Knight, Species Conservation Officer with Vincent Wildlife Trust…

In the last couple of weeks Italy brought in a new law making surrogacy a “universal crime”.This has been seen as part of a larger international reaction against the practice of surrogacy.So, with the Assisted Human Reproduction Act set to be enacted later this year, how will all of this affect Irish couples looking to avail of the practice?Annette Hickey is a Family Law Solicitor and one of Ireland's foremost Solicitors in Surrogacy Law. She joins Seán to discuss.

In 2019, it was discovered that the Bigmouth Buffalo fish was the world’s longest-lived freshwater fish, surviving to an age of at least 127 years old.But, this wasn’t the most incredible thing that the researchers discovered. The fish actually appears to be aging backwards!Dr. Alec Lackmann is Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Minnesota Duluth, and joins Seán to discuss.Image: National Geographic

The idea of ‘eldest daughter syndrome’ is the latest trend on TikTok, but what is it, and do first born daughters really carry a burden of responsibility?Joining Seán to discuss is eldest daughter and Freelance Journalist Adele Miner, who has been investigating this for the Irish Examiner…

What happened during the Bank Strikes in Ireland in the 1960s and 1970s? And how did people get access to cash when the banks went on strike?To discuss, Seán is joined by Rachel O’Dwyer is a Lecturer in Digital Cultures in the National College of Art and Design, Dublin and author of ‘Tokens: The Future of Money in the Age of the Platform’.

The development expenses of blockbuster games have been climbing ever higher over the years towards big Hollywood-style spending.But, a new game has outstriped those film budgets quite substantially: ‘Star Citizen’ might just be the most expensive piece of entertainment ever made…Peter Lynch is a Lecturer in Computer Games in TUD, and joins Seán to discuss.Image: Cloud Imperium Games

Life rarely works out the way you planned it. When you were younger - did you actually achieve the profession you said you wanted? And, is that such a bad thing?Henry McKean has been asking the public, and joins Seán to share what he’s heard.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service has announced that one of the state’s rare white-tailed eagles has been shot dead in Co. Westmeath. But, why is this so significant?Joining Seán to discuss is Niall Hatch from Birdwatch Ireland…

Even though “Them bones them bones need calcium!”, why is it that drinking whole milk has become so contentious?In many films and TV shows, milk is often portrayed as the villain’s drink...Newstalk’s Own, Sarah McKenna Barry, joins Seán to discuss.