Highlights From Moncrieff

Michael O’Leary has invested just over €140,000 installing solar panels and 90kW of batteries at his 2,000-acre home in Gigginstown, Co. Westmeath.It comes after what has been a noticeable shift in the opinion from Irish people about panels as a way to power their homes.Ciaran Marron is Founder of Activ8 Solar and joins Seán to discuss.

This Thursday, a Philosopher named Pablo Fernandez will give a talk in Trinity College about how animals should be given a voice through elected representatives to defend animal rights. So, should this be a thing?Gerben Uunk, Co-Founder and Party Secretary for the Party for Animal Welfare joins Seán to discuss.

Kristen Bell has apologised to parents for getting ‘Let It Go’ from ‘Frozen’ “stuck in their head”.It is one of the most popular earworms in the world. But, what exactly is an earworm? And how do you get it out of your head?Dr Naomi Lavelle is a Science Consultant who has been investigating this, and joins Seán to discuss.Image: Disney

Whitewashed walls and grey couches could soon be a thing of the past.Pink walls and green curtains are making a comeback. According to the experts, maximalism is back in fashion.Joining Seán to discuss this trend is Róisín Murphy, Architect and Artist.

Actor Al Pacino recently revealed that he was so sick with covid in 2020, that his pulse stopped for multiple minutes. When he was revived, he didn’t see anything in between that time. So, is there an afterlife?Newstalk’s Henry McKean has been out asking the public, and joins Seán to discuss.

While most vehicles, from cars to buses, are progressively going electric, one area remains sluggish to change: airplanes. Seán’s guest did a test flight in the UK’s first approved electric aircraft. Greg Dickinson, Senior Travel Writer with the Telegraph, joins the show to discuss.Image: The Telegraph

A new botanical study has suggested there are still over 100,000 undiscovered plant species in the world, mostly concentrated in so-called ‘dark spots’. But, where are these dark spots, and what can be done to save the unknown species before they go extinct?Joining Seán to discuss is Dr. Sam Pironon, a biodiversity scientist at Queen Mary University in London and Honorary Research Associate at Kew Gardens…

20 years ago this week, Desperate Housewives premiered on ABC in America.It went on to become the number 1 TV show in the USA, and lasted for 8 seasons, featuring more than 180 episodes.Like every big show, it also had its dedicated fanbase, with one of those being Ryan Evans, who has spent in the region of $10k on memorabilia for his website Wisteria Lane Collection.Ryan joins Seán to discuss.

It’s National Potato Day! Joining Seán to talk about the most obscure things you can do with this country’s prized vegetable is Chef Jack O’Keeffe.

When method actors take on a role, they live with the character they are portraying. But, when filming ends - how long do they continue being that character before they snap back to reality?Movie Reviewer Brian Lloyd joins Seán to discuss.

It’s Rut Season, and that means the male deer of the country are gearing up for a big October. But, why is this such a spectacle, and why are there watch parties taking place?Joining Seán to discuss is Gillian Stewart, Supervisor Guide at Wicklow Mountains National Park…

It is a very nostalgic Irish drink that people will remember fondly from their childhood but the pub where the Rock Shandy was invented now features the full story on their wall.Joining Seán to discuss is Nigel O’Rourke, owner of O'Rourke's Tavern in Blackrock in Dublin…

You have probably fallen in love - maybe more than once! However, there are some who fall in love so often, it can become problematic: it's called 'Emophilia'.Joining Seán to discuss is Daniel Nelson Jones, Associate Professor of Management and Interdisciplinary Social Psychology at the University of Nevada Reno.

What does it mean to be posh? Is it as simple as washing your hands more than once a day? Or do you have to drink tea with a pinky out?Henry McKean has been out asking the public about their poshness, and joins Seán to discuss.

As part of Joe Biden’s massive financial and weapons package for Ukraine, one particular munition stands out for its longer-range capabilities. It’s called the ‘Joint Standoff Weapon’. But, what exactly is it, and how does it work?Joining Seán to discuss is Jake Epstein, Senior Defence Reporter for Business Insider…Image: Reuters

Germany legalised the use of cannabis six months ago by introducing a so-called ‘club model’. But, due to classic German red tape issues, movement has been exceptionally slow. So, what’s going on?Joining Seán to discuss is Paul Krantz, a journalist with The Local in Berlin.

Do you go to sleep to the sound of waves crashing against rocks? Or does the sound of a river flowing help you drift off? Well, you’re not alone! New research has found that 'green noises' from nature are the most relaxing. However, if you rely on these noises to soothe you to sleep, what happens when you don’t have access to them? Seán is joined by Anne Marie Boyhan, Holistic Sleep Expert, founder of the Sleep Care Company and Author of the 'Sleep Journal' to discuss.

A British erotica website aims to deliver ethically made pornography with the female consumer in mind, offering itself as the antithesis of mass-produced American porn.Joining Seán to discuss is Anna Richards, Founder of FrolicMe…

While the Chinese are well known for their construction mega projects, a new installation in Shanghai called Twin Hills is literally an artificial mountain. Joining Seán to discuss his experience being there is Oliver Wainwright, Architecture Critic for the Guardian.Image: Shanghai Daily

A new study from the Iona Institute finds that people are opting less and less for a Church wedding. But, one of the report’s recommendations is for the Church to follow American Catholicism’s lead and allow marriage ceremonies to take place outside of church buildings.Joining Seán to discuss Breda O’Brien, Columnist with the Irish Times and patron of the Iona Institute.