Highlights From Moncrieff

Moncrieff is joined by Vali Nasr, author of Iran’s Grand Strategy – A Political History, to discuss Iran’s long-term geopolitical ambitions, its regional influence, and how recent global shifts, from war to ceasefire, are playing into Tehran’s strategy.Listen here

Denise O’Donoghue, Life Hacks columnist for the Irish Examiner, joins Moncrieff to sort — once and for all —what should go in the fridge and what you’re ruining by refrigerating.With the temperature rising over the Summer, you may be surprised at some of the goods that should be in the fridge as we creep on temperatures exceeding 30 degrees.Listen here.

A new service is being launched this week to provide support to people who feel unsafe or unwell during a night out in Dublin city centre.Known as the ‘Nee-Naw’ van, it has been launched by Dublin City Council, and supported by the Department of Justice, as a late-night welfare initiative.Moncrieff is joined by Ray O’Donoghue, Night-Time Economy Adviser for Dublin City (also known as the Night Tsar) to discuss the initiative.Listen here.

Freelance journalist, Emily Bratt, joins Moncrieff to talk about the less glamorous side of working remotely around the world — from tax chaos and loneliness to the burnout and even the tinge of hedonism that comes with such a lifestyle.Listen here for more.

Tonie Walsh, founding editor of Gay Community News, joins Moncrieff to discuss the introduction of the Historic Offences Bill, which seeks to expunge convictions under now-repealed laws that criminalised LGBTQ+ people in Ireland. Men in Ireland were being sent to prison up until the 90s, many of these convictions remain on their records.Listen here.

Jesse Hassenger, culture writer for AV Club and The Guardian, joins Moncrieff to explore how the voices of The Simpsons characters have changed over the decades — and why we didn’t really notice until recently.Listen here.

Saoirse Hanley, journalist with the Irish Independent, joins Moncrieff to talk about reading fatigue and how an online tool which suggested books based on colour might help you get out of a reading rut... sort of.Listen here

Kerry Hanaphy, founder of Kerry Hanaphy Aesthetic Clinics, joins Moncrieff to discuss how she's noticed people are being much more open about plastic surgery and how attitudes are changing across demographics.Listen here

Paul McKinney, Director of Donor Services and Logistics with the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, joins Moncrieff to make an urgent appeal for summer donations, with stocks dangerously low across several blood types.Listen here

On the back of Donald Trump's own fragrance drop, Moncrieff is joined by Sarah Halliwell, beauty editor at The Gloss Magazine, to examine the enduring power of celebrity-endorsed perfumes.Listen here,

One of the most dangerous and closely observed shipwrecks in the world has been sitting in the Thames Estuary in London for 80 years. But why is it so dangerous and what should be done about it? Joining Moncrieff is David Alexander, Professor of Emergency Planning and Management at the University College London.Listen here.

Jess Kelly, NewsTalk Tech Correspondent and host of Tech Talk, joins Moncrieff to explain a new AI tool designed to detect and strip out emojis placed over children’s faces online.It also raises further questions about the power of AI in holding our data and the ethical concerns that raises in itself.

Éanna Ní Lamhna, Irish biologist and environmental consultant, joins Moncrieff to explain the serious environmental and health consequences of dog fouling on beaches — from water pollution to the risk it poses to children and its sheer difficulty to deal with when we don't clean up dog foul after ourselves.Listen here

Paul Clements, A well-known nature writer has released a new book about the year he spent living in a cottage on the grounds of a County Down estate; Montalto.He joins Moncrieff to discuss the process and sights of living in such a beatiful setting.Listen here.

Dr Dustin Crummett, Executive Director of the Insect Institute in Washington, joins Moncrieff to discuss why Western countries still resist the idea of eating bugs — despite environmental and nutritional benefits.Will the general attitudes ever change, or has that process already begun?Listen here.

Sarina Bellissimo joins Moncrieff with her picks for what to stream. On the list thsi week:Ironheart – a Marvel spin-off bringing a new tech genius into the MCU, Smoke – a new Nordic noir with a female detective twist, and, of course, The Bear season three of the hit familial/culinary drama returns with more pressure, tension and emotion.Listen here.

Brian Gurrin, census and population specialist with the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland project, joins Moncrieff to explain how old Irish census data — once thought lost — has been partially reconstructed, offering a rare window into Irish life, pre-civil war.Listen here

After a long campaign, the Phoenix Cinema in Dingle was saved from destruction by Cillian Murphy and Yvonne McGuinness.Aoife Granville from the Save The Phoenix Campaign joins Moncrieff to discuss the next plans for this iconic location.Listen here.

Travel journalist James Stewart joins Moncrieff to talk about one of the world’s most niche nature experiences: Puffin snorkelling.He explains where to do this 'undercover puffin activity,' what it’s like, and why this quirky adventure is gaining popularity.Listen here

NewsTalk's own Sarah Madden investigates the resurgence of the humble bath.Why did we start such an uptake of the shower, and why, in certain circles, the bath may be making a comeback.Listen here.