Highlights From Moncrieff

Is it ever okay to comment on someone’s baby bump? It’s a seemingly innocent gesture, but as one journalist found out the hard way, even the most well-intentioned comments can go horribly wrong.Imagine interviewing a major celebrity, only to be met with a sarcastic remark that leaves you questioning everything. We’re talking about the infamous Blake Lively interview that’s resurfaced after eight years, sparking a debate on whether it's ever appropriate to mention someone’s pregnancy.Joining guest host Mairead Ronan to discuss is Producer and Digital Journalist, Rebecca Horan.

It’s been a weekend of festivals and big gigs recently. With Kylie Minogue finishing up Electric Picnic and ACDC selling out Croke Park. So, what makes a good gig, and what is the best (or worst!) one you've been to?Newstalk’s Henry McKean has asking concert-goers and musicians, and joins guest host Mairead Ronan to share what he’s heard.

What is your fruit of choice? If you are thinking of a banana, you’re not alone. Because it turns out the Irish are one of the highest consumers of bananas per-capita in the world!John Fitzgerald, a contributor to the Irish Times has been writing about this, and joins guest host Mairead Ronan to discuss.

Painting work on the Poolbeg Chimneys in Dublin begins this week. Having been immortalised in print, on t-shirts and even coffee mugs, why are the towers so iconic, and do they continue to divide opinion?Joining guest host Mairead Ronan to discuss is Emma Gileece, Architectural Historian.

Have you ever been curious about the origins of your favourite foods? While many dishes are carefully crafted by skilled chefs, some of the most beloved treats owe their existence to a stroke of luck. From the unexpected creation of chocolate sliced pan to the serendipitous invention of potato chips, there is no end to the food inventions that came about purely by chance. Joining guest host Stefanie Preissner to discuss is Chef Jack O’Keeffe.

It’s the first day of Electric Picnic, and thousands of people are flocking to Laois. However, some people are travelling with children in tow. So, is it acceptable to bring your children to a festival? Guest host Stefanie Preissner is joined by Comedian Julie Jay to discuss.

It’s 2024 – should we still be solving CAPTCHAs? CAPTCHAs being the online tests where you agonise over a nine inch grid of images to identify traffic lights or bikes to prove you’re not a bot. Are these tests really necessary in protecting ourselves online? Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly, joins guest host Stefanie Preissner to discuss.

Dublin zoo enlisted the help of 30 breastfeeding mothers to help encourage a female Orangutan bond with her newborn.  To tell more about this project, guest host Stefanie Preissner is joined by Lizzie Reeves, Clinical Midwife Specialist in Lactation at the National Maternity Hospital.

Letter writing seems to be an art that is dying out, but is that necessarily a bad thing?Guest host Stefanie Preissner is joined by author and operator of writing.ie, Sam Blake, to discuss.

Nora-Jane Noone secured her breakout role in The Magdalene Sisters at 16, encouraged by her cousin to go to an open audition on the basis that she was “into acting”. Since then she’s had many roles both in Ireland and internationally, and after years living abroad in London and LA, she has now returned to her native Galway to pursue opportunities at home. Her latest film ‘Bring Them Down’ also stars Barry Keoghan and Christopher Abbott, and she joins guest host Stefanie Preissner to chat.

It’s been reported that legendary footballer Roy Keane plans to ditch punditry and take up farming. When asked where he sees himself in a decade’s time he said: “A nice house somewhere with a bit of land and a few animals…”  But, is farming all it’s cracked up to be? Or has it been glamourised? To discuss, Stefanie Preissner is joined by Rachel Donovan, News Correspondent, Irish Farmers Journal.Image: Amazon

You may have been lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis, better known as the northern lights.  But what causes this spectacular display in our skies? Guest host Stefanie Preissner is joined by David Moore, Editor of Astronomy Ireland Magazine, to discuss.

It’s the time of year when we’re all trying to cut the cost of the holiday holiday. But, have you ever considered converting your car into a tiny home to take on holidays with you? Guest host Stefanie Preissner is joined by Jennifer Sheahan from the Irish Examiner, who did just that…Image: Vanpackers

We all have our favourite Disney characters, and it can be a passionate subject for many. Jessica Spencer is a presenter with Spin 1038, and has been putting together a list of some of the greats. She joins Stefanie Preissner to share.

Nearly half of all family households in the EU now consist of a one-child family, according to the German data company Statista. And that trend is likely to increase as births fall. The only child, once the exception, is becoming the norm.So, are there characteristics associated with being an only child, or does it just depend on how you’re raised? Friend of the show Mary McEvoy joins Stefanie Preissner to share her own experience of being an only child.

Most of us don’t discuss our own death, but perhaps we should! Should we be having conversations around death and how we’d like to be remembered? Guest host Stefanie Preissner is joined by Joe McNamara, Director of Corrigan & Sons Funeral Home Dublin.

Modern slang words such as ‘sitch’ and ‘noobie’ are among almost 2,000 new entries in the Scrabble dictionary. In a first major update since 2020, officials have spelled out the need to keep the game up to date. Feargal Weatherhead, Current All Ireland Scrabble Champion, joins Luke O’Neill to discuss.

The 13th of August marks International Left-handers Day! To discuss what it’s like to be in the minority of handedness, guest host Luke O’Neill is joined by proud ciotóg Margaret Leahy, from Fable Tours.

Guest host Luke O'Neill was joined by Dr Eva Orsmond, Medical Doctor and Health advocate to discuss the ever-hot topic of Ozempic, and the rebound effect your weight can have when you stop taking it.

This weekend the Electric Picnic Music and Arts festival returns to Stradbally in Co. Laois, with one of the highlights being the Theatre of Food. Over the 3 days of the festival, the Theatre of Food will feature the likes of Trisha Lewis, JP McMahon and more. One of those featured is Graham Herterich, also known as the Cupcake Bloke. He joins Luke O’Neill to discuss.