Shows / Moncrieff
Moncrieff
The daily dose of madness and intrigue from Sean Moncrieff and his rebel radio crew.
CONVERSATION THAT COUNTS | Ireland’s national independent talk station for news, sport, analysis and entertainment
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Episodes
MoncrieffNewstalk’s 25 of 25: Best Actor
Over the last twenty-five years, Ireland has changed. Our voices got louder. Our culture reached further, and some extraordinary people helped shape it all…
MoncrieffShould the Gardaí have tasers?
Has the rolling out of tasers as part of a pilot programme with Gardaí been a rushed decision, and could it lead to an escalation in the use of force…
MoncrieffComing home for Christmas as an adult - Henry McKean Reports
What's it like when adults return to the family home for Christmas, do they revert to their childlike behaviours like fighting over the remote? Henry McKean…
MoncrieffWhy are politicians so bad with social media?
We’ve all seen politicians’ cringe-worthy efforts at communicating with us over social media. The question is: why can’t they get it right? Steven O’Leary…
MoncrieffWhy shapewear for men is growing in popularity
Many women will know the struggle of Spanx, and especially as the Christmas party season is in full flow, there is a chance that people are looking to look…
MoncrieffKeeping track of films inside of films
What is a film inside a film, and do you remember some of the movies that characters in famous Christmas films were watching? Home Alone and The Holiday are…
MoncrieffShould you barbeque your turkey?
Renowned Chef Dean Diplock, joins Seán to talk about the national obsession of his home country of South Africa: barbequing, and whether or not you should…
MoncrieffIreland has the highest percentage of ‘bears’ in the world
According to Grindr’s end of year ‘Unwrapped’ data, Ireland has the highest percentage of bears in the world. No, not the ones that eat honey. Joining Seán to…
MoncrieffPaula Meehan on her poetry and life
Seán is joined by one of Ireland’s most influential poets, Paula Meehan. With a career spanning decades, Paula’s work has consistently explored themes of home…
MoncrieffThe history of Christmas shop windows
Christmas time wouldn’t be complete without the festive shop window displays. Seán’s guest’s grandfather led the design and construction of Gimbel’s Christmas…
MoncrieffValentia Island locals hoping to establish UNESCO World Heritage site
A group of locals on Valentia Island are seeking permission to refurbish the old First Message Building and Cable Station in order to strengthen their case for…
MoncrieffDo we eat too fast?
According to a piece in the Huffington Post, American tourists can be spotted abroad because they are the ones scoffing at their food and not sitting down to…
MoncrieffIs nuclear power the way to go?
As energy prices continue to rise and questions are raised over energy supply, it’s being wondered if Ireland should explore nuclear power. To discuss this…
MoncrieffThe politics of gift giving - Henry McKean Asks
Is it better to get no present than to get a bad one? What's the drama behind Kris Kindle? Henry McKean has been asking the public about the politics of gift…
MoncrieffThe story behind the construction of the Empire State Building
Author Glenn Kurtz is out with a brand-new book chronicling the lives of the men who built the Empire State Building: ‘Men at Work: The Empire State Building…
MoncrieffGovernment considering spiked drink testing protocols in hospitals
With drink-spiking incidents expected to rise over the Christmas party season, the Government is considering new hospital testing protocols. Justice Minister…
MoncrieffWhy many small businesses are vulnerable to cyberattacks
When was the last time you backed up your data? New research shows that the majority of small businesses in Ireland don’t have any plan in place to avoid or…
MoncrieffEileen Harkin on fostering 27 children
Eileen Harkin has fostered 27 children so far. This remarkable woman became involved in foster care as a child, when her own mother began taking in children…
MoncrieffTD proposes ‘culture cards’ for 18-year-olds
Fianna Fáil TD, Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere, joins Seán to discuss his new proposal to give 18-year-olds access to a ‘culture card’, allowing them to spend €100 on…
MoncrieffFighting on the Cambodian-Thai border displaces thousands
Renewed fighting on the Cambodian-Thai border has displaced thousands and shut down schools in some of Cambodia’s poorest provinces. Irish development workers…
MoncrieffWould you get your Christmas tree professionally styled?
There are now a number of organisations across Ireland providing professional Christmas tree styling services. But, how does it work? Joining guest host…
MoncrieffThings originally made for disabled people that we all use today
Bobbie Hickey is fully blind, and she has been writing about the simple things that make the world more accessible, and actually improve things for all of us…
MoncrieffWhen should you introduce smartphones to your kids - if ever?
Have young people’s addiction to their phone gone too far? As Australia prepares to remove access to social media for anyone under the age of 16, several…
MoncrieffWhat role do dance halls play today?
Irish dance halls have been a cornerstone of social life, bringing communities together and sometimes sparking generational debate. The 1935 Public Dance Hall…
MoncrieffIs Trumpism here to stay?
The Director of the Heritage Foundation, the group responsible for much of Trump’s agenda, says in the Telegraph today “There’s sure as hell not going to be a…
MoncrieffThe strange relationship between religion and AI
Over the past year or two there has been an enormous increase in religious AI chatbots, some even taking on the role of an Almighty. But, what are the ethical…
MoncrieffThe history and evolution of the spice bag!
Where did the staple of modern Irish cuisine, the spice bag, come from? And, where is it going? Dr. John Mulcahy, from Technological University Dublin, School…
MoncrieffThe scientific formula to make the happiest Christmas playlist
We generally think of Christmas as a happy time of merriment with family and friends, but of course, it can also be quite stressful. There is shopping to do…
MoncrieffLeon Diop on his mixed-race childhood in Ireland
Author and Founder of the advocacy group Black and Irish, Leon Diop, joins guest host Fionnuala Jones to discuss his new memoir ‘Mixed Up: An Irish Boy’s…
MoncrieffWhat are ‘micro-compatibilities’ in dating?
Modern dating is chaotic and so too is the latest trend, micro-compatibilities. Apparently, we should be taking note of our partner’s shops, or what time they…
MoncrieffDoes Oscar Wilde belong in St Mary’s Cathedral?
We may all think of Oscar Wilde as a talented writer and gay icon, but what’s less known is his lifelong interest in converting to Catholicism. Mary Kenny…
MoncrieffIs letting your anger out healthy?
Today’s word of the year for 2025 is ‘ragebait’, content designed to spark outrage and keep us clicking. But, with anger now driving so much of our online…
MoncrieffHow to survive Queues-mas!
The Christmas season is upon us, and between busy shops and packed pubs, people will spend more time waiting in line now than at any other time of the year…
MoncrieffThe Irish man planning to row the Atlantic
Galway man Daragh MacLoughlin will be attempting to row across the Atlantic as part of the World’s Toughest Row race. He’ll be setting out on his 4,800 km…
MoncrieffWhat being a war photographer is like
For most people, being caught in a war zone with no weapon would be the stuff of nightmares, but for Pulitzer prize-winning Photojournalist Lynsey Addario…
MoncrieffIs there a problem with pet obesity in Ireland?
With the prospect of American Ozempic-style drugs coming on the market for dogs and cats, just how big a problem is pet obesity in Ireland? Joining Seán to…
MoncrieffIs Ireland too small to matter with climate change?
Have a discussion about climate change in Ireland and almost certainly at some point someone will make the argument that what we do here is too small to…
MoncrieffOffice Christmas Party Stories - Henry McKean Reports
This Friday, most Office Christmas parties are taking place across Ireland. But have we learned anything from last year? The heavy drinking, the inappropriate…
MoncrieffShould we be concerned about digital billboarding?
Apart from the ticker tape ads on the sides of pitches, you may also have noticed an increase in digital billboards in public spaces. This is leading to…
MoncrieffDanny Robbins on his new show 'Uncanny: Fear of the Dark'
Do you believe in ghosts? And what does it really take to be convinced of paranormal stories? Danny Robins has been treating ghost stories like a detective in…
MoncrieffDo we overcommit at Christmas?
You know what it’s like, this time of year is full of Christmas catch-ups and meeting the gang for the annual get together, but are we overcommitting? Do we…
MoncrieffIs Die Hard a Christmas movie?
A recent poll has claimed to have settled once and for all that ‘Die Hard’, the Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman action classic, is definitively not a Christmas…
MoncrieffIreland’s oldest cat found in Co. Clare cave
Ireland's oldest cat has finally been carbon dated, allowing a more accurate picture of our ancient ecology. Joining Seán to discuss is Dr. Marion Dowd…
MoncrieffJakarta named world’s most populous city
According to a new UN study, Jakarta has now overtaken Tokyo as the world’s most populous city. But, what is it actually like living in the Indonesian capital?…
MoncrieffWhy do boomers love junk that their kids have to inherit?
Why are boomers addicted to junk? The Daily Mail has been writing about this, and the frustrations facing children worried about what clutter they’ll be…
Moncrieff‘Rage bait’ named Oxford’s word of 2025
‘Rage bait’ has been named the official Oxford word of 2025 after language experts noticed its usage has tripled this year. The word is a sign of the times and…
MoncrieffAre pop stars to blame for a resurgence in smoking?
Are pop stars to blame for a resurgence in smoking? When pop stars like Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter use them in music videos or magazines, or any type of…
MoncrieffHow the World Cup has changed since 1990
With next year’s World Cup on the horizon, a new book explores the impact of the world’s largest sporting event, from its effect on culture to its political…
MoncrieffWhat is the ‘Celtic Curse’?
Feeling exhausted and lethargic can be caused by many things such as lack of sleep, being overworked or having a busy schedule, but for Ellen Troy, feeling…
MoncrieffWhat should you do before you’re 35? - Henry McKean Asks
Michelle Obama says no one should see turning 35 as a deadline for marriage or success. So, what should you have done before that time comes around? Henry…
MoncrieffSkating the Wild Atlantic Way
Artist Becky Gilmour is travelling the Wild Atlantic Way - on a skateboard! She has been skating the West coast to raise funds and awareness for suicide…
MoncrieffWhy do we love terrible TV?
‘All’s Fair’, the new legal drama starring Kim Kardashian and Glenn Close, has been renewed for a second series after receiving the worst critical reviews of…
MoncrieffIs the kettle disappearing?
Are kettles disappearing from our kitchens? The invention of the hot tap and the popularity of minimalist interior design has created a debate on whether a cup…
MoncrieffIs there a normal dry spell balance?
We’re all curious about each other’s sex lives… is everyone really having more sex than you? And are dry spells normal or even encouraged? One Australian chat…
MoncrieffManaging lawn mushrooms at this time of year
A lot of people have been noticing mushrooms popping up on their lawns lately, with the mix of frosty and mild weather contributing to their abundance. But…
MoncrieffDublin City to host its first World AIDS Day Festival
On December 1st, Dublin City will be hosting its first ever World AIDS Day Festival. To mark the occasion, Seán is joined by Robbie Lawlor, who is one of the…
MoncrieffWe lose three days a year looking for our parked car
New research has found that we lose up to three days a year searching for where we parked our cars. So, why do we forget, and how can we improve our memories?…
MoncrieffCan you teach empathy to teenagers?
Can you really teach empathy? The University of Galway have developed a module on empathy, which they are looking to have rolled out in classrooms to assist…
MoncrieffAre the boom times coming back? - Henry McKean Asks
Bank of Ireland is going to offer what they call a ‘trading down’ loan, also known as a bridging loan. What’s significant about this, is that this is the first…
MoncrieffCabbage Patch Kids - the first Christmas toy craze
Every Christmas, for no apparent reason, there's something that your kids will really want. These kinds of fads happen all the time in the digital age, but…