Moncrieff
The daily dose of madness and intrigue from Sean Moncrieff and his rebel radio crew. It features conversation that counts, covering news, sport, analysis, and entertainment. The podcast is produced by Ireland's national independent talk station Newstalk.
Episodes
What makes a good children's book? - Baibre Holmes Reports
If you’re still at the stage of reading books to your kids, you’ll have a sense of what they like and don’t like. You might even think that you could write your own children’s book, but what makes one good?Newstalk Reporter Baibre Holmes went to the Central Model Infants’ School in Dublin to see what the children like at the moment, and sent in this report.
What exactly is a banshee?
With the kids getting ready for Halloween, you probably won’t see any costumes of the banshee: the shrieking harbinger of doom. What is the story behind the tradition of the banshee in Ireland?Dr. Jenny Butler from the Study of Religions Department at UCC joins Seán to discuss.
Nitrate-free ham - why does it matter?
If you’re fond of a ham sandwich, it’s time to be very afraid… Health influencers have been warning about the dangers of processed ham, and how the nitrates in them can be harmful.Dietician Orla Walsh joins Seán to discuss this thinking.
The history of cheating in marathons
If you share a home with someone training for the Dublin Marathon, the wait is almost over with the event this weekend. Running, particularly in marathons, can be a bit of an obsession for people, and has led to some bending of the rules and cheating.Ian O'Riordan, Sports Writer with the Irish Times joins Seán to discuss cheating over the history of marathons.
International Stammering Awareness Day - what is the experience?
Around 50,000 people in Ireland have a stammer. Globally, it’s about 1% of the population. This means not only occasionally getting stuck on a word, but having people finishing sentences for you…Joining Seán to discuss this on International Stammering Awareness Day is Veronica Lynch, Board Member with the Irish Stammering Association.
Who was the first openly transgender pro athlete?
The participation of trans athletes in sports is an ongoing source of controversy, but it’s not a new issue. Five decades ago, the US tennis world was convulsed by a court case involving a trans female player.Julie Kliegman, author of ‘Finding Renée Richards: The Groundbreaking Story of Tennis’s Trans Pioneer’ joins Seán to discuss.
What does your preferred colour say about you? - Henry McKean Asks
What does the colour of your car and house say about you? Do you go grey and play it safe, or do you prefer bright vibrant colours? Colour can influence how we feel and act depending on personal and cultural factors.Henry McKean has been investigating, and joins Seán to discuss!
‘AI Comedians’ are stealing jokes - can anything be done?
AI has been stealing fruits of human culture for a while now, ripping from articles, books and art. This has even extended to the world of comedy, where joke thievery has become common!Comedian Peter Flanagan joins Seán to discuss.
The real bear that inspired Winnie the Pooh
100 years ago this month, a famous fictional bear was introduced to the world. Winnie the Pooh is actually based on a real black bear named Winnifred. What is the story behind this connection, and how did it inspire the honey-loving bear we know today?Carina Philips, Head of Museum Collections at the Hunterian Museum in the Royal College of Surgeons England joins Seán to discuss.
What does the life of a Paranormal Investigator look like?
You wouldn’t think that the paranormal can be a family business, but for Chris McKinnell, he took an apprenticeship under his grandparents (who inspired ‘The Conjuring’ film series) as a Paranormal Investigator!Currently, he is in the Sharon Rectory in Donegal on a paranormal search, and joins Seán to discuss.
Would you get a pet rat?
Most families eventually get to the point when they have to decide if they want to get pets or not. For Anne Louise Foley, her family adopted Pickle and Biscuit. The catch? They’re rats!She joins Seán to discuss.
Moncrieff’s Murder Club: Murdering for competition
Every Wednesday, Seán will be joined by someone to hear unusual stories on heinous crimes…This week, Cassie Delaney joins to discuss cases involving murders stemming from competitiveness.
Homelessness increasing among older people - what can be done?
Homelessness is an issue that we usually associate with younger people, and while the proportion of older people affected by it is lower, that number is increasing...Joining Seán to discuss this is Sean Moynihan, CEO of ALONE.
42 year pub crawl marks its 25,000th stop!
To go on a pub crawl requires a good deal of commitment, and people will often drop out before the end. Peter Hill and his team never stopped, and have recently visited their 25,000th pub!Peter Hill, Co-Founder of The Black Country Ale Tairsters joins Seán to discuss.
What is life like as a professional nanny?
Plenty of people in this country employ a nanny, and the average wage for one is 50 grand! So, what does the life of a professional nanny look like?Susan Dunn, Director of Belgrave Nanny Agency in Dublin joins Seán to discuss.
Is there a difference between generic and branded medicine?
If you’re buying over the counter or prescribed medications, you may get the generic version of that drug rather than the name brand. Is there ever a difference between them, is the name brand actually better?Rebecca Barry, Pharmacist and owner at Care Plus Pharmacy, Adare, Co. Limerick joins Seán to discuss.
Has this maths equation finally been solved by AI?
The Navier-Stokes equations have been around since the mid 1800s. They were devised as a way to predict how fluids would move, but it has been extremely difficult to prove that the equation works in all situations.Seemingly, AI has solved this equation in 90 hours, but not everyone is convinced.Aoife Kearins, History of Maths PhD student at the University of Oxford joins Seán to discuss.
Ruhama Annual Report shows increase in trafficking for women in Ireland
Ruhama is an Irish charity that supports women impacted by prostitution and human trafficking for purposes of sexual exploitation. Their latest Annual Report has shown an increase in trafficking and violence against the women who have been trafficked.Barbara Condon, CEO of Ruhama, joins Seán to discuss.If you have been affected by this item, help is available. You can call Ruhama’s freephone numbe
Where in the world are Kevin Bacon’s clothes?
Hollywood actor Kevin Bacon is currently in Ireland to shoot a film, but his clothes aren’t. He opted to ship clothes from his home in New York, and watched the tracking as it bounced from country to country, with none of those countries being Ireland - including three trips to Israel!What’s going on with his clothes, and how can this sort of thing happen with shipping?Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs
The best and worst bosses you’ve had? - Henry McKean Asks
Last Friday was ‘National Boss Day’, which was established in 1958 in the US and, by 1979, Hallmark even issued a greeting card to celebrate it. But in recent years, because of the power dynamic, it isn’t universally recognised. But are bosses people too? And is there such a thing as a good boss?Henry McKean has been finding out and joins Seán to discuss.
Have we forgotten to eat fish?
As an island nation, why do we not eat more fish? Is it a perceived cost, the options available to us, a less-adventurous palette?Chef Adrian Martin joins Seán to discuss!
Four Questions: Will more of us live to 100?
We’re looking back on the weekend and looking forward to the week ahead through the lens of these four questions:What delighted you over the weekend? What annoyed you over the weekend? What did you learn over the weekend? What are you looking forward to this week?Joining Seán to discuss is Maia Dunphy and Brent Pope!
Should Standard Time be made permanent?
The winter begins in earnest this weekend when the clocks go back this Sunday morning. It means brighter mornings and darker evenings. It’s something we do every year, and always brings about the question of why we do it.The potential to stop this clock change is closer than you might think, and Dr. Muiris Heuston, Columnist with the Irish Times, joins Seán to discuss.
Kiwibank’s 'sexy' sheep mascot
'Buck' the new green sheep mascot from New Zealand's Kiwibank has people online saying they want to have relations with it. Film critic Brian Lloyd joined Seán on the show to discuss.
Can ‘food divorce’ make or break a relationship?
A woman has had enough of her husband’s eating habits. He only eats frozen, beige food and at 52 years old, she gave him an ultimatum – she cooks her own dinner, he cooks his and they eat separately. LOVE HQ Matchmaker, Mairéad Loughman joined Seán Moncrieff on the show to discuss.
Vienna bans dogs from peeing on trees
Seán Moncrieff was joined on the show by arborist, Joe McConville to discuss why Vienna has decided to ban dogs from peeing on trees.
1 in 4 people think they're the "funny" friend
Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin joined Seán on the show to discuss why one in four people think they are the funniest friend.
Can you remember being born?
Paul McCartney, claims he can 'remember being born' as he recalls hearing the 'clanging of forceps' after his delivery. Can you really remember being born? Krysia Lynch, maternity care and birth expert joined Seán on the show to discuss.
Wrestling in Finglas
Joe Cabray, coach and founder of OTT Wrestling joined Seán onthe show to discuss setting up his own wrestling club in Finglas.
So You Think You’re an Adult: I want my old boyfriend back!
Declan Buckley, Barbara Scully and Seán Moncrieff help tackle listener dilemmas!
Ireland failing to maximise the potential of seaweed
Seán was joined on the show by Joe McNamee, Senior Food Writer with the Irish Examiner to discuss as an island nation, why don't we embrace seaweed more in our food.
International Grouch Day
Newstalk reporter Henry McKean reports on International Grouch Day, exploring why some of us are feeling a little grumpier than usual. Is it just a bad mood, or is there more to being a grouch?
Galway’s homeless millionaire
Seán was joined on the show by Naomi O’Leary, Europe Correspondent for the Irish Times to discuss Galway’s homeless millionaire.
Underwire bras are making a comeback
Sinead Sanderson, Owner of Peaches and Cream joined Seán on the show to discuss the comeback of underwire bras and how they are essential for people who need support.
Conor O’Clery on attending an execution in the US
Seán was joined on the show by Conor O’Clery, former Washington correspondent of The Irish Times who witnessed an execution, 33 years ago back in 1993, and says he can still see it in his mind.
The Future Library
Seán was joined on the show by Bernadette Fallon, Freelance journalist to discuss ‘The Future Library’, a 100-year public art project in Oslo, Norway, conceived in 2014 by Scottish artist Katie Paterson where 1,000 Norwegian spruce trees were planted in 2014 in the Nordmarka forest. These trees will grow for a century and eventually be harvested in 2114 to make the paper for a special 100-volume a
Moncrieff’s Murder Club: Murders inspired by movies
Every Wednesday, Seán will be joined by someone to hear unusual stories on heinous crimes…This week, Cassie Delaney joins to discuss cases involving murders inspired by movies.
A bumpy debut for Katie Zacharia, Trump's new White House Press Secretary
Shawn McCreesh, White House Correspondent for the New York Times joined Sean on the show to discuss Katie Zacharia, Trump’s new White House press secretary’s bumpy debut on the podium.
How bad can bedbugs be?
A bedbug infestation forced Qantas to ground their plane in Rome after they were found on board. So, how damaging can a bedbug be if they can ground a plane?Dr Michel Dugon, Zoologist at University of Galway, joins Seán to discuss.
How does ‘Speedcubing’ work?
Michelle Yeoh has reportedly spent two years learning the Rubik’s Cube to prepare for a new movie ‘It’s My Time’, where she plays a real-life former maths teacher who became a champion in retirement.Kevin Timmons, member of Speedcubing Ireland, joins Seán to discuss this, and the world of competitive cubing.
New book explores the impact of assisted dying
A new book explores the impact assisted dying has on both those living with pain looking to decide when their lives end, and the people around them who either support or do not understand the decision being made…Joining Seán to discuss is Paul Brand, UK Editor of ITV News and author of ‘Fight to the Death: The Human Stories Shaping America's MAID Debate’.
Church seeks new bell ringers - do you have what it takes?
The Church of St. Augustine and St. John, known locally as John's Lane Church, had something of a rebirth last weekend. After a gap of two decades, the church bells rang out again because of the work of some volunteers. They’re looking for more bell ringers, but how does it all work?Michael Ryan, Ringing Master at John’s Lane in the Liberties joins Seán to discuss!
Why do we get the ‘ick’?
So you’re going out with someone, and it’s all going fine, but then they do something… It could be something small, something they’re wearing, how they eat their food, but it gives you the ‘ick’ and puts off any romantic feelings you had for them.Why do we get the ‘ick’? Is it our fault for getting it, or is it just instinct making the right decisions?Emily Power Smith, Clinical Sexologist and Sex
Inside the £1 an hour official football shirt factories
The average price of an official football shirt these days is around £75, but a BBC Sports investigation has found that workers making these shirts are being paid a basic wage of less than £1 an hour in factories where conditions have been described as "grim"...Do we need to be more aware of where our products come from, and boycott if necessary?Joining Seán to discuss is Barry Andrews, Fianna Fái
The weird world of literary scams
Most of us like to think we are superior to the person who falls for the ‘you’ve won the Spanish lottery’ scam, or any scam for that matter but as Tanya Sweeney recently found out, a desire for affirmation and a bit of flattery can pull the wool over the eyes of even the most ‘scam-proof’.Joining Seán is Tanya Sweeney, Irish Independent Features writer and columnist, to tell us about the tim
1Author Bethany Joy Dawson on choosing homeschooling for her kids
Author Bethany Joy Dawson didn't intend to remove her children from mainstream education to homeschool them but felt she was left no choice due to the education system making the children fit rather than moulding to her children's needs.She joins Séan to discuss…
What advice would you give to your teen self? - Henry McKean Asks
If you could re-live your teenage years again, what would you do differently? Do you have any regrets from that time? How awkward was it? Would you have asked the boy or girl out if you were more confident? Were they the best years of your life or the worst?Henry McKean has been out asking the public, and joins Seán to discuss.
Four Questions: Are you in a book club?
We’re looking back on the weekend and looking forward to the week ahead through the lens of these four questions:What delighted you over the weekend? What annoyed you over the weekend? What did you learn over the weekend? What are you looking forward to this week?Joining Seán to discuss is Liadán Hynes and Patrick Freyne!
Why do Irish people not want to live in apartments?
In Ireland, we’re still very much married to the idea of buying a home with a garden to raise a family in, yet in Europe, people are doing all of that in apartments. So why do Irish people seem to turn their nose up at it?Joining Seán to discuss is Orla Hegarty, Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, UCD.
Celebrating National Mouldy Cheese Day!
Today is National Mouldy Cheese Day, where we celebrate cheeses that taste great, but maybe not smell as good…Joining Seán to celebrate the day and chat about cheese is Kevin Sheridan, Managing Director at Sheridan's Cheesemongers Ltd.
First ever photograph turns 200 years old
200 years ago, a French inventor took the first ever photograph. What’s the story behind this, and how has photography changed since?Trish Lambe, Artistic Director of Photo Museum Ireland joins Seán to discuss.
Why you should leave dogs out of your bed!
People love their pets, enough to find it natural to have their dog to sleep on the bed with them. Not only does this lead to stinky sheets, it might not lead to the best night’s sleep… for the dog!Steph Rousseau, dog trainer and canine behaviour consultant based in Dublin joins Seán to discuss.
What happened to the high heeled shoe?
When you go out these days, you’ll see people dressed up, but what you won’t see nearly as much anymore is the high heeled shoe. The era of stilettos seems to be over, so what happened?Lise Hand, Journalist and columnist with the Journal joins Seán to discuss.
Irish experts warn about Australian ‘health guru’ hosting talks in Ireland
More than a dozen scientists, doctors and academics recently signed a letter warning about an Australian woman called Barbara O’Neill. She describes herself as a healer, and will be speaking next week at a series of events in Ireland hosted by a group that promotes ‘Bible-based health principals’. She is banned from giving health advice in Australia.David Robert Grimes, Disinformation Expert, sign
How cutting overseas aid impacts a Cambodian classroom
Under the Trump administration, the US has cut massive amounts of overseas aid, and they’re not the only country doing that. How does that impact the countries dependent on that aid?Colm Byrne, Teacher from Portmarnock has lived in Cambodia for the past 40 years and is CEO International Operations of SeeBeyondBorders Ireland. He joins to discuss the current situation in Cambodia.
Have you lied on your CV? - Henry McKean Reports
More than three quarters of jobseekers lie on their CV, from falsifying qualifications to securing employment, to exaggerating their achievements. To discuss further we are joined by Henry McKean.
How suicide bereavement services work
This Saturday is World Mental Health Day. As part of that, Pieta with Lyon’s Tea have partnered to host a tea and talk day, encouraging others to come together over a cup of tea.Pieta is all about preventing suicide and self harm, but that is not the only service they provide. When someone dies by suicide, what’s left behind is a devastated family…Seán is joined by Laura Hallinan to discuss her fa
Has butter made a comeback?
There was a time when butter was viewed as deadly, and not in a cool way! Spread some on your toast, and it’ll go straight to your heart! But seemingly, even in this health-obsessed world, butter has made a huge comeback!Mary Sharpe, Producer of Irish Gourmet Butter, joins Seán to discuss.
The portrayal of periods in media - and why it’s important
On television, the biggest representation for periods you might see would be in advertisements, where a nondescript blue liquid takes the place of menstrual blood.Sharon Horgan’s new HBO Max series, ‘Youth’, bucks this trend, by having her character experience an unexpected period.Aoife Barry, Arts, Culture Writer and Columnist for the Sunday Times has written about this important representation,
Should Cork Prison become a protected structure?
Cork Prison has existed since the early 1800s. It first started as a military barracks before becoming the site of executions after 1916. The building is old and has been abandoned for the past decade. Cork City Councillors have voted to begin the process to add a Cork prison to the Register of Protected Structures in an attempt to prevent it from being demolished.One of those voting is John Maher
Moncrieff’s Murder Club: Haunted Houses
Every Wednesday, Seán will be joined by someone to hear unusual stories on heinous crimes…This week, Cassie Delaney joins to discuss cases involving ‘haunted’ houses!
Why was smoking so popular?
After yesterday’s Budget 2027 announcements, cigarettes are now over €20 a pack, the highest cost in Europe. With cigarettes being pushed out of the zeitgeist more and more, some generations are looking back on smoking with a hint of nostalgia.Why was it so ubiquitous?John Dolan, Journalist with the Examiner and Echo joins Seán to discuss.
Would you use a government-sponsored dating app?
Singapore recently launched a matchmaking service for government workers aged 21 to 35, an initiative that comes as the country wrestles with a record-low fertility rate. ‘FirstDate’, which uses a Nobel-winning algorithm to match participants, has drawn a mixed response.Could a similar service work in Ireland?Joining Seán to discuss is Matchmaker Sharon Kenny.
Why are horses so important to Darndale?
In the north Dublin suburb of Darndale, there is a local park known for the amount of horses in it. Horse ownership has been a notable feature of life in parts of Dublin, but in many cases, the owners don’t have the resources available to properly care for the animals.Noel O’Reilly is a Darndale resident, and joins Seán to discuss.
Matthew McIllhenny on ‘The Man Who Swallowed a Dictionary’
One key figure in the peace protest in Northern Ireland who doesn’t get spoken about as much is David Ervine, who played a big role in the loyalist ceasefire, and had a fondness for words.Matthew McElhinney is Director and co-writer of 'The Man Who Swallowed a Dictionary', which is focused on Ervine. It runs at the Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin from October 13th to the 24th, and he joins Seán to d
Four Questions: You wouldn’t say that to a man!
We’re looking back on the weekend and looking forward to the week ahead through the lens of these four questions:What delighted you over the weekend? What annoyed you over the weekend? What did you learn over the weekend? What are you looking forward to this week?Joining Seán to discuss is Maia Dunphy and Liadán Hynes!
What’s the best way to start an email?
There’s no doubt that you’ve received many emails that say “hope you are well” or other platitudes such as “hope you’re enjoying the weather!” and “hope you had a great weekend!”, even though the writer of this email probably doesn’t care in reality. So, why has this become a thing in email greetings, and how should we handle our correspondence?Joe Humphries has written about this in The Irish Tim
Aerial house photos were all the rage - where have they gone?
There was a time when someone would hire a helicopter, take pictures of houses in rural areas, and then sell that photo to those homes who would proudly display them. Why is this no longer a thing?Róisín Murphy, Architect and Interior Designer joins Seán to discuss.
Meryl Streep to voice lion in new Narnia movie - why are people mad?
Four months before Greta Gerwig's upcoming ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ is scheduled for cinema release, the Director has confirmed that Meryl Streep will voice Aslan the lion, taking over from Liam Neeson, much to the absolute dismay and anger of purists and many conservatives.So, why is this seen as controversial?Entertainment journalist Olivia Fahy joins to discuss!
What do work days look like around the world?
How long is your working day? Or more specifically, how much work do you do for your employer? In Ireland, long lunch breaks have become a distant memory, but in other parts of the world, that is the norm.So, what do work days look like around the world, and how do they compare?Peter Cosgrove, Managing Director of Careers Portal and a future of work expert joins Seán to discuss.
Do we all turn into our parents?
During the course of life, you grow to adore your parents, eventually realise they're fallible, and turn into them whether you want to or not. Just like how Brooklyn Beckham swore off his family for their focus on business, only to launch his own business himself.Colm O’Regan has been writing about all of this, and joins Seán to discuss.
Do men read romance novels?
Romantic novels are hugely popular, and have always done quite well. Of course, their main audience is women, but are men included in this audience too? And what would a man get from these ‘romantasy’ novels?Tomas Kenny from Kenny's Bookshop in Galway joins Seán to discuss.
Van Gogh painting not seen in decades to be auctioned at $180 million
For decades, María Elena Arrieta de Blaquier, an Argentinian heiress, owned a vast collection of rare and expensive art. She has since died, and the art is going up for sale.Van Gogh’s ‘Châtaigniers en Fleurs’ (Chestnut Tree in flower) is valued at $180m and has not been seen in public for decades. It is to be auctioned along with 11 other works.André Zlattinger, Deputy Chairman, UK & Head of
The history of the early Budgets
Budget 2027 is to be revealed next week; there’s a massive team behind it, but that wasn’t always the case. In the early days, the early budgets were put together by people with not as much economic experience. So, what is the history behind the early ones?Aidan Kane, Lecturer in Economics at University of Galway joins Seán to discuss.
The problem with wealth gaps in friendships
How do you navigate it when your friends have more money than you? When you want a trip to Cork, but they want a trip to New York? These differences become increasingly obvious with hen parties, when the cost of multiple nights abroad can highlight this issue.Emma Howard, Economist at TUD, joins Seán to discuss.
Should we just let our hair go grey? - Henry McKean Asks
Hollywood Actress Olivia Coleman was spotted on a red carpet sporting a new natural grey hairdo. Is it time we all embraced the grey?Henry McKean has been out asking the public, and joins Seán to discuss.
Are Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConnaughey brothers?
‘Brothers’, a new series starring Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConnaughey, is based on the popular internet theory that the two actors share the same father. So, what is this theory based on, and what was the life of Woody’s father, Charles Harrelson?TV Critic Brian Lloyd joins to discuss.Image: Apple TV
How was the U2 commemorative coin made?
Last Friday, the Central Bank of Ireland officially unveiled a new €2 commemorative coin celebrating U2 and marking 50 years since the band was formed. This will soon be followed by a coin commemorating the late author Maeve Binchy as part of the Central Bank's commemorative coins programme.Designer Shaughn McGrath joins Seán to discuss how this U2 coin was made.
How does base jumping work?
A 27-year-old base jumper died on Sunday when he leapt off a 700-foot cliff and his wingsuit failed, according to authorities. This isn’t a standalone incident over the years, there have been many fatal accidents from base jumping. In 2017, a Cork man died while base-jumping after his parachute opened the wrong way at the Cliffs of Moher.So, how does base jumping work and what are the dangers for
Could the UK rejoin the EU?
Following his first Labour conference speech as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Andy Burnham has said that the UK could go “all the way” back into the EU. What would this look like, and when could we see this happen?John O'Brennan, Professor of European Politics at the Department of Sociology at Maynooth University joins Seán to discuss.
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