Highlights From Moncrieff

Do we like to listen to people in public? With the trend of people talking out loud on the phone - isn’t it impossible to avoid? What have you heard out and about?Newstalk’s Henry McKean joins guest host Tom Dunne to share what he’s heard.

As Communion season rolls on, many parents will be wondering how their child should manage cash gifts. The average cash a child receives cumulatively for their Communion is now €588. One person used this as an opportunity to teach his kids about investment, and it has literally paid dividends.Joining guest host Tom Dunne to discuss is Michael Houghton, Host of The Irish FIRE Podcast, a show about financial independence…

Seán’s guests would be well known to listeners from their podcast ‘Young Hot Guys’ and their own stand up shows.Comedians Shane Daniel Byrne and Killian Sundermann join Seán in the K Club to chat!

Seán’s guest is a man who wears many hats: he’s a doctor, a former member of the defence forces and a former Independent TD in Kildare.Joining Seán in the K Club is Cathal Berry!

This Sunday, Newstalk is airing a Futureproof documentary special on the ‘Drake Equation’ and the scientists searching for signs of life in distant worlds. The documentary is called ‘Is There Anybody Out There?’ and will air at 12 noon on Sunday.Aidan Mc Kelvey is the Producer of the documentary, and joins Seán to discuss.

Every human has an innate sense of rhythm. It may not feel that way when you’re trying to throw some shapes to Funky Town at 1am, but we all do.But, are we the only animals with a sense of music?Professor Catherine Hobaiter is a Researcher in Evolutionary and comparative psychology at The University of St. Andrews. She joins Seán to discuss.

GamerFest takes place this weekend - and among the highlights is the launch of the new Gaelic Football 2025 video game.Gaming Content Creator Chris O’Gara, AKA The Gara Show, joins Seán to discuss.Image: GamerFest

According to the Oxford Economics Global City Index, Dublin is the 13th best city in the world, but falls to 100th when it comes to quality of life and housing.Henry McKean has been out and about to try and get the feeling on the streets of the capital, and joins Seán to discuss.

Earlier this week, the Government approved plans for Ireland’s Norman heritage to be celebrated as part of a European-wide cultural initiative called ‘2027 European year of the Normans’ to mark the group’s impact on western civilisation.But, not everyone is particularly happy with the idea of celebrating Ireland’s 12th century invaders.Aengus Ó Snodaigh is Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South Central and the party’s spokesperson on Gaeilge, Gaeltacht and the Arts and Culture. He joins Seán to discuss.Image: BBC History

Fart walks, they’re exactly what they say on the tin...Should we all be going for a walk after we eat our dinner so that we release all the gas we’ve been building up all day? The experts say yes.Registered Dietitian and owner of Orla Walsh Nutrition, Orla Walsh, joins Seán to discuss.

Those old enough to remember Ronald Reagan’s ‘Star Wars’ will be familiar with the idea of a space based missile defence system, but perhaps we thought it would remain pie in the sky…Not the case, according to Donald Trump. The US President announced yesterday that he had chosen a design for his “Golden Dome” system, and that it would be up and running before the end of his term.Is that feasible? Is it even legal?Declan Power is a Defence and Security Analyst, and joins Seán to discuss.Image: Reuters

For the first time, a formal curriculum resource on Ireland’s mother and baby institutions, industrial and reformatory schools and Magdalene laundries has been published by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.Joining Seán to discuss this is Sarah Anne Buckley, Associate Professor in History at the University of Galway and one of the leads of the Tuam Oral History Project, whose research has been included in the second level course…

The Who’s drummer Zak Starkey has been fired for apparently “overplaying”, but what does this mean, and how do drummers strike a balance between musical expression and not taking over?Joining Seán to discuss is Dave Hingerty, a Professional Session Drummer and former University Lecturer in Drumming at BIMM Music Institute Dublin...

We all know the ones, the laneways that you would be afraid to walk down at any time of the day or night...Well, this afternoon, Dublin Councillors will be meeting to put forward a vote to close Swan Alley, which is just off Thomas Street in the Liberties, Dublin 8.The small alleyway has been earmarked due to illegal drug taking and antisocial behaviour, and follows a similar move to gate off Harbour Court just off Abbey Street in Dublin City centre last year.Labour Councillor for the area, Darragh Moriarty joins Seán to discuss.Image: Google Maps

In any job, it’s likely that you’ll encounter a lazy colleague or two, so what can you do to ensure that they don’t get on your absolute nerves and drive you mad?Whether it’s someone who falls asleep at their desk or simply leaves all their work for others – we find out should you rat them out to the boss?Career Psychologist and author of ‘Total Reset’, Sinead Brady, joins Seán to discuss.

The Auschwitz Memorial has announced a multi-million euro project, in which they have created an exact digital replica of the concentration camp for use in feature films. But, how will the project work, and how are movies about Auschwitz made since the ban on filming there took effect in the late 1980s?Joining Seán to discuss is Film Critic Esther McCarthy…Image: auschwitz.org

There was a time when there were many youth clubs dotted around the country, but as smartphones take over, is it time to save these institutions as the last bastion of real world connectivity for our young people?Joining me now is Colman Noctor, Child Psychotherapist, who has been writing about this in the Examiner today…

According to research, the death of the semicolon is near; with its usage in English books plummeting by almost half in two decades. But, what is the appropriate use of the semicolon? What grammatical function does it intend to fill? And, is its increasing rarity a cause for concern?Lisa McLendon is Author of The Perfect English Grammar Workbook and has done research on the semicolon. She joins Seán to discuss.

If you’ve been spending time in nature recently or been going on hikes or walks thanks to the nice weather, you might’ve come across large silk webs covering trees and bushes.Collie Ennis, Biodiversity Officer in Trinity College Dublin, joins Seán to explain exactly what that fascinating silk sheet is, and why you should just admire it rather than be afraid of it.Image: Butterfly Conservation

Have you ever wondered who is behind the knitting needles for Kneecap’s famous tricolour balaclavas?Lewis Kenny joins Seán to discuss how he started off at a knitting class, and now makes balaclavas for Kneecap.Image: @tricolourbalaclava on Instagram