Highlights From Moncrieff

Máire Treasa Ní Cheallaigh, a Doctor and Columnist for the Irish Independent, believes that if the state is paying for cholesterol medication, it ought to be paying for Ozempic too.Máire joins Seán to discuss society’s view on obesity, and why it needs to change.

As the Trump administration piles caveats onto visa entry requirements to the US, are more and more people fearful about their social media history and speaking out about the American government?Joining Seán to discuss is Larry Donnelly, Law Lecturer at University of Galway…Image: Reuters

Just one week ago, Dublin Zoo saw the first ever cataract surgery on a hippo. Frank O’Sullivan, one of the vets who performed the surgery joins Seán to discuss this world first, and the importance of conservation medicine.

Who was the man responsible for designing and planning Dublin’s flats?Lorcan Sirr, a Senior Lecturer in Housing at TUD, joins Seán to discuss the life and legacy of Herbert Simms, one of Dublin's most notable town planners and architects.

Drug smugglers are now using cows as a means to transport cocaine and bring drugs into Europe from Latin America. This method is being favoured by cartels knowing that International law enforcement agencies will be reluctant to search cattle ships…Max Stephens, International Crime Correspondent for the Daily Telegraph has been investigating this, and joins Seán to discuss.

For some people, the Christmas holiday can be a time of anxiety and hardship and even fear, especially if you are harbouring difficult emotions associated with the festive period. But do you suffer from Christougenniatikophobia?Joining Seán to discuss is Christopher Paul Jones, a Therapist and Phobia Specialist from Harley St in London…

Do children ever belong on farms?Alma Jordan, the Founder of Agrikids, joins Seán now to talk about farm safety, and how children can take part in farmwork without undue risk…

Ever since the Middle Ages, gout has been associated with the glutinous consumption of rich foods and too much red wine. But, is TikTok perpetuating medical myths like this?Joining Seán to discuss is Dr. Muiris Houston, Columnist with the Irish Times, who has been writing about this…

Cork-born Josephine McNeill became the first Irish woman to head a diplomatic mission abroad in 1949. What would she make of this week’s promotion of Helen McEntee to Minister for Defence and Foreign Affairs, almost eight decades after her own appointment?That’s the question that Clodagh Finn asks. The Columnist with the Irish Examiner, author and Researcher of Women’s History joins Seán to chat more about the first female envoy who paved the way in foreign affairs…

The media narrative, from movies to ads on television, suggests that Christmas is all about children, but does this sideline those who don’t have any?Joining Seán is Photographer Ruth Medjber, who has been writing about her views on being a DINKWAD (Dual Income, No Kids, With A Dog) in the Independent…

During the 1984 famine in Ethiopia, Paul Vallely was Correspondent there for the London Times. After Live Aid, Bob Geldof contacted Paul to figure out where to distribute the funds, thus starting a decades-long relationship.Paul is the author of ‘Live Aid: The Definitive 40-Year Story’, and joins Seán to discuss.

Seán’s guest is a Clontarf native who’s now believed to be the first Irish-born Mayor elected in Germany.Michelle Wittler is Mayor of the medieval town of Dausenau, and says life in Germany has made her “a bit starchy”.She joins to discuss.

Journalist and Broadcaster Yuliia Riabova moved from Odessa to Ireland in 2023 after reporting on the war in Ukraine. Now based in Kerry, Yuliia is the Producer and host of The New Residents Podcast on Radio Kerry and the winner of the Gay Byrne Newcomer of the Year at the IMRO Radio Awards 2025.She joins Seán to discuss.

How can we prevent our youth from being recruited and groomed into crime? Dr. Eoin O’Meara-Daly from the University of Limerick is part of a team researching this very issue, with the aim of creating a new model of youth intervention for Ireland.He joins Seán to discuss…

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. From trailblazers in the arts and social change, to leaders in sport, music and on the big screen, we’re counting down the most influential Irish people of the last 25 years. You, the listener, have been voting for who you think are the most influential people that moved us and inspired us as part of Newstalk's 25 of 25. And you have picked your winner for best actor!Joining Seán to discuss is Arts Journalist Chris Wasser and Movie Critic Brian Lloyd…

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 particularly in these busy Christmas weeks, with body cams also being piloted?Lucy Michael is Principal Investigator at Lucy Michael Research Training and Consultancy and a former member of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. She has done extensive research into this area, and joins Seán to discuss.

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 has been asking the public, and joins Seán to discuss.

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, Founder of Olyitico and a social media expert, joins Seán to discuss just why politicians are so unnatural online.

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 slim in their party clothes... But, shapewear for men is now growing in popularity as men seek those smooth lines also.For more on this, Seán is joined by Guardian Columnist Tim Dowling.Image: Underworks

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 barbeque your Christmas turkey!