Highlights From Moncrieff

A new documentary film, which opens at the Irish Film Institute today, tells the extraordinary true life story of a barely believable deception that took place in a Scottish school in the early 1990s. Tom Dunne was joined on the show to discuss the film, which is entitled ‘My Old School’, by director Jono McLeod.

Minister of State for Biodiversity and Green Party senator, Pippa Hackett has said that ‘some livestock farmers could consider and possibly be incentivised for breeding more horses in an attempt to bring Ireland’s agriculture emissions. Tom was joined by Eamon Sheehan, dairy farmer and horse breeder from Kilkenny, to discuss how hard it is to diversify farms.

The Irish wedding venue resource SaveMyDay.ie has seen a 50% increase in the number of wedding venues around the country that now welcome dogs on the big day. This represents a sizeable shift considering the fact that traditionally speaking most hotels in Ireland didn’t accommodate pets. Shell Holden, Co-Founder of SaveMyDay.ie, joined Tom to discuss why there has been an increase in dog's becoming involved in weddings.

As part of the Safer Nightlight' programme and drug harm reduction campaign. The Health Service Executive has announced there will be drug testing at Electric Picnic in Stradbally, Co Laois, next month. Tom was joined by Neasa Hourigan,Green Party TD for Dublin Central and spokesperson on Drug Policy, to discuss how it will work.

Popstars often have a shelf life. They have a hit, they become famous and perhaps rich. Then there is a sometimes inevitable decline. Tom was joined by Nick Duerden whose new book 'Exit Stage Left: The Curious Afterlife of Popstars', explores what happens to popstar's after their fame has ended.

Choosing a pair of socks may seem like the simplest thing in the world but often we find ourselves wearing ones that are either uncomfortable, slip down or make our feet smelly. Tom was joined by Lucianne Tonti, Fashion editor and author, to discuss how to pick the perfect pair of socks.

Ireland is unique in being able to provide foster family-based care for such a high proportion of children in care. However numbers are on the decrease due to a lack of supports and services and this putting considerable strain on the fostering system. Tom was joined by Patrick Costello, Green Party TD for Dublin South Central and a former child protection social worker, who spoke about how Ireland needs far more foster carers.

Equine therapy is used by many autistic and neurodiverse people here in Ireland to enhance physical or emotional healing. Rupert Isaacson, founder of the Horse Boy Programme, joined Tom to discuss how he was introduced to it and how it has helped his own son.

Each week will take a topic and deep dive into it, doing all the research so you don’t have to. This week Michael Pidgeon,Dublin city Green Party Councillor, joined Tom to discuss how to do sail and rail travel.

The pleasure of a good old sneeze is enjoyed by birds, reptiles and indeed us humans too. Tom was joined by Niklas Kornder, Marine Biologist at University of Amsterdam, to discuss how despite lacking nerves, muscles or even brains, sea sponges get their sneeze on with the best of us.

Michael Slepian is the author of The Secret Life of Secrets, he has spent years studying the psychology of secrets, what motivates us to keep them and what makes us inclined to divulge them. He joined Tom to discuss his findings.

As we approach the 6 month mark of the War in Ukraine, some Irish anti-war protesters have held vigil for almost the entirety of the conflict on Orwell Road, outside the Russian Embassy. John Farrelly is one of the protesters and he joined Tom to discuss the turn out for today's protest.

For the third time in 100 years, the uniform of An Garda Siochana has received a revamp and from today, you will be able to see it on the streets. Image consultant from The Style Bob, Aoife Dunican, joined Sean to discuss if the Garda uniform is fashionable.

From a Poodle to a Great Dane, dogs come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and display an array of temperaments. Studies suggest that the type of dog breed you choose tells a lot about your personality, Samantha Rawson is a dog trainer and behaviorist from the Canine College and she joined Tom to discuss what your dog breed says about your personality.

The Edinburgh Fringe is currently taking place with comedians from all over the world coming together in the Scottish capital. One veteran stand up, Simon Fanshawe, is set to perform a new show, running from August 19th to 23rd. Simon has been writing in the Sunday Times about how political correctness has morphed into a type of wokeness which isn’t helping anyone. He joined Tom to discuss the difference between PC and woke.

Ken Sweeney, Showbiz Editor with the Irish Sun joined Tom on the show today to recap the stories making the headlines this past week.

Becoming a new mother can bring up a lot of conflicting emotions. On one hand you’re filled with gratitude, joy and of course love for your newborn baby but motherhood can also bring with it feelings of guilt, despair and an emotion not many feel comfortable talking about-loneliness. Author of a new book, “Hide and Seek”, Andrea Mara, joined Stefanie to discuss why she has decided to talk about it.

It must be every comic’s worst nightmare to perform to an audience of one. But not so for comedian Robin Grainger who following his show to a solo gig goer Mike, feels invincible ever since. Robin’s show “Robin Time” is showing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and he joined Stefanie to tell her about it. Robin you’re very welcome to the show

Each week we’re going to bring you some suggestions for your summer reading, taking a different category each time. This week Bob Johnstone of The Gutter Bookshop, joined Stefanie to recommend some classic reads. He recommended The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith, The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim,Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, My Antonia by Willa Cather, The Colussus of Maroussi by Henry Miller,Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh, The Greengage Summer by Rumer Godden, Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe and Chances by Jackie Collins.

Politicians and military analysts across the Western World have spent the past 6 months trying to come up with a successful way of preventing Putin from progressing his ambitions. Mystifier Uri Gellar, joined Stefanie to explain how he feel's mind control could be the perfect way to put a stop to Putins plans.