Highlights From Moncrieff

It’s that time of year again, when local groups across Ireland are busy getting their towns in pristine condition ahead of the Tidy Towns Competition. But, what do the judges look for when they roll into town? Mary Howard is the chair of the Ennis Tidy Towns Committee and joins Seán to discuss.

The dating app Bumble recently went viral for all the wrong reasons because of their newest billboard reading, “You know full well a vow of celibacy is not the answer". People online were outraged, as usual. However, it has sparked the conversation surrounding celibacy and its growing trend.Mangala Holland is a female pleasure and sexual confidence expert, and joins Seán to discuss.

Although blended families are now more common, it still has all its challenges. It can take time for each family member to adjust to the new dynamic and can be difficult to strike the right balance when taking on the role as a step-parent. Joining Seán to discuss the best way to achieve a successful blended family isKaren Kiernan, CEO of One Family.

There are computers. And then there are supercomputers. Most normal computers are handy for everyday tasks, however, it’s unlikely they’ll be able to create complex simulations or conduct necessary research. That’s where the powerful supercomputer comes in.  Joining Seán to discuss is Professor Stefano Sanvito, Professor of Condensed Matter Theory and Physics Director of CRANN Institute  

The population of Dublin is roughly the same as the amount of people in Glasnevin Cemetery - which may lead you to think of the stories left dead and buried.Well, it prompted Warren Farrell to write 'So once was I'. He joins Seán to share what he's learned.

It’s one of the most exciting moments of many young lives, and a new photobook aims to capture the realities of local teenage discos from a teenage girl's perspective.  Photographer Eimear Lynch travelled the country in service of her new book ‘Girls’ Night’, snapping images of the many rituals associated with a night on the community hall tiles. She joins Seán to discuss.Image: Eimear Lynch

Bridgerton has recently returned for a third season! As they delve into different characters this season with new romances, it can make you wonder how historically accurate the show really is…Joining Seán to talk about the Netflix phenomenon is Dr. Mary Muldowney Historian in Residence for Dublin North West.Image: Netflix UK & Ireland

For many, the mile high club is a bucket list achievement. The club refers to a group of people who have managed to have a romantic rendezvous while in the clouds. If you’ve always wanted to become a member of this exclusive club, but weren't sure how to go about it, look no further than the Love Cloud in Las Vegas.  Captain Tony, President and Chief Pilot of Love Cloud, joins Seán to discuss.

Sometimes things can feel like they’re too much and can become completely overwhelming. Emma Gannon had this feeling and was eventually forced to take a career break after being diagnosed with chronic burnout.Emma Gannon, author of ‘A Year of Nothing’ joins Seán to discuss.

Rejection and failure can be a bitter pill to swallow but as they say “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. Failure is part of a healthy life journey and it’s important for us not to shield our children from it, says Richard Hogan. Dr. Richard Hogan, Family Psychotherapist, Author and Columnist with The Irish Examiner joins Seán to discuss.

20 years ago the documentary ‘Super Size Me’ was released. In it, Morgan Spurlock took part in a social experiment which saw him attempting to eat food from the McDonald's menu for an entire month. The documentary was supposed to be a turning point in our relationship with fast food, but two decades on, has much changed? Isabelle Fegan is a registered Dietician and joins Seán to discuss.

The Communion season is upon us... Is it a rite of passage? Or are we all being hypocrites, since many of us won’t bring the child to mass every Sunday? Newstalk's Henry McKean has been asking about communion memories and how much people received.

Sometimes it can feel like a living nightmare trying to talk to a real human being in customer support, you’re either dealing with chat bots, or ridiculous waiting times.Consumer Journalist Siobhan Maguire joins Seán to give the best tips when dealing with customer care. 

Butlers are still around, but things are probably quite different these days. Today’s modern day butler duties would resemble those of a personal assistant. It’s no longer about just polishing the family cutlery. And, as their duties have evolved, they are no longer confined to just the family home, but are often out and about by their employer's side.  Sean Davron, Butler Director at The Dorchester, who has also been a butler for 42 years speaks with Seán about being a butler today.

Dublin’s newly opened portal – which offers a two way 24/7 livestream to New York City – has been temporarily turned off after several high profile inappropriate incidents. Culprits, on both sides of the Atlantic, treated fellow portal viewers to nudity, images of the Twin Towers and suspected drug use.But, this isn’t the first time a Dublin monument has made headlines. Fionnán Sheahan, Ireland Editor of the Irish Independent has been writing about this and joins Seán to discuss.

Last night, one of the biggest media companies in America announced that they are to offer a new streaming service bundle, which will include Netflix, Apple TV and Peacock - all in one place. It comes off the back of Disney and Warner announcing last week that they are to offer a bundle option too. So, are we getting that one step closer to an all-in-one streaming service? Elaine Burke is the host of the ‘For Tech Sake’ podcast and joins Seán to discuss.

Group chats can be a place of entertainment which brings people together, but it can also be a stomping ground for snarky comments and division. From school parent chats to secret subgroups - it can be difficult to navigate the world of group chats.  Siobhan O’Neill White, Director of mamsnet.ie, joins Seán to discuss.  

Dublin City Council has granted Shelbourne a 250-year lease for Tolka Park. The League of Ireland club has faced an anxious future over their permanent home venue as they do not own the Tolka Park site. It’s after a successful campaign from the Save Tolk Park campaign. Lee Daly is a spokesperson for them, and joins Seán to discuss.

Richard Slayman, the man who received the first ever pig kidney transplant has died 2 months after the operation although doctors say his death was not a direct result of the transplant. Dr Adam Griesemer, the leading surgeon on the first pig kidney transplant and Associate Professor of Surgery at NYU Langone Health joins Seán to discuss.

Dyson has launched a brand-new product - a £600 electric mop. As more and more people shift away from carpets and move towards wooden and tiled floors is people's love for the wall-to-wall carpet dying out?Joining Seán to discuss is Róisín Murphy, Architect and Broadcaster.