Highlights From Moncrieff

The war between Russia and Ukraine has become something of a testing ground for military use of drones, and the lessons haven’t gone unnoticed elsewhere.The Lithuanian government has just announced that they will be teaching over 20,000 people including children to construct and man such drones…Lisa O’Carroll has been covering this story for the Guardian, and joins Seán to discuss.

With the Irish Presidential election coming up, normal everyday people are being urged to speak up for democratic principles. Elections are a charged environment, and a degree of misinformation and disinformation is inevitable.On top of this, a Europe-wide survey reveals that fewer than 60% of young people in Europe believe that democracy is the best form of government, which suggests the foundational trust democracy relies on is eroding…So, what is the cause of this, and what is a citizen’s role in a democracy?Dr Eileen Culloty is the Assistant Professor in the School of Communications and Deputy Director in DCU’s Institute for Media, Democracy and Society, and she joins Seán to discuss.

The Correct the Map Campaign is encouraging governments and organisations to stop using the Mercator Projection in favour of a map that more accurately represents land area.Joining Seán to unpack this is Gerry Kearns, Geography Professor at Maynooth University...

Why do many of us have the fear of missing out? What is it that makes us feel we need to be somewhere, and does social media magnify it?Henry McKean has been out asking the public, and joins Seán to discuss.

While data shows us that women continue to carry the domestic burden in the home, a new phenomenon is gathering pace: ’mankeeping’. But, what is it, and how does it affect both women and men?Joining Seán to discuss is Margaret Ward, Leadership Consultant and Irish Times Business Columnist, who has been writing about this…

Even with it being near the end of the summer, looking after your garden as it deals with high temperatures can be a challenge. So, what’s the best course of action?Joining Seán to discuss is Garden Designer Peter Dowdall…

This year marks 50 years of diplomatic relationship between China and The EU.In 1975, just a couple of years after Ireland had joined what was the European Economic Community (EEC) at the time, the block opened up diplomatic relations with China.50 years later, in a much-changed world, how is that relationship holding up?Zhao Xiyuan is the Chinese Ambassador to Ireland and joins Seán to discuss.

Humans like Jazz. At least some of them do anyway.But, do cows? It’s one of the great questions of our time, and the fine people on TikTok have been working night and day to find us an answer!So what happens when you play jazz, or any other music for that matter, to cows?Charles Goadby is a Dairy Farmer, and joins Seán to discuss.

China’s youth unemployment rate has stayed stubbornly high since Covid, and is currently above 14%.As a result, some young people have taken to pretending to have a job.They are facilitated in this by The Pretend To Work Company, but what exactly is this company, and why are they so popular?Professor Xiang Biao is Director of the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology and joins Seán to discuss.

Distant cousins of Danny DeVito grew up in the heart of Dublin City on O’Connell Street, and while the actor missed out on the hustle and bustle of Dublin’s fair city, some of his family remain there to this day.On the second level of a five storey building on Lower O’Connell Street, artist Leo Divito grew up surrounded by family business, 8 kids and an “always busy house”.Leo joins Seán to talk about the good and the bad of growing up on O’Connell Street.

What were your first impressions of your partner?And were you thinking about whether they were ‘MORTGAGE material as well as MARRIAGE material’ when you first met, or was it a matter whether you fancied the pants off them?Columnist with the Irish Independent, Mary McCarthy feels that dating has become so much more transactional, and joins Seán to discuss.

Some schools around the country have been taking a stand around the excess cost and waste followed by debs season.  But its not just the schools who’ve been veering away from typical debs traditions, many young people have been going alternative routes for debs fashion... From vintage dresses to rented suits, they’ re trying it all. Terri Murphy Jones from Dublin Vintage Factory and The Big Smoke Vintage and Louise Lawlor from Rented Threads joined Fionnuala in studio.

Reality television has been a point of contention for lots of people for many years, with many saying it promotes bad behaviour and not to mention the stress it brings upon the people participating in it.  But, new research by the BBC show that we could be wrong about reality TV.  Dr. Jacob Johanssen, is an Associate Professor of Communications at St. Mary's University London and was also involved in the reality show Embarrassing Bodies and he joined Fionnuala in studio

A studio has highlighted the stark gender gap in STEM subjects at Leaving Cert level.  Just over 43% of female Leaving Cert students studied another STEM subject outside of biology, such as agricultural science, applied maths, or construction studies. This compares to 70.3% when it comes to Leaving Cert boys. Dr. Liz Coleman joined Fionnuala in studio to talk about the effects this has in third level education

Declan Buckley and Amanda Brunker join Fionnuala in studio to offer up advice on problems big or small!

As excitement for Taylor Swift’s new album release reaches fever pitch, what do we know so far? And just what literary references is Taylor making with her song titles? Swiftie and Assistant Professor at the School of English in DCU, Dr Ellen Howley joins Fionnuala in studio to discuss the popstars upcoming album

A study done by Galway University has called for ‘urgent action’ to address sex education in Irish schools after contraception use has dropped.  Dr. Andras Kolto, senior postdoctoral researcher at the Health Promotion Research Centre at University of Galway joined Fionnuala in studio to discuss.

Newstalk reporter Henry McKean went out to hear when your favourite swimming spots are and what do to in Dublin in the Summer! 

Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan recently announced plans to introduce a Bill that would require end-to-end encrypted messaging services, such as WhatsApp and Signal, to give Gardaí access to private texts and chats. Simon McGarr is a Solicitor and Managing Director of Data Compliance Europe and he joins Fionnuala to discuss  the possibility of this happening whilst protecting the privacy of the public.  

Experts are declaring that people are choosing to ‘decentre’ their jobs from their lives and focus on a better work life balance in order to avoid burnout. And with a new report from the Department of Finance showing that people are working TWO AND A HALF HOURS LESS a week now than we were before covid, have our attitudes to work changed completely?  Career Psychologist and Author of Total Reset, Sinead Brady joined Fionnuala Jones in the studio.