Highlights From Moncrieff

Over the weekend, the UK Independent released a list of what they believe to be the worst movies directed by actors.This list includes films like ‘Lost River’ by Ryan Gosling, ‘Charlie’s Angels’ by Elizabeth Banks, ‘The Beaver’ by Jodie Foster and much more.But, are there some that are the outliers? Can actors direct? Or to go a step further, should some actors stick to directing?Guest host Fionnuala Jones is joined by Film Critic, Journalist and Columnist Esther McCarthy to discuss.

“What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other word would smell as sweet.”Those of you who know your Shakespeare will immediately recognise that quote from Romeo and Juliet, but how much truth is there in it?Is your name intrinsically part of your personality, or is it an incidental element of who you are?Writer and Filmmaker Molly Furey has been contemplating this very question in today’s Irish Times. She joins guest host Fionnuala Jones to discuss.

New research by the Sex Workers Alliance of Ireland has revealed that 3 out 4 sex workers started because they were in financial difficulty.On top of this, migrant sex workers are facing major discrimination and marginalization when it comes to housing and trying to find some to stay.Linda Kavanagh is the Communication and Advocacy Manager for the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland, and joins guest host Fionnuala Jones to discuss.

If you’ve been looking for a new hobby, look no further!Scrapbooking is making the rounds once again! More and more people are commemorating the little moments with everything from receipts, scraps or even concert tickets.As well as remembering some core memories, scrapbooking has a lot of other benefits as well, including being a positive outlet for stress relief, enhancing your focus and improving your memory.Joining guest host Fionnuala Jones to discuss is author and Journalist, Aoife Barry and social media influencer James Kavanagh, both avid scrapbookers!

A new walking trend has been gaining popularity online: Japanese walking. What many have been calling ‘high intensity walking’ is based on interval-style bursts of fast and slow walking.So far, it has been showing promising health benefits and not to mention, very convenient. All you need is a stop watch and somewhere to walk.Fiona Skelly, a Lecturer in Physical Activity and Health, joins guest host Fionnuala Jones to discuss.

From giant engagement rings to vow renewals, the wedding business is booming, and one of the industries that is always influenced by celebrity culture.But, what are the big 2025 trends and what in particular are couples embracing to make their special day extra special these days?Wedding Expert Sara Kennedy, who runs The Aisle by Sara Kennedy, joins guest host Fionnuala Jones to discuss.

Most people would say that giving someone a compliment is a good thing.But not everyone likes receiving a compliment, and often the context can turn a nice gesture into an awkward social moment.So, should we be offering strangers compliments or is it better to keep your thoughts, even the positive ones, to yourself?Pádraig Walsh is a Behavioural Psychologist and joins guest host Fionnuala Jones to discuss.

Ireland's 7,500km coastline stretching from Donegal to Dingle is slowly but surely slipping away in front of our eyes…Entire sections of our coastline are disappearing into the sea due to human activity and accelerated levels of climate change.To talk further about this radical rate of coastal erosion, Seán is joined by Environmental Geographer Michelle McKeown.

While we may be basking in the good weather and enjoying the heatwave, experts are urging pet owners to take extra care, especially when bringing their dogs for a walk in the sun.Dog’s Trust have called on owners to stay vigilant to avoid heatstroke, and joining Seán with more on this is Pete Wedderburn, AKA Pete the Vet.

Silence is something we often take for granted, we don't get to enjoy life without distractions nearly enough…Although many believe that these moments in silence are ‘wasted time’.To discuss his relationship with silence, Seán is joined by Psychologist and Founder of Jigsaw, Dr. Tony Bates.

If you have walked past Trinity College Dublin in recent years, you’ll have noticed that the front lawn is no longer a pristine lawn of green grass, but rather a wild meadow.At this time of the year in particular it can look a little unruly, and this has provoked the ire of a number of people, including the writer of today’s Irish Times Letter of the Day.Collie Ennis is the Biodiversity Officer at Trinity College Dublin and joins Seán to discuss.

Are we doing enough in terms of AI? And is our government really prepared for the monumental shifts set to happen as more and more companies use AI?Well, what about the idea of positioning Ireland as an ‘AI island’ of expertise? This is something that is being proposed by Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne, who is Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence. He joins Seán to discuss.

What was it like to be gay and going out in the 1970s and 80s?Hana Flamm has been uncovering the Dublin queer pub scene, speaking to people about their memories and experiences as young gay people in those times.She is documenting this in part of a series for GCN, where she is delving into the history of the scene, and joins Seán to discuss.Image: GCN

As we approach the end of the summer holidays, children all across the country will be going back to school, but for many children, this will look a lot different.During the past few months, children and families in Direct Provision centres have been told to pack up and uproot their life. These forced transfers often result in families separated and children ending up in a new school every couple of years.Cillian Quinn is the Policy and Programmes Coordinator of ActionAid Ireland, a charity that works with women and girls living in poverty, and he joins Seán to discuss.

This week is the annual Elvis Week, marking 48 years since the passing of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, with many events taking place at Graceland, his iconic home in Memphis. While his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, has traditionally been portrayed as a Machiavellian character, a new book portrays him in a different light.Joining Seán to discuss is Peter Guralnick, author of the new book ‘The Colonel and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley, and the Partnership That Rocked the World’...

The grim reality of the underbelly of the Internet is one of sexual exploitation, child abuse and offenders who trade off illegal pornographic content…But, what can be done to tackle this, and are we doing enough to ensure that the internet is a safe place? And, just how difficult is it to report and enforce crimes in this area?Mick Moran, CEO of the Irish Internet Hotline, and former Garda working in this area of law enforcement. He joins Seán to discuss…

A new play, ‘The Robinson Experiment’, explores the extraordinary story of one of Ireland's mass emigration programmes during the 19th century.Joining Seán to discuss is Cora Fenton, Producer at CallBack Theatre Company…Image: CallBack Theatre

Are we missing out by not living alone? One in five of us stick with a partner to keep living costs down and be under the same roof. What are the differences between going solo and pairing up?Henry McKean has been speaking with the public for their thoughts, and joins Seán to discuss.

The Occupied Territories Bill is winding its way through the Oireachtas.Tabled originally in 2018, the bill would ban trade with the illegal settlements in the West Bank.But, considering the ongoing actions of the Israeli government in Gaza, should Ireland consider a complete trade embargo on Israel?John O'Brennan is Professor of European Politics at Maynooth University, and he has been writing about this in the Irish Examiner. He joins Seán to discuss.

What are your plans for Friday night?A whole swathe of people have skipped the pub, and instead are flocking to saunas with friends and forging connections with complete strangers as they sit and sweat together...But, just why are saunas so popular, and are they really a new phenomenon in Ireland?Rosanna Cooney, Journalist and author of ‘Sweathouse’, joins Seán to discuss.