

Moncrieff
Newstalk
The daily dose of madness and intrigue from Sean Moncrieff and his rebel radio crew. Listen and subscribe to Moncrieff on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App. You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'
Episodes
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Jul 30, 2025 • 14min
Who do house hunters really trust?
Are you a first time buyer desperately house hunting in a housing crisis?According to a report from Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, prospective home owners don’t have much confidence or trust in estate agents or sellers, and instead turn to family and friends to get information when going through the process.Joining Seán to discuss this is Ciaran Mulqueen from the Crazy House Prices social media pages.

Jul 30, 2025 • 11min
How does manipulation work?
To discuss this, Seán is joined by Cass Sunstein, Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard and Author of ‘Manipulation: What It Is, Why It’s Bad, What to Do About It’.Image: Cambridge University Press

Jul 30, 2025 • 9min
The history of the Sacred Heart
Thousands gathered at Knock Shrine in Mayo last month for a ceremony where the Archbishop consecrated Ireland to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.While the image of the Sacred Heart is nowhere near as popular as it once was, it is clearly still very important to Irish people today.Professor of Ecclesiastical History at St Patrick’s College in Maynooth, Salvador Ryan, joins Seán to explain the history of the iconic image.

Jul 30, 2025 • 8min
Ireland’s ‘Blue Flag Beach Challenge’
Sea swimming has become all the rage in recent years and there are more than a few lovely places to engage in it this summer.Ireland has 98 Blue Flag beaches in all. How many have you swam at?Well after being faced with that question, Biddy Hughes and Orla Leahy decided to swim all 98 to raise money for the RNLI.They’re currently on the northwest leg of the challenge, and Biddy Hughes joins Seán to discuss.You can donate here - https://www.gofundme.com/f/sea-fillies-fundraising-for-the-rnliImage: Achill Island

Jul 30, 2025 • 16min
Starvation in Gaza and helplessness - from an Irish perspective
Many of us will have seen photos and images of starving children across our social media feeds and tv screens in the last number of days, as warnings that Gaza is slipping into a famine are echoed across the world.This comes as figures estimate that more than 60,000 people have died in the war…Joining Seán to discuss this is John Whyte, Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza.

Jul 29, 2025 • 8min
What it’s like to be an Interpreter
Irish artist Jenny Brady’s new film, ‘The Glass Booth / An Both Gloine’, explores the worlds of interpretation and communication.Chris Guichot de Fortis is an Interpreter working for a Brussels-based defense organization, and one of those people interviewed. He joins Sean to discuss.Image: Project Arts Centre

Jul 29, 2025 • 13min
Can you stop aging by just ignoring it?
Can you really turn back time? Well, what about by just not ever acknowledging how old you are?56-year-old Mariah Carey has come out to say that she “doesn’t allow ageing” and that is what keeps her young...Really?Consultant Physician in Geriatric and Stroke Medicine, Ronan Collins, joins Seán to discuss.

Jul 29, 2025 • 10min
How gross is the airport?
You might be looking forward to a holiday at this stage in the summer, but if you are taking a trip abroad, just how gross is the airport?And, should you be wiping down the plane before you get comfortable?Anna Burns, Microbiologist and Nutrition Scientist, joins Seán to discuss.

Jul 29, 2025 • 8min
Why does Chinese Guinness taste so wrong?
While the many Irish pubs in China do a decent trade in Guinness, a major overhaul of where Chinese Guinness is brewed is getting people worried, and even threatening businesses.Joining Seán to discuss is Denis Staunton, China Correspondent of The Irish Times.

Jul 29, 2025 • 10min
Where are all the hand salutes in cities?
Often in the Irish countryside, motorists and pedestrians will offer a finger or hand salutation on passing each other. This is something that doesn’t happen nearly as often in the city.Tina Pisco, Columnist with the Cork Echo, has been writing about it, and joins Seán to discuss.