Moncrieff

Trinity College is home to the book of Kells and its iconic Library, which makes it one of Dublin's most popular tourist attractions.But, the university is also home to a Zoological Museum, containing a 70-million-year-old fish and a plethora of extinct animals.Dr Martyn Linnie is Curator of Trinity College Dublin’s zoological museum, and he joins Seán to discuss.Image: Trinity College Zoological Museum Facebook

Is there a supermarket price war coming? The German supermarkets have reduced the price of its home brand 2 litre of milk by 10 cent, the first price cut since 2023. But, grocery prices have increased by 40% since 2022. How have you dealt with rising costs?Henry McKean met grocery shoppers in Cork, and sent in this report.

All eyes are focused today on Israel as the peace deal begins, with Hamas releasing the remaining hostages alive...There have been scenes of celebration and jubilation. So, what now?John Costello has been living in Israel for 17 years and he joins Seán from Tel Aviv to discuss…

Scientists and gourmands in Copenhagen have taken to producing yoghurt using the fermenting properties of ants. But, how does it all work?Seán’s guest, a keen “fermentista” herself, decided to make her own ant yoghurt. Linda Geddes, former Science Correspondent for the Guardian, joins to discuss the results!

Free Christening parties are being offered to couples who conceive during their stay at a hotel chain in Poland.There’s more – each employee will be paid a bonus of over €2,000 for every child they have.That’s an initiative launched by Polish hotel chain Arche and its 73-year-old owner in an effort to boost the country’s low birth rates.Poland’s fertility rate of 1.2 children per woman in 2023 is among the weakest in the EU, with only Malta, Spain and Lithuania behind it.To discuss, Seán is joined by Raphael Minder, the Financial Times’ Central Europe Correspondent.

A lot of us will remember collecting stamps or football stickers or stationary or something of that ilk as a child.But, is that a modern phenomenon, or is it something inherent that we have seen throughout history?James Delbourgo is Professor of History at Rutgers University and author of ‘A Noble Madness: The Dark Side of Collecting from Antiquity to Now’. He joins Seán to discuss.

Experts are debunking the myth of multitasking, but in such a fast-paced world, how else can we possibly keep up?Psychology Professor at Stanford University, Anthony Wagner, says multitasking does not exist, but what we are doing instead is forcing the brain to switch between tasks.Research shows performing multiple tasks at the same time reduces productivity by up to 40% by increasing cognitive load, causing errors, and consuming mental energy.But, UCD Associate Professor in the School of Psychology, Ciara Greene, says the human brain is flexible and completing multiple tasks at the same time does not impact our attention span.To discuss further, she joins Seán.

Seán’s guest has photographed everyone from dictator August Pinochet to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, but his new book is a collection of portraits of Irish writers.Photographer Steve Pyke joins Seán to discuss.

Sober-dating is all the rage now, but what does this mean for the future of socialising?New Google search trends revealed that December 2024 marked an all-time high for searches on alcohol-free drinks.The drinking culture has shifted radically, with many young people opting for zero-alcohol to meet their date at their ‘most authentic’ self.But, Freelance Journalist Édaein O’Connell has tried this and says it’s important to see both sides of the coin.She joins Seán to discuss.

Although she is now happily married, Seán’s guest has always felt a calling to the priesthood, and has spent decades trying to change the Church’s position on the matter.Now, she has written her memoir, ‘A Divine Calling: One Woman’s Life-Long Battle for Equality in the Catholic Church’. Soline Humbert joins Seán to discuss.