Moncrieff Highlights

After 49 years with a very strict no beard policy, the New York Yankees have finally lifted their facial hair embargo, to much fanfare in America. But, why was such a ban in place, and why do beards play such a significant role in professional sport?Gavan Casey, Sports journalist with the 42, has been investigating, and he joins Seán to discuss.Image: Associated Press

It seems impossible to escape a terrible manager over the course of your career, but what’s the best way to deal with a bad boss?Margaret E. Ward is Chief Executive of Clear Eye, a leadership consultancy, and she has been writing about this for her Irish Times ‘World of Work’ column...Margaret joins Seán to discuss.

Have you ever found yourself stuck at a table completely bored out of your mind?Whether it’s a wedding, a dinner party, or an awkward first date - Podcaster Cassie Delaney started a list of all the interesting questions to ask in order to really get to know your friends and family…She’s now got over three hundred and eighty dinner party questions ready to go, and joins Seán to tell more!

Influencers can seemingly make content out of anything, be it brushing their hair or playing a video game.For the most part, it is harmless enough, but what happens if the thing that’s bringing in the likes and the shares is videos of your kids? Should you stop?This is just one of the questions arising from a new documentary called ‘An Update On Our Family’.Rachel Mason is the Director, and joins Seán to discuss.

Are you feeling burned out at work?Well, it seems the new trend that is being embraced by some is ‘micro retirements’...So, could unplugging completely from your career for a period of time leave you feeling more motivated and more refreshed when you come back?Career Psychologist and author of ‘Total Reset’, Sinead Brady, joins Seán to discuss.

Are you a nosy neighbour?We know that this country is property mad, but does that mean that we’re very nosy neighbours? Especially if a home nearby goes up for sale, many people love nothing more than a look at the photos online, or even worse - a trip to the open house!Comedian Emma Doran has strong views on this, and joins Seán to discuss.

How often do your kids call you? Did you give them a deposit for a house or apartment?The question is: do adult children rely too heavily on their older parents to pick up the pieces? Are millennials just flakes, or is it not their fault?Henry McKean has been out asking the public, and joins Seán to share what he’s heard.

Imagine for a moment that it’s a million years in the future.You’re walking along a rocky shoreline, when suddenly you notice something jutting out of the cliff face.It’s a plastic rectangle with 104 buttons on its face. Each button has a symbol on it that is completely unfamiliar to you.Today, we recognise this object as a computer keyboard, but what will the archaeologists of the far future make of it and what could it tell them about us?Sarah Gabbott is Professor of Palaeontology at the University of Leicester and co-author of ‘Discarded: How Technofossils Will be Our Ultimate Legacy’. She joins Seán to discuss.

Are you always running late?Some people are notoriously bad time keepers and it can be annoying to wait around for somebody who is constantly running late.Thirty year old Isabelle Duff set herself a mission to be on time, was she able to become punctual?Isabelle joins Seán to discuss.

Do you bring your phone with you everywhere? And by everywhere, does that mean the toilet, and even the shower?Podcaster and Influencer Ellie Kelly has admitted to scrolling on her phone in the shower(!) in a true sign that we are having a hard time putting our phones down...Ellie joins Seán to discuss.