Moncrieff

In our lifetime, the Middle East has seemingly always been a region that has been characterised by conflict, strife and instability.So, is the prospect of democracy in the region dead?Fawaz Gerges, Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and author of ‘The Great Betrayal: The Struggle for Freedom and Democracy in the Middle East’ joins Seán to discuss.Image: Princeton University Press

After witnessing the evolution of gym culture in Ireland over many decades, Seán’s guest argues that there is a lot more to be done in terms of making these spaces better for women, and that too often, they remain bastions of masculinity.Joining to discuss is Sports Writer Clíona Foley, who has been writing about these things in the Irish Examiner…

More and more hotels, both domestically and internationally, are going child free. But, how do these hotels work, and why are they popular?Joining Seán to discuss is someone who has stayed in a few: Joan Scales, Travel Journalist…

Who wouldn’t like to work less hours to live a more ‘relaxed’ life?Well, the Spanish government has made the decision to reduce the 40 hour work week to 37.5, meaning that over twelve million workers now have an extra two and a half hours to themselves every week...So, how is this really going to work and are the Spanish delighted?Graham Keeley is a Madrid-based Journalist and joins Seán to discuss.

Male contraception is the wave of the future that has stayed in the future, always about 10 years away no matter what decade you’re living in.But, could that be about to change?Logan Nickels is Chief Research Officer with the Male Contraceptive Initiative. He joins Seán to discuss.

Apparently, the new trend for food is pairing ice cream with wine… It certainly sounds odd, but is meant to be better than you would think!John Wilson, Wine Critic for the Irish Times, joins Seán to discuss.Image: Princess Pinky Girl

Have you booked your summer holidays yet?Well, have you ever considered swapping your home for somewhere in a far flung destination?Patsy Winters has done home exchanges nearly fifty times, and she joins Seán to talk more about why it’s been the perfect way to travel the world for her…

Is kissing safe if you’ve got coeliac disease or a nut allergy? New breakthrough research has been looking at couples to test out how food stays in the saliva, and whether it is safe to smooch after snacking on crackers if your other half is gluten intolerant…Joining Seán to discuss this is Dr Iseult Sheehan, Clinical Director of Allergy Ireland.

Dublin has no shortage of open mic nights, but once a month, the Black Sheep Pub on Capel street hosts an altogether more interactive experience.The Dublin Songwriting Circle allows people to share works in progress and discuss alterations they might make with the audience.Luke Clerkin is the Co-Founder of the Dublin Songwriting Circle, and joins Seán to discuss.

The Founder of Facebook and CEO of Meta Mark Zuckerberg has said that in the future he can see how AI could help us address loneliness. Although, he did stop short of saying AI could replace our real-life friends.But, does he have a point? How many friends do you have online versus real friendships in real life? And could AI and digital innovations fulfil our social needs?Joining Seán to discuss is Dr Malie Coyne, Clinical Psychologist and Author.Image: Meta