Moncrieff

Audiobooks have become big business, and naturally you may have listened to some big name actors narrating your favourite novel.But, they’re certainly not always narrated by Hollywood alumni, and that’s at least partly because it’s quite a specific skill that requires one to carefully walk the line between narrator and character actor.That’s not something every actor can do. So, what does it take to record an audiobook?Aoife McMahon is one of Ireland’s most in-demand audiobook narrators, having recorded more than 200 titles, including best-sellers by Marian Keyes, Sally Rooney, Jo Spain and Colm Tóibín. She joins Seán to discuss.

In order to better understand how policies could affect human outcomes and how people might react to various catastrophes, the UK Ministry for Defence has now enlisted the help of sci-fi authors…Joining Seán to discuss is Emma Newman, Science fiction author and producer of the ‘Imagining Tomorrow’ podcast.

Could somebody online be pretending to be you?There’s been a national fascination with ‘catfishing’ recently, but can it really happen to anyone?Surely, nobody would want to impersonate your normal, everyday life…Well, this happened to Aoife Howard Ring and she joins Seán to discuss.

A huge and putrid plant called a corpse flower is about to bloom at any moment, and is currently being watched by thousands around the world on a YouTube livestream.Joining Seán to discuss is John Siemon, Director of Horticulture and Living Collections at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney…

When was the last time you got your shoes repaired instead of just buying a new pair?Within your answer to that you may recognise the plight of the cobbler…There are less than thirty left in the country. So, is this a dying trade, or could talk of the circular economy begin a revival of business?Michael Rossiter is a Cobbler in Kilkenny, and joins Seán to discuss.

The days of drinking instant coffee from a flask are over! Enter spreadable coffee from a tube…Joining Seán to discuss is Philippe Greinacher, Co-Founder of No Normal Coffee…Image: No Normal Coffee

Speaking yesterday, the UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen made clear the global organisation’s desire for a pluralist democratic Syria.But considering the unpopularity of the UN on the ground in the country ,and the factionalised nature of the political landscape there, is that a realistic aim?Dr Rahaf Aldoughli is Lecturer in Middle East and North African studies at Lancaster University, and joins Seán to discuss.

Dublin City Council has this week rolled out light boxes across all libraries in the capital. But, what are they, and why would you use one?Joining Seán to discuss is Ciara Dardis, Divisional Librarian with Dublin City Libraries in charge of events and partnerships…

Have you thought about taping your mouth shut to get a better night’s sleep?A new viral craze has seen people put tape to stop themselves breathing through their mouth overnight...Professor Annie Curtis, Associate Professor at the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences at RCSI, joins Seán to discuss.

This month’s LA wildfires may yet prove to be the most devastating natural disaster in U.S. history... It is already the country’s most costly wildfire on record.You’ve seen the pictures of devastated neighbourhoods reduced to ashes, with the Pacific Palisades no different to many other neighbourhoods in the LA area. Except for the fact that one house seemed to have survived the onrushing flames more or less unscathed…Michael Kovac is the Founder and Design Partner at Kovac Architecture Studio and the owner of that house. He joins Seán to discuss.Image: Reuters