Moncrieff

In the 1960's, an Austrian man came to live in Ireland - tried to become a Butcher and later became a Travelling Salesman. The catch? He was a Soviet Spy the entire time!To discuss, Seán is joined by Shaun Walker, International Correspondent for The Guardian and author of ‘The Illegals: Russia's Most Audacious Spies and Their Century-Long Mission to Infiltrate the West’.Image: Penguin Random House

You only need to look at the controversy surrounding Kneecap’s appearance at the Coachella Music Festival to recognise that free speech has been and continues to be a contentious issue.Nonetheless, in democracies we recognise the principle of free speech as a central tenet of our way of life.So, why are we seeing freedom of speech being curtailed in the likes of Germany and the US?Mary Lawlor is UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders. She joins Seán to discuss.Image: Kneecap

As we use our mobile phones and other devices, a phenomenon known as ‘tech neck’ can take place, causing increased wrinkles to form in this area.Seán’s guest decided to get treatment for it. Joining to discuss is Journalist Kate Demolder, who has been writing about her experience in the Irish Examiner…

What do you mean the judges haven’t seen all the Oscar nominated films?This is the revelation that has led to the introduction of a new rule by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who run the Oscars, to ensure that voters must have watched the nominated movies before voting...This comes as amendments are made to the system, and joining Seán to tell more is Film Critic, Esther McCarthy…

You might have noticed from the officially released Vatican photographs that the Pope is lying in an open casket. But, is this still a common practice in Ireland nowadays, and if so, why?Joining Seán to discuss is David MacGowan from Foley and McGowan Funeral Home and Crematorium in Sligo and Ballina.Image: Reuters

Are we truly in control of our actions, or are we bound by our predetermined genetic make-up, powerless to act against our instinctive reactions to the stimuli around us?Do we have free will, or is it just a persistent illusion?Kevin Mitchell is Associate Professor of Genetics and nNeuroscience at Trinity College Dublin and author of ‘Free Agents – How Evolution Gave Us Free Will’. He joins Seán to discuss.

As more and more people are finding the online search for love frustrating, the opportunity for real life connection is increasingly sought-after. Although speed dating itself is nothing new, what about speed dating events for gay women?Laura Kavanagh organises such evenings through Queen Of Hearts events, an idea born out of her gay female friends complaints about the online dating scene. She joins Seán to discuss.Image: @qohdating

Do you feel like you’re a bit slow today?For many people, getting back into the swing of things after a few days off, particularly a long bank holiday weekend, can feel like a struggle.But, why does your brain feel like mush after time off work?Dr Tara Logan Buckley, Chartered Clinical Psychologist, joins Seán to discuss.

The Dublin Street Photography Festival kicks off next weekend on May 2nd in Charlemont Square, celebrating all things in the medium of street photography.Joining Seán to discuss is Street Photographer and one the festival’s Co-Founders, Des Byrne.Image: Dublin Street Photography Festival

A new book explores two extraordinary parallel histories, documenting the lives and crimes of a notorious Nazi, and an infamous Chilean dictator.Joining Seán to discuss is Philippe Sands, Human Rights Lawyer and Author of ‘38 Londres Street: On Impunity, Pinochet in England and a Nazi in Patagonia’...Image: W&N