

Moncrieff
Newstalk
The daily dose of madness and intrigue from Sean Moncrieff and his rebel radio crew. Listen and subscribe to Moncrieff on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App. You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 23, 2024 • 9min
Should celebrity memoirs recognise ghost writers?
Christmas is a major time for celebrity memoirs: the number one book in the country this Christmas is the autobiography of one of Ireland’s most famous rugby stars. However, the Society of Authors is calling on celebrities to do more to ensure that their ghostwriters are properly credited…Joining Seán to discuss is Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin, who writes under the pseudonym of Sam Blake, and is the Chairperson of the Society of Authors…

Dec 23, 2024 • 9min
How two brothers beat the Guinness shortage
You may have found it funny to hear about a shortage of Guinness in British pubs in the last while. Well, two brothers have discovered it’s no laughing matter, and have taken action by ensuring they have a supply of the black stuff.Colm Lynch from Hop Pole in Wandesworth joins Seán to discuss.

Dec 23, 2024 • 22min
What was the best decade for Christmas? - Henry McKean Asks
When was the best time to have Christmas? Are they better now than ever - or were things simpler and better back in the day?Henry McKean has been asking the public for their festive favourites, and joins Seán to discuss.

Dec 20, 2024 • 9min
Was the Silent Night really that silent?
The nativity, also known as the Christmas pageant, claims to tell the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.However, new research suggests that the so-called ‘silent night’ may not have been that silent…Seán is joined by Chris Greenough, Professor of Social Sciences at Edgehill University, to discuss.

Dec 20, 2024 • 10min
Can death be abolished?
A new book explores how to preserve our brains when we die, so that our successors can revive us at a later date!Joining Seán to discuss is Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston, Neuroscientist and author of ‘The Future Loves You: How and Why We Should Abolish Death’...

Dec 20, 2024 • 10min
Should you get a real or fake Christmas tree?
Over half a million Christmas trees will be cut down for homes across Ireland this festive period, but which is actually better for the environment… real or fake?Joining Seán to discuss is Dr. Michelle McKeown, Lecturer in Environmental Geography at UCC.

Dec 19, 2024 • 7min
Why spiced beef is a Cork tradition
While spiced beef has traditionally been associated with Cork, it has grown wings over the past few years and appears to be becoming more and more popular across the country.Michael Moynihan, Columnist for the Irish Examiner has been writing about this, and joins Seán to discuss.

Dec 19, 2024 • 8min
Does Roblox draw children into gambling?
The popular video game Roblox is apparently being used by illegal casinos to draw young children into online gambling.The new investigation found that children under the age of 12 are betting on slot machines and blackjack…For more on this, Seán is joined by Dr Deirdre Leahy, Lecturer in Cybercrime at UCC and Lecturer in Cyber Skills programme in MTU.

Dec 19, 2024 • 11min
Is AI dangerous for artists?
Kate Bush has called on Ministers to protect artists from AI using their copyrighted works amid growing concerns from high-profile creatives and ongoing political uncertainty over how to handle the issue…Ed Newton-Rex, founder of Fairly Trained, a non-profit that protects artists’ rights from AI, joins Seán to discuss.

Dec 19, 2024 • 9min
Do Disney princesses actually live ‘happily ever after’?
Is there really such a thing as ‘happily ever after’? Not for Disney’s famous princesses apparently. A new study suggests that many of these well-known characters would have suffered from a range of unpleasant health conditions had they lived in the real world. Sanne Van Dijk is a PhD Candidate in Epidemiology at the University of Twente and one of the researchers on this project and joins Seán to discuss.Image: Disney