https://tortoiseshack.ie/feed/podcast/

We went back into Leinster House and had some hopeful conversations about workers rights and why asking the right to the right witnesses is important. So here's a short member-only podcast on that and the mess the Irish Red Cross have made for themselves.

A short Martin and Tony podcast on Tuam, Iran, Israel, Tucker Peacenik Carlson and the Irish economic miracle/embarrassment. If you just want the good stuff skip to 22:30. 796

All week we've seen experts and academics try and fail to make sense of the Government's new housing plans. So this is a podcast with housing expert and academic, Prof Lorcan Sirr, that also fails to do what it seems is impossible. Nonetheless, I think it's really good and that Lorcan almost gets there. Apologies to Orla and Mel.

“In 2015, while at home looking after our new baby, my wife received a letter from the Department of Social Protection telling her that she needed to attend a social welfare office to be photographed for a Public Services Card or have her child benefit payment cut off. As she did not want to drag an infant out to a government office she solved this problem the sensible way. She handed me the lette...

It was a great pleasure to be rejoined in the shack by writer, commentator, activist and mammy, Elaine Crory. It’s just a pity that it was to discuss the “protect our women” race-riots that have taken place in Ballymena, Larne and in parts of Belfast. Elaine breaks it down in her brilliant way and explains why this is something that goes beyond flags and into deprivation, inequality, poverty and t...

What are the new rental measures? In this Reboot Republic podcast Rory and Dr Michael Byrne from UCD break down the latest rental measures and explain what they are, what is the likely impact on rents and supply, and who will actually benefits. The verdict? TBD. The Week in Housing newsletter is a weekly one-page analysis of new housing research and policy. Read it here:  https://theweekinhousing....

On June 12th, 2025, people from around the world will participate in the Global March to Gaza, from Cairo to Rafah crossing marchtogaza.net , in an apolitical, peaceful, coordinated, civilian action, demanding immediate humanitarian intervention in Gaza. Joining us on the podcast are two of the remarkable people who are participating from Ireland, Maureen Almai and Geraldine Murphy. Please listen...

In this PalCast, Yousef talks to Tony about the latest news and events in Gaza, the cost of famine, Israel funding a proxy militia and the hope that comes from the Freedom Flotilla and the March to Gaza.

A Martin and Tony podcast about the Govt licking the Vulture-Cuckoo fund boot, the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and a big row over RTE and their so-called 'top talent.'

Well this was mad. Earlier today we were joined in the tortoise shack by activist, podcaster and former US army veteran, Greg Stoker and actor and activist Liam Cunningham to talk Gaza, the military industrial complex, the freedom flotilla and the intersectionality between all struggles for human rights and freedom. I’ll post some behind the scenes photos etc later as well.

Sparky meets up with old friend Fr Eamon Sheridan and talk about Ballymun, recovery, faith, mischief and Eamon’s remarkable work in Myanmar. Yup!

In this tortoise shack exclusive Tony sits down with Senator Frances Black to discuss her work around Palestine, the Occupied Territories Bill and her contribution to the book Dispalced in Gaza. Frances is brilliant. You can’t fake integrity and she has it in spades.

Stockholm-based journalist is a rock of sense and a font of media wisdom. Unfortunately for him Tony was up after 9pm and was even less coherent than usual. But at least Philip was there to try and make sense of the Israeli war bonds, political words instead of action and more.

A short but probably too long Martin and Tony podcast to ruin your Bank Holiday weekend! Enjoy or endure

In this Reboot Republic, Rory talks to economist Michael Taft about the impact of tariffs on the Irish economy and jobs, our over dependence on US multinational investment, how we can create a diversified strong indigenous economy, the importance of collective bargaining, workers rights and wages, cooperative and community led enterprise and civil society and progressive parties working together i...

In this episode Martin is joined by RTE worker Maebh Keary and his workers rights comrade, Matt McGranaghan to discuss RTE's latest day in the Oireachtas. Whilst there seems to be media consensus that they emerged unscathed, Maebh, Matt and Martin pick out some of the most interesting moments and go a little deeper into what some statements actually mean for workers at RTE, the govts comfort level...

In this PalCast hosts Yousef and Helena are joined by producer Tony to talk about the cruel and disastrous "aid plan", the ongoing genocide, the change in rhetoric from some western leaders and why even in a week of unbearably devastating news there are some reasons to feel hope. Music at the end is a new song by recent Sparks Will Fly guest Tadgh Conroy.

Alexa Moore is the Policy Campaigns and Communications Manager at the Rainbow Project in Northern Ireland. She's also an LGBTQ activist and a formidable Trans woman. She joins us to talk about Trans Rights on the island of Ireland, the UK Supreme Court decision, the turbulent politics of this time and why Brexit is actually a good thing for LGBTQ people in the North.

In this echo chamber pod Martin and Tony are joined by Madrid-based journalist Eoghan Gilmartin to discuss the huge power blackout in Spain, how it’s been weaponised by the far right, what impact it and similar events are having on politics and they discuss if they last lefty standing, Pedro Sanchez, can navigate his government through it all.

Fresh out of treatment Tadgh has a deep chat with Sparky about addiction, recovery, treatment, healing and more.

This is a short excerpt from a conversation with Naomi Klein during an online Digital Rights Conference that I somehow ended up contributing to. Yeah, I can't get on Q102, but I'm popular in Lebanon...

US-based Dr. Feroze Sidhwa has travelled to Gaza over the course of the ongoing Genoide to heal the wounds of many, many Palestinians. As a trauma surgeon, he has witnessed many multi-fatality events, including the bombing of the surgery department of the Nasser Hospital and an airstrike that killed a patient, a young boy, whom he saved only a few days earlier. He joins this PalCast episode to spe...

In this Reboot Republic Rory & Tony discuss The national housing disaster - how it is worsening and while its an acknowledged emergency, the government appear to be about to bend to the landlord lobby and lift the minimal protection that exist for renters . Rory outlines the rent cap protest he's organising for Wednesday evening and Tony sets out the investor model and why its unreliable. Do c...

In this Reboot Republic Rory & Tony talk to the incredible young Gazan journalist Abubaker Abed about his journey from Gaza to Ireland, the importance of solidarity and speaking up, the daily reality of surviving a genocide, and what Ireland can do to show a common humanity when the world turns its backs on the Holocaust of the 21st Century.