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

In this wide-wide-ranging Reboot Republic episode, Rory and Tony delve into Ireland's political landscape, our housing crisis, the EU Presidency priorities, and the influence of big tech on democracy. They explore the failures of government policies, the impact of social media regulation, and the urgent need for systemic change beyond tinkering on the edges. They also get into Indo journalist, Fio...

Leila Warah is a Palestinian American multimedia journalist currently based in Palestine. Born and raised in the United Arab Emirates, she holds a degree in Journalism and Media and has significant experience in reporting across digital platforms. Through her social media (@leila.shw on Instagram), Leila creates videos that stay true to the Palestinian question, breaking it down for an internation...

Sondos Sabra is a Palestinian writer from Gaza and co-author of Voices of Resistance, currently pursuing a master’s degree in Creative Writing in the UK. She joins us to discuss her experience of the genocide, the harsh reality of the famine she endured, the loss of several of her family and the heartache of planning for a future when everything is stuck in a worsening present.

On June 5, JWE president Helena Cobban sat down with the renowned economist and UN advisor Prof. Jeffrey Sachs to assess the impact of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, and the long-running Israeli genocide in Gaza on global governance and the global economy. In this convo Sachs was forthright in his denunciation of the stupidity of the Trump-Netanyahu decision to launch the war against Iran. He...

In this short member-only podcast a milestone is reached in the company of actor and activist, Liam Cunningham. Thank you to each and every one of you all for your support. It means the world. Tony

On May 29, JWE president Helena Cobban sat down with the strategic analyst Elijah Magnier to assess the impact of the first 13 weeks of the (still somewhat ongoing) U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Early on in this Just World Ed project, Magnier had been both the first and the fourth contributor to this this project, both just before and just after the U.S. and Israel launched their assault on Iran on Fe...

Editors Note: Our friend with Dignity for Palestine and Ionad Hind Rajab, Dr Musallam Abukhalil, sent me this podcast he did recently to share with you all. What does it mean to practice medicine in Gaza amid mass displacement, collapsing hospitals, untreated chronic illness, hunger, trauma, and relentless uncertainty? In this episode of The Thin Veil, I speak with Dr. Musallam Abu Khalil, a physi...

As promised, Mr irishelectionprojections.com Harry McEvansoneya is back to make sense of the Galway West and Dublin Central by-elections. Sense is maybe a bit of a stretch... Enjoy.

James Leonard is no stranger to the tortoise shack. Yet this is his first-ever appearance in the shack, and it is, like the man himself, really great. We talk about his work internationally in raising awareness about the carceral experience, his work in Cork in building life-long learning initatives and his work in Local Govt where he sees the friction between politics and community development.

On May 9, JWE president Helena Cobban sat down with John Ross, who's a Senior Fellow with the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China. That, at a point midway between the May 6 visit of Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi to Beijing and the upcoming visit there by U.S. President Trump, who'll be holding an important summit there with Pres. Xi Jinping on May 13 or 14. In this co...

Malak Hijazi is an English Literature graduate, writer, historian of displacement and journalist from Gaza. She joins us from Gaza City to share her story, describe life under the ongoing genocide and explain why she is compelled to record what is happening to her people despite the danger to herself. A remarkable young woman. Don’t miss it.

In this JWE episode of the Iran Crisis Project, Helena Cobban, president of Just World Educational, spoke with Dr. Moeed Pirzada, a prominent Pakistani journalist based in Washington, D.C. and founder-editor of Global Village Space magazine. Together they examined the rapidly shifting situation around the U.S.-Iran conflict, Pakistan's role as a mediator, and the broader geopolitical realignments...

Khaled Al-Qershali is a writer and journalist from Gaza, focusing on personal narratives and reporting on the humanitarian impact of conflict. He has published articles and essays in outlets such as The Electronic Intifada, The Washington Report of Middle East Affairs, and The Independent. His work highlights stories of resilience, survival, and the lived experiences of civilians under occupation....

On the day before the current two-week ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. is due to end, the veteran scholar of Iranian and international affairs Trita Parsi sat down with JWE president Helena Cobban to review the prospects for war or peace in West Asia. Trita Parsi is an Iranian-Swedish international relations writer and political analyst who is the co-founder and executive vice president of the...

Sonia Borwick has worked caring for people in their homes for over two decades. Now, like many of her Section 39 colleagues, she is paid less than she was almost 20 years ago. Worse still, she’s been suspended from her workplace because, in my opinion, she has continued to raise the issue. She joined me in the tortoise shack to talk about her experience and need for workers to stand together.

PalCast contributor and, for my money, one of the best Palestinian geopolitical analysts around, Muhammad Shehada, recently contributed to a panel about the ceasefire in Gaza and the progress in the so-called peace plan. I have 10 mins of it here, and it really is worth a listen.

Independent (Govt) TD Barry Heneghan came over to the tortoise shack to discuss his decision to vote confidence in the government, his reasons and redlines for what he deems government stability and why he believes that his voters will understand his position even as the cost of living crisis continues to worsen.

In this Reboot Republic, Rory talks to Poet and teacher Mikey Cullen about his decision to join the new flotilla heading to break the siege on Gaza. We talk about history repeating itself - how genocide continues in Gaza by Israel despite international law, our common commitment to never again, and finding meaning and purpose in a world where social media tries to commodify us into turning against...

Editor's note: This podcast contains details that you might find upsetting. Amira Attiya, a writer and a student of translation from Gaza, tells the story of how she lost her three siblings—one of them was kidnapped, killed, and even fed to dogs—and that of her father, who was burned with white phosphorus during the Cast Lead operation. Amira was displaced 12 times, and has spent the past two year...

In this April 12 conversation, JWE president Helena Cobban discussed with Prof. Rami Zurayk the impact on Lebanon of the violence that Israel has unleashed against the country for many months now. (Israel escalated that violence very notably on April 8, the day when it looked as if Washington was finally ready to sit down and negotiate a serious ceasefire with Iran.) Rami Zurayk is a researcher on...

Niamh Ryan of The Parting Glass podcast interviewed comedian, actor and cohost of the You Must Be Jokin' podcast in the toroise shack recently. So here it is now for youse all as a little treat. I got the tortoise back eventually.

Shahd Ismail Mahmoud Miqdad , is a PhD student from Gaza, who dreams of a life beyond the genocide where she will complete her education and life a an independent life safe, far from anything that hurts or touches her or her loved ones.

Former US Green Beret and Gaza Humanitarian Foundation whistleblower, Anthony Aguilar rejoined me to discuss the current situation in Cuba, Iran and the US. He outlines the military situation and, not to be all doomer, gives a stark assessment of where things are heading.

This week Sparky sits down with Fair City actress, Dancing with the Stars contestant and fellow Ballymunner, Stephanie Kelly for a great and fun chat in the shack about family, youth arts access, acting and dancing.

In this March 24 convo with Helena Cobban, Vijay Prashad, the director Tricontinental, drew on his extensive experience of the affairs of the Global South to assess the extent and roots of Iran's achievements in resisting the attack that the U.S.-Israeli alliance started on February 28. Prashad and Cobban also discussed the ties between Iran's achievements in their war against the alliance and the...