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

This is more like the two of us just going full Statler and Waldorf, only those two Muppets are funny and more cogent in their thinking. God Only Knows...

Martin went to the WRC to represent RTE worker Joey Kelly vs Arthur Cox who are representing RTE. It was standing room only and despite the attempts to have the case dismissed, what was revealed shows that RTE is not taking steps to resolve its mistreatment of workers. If anything the company is speaking out of both sides of its State-Funded mouth.

In this must hear podcast journalist and tortoise shack regular Gareth Browne joined us from Syria to describe what he has witnessed since being one of the first western journalists to enter Damascus as the Assad regime was collapsing. This podcast includes descriptions that some listeners may find disturbing. But, and it is a big but, I think it’s ultimately a hopeful conversation. We all wish fo...

This is the live recording of the Remembering Refaat memorial that took place on the one year anniversary of his killing by the Israeli military. If I Must Die The book is available now here: https://orbooks.com/catalog/if-i-must-die/

Human Rights Lawyer, Saoirse Brady is the Executive Director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust ( https://iprt.ie) and she kindly sat down with us in the tortoise shack to talk about our prison system, restorative justice, community sanctions, ending secondary punishments and much more. I really got a lot out of this podcast. Please give it a listen

Note: This was recorded an hour before we found out that Owen Hayes was being economical with the truth… A short member-only podcast on an exciting work in the fight for workers rights and some of the absolute nonsense around the government formation Christmas Panto. Martin's statement: https://x.com/williamhboney1/status/1866301049448919477 For Ferg, a bit of Better Man

I won't lie, I wanted to see PBP Cllr Conor Reddy get into the Dáil. But that's the democratic process and his (and my) disappointment is as Conor outlines is a waste of time when the work on the ground continues. We also discuss his important scientific work with Inclusion Services and his PhD that first introduced me to the lad from Finglas. You don't need a Dáil seat to make a difference. Oh an...

Dubliner Will Holden has spent over a decade building and supporting Emergency Supply Chains in some of the worlds most challenging situations. For over a decade he has worked in Syria, Iraq and the Kurdish autonomous region. So I thought I'd ask him to join us for a chat about the country and people who he knows and loves, the sense of joy at the fall of the Assad regime, the fears of further vio...

A bit of Martin and Tony talking news of the week including some stories that might have made the papers, but deserved a lot more attention. Yup! Lets go fly a kite, kids!

In this post GE2024 podcast we are joined by Sinn Féin poll topper Mairéad Farrell, to discuss her party's disappointment or satisfaction with the election results, her term as a first time TD, the chances of a female led broad left opposition and plenty more. The My Chemical Romance trip down Desolation... RIP Refaat Alareer. Missed every day!

In this Post GE Podcast we talk with newly re-elected Soc Dem TD for Dublin Central, Gary Gannon. He talks about the mistakes he made in his first term, the need to stay grounded in the area he represents and what he thinks both the next Government and Opposition will look like. And the cover at the end will make you believe in a thing called... Keep the covers recs coming, thanks 

In this extended podcast we are joined by recently re-elected PBP TD Paul Murphy for a chat about his last few years in the politics, the positives we could see in a genuine Left vs Right polarised Dáil and the ways the Left can unite, while still not agreeing on everything. Then at 34 mins just for you, Martin and meself chat FFG's fake squabbles and the nonsense of dragging out Govt formation. W...

Another short GE fallout podcast. We talk Soc Dems, Labour and the mudguard vacancy. We discuss the up to 500k people on incorrectly on the Electoral Register and then Martin uses his Presidential powers to pardon me of all my crimes. I can't get no...

The situation in Gaza is getting worse. Three women were crushed to death by men who lined up to get aid in Central Gaza. Israel continues to expand the Netzarim Corridor and attack family homes full of displaced people. More people are getting hungrier each day. At this year’s conference on Palestine Studies at Universiti Malaya, Palestinian scholars and activists spoke of their vision for Gaza a...

A wrap of the day, FFG's magnificent 86, voter apathy or opposition failure, have Labour learned anything and why we need Populism now more than ever. There's no show like a Joe Show!

Note: this was recorded a few days ago, but we didn't want it to get lost in the GE2024 news cycle. In this podcast we are joined by freelance freedom of information journalist and one of the driving forces behind righttoknow.ie, Ken Foxe and managing partner at FP Logue Solicitors and tortoise shack regular Fred Logue, to discuss a very important ruling on a case they fought that has significant...

We talk results, our predictions, Fianna Fáil's conundrum, Sinn Féin's need to work outside the box, the far right flop, how the Soc Dems could lose by winning and lots, lots more. Stay tuned for some Chappell Dreams... 

In this pre-election podcast Cranky and Moany try to encourage you to get out and vote in hope. Hope plus Action equals Change If that doesn't work then stay tuned to hear from A Mystery Girl Get your cover recs into me!

In this episode of Sparks Will Fly, Ray is joined by punk scene hero and longtime friend, Simeon Smith. They talk music, poverty, healing, activism and pushing diversity through tunes. This is a blaggers guide to joy!

Here's our wrap of today's events as well as a chat about how the Charlotte Fallon story has shone a light on "how the sausage is made" Also: Stay For A Week, In Sunny Donaghmede...

I'll be honest, this is not really a candidate interview. There are a couple of mean questions. But it's more touching base with our friend Rory and wishing him well for Friday. How could we not?

It's late. I'm tired. But Martin and Mr irishelectionprojections.com  Harry McEvansoneya stayed up to watch Micheal Martin, Mary Lou McDonald and Simon Harris shadow box in a (lets be honest) cheap looking Judge Judy styled debate. Here are our instant reactions and thoughts. No apologies. Here's Spancil Hill by the legend, Jon Kenny. Rest in Power!

In this GE2024 special we're joined by Public Affairs Consultant, Irish Times columnist and lifelong political operator, Gerard Howlin for a chat about the upcoming election, Irish political populism, the absence (as Gerard sees it) of a Progressive Democrat type party and why he thinks that, at least economically, both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are gone soft left. Always great to get another pers...

Simon, listen, we're not angry. But we are disappointed. Send me your cover version tunes for consideration in the comments. Or don't. Whatever! Up the Saw Doctors.

In this GE2024 Special podcast we are rejoined by campaigning journalist and climate activist, John Gibbons, to run the rule over the climate ambitions of the Parties in advance of the election. This is a great conversation and as John repeats, there is no non-radical outcome, but there might still be time to choose the more cohesive path.