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

As promised here’s part two of the Shrapnel podcast conversation with the Echo Chamber lads on the Irish language in NI and much, much more. Thanks to all of you for your support and patience!

In this episode of Sparks Will Fly, Sparky is joined by his old friend, singer-songwriter Colm Quearney and mouthy tortoise shack producer, Tony Groves to talk about Halloween and what it meant to them as kids and why, health and safety provided, they want that bit of musty mischief that you only get once a year.

In this (bit different) GE 2024 candidates podcast we talk to Sinn Féin’s Health Spokesperson, David Cullinane about his plan to deliver a public health service that works for all. We discuss the plan in great detail, while also delving into Sinn Féin’s mistakes in the last few years, their relationship with the mainstream media and the way they’re treated by the far right.

In this PalCast we talk to Executive Director of the International Forum for Justice in Palestine, Nabil Hallak, who is currently in Lebanon and is witnessing firsthand the Israeli war there. They discuss the recent events in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, as well as Nabil’s recent trip to South Africa, whose government has taken the case against Israel to the International Criminal Court.

In this GE2024 candidates chat we talk with Patricia Stephenson, who is the Social Democrats General Election candidate for Carlow-Kilkenny. Her route into politics took her from Belfast to East Africa, on to Dublin, before finally settling down in Carlow-Kilkenny. Her human rights background and experience makes her a candidate well worth your consideration. Even if I doubt her Coddle bona fides.

Next up is Labour Party Cllr for Rathfarnham-Templeogue, and employment rights solicitor Ciarán Ahern. He outlines his local ambitions for a national agenda as well as his background and why he’s adapted his career in law to pursue his career in politics.

You all know Ray Sparky Corcoran as one half of the Fresh Batch and while that transformative series is on a hiatus, Sparky wanted to keep having conversations that light up the listeners and guests. So here's a brief intro to Sparks Will Fly and a taste of what is to come over the weeks and days ahead.

In this Echo Chamber podcast we are rejoined by Latin American journalist with El Pais, Nicholas Dale Leal, to talk Argentina’s huge failure - libertarian success, Cuba’s blackouts and the fears across the region of a second Trump presidency.

Philip O’Connor is back and he has that all too rare invested-but-outsider view of Irish media in the weeks leading up to the general election. Ask the questions of yourself and your sources otherwise you may end up misled..

In this, the first of our GE 2024 Candidates, we talk with PBP candidate in Dublin South Central, Hazel De Nortúin. She talks about her route into politics, how her family shaped her values and how her love of the Irish language has made her class conscious.

In this Echo Chamber podcast we are rejoined by Colorado-based Prof of Economics, Constantin Gurdgiev for an absolute belter of a conversation. We talk US presidential election drama, ridiculousness and potential results. We look at the booming economy vs the failing infrastructure and we revisit Ukraine and how even the aid via loans now is a disaster for any notion of peace and solidarity. Enjoy...

In this Reboot Republic we talk once more to award winning journalist with the Guardian, John Harris about the tensions, achievements and neoliberal technocracy of the new Labour Government in the UK. We dig into the disconnect between the big parties and ordinary people. We also talk about autism, disability and the waste of energy that are the culture wars. Finally John tells us about his new bo...

Abubaker Abed is a sports journalist in Gaza but since October last year he had to change his scope to cover an ongoing genocide by Israel in the Gaza Strip. He opens up to PalCast hosts about the trials and tribulations of existing in Gaza today. He says, despite the unbearable atrocities has he seen, he has not lost hope because he insists on being a human every day. In fact he demands that we a...

Atakan Uzun is a fascinating guy. A student of government and politics, a specialist in international relations, a Corkman with a Turkish father and a man who has a keen interest in calling out what is really going on. He joined us on the pod to talk about the issues (many issues) there are with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his speaking out of both sides of his mouth on Gaza, Palesti...

In this short member-only pod Tony talks on his own (because cranky is in the hospital again) about what might be one reason Heather Humphreys is leaving politics, the Nov 29th election and we then join Donald Trump for a few of his favourite tunes... ..I will not apologies!  Please let me know in the comments if you have any guest recommendations as we are going to be very GE busy!

In this Reboot episode, Rory talks to Tony about the upcoming general election, his experiences out on the doors and the Soc Dems recent housing proposals and disability redline.

Dr. Nour Naim holds a PhD in Artificial Intelligence. In this episode of PalCast she talks about the use of AI techniques during the genocide in Gaza by Israel. Naim notes that what is lethally dangerous about Israel’s use of AI in Gaza which started in 2019, long before October 7th, and how AI has turned into a marketable killing machine, facilitated by humans with minimal efforts. This includes...

In this podcast the hosts of Shrapnel, Gareth and Sam join the eejits from Echo, Tony and (particularly) Martin to talk about everything about politics in Northern Ireland, the function and dysfunction of Stormont, how mental health supports are hurting our communities and much more.

It is a constant head scratcher to us that the brilliant journalist and writer Jon Schwarz continues to put up with our madness. He rejoins us just 21 days out from the US Presidential election to talk all things political, societal and insane Elon Musk-ical. No cats were injured during the recording of this podcast.

We meant to do a normal wrap up of the week’s news, but then Brian Stanley resigned from Sinn Féin, sighting a kangaroo court and we knew this would be a bit different. So here it is now for you alongside our wrap of the week.

Thousands of Irish people head to the Canaries for their holidays. Most are blissfully unaware that the waters they swim in are arguably the deadliest to migrants anywhere in the world. Rejoining us in the tortoise shack is Madrid-based journalist, Eoghan Gilmartin, who visited the area and brings us up to date on what Fortress Europe is doing in our name. Read more from Eoghan here: https://bylin...

In this very special podcast we are joined by Nadim Nashif who is the director of https://7amleh.org/  and Taysir Mathlouthi 7amleh EU Advocacy Officer with 7amleh. They describe the online human and digital rights battle for Palestinians in ways that we had never imagined. We delve into the fatally dangerous role that AI is playing in the war machine and how it’s killing by inputs now and could b...

In this Reboot Republic podcast, Rory discusses a new approach to addressing both climate and inequality - in changing the narrative and moving towards transformative changes, such as public investment in warmer green homes for everyone, with Dr Ciaran O Caroll, Lecturer in TU Dublin and climate analyst. We also discuss the Budget, data centres, and a green social justice approach to the climate t...

In this special episode of the PalCast - One World, One Struggle, Yousef, Helena and Tony reflect on the last 12 months and the immense loss in Gaza and to the worlds humanity. Yousef talks about carrying his survivors guilt and how it has driven him to keep writing, broadcasting and working for justice for those who were less fortunate. We discuss the demise of "international law" and how the rec...

Crime and Security Correspondent with the Irish Star and Co-Host of the Shattered Lives Podcast, Mick O'Toole has spent years travelling back and forth to Lebanon to cover the various conflagrations and the role carried out by Irish peacekeepers in the area. He joined us to talk about what is happening right now a few hundred meters from one of the Irish bases and what is likely to happen in the d...