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

Most weeks we get a sprinkling of political polling across the newspapers, but what is interesting (at least to me) is how the sausage is made and who decided to lean into certain controversial topics, such as immigration or Ireland's neutrality. Joining me in the tortoise shack for what is undoubtedly the biggest nerd-out on polls podcast we've ever done is TUD lecturer, former political staffer...

In this Reboot Republic Rory and Tony talk to doctors working in the Irish health system who are being exploited, and devastated by the housing crisis. The doctors tell their experiences of living in hidden homelessness - living out of their car, couch-surfing, living in insecure housing, and the impact on them and the health system. We talk to Dr. Ali Raza Ansari, who has been made homeless, he d...

Thank you to human rights and healthcare activist, Seana Grant and cohost of Shrapnel, Sam Mcilwaine, for joining us to dive into the contentious issue of the July 12th celebrations. We talk about what the 12th means to them as individuals and to people in their different communities; we delve into the past and ask has the toxicity lessened despite some ugly recent scenes? We discuss the underlyin...

Rejoining us on the tortoise shack for an end of the Dáil term chat is Solidarity PBP TD, and well known troublemaker, Paul Murphy. We talk about his work in holding the government to account, effective opposition and the broad left in the build up to the Budget and the next general election. Yes, RTE and a few other topical issues get a mention.

We got together online yesterday evening to discuss RTE, bogus self employment and the appearance of Ryan Tubridy and Noel Kelly at 2 Oireachtas Committees. If you missed it, no you didn't. 

A short Martin and Tony podcast that will forever remain behind the paywall. The 12th, Climate Chaos, RTE but not just RTE, Housing and the return of Charlie McCreevey... Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/tortoise-shack-live-tickets-632859177837 Promo Code: SHACK23Live

This Wednesday sees what is quite literally a vote on whether we have a chance to minimise the climate emergency that is unfolding in front of our eyes or should we continue down the neoliberal road of assured mutual destruction. It is that important. Rejoining us on the podcast is one of the people who helped draft the Nature Restoration Laws in the European Parliament, Damien Thomas, and he is v...

 Earlier today I went into the Iceland Store on Talbot Street to speak with some of the workers who are currently occupying the store as part of an ongoing and nationwide dispute with their employer of unpaid wages and other breaches of the terms of their employment. The fact that we sat only a few hundred meters from where Debenhams workers were shafted was not lost on anybody. Staff member Donna...

The Failed Privatisation of Water Should be a Warning for us in Ireland Rejoining me on the tortoise shack is listener favourite and one of the founders of the Green New Deal, Prof Richard Murphy, and he was in fine form. He breaks down the class warfare been waged by Central Bankers across the globe, the need find new and innovative ways to reduce house prices, how the cost of re-nationalising ut...

Following yesterday's show and the discussion relating to Sinn Féin's position on immigration, it was timely to be rejoined on the podcast by that party's Senator, Lynn Boylan. We get stuck into their seriousness on climate action, preparing to lead the first non FF/FG government and how they can address the vocal anti-immigrant voices both within and outside the party. Then we discuss her importa...

So far the Israeli Defense Forces attack on the West Bank camp of Jenin has killed 10 people and injured at least 50 more. We've also witnessed attacks on medical treatment facilities and people's homes; make no mistake, these are war crimes. Rejoining us is journalist Mahmoud Mustaha and he explains what is happening, what the next 18-36hrs might look like and the protests taking place in Gaza an...

It was a pleasure to be rejoined on the tortoise shack by award winning journalist with the Dublin Inquirer, Shamim Malekmian, Mr Election Projections, Harry McEvansoneya and retuning champion and Shrapnel cohost, Sam Mcilwaine, to talk through the week just gone and some of the things ahed. We discuss Shamim's report into the awful practice of "evicting" people from Direct Provision into potentia...

The solution to the housing crisis the developers and banks don’t want you to know about: Factory built sustainable homes for €150,000 In this Reboot Republic, Rory talks to Building Surveyor, Fergus Merriman, about a revolutionary idea for delivering homes – mass produced factory built housing, that are sustainable and affordable. Fergus explains how it could and should be done. The developers, b...

As the world watched the incompetent Wagner coup fall apart, we were also trashing around for insights on what it all meant. One person who preached caution and less hyperbole was Economics Professor, Russian-Irish man and tortoise shack regular, Constantin Gurdgiev. We rejoins us to talk about the implications for Putin, Progozhin, Ukraine and the rest of us. He explains the Kremlin power dynamic...

Can we help the environment & our well being? In this Reboot Republic podcast, Rory talks with Dr Morgan Phillips, Head of Education & Youth Engagement at Global Action Plan, about eco anxiety and the connection between status anxiety, inequality and conspicious consumption, and how we can address the environment while also improving our well being.

"The best case scenario is that they (the Greek Coastguard) just didn't do their job and not that they specifically killed people." These are the shocking words that founder of secondtree.org founder and longtime refugee and asylum seeker activist, Giovanni Fontana, said on this podcast in relation to the tragic sinking of the Adriana off the coast of Greece. The ship was said to be carrying 750 p...

Yes, a Martin and Tony forever behind the paywall episode. Real tragedy ignored, Michael D and the respectable warmongers, Leo the Leak limps on and get your money!  Thanks to you all for sticking with us. It means everything to us. 

Martin often says that his activism in some areas is based on the knowledge he gleans from podcast guests. One such guest is Trinity College Assoc Prof Eoin O'Dell, and he rejoined us to discuss the significance of the Data Protection Commissioners decision on Martin's Public Services Card complaint and a lot, lot more.

In this Reboot Republic, Rory speaks with Senator Eileen Flynn and Dr Seamus Taylor of the Department of Applied Social Studies Maynooth about the Hate Crime Bill which is progressing through the Dail and Seanad currently. Seamus and Eileen explain why it is important in making it clear that hate crime is not acceptable in Ireland, ranging from anti-minority and ethnic groups, gender identity, ant...

We've ended up doing an accidental economic series within a series and what better way to wrap it up than with Head of Economics in UL, Stephen Kinsella. We discuss the President's comments and why Stephen robustly disagrees, how he teaches economics and the differences between the economics in colleges and the much of the stuff in the newspapers. We also get stuck into what Ireland should and sho...

“If you have to kill me, kill me. But I am telling you to your face: you won’t silence me.” Those are the prescient words of Colombian journalist, Rafael Moreno, who must have known when he was saying them that he had not long left to live. But he kept on reporting until his murder. Rejoining us to tell us about this story of incredible bravery and how fellow journalists have stepped in to seek ju...

Sportswashing works and lots of people have resigned themselves to that sad truth. Rejoining us on the podcast is longtime human rights campaigner, writer, journalist and "unaccepter" of the current situation, Nicholas McGeehan. He brings us up to date on how human rights and workers right haven't actually improved in the States that are using football and golf to wield soft-power on the global st...

In this Reboot Republic, Rory talks to Lorraine from the Muslim Sisters of Eire, who are doing trojan work providing hot meals to those who need it on the streets of Dublin, and also working to support integration and tackle racism. We discuss the on-going cost of living crisis, what they are seeing in terms of social needs in Dublin, how it is beyond anything seen in recent years, we also discuss...

Rising intergenerational and social inequality in Ireland’s economy: what is going on with economics? In this Reboot Republic, Rory talks to Dr Tom McDonnell, Director of the Nevin Economic Research Institute about where the Irish economy is headed, interest rates and inflation, why tax cuts just benefit those on higher incomes and will result in poorer public services, how the older generation ha...

A few months ago we spoke with schoolteacher, podcaster and sound out Corkonian, Padraig Wilson McCarthy, about the fact that the rents he was seeing in Dublin were more than his monthly salary. Lots of you said that we needed to get him back on. So here he is. We talk about Pride as protest and not corporate crap, the horrifying rise of homophobic hate crimes, the shitty Dublin rental market and...