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

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.

You asked about a look at the Trade Union movement in Ireland, so consider this an opening conversation with two Union stalwarts, Scott Miller and Paddy Cole, who are also two of the main organisers of the Tressell Festival Limited tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-robert-tressell-festival-2025-tickets-1270717663739

Apologies for the "talking over" audio on the earlier file. It looks like that when Martin's camera went his audio file was a couple of seconds longer than the other 2. I've corrected it here. Thanks for your understanding. Tony

In this podcast we are joined from Gaza by teacher, storyteller and mother, Banyas Abu Harab, who focuses on educating, comforting and inspiring young learners in Gaza, even as the bomb blasts are audible above her voice. This is a very different insight into the reality of the ongoing Genocide in Gaza. Thank you, Banyas English Translation of the story Banyas tells in Arabic below The Woodcutter...

In this member-only podcast Martin and Tony talk ICE in the US, Keir Starmer's Enoch Powell paraphrasing and our own tough talking justice minister. Then we have a look at the concerns about press freedom and ask if any journalist worth their salt is comfortable being on the opposite side of renowned journalist, Ken Foxe.

In this echo chamber podcast you'll hear from writer, musician and activist, Martin Leahy, whose weekly one-man housing protest outside the Dáil is coming up on 3 years next Thursday May 15th. A real one.

Dr. Akram Habeeb is a professor of English at the Islamic University of Gaza. He taught and inspired many academics including Dr. Refaat Alareer. He left Gaza after 45 days of displacement in Rafah, where he did his best to care for his family. In this episode, he talks about his special relationship with Refaat Alareer, education and his own experience of the ongoing genocide in Gaza. He also sha...

Shrouq Alaila is a journalist from Gaza. She won the Freedom of Press Award in 2024 for her journalism work in Gaza. She speaks to us from Gaza on the challenges of reporting, securing food and caring for a baby whose father, also a journalist, killed by Israel as he shielded them from Israeli bombing. Tune in for this powerful episode. Editors Note: I’ve recorded over 2,000 podcasts and this is m...