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

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...

Soliman Hijjy is an award winning visual journalist from Gaza. He’s also the fella in the group who keeps everyone smiling, even in the most difficult moments. He joins us from Khan Yunis only 7 minutes after another deadly Israeli attack. We talk about his work, the role of journalism beyond telling stories and how making jokes in moments of danger is an act of resistance.

In this pod Sparky sits down with musician, photographer and community music activist, Dave Hingerty. Dave as well as drumming with the likes of the Frames, Kíla and Josh ritter, spearheads the Side4 collective which is just unreal, trust us. They chat about drumming, rock n roll, some resentments, being on the road and touring America. This is a long one, but so worth it!

Two quick question: how many of didn't know that you as members get a private RSS feed that you can add to your podcast app of choice and listen to the podcasts as they are published? And if you do know have you had problems using it? Thanks Tony

In this episode Sparky is joined by musical artist Colm Quearney for a chat that goes on a magical mystery tour. They talk about music, friendship, family, the new Ireland they'd like to see and how we can enjoy our old songs while writing new stories.

Ruwaida Amer is an award winning film-maker and producer from Gaza, yet she trained as a teacher. War has a way of turning everything upside down. She now dedicates her time to telling the stories of people in Gaza and the children who she cares deeply for. She joins us to speak about how the destruction of her family home as a child by Israel made her the journalist she is now and how the ongoing...

In this podcast we are joined by irishelectionprojections.com ’s Harry McEvansoneya to talk Fine Gael tanking, Sinn Féin’s rise and then we get stuck into some of the stories of the week and how they were (or weren’t) covered. A little spicy.

In this Reboot Republic Rory and Tony take a critical eye to the big issues of the week discussing Rorys idea on a state savings scheme to build affordable homes, the emotional pain of Gaza and solidarity, what does the latest poll tell us about the state of the parties and how the government is u turning again on commitments this time on living wages & workers protections

We've been desperately disappointed by the mainstream western coverage of the genocide in Gaza since it began over 555 days ago. So when we read the piece Omissions, caveats and false balance: How media is failing Palestinians, the international order and our profession, by reporter with The Currency, Niall Sargent, it felt like FINALLY! Niall rejoins us for the first time in a good while to talk...

In this two-part podcast Martin talks RTE redundancies with Matt and then Groves comes off the bench to talk AI Art, Media Class Discrimination, The Ditch rumour mill and the problem with liberal brain rot.

In this Echo Chamber Podcast we have something very rare for you all. Apparently it’s called “good news.” We won’t spoil it. We’ll let TUD lecturer Dr Ciarán O’Carroll do that. Kidding COC, thank you for all you have done!

In this very special PalCast we are joined by Abeer Barakat, who is a lecturer in the University of Applied Sciences, Gaza and a PhD candidate of English at the University Putra Malaysia. She joins us from Gaza to talk about displacement, the difficult decision to send two of her children outside Gaza to continue their education and the day to day difficultly of living 550+ days under the Israeli...

In this Echo Chamber Pod, Martin talks to Tony about what did and didn't happen yesterday in the High Court with regards to the An Post - Postmasters case. Then we take a look at RTE's new Clarity Project via their internal memo and parse it with an eye to their coverage on Gaza and other important stories.

In this Echo Chamber Podcast we are rejoined by economist with NERI, Ciarán Nugent to discuss the Trump Tariffs, our Pharma vulnerability, the potential impacts on the tax haven and killing false economic narratives like "austerity saved the economy."

In this Echo Chamber Pod

Matt and Martin discuss the upcoming An Post Bogus self-employment coming up in the High Court on Tuesday 8th April. This is another seismic case on the abuse of employment status by yet another semi-state business. An Post has everything to lose, so do the Revenue Commissioners. The EchoChamberPod is the only media with full access to the legal arguments in advance. #Postmasters 

This week I have my mate Ro Byrne with me in the (wall to wall communist) shack. Ro was the guitarist with Dublin band Lir and one of my firm firm favourites Earthquake Hair. We chat about the magic of music, ups, downs and lots more.

Short member-only podcast on the Trump 30% Tariff on people who holiday in west cork, the disgraceful treatment of the Mothers Against Genocide protesters and the latest important update on An Post, their postmaster’s and the battle against bogus self employment.

Matt McGranaghan joins Martin on the EchoChamber pod to discuss ongoing bogus self employment cases they are representing in the WRC and the implications for all RTE workers and taxpayers. Martin and Matt lay bare the corruption, the criminality and the gargantuan cost of decades of bogus self employment in RTE and how RTE is aided and abetted by Revenue and the Department of Social Protection.