The week that really was

John and Sarah discuss RTE’s doom documentary from the future, the broadcaster’s big bailout, Tubridy’s new gig, and why Sarah thinks the new Independent Ireland party is going places.

JUSTICE SERVED: John and Sarah react to the Ashling Murphy murder trial verdict, and discuss other legal matters of the week: Was Maria Bailey vindicated? Is Chris Andrews TD right to sue a journalist? And is Russia trying  to rig Irish elections?

Businesses suffering, marriages failed, faith in vaccines undermined: John and Sarah discuss the ongoing hangover from lockdown, the reasons nobody will accept any blame, and the lack of an enquiry. Also, how kids should play.

On Immigration, it turns out that the far right was… the far correct? John and Sarah are joined this week by Laura Perrins of @theconwom to discuss that, as well as conflicting UK/Irish narratives on Gaza, and whether Mary McAleese would make a good priest. 1:06 Intro  1:37 Laura Perrins : There has been a change in tone of coverage following Gaza attack.  5:30 - Context is crucial 9:10 - Irish Jo...

This week’s podcast covers Paddy Cosgrave’s sudden fall from grace, the disturbing revelations in Britney Spears’ new book, and asks: What’s become of us that we want to teach Irish children that they’re privileged for being white, or male, or Irish? 0:02:06 - Israeli State Visit and Misconceptions  0:08:20 - Paddy Cosgrave 0:11:13 - Social Media's Impact on Reputation 0:14:36 - Irish Media's Infl...

The budget and the war: Two topics dominate this week’s podcast, after a very depressing week. Do Irish politicians lack imagination? And is there any prospect at all of peace in the Middle East? John and Sarah discuss:

John and Sarah are joined from the Seanad by Senator Ronan Mullen, in an episode that covers Colette Colfer’s stand against her university’s new gender policy, an update on the hate speech bill, and a question about whether the Seanad is a more hostile place than it used to be. 00:00 - Intro  00:58 - Senator Ronan Mullen 01:35 - Colette Colfer 06:45 - Hate Speech  08:00 - Gender Equality  09:24 -...

Does the case of the “racist gymnast coach” resemble the Carlow Teachers scandal? John and Sarah discuss that, the Laurence Fox scandal, and the latest opinion poll in this week’s episode.

John and Sarah talk through the protest at Kildare Street, it’s likely consequences, media double standards, and what we should think about Russell Brand. 

Paul Murphy’s doxxing disgrace, RTE’s 80k photographer, Micheal Martin’s infection warning, and dumb new speed limits: It was a week to raise the hackles of the most placid person. John and Sarah are no exceptions: Available on Spotify & iTunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7kOPNDrvsxqXv8uicOotvP iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-week-that-really-was/id1653091194?uo=4

John and Sarah discuss a packed week in Stradbally which started with Up the Ra chants at the Electric Picnic and ends with Ukrainians about to move into the site on an emergency basis. Also: Speed limits, American Mommy bloggers going to jail, and why Sarah’s a tough parent herself. #gript

Having survived an earthquake in Greece, and listened to three hours of Andrew Tate on her holidays, Sarah returns to an Ireland transformed by new constituency boundaries, and the dramatic fall from grace of singer Roisin Murphy.

 John is joined by Irish writer Conor Fitzgerald (@fitzfromdublin) to discuss the question of whether Ireland, and western society at large, is increasingly divided politically along gender lines, and why cultural institutions sometimes seem to hate their own audiences.

According to the government democracy is where the government pays billions of dollars to one side and jails the other.

In the sorry absence of Sarah Ryan, John is joined by NIAMH UI BHRIAN to discuss Gerard Craughwell’s one-man crusade against Gender Self-ID, Helen McEntee as the victim of misogyny, and the prospects for the new Farmer’s Alliance.  

In this week’s episode, Sarah tells John all about the Lizzo banana scandal, which leads to a chat about the unfashionability of normal boring old sex, and a question: Has the fall of traditional religion and the rise of a new religiosity led to a fall in contentment?

John and Sarah talk about the issues of the week, ranging from gold heists to climate worries, crime, and Sinead O’Connor. But also, as the Government introduces free IVF for some couples, the growing challenge of infertility:

In this week’s episode, the story of a missing American woman leads John and Sarah into a chat about gender quotas, victimhood, the state of Dublin, the Children’s Hospital and how the media can’t stop terrifying the population with scary stories of crisis.

John and Sarah are joined by William Campbell of the @hereshowpodcast to tell them – as respectfully as possible – why they’re wrong about most things, and why Ireland is in fact one of the most successful countries in the world.

“Justin Trudeau with fancier socks” – That’s Keith Redmond’s verdict on Leo Varadkar as he joins John and Sarah to talk hate speech, Helen McEntee’s illiberalism, RTE’s implosion, and the public finances careening out of control:

RTÉ dominates this week’s podcast, as John and Sarah wonder whether the state broadcaster has even a shred of credibility left; Also: Is Dublin a crime-ridden dump, and who is to blame?

Is the tide of public opinion turning on the transgender agenda? John and Sarah are joined by women’s rights campaigner Laoise DeBrun to discuss the Hate Speech Bill, Ryan Tubridy, Lost Submarines, and Laoise’s drafting of a new bill to keep men out of women’s prisons.  

“it’s almost like a tea party”: Gript’s own Ben Scallan joins John to talk about his journey from political candidate to Government press conferences, the pitfalls of Ireland’s political system, and how impending fatherhood changes a man.

“It’s like being governed by a divorced mum and dad” – John and Sarah discuss the growing sense that Ireland just doesn’t have a leader, and also reflect on the terror in France, and the Labour Party’s call for a “NPHET style” approach to immigration.

“Very few are willing to speak openly and honestly” - John and Sarah are joined by columnist Cormac Lucey to discuss the state of the nation, including Ministerial competence, abortion, tax cuts, and the hate speech bill: