Claim OwnershipThe Echo Chamber from Tortoise Shack
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Ireland’s original independent left leaning news, politics, and culture podcast that doesn’t take itself too seriously and still punches well above its weight. Join critically acclaimed & derided hosts, Martin McMahon and Tony Groves as they delve into the news of the day, pull apart the spin and challenge you to be an activist. This is the non-corporate, ad free, non-plastic-podcast reality that the medium is made for. There will be shenanigans!
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Listeners will know Palestinian journalist Mahmoud Mushtaha has the brave reporter who would update the world from Shifa Hospital during the Israeli attacks. You might also recall his reports on the famine sweeping Gaza and him having to eat animal food to survive.
Today he’s in the UK, studying at University and still advocating for the end of the war and the rights of his people. He’s also now a published author and is working on his second book. Mahmoud shares his thoughts on the situation and his journey in what we hope is ultimately an uplifting story of his determination. A remarkable man.
The Housing 2025 Pod is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/119510756
Support Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/117612489
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Spanish politics has had everything recently, lawfare, corruption, love letters, natural disaster mishandling and a hard left that is eating itself. Rejoining us on the podcast is Madrid-based Prof Joe Haslam and (also) Madrid-based journalist and host of the Sobremesa Podcast, Eoghan Gilmartin.
This is very broad and we get into the issues of immigration, housing and the rise of the far right in what should be a warning for us in Ireland.
Support Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/117612489/edit
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In this 2024/25 special we sit down with journalist with El Pais in Mexico City, Nicholas Dale Leal, who brings us on both a geographical and ideological tour of Latin America from Milei’s anarcho-capitalist Argentina to Sheinbaum’s socially-democratic-with-a-side-of-cartel Mexico and everything in between. The great breakdown of Latin America and what the Trump presidency could mean that you didn’t know you needed to hear.
Support Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/117612489
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Dr. Nour Nafez Hammad is a Palestinian educator and scholar who is engaged in the fields of literature and education. In this episode of PalCast, she speaks of personal loss, the role of storytelling and literature in creating a Palestine away from the control of Israeli narrative. She explains how the use of literature, videos and social media posts are a way of maintaining some sanity in what is an insane situation. Tune in for much more.
Support the AFSC @ https://afsc.org/
Details for the Sameer Project are @ https://www.patreon.com/posts/118211557
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In this 2024/2025 tortoise shack special we are joined by journalist and Our Man in Stockholm, Mr Philip O’Connor, to discuss how the (sadly many) missed opportunities of 2024 can be seen as learnings for 2025.
We talk politics, media and the need for a more combative opposition within both areas. Then Philip makes the case for moving beyond solidarity to what he calls Radical Compassion. Please have a listen.
(And get him a job hosting an Irish tv show)
Please help the Sameer Project here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/118211557
Also the AFSC are doing amazing work, support them here:https://afsc.org/
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In this wrap of 2024 we skip over the Irish Sea to talk with listener favourite, Prof Richard Murphy, about the UK’s year of turmoil and the stability of having a politics of not very much ambition.
Richard talks about how the Labour Party had continued to impose rules upon itself under the guise of fiscal prudence, whilst offering a seat at the table to some of the biggest capitalist predators in the world. Global Britain in 2025? We will see.
Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/117612489
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Listeners will remember Ann Marie Flanagan from our 'No on the Care Referendum' podcast. Well she’s decided that the best way for to see the promises made after that failed referendum is for her to be at the table where the legislation gets written and negotiated. So she’s running for the Seanad and joins us to talk all about her ambitions for the work and representing the disabled community as a member of it in national politics.
Donate to Dignity to Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/117612489
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Banias is a wonderful a 8-year old child living in Gaza, now displaced in Al-Zawayda. She joins us to speak of the dreams that she still carries and the life that she left behind in her home, now destroyed, in Gaza city,
Banias shares her hopes for the new year, talks about rebuilding Gaza, wanting to visit New York, her favourite Christmas film, Home Alone, and how much she wants to see an end to the war. Her mom, Maram, also joins us towards the end of the conversation. Banias likes Christmas, and she lit up this podcast. Let’s hold her and the people of Gaza in the light during this holiday season. Tune in for more
Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/117612489
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In this wrap of 2024 we are joined by the dream team of Shamim Malekmian and Harry McEvansoneya, to look back over 2024, share a few laughs and worry about the direction of travel in too much of global politics. We talk heroes, villains and the stories that included both of those. All Hail the Bike Shed.
Happy Christmas from Donna and Blitzen!
The Child's Wish from Gaza Pod is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/118607091
Prof Richard Murphy on the UK's 2024 is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/118100221
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(Editors Note: Recorded Dec 12th)
Martin vs RTE at the WRC
Martin went to the WRC to represent RTE worker Joey Kelly vs Arthur Cox who are representing RTE. It was standing room only and despite the attempts to have the case dismissed, what was revealed shows that RTE is not taking steps to resolve its mistreatment of workers. If anything the company is speaking out of both sides of its State-Funded mouth.
The Tortoise Shack Wrap of the Year is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-118464623
Please support Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/117612489
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
I won't lie, I wanted to see PBP Cllr Conor Reddy get into the Dáil. But that's the democratic process and his (and my) disappointment is, as Conor outlines, a waste of time when the work on the ground continues. We look at the opportunity of real Left Unity in the next Dáil and in street-led activism and we also discuss his important scientific work with Inclusion Services and his PhD which first brought him to my attention. You don't need a Dáil seat to make a difference.
The Wrap of 2024 Specials are available now at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/please-support-117612489
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
Human Rights Lawyer, Saoirse Brady is the Executive Director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust (https://iprt.ie) and she kindly sat down with us in the tortoise shack to talk about our prison system, restorative justice, community sanctions, ending secondary punishments and much more.
We really got a lot out of this podcast. Please give it a listen.
Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/117612489
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this must hear podcast journalist and tortoise shack regular Gareth Browne joined us from Syria to describe what he has witnessed since being one of the first western journalists to enter Damascus as the Assad regime was collapsing.
This podcast includes descriptions that some listeners may find disturbing. But, and it is a big but, I think it’s ultimately a hopeful conversation. We all wish for better for the Syrian people into 2025.
Martin vs RTE at the WRC podcast is here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-117844335
Donate to Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/please-support-117612489
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this post GE2024 podcast we are joined by Sinn Féin poll topper and maybe short-lived head of the Public Accounts Committee, Mairéad Farrell, to discuss her party's disappointment and or satisfaction with the general election results, her term as a first time TD, working hard for her constituency, the need for better domestic violence supports, the chances of a female led broad left opposition and plenty more.
Gareth Browne and Will Holden on Syria podcasts are available now at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/please-support-117612489
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this Post-General Election 2024 Podcast we talk with newly re-elected Soc Dem TD for Dublin Central, Gary Gannon. He talks about the mistakes he made in his first term, the need to stay grounded in the area he represents and what he thinks both the next Government and Opposition will look like. He also addresses the 'Monk' podcast love-in and the furore around Owen Hayes and his former job with software company Palantir.
The Conor Reddy and Mairéad Farrell podcasts are out now at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
Support Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/please-support-117612489
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
Note: this was recorded a few days ago, but we didn't want it to get lost in the GE2024 news cycle.
In this podcast we are joined by freelance freedom of information journalist and one of the driving forces behind righttoknow.ie, Ken Foxe (yes, bike shed Ken) and managing partner at FP Logue Solicitors and tortoise shack regular Dr Fred Logue, to discuss a very important ruling on a case they fought that has significant implications for FOI.
This might seem a bit nerdy, but this is the stuff that helps us see what is happening away from the Dáil plinth and inside the offices charged with delivering for the citizenry.
The Mairéad Farrell and Gary Gannon post election podcasts are avilable at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
Please support Dignity for Palestine, details are here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/please-support-117612489
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this extended GE 2024 election results and outcomes podcast we are joined by recently re-elected PBP TD, Paul Murphy for a chat about his last few years in the politics, the campaign in 2024, the positives we could see in a genuine Left vs Right polarised Dáil and the effective and practical ways which Left can unite going forward, while still not agreeing (and not having to agree) on everything.
For the Mairéad Farrell and Gary Gannon New Dáil podcasts please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
The situation in Gaza is getting worse. Three women were crushed to death by men who lined up to get aid in Central Gaza. Israel continues to expand the Netzarim Corridor and attack family homes full of displaced people. More people are getting hungrier each day. At this year’s conference on Palestine Studies at Universiti Malaya, Palestinian scholars and activists spoke of their vision for Gaza and told their personal stories of loss. More plans to preserve Refaat Alareer’s legacy in Malaysia, tune in for more details.
Remembering Refaat registration:https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_itlESZDCSymnWfBuE7kqUA#/registration
Please join us patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In the last few weeks of the US presidential campaign tortoise shack regular and Latin American journalist with El Pais, Nicholas Dale Leal spent time in Miami, Georgia and right along the border in Texas. He joins us now to discuss what he saw and how it felt as a Colombian citizen who lives in Mexico to see the way things are and have shifted in the US of A. An eye-opening conversation.
The latest Govt formation and Opposition Options podcast is available now at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
1Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this GE2024 podcast we talk results, our predictions, Fianna Fáil's impending Fine Gael identity crisis, Sinn Féin's need to work outside the box, the far right flop, how the Soc Dems could lose by winning big and lots, lots more.
For all our GE Coverage please go to patreon.com/tortoiseshack
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I think Ireland needs to vote for a king and a queen. my family's last name is leslie. who are related to the churchills. I'm willing to take throne. if need be. yours truly kyle leslie.