This week we’re off first to the Middle-East, a place that can be difficult at the best of times, but these they most certainly are not. David Sheen and Budour Hassan join us from Haifa and Jerusalem, as Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial begins. Despite this, he’s used the pandemic to grab more power, drag the left into his far-right alliance, […]
At some point in our lives, we will probably end up caring for a family member. It may be a short term solution but more than likely, it could end up being a full time or nearly full-time role. It’s a job that is emotionally, physically and psychologically taxing on both you and the person you’re caring for and oftentimes, […]
The “we’re all in this together” mood music from government changed very quickly and the old economic orthodoxy has looked to reassert itself. Our guest is Associate Professor in UCD and columnist with the Sunday Business Post, Aidan Regan, and this is a must listen for both traditionalists and progressives. Aidan breaks down how the old ideas no longer fit […]
As Spain enters Phase 1 of lifting what was previously one of the most restrictive Covid-19 lockdowns, we go back to Madrid to speak with Professor Joe Haslam about how things are in the Spanish capital. Joe outlines why the toxic political discourse is partly only a cover for an ideological battle between a (seemingly) competent Left Wing Government and […]
How long can a caretaker government limp on for? What happens when the money runs out? Is it even possible to have an election under these extraordinary times? Lecturer in Law in Waterford Institute of Technology and author of Constitutional Law in Ireland, Dr Jennifer Kavanagh, joins us to discuss all this and a lot more. This conversation breaks down […]
This episode looks back at the Marriage Equality and Abortion Referendums in Ireland. Listen to my chat with grassroots campaigners Tracey and Karen, as we discuss how they got involved, the highlights and lowlights of the campaigns, and processing it all. All pods on tortoiseshack.ie Join us: patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In what was the 300th episode of the Echo Chamber, we were joined by actor, writer, comedian (available for voice-work) and good friend of the pod, Tara Flynn. Recorded in front of a live (zoom) audience of tortoise shack members that was packed with lots of familiar faces and absolute sounders, this was as much an interview with Tara as […]
When Covid became all too real, experts were suggesting that Vietnam and Taiwan would be hit hardest due to their proximity with China. But now that they’ve faired best, did this proximity, suspicion and downright dislike of their neighbours give them a key headstart? With rumours reaching Taiwan and hacks coming from Vietnam, we’re joined from both those nations by […]