Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Paul Catafago is a first-generation Palestinian-Lebanese-American spoken word poet, independent journalist, and cultural organizer. Born and raised in Queens, New York City to political refugees, his raw, rhythmic poetry focuses deeply on memory, exile, identity, and the generational trauma of displacement. Nour O. El Borno is a Palestinian writer, educator, and professional legal translator from […]
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack “Common sense is often just biases and simplifications.” In this (previously) member-only pod, Tony and journalist Philip O’Connor explore Ireland’s political descent into fringe positions, media influence, social media dynamics, and the broader implications for democracy and society. They delve into the impact of social media echo chambers, government censorship, and the rise/normalisation of far-right […]
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack “This is not a moment to be a bystander. Let’s think about this as an opportunity.” In this Tortoise Shack Podcast, Tony speaks with Human Rights Law Professor at Queens University Belfast, Colin Harvey about the emerging and evolving discussion on Irish unity and the chance to shape a more equal, rights-based future across the […]
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack “We’re building for profit. We’re not building for people, and we’re not building for the planet.” Architect and Representative of the European Citizens’ Initiative Right to Housing, Josiane Schmidt, joins Rory to explain why Europe’s housing crisis is driven not simply by a shortage of buildings, but by unaffordability, vacancy, and treating homes as investment […]
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack “It always looks hopeless, until it’s not.” In this Tortoise Shack podcast, Tony speaks with journalist Nicholas Leal of El País about Lula da Silva’s narrow and historic presidential-election victory in Brazil. (Isn’t it great to have some good news for a change?) Nicholas outlines the grassroots mobilisation that overcame a first-round deficit, turned out […]
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Tarak AlFarra is a Palestinian Digital Storyteller, Social Media Creator and Humanitarian Activist from Gaza, who was evacuated and is now in Italy. His work focuses on humanitarian storytelling, visual documentation, social media advocacy, and short-form creation related to war, displacement, identity, and resilience. Through photography, interviews, public speaking, and digital media, he’s documented the […]
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack “Protests are rooted in a broken social contract. The deal with youth is off, and they know it. Europe must shift from GDP to well-being for all.” This episode explores the recent wave of protests across Europe, the underlying social and economic issues, and the implications for Ireland. Rory, Tony and guest Dr Ciaran O’Carroll […]
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Tortoise Shack Podcast, Tony challenges Matt Carthy, Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration, on his Party’s new proposals on long-term residency and citizenship. They discuss the evolving (devolving?) conversation around immigration in Ireland, and the changing public perceptions of our current system. The conversation delves into the nuances of immigration […]