Episodes

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 analyse the broken social contract, the influence of neoliberalism, and the rising tide of activism and community resistance. ...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack "Politics should be about supporting the people, not gamesmanship" Was Budget 2027 really a "workers' budget" Rory and Tony unpack the promises, pre-budget kites and political marketing behind it all. They examine the gap between the minimum wage and the living wage, the risks behind the new investment scheme for the so-called squeezed middle, and the decision to channel public money into investment funds rather than areas such as housing, childcare an...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack This Reboot Republic is a deep discussion about the latest data on young people in Ireland, what it says about the political landscape, social mobility and the political and social issues eroding the social contract. We discuss the monopolistic economic policies and the impact of austerity and decades of neoliberalism. Rory and Tony analyse recent government actions, public sentiment, and potential pathways for change. We don't need new middle managers...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic episode, Rory is joined by artist, activist, songwriter, Gavin Trick Mist Murray, to discuss his new art project 'The Gap' and its connection to Ireland's housing crisis, and our mythical past. He talks about wanting to explore themes of liminality, societal failure, and intergenerational trauma through music and visual art. For more:https://trickmist.bandcamp.com/ Political Violence vs Systemic Violence podcast:https://www.patr...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic episode, Rory and Tony are rejoined by Senior Lecturer of Applied Psychology at University College Cork and President-elect of the Psychology Society of Ireland, Dr Sharon Lambert, who explores and outlines the stark realities of child poverty, social inequality, and policy choices in Ireland. They discuss how societal and political decisions impact mental health, social cohesion, class solidarity and long-term well-being, empha...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic episode, Rory and Tony delve into Ireland's rental crisis, exploring the impact of government policies, the influence of corporate landlords, and the global financial factors shaping the market. They also discuss the broader implications of neoliberal capitalism, climate change, and the role of AI in society. Empathy and Inequality with Dr Sharon Lambert:https://www.patreon.com/tortoiseshack/posts/patron-exclusive-168594354 A Pa...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic episode, Rory is rejoined by Louise Bayliss from St. Vincent de Paul to discuss Ireland's rising cost of living, energy arrears, food inflation, the deepening housing crisis, and the deepening inequality that leaves many households feeling pessimistic about the future. They explore the systemic failures, the impact on vulnerable populations, the urgent need for policy reforms, and the solutions that are workable. They also brief...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic Podcast, Rory talks with Michael Taft, SIPTU economist, about the current tax-cutting agenda, a wealth tax, making our economy safer through state-led investment and actually affordable through public service provision, and responding to AI disruption through economic democracy and employee driven decison making. A progressive economic feast of solutions for summer listening. The Cancel Culture Dan O'Brien Podcast is here:https:...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory speaks with Michelle Murphy from Social Justice Ireland, who discusses Ireland's economic position, social justice issues, the impact of political and ideological policies, and the importance of building a society focused on the common good. Michelle emphasises the need for real investment in community, building public services, and growing indigenous industry to create a fairer and more resilient Ireland. for more see:htt...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory talks to Poet and teacher Mikey Cullen about his experience on the Global Sumud Flotilla, which attempted to break the siege of Gaza. He explains the illegal actions of Israel in kidnapping EU citizens in International waters, the violence they inflicted, and the hope and humanity the Flotilla carried. We also discuss why Ireland cannot play the Israel soccer match #Stopthegame CW: Listeners should note some of this maybe ...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack This Reboot Republic Podcast, is a deep dive into the environmental and societal impacts of data centres and AI development in Ireland. Rory and Dr Ciaran O'Carroll analyse the rapid expansion of data centre infrastructure, its economic benefits (if any?), and the urgent need for sustainable and equitable strategies. This podcast outlines the finance chaos of Data Centres and why the bill for them keeps falling on the public to pay. Mikey Cullen from t...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory is joined by Economist with SIPTU, Michael Taft, to discuss the global economic outlook, the impacts the various crises are having on Ireland and the steps our Government (in housing, energy and health) can take to protect people from the worst of a worsening situation. Michael also delves into the issues facing the low and middle-income workers and has a quick-win progressive suggestion for how to address their genuine ne...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory talks to Tony about the massive rent increases caused by the Government's new rental policies, Micheal Martin's thinskinned replies in the Dáil and the disturbing killing of Yves Sakila on Henry Street in Dublin. Join CATU: https://catuireland.org/ Black and Irish:https://blackandirish.com/ Philip O'Connor on violence podcast:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-158808490 Adam SpiceBag Doyle podcast:https://www.p...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Hope, Courage and Community This Reboot Republic episode explores public attitudes towards migration, the rise of hate and far-right mobilisation in Ireland, and how communities are responding. Experts from the Hope and Courage Collective, Niamh McDonald and Edel McGinley join Rory to discuss the findings of their new report 'Ireland in Focus 2025, Mind the Gap,' which highlights the influence of online hate, shifting narratives, the gap between percep...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory talks with economist and Director of NERI, Tom McDonnell about the current energy crisis, its global implications, and practical solutions for Ireland. The conversation covers energy security, renewable infrastructure, housing, and the need for a state construction company to address Ireland's housing crisis. It's all about inflation. We also discuss why a state construction company is needed, its benefits and why we would...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic episode, Rory interviews Joe Guinan about the current geopolitical turbulence, the economic implications of the war, and the potential of community wealth building as a transformative alternative to the current financial system. Joe Guinan is President of The Democracy Collaborative. His focus is on political economy, strategy, and economic system change, and he is co-author (with Martin O’Neill) of The Case for Community Wealth...

In this Reboot Republic, Rory talks to Poet and teacher Mikey Cullen about his decision to join the new flotilla heading to break the siege on Gaza. We talk about history repeating itself - how genocide continues in Gaza by Israel despite international law, our common commitment to never again, and finding meaning and purpose in a world where social media tries to commodify us into turning against each other and blaming the other instead of the billionaires destroying our societies and the plane...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic podcast, Rory and Tony discuss the costs of Trump's war - Israel's ongoing attacks on Lebanon, the fuel protests, the need for societal solidarity and how they reflect a deep distress amongst people struggling with the cost of living and where this is all headed. They draw the parallel between government arrogance and lack of compassion on Homelessness and evictions, which are at record levels, to their dismissive response to th...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory discusses with Dr Phil Lawton of Trinity College the Government's latest housing proposals to remove planning restrictions on living in back-gardens & allow them to be rented. Phil sets out the international experience of back garden/lane dwellings - and the key differences with Ireland. He sets out real concerns with what the Government is proposing in terms of bad planning and what may become of these in the future. We d...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory talks to Louise Bayliss of the St Vincent De Paul about what they are hearing and seeing from the 260,000 people contacting them looking for support. We look at child poverty, and ask why is it still so bad - almost 1 in 5 children go hungry at some point. We also discuss normalising homelessness and what needs to change. Louise Bayliss is Head of Social Justice and Policy at the St Vincent de Paul. The Shed-sit podcast is...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack This Reboot Republic again delves into Ireland's housing crisis, government policies, and the influence of international investment on the economy. Rory and Tony analyse the systemic issues, the role of private sector interests, the government fund festival vs the mass evictions that are occuring and the potential solutions for sustainable, green and public owned development. Cuba podcast with El Pais journalist in Latin America, Nicholas Leal here:htt...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic podcast, Rory talks with Keire Murphy, policy officer with the ESRI about their recent research on public attitudes on immigration in Ireland and how that compares to the reality. We also discuss what factors influence people's views, and how this can be changed, from tackling disadvantage to local communities working to engage new communities. We also have a chat with Keire about her own experience as a renter in her 30s and he...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic Rory speaks to Joan Carthy of the Irish Wheelchair Association about the cost of living crisis facing disabled people and their campaign for an emergency cost of disability winter payment. Joan explains how disabled people feel like they were pawns in the election after promises were made by Government but then their supports were cut in Budget 2026. Joan talks about the reality of having to choose between heating and eating and...

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic podcast, Rory chats to producer Tony about the biggest changes to Ireland’s rental market in a generation, the Government’s response (or lack of) to the recent floods and the need for the opposition to make the public believe that it doesn’t have to be this way when it comes to the current politics of mediocrity. The Epstein Files and the dearth of good reporting:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-150004285 Poet Paul...