The Echo Chamber from Tortoise Shack

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Ayat Abuhelal is a poet, writer, translator, and student of English literature, born and raised in Gaza. She was recently evacuated to Ireland to continue her academic studies. While finishing her BA studies online, she is preparing to start her MA studies in Dublin. She shares a story of struggle between two worlds. This story is of displacement, hope and family that she left behind. When Ayat left Gaza, she also left behind part of her in a city now in rubble. As her new classmates speak of 2026 to come, she at times feel frozen in October 2023. Tune in for the full story. The Philip O'Connor Victory Parade Podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-143333372 Support Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/call-to-stand-143037542

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Cian Prendiville was Head of Digital Organising on the Connolly for President Campaign, and late last week he joined me to talk about those history making months, the highs, lows and the learnings he wants us to take forward into a new keepleft.ie movement. Great insights, great enthusiasm and great strategic planning; even this old cynic was impressed. Cian's piece is out now here:https://jacobin.com/2025/11/connolly-ireland-presidential-election-left/ The Sudan podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-143324871 The Ivan Yates story/non-story podcast is out here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-143255108 Support Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/call-to-stand-143037542

Prof Constantin Gurdgiev, an economics expert, dives deep into the complexities of our current geopolitical landscape and economic trends. He discusses the troubling political manipulation of U.S. economic data and the implications of AI investment bubbles. Gurdgiev critiques the obsession with tech infrastructure that ignores pressing social issues, highlighting the erosion of the social contract and rising inequality. He also reflects on the war in Ukraine and warns about the growing power of financial influences over state capacities.

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Sojood Bakroon is a graduate of Literature at Al-Aqsa University in Gaza. She is a writer and a poet, who hopes to amplify the Palestinian voice and let the world know about Palestine and Gaza. She is now in Ireland doing English and Communication at UCD. In this PalCast episode, she shares her experience of loss, displacement and fonding hope and sadness after leaving Gaza. “The world is a hotel and Gaza my home,” she says. She hopes to return back to Gaza one day to help rebuild. The John Gibbons Climate Action - the lie of the land - podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-142412733 Support Dignity for Palestine details here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/call-to-stand-143037542

Sabrina Joyce-Kemper is a planning and environmental expert with firsthand experience in public participation and judicial review, particularly in the Greater Dublin Drainage Project. Fred Logue is a solicitor specializing in planning and public law, offering insights into judicial review and legal claims. They discuss the backlash against judicial review, highlighting how media narratives misrepresent public participation's role in delays. Sabrina emphasizes the urgent need for enforceable remedies in access to justice, while Fred calls for broader coalitions to uphold the rule of law and improve planning quality.

In this episode, MEP Lynn Boylan, a champion for trade justice, dives into the renewed threats posed by the Mercosur trade deal. She warns how 'simplification' often masks deregulation that harms worker and environmental protections. Lynn highlights major concerns, including deforestation, food safety, and human rights violations related to the deal. She also emphasizes the need for public scrutiny and solidarity among civil society to resist rollbacks in regulations, underscoring the urgent call for fairness in trade practices.

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack CW: Contains personal stories that some listeners may find upsetting. This week Israel broke the ceasefire with devastating consequences, killing over 100 people, including 46 children. Somehow most western media is reporting that they've now reinstated it. We live in terrible times. Our guest, Hala Al-Khatib is a 20-years-old writer and poet from Gaza and she speaks of the horrors that her neighborhood and all of Gaza went through on October 28, 2025. While Israel carried out the latest massacre, Hala was holding her breath; the IOF tanks visible from what is left of her destroyed home. Earlier in the genocide, she was injured along with some family members when Israel targeted a home on the other side of the street of her parents house. Her parents house now hosts her two sisters, who lost their spouses and homes, and her aunt who lost her home too. Despite all these difficulties, she is still hopeful and has plans for the future. Tune in for the full story. Constantin Gurdgiev podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-142410024

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack On the 30th of January 1972 a young Tony Doherty was playing marbles on the Bogside in Derry when word reached him that his father, Paddy had been shot. In the hours, weeks, months and years ahead the families of those who were murdered and injured on that day marched, campaigned and dragged the British State into apologising for what became known around the world as Bloody Sunday. Yesterday that journey (seemingly) ended when the mass murderer called Soldier F was found not guilty. Tony joins me to talk about the trial, the outcome, the Irish presidential campaign and much more. Dion Fanning podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-142188516 MEP Lynn Boylan podcast is out now here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-142349510

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this belter of an Echo pod we combine for the first time ever Mr irishelectionprojections.com's Harry McEvansoneya and thegist.ie's Simon McGarr and is was even more fun than I'd hoped. We talk about the main 3 stories arising out of Catherine Connolly's historic victory and the reasons much of legacy media seem to want to focus on the least important one. We talk winners, losers and the disconnect that this campaign has exposed between politics, media and the public. The Dion Fanning podcast is here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-142188516

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory is joined by tortoise shack editor and producer, Tony Groves and Mr irishelectionprojections.com, Harry McEvansoneya, to talk about the Presidential Election, the broad Left-unity movement that may emerge and the far right in Ireland. We also pit Rory's enthusiasm against Tony's cynicism and Harry looks at what lessons might be learned from what was a bit of a mad campaign. Harry's latest:https://irishelectionprojections.com/2025/10/21/2025-presidential-election/ Bloody Sunday, Soldier F and British Justice with Tony Doherty out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-141945374