podcast – Tortoise Shack

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 “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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this episode, Rory is joined to talk with returning guest, 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 decisions impact mental […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]