The Echo Chamber from Tortoise Shack

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" I ran from death in Gaza City to find it in Rafah"

If you've been with us a while you'll have heard from author, academic, researcher with Politics Today and proud Gazan, Dr Yousef M Aljamal, before. Sadly and tragically he rejoins us today to talk about how the Israeli bombing of Gaza has killed nine of his family and what that brutality is doing to his home and any sense of hope he might have for a peaceful and just life in a free Palestine.

Yousef outlines what he feels is the goal of 'the most right wing government in Israeli history' and how this campaign is unprecedented in both cruelty and ambition. This is another voice that we need to hear from on our mainstream platforms.

Read his latest piece here: https://politicstoday.org/gaza-death-march/

Dr Sharon Lambert on the Citizens Assembly for Drugs is out now:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-91593486

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Last week following the airstrike on the Al Ahil Baptist Hospital, we spoke with Dr Refaat Alareer, who at the time said that he was lucky to be safe at home with provisions of food and a generator to get electricity. That was at least until two Israeli missiles turned his, and his family's world upside down.

He rejoins us now to discuss the last few horrendous days, the impact it is having on his children and the hunger games that are playing out right now in Gaza. Refaat discusses his disappointment in World Leaders and the failings of the western media. We also discuss the 18 dead journalists in Gaza and Refaat shares his memories of how he actually taught one of them, Roshdi Sarraj, English when he was just a little boy.

The Vienna Housing Podcast is out now:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-91200014

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Hey folks, a big thank you to you all for being part of this little community you have all helped to build. Without you there is no shack and there are no nights like last This!

This is actually part 3 of the recent Sugar Club Live show and features a brilliant conversation between Aoife Moore and Emmet Kirwan. We talk about accents, class, politics, the far right, online hate, art and why Tony can't stop trying to be the main character. What a great night!

The Night from Hell in Gaza update is available now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/gaza-under-siege-91445484

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Shrapnel presents Fragments - a new series of intermittent one-off episodes where Sam and Gareth answer questions about the past, present and future in Northern Ireland posed by you, our members, listeners and followers. It'll be available in the regular Shrapnel podcast feed on all streaming platforms.

Get your questions in for the next episode at [email protected]

UK economist, commentator and author, Grace Blakeley interview is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-91199255

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There are no words to describe the awful collective punishment that continues to be dished out by the Netanyahu government on the citizens of Gaza. But we continue to try highlight them with people on the ground whenever possible. Rejoining us now is 21 year English Literature student, Afaf Al Najjar, and she tells us about the last few days, how they feel abandoned by the international community and why humanitarian aid is of very little use if she and her familiy are still under a constant bombardment. More importantly, she turns the question about humanitarian aid around. Listen to her question. We’d love to get your reply.

The Latest Shrapnel with Emma Shaw is out here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-91269012

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack

Claire Mitchell is a writer and researcher from Belfast. Her recent book The Ghost Limb was published in 2022 to critical acclaim. In this episode Claire chats to the lads about the book, the spirit of 1798 and the United Irishmen, her work with Billy Mitchell and progressive loyalism in the early 00s and the journey of self-discovery she embarked on which led her to discover the ghost limb of alternative Protestants rooted in the era of the United Irishmen.

Emma Shaw: Empowering through Education podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-91269012

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The world watched in horror as videos emerged of the carnage wreaked by a missile on the Al Ahil Baptist Hospital. With reports of over 500 dead, the fog of war quickly descended in what are attempts to shift the blame. Some of the media have decided, rather than investigate, to both-sides it. We have not. So if you're looking for 'he said that he said' this is not the podcast for you.

Joining me from Gaza is University Lecturer in Gaza, Dr Refaat Alareer, who outlines why he is no doubt that this was an IDF missile and why it is yet another war crime carried out on his people. Refaat talks about the hunger he and his family are experiencing and the lack of political support the people of Gaza are receiving.

Two notes:

1. The IDF lied before several times and I do not give them the benefit of the doubt.

2. Refaat's line dropped for a couple of minutes in the middle, so the audio is clumsily stitched together. But it is a very important podcast, so please listen.

The Grace Blakeley Podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-91199255

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Longtime listeners will be familiar with the Palestinian NASA engineer, Loay Elbasyouni, as the man who designed a helicopter that flew on Mars. But today he rejoins us to talk about the conflict raging in Gaza and how his parents (dual Palestinian and German citizens) have ended up trapped in the city and what, if anything, is happening to help get them out.

This is a deeply personal podcast and Loay talks with great warmth for his homeland and great passion for his people. We also discuss resistance, Israel's goals and learning to live in peace.

Reminder that the National Demonstration - End the Siege is Sat Oct 21st at 1pm from the Garden of Remembrance

The Hidden Homelessness Podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-90849548

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This is a very special episode of our Sunday show. We are joined by Mr Irish Election Projections, Harry McEvansoneya, to discuss the latest polls, the HSE recruitment freeze, RTE back at the PAC, Tommy Bowe as Ireland's top Pol Corr and then..

..we discuss a few things that happened this week that I felt we needed to mention, but cannot not say on the main feed...

(Note: The discussion from 30-42mins is for Patrons only. Members please listen and you'll understand)

..before we discuss more generally Israel-Palestine in a section where Harry talks about the issues in ways that you must listen to. Thank you, Harry. Proud to call you a friend.

The full podcast is available now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-91024275

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In this podcast you'll hear from an emotional Mahmoud Mushtaha about the incredible cruelty of the Israeli military's bombardment and orders to evacuate. We discuss in a very broad and (probably) clumsy way some of the events that led to this catastrophic conflagration, the maddening reporting by much of international media, the insular reporting of Irish media and then we update you on the lived experiences of some familiar voices from the area. This is not a pleasant podcast and there's a lot of strong language used.

Follow Yara or Twitter: @arayirl

The Lefty Budget Analysis is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-90846308