The Echo Chamber from Tortoise Shack

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In this Reboot Podcast, Rory and Tony are joined by award winning writer, political commentator and host of the Guardian's Politics Weekly podcast, John Harris, for a long overdue catchup.

They discuss the general state of the UK's politics as it moves beyond the various crises of recent years, the struggles of working class communities (and the hope in them), Tory meanness, the fear of Labour to be seen as promising too much and the need for better political stories that give people hope.

The How to Fix RTE podcast with Simon McGarr is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/88035500

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You might have seen the reports on Monday that Saudi Arabian border guards/soldiers had killed hundreds of Ethiopian asylum seekers who were trying to cross the border from Yemen.

Read:https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/08/21/saudi-arabia-mass-killings-migrants-yemen-border

The lead researcher and author of the report, Nadia Hardman, joined us on the tortoise shack to discuss what the 15 month report uncovered, the trauma inflicted on survivors, the International community's lack of response and the need for at the very least a UN led investigation into what are crimes against international law.

Warning: Nadia outlines and describes some subject matter that listeners may find disturbing.

The Trumpometer podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-88383315

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Beano Niblock is a playwright, poet and former loyalist prisoner. His current play, The Man Who Swallowed A Dictionary, charts the life of former PUP leader the late David Ervine. In this episode of Shrapnel Beano talks to the lads about how he came to write the play, what his friendship with David was like and the way in which former loyalist prisoners are reticent to tell their side of the story.

The Man Who Swallowed A Dictionary is written by Beano Niblock and directed by Matthew McElhinney. It is on in the Lyric Theatre, Belfast from 29 Aug - 10 Sept and then goes on tour across NI. The play is produced by Green Shoot Productions.

Tickets available at: https://lyrictheatre.co.uk/whats-on/the-man-who-swallowed-a-dictionary

Full version of this podcast including the listener Q&A is available now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-88418330

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Terms like "just transition" have been adopted by the capitalist system as a branding exercise and it has lost all meaning. But what if we could take steps to re-democratise workplaces and local communities in ways that would benefit the majority and help make climate action more than rhetoric? Joining me from An Rabharta Glass - Green Left are Cork City Cllr Lorna Bogue and Campaigns Officer, Michael Rafferty, and they have a program document (see bleow) that aims to do just that.

Read more:https://anrabhartaglas.ie/files/arg-gl_politicisingclimate.pdf

Tickets for the Live Show:https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/tortoise-shack-live-tickets-698299581847?aff=erelexpmlt

The Ditch on Leo Varadkar vs Sipo is out now here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-88226713

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The CSO vs the RTB

We've been hearing for what seems to be years now that landlords are fleeing the market and we've been constantly told that any criticism of the rental market is "demonising mom and pop landlords."

But that's not really true, at least not according to the CSO. Joining us is the Dublin Inquirer's Laoise Neylon and she tells us about her report that contradicts the narratives above and why it's not as simple as we're often told.

Read more:https://dublininquirer.com/2023/08/09/census-data-raises-questions-about-narrative-that-landlords-are-fleeing-the-market/

Tickets:https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/tortoise-shack-live-tickets-698299581847?aff=oddtdtcreator

John Harris podcast out now:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-88081752

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Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party, Lee Anderson, recently said that Asylum Seekers disgruntled with the inhumane conditions of so-called Floatels should "fuck off back to France" and his Party backed him

Now, thanks to our guest, Professor of Green Economy and member of the UCU at Queens University Belfast, John Barry, we know that the company, Corporate Travel Management (CTM), who were recently granted a £1.6 billion contract to run the Tory Party "hostile environment" asylum system is also providing travel services to Queens!

John outlines the ethical concerns he and his colleagues have and why they do not want to be seen to be legitimising a company like CTM. We talk about the need for QUB to end the contract, find out how the deal was procured in the first place and implement a more ethical process going forward as a starting point.

Worth also noting that some recent reports have the Irish Govt looking at similar "floatel" solutions. From ending Direct Provision, to DP on a barge.

The Sunday Show on Schrödinger's Bogus Self Employment is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-87939147

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TW: This podcasts contains subject matter that some people may find disturbing

It was a great pleasure to be joined by some of the amazing people behind Families for Reform of CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services). Hannah, Anne, Jenny and Eimear discuss their personal experiences of seeking support and the impact the systemic failures have and are having on their children, families and indeed themselves. A recurring theme is how the women feel "fortunate" to have support of others outside of CAMHS, but that should not have to be the case. We should not be abandoning our young and leaving them and their families neglected by a system that that the recent report admitted cannot be said to be safe and effective.

For more visit:https://www.families-for-reform-of-camhs.com/

Presale tickets for our next live show:https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/tortoise-shack-live-tickets-698299581847?aff=oddtdtcreator

Podcast with Joao Pina from the Portuguese Govt is out now:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-87432401

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As promised here's part 2 of our recent live show in the Sugar Club. You'll hear from Martin and Tony about the strain in their pod marriage and then they're joined by the journalists behind the Ditch website, Eoghan McNeill and Roman Shortall, to talk independent media, their work wins and loses, the political response to them personally, RTÉ and the reaction to their funding from Paddy Cosgrave.

The must-hear Part 3 featuring Dept of Health whistleblower, Shane Corr is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/87065046

Tickets for our next Live Show are available here:https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/tortoise-shack-live-tickets-698299581847?aff=oddtdtcreator

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Editors Note: Releasing this now for the public following the PSNI data breach.

Way back in 2019, Episode 126, we took the tortoise shack up to Belfast to talk with award winning documentary makers and investigative journalists, Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey, who were then under pre-trial arrest for the "crime" of looking into the Loughinisland massacre of 1994. Little did we (or they) know that what their battle for the truth would uncover police surveillance of journalists at a level that would be associated with many a autocratic regime.

Barry and Trevor rejoined us to bring us up to date and sound the alarm on the anti-democratic policing of journalism within the PSNI. They have, as the kids say, kept the receipts.

Portuguese Govt's Joao Pina joined us to talk about the left in power:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-87432401

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(Editors Note: Recorded Monday Aug 7th for members)

Art is supposed to provoke and with their Designated Crack and Heroin Zone posters, activist artists, SpiceBag and Pattern Up have certainly done that.

Both SpiceBag and Pattern Up, joined us to talk about the reasons for their poster and the heat that comes with provoking conversations via protest art. Then Sinn Féin Cllr in Dublin City Council, Daithí Doolan, joins us all to share his concerns about the posters and why he feels they aren't helpful. There's some disagreement and conflict with a small c, but everyone wants to see harm reduction drug policies implemented. A cracking listen...

The follow up podcast with SpiceBag and Dr Sharon Lambert is available now for free:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-87488678