The Echo Chamber from Tortoise Shack

Director of the Cork Life Centre, Don O'Leary came up from Cork to join me onstage for a very special live podcast. We discuss how a man who was arrested and imprisoned for treason goes on to be an educator and incredible advocate for children who have suffered Adverse Childhood Experiences.

We discuss him receiving a terminal diagnosis and deciding to make the very most of his time. Don talks about his recent trip to deliver aid to Ukraine and what he'd do if he had 24hrs in the Dept of Education. A great man, a real activist and let's face it, a legend. But don't tell him I said so.

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In this Reboot Republic, Rory and Tony discuss the lack of a real emergency response from the Government to what we call, the triple housing emergency - of needing to provide homes for Ukrainian refugees, for the already in homelessness/inadequate housing (including Traveller accommodation crisis and those in Direct Provision) and those stuck renting and at home looking to buy or rent a forever home. The Government cannot be allowed to cynically blame the humanitarian Ukraine crisis for failing to meet its housing targets that it already was failing to achieve, and we argue that it needs to implement a real emergency response, like COVID, whereby every resource is put to tackle these triple housing emergencies.

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As part of our ongoing coverage of the Assembly Elections, I was joined by Belfast Lord Mayor and the Alliance Party candidate for South Belfast, Kate Nicholl. We discuss why at 35 weeks pregnant she is campaigning for what she believes can be a "only way is up" future for her city. We discuss the opportunities in a working Stormont and what she would aim for if elected.

We also talk diversity, climate, the Protocol and more.

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Belfast City Cllr and Green Party candidate for East Belfast, Brian Smyth joined me to tell me why he was running and what he's hearing on the campaign trail. He talks about linking left-environmentalism to health, housing and social mobility. We talk about the media imbalance, the NI Protocol, cultural identity and much, much more.

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Martin got up long enough to chat with regular contributor Loyalist, Unionist and Lefty, Sam Mcilwaine about the upcoming Assembly Elections.

As always Sam gives a great insight into the concerns of the electorate and of his community. Interestingly while the NI Protocol is certainly a concern, it is far from the most important one. We also get into the latest polling on the appetite for a border poll and is this really Sinn Féin's election to lose. (recorded April 19th)

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I've just finished talking with Editor of Slugger O'Toole, Mick Fealty, about the upcoming Stormont Elections. Mick talks about the state of play, the "dreaded" border poll, where voters are looking beyond identity politics and what he sees as the outcome of what has been called the most important election in Northern Ireland's history.

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Madrid based Professor and long-time contributor, Joe Haslam was in Dublin for a few days, so he kindly dropped into the tortoise shack for an in person podcast.

We discussed the impact the war on Ukraine has had on the internal politics of Spain and what it has meant for their already EU leading ambitions towards structural climate action. We discuss the economic threats and the likely EU response to come. Joe outlines the need for more diversity in the policy making process and how thinking and acting globally is a better model for security and tackling inequality. We also grabbed a pint in the Diggers.

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If you knew that a train was steaming towards you, you'd get out of the way. So why are we so slow in acting to avoid the incoming climate crisis?

Joining me to discuss this and their new book, Supercharge Me, are Corinne Sawers and Eric Lonergan. They outline the steps that are viable now that will not only speed up the actions needed around renewable energy, buildings, food and transport, but actually benefit everyone who is not a member of a Theocracy, Thugocracy or the 1%.

Have a listen and get the book.

Tickets for Sunday:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tortoise-shack-live-easter-sunday-special-tickets-296620518957?keep_tld=1

(Recorded and released for members on Tuesday Apr 12th)

Today we witnessed an unprecedented international police action against the Kinahan Drug and Crime Group. Joining me to discuss this and the implications are two of the people who have done so much work on this story and helped make sure that the ugly facts were reported, no matter how much sportswashing occured, Chief Sports Writer with the Irish Daily Star, Kieran Cunningham and Crime Correspondent with the same paper, Michael O'Toole.

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