The PAC Woman Podcast

This is an extra special edition of the PAC Woman Podcast, as Linda was joined by some of the members of Abolish Direct Provision, a grassroots group of people within the Direct Provision centres.

We have had to disguise their voices, as they recorded this at great risk to themselves. If identified, their centre managers could uproot them and send them to a centre at the other end of the country for speaking out.

One thing is clear from it, Direct Provision is an inhumane system, and they feel very strongly that the recent White Paper, published by the government, is not sufficient. We need Minister O'Gorman to sit down with asylum seekers and enter into meaningful discourse in relation to what can be done right now and not in 2024. We need a system that supports Asylum Seekers to live their lives free from harm and oppression and to be able to integrate properly and enrich Irish society.

Thanks to Brian at Grooves Ahead for his work in editing this episode.

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In this second episode in the short series that looks at the prevalence of online abuse and the types of abuse people experience online we continue to focus on online abuse directed at the LGBT community.

Linda is joined by Historian and LGBT Activist Denise Murray, to talk about attempts to dox her on Twitter after an innocuous conversation she was having with other Historians online. It's really important to understand the types of people who are being subjected to abuse online and what we need to do to be better allies and take action to protect people, especially those in marginalised communities.

Don't forget that we are live later with a brilliant panel. Register now at patreon.com/tortoiseshack

This is the first episode in a series that looks at the prevalence of online abuse and the types of abuse people experience online. This week we are focusing on the LGBT community. Linda is joined by Aoife Martin, a Trans woman and activist who talks about her experiences of Transphobia and the attempts to import Transphobia around gender Self ID in Ireland from the UK. It's really important to understand the types of people who are being subjected to abuse online and what we need to do to be better allies and take action to protect people, especially those in marginalised communities.

Support this podcast and get access to all the extra tortoise shack content by going to: patreon.com/tortoiseshack

This week Linda is joined by Disability Activist, Social Democrat Party Vice Chair and all around sound person, Evie Nevin. Evie explains what it's like to live with the rare condition Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, and why there are no specialists in it in Ireland. They talk about what it's like to be an adoptee with a genetic disorder and finally what drew her to the Soc Dems, and what social democracy is, and how it works.

You can find Evie on Twitter @evie_nevin

The Tortoise Shack is Live at 12 for our Sunday Special. To come along join us at: patreon.com/tortoiseshack

This week Linda is joined by an amazing panel of Leaving Cert and 1st Year College students to talk about the impact Covid-19 has had on their lives. How they're adapting to distance learning and not having the social aspect of school and college. They also talk about the resources they have been given to adapt, or lack of them, and the impact all of it has had on their mental health.

This panel is made up of bright stars of our future; Joella Dhlamini a first year law student in DCU, Isabelle Flanagan a leaving cert student from Roscommon, David Driscoll also doing 1st year law in DCU and Conor Talbot who is studying commercial modern music in BIM. Thank you to all of the panelists this week for their very frank and honest contribution.

The Tortoise Shack is Live on Sunday at 12! Register and come along for the most fun podcast of the week: patreon.com/tortoiseshack

This very special Live Podcast was recorded in front of an audience of tortoise shack members. Linda speaks to a brilliant panel of incredible women: GP with the HSE Homeless Team Dr Anna Marie Naughton, Asst Prof in Addiction, Public Health & Primary Care Dr Jo-Hanna Ivers and UCC Psychology Lecturer, Dr Sharon Lambert to discuss the impact of Homelessness on Health.

This was a very engaging discussion about all aspects of homelessness and the ways both society and politics deals with it.

Thanks also to our audience for such terrific participation.

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Well this is a treat! Linda was delighted to be joined by Digital Comedy Superstar Michael Fry to talk about the phenomenal success of his "Indie Band" song sketches, what drew him to this kind of comedy, what might happen next and will we get an Indie band album or live show. Have a listen for the answers to the very important questions. If you haven't seen Michael's stuff check it out on Twitter and Instagram on @BigDirtyFry

Support him: ko-fi.com/michaelfry

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This week Linda is joined by Repeal the 8th powerhouse, Erin Darcy - custodian of people's abortion stories: In Her Shoes.

Erin is an author, an artist and an activist. The pair talk about how pivotal In Her Shoes was in repealing the 8th amendment, how the Irish legislation on abortion is now up for review and what is happening with the abortion ban in Poland.

They also talk about the importance of having art in everyday places and how important that is in your life. Erin is a joy to listen to, so this is a podcast that's not to be missed. You can see the Polish In Her Shoes page here https://www.facebook.com/jejbuty/ and you can find Erin's art on https://edarcydesign.com/ and buy In Her Shoes with €1 from every sale being donated to Women's Aid here https://www.newisland.ie/nonfiction/inhershoes

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It's now over a week since the publication of the report from the Commission of Inquiry into the Mother and Baby homes, and so Linda asked Maree Ryan-O'Brien from Aitheantas to rejoin her and tell her what she thought of the report and what needs to happen next from an adoptee's perspective. Maree pulls no punches as the pair talk birth certs, generational trauma and deletion of key stakeholders from the process.

You have to listen, it's really important stuff.

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Linda's guest* this week is Dr Ian Marder, a lecturer in Criminology in Maynooth University who has a specialist interest in Restorative Justice. Ian ran a short intro course to Victimology during the summer of 2020 which Linda attended and learned a lot from, so she thought that you, the listener, might be interested in learning more about it. They talk about what a victim is, ideal victim concepts, restorative justice and how the criminal justice system can be victimising in itself. Have a listen, it's very informative.

*Co-Staring Beans the dog

Remember, these podcasts are totally listener supported.

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