Wee Lads, Big Problems

Would Jesus join Sinn Féin? Should the dominant political ideology of our age be the 2014 grunge tumblr aesthetic? Is the Sims 4 a model for a utopia? And finally, is Lísin from Hurlamaboc the ultimate girlboss?

Ryan and Evan are bombarded with hot takes from former Wee Lads guests and flatmates Frank, Lila, Oliwia and Ellen.

Originally broadcast live on Trinity FM, 23/04/2021

Jared Reilly talks to the Wee Lads about the geopolitics of the South China Sea, the Chinese economy, and the middle powers theory in international relations. Ryan talks about the Belt and Road Initiative and China's efforts to expand its sphere of influence. Evan talks about the danger of conflict breaking out in the South China Sea, and the effects this could have on international politics.

Ryan and Evan interview Zoe Lawlor and Tuqa Al Sarraj!

Zoë  Lawlor is an Irish human rights activist. She's the cultural liaison  with the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign and co-coordinator of Gaza Action Ireland. Zoë was also involved with the Irish Ship to Gaza  as part of an international coalition to try to break the illegal  Israeli siege of Gaza. With Gaza Action Ireland she has brought two  groups of young Palestinian footballers to tour Ireland to raise  awareness of the situation in Gaza.

Dublin based visual Artist Tuqa Al Sarraj, grew up in  Ramallah where she studied at The International Academy Of Art Palestine (IAAP). Throughout her work Al Sarraj combines mixed media,  video, performance, found objects and text to navigate themes of  folklore, memory, loss, displacement and exile. She utilises the public  space of the city as well as her own private space.

Evan and Ryan are joined by their philosophy of religion lecturer Michael O'Gorman. Questions range from 'How can an omnibenevolent god exist in a world with so much evil?' to 'Does God listen to WAP every now and then?'. Enjoy this April Fool's special!

Originally broadcast on Trinity FM, 01/04/2021

What makes some green parties more effective than others? Should green politics be driven by pragmatism or principles? And finally, do we even need green parties? How did an 'article' in Playboy herald the beginning of Green Party politics?

Join Evan and Ryan as they talk to Conal O'Boyle and Ben Rododera. Conal is a climate activist, member of the Labour Party and a former member of the Green Party. Ben is a PPES student from Germany. Both of these people know what they're talking about, and the Wee Lads are there too!

The wee gals have solved all the wee lads problems, so they're taking  over for International Women's Day! Get empowered with Ellen, Ella, Lila  and Oliwia as they discuss girl-bosses, intersectionality and terrible  jokes. The gals discuss the Strong Powerful Women closest to their  hearts- Lynn Ruane, Pinar Selek, Audre Lorde and Barbra Nowacka.

The Wee Lads are joined by Ella Burkett this week, as they discuss media in Turkey. Evan describes the recent political history in Turkey and talks about his Graph of the Week. Ella talks about how the lack of media freedom in Turkey affects politics and harms minority groups. Ryan discusses the prospects for media in Turkey, the effect of the internet on Turkish politics, and possible solutions to the problem.

The Wee Lads discuss populism in Europe with friend of pod Oliwia Borek, and Trinity icon Karl Barx. Join Ryan, Evan, and Oliwia as they discuss populism in Hungary, Poland, and Ireland. What is populism? How do populist parties get into power, and how do they maintain their power? And what do they typically use this power for?

Thanks so much for all the support for our first run on Trinity FM! We’ll be back with more next week!

Sources:

Poland and Law and Justice

www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17754512

www.politico.eu/article/5-takeways-polish-election-2015-law-justice-civic-voters-kaczynski-tusk-eu-pis-szydlo/

www.fpri.org/article/2020/07/polands-presidential-election-its-the-economy-stupid/

Ireland and Sinn Féin

foreignpolicy.com/2020/02/14/ireland-elections-sinn-fein-populism/

drive.google.com/drive/folders/1W9dp0vMay_JN86EROkobH_d25PRwxTg9?usp=sharing

Ryan and Evan are joined by Frank Wolfe, a 6'6 wee lad from Howth, and fellow PPES student. 

Frank begins with an overview of how the modern Chinese state actually works. Ryan talks about the atrocities committed by the Chinese state against the Uyghurs. Evan concludes with an analysis of some approaches the EU and the USA could pursue in defense of human rights in Xinjiang.

Originally broadcast live on Trinity FM, on 11/02/2021.