The moment you've all been waiting for: Helen's first solo episode! They're joined by Mark Malone from The Hope & Courage Collective (formerly The Far Right Observatory) to talk about the far right in Ireland. They talk about the influence of the British far right, the key actors and funders, the gains they made in the local elections and crucially; how to tackle them. (We had a few technical issues recording this so it's not the cleanest listen: please forgive us.) Support the show

The podcast features Margaret Hickey discussing Ireland's food history, John Dominic Crossan interpreting Jesus's teachings, and Jacques Attali exploring music's political impact. Topics include Irish food culture evolution, debunking food myths, Jesus's revolutionary message, and the political economy of music.

Exploring political landscapes, from UK elections to Germany's stance on Israel. Discussion on Labour Party's capitalist shift, recognition of Palestine by European countries, and ICC arrest warrants. Banter on gendered insults and political satire. Reflecting on hope amidst tragedy.

During the middle of the 20th century, the Third World movement represented the desires of billions for agency and justice. As the old colonial empires collapsed and new power structures were emerging,  there was a brief moment of hope for a world in which the Global South stood strong, united and liberated.  This was until the collapse of the Soviet Union and the solidification of US-led liberal capitalist democracy as the dominant global system seemed to put an end to these hopes.However, things are now changing again. At the same time as China and other large economies are helping to shift the global centre of gravity away from North America, a new global movement has sprung up in support for Palestine against the genocidal campaign being waged by Israel. We speak to Indian Marxist historian, author and public intellectual Vijay Prashad about the newfound confidence of the nations in the Global South, and the potential for a new Third World political project. This is a wide-ranging conversation that touches on the history of colonialism, the politics of resistance and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Vijay also surprised us by having an extensive knowledge on the post-colonial history of Ireland, so we also speak about Ireland's role in the dynamics of this brave new world. Make sure to check out Vijay's books and follow him on Instagram at @possiblehistoryThe outro music is Ennio Morricone's 'Tema di Ali' from the 1966 film The Battle of Algiers. Support the show

Exploring the rise of techno-feudalism in modern capitalism, questioning the power concentration in the hands of the hyper-rich. Critique of circumcision practices and cultural influences. Humorous banter about public figures' physical appearances like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. Darkly satirical endings and apocalyptic musings on equality.

Leo Varadkar has resigned, and we couldn’t be more upset about itSupport the show

With an almighty Helen-shaped hole to fill, Glen and Matt recruit culture journalist Gary Grimes for a Boys Only episode on Pitchfork, and the culture media landscape in general. We talk lay-offs, the devaluing of culture writing, the changing tide of popular music, the artifice of celebrity, the cancer of fake authenticity, Stan culture, and the future of music & culture journalism. Do people even read articles anymore? How do you get a celeb to agree to an interview? And – obviously – what would Mark Fisher think of it all? Gary is a freelance journalist with words in the likes of Rolling Stone, The Economist, The i, W, Dazed, Interview, Attitude, Wallpaper*, The Face and HeadStuff. You can find him on Twitter and Instagram @gary_is_hip Support the show

Last Friday, January 26th, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued its provisional ruling in South Africa’s case against Israel, ruling that there is a “significant risk of Genocide” in Gaza. Both supporters of Palestine and Israel have declared the outcome of the case as a victory, while there has been disappointment that there was no order for an immediate and total ceasefire. So what are we to make of the ICJ’s ruling? Can we expect Israel to change its behaviour? And if not, what must we do to force them to? With us to help us answer these questions is Dr. Thomas MacManus, Senior Lecturer in State Crime at Queen Mary University London and Acting Director of the International State Crime Initiative (ISCI). Tom is an expert in international law and was able to explain and contextualise the ICJ’s ruling for us, while remaining focused on what the rest of us – ie. those concerned about the situation in Palestine – can and must do now.Following this, Helen, Glen & Matt expand a bit of some of the key arguments from the interview, and get into a discussion about Palestine and the utility of international law, while also trying to point a hopeful way forward for the pro-Palestinian movement and the people of Gaza.Outro Music: Issam Hajali - Khobs Support the show

Bob Cratchit. Ron Weasley. Daniel Blake. Working class characters are often painted as humble folk, morally pure and deserving of our sympathy. But what if they're...not?Join us as we discuss truly progressive portrayals of the working class in film. Instead of patronising, what if films instead gave people agency over their own lives? Instead of portraying poverty as a purifying force, what if films were honest about the negative consequences of oppression on the subject? What if – and bear with me here – but what if working class people were sometimes bad? We start our first episode of 2024 with a quick discussion on the Golden Globes and Academy Awards, before jumping into a chat about a number of films, some which we think do the working class a disservice, and others that we feel are much more honest and human in their portrayals. Up for discussion are:The films of Ken Loach and Shane Meadows, including I, Daniel Blake (2016), Sorry We Missed You (2019) and This Is England (2006);Meantime (1983);Saltburn (2023);The films of Bong Joon-ho, including Snowpiercer (2013) and Parasite (2019);Fallen Leaves (2023);Red Rocket (2021);Harry Potter;Pride (2014);The Royle Family (TV sitcom);The Full Monty (1997);Brechtian theatre;The films of Jean-Luv Godard;Together (2000).Support the show

Ever wondered why so many gays throughout history are so tragic, resilient and brave? This month Casement's Leftovers set fire to condescending stereotypes with incomparable author and historian Huw Lemmey. Huw  -along with his co-host and author Ben Miller- have released the essential read; "Bad Gays", which explores identity formation and some of the more icky homosexuals which didn't make the draft for Pride month martyrs. Helen and Glen chat with Huw about awful gays, how same sex attraction has been characterised throughout history and what terrible dead queens can tell us about queers today.This christmas be sure to play this episode around conservative family members. Maybe turn it into a drinking game. Every time we say a slur, you take a shot? Merry Christmas to you and yours! Support the show