

The Echo Chamber from Tortoise Shack
Tortoise Shack Media
Ireland’s original independent left leaning news, politics, and culture podcast that doesn’t take itself too seriously and still punches well above its weight. Join critically acclaimed & derided hosts, Martin McMahon and Tony Groves as they delve into the news of the day, pull apart the spin and challenge you to be an activist. This is the non-corporate, ad free, non-plastic-podcast reality that the medium is made for. There will be shenanigans!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 26, 2025 • 40min
Gaza versus Western Journalism
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
The Self-Critical Columnist - Colin Sheridan
Colin Sheridan is a writer, journalist and columnist with the Irish Examiner. He is also a former Irish Army Officer and it is perhaps this lived experience that shapes his writing in ways that you don't read too often in our opinion pages. This is the first of what we hope will be more conversations with a person who it turns out has a lot of interesting views on a lot of topics that we care about. Enjoy.
Dr Ciarán O'Carroll on how Class War and Climate Action is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-134927168
Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-two-134250846

Jul 23, 2025 • 0sec
They Are Deliberately Starving Us
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
Ahmed Al-Najjar is a Palestinian journalist and academic based in Khan Younis, Southern Gaza Strip. He is reporting on the ongoing Israeli genocide and rapidly growing famine. He joins us on the PalCast to discuss the latest developments on the ground, his own heartbreaking personal loss and why those “who slaughtered with their weapons, and those who slaughtered with their silence” are equally guilty. Please listen.
Irish Examiner's Colin Sheridan podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-134353764
Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-two-134250846

Jul 22, 2025 • 0sec
Gaza and the Cracks in Western Imperialism
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this Echo Chamber Pod we’re joined by economist, author and editor of the Irish Marxist Review, Dr. Brian O’Boyle to discuss how, even now, in the depths of despair during the ongoing genocide and famine in Gaza, we can see the cracks developing in the settler colonial project. There's a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in...
Irish Examiner's Colin Sheridan podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-134353764
Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-two-134250846

Jul 19, 2025 • 0sec
Gaza and a Smile of Hope
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
Huda Skaik is a writer from Gaza, who was displaced 12 times during the ongoing genocide. After being under siege in Gaza City for 9 unrelenting days, the Israeli Military forced her and her family to move to the south. She started writing in a tent and returned to her home a year later to find it in rubble. Despite these conditions, Huda remains hopeful, and she continues to tell Gaza’s story. Tune in for the full story.
Latest Echo Chamber RTE-An Post podcast:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-134177046
Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-132827532

Jul 17, 2025 • 0sec
Fast Fashion and the Bonfire of Human Rights Regulations
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this Echo Chamber podcast Soc Dem Senator, Patricia Stephenson joins us to discuss the EU’s ongoing drive to undo the human rights and environmental protection policies that they signed up to in the last EU parliament term.
Read more here:https://eeb.org/omnibus-a-trojan-horse-for-aggressive-deregulation-say-ngos/
And here:https://corporatejustice.org/news/joint-press-release-scrutiny-over-omnibus-proposal-grows-as-eu-ombudsman-opens-inquiry-after-ngos-complaint/
Latest Echo Chamber RTE-An Post podcast:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-134177046
Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-132827532

Jul 15, 2025 • 0sec
1481. Starmer’s Annus Horribilis and Why Democracy is a Participatory Sport
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this Echo Chamber Podcast, the peerless Emeritus Prof Richard Murphy rejoins us to talk about the Labour Party's first year in Government in the UK, the lack of a plan, the dearth of ambition and how the political polarisation means the need for real radical change is becoming more urgent by the day. Another great conversation with one of our listeners favourite guests.
Latest Echo Chamber RTE-An Post podcast:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-134177046
Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-132827532

Jul 13, 2025 • 0sec
69. Israel Killed my Mother Twice
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
Journalist Ahmed Aldremly joined us from Gaza to discuss the latest massacres at the so-called Humanitarian Zones, Israel’s latest concentration camp plan, the daily search for food and to talk about his own experiences of the last 20+ months.
The Prof Richard Murphy podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-133571593
Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-132827532

Jul 10, 2025 • 0sec
1480. Gaza, Glastonbury and Cultural Capital with Lexi Alexander
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
It was an fantastic to be rejoined by Academy Award nominated filmmaker, former stuntwoman and fellow troublemaker, Lexi Alexander, to discuss the role of art, acts like Kneecap, Bob Vylan, the use and misuse of cultural capital and the distraction theatre that Govts use in order to not address the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Lexi is the best of us!
The Prof Richard Murphy podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-133571593
Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-132827532

Jul 7, 2025 • 0sec
1477. President Luke Ming Flanagan?
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this very special podcast Martin sits down with MEP Luke Ming Flanagan, in a place that is now dear to them both. This is a conversation about politics, the personal and potentially the presidency.
That's far too much alliteration. Enjoy.
The Prof Richard Murphy podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-133571593
Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-132827532

Jul 4, 2025 • 38min
68. My Guitar vs Genocide – Gaza’s Birdsong
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this PalCast, Yousef and Tony are joined from Gaza by musician, teacher and father, Ahmed Abu Amsha, to discuss his experience of the ongoing genocide and how he and some of his musician friends are using song as therapy for those carrying far too much trauma. A wonderful man who will light up your day. Thank you, Ahmed.
His own fundraising details are here:https://www.gofundme.com/f/hello-peace-help-innocent-people-to-survive?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer
The Lexi Alexander Podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-133114376
Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-132827532