

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

Nov 1, 2024 • 45min
1339. A Clash of Culture? – Shrapnel on Echo
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this podcast the hosts of Shrapnel, Gareth and Sam join the eejits from Echo, Tony and Martin to talk about everything NI. We discuss politics, culture, the function and dysfunction of Stormont, how the lack of mental health supports are hurting communities and much, much more.
Part 2 of this podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-114926112
The GE 2024 Candidate Podcasts are here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/115017828
Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/112598735

Oct 30, 2024 • 59min
1346. General Election 2024 and the Role of Media
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
Media can't make the news. But it can frame it. Rejoining us on the podcast is Stockholm-based journalist, Philip O'Connor, and he's got a lot to say about the lack of diversity of opinion within Irish media, especially when it comes to Sinn Féin. We discuss the self-selecting biases, the impartiality fallacy and ask you to consider 3 important questions as you are consuming news in the runup to General Election 2024.
The GE2024 Candidate Podcasts are available here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-114872281

Oct 28, 2024 • 55min
1342. The US Election and the Case for Optimistic Pessimism
Joined by Constantin Gurdgiev, a Russian-Irish economics professor, the discussion dives into the chaotic landscape of the upcoming U.S. elections. They analyze voter dynamics, contrasting Republican support in different states. Gurdgiev critiques the American economy's 'freak show' nature amid innovation stress, detailing inflation concerns and political polarization. The conversation also challenges the oversimplification in modern politics, with insights on the Ukraine crisis and a nuanced perspective on optimism versus pessimism in societal change.

Oct 26, 2024 • 42min
378. Labouring Forward with John Harris
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this Reboot Republic we talk once more to award winning journalist and podcaster with the Guardian, John Harris about the tensions, achievements and neoliberal technocracy of the new Labour Government in the UK. We dig into the disconnect between the big parties and ordinary people. We also talk about autism, disability and the waste of energy that are the culture wars. Finally John tells us about his new book that'll be out early in 2025.
The GE 2024 Candidate Pods are here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/114681387
Donate to Rory's marathon for Gaza:https://www.patreon.com/posts/112598735

Oct 24, 2024 • 39min
36. ‘Our Hope is a Reflection of Your Hope’ – Abubaker Abed in Gaza
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
Abubaker Abed is a sports journalist in Gaza but since October last year he had to change his scope to cover an ongoing genocide by Israel in the Gaza Strip. He opens up to PalCast hosts about the trials and tribulations of existing in Gaza today.
He says, despite the unbearable atrocities has he seen, he has not lost hope because he insists on being a human every day. In fact he demands that we all do.
Abubaker calls on people all over the world to speak up to end the genocide in Gaza and call out their complicit governments. What we have seen is beyond a genocide, he repeats. As he speaks, gunshots and noise are heard in the background from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital where Palestinians were burnt alive by an Israeli airstrike last week.
Rory's Dublin Marathon for Gaza:https://www.patreon.com/posts/112598735

Oct 22, 2024 • 36min
1336. Death in the Canaries
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
Thousands of Irish people head to the Canaries for their holidays. Most are blissfully unaware that the waters they swim in are arguably the deadliest to migrants anywhere in the world. Rejoining us in the tortoise shack is Madrid-based journalist, Eoghan Gilmartin, who visited the area and brings us up to date on what Fortress Europe is doing in our name.
Read more from Eoghan here:https://bylinetimes.com/2024/10/02/canary-islands-el-hierro-migrant-crossings/
Journalist Abubaker Abed joined us from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital where Palestinians were burnt alive by an Israeli airstrike last week. That podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-114494103

Oct 20, 2024 • 53min
1338. The United States of Bedwetting
Join Jon Schwarz, a seasoned journalist from The Intercept, as he navigates the wild waters of U.S. politics just weeks before the presidential election. He dissects Elon Musk's tumultuous influence on political dynamics and media censorship. The episode also critiques the narrow Anglo perspective on global affairs and highlights the absurdities of the current political landscape. With humor and satire, Schwarz emphasizes the disconnect between political rhetoric and reality, making for an entertaining yet insightful discussion.

Oct 18, 2024 • 42min
35. The Palestine Laboratory and Ethnic Cleansing via Algorithm
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
Dr. Nour Naim holds a PhD in Artificial Intelligence. In this episode of PalCast she talks about the use of AI techniques during the genocide in Gaza by Israel. Naim notes that what is lethally dangerous about Israel’s use of AI in Gaza which started in 2019, long before October 7th, and how AI has turned into a marketable killing machine, facilitated by humans with minimal efforts.
This includes the use of AI machines Lavender and Where’s Daddy based on algorithms fed by the Israeli military. Helena Cobban talks about the US letter that gave Israel 30 days to allow aid into Gaza otherwise the administration might (MIGHT) reconsider US arms to Israel, noting that this is all related to the US elections on November 5th. Tune in for more!
Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/112598735

Oct 16, 2024 • 42min
1333. The First Ever A.I War and Digital Erasure
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this very special podcast we are joined by Nadim Nashif, who is the director of https://7amleh.org/ and Taysir Mathlouthi, who is EU Advocacy Officer with 7amleh.
They describe the online human and digital rights battle for Palestinians in ways that we had never imagined. We delve into the fatally dangerous role that AI is playing in the war machine and how it’s killing by inputs now and could be much worse in the future.
Thank you to Uplift for their help in setting up this important conversation.
Donate to Rory's marathon:https://www.patreon.com/posts/112598735

Oct 14, 2024 • 24min
1337. Brian Stanley’s Kangaroo Court
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
We do weekly member-only podcasts where we talk openly about information we are privy to and some stories that often didn't get enough traction that stay forever behind the paywall. But given that Brian Stanley has resigned from Sinn Féin in controversial circumstances and that we have had dealings with him over the last few years, we've lifted the paywall on this episode. Kangaroo Court, Brian?
The Death in the Canaries Podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-113558762