

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
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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

Jul 2, 2025 • 0sec
1478. RTE points the blame at Revenue!
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this echo chamber podcast exclusive Martin chats with employment rights activist Matt McGranaghan about Martin and Joey’s big day out last Thursday at the WRC. Step behind the curtain and listen to how RTE, the State and Arthur Cox all got their asses handed to them by someone who knows that he has truth on his side.
Glastonbury, Cultural Capital and Gaza with Lexi Alexander is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-133114376
Support Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-132827532

Jun 30, 2025 • 1h 2min
1472. Looking for Love in all the Wrong Places – The Government’s Housing Plan
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
For weeks now we've seen housing experts, industry insiders and academics try and fail to make sense of the Government's new on/off housing plans. So in this podcast, housing expert and academic, Prof Lorcan Sirr, attempts (and fails) to decipher the chaos and put some shape on the entire crisis that has ssen homelessness rise to almost 16,000 people in this "wealthy" country of ours. I think it's really good and that Lorcan almost gets there. Almost. My sincere apologies to Orla and Mel.
Martin vs RTE at the WRC podcast:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-132760206
Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-132827532

Jun 23, 2025 • 0sec
1476. Free Sarah McInerney!
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
The news keeps coming and it don't stop coming. In this member-only pod Martin explains in proper detail why even the highly paid broadcaster, Sarah McInerney is a victim of RTE’s rogue employment practices and then we look at the Leo Varadkar vs Keir Starmer, Kneecap situation, as well as some thoughts on the troubling US-Israel attacks on Iran and the devastating results of the US-Israeli Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
Liam Cunningham on Displaced in Gaza is out now:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-131053187
Donate to dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-129326641

Jun 20, 2025 • 42min
1470. Your Illegal Public Services Card
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
“In 2015, while at home looking after our new baby, my wife received a letter from the Department of Social Protection telling her that she needed to attend a social welfare office to be photographed for a Public Services Card or have her child benefit payment cut off.
As she did not want to drag an infant out to a government office she solved this problem the sensible way. She handed me the letter and said "Deal with that."”
These are the opening lines of the latest Gist with friend of the shack, digital rights expert, solicitor Simon McGarr and he joins us now to discuss a good day for our rights.
Simon has threatened to take away my collection of Spicy Sauces unless I add the link to his always must-read Gist:https://www.thegist.ie/simon/
Liam Cunningham on Displaced in Gaza is out now:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-131053187
Donate to dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-129326641

Jun 18, 2025 • 0sec
67. Gaza and the People vs Politics
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this PalCast, Yousef talks to Tony about the latest news and events in Gaza, the cost of famine, Israel funding a proxy militia and the hope that comes from even the seemingly failed people-led initiatives like the Freedom Flotilla and the Global March to Gaza.
Liam Cunningham on Displaced in Gaza is out now:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-131053187
Donate to dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-129326641

Jun 15, 2025 • 48min
1471. Race Riots and a Lack of Leadership in Loyalism
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
It was a great pleasure to be rejoined in the shack by writer, commentator, activist and mammy, Elaine Crory. It’s just a pity that it was to discuss the (bullsh1t) “protect our women” race-riots that have taken place in Ballymena, Larne and in other parts of the North. Elaine breaks it down in her brilliant way and explains why this is something that goes beyond flags and into deprivation, inequality, poverty and a lack of leadership in the politics of these areas.
Liam Cunningham on Displaced in Gaza is out now:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-131053187
Donate to dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-129326641

Jun 12, 2025 • 0sec
1469. The Global March to Gaza
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
On June 12th, 2025, people from around the world will participate in the Global March to Gaza, from Cairo to Rafah crossing marchtogaza.net, in an apolitical, peaceful, coordinated, civilian action, demanding immediate humanitarian intervention in Gaza. Joining us on the podcast are two of the remarkable people who are participating from Ireland, Maureen Almai and Geraldine Murphy. Please listen to hear why they are going, what is planned and how we can all help.
Dr Michael Byrne and Rory Hearne on the new Housing Plan is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-131305435
Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-129326641


