

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

Mar 2, 2025 • 46min
1421. There’s Money for War, Just Not the War on Poverty – Prof Richard Murphy
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
The UK is, let’s face it, stuck in the shit economically, socially and now most worryingly geopolitically. The change of management from Sunak to Starmer hasn’t changed very much for the ordinary citizen, except maybe for the branding and the louder drumbeats of war.
Rejoining us to talk about it all is listener favourite, outspoken commentator and now Professor Emeritus Richard Murphy. We need a new song.
Richards YouTube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@RichardJMurphy
The Lynn Boylan MEP on her deportation from Israel pod is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-123381157
New Reboot Pod with Rory and Louise Bayliss is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-123311633

Feb 27, 2025 • 38min
52. Gaza – ‘We Stayed Knowing That We’d Either Live Together Or Die Together’
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In this PalCast - One World, One Struggle, Yousef and producer Tony are joined from Gaza City by lecturer, researcher and educator, Dr Ahmed Junina.
Ahmed talks about his and his family’s decision not to join the displaced during the Israeli brutal campaign on Gaza. He describes the challenges they faced and talks passionately about ‘home’, education, purpose and the need for the International education community to step up and help Palestine students, educators and researchers. This is courage, real courage.
The Matt Carthy on Sinn Féin's immigration policy is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-123157069
Donate directly to Palestinian medical student Rajeh via PayPal:anas.kassab.2000@gmail.com

Feb 26, 2025 • 0sec
1419. The Opposition’s Spokesperson for Lowry’s Lackey’s, Paul Murphy
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this Echo Chamber Podcast, Solidarity-PBP TD Paul Murphy, talks Gaza and the Occupied Territories Bill, the Governments broken promises and lies to the public, his legal case against the junior-super-super-junior minister fudge and much more.
The Ukraine with Lesia Vasylenko is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-122993693
Sinn Féin on immigration with Matt Carthy is out here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-123157069
Donate directly to Palestinian medical student Rajeh via PayPal:anas.kassab.2000@gmail.com

Feb 24, 2025 • 43min
1416. A Cohesive and More Oppositional Opposition with Cian O’Callaghan
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Joining us on this podcast is Soc Dem Deputy Leader, Cian O'Callaghan, to discuss the rollercoaster of the last few months, Lowrynomics, the broad left cooperation, Owen Hayes, topping the poll in his constituency and much more.
The Shamim Malekmian and Harry McEvansoneya podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-122869715
Donate directly to Palestinian medical student Rajeh via PayPal:anas.kassab.2000@gmail.com

Feb 21, 2025 • 0sec
51. Rebuilding More than Buildings
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this very special PalCast - One World, One Struggle episode, Yousef and Tony are joined by educator, academic (from a longline of Palestinian educators and academics) , Dr Ahmed Nehad, who has a PhD in Sustainable Development.
Ahmed, who is working with others in planning the reconstruction of the Gazan education system, was a friend and colleague of Dr Refaat Alareer. He talks about the obligation of universities and schools around the world to support Gaza’s education system, his commitment to building infrastructure beyond bricks and mortar and shares some stories about our late friend, Refaat.
To support Gazan Medical Student, Rajeh, please, if you can, donate directly via PayPal to anas.kassab.2000@gmail.com

Feb 20, 2025 • 51min
11. The Departed Stay Present – Meryl Streek
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In this episode of Sparks Will Fly (with a side of Echo Chamber Pod), Ray is joined by the voice of so many in Ireland's locked-out generation; the politically outspoken punk and thoroughly decent fella, Meryl Streek. They discuss his music, his persona vs himself, how anger can be directed into creative work, sobriety after life on the road and so much more. Yup!
The UK in Disarray Pod with Prof Richard Murphy is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-122032679

Feb 16, 2025 • 32min
1418. Post-Election Blues with Adam – SpiceBag – Doyle
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Activist-artist, Adam SpiceBag Doyle has done some amazing things over the last few years and he will, no doubt, continue to do so. But in this podcast he talks less about art and more about his fundraising for Gaza, Trump 2.0, the apathy of our new-yet-ever-present Irish government and the state of the opposition as the Dáil pantomime ramps up again and the worsening Irish housing crisis. Have a listen. It's more fun than it sounds.
The Latest Reboot Pod with Rory Hearne on the Rent Pressure Zones is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-122261383
Get your Palestine Jersey here:https://spicebagmerch.bigcartel.com/product/ireland-palestine-solidarity-jersey?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZfVWQL3yo7JO2Ay1m5gfN9_FJLpIhRGMj9bMvn_Qv03WXGc988gJLbkmk_aem_wW5Bo8_iH2VdHYt8m4-PxA

Feb 13, 2025 • 33min
50. Support Gazan Doctors
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
Rajeh Al-Kahloot is a Gazan medical student who is currently in Istanbul. His medical studies were disturbed by the genocide when his parents lost their home and businesses. Now, so close to completion, he is forced to look for support himself to survive. Rajeh will return back to Gaza to contribute to his community when he is qualified, and he highlights the role of medical workers and students in sustaining the community and in the rebuilding of Gaza.
Please, if you can, donate directly via PayPal to anas.kassab.2000@gmail.com

Feb 10, 2025 • 60min
1415. The Gist with Simon McGarr
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2025 and Speaking Power to Truth
In this Echo Chamber Podcast, solicitor, Data Protection expert and writer of thegist.ie Simon McGarr, rejoins the shack for a chat about our data rights in the age of Trump 2.0, his terrifically observant Gists, the Sinn Féin conundrum and a lot, lot more.
Thanks Simon for coming over. We always appreciate your time and insights.
The SpiceBag Podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-121574544
The Gaza fundraiser is here:https://spicebagmerch.bigcartel.com/product/ireland-palestine-solidarity-jersey?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZfVWQL3yo7JO2Ay1m5gfN9_FJLpIhRGMj9bMvn_Qv03WXGc988gJLbkmk_aem_wW5Bo8_iH2VdHYt8m4-PxA

Feb 7, 2025 • 34min
1410. Beating the Billionaire Broligarchy
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While the billionaire class rushed to bend the knee to Trump 2.0, another group of gatherings were happening across the world. Andrew Karamagi is a community organiser, lawyer, and principal political advisor to the Fight Inequality Alliance (fightinequality.org) and he joins us from one such gathering in Kenya.
He outlines the negative political, societal and economic impacts the billionaire class are having on people’s lives and how we need to stop rewarding the arsonist with lucrative contracts to put out fires. The biggest danger to societal stability is inequality and it's time to give the red line to billionaires.
The Spice Bag Podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-121574544
The Gaza fundraiser is here:https://spicebagmerch.bigcartel.com/product/ireland-palestine-solidarity-jersey?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZfVWQL3yo7JO2Ay1m5gfN9_FJLpIhRGMj9bMvn_Qv03WXGc988gJLbkmk_aem_wW5Bo8_iH2VdHYt8m4-PxA