

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

Jun 11, 2025 • 24min
66. PalCast in Belfast
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this very special PalCast, Yousef Aljamal, as part of his book tour is joined for the first time in-person ever by PalCast producer Tony Groves. They discuss the latest news from Gaza, the horrendously militaristic "humanitarian aid" program and the need for more action from civil society.
The March to Gaza podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-131207390
Please support Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-129326641

Jun 9, 2025 • 26min
1464. RTE’s Deliberate Dishonesty
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this episode Martin is joined by RTE worker Maebh Keary and his workers rights comrade, Matt McGranaghan to discuss RTE's latest day in the Oireachtas. Whilst there seems to be media consensus that they emerged unscathed, Maebh, Matt and Martin pick out some of the most interesting moments and go a little deeper into what some statements actually mean for workers at RTE, the govts comfort levels with rogue employment practices and for the public purse.
An exclusive interview with Liam Cunningham on Displacement in Gaza is here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-131053187
The Des Cahill Top Talent podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-131076785

Jun 7, 2025 • 51min
1467. Colonial Outcasts with Greg Stoker and Liam Cunningham
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
On this episode we are joined in the tortoise shack by activist, podcaster and former US army veteran, Greg Stoker and actor and activist Liam Cunningham to talk Gaza, the military industrial complex, the freedom flotilla and the intersectionality between all struggles for human rights and freedom. We also discuss international law, the occupied territories bill and more.
The Yousef Aljamal in Belfast podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-130618100
The Frances Black podcast is here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-130406374
Support Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-129326641

Jun 5, 2025 • 34min
1461. Not Everything is the Spanish Civil War, Eoghan
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this echo chamber pod Martin and Tony are joined by Madrid-based journalist Eoghan Gilmartin to discuss the huge power blackout in Spain, how it’s been weaponised by the far right, what impact it and similar events are having on politics and ask if the last lefty leader standing, Pedro Sanchez, can navigate his government through it all.
Check out Eoghan's podcast Sobremesa here:https://open.spotify.com/show/7ogRBLVUKaIUahKnlbkJsz
The Liam Cunningham podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-129443800
Donate to Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-129326641

Jun 3, 2025 • 0sec
65. Israel’s Deadly Humanitarian Aid Plan
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this PalCast hosts Yousef and Helena are joined by producer Tony to talk about the cruel and disastrous "aid plan", the ongoing genocide, the change in rhetoric from some western leaders and why even in a week of unbearably devastating news there are some reasons to feel hope.
Music at the end is a new song by recent Sparks Will Fly guest Tadgh Conroy.
Donate to Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-129326641

May 30, 2025 • 51min
1463. We Need to Fight Anti-Trans Lawfare
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
Alexa Moore is the Policy Campaigns and Communications Manager at the Rainbow Project in Northern Ireland. She's also an LGBTQ activist and a formidable Trans woman. She joins us to talk about Trans Rights on the island of Ireland, the UK Supreme Court decision, the turbulent politics of this time and why Brexit is actually a good thing for LGBTQ people in the North.
Exclusive RTE Media Committee Podcast is here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-130160241
Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-129326641

May 28, 2025 • 47min
64. ‘I Saved Him Only For My Taxes To Pay For The Bomb That Then Killed Him’
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US-based Dr. Feroze Sidhwa has travelled to Gaza over the course of the ongoing Genoide to heal the wounds of many, many Palestinians. As a trauma surgeon, he has witnessed many multi-fatality events, including the bombing of the surgery department of the Nasser Hospital and an airstrike that killed a patient, a young boy, whom he saved only a few days earlier. He joins this PalCast episode to speak of why he went to Gaza, what he saw there, the US's complicity and the strength of the Palestinian people who he worked alongside.
The Gaza Food Aid-Concentration Camps Podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-130001829
Donate to Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-129326641

May 26, 2025 • 42min
1459. Gaza, Hollywood and Cork with Lexi Alexander
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
Lexi Alexander is the daughter of a Palestinian father and German mother; she is also a former World Kickboxing Champion and close-quarter-combat instructor, who worked her way up from stunt woman to Oscar-nominated director. In fact you've probably watched a few episodes of that kickass show that she directed. (Tony was a big Arrow fan)
But when the genocide in Gaza continued and barely any of her peers spoke out, she decided to walk away from Hollywood and move to Ireland. So you know we had to chat with her and this is what we hope will be the first of many conversations with the talented, smart, steadfast, outspoken and kickass, Lexi Alexander.
The Spanish Blackout Inquisition Podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-129598733
Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-129326641

May 22, 2025 • 0sec
389. Finding Hope and Community when Everything Is Broken – Abubaker Abed
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
In this Reboot Republic Rory & Tony talk to the incredible young Gazan journalist Abubaker Abed about his journey from Gaza to Ireland, the importance of solidarity and speaking up, the daily reality of surviving a genocide, and what Ireland can do to show a common humanity when the world turns its backs on the Holocaust of the 21st Century.
Liam Cunningham on Gaza and the cost of speaking out:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-129443800
Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-129326641

May 21, 2025 • 0sec
1458. Electric Picnic for Trade Union nerds!
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack
You asked us to look closer at the Trade Union movement in Ireland, so consider this an opening conversation with two Union stalwarts, Scott Miller and Paddy Cole, who are also two of the main organisers of the Tressell Festival. Some mild disagreements. Talk soon again, lads.
Limited tickets:https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-robert-tressell-festival-2025-tickets-1270717663739
Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-129326641
The Abubaker Abed podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-129356565


