The Echo Chamber from Tortoise Shack

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“When they go after people on welfare, they're going after all of us because Dole is a small percentage of the social welfare budget."

In this Tortoise Shack episode, Tony speaks with independent journalist and Tipperary Disabled Persons Organisation co-chair Dean Buckley about his Irish Examiner article on welfare reviews, Fine Gael's "new-old" political rhetoric around long-term unemployment, and the lived realities of disability policy in Ireland. They examine the effects of benefit scrutiny, inadequate employment supports, and a cost-of-disability payment shaped against disabled people’s consultation input.
"The idea that all welfare recipients are young people living off the state is a myth. Many older individuals are facing a skills mismatch due to rapid technological changes."
Dean’s blog:https://leftinthelurch.net/
Dean's piece: Simon Harris's dole as a 'way of life' comment is Fine Gael kicking us while we're down
Dr Abeba Birhane on AI Regulation and Accountability:https://www.patreon.com/tortoiseshack/posts/patron-exclusive-175137971

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"Until we’ve done that, we don’t really have a choice about the way we live because the market is going to drive what gets built.”
Architect and Queen’s University Belfast Marie Curie doctoral fellow Shane Sugrue joins us for the first time on the Tortoise Shack to discuss his recent piece, Unspoken assumptions: the Minister, the Central Banker.
We dig into the problem of viability to examine how it shapes Irish housing policy, development finance and the homes that the system builds. Shane questions whether arguments over deregulation in planning and finance distract from land speculation, public subsidies, design quality and the need to create places people can actually live well.
Shane's piece:https://theweekinhousing.substack.com/p/unspoken-assumptions-the-minister
Simon Harris "long-term dole" podcast:https://www.patreon.com/tortoiseshack/posts/patron-exclusive-175035696
Documentary Maker, Hamed Sbeata, from Gaza pod:https://www.patreon.com/tortoiseshack/posts/patron-exclusive-174939385
The US midterms pod:https://www.patreon.com/tortoiseshack/posts/patron-exclusive-174555086
A.I Reality vs the Hype:https://www.patreon.com/tortoiseshack/posts/patron-exclusive-175137971

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Paul Catafago is a first-generation Palestinian-Lebanese-American spoken word poet, independent journalist, and cultural organizer. Born and raised in Queens, New York City to political refugees, his raw, rhythmic poetry focuses deeply on memory, exile, identity, and the generational trauma of displacement.
Nour O. El Borno is a Palestinian writer, educator, and professional legal translator from Gaza who contributed the short story "A Wish for Insomnia" to the anthology Gaza Writes Back. Paul and Nour are collaborating on translating Paul's work into Arabic, whilst keeping the heart of the prose.
In this very special PalCast they joined us, Paul in the US and Nour in Gaza, to talk about their poetry of resistance and remembrance. Nour also shares her personal experiences of the last three-plus years. Do not miss this one.
Simon Harris "long-term dole" podcast:https://www.patreon.com/tortoiseshack/posts/patron-exclusive-175035696
The Documentary Maker from Gaza pod:https://www.patreon.com/tortoiseshack/posts/patron-exclusive-174939385
The US midterms pod:https://www.patreon.com/tortoiseshack/posts/patron-exclusive-174555086

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"Common sense is often just biases and simplifications."
In this (previously) member-only pod, Tony and journalist Philip O’Connor explore Ireland's political descent into fringe positions, media influence, social media dynamics, and the broader implications for democracy and society. They delve into the impact of social media echo chambers, government censorship, and the rise/normalisation of far-right views.
Philip talks about the consent advert that boiled so many brains, via the prism of his work in self-defence classes and setting personal boundaries.
Why Texas turned Blue podcast:https://www.patreon.com/tortoiseshack/posts/patron-exclusive-174589890
How Mobilisation is the Antidote to Money:https://www.patreon.com/tortoiseshack/posts/patron-exclusive-174555086

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"This is not a moment to be a bystander. Let’s think about this as an opportunity.”
In this Tortoise Shack Podcast, Tony speaks with Human Rights Law Professor at Queens University Belfast, Colin Harvey about the emerging and evolving discussion on Irish unity and the chance to shape a more equal, rights-based future across the island.
They discuss recent attempts to drag us back, Northern Ireland’s political dysfunction, social needs that aren’t being addressed, the right to protest, and media narratives North and South.
They discuss neutrality and the recent attempts to limit access to justice in the South. Then to finish, Colin talks about how civil society and progressive voices should help define what comes next.
Housing - Viability vs Liveability:https://www.patreon.com/tortoiseshack/posts/patron-exclusive-174277006
US Mid Terms Rory and Philip O'Connor:https://www.patreon.com/tortoiseshack/posts/patron-exclusive-174555086