The Good Listener Podcast

Rob Millington, ex-british army trooper, spent 6 months in Belfast during the final decade of the conflict that gripped the lives of anyone in the 6 counties.Rob talks to us almost getting caught in an IRA b*mb which was set up to blow up security forces responding to sh*oting, the impact that first seeing dead bodies had on him and aftermath of the 1993 Shankill Road b*mbing.Rob shares his story about meeting Johnny Adair while on patrol and his attempts to extract information from British soldiers as well as the surprising reaction that Rob and his men would get while meeting high-level republican paramilitaries in the street. 00:00 Responding to a sh*oting in North Belfast and almost getting caught in b*mb blast 17:50 Getting to NI 34:45 1993 Shankill Road B*mbing 41:30 Meeting JOHNNY ADAIR 53:05 See Dead Bodies For The First Time 1:01:00 Shooting During Tour ? 1:04:25 Leaving NICLIP OF ROB : https://youtu.be/WbcVovb4Kgc?si=cQ9EEqdHSesxJf02(Q&A coming soon so please drop any questions in the comments or email me at [email protected] )PLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW IF YOU CAN SPARE IT.. THANK YOUhttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast

John Nixon, ex-Offical IRA and INLA member begins this episode at the start of his second prison term in Long Kesh during which he would volunteer for the IRA/INLA Hunger Strike of 1980, led by Brendan “The Dark” Hughes.John speaks about the horrors and trauma of years in prison, beatings and torture from the guards and his account of the hunger strike that preceded the 1981 Hunger Strike, most known for Bobby Sands death.I asked about the effect that 53 days without food has a man’s body and mind and how John has tried to moved past everything to life a normal life post prison Please forgive us for any parts that might overlap or be repetitive, we recorded this part over several sittings as you can tell. 00:00 2nd Prison Sentence 12:45 Staying Sane in Prison 30:50 Would John Meet With an Ex-Prison Guard 36:45 Brendan Hughes43:00 Hunger Strikes 57:42 1980 HUNGER STRIKE 1:04:42 Selecting Hunger Strikers 1:13:35 Stages of John’s Hunger Strike (53 days) 1:29:52 Hunger Strike ENDS 1:32:42 Prison after Hunger Strike 1:41:20 Release & Life after prison (Q&A coming soon so please drop any questions in the comments or email me at [email protected] )PLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW IF YOU CAN SPARE IT.. THANK YOUhttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast

Ralph Brooker served in the British army touring Fermanagh, Derry and the infamous South Armagh, better known as "Bandit Country".Having spent the majority of his time in rural, border areas Ralph recounts the British army's constant attempts to counteract the IRA's ever evolving methods and tactics. Ralph speaks to us about being on the receiving end of IRA mortar attacks, explosive booby-traps & landmines and the day-today realities of fighting a guerrilla army.Ralph told me about his views on the IRA and how they changed over the years as well as whether he now considers his old foes to be "freedom fighters"(Q&A coming soon so please drop any questions in the comments or email me at [email protected] )PLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW IF YOU CAN SPARE IT.. THANK YOUhttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast00:00 GETTING MORTARED while in a HELICOPTER12:20 High Profile IRA men21:40 How Ralph viewed the IRA- Freedom Fighters ??44:40 Dealing w/ the Public 51:20 Clashes w/ UDR & RUC 1:02:50 Derry 1:07:50 Names in Stormont that Ralph remembers from COP (Close Observational) Days1:23:05 Were the Loughall “A-Team” set up ?1:25:15 IRA Booby-Traps 1:30:40 SOUTH ARMAGH 1:45:30 IRA’s 1:52:00 Final Thoughts

David Burke’s most recent book “Puppet Masters” shines a light on mysterious case of Patrick Crinnion, the garda (Irish police officer) who was passing information to Mi6 while he was in the Gardai’s secretive intel department. David, joining me for the third time, tells us about the state of the Republican movement in the years prior to the outbreak of “the troubles”, the resources available to Gardai in terms of intel gathering, Crinnion’s disappearance and the impact that he had on Irish history.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Pre-troubles republican activity 06:00 1960’s- IRA activity & Garda intel branch 17:00 Patrick Crinnion If you would like to help out the show please like, subscribe and share. I plan on doing bigger things with this show including walk through of areas, documentary-type videos and more.. if you would like to help fund these efforts please consider donating on Buy Me a Coffee. (link below)Thanks a million!!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcastBUY THE BOOK: https://www.mercierpress.ie/books/the-puppet-masters/