https://tortoiseshack.ie/feed/podcast/

James Leonard is no stranger to the tortoise shack. Yet this is his first-ever appearance in the shack, and it is, like the man himself, really great.We talk about his work internationally in raising awareness about the carceral experience, his work in Cork in building life-long learning initatives and his work in Local Govt where he sees the friction between politics and community development.

On May 9, JWE president Helena Cobban sat down with John Ross, who's a Senior Fellow with the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China. That, at a point midway between the May 6 visit of Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi to Beijing and the upcoming visit there by U.S. President Trump, who'll be holding an important summit there with Pres. Xi Jinping on May 13 or 14. In this conversation, Ross emphasised the geopolitical and geo-economic impact of the still-simmering U.S. war on Iran. He assessed that from Beijing's viewpoint, this war is centrally about whether the U.S. can be allowed to continue exerting unilateral control over the entire world economy, given that it is the U.S. military that is currently blockading the Hormuz Strait and preventing a peaceful negotiated end to this war. Listen to John Ross and Helena Cobban discussing this and other issues around China's persistent, though generally quiet, pro-peace diplomacy and the importance of the upcoming summit meeting.

Malak Hijazi is an English Literature graduate, writer, historian of displacement and journalist from Gaza. She joins us from Gaza City to share her story, describe life under the ongoing genocide and explain why she is compelled to record what is happening to her people despite the danger to herself. A remarkable young woman. Don’t miss it.

In this JWE episode of the Iran Crisis Project, Helena Cobban, president of Just World Educational, spoke with Dr. Moeed Pirzada, a prominent Pakistani journalist based in Washington, D.C. and founder-editor of Global Village Space magazine. Together they examined the rapidly shifting situation around the U.S.-Iran conflict, Pakistan's role as a mediator, and the broader geopolitical realignments taking place across West Asia and beyond.

Khaled Al-Qershali is a writer and journalist from Gaza, focusing on personal narratives and reporting on the humanitarian impact of conflict. He has published articles and essays in outlets such as The Electronic Intifada, The Washington Report of Middle East Affairs, and The Independent. His work highlights stories of resilience, survival, and the lived experiences of civilians under occupation.He joins us from Gaza City to share his story and his hopes for the future.

On the day before the current two-week ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. is due to end, the veteran scholar of Iranian and international affairs Trita Parsi sat down with JWE president Helena Cobban to review the prospects for war or peace in West Asia. Trita Parsi is an Iranian-Swedish international relations writer and political analyst who is the co-founder and executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft.

Sonia Borwick has worked caring for people in their homes for over two decades. Now, like many of her Section 39 colleagues, she is paid less than she was almost 20 years ago. Worse still, she’s been suspended from her workplace because, in my opinion, she has continued to raise the issue. She joined me in the tortoise shack to talk about her experience and need for workers to stand together.

PalCast contributor and, for my money, one of the best Palestinian geopolitical analysts around, Muhammad Shehada, recently contributed to a panel about the ceasefire in Gaza and the progress in the so-called peace plan. I have 10 mins of it here, and it really is worth a listen.

Independent (Govt) TD Barry Heneghan came over to the tortoise shack to discuss his decision to vote confidence in the government, his reasons and redlines for what he deems government stability and why he believes that his voters will understand his position even as the cost of living crisis continues to worsen.

In this Reboot Republic, Rory talks to Poet and teacher Mikey Cullen about his decision to join the new flotilla heading to break the siege on Gaza. We talk about history repeating itself - how genocide continues in Gaza by Israel despite international law, our common commitment to never again, and finding meaning and purpose in a world where social media tries to commodify us into turning against each other and blaming the other instead of the billionaires destroying our societies and the planet.

Editor's note: This podcast contains details that you might find upsetting.Amira Attiya, a writer and a student of translation from Gaza, tells the story of how she lost her three siblings—one of them was kidnapped, killed, and even fed to dogs—and that of her father, who was burned with white phosphorus during the Cast Lead operation. Amira was displaced 12 times, and has spent the past two years in a tent. Despite this, she is about to graduate from her translation department and she has five offers to study abroad. Tune in for the full story.

In this April 12 conversation, JWE president Helena Cobban discussed with Prof. Rami Zurayk the impact on Lebanon of the violence that Israel has unleashed against the country for many months now. (Israel escalated that violence very notably on April 8, the day when it looked as if Washington was finally ready to sit down and negotiate a serious ceasefire with Iran.) Rami Zurayk is a researcher on ecological affairs and a social activist with deep family roots in South Lebanon. In 2011, Just World Books published War Diary: Lebanon 2006, his short, engaging account of what he experienced during the very destructive invasion of Lebanon that Israel undertook in 2006.

Niamh Ryan of The Parting Glass podcast interviewed comedian, actor and cohost of the You Must Be Jokin' podcast in the toroise shack recently. So here it is now for youse all as a little treat. I got the tortoise back eventually.

Shahd Ismail Mahmoud Miqdad , is a PhD student from Gaza, who dreams of a life beyond the genocide where she will complete her education and life a an independent life safe, far from anything that hurts or touches her or her loved ones.

Former US Green Beret and Gaza Humanitarian Foundation whistleblower, Anthony Aguilar rejoined me to discuss the current situation in Cuba, Iran and the US. He outlines the military situation and, not to be all doomer, gives a stark assessment of where things are heading.

This week Sparky sits down with Fair City actress, Dancing with the Stars contestant and fellow Ballymunner, Stephanie Kelly for a great and fun chat in the shack about family, youth arts access, acting and dancing.

In this March 24 convo with Helena Cobban, Vijay Prashad, the director Tricontinental, drew on his extensive experience of the affairs of the Global South to assess the extent and roots of Iran's achievements in resisting the attack that the U.S.-Israeli alliance started on February 28. Prashad and Cobban also discussed the ties between Iran's achievements in their war against the alliance and the prospects for the movements in Gaza, the rest of Palestine, and Lebanon that are also facing fierce onslaughts from the alliance, and the impacts of this war on the global balance more generally. This conversation is the ninth in JWE's ongoing "Iran Crisis" series, which is a follow-on to the "Gaza, and the World" project that we launched in Fall 2025. The multimedia records of all the conversations in this series can be found at this portal page on our website.

Martin Leahy is a real one. The dedicated housing protester, activist and musician shares his journey from personal housing struggles to leading a 200-week protest. We talk about the power of activism, protest songs, community building, and the ongoing fight for housing rights in Ireland.Hope to see lots of you outside the Dáil on Thursday.

Seems to be a problem with this morning's podcast. So here it is again in audio only format.Apologies if this hits your feed twice!You might let me know if it is a player issue or what apps you're using etcthanksTony

In this March 5 convo with Helena Cobban, longtime Iran specialist Barbara Slavin noted the survival of Iran's central governance structures even after the early assassination by the Israeli and U.S. war machine of the Supreme Leader and numerous other figures in the country's military and political leadership, and surmised that its government is not likely soon either to crumble or to "capitulate." Slavin, who is a Distinguished Fellow at Washington DC's Stimson Institute, mocked many of the assertions by Pres. Trump and cabinet members like Secretary of War Pete Hegseth believed that Tehran was about to cave. She and Cobban also surveyed the still-spreading consequences of the war for the West Asia region, the global economy, and also the U.S. political system. This conversation is the seventh in JWE's ongoing "Iran Crisis" series, which is a follow-on to the "Gaza, and the World" project that we launched in Fall 2025. The multimedia records of all the conversations in this series can be found at this portal page on our website. Check back at our website www.justworldeducational.org for news of our further programming in this series.

Davy Adams has lived many lives, from becoming a loyalist paramilitary, to go on to contribute to the Good Friday Agreement and then to carry out humanitarian work in places like Syria, Sudan and Sierra Leone. He joined me to talk about his bottom-up view on conflict, his take on the US-Israel war on Iran and why despite all the horrors he's seen, he remains hopeful.Yes, I brought him to the Diggers for a Sambo and Coddle

It’s all a bit mad (and we will be covering the madness) at the moment, so it was a salve for the soul to sit down and chat with the first ever Palestinian photo-journalist in Gaza, Eman Mohamed. She describes growing up in Gaza in a matriarchal household, going to a convent school and falling in love with photography. We discuss her life outside of Gaza, in the US and now in Ireland. I loved this conversation and I hope you will too. See emanmohammed.com for more

In this very special conversation Sparky sits down with actor, singer, kind-of-definitely-not historian and thoroughly decent skin, Phelim Drew. They get into everything, from the lefty anarchic theatre scene to folk memory.

Shams Mazen Rajab is a Palestinian graduate in English Language and Teaching Methods from Al-Aqsa University in Gaza. She is a writer and translator whose work conveys the resilience, struggles, and hopes of her community. Her articles and poems have been published in international platforms such as We Are Not Numbers, the collective blog Through Our Eyes, and the academic journal Brief Encounters. She joins us from her displacement tent in Deir Al Balah.

Depending on the reporting Cuba has 2-4 weeks of oil left and despite Trump saying that he's not involved, my guest journalist with el Pais, Nicholas Dale Leal, thinks the US has its knee on the throat of the small nation. We get into Cuba, the US, Mexico and Venezulea post Maduro.I know it's been a lot today, but there is a lot happening!#

Displaced in Gaza is a collection of personal testimonies from Palestinians in Gaza who have been repeatedly displaced within their homeland since 7 October 2023. These testimonies were collected in May 2024, commissioned by the Hashim Sani Center for Palestine Studies at Universiti Malaya. Displaced in Gaza aims to raise global awareness about the violent and forced displacement inflicted upon Palestinians in Gaza by the Israeli military and the impact that this displacement has had on every aspect of their lives. Each story is unique, yet the endurance of the Palestinian people remains a common thread, linking together these stories of hope and loss.For more please visit AFSC.orgTo purchase Displaced in Gaza click:https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2620-displaced-in-gazaAll proceeds got to We Are Not Numbers in Gaza.

This week Sparky sits down with internationally acclaimedpoet and playwright, Paula Meehan and their mutual good friend and local legend, Kay Foran. Paula shares some poetry and the conversation meanders from the importance of community to the carrots in Coddle debate. We're Back, Yup the Flats!

In this Echo Chamber Podcast, Tony is rejoined by Mr irishelectionprojections.com Harry McEvansoneya, to discuss the latest opinion polls, the Soc Dem rise, the upcoming by-elections and why we have a government who will do absolutely anything to avoid having to do something.

Karama Fadil is a teacher of Arabic language for non-Arabic speakers. She survived 5 months of the genocide in Gaza before being able to leave via "coordination services" to Egypt and eventually on to the US. In her new home, she is trying to start a new life. But the experience of a Palestinian a refugee, a stateless person in search of identity and community in this United States is not an easy one. Still Karama hopes to be able one day to build community and support those whom she left behind. Tune in for the full episode.

In this tortoise shack special, Tony sits down with immigration lawyer and (sadly) Corkman, Cathal Malone, to talk about Ireland's immigration system, the hardening political rhetoric, the actual reality and lots more. This is a must-listen for anyone who is concerned by statements from our elected officials and even more so for those who think our Government are just talking "common sense."

Editors Note: The Guest this week couldn't establish an internet connection so we've rescheduledIn this short PalCast, Yousef updates us on what is happening in Gaza, the ever expanding Yellow Line, the destruction of what little infrastructure remains, the creation of new mass graves and how the Knesset plans to hang Palestinian "prisoners."

Ali Skaik is an English Literature student and writer from Gaza City. In his own words: "Literature should be lived and not just read. Growing up amid the struggles in Gaza, every word I write carries the reality I face daily. Literature became my way of living, feeling, and speaking the truth of the spirit, pain, and enduring hope of my people.In this very special episode Ali shares his story. Warning: He dose not spare any detail and discusses topics listeners may find upsetting.Ali has also been published on We Are Not Numbers, The Nation, The Electronic Intifada, and The Intercept.

Riwaa Abuquta is a young woman from Rafah city whose life has been shaped by displacement, loss, and the constant search for safety. Alongside with her family, her elderly parents and 5 sisters, one of whom is disabled, she shares the story of life in a tent for a year and a half.Since the beginning of the war, she has been uprooted from her home, carrying her family and her memories to a tent. She refuses to call her tent a home. Tune in for the full story.

Ali Skaik is an English Literature student and writer from Gaza City. In his own words: "Literature should be lived and not just read. Growing up amid the struggles in Gaza, every word I write carries the reality I face daily. Literature became my way of living, feeling, and speaking the truth of the spirit, pain, and enduring hope of my people. In this very special episode Ali shares his story. Warning: He dose not spare any detail and discusses topics listeners may find upsetting. Ali has also been published on We Are Not Numbers, The Nation, The Electronic Intifada, and The Intercept.

Journalist Eoghan Gilmartin and Professor Joe Haslam are back to talk Pedro Sanchez, Spains economic miracle, Catalan independence, the rise of far right Vox and why you should never get into the pub business. Warning: Strong language by tepid debates ensues.

2025 Wrap with Simon McGarr and Harry McEvansoneyaIt's that time of year again where we sit and reflect on the year gone by and talk optimistically about our pessimistic future. And who better* to do that than Mr irishelectionprojections.com Harry McEvansoneya and The Gist's Simon McGarr.*we asked better people, but they had better offers.

Ali Al Omari is a Palestinian-Philippino artist and architecture graduate, who holds a masters degree from the Victoria University of Wellington. His work focuses on Palestinian art, Sumud and Resistance through architecture. In this episode, he talks about architecture in Palestinian history including that of Gaza, a city that rises from the ashes, just like the Phoenix, tune in for the full episode.Gardens of the Broken Shadows is here:Item - The Gardens of broken Shadows - Open Access Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington - Figshare

In this Reboot Republic podcast, Rory talks with leading author and researcher Conor McCabe about the Irish economy - is this really record economic growth? How does foreign direct investment mislead what is really going on, how it shapes our policy and leaves us wondering why are things so difficult for so many if this is record economic growth. We also talk about how Governments turned housing into a global asset class and created our housing disaster.

Jude Sherry and Frank O'Connor are the driving forces behind the #DerelictIreland movement. They’ve been working relentlessly for years to bust the myths and political narratives that say that getting vacant or derelict properties back into use as homes is too complex and costly and , despite many hurdles, they are winning. Their recent appearance at the Oireachtas shows that. So it was a real pleasure to be rejoined by them both, and in-person, for a deep-dive into their work, art, advocacy and even the cost to them professionally for not giving up.

A very short podcast with MEP for Dublin, Lynn Boylan on the return of CETA, the Govts push for the unconstitutional investor courts, Mercosur's hormone enhanced cows for German cars and the EPP moving further to the right in the EU.

In this episode of Displaced in Gaza we are joined by Director of UNWRA USA, Laila Mokhiber, to discuss the crucial work they continue to do in Gaza, the Right of Return, trying to avoid burnout and smuggling books into Gaza for our Dearly Departed Friend, Dr Refaat Alareer.

In this episode of Displaced in Gaza, I talk with former UN Special Rapporteur for Housing and driving-force behind theshift.org and the Right to Housing, Leilani Farha, who shares how Palestine was a dinner table discussion growing up and how her trip to Palestine in 1994 shapes her work to this day.

Richard Boyd-Barrett's political awakening took place in Hebron. His lifelong journey for social justice took its first steps alongside young Palestinian's of the first Intifada. So his voice was one that I wanted as part of this project. We discuss his return from illness, the militarisation agenda, Gaza and much more.Note: The music at the end is my own recording of Daniel Maté singing Joni Mitchell at a Gaza event. It just felt relevant to the chat with Richard.

Maryam Elwaheidy is a translator with a strong foundation in English, Arabic. She holds a B.A. in English Language and Translation from Al-Azhar University in Gaza. She joins us from Gaza city to update us on the latest situation on the ground with the heavy fall of rain which flooded the tents of displaced Palestinians. We also discuss how the world is pretending that the so-called ceasefire means we can all forget about Gaza and what Israel has done over the last two plus years. Tune in for the full story.note: this was recorded in Leinster House and Richard Boyd-Barrett makes an impromptu appearance at the end.

I travelled to Dungannon to spend a few life-affirming hours in the company of the powerhouse, Bernadette Devlin McAliskey. You probably know her story, from Bloody Sunday to Westminster to getting shot, to giving her Freedom of the City of New York award to the Black Panthers. She's lived 10 lives and in this podcast she talks about childhood, inter-generational trauma, what 's wrong with the world, what's right with the world, hope, despair, keeping our chins above the water, Ireland-Palestine and so much more. It's in 3 parts. A general podcast discussion, the story reading and then a discussion on the story that leads to a bit of a philosophical Bernadette. Eternal life even gets a mention. I hope you all enjoy it.

Ayat Abuhelal is a poet, writer, translator, and student of English literature, born and raised in Gaza. She was recently evacuated to Ireland to continue her academic studies. While finishing her BA studies online, she is preparing to start her MA studies in Dublin. She shares a story of struggle between two worlds. This story is of displacement, hope and family that she left behind. When Ayat left Gaza, she also left behind part of her in a city now in rubble. As her new classmates speak of 2026 to come, she at times feel frozen in October 2023.Tune in for the full story

Cian Prendiville was Head of Digital Organising on the Connolly for President Campaign, and he joined me to talk about that history making few months, the highs, lows and the learnings he wants us to take forward into the new keepleft.ie movement. Great insights; even this old cynic was impressed.

Sojood Bakroon is a graduate of Literature at Al-Aqsa University in Gaza. She is a writer and a poet, who hopes to amplify the Palestinian voice and let the world know about Palestine and Gaza. She is now in Ireland doing English and Communication at UCD. In this PalCast episode, she shares her experience of loss, displacement and fonding hope and sadness after leaving Gaza. “The world is a hotel and Gaza my home,” she says. She hopes to return back to Gaza one day to help rebuild.

The EU continues to rollback hard won rights and protections around trade, work practices and environmental regulations all in the name of simplification and competitiveness. Now the previously maligned “free-trade” Mercosur is back on the agenda, consequences be damned. Joining me to discuss this and more is MEP Lynn Boylan, who is organising an event on Nov 6th around Trade Justice. More info here:https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/never-wast