Reboot Republic - Rory Hearne by Tortoise Shack Media
Society & Culture
About
Reboot Republic is the innovative Podcast that delves beyond the headlines and soundbites and pulls up the roots of our Social Crises to unearth progressive solutions.
Episodes
- Immigration and the far right – Don’t Believe the Online Hype
Rory Hearne speaks with Niamh McDonald and Edel McGinley of the Hope and Courage Collective about public attitudes toward migration, the rise of far-right movements in Ireland, and community responses. The discussion references their repor…
- Charting a Path Through the Energy Crisis
Rory Hearne speaks with economist Tom McDonnell about the current energy crisis, touching on global implications and potential solutions for Ireland, such as energy security, renewable infrastructure, and addressing the housing crisis with…
- There Are Real Alternatives – Community Wealth Building
In this episode of Reboot Republic, Rory O’Neill speaks with Joe Guinan, President of The Democracy Collaborative, about the global geopolitical situation, the economic consequences of war, and the principles of community wealth building a…
- Never Again, yet the Genocide continues – Mikey Cullen on the Gaza Flotilla
Poet and teacher Mikey Cullen discusses his participation in a flotilla to Gaza with Rory Hearne on Reboot Republic. The conversation addresses the continuation of genocide in Gaza despite international law and the struggle to find meaning…
- Connecting the crises- war, fuel protests & evictions
This episode of Reboot Republic discusses the connection between ongoing conflicts, fuel protests, and rising evictions, framing them as symptoms of widespread cost-of-living distress and government inaction.
- Beds in Sheds – A Planning and Political Failing
Rory Hearne and Dr. Phil Lawton discuss Ireland's housing crisis, focusing on government proposals to allow backyard dwellings and the potential negative impacts of loosening planning restrictions. They also address the financialization of…
- Poverty behind closed doors – The real Ireland from St Vincent De Paul
Rory Hearne discusses child poverty and homelessness with Louise Bayliss from St Vincent De Paul, addressing the experiences of 260,000 individuals seeking support and what changes are needed.
- Evictions Up 41% – A National Emergency
This episode of Reboot Republic discusses the 41% increase in evictions in Ireland, examining government policies, the influence of international investment, and the systemic issues contributing to the housing crisis.
- Immigration – Reality vs Perception
Rory Hearne speaks with Keire Murphy of the ESRI about their research on public attitudes towards immigration in Ireland, comparing perceptions with reality. They also discuss factors influencing these views, methods for change, and Murphy…
- Choosing between heating & eating: disabled people’s cost of living crisis
Joan Carthy of the Irish Wheelchair Association joined Reboot Republic to discuss the severe cost of living crisis faced by disabled people, detailing their campaign for an emergency winter payment and the difficult choices, such as heatin…
- Floods of Optimism
In this episode, Rory Hearne talks with producer Tony about significant changes in Ireland's rental sector, the government's response to recent floods, and the opposition's need to inspire public belief in a different political future.
- Hope in Action with Jenny Maguire
Rory Hearne speaks with Jenny Maguire about her call for the broad left to form a coalition based on a hopeful vision, moving away from internal conflicts over identity politics. A mention of "The Flash" and a call to support Dignity for P…
- Democracy Challenged – Ireland’s GDP is a Mirage
Rory Hearne speaks with Professor Aidan Regan about the disparity between Ireland's high GDP and the average citizen's economic experience. They discuss how this imbalance fuels societal and political polarization and the vulnerability of…
- The 2026 Predictions Pod
In this episode of Reboot Republic, Rory Hearne and Tony Groves address the homelessness crisis, AI issues, the government's approach to climate action, and the political landscape for 2026.
- Homeless for Christmas with the Simon Communities
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory talks with Ber Grogan, executive director of the Simon Communities of Ireland about what are real reasons for the ongoing rise in homelessness, finding hope in solut…
- A booming economy & struggling society ?Ireland’s economy explained with Conor McCabe
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack 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 mis…
- The Aspirations of a Plan
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic Podcast, Rory chats with tortoise shack editor Tony Groves about the government's new housing plan, that is so impressive that the Minister for Housing, James Brown, didn'…
- The Presidential Election and Left Unity beyond the Connolly Campaign
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory is joined by tortoise shack editor and producer, Tony Groves and Mr irishelectionprojections.com, Harry McEvansoneya, to talk about the Presidential Election, the br…
- Who is Buying Our Homes with Lorcan Sirr
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Editors Note: This was a member-only podcast from Sept, but members asked for it to go out for free, so here it is. In this Reboot Republic, Rory talks who is buying our homes with Lorcan Sirr, S…
- The Housing Crisis and Why I Still Believe in Human Rights
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Leilani Farha is a human rights lawyer, host of PushBack Talks, founder of Right to Housing organisiation, The Shift, former UN Special Rapporteur for the Right to Adequate Housing and most impor…
- Child Poverty – What Must Be Done.
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic podcast, Rory talks with Tanya Ward, Director of the Children’s Rights Alliance about the reasons underlying the shocking figure that 1 in 5 children in Ireland are in pov…
- Save Irish Citizens in Gaza: An Irish-Palestinian family’s story
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic podcast, Rory talks with Khalid El-Astal, who was born in Belfast in 1993, and Melissa Murphy who is part of the Kildare Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Khalid is now livin…
- Living in Two Worlds – Abubaker Abed
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack When journalist and accidental genocide correspondent, Abubaker Abed, left Gaza a few months ago the only thing certain was that he would continue to speak up and report on what is happening in h…
- 396. Community Wealth Building
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory chats with Sean McCabe who is Head of Climate and Sustainability at Bohemians Football Club about the potential for community wealth building and cooperatives to cre…
- Poverty and Hope
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory talks to Louise Bayliss, Head of Social Justice & Policy with the St Vincent De Paul. 250,000 people sought support from SVP last year showing the scale of on going…
- 394. New Apartment Standards – The 21st Century Tenements with Orla Hegarty
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory discusses the new apartment standards the Government have brought in with Orla Hegarty of the UCD School of Architecture and Planning. Orla outlines the major flaws…
- 393. Women’s Equality & Feminism
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory talks with Orla O Connor who has recently announced that she is leaving her role as Director of the National Women's Council of Ireland. We talk about Orla's 23 year…
- 392. The ‘New’ Plan – Protecting Renters or feeding them to the Vultures?
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack What are the new rental measures? In this Reboot Republic podcast Rory and Dr Michael Byrne from UCD break down the latest rental measures and explain what they are, what is the likely impact on…
- A new way forward for the Irish economy
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory talks to economist Michael Taft about the impact of tariffs on the Irish economy and jobs, our over dependence on US multinational investment, how we can create a di…
- 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 rea…
- €2,000 Average Rents!
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic Rory & Tony discuss The national housing disaster - how it is worsening and while its an acknowledged emergency, the government appear to be about to bend to the landlord…
- 1452. Maybe I’m Amazed with John Harris
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Listeners know tortoise shack regular John Harris as that fella who writes about politics and hosts one of them podcasts for the Guardian. Many of you will have seen his award winning series Anyw…
- 388. Government U-Turns and a New Housing Crisis Solution
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic Rory and Tony take a critical eye to the big issues of the week discussing Rorys idea on a state savings scheme to build affordable homes, the emotional pain of Gaza and s…
- 387. Facing down Trumps dystopia with Grace Blakeley
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic podcast Rory talks with economist and author of ‘Vulture Capitalism: How to Survive in an Age of Corporate Greed,' Grace Blakeley. We discuss what is going to happen to th…
- 385. It’s not like 1933 or is it?
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory is joined by the always brilliant Soairse McHugh for a chat about all things despondent and rise in popularity of things that we thought had been settled back in the…
- 386. Dáil Speaking Row and the ESRI Rental Market Report
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory is joined by producer Tony Groves to talk the continuing fallout from the Lowry Lackeys, the Ceann Comhairle's role, the ESRI housing report and then take your (fran…
- 384. Why the Left are Losing on Housing
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory is joined by UCD's Dr Michael Byrne (his substack:https://theweekinhousing.substack.com/ is a weekly must read) to discuss the hybrid-housing market that we have and…
- 383. Progress Ireland vs Reboot Republic?
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory sits down with Exec Dir at Progress Ireland to discuss the (newish) think tanks goals and values, Seán's view that growth is essential and the reaction to their sugg…
- 382. Do the Government Really Want to End Homelessness?
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic episode Rory is joined by guest co-host and Head of Social Justice and Policy at SVP, Louise Bayliss, for a discussion about the latest developments (or disappointments) i…
- 381. Housing Failure as Government Policy
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic pod Rory is joined by producer Tony to discuss the latest Dáil shenanigans, the government’s continued backpedaling on pre-election promises and to answer your (excellent)…
- 380. Rebooting Reboot
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic (Reboot) Rory chats with producer Tony about his first few weeks in the Dáil, the new government's attempts at stroke politics, the government misleading the public with p…
- 1373. GE2024 – The Candidates, Rory Hearne
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack I'll be honest, this is not really a candidate interview. There are a couple of mean questions. But it's more touching base with our friend Rory and wishing him well for Friday. How could we not?…
- 374. A Real Housing Solution: Cost Rental Homes
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory discusses the new (at least new to Ireland) affordable rental housing model: cost rental housing. He talks with authors of the new report, The Impact of Cost Rental…
- #2. ‘My Mam Thought I was Mad’ – Sadhbh Coffey Duff
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this episode of Sparks Will Fly, Ray is joined by Reboot Republic Host, Rory Hearne to chat with their very special guest, plumbing apprentice, Sadhbh Coffey Duff. This is a belter of a conver…
- 379. The human toll of the war on Lebanon with Sally Hayden
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Podcast Rory and Tony talk with Sally Hayden, Irish journalist and award winning author of My Fourth Time, We Drowned, about the reality of the Israeli invasion and attacks on Lebanon. Sa…
- 378. Labouring Forward with John Harris
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic we talk once more to award winning journalist and podcaster with the Guardian, John Harris about the tensions, achievements and neoliberal technocracy of the new Labour Go…
- A Green Social Justice Approach for Climate & Inequality
Please join us at patreon.com/toroiseshack In this Reboot Republic podcast, Rory discusses a new approach to addressing both climate and inequality - in changing the narrative and moving towards transformative changes, such as public inves…
- 375. Budget 2025 – Tokenism not Transformational
Please join us on patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory dissects Budget 2025 with Michael Taft, economist , and Susanne Rogers of Social Justice Ireland and they find more tokenism than transformation, We discuss how the…
- 372. Early Childhood Education: A Public Model
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic podcast Rory discusses the crisis in childcare and how a public system of Early Childhood Education and Care would work, with Orla O Connor and Eilish Balfe of the Nationa…
- 373. Factchecking the Taoiseach’s Homelessness Claims
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack n this Reboot Republic, Rory alongside Adam Boyle, Solicitor with the Mercy Law Centre, factcheck Taoiseach Simon Harris' claims that "homelessness numbers are heavily impacted by the fact we are…