Helen Thompson, author of Disorder: Hard Times in the 21st Century
In her new book Disorder: Hard Times in the 21st Century, Helen Thompson, a professor of political economy at Cambridge University, gets to grips with the overlapping geopolitical, economic, and polit...
11 Mar 202258min
Pearse Doherty on Sinn Féin’s policies, a united Ireland and issues of security and neutrality
Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty joins Hugh and Pat to discuss what his party's priorities and policies would be, if they were to lead the next government. They also discuss Ireland’s neu...
9 Mar 202257min
Europe's turning point
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has brought about enormous changes in European policy in an incredibly short space of time. To discuss how it happened, what it means and what happens next, Hugh is joined...
2 Mar 202241min
"Putin can never show any weakness" - Bill Browder on war, sanctions and the outlook for Ukraine
Businessman-turned-campaigner Bill Browder returns to the podcast to talk to Hugh about Russian president Vladimir Putin's actions and motivations, the impact of sanctions and other measures on him an...
28 Feb 202228min
NCWI spat raises interesting questions, Citizens' Assemblies, Sinn Féin's carbon stance
Professor Jane Suiter and political correspondent Harry McGee join Hugh to talk about the week's political stories. The National Women's Council of Ireland annoyed some government politicians by faili...
23 Feb 202255min
Lea Ypi, author of Free: Coming of Age at the End of History
Academic and author Lea Ypi talks to Hugh about her unique and insightful memoir Free, in which she recalls her youth in Albania under communism, the regime's economic and political downfall and the d...
18 Feb 202247min
Covid restrictions, gender-based violence & do we need the Defence Forces?
Jennifer Bray and Pat Leahy join Hugh to talk about how a relaxation of the remaining Covid restrictions might play out, the merits of Ireland’s Defence Forces and the new statutory agency for domesti...
16 Feb 202243min
The lessons of the pandemic - with Fintan O'Toole and Jack Horgan-Jones
The pandemic is not over but the emergency phase of the State's response to it is. So, how did we do? What lessons can be learned from the state's response and what's the best way to find out what tho...
9 Feb 202248min
