The Explainer - podcast cover

The Explainer

The Journalthejournal.ie
The Explainer is a weekly podcast from The Journal that takes a deeper look at one big news story you need to know about. What's the background? Why is this in the news? Get the facts behind the story from Ireland's biggest news website.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Episodes

Luis Rubiales and the Spanish football scandal - what happens next?

This week on The Explainer, we speak to Emma Duffy, sports journalist with The 42, to discuss Luis Rubiales and the scandal that has engulfed Spanish football since their women's team won the World Cup Final last month.The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a decade. You can contribute to ensure we can keep questioning, investigating, debunking, explaining and informing at www.thejournal.ie/contr...

Sep 08, 202318 min

Why is Ireland getting more TDs?

Art O'Leary, chief executive officer of the Electoral Commission joins us explain how the changes were decided on and what factors were taken into consideration. We're also joined by our Political Reporter Jane Matthews, Deputy Editor Christine Bohan, and Assistant News Editor Rónán Duffy to dissect the results and take a look at the political ramifications.The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for ...

Aug 30, 202339 min

How has the Rose of Tralee festival survived for so long?

The Journal's Carl Kinsella and Kirsty Blake Knox from the Irish Independent explain the enduring popularity behind the Rose of Tralee. Is it still relevant in 2023? What is the event like to actually attend? What if they were a Rose, what would their special talent be?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a decade. You can contribute to ensure we can keep questioning, investigating, debunking, ...

Aug 24, 202335 min

Why is there so much talk about a farmers' party in Ireland?

Journalist and organic beef and dairy farmer Hannah Quinn Mulligan joins us to look at the growing talk of a farmers' party in Ireland. What are the types of policies they would implement? And what are their chances of success?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a decade. You can contribute to ensure we can keep questioning, investigating, debunking, explaining and informing at www.thejournal....

Aug 17, 202326 min

A forgotten crisis - what is happening to the Rohingya minority fleeing Myanmar?

We delve into the prosecution faced by the Rohingya minority in Myanmar, and the treacherous journey many make across the Andaman Sea in search of asylum and a better life. We speak with Michelle Cicic, head of the regional office for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) of the European Commission in south-southeast Asia Pacific, as well as Lilianne Fan and Hassan bin Roshid from the Geutanyoë Foundation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Aug 13, 202345 min

Who is Robert F Kennedy Jr and could he be the next US president?

US correspondent with the Business Post Marion McKeone delves into RFK Jr's campaign so far. What are his rallies like, and what is he like as a person? Is he in with a chance of becoming US president, or are we simply looking at Trump vs Biden in 2024? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 11, 202332 min

What next for Ireland's women's football team?

Sinéad O'Carroll is joined by The 42's Gavin Cooney for a wide-ranging discussion on women in football. What does their performance say about how the future of the team? And did they catch the public's imagination enough to keep the fanbase growing from here? And more widely, is enough being done by sports organisations to support women in sport?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a decade. Yo...

Aug 03, 202337 min

Do Barbie and Oppenheimer mark the return of the summer blockbuster?

We're joined by journalist and author Aoife Barry, who takes us through the hype machine behind Barbie and how this rubbed off on Oppenheimer. Did it translate into box office success? Will this revive the public's interest in going to the pictures? Also, how will the strike by actors and writers in the US impact film and television over the coming months?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a ...

Jul 26, 202333 min

What is the Nature Restoration Law and how will it work in Ireland?

Lauren Boland, climate reporter with The Journal, examines what precisely this legislation is all about and why it sparked so much anger. Do environmentalists think the now-watered-down law will have any impact? And how does Ireland fit into the picture?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a decade. You can contribute to ensure we can keep questioning, investigating, debunking, explaining and i...

Jul 22, 202328 min

How do Oireachtas committees work, and how did Tubridy end up in front of one?

Presenter Laura Byrne is joined this week by Gavan Reilly, political correspondent with Virgin Media News, to look behind the scenes at Oireachtas committees, from the grandstanding to the selection process, as well as to analyse previous appearances by John Delaney, Angela Kerins, and - of course - Ryan Tubridy.The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a decade. You can contribute to ensure we can ...

Jul 13, 202336 min

What does Ireland’s ‘unprecedented’ marine heatwave tell us about our climate?

Ireland has experienced an event unprecedented in recorded history: a category four extreme marine heatwave in our waters. Oceans play a crucial but often underappreciated role in regulating our climate, so how strong a warning signal is this? What could the impact be on marine life? And how does dust from the Sahara desert somehow factor in? We're joined by Lauren Boland, reporter with The Journal and author of our climate newsletter Temperature Check, and Dr Gerard McCarthy, oceanographer work...

Jul 06, 202331 min

What does the Ryan Tubridy payments scandal mean for the future of RTÉ?

Eileen Culloty, assistant professor in the School of Communications at DCU, and Rónán Duffy, Assistant News Editor at The Journal, join us on this week's episode to look at the latest scandal to hit RTÉ. The revelations around overpayments of the station's top star, Ryan Tubridy have rippled through the halls of power and onto the country's airwaves, causing untold damage to the reputation of the public service broadcaster. How exactly did the payments come about? Will Tubridy be back on air? An...

Jun 30, 202335 min

What is hydrogen power, and could it replace coal, oil, and gas?

James Carton, assistant professor in Sustainable Energy with DCU and an academic advisor to the United Nations on hydrogen, joins us on this week's podcast to discuss this lesser spotted energy source. How do you make it? Where could it be used instead of fossil fuels? Could it be part of a clean energy future, or does it amount to simply greenwashing?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a deca...

Jun 19, 202327 min

Hard cash and soft power - what is going on in the world of golf?

Golf might not appear to be the most exciting sport for non-fans - but it's what's happening off the course that's currently getting the most attention. Gavin Cooney, sports writer with The42, joins us to explain all. The story is one that involves a lot of money, antitrust concerns, and a new - but perhaps murky - future for the world of golf, one in which Saudi Arabian soft power has come to the fore.The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism i...

Jun 11, 202333 min

What is it like to sit the Leaving Cert in 2023?

Luke Saunders, co-founder and CEO of Studyclix, joins us on this week's episode to give the lie of the land for anyone whose own memory of sitting the Leaving Cert might be fading. We look at the lasting impact of the Covid pandemic on the exams, explain the current points system, dig into recent and future reforms, and also share advice for students and parents alike.The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The J...

Jun 06, 202331 min

16 years on, what is happening with the Madeleine McCann case?

Robbyn Swan, author of Looking for Madeleine and who featured in the Netflix series The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann, joins us to examine the recent developments in this long-running missing person case. This month, in what looked to be a significant development, police announced that a reservoir and the surrounding area in Portugal would be searched as part of their new investigations. But what led to this? Are police making progress? Who is the suspect who has been linked to the case?The ...

Jun 01, 202332 min

What's behind Ireland's love affair with the Late Late?

Another chapter in the story of Ireland's longest-running television programme is coming to a close, as Ryan Tubridy wraps up before handing over the presenter's chair to Patrick Kielty. Mark O'Brien, head of DCU's School of Communications and associate professor in journalism history, and Kirsty Blake Knox, writer with the Irish Independent, delve into The Late Late Show's history, examine its enduring popularity, and ask what its new presenter must do to keep it going strong.The Explainer is b...

May 26, 202337 min

Interview: HSE doctor speaks about her evacuation from war-torn Sudan

We are now a month into a conflict that has turned Sudan's capital into a war zone. Hundreds have been killed, thousands injured and an estimated 700,000 have been displaced. On this week's episode, we sit down with Dr Sulafa Salama, a Sudanese doctor working in St James's in Dublin, who was trapped in Khartoum when the fighting broke out. We're also joined by Dr Aia Mohamed, assistant professor at Trinity College Dublin, who speaks to us about how her father was visiting Sudan when the fighting...

May 17, 202340 min

Why are supermarkets suddenly cutting the prices of milk, butter and bread?

We've all noticed that we're spending more and more on our weekly shop - but in recent weeks, we've seen price cuts to staples like milk, butter, and bread. But why now? What changed? We're joined by Caitríona Morrissey, news editor with the Irish Farmers Journal. She gives us the background to these recent price drops and explains how cuts to 'loss leaders' might have little impact on your overall shopping basket.The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable ...

May 13, 202324 min

How does Ireland and the EU fight wildfires?

Summer is approaching, which means rising temperatures and an increased chance of wildfires. On this week's episode, Pádraic Fogarty of the Irish Wildlife Trust tells us about the damage caused by wildfires - many set deliberately - in Ireland, while Marcin Pater from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) of the European Commission explains how countries are pooling resources to battle the growing threat posed by these huge blazes.The Explainer is brought to you...

May 10, 202330 min

By Noteworthy: Is GSOC fit for purpose?

This week, in an episode of The Explainer brought to you by Noteworthy, journalist and Examiner columnist Mick Clifford joins the podcast. He and our reporter Alice Chambers tell Susan Daly about Noteworthy's latest investigation into how the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) handles public complaints. They uncovered a process that is slow and is lacking in transparency and enforcement powers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 04, 202328 min

How is Revolut changing and what does it mean for its customers?

You can now get an Irish IBAN for Revolut - so should we start treating it as a traditional bank? Daragh Cassidy of Bonkers.ie joins us to discuss what's next for Revolut - is it on track to dominate Irish banking, or will it remain nothing more than a handy app for splitting a bill? What do the latest changes mean for it customers? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 02, 202326 min

What is happening in Sudan?

Tensions in Sudan have boiled over into a violent conflict between the country's army and a rival paramilitary group. There is a fear now it could spread to other parts of the region. But how did happen, when just a few short years ago the country began the transition from a military dictatorship to a democracy? Joining us on this week's episode to explain more is Jehanne Henry, a human rights lawyer based in East Africa who was an advisor to Sudan's transitional government in 2020-21.The Explai...

Apr 27, 202342 min

Everything you need to know about the trial of Gerry Hutch

Frank Greaney, courts correspondent with Newstalk and Today FM, joins us on this week's episode to delve into the trial of Gerry Hutch and the fallout from its verdict. We examine the origins of the feud, explain who exactly The Monk is, look at key moments from the trial, and explore the origins of the Special Criminal Court. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 18, 202335 min

What's the story with Ireland's neutrality?

As momentum grows behind a debate on neutrality, we're joined by Diarmaid Ferriter, professor of Modern Irish History at UCD, to look at its opaque history in Ireland. He explains how the seeds of the policy can be traced back far beyond the Free State, right back to Wolfe Tone. We also examine the previous attempts to move away from our 'militarily non-aligned status', how the government could approach the current debate, and also asks if the value of remaining a truly neutral state has been lo...

Apr 15, 202340 min

What does Trump being indicted mean for him and 2024 election?

Laura Byrne is joined by The Journal columnist and University of Galway law lecturer, Larry Donnelly to delve into Trump's indictment. What are the charges, exactly? Who are the main players? How does the wider Republican party feel about it - and does this elevate or destroy Trump's chances at another term in the White House?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a decade. You can contribute to ...

Apr 05, 202326 min

Why is there concern over how TikTok is using your data?

Chris Stokel-Walker, UK-based tech journalist and author of 'TikTok Boom: China's Dynamite App and the Superpower Race for Social Media', joins us on this week's episode to look at the growing privacy concerns over TikTok. What's behind its popularity; what can we tell about its connections to the Chinese government; and is it using your data any differently from other tech giants?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the...

Mar 28, 202333 min

What's behind the recent wave of bank failures?

Is this 2008 all over again? As we watch a wave of banking failures, Brooke Masters from the Financial Times joins us on this week's episode to explain exactly what is going on. What caused the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank? How did it cause ripple effects across the world? And although we're hearing a lot about venture capital, how worried should Joe and Jane Doe be about their savings?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has ...

Mar 22, 202327 min

By Noteworthy: Why is it so tough to access autism services?

This week, as a bonus episode of The Explainer brought to you by Noteworthy, Susan Daly chats with reporter Niall Sargent about the latest ASSESSING AUTISM investigation which found chronic delays in supports, with children facing multi-year waiting lists for therapy and other vital services. We also hear from the head of autism studies at University College Cork, Eleanor McSherry about her personal experiences and her anger over a lack of State action for over two decades. Hosted on Acast. See ...

Mar 20, 202324 min

What is shrinkflation?

Inflation continues to creep upwards, and so does the price of goods we are buying - but what about the actual value of those items? 'Shrinkflation' is the term applied to when products increase in price, but customer ends up paying more for the same or less. You could also end up paying more for a product of lower quality. This week, we speak to Edgar Morgenroth, professor of economics at DCU Business School, to delve into the subject more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inform...

Mar 18, 202318 min
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