Explore every episode of the podcast Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From Elon to Enoch: The entrepreneurs of hate | 03 Sep 2024 | 00:48:26 | |
Enoch Burke is in jail again. He is unwavering in his beliefs but is he a pawn in other people’s games? On Free State, Dion and Joe look at foot soldiers like Enoch Burke and what they are doing for their beliefs. Brazil has banned X as they attempt to protect their country. Elon Musk insists free speech is the cornerstone of democracy but is free speech on social media, the instrument that will destroy democracy while promoting fascism? Joe is not an Oasis fan. He recalls the night he tried to get a Gallagher brother’s autograph and the unpleasantness that followed. This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20 Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Will they ever get tired of walking backwards? Kicking the Brits out, Part 2 | 29 Aug 2024 | 00:46:07 | |
On August 31, 1994, the Provisional IRA announced that “there will be a complete cessation of military operations. All our units have been instructed accordingly”. It was a statement that brought joy, tears and relief to so many in Northern Ireland who had endured violence. So much that would follow came from the ceasefire and the delicate negotiations that brought it about. As the 30th anniversary of the ceasefire approaches, Joe and Dion consider the people who made that possible, the role of the US and the refusal of unionism to move forward. They also ask why the lessons of the north are being ignored in Gaza. And can Dion, a Protestant in his heart, pass the Orange Lodge test? This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20 Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Cups, cops and complainers. Celebrating Sam with the Orangemen | 30 Jul 2024 | 00:47:15 | |
Unforgettable things have happened here. These words were used to describe the history of West Cork but they also could be a fitting description of the history created in Croke Park by Armagh. But some people don’t see it that way. On Free State today, Joe and Dion ask why certain unionist politicians can’t lead. In Armagh a PSNI officer faces sanction for flying an Armagh flag from his patrol car. This was a joyous act which would be unremarked upon nearly anywhere else. Why are unionist leaders trapped? Why can’t they find someone who speaks as Jarlath Burns speaks for the GAA? And the boys risk the wrath of the Belfast Newsletter as Joe has a surprising new entry for things loyalists hate. This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20 Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Unquiet Graves - Part 2: Smiling Like You’ve Never Been Gone | 21 Sep 2023 | 00:36:56 | |
For the families of those murdered by security forces collusion, the truth was all they had left. In Part II of Unquiet Graves, Joe and Dion look at the fight for truth from the families affected by the Legacy Bill. The truth would not set them free but it would provide some peace. It would honour the memory of the dead. They hope to see them some day, walking in, smiling like they’ve never been gone. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Unquiet Graves - Part 1 | 19 Sep 2023 | 00:36:12 | |
The past lives in everyone traumatised by the Troubles. The Legacy Bill has layered misery and anxiety on top of suffering and injustice. For the families who are haunted by the graves of their loved ones, the Act will bring only silence. The families want the truth about the past, the truth about state collusion and murder. On Free State, Joe and Dion look at the stories of those families whose lifelong search for justice is in peril. They explain why the Legacy Bill was a death rattle of British colonialism. And why there are so many unquiet graves. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Wrap The Green Flag Round Me Boys - Part 2 | 14 Sep 2023 | 00:29:03 | |
With around 35% of people north and south supporting the Sinn Fein movement, Dion & Joe wonder why there isn’t a single person from a Republican background in the mainstream Irish media On Part 2 of ‘Wrap The Green Flag Round Me Boys’, we discuss how change is coming in Ireland and why politicians will be followers not leaders. Also can Joe Brolly be persuaded to agree with himself? Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Wrap The Green Flag Round Me Boys - Part 1 | 12 Sep 2023 | 00:31:21 | |
Is ‘Ooh Ah, Up the Ra’ the best the Irish establishment can do in the face of the existential threat posed by Sinn Fein? In the week that Michéal Martin said Sinn Fein were “infecting” the people of Ireland, Dion and Joe discuss the FG/FF Culture wars against Sinn Fein. They reflect on the family dynasties that replaced the British in Ireland: WT Cosgrave in his top hat, Charlie Haughey on his stallion. And there is a special bonus for our Fine Gael listeners… Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Who says there’s no talent in Longford? | 05 Sep 2023 | 00:52:25 | |
Is the Rose of Tralee a national embarrassment or does it represent something precious? On this week’s Free State, Joe and Dion look at Irish culture and what makes it different. There’s also Pele’s (and Joe’s) lack of concern about erectile dysfunction as well as a cost busting alternative to Viagra. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Roddy Collins Is A Wanker - Part 2 | 31 Aug 2023 | 00:34:56 | |
In Part Two of Roddy Collins is a W****r, Roddy Collins talks to Joe and Dion about his failed attempt at an IRA hold up as a teenager, his days going AWOL with Vinnie Jones and the love story that has shaped his life. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Roddy Collins Is A Wanker - Part 1 | 29 Aug 2023 | 00:36:15 | |
Don’t mess with the Cabra boys. In the first of a two-part interview, Roddy Collins joins Dion and Joe on Free State. He talks about the confidence trick they played on Chris Eubank, the deeply superstitious middleweight champion of the world. He remembers growing up in Cabra, his uncle Terry, Reggie Kray, banjoeing ‘The General’ Martin Cahill and much more. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Death On The Mediterranean | 22 Aug 2023 | 01:00:50 | |
Stalin said one death is a tragedy, a million deaths are a statistic. On Free State this week, Dion and Joe discuss the tragedy of tens of thousands drowning in the Mediterranean. They wonder how we lost touch with our own humanity and why people fall for the same tricks of hate peddled for centuries. They also ask why did four of our own MEPs vote against a resolution that would have ramped up search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean? Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Hate, Housing & Happiness - Pat Gilroy’s Roadmap to Utopia | 15 Aug 2023 | 00:43:43 | |
Fresh from Dublin’s triumph in the All Ireland final, Joe and Dion welcome an old friend back to Free State. Pat Gilroy returns to talk about why the most vulnerable have always been a target throughout history and why inequality is at the root of society’s problems. Pat also explains what a GAA World Series would look like and outlines his radical solution to the Dublin housing crisis… Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Don’t Cry For Me, Falkland Islands | 08 Aug 2023 | 00:45:45 | |
Donald Trump continues to demonstrate how reality can be hijacked by lies. This week Dion and Joe look at how America and Britain have been lost to populism while wondering why the Falkland Islands are more loved in Britain than Northern Ireland. Joe also undertakes not to sue his own podcast… Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Boys from the County Armagh. Some Orangemen have culture. | 25 Jul 2024 | 00:48:44 | |
Is there hope for America and the world if Kamala Harris becomes president? Or is the deterioration in the US terminal? On this episode of Free State, Joe talks to Dion about the Joe Biden he knows, how he can never forgive him for what is happening in Gaza and why Biden resisted leaving for so long because he knows no other life outside politics. There is a now a chance that Donald Trump will be defeated but there are more important orangemen on Joe’s mind this week. Ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland’s final, the boys consider the importance of a game like this to counties like Armagh and Galway. They look at the life and times of Marcelo Bielsa as an example of how sport connects and why that connection matters most of all. And as Joe gets more abuse from the far right, he wonders if it’s time for to get help with his dog-w***ing problem. This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20 Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Unleash the superhero within: How to become a multi millionaire, a wonderful lover and a complete a**hole. | 01 Aug 2023 | 00:42:29 | |
Can you sustain an orgasm for 15 minutes? Joe and Dion help you unleash the superhero within and they disagree about the power of the mind. Joe also remembers a fiery encounter with Enda McNulty Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Surprising Truth About Champions feat. Philly McMahon & Ger Brennan | 25 Jul 2023 | 01:16:31 | |
What makes a champion? Philly McMahon and Ger Brennan talk to Joe and Dion about what they were prepared to do as they helped to shape that great Dublin team. Philly tells the extraordinary story of his father’s life on the run while Ger explains why he was drawn to the priesthood before taking another path. They speak about hate and glory and the power in finding a thing - whatever it is - that is bigger than you. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| RTÉ The Musical - Act 2 | 20 Jul 2023 | 00:52:20 | |
You’ve got to pick a pocket or two... You can say what you like about Ryan Tubridy but do not question his soul, his love for the decent people of Ireland and, in particular, the decent people of Louth. In Act II of RTÉ The Musical, Joe and Dion look at the evidence the Toy Man, his agent Noel Kelly and the RTÉ executives provided to the Oireachtas committees. They also extend an invitation to Ryan Tubridy… Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| RTÉ The Musical - Act 1 | 18 Jul 2023 | 00:47:00 | |
Show me the (taxpayers) money... What does the RTÉ scandal tell us about Ireland? Joe and Dion explain why this was always about more than Ryan Tubridy’s salary. The Late Late Show’s decline from the glory days of Gay Byrne shows how RTÉ has been captured and why it can’t be a public service broadcaster and an advertising agency at the same time. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Inglorious 12th | 11 Jul 2023 | 00:52:39 | |
Do you know the words to The Sash? Is it culture or hate that sees effigies of politicians including Leo Varadkar burned on bonfires? This week Joe and Dion discuss the Twelfth of July, the role it plays in the siege mentality of the DUP and how to change it. Also is it better for RTE to have Gregory Campbell on the airwaves or Noel Kelly’s clients? And Dion finally persuades Joe to talk about cricket. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Sportswriter | 03 Jul 2023 | 00:59:43 | |
Richard Ford, the Pulitzer Prize winning author, joins Joe and Dion on this week’s Free State. Before he became a novelist, Richard was a sportswriter. He talks to Dion and Joe about why he will defend America when people attack it, his views on President Biden and an extraordinary and hilarious encounter with Muhammad Ali in 1969. We also find out what happened to Joe’s own unfinished Great Irish Novel, a novel inspired by the works of Richard Ford. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Ultimate Gunfighter | 26 Jun 2023 | 00:50:53 | |
Humans have always been drawn towards violence but is there a limit to the licence to thrill? Violence has always been a part of sport but now with events like Power Slap, sport is a tiny part of violence. Where will it end? Dion and Joe welcome back an old friend and ask, as Saudi Arabia takes over sport, could public executions one day become a pay per view event? Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Headless Men | 19 Jun 2023 | 00:44:55 | |
What happens if you speak out against the tribe in Unionism? Is there only free speech for Catholics in Northern Ireland? Joe and Dion argue about commemorations and discuss the Irish language and the secret meeting Joe attended with concerned Protestants. Also do people in the south need to do more to make unionists welcome? Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Our Friends in the North | 13 Jun 2023 | 00:29:33 | |
Dion and Joe debate and disagree about friendships and links between the north and south. They recall some fascinating incidents from the Troubles, including the forgotten heroism of Major Mike Guerin of the Light Air Defence regiment of the Royal Artillery, a real life Bruce Willis. And if a young man gets an excruciating tattoo after losing a bet in Vegas, you might think he would do it for a greater cause than Joe Brolly. Dion also reveals that some of his best friends are Protestants. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreestatepodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Reverse Cowgirl | 06 Jun 2023 | 00:59:09 | |
How do you achieve the perfect orgasm without a sexual partner? What precisely is the reverse cowgirl? Where can you buy an orgasmatron? Dion & Joe explore these crucial questions. They also look at how a tiny group of Eton posh boys hijacked the U.K., handed out billions to their pals and used an entire kingdom as their reverse cowgirl. As a bonus, Joe gives an apology masterclass. Enjoy. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreestatepodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The GAA is more important than money. For everything else there’s Mastercard. | 23 Jul 2024 | 00:35:42 | |
America has Donald Trump’s Republican convention; Ireland has the All-Ireland hurling final. America has Hulk Hogan; Ireland has Tony Kelly. On Free State, Dion and Joe discuss the cultural importance of the All-Ireland final. What is it that makes hurling compelling? Why is sport at its most powerful such an important unifying force? As Joe Biden departs, America is more divided than ever. On All-Ireland final day we are reminded of what connects us, it is a day when even Cork people are welcomed on the streets of Dublin. The GAA is more important than money. For everything else there’s Mastercard. This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20 Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Searching For God | 30 May 2023 | 00:37:38 | |
What does it mean to confront addiction? Do we still have a stereotype when it comes to imagining what somebody with a drink problem looks like? This week Dion and Joe talk about drink and what is left when you drain the pool. Dion takes Joe through his own story of recovery and explains why war stories are for amateurs. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreestatepodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Roman Catholic Breeders Association | 23 May 2023 | 00:55:02 | |
Birds do it, bees do it, but nobody does it like northern catholics, even the educated ones. Once again the demographic changes in the north have been framed in terms of a trope that Catholics are out breeding Protestants. In this week’s Free State, Joe and Dion look at the history of the Unionist view of Catholics in the north, how it fed into the south and why it persists. Also, why would anyone want to randomly hit Joe Brolly? Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreestatepodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Lonely Passion of Patrick Gilroy | 16 May 2023 | 00:50:03 | |
Before Dublin became the greatest Gaelic football team ever seen, they were the best known failures in Irish sport. Pat Gilroy was the manager who turned Dublin around. He joins Joe and Dion to talk about his years at Trinity with Joe, the players he wanted to dump who went on to become multiple All-Ireland winners and why he disagrees with Joe on the importance of psychology in sport. He also explains why they had to hand out pictures of Seán Cavanagh in the Dublin dressing room. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreestatepodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Trouble With Supremacists | 09 May 2023 | 00:59:30 | |
What unites the US Republican Party, Brexiteers and the DUP? This week, Joe and Dion look at the magical thinking that has replaced reason among those who once believed they were born to rule in Washington and London - and how the DUP showed them the way. Behind the three-word slogans, the bluster and the demonisation of minorities, what insecurities are driving the supremacists? And what would your reaction be if, as Joe once did, you answered the door to the Reverend Ian Paisley? Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreestatepodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Curb Your Enthusiasm Father | 02 May 2023 | 00:35:48 | |
If you were offered a lift on Air Force One would you take it? Joe talks to Dion about his time with Joe Biden in Ireland and the extraordinary empathy shown by the president when visiting end of life patients at the Mayo Roscommon Hospice. He also gives some fascinating insights into what happened behind the scenes during the president’s visit. Finally, brace yourself for a cringeworthy & hilarious encounter between Brolly and a priest in Dublin City centre. No wonder Dion calls him Larry David… Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreestatepodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ooh Aah, Up Which Ra? - Part 2 | 25 Apr 2023 | 00:41:23 | |
In the second part of Ooh Aah, Up Which Ra, Dion and Joe wonder what being honest about history really means and if Ireland wants to be Austria or Germany. Joe talks about Martin McGuinness and how many people were angered by what he wrote after McGuinness’s death and he also recounts an eye-opening experience at an Old Firm game. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreestatepodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ooh Aah, Up Which Ra? | 18 Apr 2023 | 00:38:14 | |
When the Irish women’s football team qualified for the World Cup, their achievement was overshadowed by a video of them singing ‘Ooh Aah, Up the Ra’. In this week’s episode Dion and Joe talk about why the song triggered such debate and if there are double standards involved, not just when certain groups are criticised and others aren’t, but in talking about the IRA itself. What does the issue tell us about Irish identity and how we understand our history? And Joe and Dion find they can agree on one thing at least. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreestatepodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Nigerian Prince | 11 Apr 2023 | 00:47:51 | |
Charles Anyaegbunam had a privileged upbringing in Nigeria as a Nigerian prince. His first meeting with Joe Brolly took place either during an escapade around Ireland or an escapade around Florida. He talks to Dion and Joe about his son, the rapper Rejjie Snow, his own view on racism in Ireland and the time himself and Joe tried and failed to buy the Jacksonville Jaguars. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreestatepodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Optimism Muscle | 04 Apr 2023 | 00:37:02 | |
Do you know where to find your optimism muscle? In this week’s episode Joe and Dion look at how the 21st century has become a factory and why a banal uniformity has invaded so many areas of life, including sport. With stories of John Morrison, Eamonn Coleman, Stan Bowles, Phil Lynott & Thin Lizzy, Dion and Joe wonder if all that was missing from their lives was an attitude of gratitude? Joe also explains his quest to find that optimism muscle... Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreestatepodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Smile Or Die | 28 Mar 2023 | 00:43:23 | |
Everybody wants to be happy but what if simply wanting to be happy is as crazy as simply wanting to live on Mars? In the first episode Dion and Joe examine how vulnerable people have been exploited by wellness gurus and in a time of uncertainty why those who offer easy and misleading answers have thrived. There's also an exiting executive position in the sporting world to discuss... Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreestatepodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Big hair, bowler hats & bonfires. Can Orangemen survive the modern world? | 18 Jul 2024 | 00:35:17 | |
As tricolours burned on the bonfires in the north before the Twelfth of July, the Irish far right stayed silent. What does that tell us about their allegiances? Why are there so many Israel flags flying in loyalist areas in the north? What does that tell us about their allegiances? On Free State, Dion and Joe look at what is next for unionism as their world shrinks. How much longer can they be defined by what they don’t like? And, after the GB News live coverage of the Twelfth, the boys wonder who is better at anchoring a show - Joe Brolly or Arlene Foster? This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20 Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| This is Free State Podcast | 16 Mar 2023 | 00:00:31 | |
Free State is a podcast for the curious that stimulates, provokes, challenges and entertains, while never taking itself too seriously. Free State covers topics from sport to politics, love to loss, the human condition and how to fix the world, with guests from across the planet including Nigerian princes, former Prime Ministers, ex convicts, footballers, boxers and extraordinary people from every walk of life. Free State is presented by Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning. Brolly is a barrister, an original thinker with a fascinating backstory, who donated a kidney to a stranger and then led a crusade to transform organ donation on the island of Ireland, and Fanning is an award-winning interviewer and author. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Twitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Crosshairs and Crossbars: Trump’s Close Call & Southgate’s England Misfire | 16 Jul 2024 | 00:36:55 | |
Across Ireland, people celebrated when Spain beat England in the Euros final. Even Dion was happy, but a few were appalled at the carry on. On Free State today, Joe and Dion wonder why people are still policing celebrations and examine England’s failings, cultural and sporting. The attempted assassination of Donald Trump has been called a crossroads for America. The reality is different. There may be no turning back for America. Joe and Dion discuss why Joe Biden can’t win the election. Those who say America face a terrible choice are doing the work of the dark forces who want to both sides the contest. The truth is that Trump is the latest victim of a force he has directed towards others and the latest example of how violence, when it’s unleashed, can’t be contained. This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20 Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Never say never again part 2. What we talk about when we don’t talk about Joe Biden | 11 Jul 2024 | 00:35:48 | |
When Keir Starmer visited Northern Ireland, it was a moment when it was possible to believe that things will start moving again. Casement Park will be built, maybe in time for the Euros in 2028 and the childish stunts of the recent past might not be tolerated with Hilary Benn as Secretary of State. Joe talks about why it’s important to distinguish between a politician like Gregory Campbell and honourable unionists. Joe explains why the SDLP would run a candidate against Sinn Fein even if it meant the leader of the Ku Klux Klan won the seat. And Dion makes Joe an offer he can’t refuse- will he play a game of cricket if it means meeting one of his heroes? This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20 Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Never say never again, part 1. The fall of the House of Paisley (and Harte) | 09 Jul 2024 | 00:41:32 | |
In France, the far right have been rejected. In Britain, the Conservatives are gone. Keir Starmer visited the north this week and there is a new hope in Ireland that change is coming. But what about Derry? In Free State today, Joe and Dion look at the fall of the House of Paisley (and Mickey Harte). What do the election results tell us about Northern Ireland? And Joe explains why the election of one MP signals the end of the old destructive ways of doing politics. This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20 Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| And then there were four, part 2. The football factory - how science is replacing humans with robots. | 04 Jul 2024 | 00:30:59 | |
Sport is too important to fall into the hands of cultural vandals. The death of Mícheal Ó Muircheartaigh was a reminder of the role sport plays in Irish life. Nothing elevates a community like sporting joy and community is central to all that is good in Irish life. On Free State, Joe and Dion look at how sport has been turned into a commodity. From Buenos Aires to Bellaghy, sport has had the joy removed. Who, apart from Mickey Harte, is to blame? This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20 Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| And then there were four, Part 1: The last days of the Dublin empire. | 02 Jul 2024 | 00:45:41 | |
What is wrong with Gaelic football? Joe insisted that Dion watch the All Ireland quarter finals last weekend and will he ever forgive him? On Free State, Joe reflects on the decline and fall of Dublin and explains what they need to do next. Joe and Dion also remember Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh and Joe recalls his days training with him in Dublin. They also ask a critical question in these troubled times: when were white shoes first worn in Mayo? This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20 Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose. Derry, from Death Row to Croke Park. Part 2 | 27 Jun 2024 | 00:31:44 | |
What is your greatest fear? How much do we all dread humiliation? Derry were humiliated three times in the championship but are still alive. They’ve been to the bottom. Now, the only way is up and they have nothing left to fear. On Free State today Joe and Dion look ahead to Derry’s game against Kerry and what may be another upset. Are Derry now All-Ireland contenders? Could Kerry be upset by another northern team. And Dion explains why, as a member of the Kerry diaspora, he doesn’t need to get sucked into Joe’s mind games . This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20 Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Kicking The Brits Out, Part 1 | 27 Aug 2024 | 00:43:05 | |
More than 30 years ago, Bill Clinton said he still believed in a town called Hope. At the Democratic National Convention, Michelle Obama said hope is making a comeback. Is this just a tagline for a bad movie or if Kamala Harris was elected would she make a difference in Gaza and in fixing structural inequality in the US? On Free State today, Dion and Joe look at the choice in the US presidential election and ask if it is a choice at all. They also ask if there is a chance of real change in Ireland or have the same forces taken hold here? This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20 Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| From death row to Croke Park. Derry, Mayo and milking the cows in Killala Part 1. | 25 Jun 2024 | 00:36:40 | |
How much credit does Mickey Harte deserve for Derry’s win over Mayo? On Free State, Joe tells Dion how Derry pulled off what many felt was the shock of the season. Was it really a shock? Joe didn’t think so and neither did the local rat catcher in Mayo. Dion wonders if Mayo are like the Scottish football team but Joe explains why they’re more like England. And who are the snipers Mickey Harte is talking about? This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20 Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Irish Elections: How the elites persuade sheep to vote for wolves. | 20 Jun 2024 | 01:06:50 | |
At the American Ambassador’s residence in Dublin last week, there was an extraordinary event. Many of the main architects of the peace process gathered to talk about how it was done and what the world can learn from it as the horrors of Gaza continue. Joe was among the invited audience and it reminded him of a time when politicians were serious. On Free State today, Dion and Joe look at the recent election results. What do they mean for Sinn Féin and the country? As Nigel Farage hijacks the U.K. election, has the far right in Ireland done something similar? Is the country heading down the same road as Britain and the US? This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20 Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Jungle Book. The essential survival guide for Gaelic footballers. Featuring Brian Mullins and an All Star cast | 18 Jun 2024 | 00:38:51 | |
Will Joe be wearing a half and half scarf when Mayo play Derry? On Free State, Joe explains to Dion why he will be desperate for a Derry win when the two counties play. He remembers his many memorable encounters with the great Brian Mullins, one of which ended with Joe promising to seek professional help. He didn’t follow up on this promise. This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20 Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Mickey Harte, football manager. Oh Lord it’s so Harte to be humble, Part 2 | 13 Jun 2024 | 00:29:36 | |
As Derry fall apart under Mickey Harte, what are those closest to the squad saying? Who else - if anyone- is responsible for the fall in recent months? On Free State, it’s Mickey Harte week with a forensic analysis of where it went wrong at Derry and if anything can be done to save their summer. Dion also triggers Joe by mentioning a name that may upset him even more than Mickey Harte. A beautiful partnership hangs by a thread… This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20 Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| ‘Oh Lord, it’s so Harte to be humble.’ Part 1 | 11 Jun 2024 | 00:31:50 | |
Who will Mickey Harte blame next? Was it inevitable that it would fall apart at Derry? On Free State today, Joe and Dion talk about the fall and fall of Mickey Harte. Joe explains why Harte is an intruder in the county and how it went to pieces. They look at why the Derry County Board have betrayed the values of the GAA by bringing Harte in. But a county like Offaly with their rock ‘n’ roll U-20 hurlers have captured its essence. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The unbearable agony of Palestine. Part 2. With Gideon Levy | 06 Jun 2024 | 00:34:50 | |
Gideon Levy says he is an Israeli patriot. But he is a patriot in a land where truth is seen as treason. In Part 2 of his Free State interview, Gideon Levy provides a frightening insight into Israel today. As Israeli government censorship looks to silence the truth about Gaza, he tells Joe and Dion what happens to those who write honestly about the plight of the Palestinians. He talks about how in Tel Aviv recently, a woman on the street called him a traitor. And he explains why the removal of Benjamin Netanyahu from office is not going to deliver the change many liberals believe. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||