Podcast Episodes

SuperValu GAA: Brands are burrowing into the GAA’s culture. If they are not checked, soon they will become the culture.

Episode 66

The GAA occupies a special place in Irish life. But that special place is what makes it so attractive to sponsors.

Today Joe and Dion look at the plan to sell the naming rights of Páirc Uí Chaoimh and…

Published on 1 year, 11 months ago

Who wants to be a (Swiss) billionaire? Part 2

Episode 65

Sportswashing works. From the English Premier League to the World Cup to golf, sport is being transformed by countries whose main interest is transforming their image. 

On Free State today, Dion and J…

Published on 1 year, 11 months ago

Who wants to be a (Swiss) billionaire? From Ireland..

Episode 64

When JP McManus donated €32 million to the GAA last month, people were falling over themselves to hail his generosity.

JP didn’t need to do this, they said. What a gesture from a man who truly loves t…

Published on 1 year, 11 months ago

The Lonely Crusade Of Sally Hayden, The African Queen, For Those Seeking Refuge on the World's Deadliest Migration Route

Episode 63

On today’s Free State, Dion and Joe are joined by Sally Hayden, a remarkable journalist covering the story of our time.

Sally’s book My Fourth Time, We Drowned exposed the incompetence and corruption …

Published on 1 year, 11 months ago

Bullseye: Luke Littler, the 5 year old grandmaster, the baby Jesus & other child prodigies

Episode 62

Luke Littler was magnificent as he reached the world darts championship final. On today’s Free State, Dion and Joe look at a special kind of sporting talent. They ask what Littler has in common with …

Published on 1 year, 11 months ago

Review of 2023. Gaza, doubting priests, disloyal managers, Irish funerals & a fairytale ending

Episode 61

On today’s brand new episode, Joe and Dion intended to look back on 2023 and anticipate 2024. They celebrated the return of Ryan Tubridy and wondered if Jim McGuinness can pull off the same trick at …

Published on 1 year, 11 months ago

Blazing Saddles: A country music odyssey through Trump land

Episode 60

On today’s Free State, Joe is looking for America as he takes a belated honeymoon across the US. From Music Row in Nashville, Joe and Dion talk about the magic of country music and the endless possib…

Published on 1 year, 11 months ago

Best Of ‘Free State’ Volume 2

Episode 59

On today’s Free State, Dion and Joe select more of their favourite moments from 2023.

They choose from their most enjoyable guests to those occasions where they bitterly disagreed. And, of course, th…

Published on 2 years ago

Best Of ‘Free State’

Episode 58

This week on Free State, Dion and Joe have selected their favourite moments from the first eight months of the podcast. From hallucinating ten Joe Brollys to the priest who thought one Joe Brolly was…

Published on 2 years ago

POSH Part 2: with Paul Howard, Ross O’Carroll-Kelly & Roddy Collins

Episode 57

Paul Howard and Roddy Collins are back for the second part of the Free State Christmas Special.

Roddy remembers how he tried to take a bit of the Dublin southside culture back to the northside with pr…

Published on 2 years ago