Shows
Path to PowerSpoilt For No ChoiceThe impact of the high number of spoiled votes in the election for future politics assessed, and how it will impact on migration policy. Is the left primed for power? Micheál Martin's tenuous grip on Fianna Fáil appraised, and our first musings on Jim O'Callaghan's (and others') suitability to replace him.Brought to you by Greenman OPENPTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening and a weekly bonus episode, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.comGet in touch: mail@pathtopowerpodcast.comFollow the hosts:...
2025-11-0152 minPath to PowerPresidential FalloutAssessment of Catherine Connolly's (assumed) victory and how she did it, how Fine Gael fell down, why Heather Humphreys was a poor candidate, why so many people didn't vote, and why Micheál Martin's Jim Gavin disaster may prove fatal for his leadership. Also, Matt's idea for a new way to appoint the president, which Ivan derides.Brought to you by Greenman OPENPTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening and a weekly bonus episode, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.comGet in touch: mail@pathtopowerpodcast.com
2025-10-2553 minPath to PowerPresidential CoronationIvan as a footnote to presidential history, why Catherine Connolly is about to win and how heavily Heather Humphreys might lose. The likely fallout in Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, and whether Sinn Féin has missed a trick. Paul Murphy's legal action assessed. And how the result of the election may reflect societal division and provoke real change.Brought to you by Greenman OPENPTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening and a weekly bonus episode, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.comGet in touch: mail@pathtopowerpodcast.co...
2025-10-1854 minPath to PowerGavin Dropped & Budget Woes The circumstances of Jim Gavin's presidential exit examined, and the consequences for Micheál Martin's leadership of Fianna Fáil. When will Jim O'Callaghan seize the crown? The Budget: Why nothing for workers, and the overall expansion of government spending debated.Brought to you by Greenman OPENPTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening and a weekly bonus episode, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.comGet in touch: mail@pathtopowerpodcast.comFollow the hosts:Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_mhttps://ww...
2025-10-1152 minPath to PowerBudget Expectations & Gavin's GaffesOur duo deliver a detailed pre-budget examination of what's likely to happen next Tuesday, from income tax measures to VAT on hospitality and apartments to the overall state of the government finances, changes to the tax treatment of ETFs and R&D for corporates, and the likely increases in social welfare. Also, the presidential race: who really won the first TV debate, Jim Gavin's social media gaffes, Catherine Connolly's convicted friend, and the presidential week analysed.Brought to you by Greenman OPENPTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening and a...
2025-10-0450 minPath to PowerThe Big Interview: Leo VaradkarMatt and Ivan meet former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar for a wide-ranging discussion based on the publication of his book 'Speaking My Mind'.Brought to you by Greenman OPENPTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening and a weekly bonus episode, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.comGet in touch: mail@pathtopowerpodcast.comFollow the hosts:Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_mhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/Ivan: https://www.linkedin...
2025-09-271h 02Path to PowerGame ChangerHow Ivan bought into the Jarlath Burns for president rumour, what Heather Humphreys must surrender in her bid for the Áras, Jim Gavin and the farm gate, the failure of the independents to get on the ballot, the bizarre DAA situation with Kenny Jacobs, and Ivan's post Ploughing Championships briefing.Brought to you by Greenman OPENPTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening and a weekly bonus episode, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.comGet in touch: mail@pathtopowerpodcast.comFollow the hosts:M...
2025-09-2051 minPath to PowerThreats and AssassinationsAs Matt and Ivan deplore political violence in the United States, they assess the seriousness of the threats to Simon Harris and others. The presidential updates - How Jim Gavin won the Fianna Fáil nod and finds that he's senior hurling now, plus news on the other candidates. Ivan bemoans our forestry failures. How Jeffrey Epstein has ended Peter Mandelson's career finally. And Ivan looks forward to pending changes in our planning laws to stop vexatious individuals. Brought to you by Greenman OPENPTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening a...
2025-09-1351 minPath to PowerTeflon Bertie Finds the Mud SticksFormer Taoiseach Bertie Ahern can't escape his past and crashes out of the presidential race. Jim Gavin's advantage over Billy Kelleher for the Fianna Fáil nomination assessed. Does Heather Humphrey have a disability issue to overcome? Inside the Bob Geldof interest, and Ivan's surprise at weatherwoman Joanna Donnelly's presidential ambitions, more on Catherine Connolly and Alan Kelly, and the need for Sinn Féin to make a decision quickly. Also, the objections to Dublin's essential wastewater treatment plant, and Matt advocates for school secretaries and caretakers.Brought to you by Greenman OPENPT...
2025-09-0653 minPath to PowerShots Fired!Former army man and GAA legend Jim Gavin shoots for the presidency with Fianna Fáil, AK-47 Alan Kelly takes aim at Catherine Connolly, Sinn Féin appears to lack the ammunition if Mary Lou won't run, and some independents risk their feet. Also, a tribute to Pat Kenny's radio tenure.Brought to you by Greenman OPENPTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening and a weekly bonus episode, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.comGet in touch: mail@pathtopowerpodcast.comFollow the hosts:...
2025-08-3048 minPath to Power(What's the Story) Presidential Glory?As the slow bicycle race gathers momentum, could the presidential election turn into a referendum on the performance of Simon Harris? Heather Humphreys' chances assessed, Mairead McGuinness' departure explained, and the prospects of all the other non-Fine Gael contenders are examined.Brought to you by Greenman OPENPTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening and a weekly bonus episode, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.comGet in touch: mail@pathtopowerpodcast.comFollow the hosts:Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_mhttps...
2025-08-2354 minPath to PowerArrested DevelopmentThe job facing the new Garda Commissioner assessed, with retirements threatening to outnumber new recruits. The financial perils of running for president versus the rewards. How dependent are we on FDI? How we can make a mess of it and how we can do more to help our own businesses. Ivan laments the closure of Thurles racecourse and reports back on his visit to England and Wales.Brought to you by Greenman OPENPTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening and a weekly bonus episode, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.com
2025-08-1657 min
Our WestlakeCh 6 Tx Politics - Ep 6 LBJs Senate Win vs. Coke Stevenson but Questions Remain Emmett Shelton (1905-2000) tells of his first-hand experiences with the 1948 Coke Stevens v LBJ Texas Senate race. In Path to Power, Robert Caro includes accounts of the race but omits details Emmett had shared with Caro. Emmett, and the Shelton law firm, represented the "South Texas Machine" which played a Big Role in the election which LBJ won by 87 votes in Box 13 from Jim Wells County. In this Episode, Emmett shares the details Caro omitted. NOTE: In 1977, Associated Press reported that "After testifying in an earlier investigation after the election, Election Judge Salas had changed his account due to a guilty con...
2024-09-2326 min
We Are PoWEr PodcastHow To Encourage More Women To Join The Tech Industry with Jo Larby“Maybe there's still a little bit of stigma around what the tech industry is and what that involves. And a bit of publicity around what roles there are and the diverse skill set that you need to be in tech, I think is probably gonna help us in the long term to get more women into the industry.” This week's podcast conversation with Simone Roche and Jo Larby, Tech Architecture specialist at Accenture, explores the challenges woman face in the tech sector and how we can encourage more women to get involved. Listen...
2023-06-2619 min
We Are PoWEr PodcastHow To Ensure That 'Silence Speaks' with Prof Laura Serrant OBERemember... "Being human is about not being perfect"On this week's podcast conversation Simone Roche chats to the woman of wisdom Professor Laura Serrant OBE, who is global multi award-winning Leadership Development and Inclusive Practice Specialist, professional Speaking and Experience Coach and also a director of her own consultancy coaching business Laura Sarah Limited. Covering a wide range of topics from imposter syndrome to social justice this is an episode not to be missed.Listen to learn: ⚡ What is Laura's theory around Imposter Syndrome ⚡️️️ How we 'ditch' Imposter Syndrome⚡️Why it is ok to be 'perfectly imp...
2023-06-1921 min
We Are PoWEr PodcastHow To Be Greater Together with Debbie Cook“I don't really think about the fact that I'm a woman in football. What I think about is that I'm someone who works in the industry and I happen to be a woman. I appreciate that I have a huge responsibility as a role model for other women out there and for girls that want to think about a career and maybe aren't considering football because they see that it's not accessible.” This week's podcast conversation with Simone Roche and Carol Stewart, Chief Executive of Grimsby Town Football Club, explores the challenges woman face in the fo...
2023-06-1222 min
We Are PoWEr PodcastHow To Share Stories That Will Drive Positive Change with Rebecca IhiekweFor Rebecca Ihiekwe, sharing stories are more than just recounting history. It's about giving people the platform to be their best and most authentic selves so they're able to shared their lived experiences. Rebecca says: "It's about having that diversity of narrative and about celebrating that...it's about advocating for others when they can't advocate for themselves" This week's podcast conversation with Simone Roche and Marketing Executive at CEL Solicitors, Rebecca Ihiekwe, explores her passion and commitment to empower the voices and narratives of those who are so often overlooked. Listen to learn: ⚡️R...
2023-05-0819 min
We Are PoWEr PodcastHow To Inspire Children Through Storytelling with Abigail Reid“Yes, it's important to teach children how to write a coherent sentence, but when you start pulling apart that sentence and explaining it and dissecting it then becomes boring. It was boring for me, and it was boring for them. So in the very last term, I thought, right, we're going to write adventure stories, and I took them on a virtual tour of Jamaica and we wrote virtual stories about Jamaica.” Join Simone Roche as she chats to founder of Rock Paper Write, Abigail Reid who has a mission to spark imaginations with meaningful extra-curricular experiences. They...
2023-05-0117 min
We Are PoWEr PodcastHow To Take Small Steps To Create A More Sustainable Planet with Amy KohlAmy Kohl, founder of sustainable and ethical fashion house KOHR, and the founder of KOHR studio, a creative marketing agency is aware that being sustainable often comes from a place of privilege. Amy says: "Everyone has a duty to look after their planet and community. But not everyone can be Greta Thunberg".Join Simone Roche MBE as she chats to Amy Kohl, about inclusive innovation, accessibility, and how we can all take small steps to create a more sustainable planet.Listen to learn: ⚡️What piqued Amy’s interest in sustainability ⚡️What...
2023-04-2416 min
We Are PoWEr PodcastPower Of Culture: How To Transform Communities with Claire McColgan CBE“My whole thing was around how do you get people like me to express themselves in different ways?” Join Simone Roche as she chats to Queen Of Culture: Director Of Culture at Liverpool City Council, Claire McColgan CBE in this episode of the Path To Power season. They discuss all things culture, community, bit of glitter and of course...Eurovision! Listen to learn: ⚡️️Where Claire’s passion for the community of Liverpool began ⚡How Claire and the city of Liverpool are getting involved in Eurovision ⚡️️What is the secret to buildi...
2023-04-1722 min
We Are PoWEr PodcastHow To Ensure That Young People Have A More Equitable Future with Gareth Davies“I think there's been a lot of positive change from organizations who were only having graduate schemes now to school lever programs, more apprenticeships thinking about the big professional services firms. I think there has been a lot of evolution in that already.” Join Simone Roche as she chats to Regional Director for Michael Page Professional Services, Gareth Davies in this special episode with Power Partner Page Group. They discuss all things about being an ally towards gender equality. Listen to learn: ⚡️Why Gareth is passionate about positively changing the narrative about working with young...
2023-04-1422 min
We Are PoWEr PodcastHow To Redefine Being An Introvert With Yulanda Duff“There was talk of this concept of a social battery where you can enjoy other people's company, you're still introverted. You need time to energise and recharge by yourself. So, this is me. This is what I stand for I'm the millennial introvert.” Join Simone Roche as she chats to CEO of TMI Lifestyle and self-confessed Millennial Introvert Yulanda Duff in this episode of the Path To Power season. They discuss all things Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Listen to learn: ⚡️Why Yulanda considers herself an introvert & what does it mean to her ...
2023-04-1018 min
We Are PoWEr PodcastDyslexia: How To Be Empowered By Your Differences with Keisha Adair SwabyDyslexia: How To Be Empowered By Your Differences “I made it my mission to change the narrative from saying learning difficulty to learning difference because we all learn differently as humans.” Join Simone Roche as she chats to influential Dyslexia speaker Keisha Adair Swaby in the first episode of the Path To Power season. They discuss all things about owning who you are and using your differences to empower yourself and others. Listen to learn: ⚡️Why Keisha decid...
2023-04-0318 min
Path to PowerThe Tyranny of StructurelessnessSorry for being gone for so long. I hope you can forgive Andrew and I. I will be posting much more regularly.
The essay I read for this episode. (https://www.jofreeman.com/joreen/tyranny.htm)
2020-06-171h 04Path to Power**Labor Day Special** Albert Einstein, "Why Socialism?"In this special episode recorded and published on Labor Day, Andrew Schlegel narrates Einstein's 1949 essay in which the famed physicist explains what he sees as the great social ill of his time and what must be done to ensure a better future.
2019-09-0315 minPath to Power6. "The Engineering of Consent," by Edward BernaysNarrator Andrew Schlegel reads a foundational text written by the father of public relations, Edward Bernays, which examines the tenets of public relations and the methods through which the public's consent is to be engineered.
2019-08-2126 min
Path to PowerFrom Feudalism to Capitalism by Chris HarmanMy notes with links to terms ⇋ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OZYK8CTjVsTXIIHDlSX4wtRGHGMV7bf7PRiuIMCnd2o
The actual paper ⇋ https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K0T5mPCKD44Ep45SL2Y6e-afafqjbVOB/view?usp=drivesdk
2019-07-301h 15Path to Power5. "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction," by Walter Benjamin (guest narrated by Riley Quinn)In this installment, guest narrator Riley Quinn (@raaleh) of the TRASHFUTURE podcast (@trashfuturepod) reads Walter Benjamin's seminal essay, in which he thoroughly investigates the process of change in art and how it mirrors changes in the methods of production and re-production, as well as how fascism co-opts these changes and inherently aestheticizes war and violence.
2019-07-0441 minPath to Power4. Mini-Episode: "Mr. Rogers on Men in Child Care," by Fred RogersIn this special mini-episode, co-host and narrator Andrew Schlegel reads a transcription of a 1988 speech by Fred Rogers, better known as Mr. Rogers of the eponymous children's television program. This speech examines the importance of male participation in child care and challenges everyone to get involved in nurturing children through open and honest self-expression.
2019-06-0912 minPath to Power3. "Monster Culture: 7 Theses," by Jeffrey Jerome CohenIn this installment, Andrew Schlegel reads "Monster Culture: 7 Theses," an essay pulled from Dr. Cohen's book, "Monster Theory: Reading Culture." This piece examines what it means to be monstrous, as well as the processes by which someone or something becomes a monster and how we can interpret not only the "monsters" themselves, but the cultures and societies that create them.
2019-06-0748 minPath to Power2. "War is a Racket" a speech by Major General Smedley Butler -- Read by JR Shaw"War is a Racket" is a transcription of the famous speech given by Major General Smedley Butler on a tour of America in the 1930s, after the conclusion of his military career. Narrated here by host JR Shaw, the speech focuses on war profiteering in WWI and examines the duplicitous, unseen forces that drive modern warfare.
2019-05-2635 minPath to Power1. "Civil Religion in America" by Robert N. BellahFor our first installment, host Andrew Schlegel narrates the 1966 essay "Civil Religion in America," written by Yale sociologist Robert Neelly Bellah (1927-2013). Special thanks to the family of Robert Bellah, who have graciously granted us permission to use this piece.
2019-05-2642 min