Rob O‘Connor - Podcast Details

Shows

The Machine: A computer science education podcastCodeGirl and the Conversation: Women in ComputingIn this special live-recorded episode of The Machine, Rob O’Connor hosts a panel discussion following a viewing of the CodeGirl documentary at SETU Waterford. The event brought together a group of secondary school students to explore pathways into computing and to hear real-life stories from women working and studying in the field.Rob is joined by Dr Indrakshi Dey (Walton Institute), Ava Neary (Applied Computing student and cybersecurity intern), and Amanda Freeman-Gater (Assistant Head of the Computing & Mathematics Department at SETU). Together they reflect on themes raised in the film — teamwork, creativity, and breaking gender stereotypes — while als...2025-06-2039 min

All Star Superfan PodcastBONUS! Superboy - A Rewatch Podcast for the 90s - Jewel of Techacal / Bride of BizarroA superhero for the 90s! Welcome to the first ever episode of "Superboy: A Rewatch Podcast for the 90s" where Rob takes a look at two episodes of the forgotten 'Superboy' show - one from the first two seasons (when the show was called 'Superboy: The Series' and set in Shuster University) and another from the later, more polished seasons (when the show was renamed 'The Adventures of Superboy' and took on a noirish urban setting). Tonight Rob is joined by none other than his All Star fraternity brother Alan Burke as...2025-06-121h 46

All Star Superfan Podcast#69 - ALL STAR SUPERMAN Part Two (Feat. Anthony Desiato)The sun is dying… Earth’s champion is falling and there’s one last feat to accomplish…so naturally our solar suits are packed and the Fortress robots are locked and loaded for Part 2 of our epic All Star Superman retrospective! Once again Rob and Alan are joined by the host of Digging for Kryptonite, Anthony Desiato as we soar through issues #7–12 of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s modern classic. We also discuss the enduring legacy of the book, including the recent announcement of a new audiobook series and the 2011 animated movie – does it live up to the...2025-05-291h 57

All Star Superfan Podcast#68 - ALL STAR SUPERMAN - Retrospective Review (feat. Anthony Desiato) PART ONEIn this very special two part series, Rob O' Connor and Alan Burke are joined by Superman scholar and 'Digging for Krypronite' host Anthony Desiato for a comprehensive retrospective of one of the most celebrated Superman stories of all time: Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s All Star Superman. In Part One, we dive into the first six issues of this modern masterpiece, examining the mythic scope, poetic structure, and emotional depth that have made All Star Superman a defining portrayal of the Man of Steel in the 21st century. From Superman's mortality to the Bottle City of...2025-05-161h 54

All Star Superfan Podcast#67 - JAMES GUNN's SUPERMAN TRAILER TALK! Special Emergency Episode!Alan and Rob discuss the first full theatrical trailer for James Gunn's SUPERMAN! How do we feel about the combative interview between Lois and Clark? What about Lex and the Justice League? Does the CG look up to snuff? All of this and more discussed! PLUS! We hear from some of our listeners who got in touch with their thoughts. Rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts! Join the "Inside the All Star Superfan Podcast" group on Facebook! Send us an email or a voicenote with your thoughts on this week's episode! And be s...2025-05-1557 min

All Star Superfan Podcast#66 - Ranking the Super Suits - PART TWO (with Parker Johnston)Alan and Rob return alongside special guest Parker to finish ranking the live-action Superman suits! Which designs stand the test of time? Which ones took bold risks? And how have these costumes reflected the changing times and changing interpretations of Superman himself? Rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts! Join the "Inside the All Star Superfan Podcast" group on Facebook! Send us an email or a voicenote with your thoughts on this week's episode! And be sure to follow us on all of these accounts! FACEBOOK: @allstarsuperfan INSTAGRAM: @al...2025-04-301h 11

All Star Superfan Podcast#65 - Ranking the Superman Suits! (with Parker Johnston)"Say Jim! That's a bad outfit! Whooooaa!" From George Reeves’ classic TV look, to Christopher Reeve’s timeless movie costume, through to the modern designs worn by Brandon Routh, Henry Cavill, and Tyler Hoechlin, we are diving deep into the evolution of one of the most important aspects of the Man of Steel myth, the suit itself! This week Rob and Alan are joined by Rob’s old friend and Superman expert Parker Johnson for the first episode of a two-part special where we discuss and rank every live-action Superman suit put to screen. Whic...2025-04-182h 07

All Star Superfan Podcast#64 - Interview with SUPERMAN CLASSIC Animator Robb Pratt!This week, Alan flies solo as he sits down with the talented Robb Pratt, an animation veteran who has worked on such timeless classics as Disney's Hercules and Pocahontas and the creative force behind the amazing Superman Classic and Bizarro Classic animated shorts! We talk about the craft of animation, Robb’s incredible career, his love for Superman and what it’s like to bring the Man of Steel to life with a wink to the classic 1940's era. This one’s a blast! Be sure to check out both Superman Classic and Bizarro Classic on YouT...2025-04-1057 min

All Star Superfan Podcast#63 - ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN Issues 1-5 Spoiler Review, PLUS: Rise of The Super 7!Alan and Rob discuss the acclaimed 'ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN' series by DC! How does this new alternate version of Superman's origin compare against other beloved versions? Does Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval's darker interpretation gel with our sensibilities? Later, we discuss a lost gem from the blessed decade of the 1990s "Rise of the Super Seven", a gloriously silly, over-the-top Elseworlds story that seems to harness every 'extreme' 1990s comic cliche you can imagine - leather jackets, pouches, ripped jeans, earrings and Alien ripoffs! Rob also points out how this story may have inspired some of the legendary K...2025-03-271h 28

All Star Superfan Podcast#61 - Exclusive ILYA SALKIND Interview - The legendary producer talks Superman, Superboy, Supergirl and Santa Claus!Rob and Alan are joined by legendary film and TV producer Ilya Salkind (Superman: The Movie, Superman II) to talk about spearheading the original Superman movie series in the 70s and 80s, the fallout with Richard Donner, bringing Supergirl to the big screen, the small screen adventures of Superboy and even bringing Santa Claus to life! PLUS! Alan and Rob head to the Metropolis mailbag to listen to YOUR correspondence! Join the "Inside the All Star Superfan Podcast" group on Facebook! And be sure to follow us on all of these accounts! FACEBOOK: @a...2025-02-201h 53

All Star Superfan Podcast#60 - The incredibly underrated Superman III Novelisation (feat. Zach Moore!)"Clark Kent, Superman - these are just names for the raw kinetic energy of Krypton, a planetary power at war with itself. That it could divide into equal halves, like night and day, was only one of its brilliant possibilities. It could, as well, destroy itself." Rob proudly presents to Alan and special guest Zach Moore (from Always Hold Onto Smallville) what may in fact be the most underrated piece of Superman media of all time - William Kotzwinkle's incredible Superman III novelisation which combines the story of the film with some of the most b...2025-01-232h 03

The Machine: A computer science education podcastWhy Study Computing?Are you interested in studying computing but feel a bit daunted by entering a field that can seem overwhelming? As professional computer science educators, we are often asked questions by prospective students about what’s actually involved in studying computing, the types of roles one can expect after graduating, the skills a student needs, and more. For this episode, we tried to distil some of those common questions into a podcast. If you’re someone who thinks computing is only for math wizards and “hardcore” programmers, this is the podcast for you! (Spoiler alert: The answer is NO!) We dis...2025-01-1741 min

All Star Superfan Podcast#59 - Interview with SUPERBOY star JOHN HAYMES NEWTON!"Hasn't your mother ever told you not to play with volatile chemicals?!" In a very special episode of All Star Superfan, Rob is joined by the star of season one of SUPERBOY, the one and only John Haymes Newton! Together, they discuss the casting process, John's experiences with the character earlier in life, the trials and tribulations of making a low budget series with a new crew and some of the amazing and hilarious experiences on set. PLUS! John discusses his other exciting roles on films like Cool as Ice (with Vanilla Ice!), W...2025-01-061h 08

All Star Superfan Podcast#58 - JAMES GUNN'S SUPERMAN TRAILER REACTION!"Take me home." The moment we've all been waiting for is here and Alan and Rob give their raw, unfiltered reaction to the historic teaser trailer for James Gunn's "SUPERMAN". PLUS! An Avengers-level armada of friends and podcasting legends chime in with their thoughts! This is a BIG one folks! TIMECODES: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:20 - Thoughts going into the trailer 00:05:20 - Poster reveal and teaser for the teaser 00:07:25 - Initial thoughts on the trailer on first watch 00:24:20 - Thoughts on the cast...2024-12-202h 13

All Star Superfan Podcast#57 - ALL STAR HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2024 - "Hook" Retro Review"What would the world be like without Captain Hook?" Alan and Rob return after five years in deep space a brief hiatus to talk all about the beloved (depending on what age you are!) holiday classic “Hook” about an older Peter Pan, played by the late great Robin Williams. The lads discuss Williams’ legendary real-life friendship with Christopher Reeve and the film’s many similarities with the legend of Superman. Has the film aged well? Why does Steven Spielberg not care for it? How come Bob Hoskins is so awesome? PLUS! A bumper catch-up discussion on all th...2024-12-181h 40

The Machine: A computer science education podcastGarda National Cyber Crime BureauComing out of our latest Computing Week on campus in SETU, Rob spoke with two members of the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau – Detective Sergeant Eoin O’Connell and Detective Noel O’Gorman. They spoke about the work of the Bureau, how cybercrime threats have evolved over the past few years and what individual and organisations can do to help protect themselves. TRIGGER WARNING: the podcast includes discussion of offences around online sexual abuse and child pornography. The conversation is not graphic but listeners may want to exercise discretion. By an amazing coincidence, in the period...2024-11-0438 min

All Star Superfan Podcast#56 - The 1966 Superman Broadway Musical (feat. Matt Truex)"Who is the man you can't ignore, it's SUPERMAN! From Budapest to Baltimore it's SUPERMAN!" Alan and Rob are joined once again by long-time friend of the show Matt Truex as they delve into the weird and wonderful history of the ill-fated (and yet indestructible) 1966 Broadway musical version of Superman. Fascinating connections with the Superman movie series! Problematic villains! Questionable deviations from the source material! All of these oddities abound, culminating in what may in fact be the strangest piece of Superman media ever: the 1975 TV special adaptation of the musical! Get ready f...2024-08-141h 52

All Star Superfan Podcast#54 - The Menace of METALLO (feat. Zach Moore) PLUS: James Gunn's Superman Set Photos!"I can't even feel a kiss, what did they do to me?!" Rob and Alan are joined once again by 'Always Hold Onto Smallville''s Zach Moore to discuss the various other media versions of METALLO! We deep dive into the characters' various iterations in comic books, animation and live action and we even explore different avenues for how the Kryptonite-hearted menace could finally be brought to the movies. Stay tuned for some additional Metallo thoughts (metalathoughts?) from Lois & Clark'd: The New Podcasts of Superman's Matt Truex and Superman: The Animated Podcast's Na...2024-07-032h 11

All Star Superfan Podcast#53 - Does the John Byrne MAN OF STEEL miniseries hold up?"It was Krypton that made me Superman, but it's the Earth that makes me human." Alan and Rob take a look back on John Byrne's seminal 1986 MAN OF STEEL miniseries, the book that changed Superman forever. How does its fast-paced storytelling hold up? How did Byrne's decisions have ramifications for the ensuing decades of Superman (and DC) storytelling? Was there and overemphasis on Clark's Earth upbringing or did it provide a necessary grounding for the character? All these questions and more are answered PLUS we read some very divisive fan letters and tweets on the s...2024-06-052h 50

All Star Superfan Podcast#52 - James Gunn's Superman costume reveal PLUS! A celebration of Fleischer Superman with Michael BaileyWith the reveal of the full Superman costume from James Gunn's new "SUPERMAN" film hot off the presses, Alan and Rob give their immediate reaction. Plus - the lads are joined once again by esteemed Superman podcaster Michael Bailey to examine the seminal Superman animated films produced by Fleischer Studios in the 1940s. The panel discusses the impact of these stunningly beautiful animated shorts and how the work of Max and Dave Fleischer would go on to have an enduring influence on the Superman mythology forevermore. They also examine how the production and popularity of th...2024-05-071h 54

All Star Superfan Podcast#51 - INTERVIEW with 'Superman & Lois' staff writer ADAM MALLINGERAlan & Rob are joined by ‘Superman & Lois’ staff writer, Adam Mallinger to chat all about working on the first three seasons incredible series, from missing out on working on another CW show to landing his dream job writing the Man of Steel, from peppering the show with callbacks to previous live action iterations, to the crushing difficulties of working through the Covid pandemic and his very personal contributions to the ‘Earth Prime: Superman & Lois’ tie-in comic book. We talk all about the heartbreak surrounding the show's imminent conclusion and the various factors that played into it. PLUS be...2024-04-111h 35

The Machine: A computer science education podcastIndrakshi Dey - Autonomous Systems and Artificial IntelligenceAutonomous Systems are the jumping off point for this podcast episode with Indrakshi Dey of the Walton Institute at SETU. We talk about how computer science research is progressing in this area, encompassing the world of AI and forming links with partners across all disciplines. This leads on to a chat about how we (humans) tend to anthropomorphise Artificial Intelligence systems. We also discuss Indrakshi’s career to date and how being a woman of colour has given her unique insight across the sector. Here are some links if you wish to follow up the podcast: ...2024-03-1446 min

All Star Superfan Podcast#50 - Superman LEGACY no more! Plus: A Special Message from Mark Waid, Last Days of Lex Luthor and Supergirl Woman of TomorrowRob and Alan unite in person for the first time ever for this bumper 50th episode extravaganza covering ALL of the latest Superman movie news - Legacy begone as James Gunn has now renamed the movie! What of the ballooning cast? Or the new/old logo? Will Fantastic Four's similar release date hurt Superman's chances? All of these choices and changes and many more discussed. Also featured are detailed comic book reviews of "Superman: Last Days of Lex Luthor" by Mark Waid and Bryan Hitch as well as Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis E...2024-03-071h 46

The Machine: A computer science education podcastNuria Oliver - Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Addressing ImbalancesTo help celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, Rob spoke with Spanish computer scientist Nuria Oliver about her work to date, such as using big data systems to help unbanked people access credit in developing nations or combating bias in AI systems. Nuria recounted how she first became interested in computing and turned that interest into a career. They also discussed the gender imbalance in computing today and Nuria offered some thought-provoking suggestions as to how these issues might be addressed. Nuria is also a fellow with Association of Computing Machinery, so thanks to the ACM...2024-03-0755 min

All Star Superfan Podcast#49 - An All Star Review of Scooby Doo and Krypto Too"Great Caesar's Ghost!" "Not a ghost named after a salad!" ZOINKS! Alan & Rob join the Scooby Gang and Superman’s favourite canine sidekick Krypto, as Mystery Incorporated finally take on a Metropolis based mystery, the untimely disappearance of the Justice League in the recent animated movie, ‘Scooby-Doo and Krypto Too!’ (No, it’s not a sequel). Are the gang up to the task of taking on the combined might of General Zod, Ursa, Non, Solomon Grundy, The Joker, Harley Quinn, Giganta, Brainiac, Lex Luthor and the mysterious phantoms terrorising The Hall of Justice? Tune...2024-02-281h 18

The Machine: A computer science education podcastBuilding a Local Large Language Model (LLM)Another #ComputingWeek talk turned into a podcast! Two Red Hat software engineers, both recent graduates of SETU, returned to discuss the issues surrounding running your own LLM on a local machine, how models and datasets are built and reduced (quantised) so as to run on a laptop rather than an array of servers. Mark Campbell and Dimitri Saradkis provided excellent insight on the technical issues surround this topic, before getting into some of the ethical and moral issues with host Rob O'Connor at the end. You can connect with all the people on this podcast on LinkedIn...2024-02-0851 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastHow AI is changing the ICT work environmentOn the back of a packed #ComputingWeek talk at SETU, Rob nabbed two speakers from UNUM Ireland – Gary Kenneally and Shourjya Sanyal – and recorded a conversation about the pace of change in the ICT industry, how AI tools can be integrated into a workflow and why new developers should even care about AI. The lads discuss why the think AI won’t be replacing anyone anytime soon – but it may help us work smarter. To keep up to date with The Machine, you can find the podcast on X/Twitter @machine_podcast Or you can contact Ro...2024-02-0747 min

All Star Superfan Podcast#48 - SHOWCASE: RoboCop Franchise Discussion feat. Stuart Mulrain"Can you FLY, Bobby?" Alan and Rob usher in 2024 by taking a brief vacation from Metropolis all the way to Old Detroit (or is it Delta City by now?) to delve deeply into all the cybernetic treasures in the RoboCop franchise! Who is he? What is he? Is he a superhero or not? In addition to Paul Verhoeven's original 1987 masterpiece, we talk the highs and lows of the sequels! The comics! The toys! The Joel Edgerton reboot! The TV miniseries from 2001! And of course, the hidden gem of the franchise (no ser...2024-01-312h 27

All Star Superfan Podcast#47 - BONUS! More Superman II ULTIMATE CUT Thoughts"THE DECISION OF THE COUNCIL IS FINAL." (Or is it?) Following our Earth-shattering "Superman II: The All-Star ULTIMATE CUT" episode, here are some thoughts sent to us from fellow podcasters Anthony Desiato, Michael Bailey and Joe Stefanelli as well as legendary Superman historians Dharmesh Chauhan and Jim Bowers all about what THEY would do differently to forge the ultimate, definitive cut of Superman II. Richard Donner! Richard Leseter! Arctic Police! French fancies! Pink Polar Bears! Magic kisses! All of this and more await as we continue to gaze into the Phantom Zon...2024-01-1023 min

All Star Superfan Podcast#46 - 2023 HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Santa Claus: The (Secret Superman) MovieSeeing is Believing! As another year comes to a close, Alan & Rob bring you another festive filled Annual Holiday Special in which they examine the 1985 Ilya Salkind produced and Jeannot Szwarc directed, ‘Superman The Mov…oops we mean ‘Santa Claus The Movie’ (no, not the Tim Allen one) and its many links to the Superman movie universe! We learn how Clark Kent travels to the far North where he discovers a frozen sanctuary in which he will learn of his destiny…oh wait, that’s not right. We learn how Mr. Mxyzptlk is taken advantage of by an evil...2023-12-202h 01

All Star Superfan Podcast#45 -SUPERMAN II: The All Star ULTIMATE Cut (feat. Oliver Harper and Zach Moore)"SUPERMAN, CAN YOU HEAR ME?!" Alan and Rob are joined by legendary returning guests Oliver Harper and Zach Moore to try and salvage the ultimate cut of Superman II! Through the total accumulation of all knowledge, the Kryptonian Council of Cuts wades through the bizarre camp of Richard Lester and the unfinished strangeness of Richard Donner in an effort to right what once went wrong and save Superman II...FOREVER! Stay tuned for a special bonus episode in the days to come as we hear from other esteemed podcasters and Superman h...2023-11-162h 18

All Star Superfan Podcast#44 Halloween Special: James Gunn’s OTHER Superman Movie (Brightburn Review!)🎃 HAPPY HALLOWEEN SUPERFANS! IT’S A BONUS OCTOBER HALLOWEEN SPECIAL! 🎃 In this spooky episode, Alan and Rob discuss all things SAM HAYNE or Oíche Shamhna (for those who aren’t fans of John Carpenter’s butchering of the Irish language!) Some of the topics discussed include their mutual love for Halloween, their passion for the horror movie genre, their ‘Top 3 Favourite Horror Movies’ and that OTHER James Gunn Superman movie, ‘Brightburn’. Is it the best version of “Evil Superman” put to screen? You’ll have to listen to find out! PLUS! We read some amazin...2023-10-251h 42

All Star Superfan Podcast#43 - EXCLUSIVE Interview with SUPERBOY Star Gerard ChristopherCelebrating 35 years of the "Superboy" series, Alan and Rob are joined by series star Gerard Christopher, to talk all about the oft-forgotten Superman series. Gerard talks about taking over the role after the first season, the shift in tones between seasons, the props he's held onto over the years, how he came close to playing SuperMAN on more than one occasion and even some mishaps involving the show's acclaimed wirework! PLUS! Gerard reveals who he'd like to play in James Gunn's Superman Legacy. Gerard will be appearing at Rhode Island Comic Con November 3-5 along w...2023-10-181h 05

All Star Superfan Podcast#42 - Being a ’Lois & Clark’ fan outside the USA (with Daniela Rod and Stuart Mulrain)"Judas priest!" In our second and final special episode celebrating 30 years of "Lois & Clark", Rob is joined by long-time listeners and friends of the show Daniela Rod and Stuart Mulrain - both of whom watched and loved "Lois & Clark" outside the USA. We discuss our different experiences with the show, how it resonated with us and how uniquely different the show's marketing was in the UK especially (where it wasn't even called 'Lois & Clark'!). And we get Daniela and Stuart's Top 5 episodes! Top 5 moments! And of course their Top 5 GOOFY GUYS. 2023-09-221h 53

All Star Superfan Podcast#41 - 30 Years of LOIS & CLARK: The New Adventures of Superman - The Most Underrated Superman show of all time"Great shades of Elvis!" Alan and Rob pay tribute to 30 years of "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" - a formative Superman TV series that is near and dear to their hearts. Joining us this week is Craig Byrne of the legendary Kryptonsite who talks about being at the forefront of the L&C fandom back when it was still on the air (he even visited the set!). We're also blessed with returning guest Matt Truex (of "Always Hold Onto Legends of Tomorrow" and "Lois & Clark'd: The New Podcasts of Superman"). Top 5 ep...2023-09-122h 06

All Star Superfan Podcast#40 -Superman UP IN THE SKY - Discussion and ReviewAlan and Rob discuss Tom King and Andy Kubert's modern classic 'UP IN THE SKY' - how it's the perfect Superman story for fans both old and new and which of the six issues they enjoyed the most. RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON APPLE PODCASTS, PODBEAN AND SPOTIFY, PLEASE AND THANK YOU! FACEBOOK: @allstarsuperfan INSTAGRAM: @allstarsuperfan TWITTER: @allstarsuperpod EMAIL: allstarsuperpod@gmail.com Thanks to Shawn Allen for our music and Aaron Price for our show logo. Social media poster designed by Rob O'Connor bas...2023-08-181h 06

All Star Superfan Podcast#39 - SUPERMAN LIVES - Looking back at the great unmade Superman movie"You and me get Superman, wanna know why? 'Cause we're from the streets." Rob and Alan pore through all three drafts of the legendary never-made film "SUPERMAN LIVES", examining each draft's huge differences and quirky charms. What surprising similarities do these scripts have with later Superman films? Would Nicolas Cage have triumphed as the Man of Steel or would he have gone down in history as the greatest miscasting in comic book cinema? Why a giant spider? What exactly did Jon Peters think Superman was? How great would the Kenner toyline for this film have been? Stay...2023-07-271h 30

All Star Superfan PodcastFor the Man who Has Everything - Comics & TV Comparison Special (PLUS Superman Legacy Casting!)"Burn" Alan and Rob take a look at Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon's seminal comic "The Man Who Has Everything" - how do the messages and meanings of the comic hold up? How does the characterisation of Superman compare to the modern interpretation? We also take a look at some of the other media adaptations of the story from the excellent Justice League Unlimited episode to a very strong Supergirl episode to a particularly bonkers Superboy episode! PLUS! Rob gives his thoughts on the casting of David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan i...2023-07-032h 07

All Star Superfan Podcast#37 - THE FLASH (2023) Non spoiler reaction + SPOILER Discussion (with Saoirse Smith)Rob is joined by his fiancée Saoirse to discuss their thoughts on / wrap their heads around THE FLASH. Plus! They give their thoughts on the news that Superman & Lois will be getting a fourth season. 00:00:00 - Introductions 00:04:20 - Superman & Lois renewal discussion 00:09:20 - The Flash non-spoiler discussion and thoughts 00:26:35 - SPOILER discussion NOTE: Alan was all set to see the Flash with Rob and was pulled away at the last second due to a very important work engagement. We hope to do a second disc...2023-06-1444 min

All Star Superfan Podcast#35 - Bibbo’s B-Movies: MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE (1987)"TELL ME ABOUT THE LONELINESS OF PODCASTING, HE-MAN..." Alan and Rob are joined once again by friend of the podcast & Caped Wonder Europe’s own Martin Lakin to take another sneaky look under the counter at the movie stash behind the bar at Bibbo’s ‘Ace o’ Clubs’. This time they examine Cannon's 1987’s classic, ‘Masters of the Universe’ starring Dolph Lundgren and Frank Langella, the movie based on the classic 80’s Mattel toyline of the same name. Hear about the dramatic behind the scenes turmoil which caused the production to shut down mid shoot, why exa...2023-05-261h 20

The Machine: A computer science education podcastQuantum Computing and Quantum CommunicationsDon't know your q-bits from your bytes? This is the podcast for you! Quantum Computing is one of the next-gen technologies that can truly usher in a new era in computing. Quantum Communications has the potential to provide a truly secure infrastructure for communications across small or vast distances. Deirdre Kilbane (Director of Research at the Walton Institute) joined Rob O'Connor in the studio to talk about all of this and the recent announcement of a large research investment in Ireland QCI (Quantum Communications Infrastructure). Deirdre breaks down some of the theoretical elements in an easy to understand manner...2023-05-0537 min

All Star Superfan Podcast#34 - VOICES FROM KRYPTON SPECIAL - Ed Gross InterviewAlan and Rob chat all things Superman with entertainment journalist, veteran fan and fellow podcaster Ed Gross as well as hearing all about his brand new book VOICES FROM KRYPTON, an oral history of the Man of Steel. Ed gives us his take on the highs and lows of Superman lore as well as memories from interviewing legends from the world of Superman movies, comics and more including Marlon Brando, Brandon Routh, Richard Donner, Sidney J. Furie and even Alan's FAVOURITE Lex Luthor ;-) the late Scott J. Wells. VOICES FROM KRYPTON IS AVAILABLE TO PR...2023-04-281h 19

All Star Superfan Podcast#33 - Comics Special! Superman RED & BLUE ReviewAlan and Rob check in to talk all about a great, recent anthology series of Superman short stories, perfect for new fans and old looking to get a dose of classic Superman action and maybe even a glimpse at some familiar podcasting friends...? All this and more! RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON APPLE PODCASTS, PODBEAN AND SPOTIFY, PLEASE AND THANK YOU! FACEBOOK: @allstarsuperfan INSTAGRAM: @allstarsuperfan TWITTER: @allstarsuperpod EMAIL: allstarsuperpod@gmail.com Thanks to Shawn Allen for our music and Aaron Price for our show...2023-04-0556 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastChatGPT and AI in the Classroom w/ Hazel Farrell and Pete WindleHazel Farrell and Pete Windle are academics at SETU who have been playing with ChatGPT (and other AI tools) to see how they can be used in the classroom to assist teaching and learning. They both take an open approach towards the technologies, rather than shutting down conversation. They sat down with Rob O'Connor to talk about the potential of these technologies to be a useful tool in education. Pete is a lecturer in Computing, whereas Hazel is a lecturer in Music - so there is a cross-disciplinary aspect to the discussion. The podcast doesn't lead to many answers...2023-03-2748 min

All Star Superfan Podcast#32 - PILLOW TALK! Interview with NUCLEAR MAN Mark Pillow!Alan & Rob, greatest criminal podcasters of the modern era have devised a way to DESTROY Superman with none other than Nuclear Man himself, Mark Pillow star of Superman IV: The Quest for Peace! We learn how Mark landed the role of the supervillain with the most metal hairdo of the 1980s, how he broke his foot during an epic moon battle with Christopher Reeve, his thoughts on the reaction to the film, the mythical 134 minute cut and of the gratitude and love he still holds for the movie more than 35 years later! Meet Mark Pillow a...2023-03-1452 min

All Star Superfan Podcast#31 - James Gunn’s DCU discussion + Our Superman CollectionsRob and Alan join forces once again to talk about the latest exciting movie news in DC. Is Superman finally on the right track? Or will James Gunn be the silver bullet that kills DC for good? PLUS! We dust off a previously unreleased episode from the early days of the podcast where we discuss our favourite toys and collectibles. Kenner's Super Powers toyline! Kenner's Superman the Man of Steel toyline! Superman on VHS! Superboy on VHS! Weird souvenirs from Superman set visits! Shampoo! Angry letters to Superman actors! All this and much more with s...2023-02-102h 25

All Star Superfan PodcastIssue #30 - Exclusive Interview with DC artist CIAN TORMEYAlan & Rob chat to DC Exclusive Artist Cian Tormey, the man who brought Superman to Dublin, Ireland in Superman: Son of Kal-El! Cian brings us through his secret origin story - through all the trials and tribulations that led him to leave a successful career in advertising so that he could chase his dreams as a comic book artist, finally landing an exclusive contract with DC, with some of his top tips for budding professionals. PLUS! We chat Superman: Son of Kal-El and the amazing whirlwind response to the history-making book including how the book h...2023-01-131h 06

All Star Superfan PodcastIssue #29 - 2022 All-Star Holiday Special!Seasons greetings, Metropolitans! Rob and Alan celebrate another successful year and gather round the fireplace to discuss the latest round of WB shake-ups as well as one of their "Lois & Clark" favourites 'Twas the Night Before Mxymas'. Rob also recaps one of his favourite holiday-themed comics, "Superman" #165. PLUS! Our favourite Holiday tradition! We play Christmas messages from fans and contributors. NOTE: This episode was recorded literally the day before it was announced that Henry Cavill wouldn't be returning as Superman after all! RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON APP...2022-12-241h 37

All Star Superfan PodcastIssue #28 - Lex Appeal - Celebrating TV’s Live-Action LuthorsADDICTED TO LEX! Alan, Rob and special guest Zach Moore (of 'Always Hold Onto Smallville' fame) join forces to explore four distinctly different, utterly unique television interpretations of everyone's favourite bald megalomaniac. No, not Blofeld. No not Doctor Evil either! It's Lex, baby! PLUS! Stay tuned for an emergency reaction to Jon Cryer's announcement that he will NOT be joining the cast of Superman & Lois, as the search begins for the latest Vancouver-based actor willing to shave their head. Rob is available and willing to pay for flights!! Discussed in this episode: ...2022-12-172h 41

The Machine: A computer science education podcastRed Hat Academy w/ Brendan O'Farrell & Leigh GriffinRed Hat are the world's largest open source software company. Senior Engineers at Red Hat - Brendan O'Farrell and Leigh Griffin - joined SETU lecturers Rob O'Connor and Amanda Freeman-Gater to chat about Red Hat Academy, an online portal that provides free resources for students of computer science. They discussed the kind of material you can find there and why students might be interested in this. There's a lot of conversation about Linux in here, but it's not confined to CentOS or Red Hat Enterprise Linux. They also talked about the characteristics that they look for when hiring graduates...2022-11-281h 04

All Star Superfan PodcastIssue #26 - SUPERMAN RETURNS (In more ways than one!)Matt Truex joins the All Star Superfan Podcast once again for a rousing roundtable discussion on the 2006 blockbuster 'Superman Returns'. We laugh! We cry! We yell 'WRONG!' to a bewildered crowd. Matt shares a deeply personal connection to the film while Rob whines about mid-2000s CGI. Alan is on the fence! MEANWHILE: Another Superman Returns! Alan and Rob share their thoughts on Henry Cavill's return to Metropolis. RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON APPLE PODCASTS, PODBEAN AND SPOTIFY, PLEASE AND THANK YOU! FACEBOOK: @allstarsuperfan INSTAGR...2022-10-292h 07

All Star Superfan PodcastIssue #22 - SUPERMAN ’78 SPOILER REVIEW + Christopher Reeve in Comics!NOTE: Use the timecodes below to jump around! Alan and Rob take a look at all of the comics explicitly set in the world of the Christopher Reeve movies, notably the comic book adaptations of Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace with Rob managing to drive Alan insane with his impressions of Gus Gorman, Ross Webster, Lex and even Lenny Luthor. Plus! We take a special look at Earth Prime #2: Superman and Lois (which contains a very specific nod to the Reeve movies!) Later on, we give our spoiler-filled thoughts...2022-08-012h 09

The Machine: A computer science education podcastLearning Your Second Programming LanguageTo kick off a short season at the end of the academic year, Eamonn Deleastar and Siobhan Drohan joined Rob O'Connor in the studio to discuss issues around learning your second (or third!) programming language. They touched on the the programming language family tree, how tools and tech have changed over the years and identified some programming trends to watch out for in the coming few years. 2022-05-2632 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastFrom There To Here: 50+ Years of WITA documentary tracing the 50+ years history of Waterford Institute of Technology, from its initial creation as Waterford Regional technical College in 1970, through to its re-designation as the South... Faculty and students from Waterford Institute of Technology explore a wide range of topics related to computing and technology. Hosted by Rob O'Connor. All opinions are personal and do not represent Institutional views.2022-05-031h 11

All Star Superfan PodcastIssue #15 - Tales of the Bizarro WorldWe am hate Bizarro and love Superman! Last week am Rob without Alan cover no episodes without Bizarro! This episode does not feature not special guest Zach Moore not from Always Hold Onto Smallville podcast! (This week is all about Bizarro! Rob, Alan and special guest Zach Moore from the Always Hold Onto Smallville podcast take a look at every single live action version of the Man of Steel's imperfect duplicate as well as the beloved animated version and discuss all the nooks and crannies in between!) PLUS: Stay tuned for Za...2022-01-312h 07

All Star Superfan PodcastIssue #13 - The All Star Superfan Holiday SpecialWe're back with a special holiday episode for you to enjoy as you wrap your presents! Alan and Rob discuss their podcasting highlights so far as well as dive into a jovial, yuletide discussion of the classic Lois & Clark Christmas episode "Seasons Greedings" (the first live action appearance of the Toyman!) PLUS: Extra special Christmas messages from some of our former (and future!) guests and our wonderful listeners. From Alan and Rob, have a Super Holiday Season and may all your wishes come true. We want to hear from YOU...2021-12-232h 15

All Star Superfan PodcastIssue #10 - Asteroids and Amnesia! PART TWO!You might believe a man can push an asteroid! Rob and Alan complete their journey through the stars as they explore two more episodes based on the classic 'Menace from the Stars' comic - an episode of 'Superboy' that somehow manages to crowbar in death cults and an episode of 'Lois & Clark' that features some of the most breathtaking flying effects in the history of the character (no it doesn't). Come for superheroics and derring do! Stay for Rob's Lex Luthor monologue! We want to hear from YOU! Get in touch on our social platforms an...2021-10-301h 19

The Machine: A computer science education podcastThe Internet of ThingsContinuing our explorations of sub-topics of Computer Science, WIT lecturer Frank Walsh and student Dominik Wawak joined Rob O'Connor in the studio to discuss the Internet of Things. The discussed some samples projects, the technologies involved, how it all fits together and where it might be going. There is also a conversation about beer - as Frank used a homemade IoT setup to help him brew his own! 2021-10-1949 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastWhat is Cloud Computing?In the first episode of the new season of the podcast, the panel have a chat about cloud computing, what's involved, some of the big techs to watch out for and what you might need to know if this is an area you'd like to specialise in. They also theorise as to the causes of the major fault on Facebook's services which resulted in Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Oculus Rift being unavailable for a significant period the previous week. The panel is made up of WIT computing lecturers Richard Frisby and Lucy White, alongside service delivery engineer at Red...2021-10-1144 min

All Star Superfan PodcastIssue #8: Supertalk with JM De MatteisAlan and Rob talk all things Super with legendary comic scribe JM De Matteis - from JM's historic run on Justice League International to his work on the DC animated films to Alan's favourite Superman/Batman mashup "Speeding Bullets", we even discuss JM's work on some of Rob's favourite episodes of the "Superboy" TV show. PLUS: Hear JM's thoughts on the new Kraven movie AND why he doesn't think Tom Holland's Spider-Man would work in a "Kraven's Last Hunt" film. We want to hear from YOU! Get in touch on our social pla...2021-09-181h 14

All Star Superfan PodcastAll Star Superfan #7: "Superman & Lois" Season 1 Review DiscussionAlan and Rob give their spoiler-filled thoughts on the first season of "Superman & Lois" in a fun-filled discussion of one of the best modern interpretations of the character in a long time. We want to hear from YOU! What did you like or dislike about the new show? Let us know on our socials, or on our dedicated "Superman & Lois" Facebook group - "Superman & Lois: The Legacy"! FACEBOOK: @allstarsuperfan INSTAGRAM: @allstarsuperfan TWITTER: @allstarsuperpod 2021-08-242h 03

All Star Superfan PodcastAll Star Superfan #6: Supertalk with Oliver HarperOn this week's exciting episode, Rob and Alan are joined by YouTube legend and Superman expert Oliver Harper to get his thoughts on all things Man of Steel - we discuss the Superman movies, Superman music, TV shows and get Oliver's thoughts on both "Superman & Lois" and the recent Superman movie news. Be sure to check out Oliver's incredible YouTube channel where he posts incredible retrospective reviews (he's covered all of the Superman movies!) as well as his documentary "In Search of the Last Action Heroes". FACEBOOK: @allstarsuperfan INSTAGRAM: @allstarsuperfan TW...2021-08-141h 04

All Star Superfan PodcastAll Star Superfan #5: The Best (Actually Good) Superman Videogames...and no, the N64 game is not on this list! Faster than a speeding bullet, Alan and Rob zoom through the complicated history of Superman's adventures in the cyber sphere, from humble beginnings on the Atari 2600 to the latest games on the PS4. What do we love? What do we hate? What is the game that comes closest to capturing the feeling of being more powerful than a locomotive? How many rings is Lex Luthor going to make us fly through? All this and more. Get in touch and let us know YOUR favourite Superman game! 2021-07-162h 00

All Star Superfan PodcastAll Star Superfan #4 - A Friend: Tribute to Richard DonnerSpecial mini issue: Rob and Alan pay tribute to iconic director and Superman legend Richard Donner. FACEBOOK: @allstarsuperfan INSTAGRAM: @allstarsuperfan TWITTER: @allstarsuperpod 2021-07-0912 min

All Star Superfan PodcastAll Star Superfan #3 Top 3 Stories PART TWOAlan and Rob go HEAD TO HEAD discussing their favourite depiction of Superman's legendary origin, discussing two very different modern takes. They also gush over Grant Morrison's masterpiece (and the story this podcast was named after) All Star Superman. Let us know your favourite Superman origin stories as well as any other thoughts on this week's episode! FACEBOOK: @allstarsuperfan INSTAGRAM: @allstarsuperfan TWITTER: @allstarsuperpod 2021-06-261h 06

The Machine: A computer science education podcastWhat 3rd Level Needs To Know About 2nd Level Computer ScienceAn unexpected episode for the academic year 2020/21. What does 3rd Level need to know about Leaving Cert Computer Science? This podcast is an edited live recording from the ACM SIGCSE Eire’s annual meeting (held on Zoom). The panel is comprised of Keith Quille (TU Dublin), Brett Becker (UCD), Siobhan Drohan (WIT) and is chaired by Machine host Rob O’Connor. Towards the end of the panel chat, there’s contributions from audience members. Thanks for listening this year and we’ll be back in September!2021-06-231h 02

All Star Superfan PodcastAll Star Superfan #2 Top 3 Stories PART ONEAlan and Rob dive into the Kryptonian archives to highlight their favourite Superman comic books from the weird to the wonderful! Let us know your favourite Superman comics! INSTAGRAM: @allstarsuperfan TWITTER: @allstarsuperpod FACEBOOK: @allstarsuperfan 2021-06-051h 23

All Star Superfan PodcastAll-Star Superfan#1 PILOTIn the endless reaches of the universe, there once existed two Irishmen in their 30s who decided to explore how and why they love Superman. Join Alan Burke and Rob O'Connor in this first exciting episode as we throw the ball around how we came to love Superman, why he has resonated so much throughout our lives and which of the many versions have had the biggest impact on us! Facebook: All-Star Superfan Insta: @allstarsuperfan Twitter: @allstarsuperpod 2021-05-291h 06

The Machine: A computer science education podcastLeaving Cert Computer Science & more with Brett BeckerRob chats with Brett Becker, one of the co-authors of the Computer Science for Leaving Cert book. They talk about computing as a 2nd level school subject, why certain topics were emphasised and technologies chosen, as well as potential impacts for 3rd level and beyond. They also speak about the Irish branch of the ACM’s Computer Science Education special interest group and finally, engage in a brief rant about computer programming error messages. Brett is an Assistant Professor in Computer Science at UCD and you can discover more about his work at brettbecker.com. Details on th...2021-04-221h 00

The Machine: A computer science education podcastThe Walton Institute and ICT Research at WITIn March of 2021, the TSSG (tssg.org) will rebrand as The Walton Institute. Rob spoke with co-directors Sasi Balasubramaniam and Kevin Doolin about the change is taking place, the shift in focus of ICT (Information & Communication Technology) research over the past 20 years and what this means for the South East region as a whole. The conversation touches on cross discipline research subjects such as agri-tech, neurological modelling and artificial intelligence, we well as working with SMEs in the region. Up until now, the TSSG has been one of the most successful research groups in Europe. This podcast should give...2021-03-0548 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastWork Placements & InternshipsDespite the ongoing COVID situation, work placements and internships are still going ahead in the tech industry. Rob spoke with three stakeholders to get different perspectives on how things have been proceeding. James Richardson is a final year computing student at WIT who completed his placement with Red Hat (https://www.redhat.com)last year, during the first phases of the pandemic. David Ryan of TSSG (http://www.tssg.org) gave the employer’s perspective on interns are managed and mentored, during COVID times and normal times. Finally Tracy Murphy, the work placement manager in the Dept. Of Computing & Ma...2021-02-1956 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastChristmas RecommendationsHo ho ho! Five of the regular podcast hosts from WIT got together to record a joint episode recommending some books, TV programmes, films, podcasts and tech that you (or a loved one) might enjoy over the Christmas period. Features Jenny O’Connor from The Nerve, Bruce Wardrop from Win Win, Niamh Maguire from Engendering Change, Tom Grinsell from WIT Talks Student Life and Rob O’Connor of The Machine. A very Happy Christmas to all our listeners. Recommendation Notes: Bruce Wardrop (Book) Atomic Habits – James Clear https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits (Podcast) Real S...2020-12-1642 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastDeveloper Stories: Rocketship Park Games w/ Shane McCafferty"LOVE: A Puzzle Box Filled With Stories" is the recent release from Canadian studio RocketShip Park Games. Rob spoke with their chief games designer and programmer Shane McCafferty (originally from Slieverue, Co. Kilkenny) about how he got into games development and the processes that led to LOVE. Shane talks about the emotional motivation behind the game, collaborating with other artists (both visual and musical) as well as detailing one of the tech used in creating the game. The podcast also includes some snippets of the music used in the game, written and performed by Waterford musician Neil White. 2020-12-0443 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastSEE Space NetworkQuantum communication! Cybersecurity! Controlling tractors from space! Rob spoke with Mark White (Head of Research WIT) and Niall Smith (Head of Research CIT) about the newly formed SEE (Society, Economy, Environment) Space Network, Ireland's first space region as academics in Cork and Waterford join forces to forge links with the European Space Agency. Can Ireland have a positive impact on space research? These folks certainly think so! For more information visit spacenetwork.ie 2020-11-2054 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastA Beginner's Guide To CybersecurityWe have three IT security and forensics experts in the virtual studio for this episode! Rob knows next to nothing about cybersecurity so was able to honestly ask questions like "what is a denial of service attack?' and "how does encryption work?." Thankfully Judy Kelly (Security Architect with Red Hat), Jimmy McGibney and John Sheppard (both Lecturers from WIT) were on hand to provide the answers. It also includes some practical hints and tips on how you can best protect your personal data and devices. If you're searching for a starting place to understand computer security, look no...2020-11-131h 01

The Machine: A computer science education podcastDeveloper Stories: COVIDTracker AppThe COVIDTracker app, developed by NearForm in Tramore Co. Waterford has become the basis for exposure notification apps across the globe. In this episode, Rob O'Connor speaks with Conor O'Neill, Chief Product Officer with NearForm about the history of the company, how the HSE first approached NearForm, how the app works and the technologies used to create it as well as addressing some of the criticisms of the app. Conor also explains the philosophy behind Open Source software and how this app exemplifies public private partnership. This is the first in our new series Developer Stories which...2020-11-061h 23

The Machine: A computer science education podcastOnline Learning: The Student PerspectiveA companion piece to our last episode, this time Rob is speaking with two computing students - Sinead O'Neill (2nd year Computer Forensics & Security) and Dimitri Saradakis (3rd Year Applied Computing) - about their views on the online teaching and learning situation we find ourselves in.2020-10-1227 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastOnline Learning: The Lecturer PerspectiveRob O'Connor discusses the new academic year with Colm Dunphy and Siobhan Drohan and the shift from on-campus to remote teaching and learning. They discuss some things they enjoy and dislike, some tools they find useful and outline other observations and tips.2020-10-0945 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastCOVID-19 Treatment Research at WITFollowing on from our previous episode, here's a discussion about two more Covid19 projects that are being actively worked on during the lockdown by researchers from TSSG at WIT. Rob chats with Director of Research at TSSG Sasitharan Balasubramaniam along with Dixon Vimalajeewa and Bruna Fonesca to discuss "Treating Lung Tissue Damage due to COVID-19" and "Molecular Communication modelling of COVID-19 in the Respiratory System", projects that are collaborations with the PMBRC research group at WIT, Teagasc, the University of Tampere (Finland) and Rochester Institute of Technology (USA). The conversation goes off on a bit of a...2020-05-1937 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastTechnology vs COVID-19 from WIT ResearchApplying their expertise in information communications technology (ICT), researchers from TSSG at WIT are working to develop both short as well as long term solutions for COVID-19. Rob O'Connor spoke with Frances Cleary and Stepan Ivanov of TSSG to discuss some of their projects including 1) ensuring social distancing though wearables 2) blockchain based certification of public health policies 3) clinical data as a service software platform and 4) contact quotas to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Details on these projects (and more) can be found on www.tssg.org and www.wit.ie. Please excuse the sound quality in places...2020-05-0151 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastResearch at WITMark White (VP for Research & Innovation) and Kathryn Kiely (Industry Services Manager) spoke with Rob about research activities at WIT. What kind of work goes on? How important is it to the Institute? What does it mean for students? What does it mean for SMEs? Recorded remotely during the Covid19 lockdown.2020-04-1743 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastDanny O'Dwyer (NoClip)Rob and podcast regular Colm Dunphy sat down with former student Danny O'Dwyer, now well known across d'internet for the documentaries he's created at NoClip and his work in the world of video games journalism. They discuss Danny's journey from student to web developer to games journalist to media entrepreneur. Danny was in WIT to chat with current students about the game dev industry and then facilitated a seminar for faculty about crafting digital stories. Thanks to the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (https://www.teachingandlearning.ie) for funding this seminar. You can f...2020-02-0740 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastAlternative Nativity PlayAs a special Christmas treat, we present a radio nativity play which was produced by computing students from WIT back in 2012, made in conjunction with Beat 102-103. It was shortlisted for a number of radio awards at the time and always raises a smile from Rob when he listens. It's a fairly irreverent retelling of the famous story, so if you're easily offended please switch off now. The bulk of the work was carried out by four students (in 2012!) who are now all working away with their own careers. We won't name names, but e...2019-12-2324 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastFAQ on Computing at WITWIT has an Open Day coming up for prospective students. We thought it'd be a good to publish a podcast answering some of the frequently asked questions we're regularly asked about computing courses at WIT. We gathered a collection of Course Leaders from various programmes to have a chat with Rob O'Connor: Mary Lyng [BSc Software Systems Development]; Mairead Meagher [BSc (Hons) Applied Computing]; John Sheppard [BSc (Hons) Computer Forensics & Security]; Sinead O'Riordan [BSc Multimedia Applications Development and BSc (Hons) Creative Computing] and TJ McDonald [BSc Information Technology]. Details about these courses and more information about the Dept. of...2019-11-2042 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastHow The Internet WorksIt's hard to imagine life without the Internet. Podcasts wouldn't exist without the infrastructure provided by a collection of interconnect technologies and networks. But how does it all work? Rob chats with networking lecturers Richard Frisby and Amanda Freeman-Gater to break it all down and explain the relevant protocols and standards that allow all internet services to operate. Follow The Machine @machine_podcast on Twitter or Facebook.2019-10-1134 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastTips On Buying a ComputerWe've all gotten questions like "what laptop should I buy?", "any recommendations for a computer?" or "is this a good deal for a PC?" The short answer to all those questions is "it depends!" Host Rob O'Connor goes through some of the considerations you should make when thinking about buying a new laptop/desktop/computer. The panel go through some of the headline specs of machines and then some other aspects that aren't always apparent to the novice techie.2019-09-1349 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastI Wish I Knew Then What I Know NowIn what is likely to be the final episode of The Machine for this season, Rob chatted with some outgoing final year undergraduate computing students about their time at WIT: Dimitra Zucharelli, Ciaran Roche and Emma Ní Bhriain. The offered advice they wished they could have heard as first years and discussed some of the technical skills they learned over their four years. They also reflected on the social and personal growth they experienced as students. Follow The Machine on Twitter @machine_podcast or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/machinepodcast 2019-05-1732 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastTech News Roundup - Global Tech Workers, Myspace Data Breach and Google StadiaRob is joined by Siobhan Drohan and Brenda Mullally to discuss a few tech news stories making headlines this week. - Canada is becoming a tech hub thanks to President Trump's immigration policies - Myspace loses all user data prior to 2016 - Google announces Stadia, their new cloud gaming platform Follow The Machine on Twitter @machine_podcast or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/machinepodcast 2019-03-2243 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastWomen in TechFour women chat about how they began their careers in computing & technology. Features Phil Healy (Irish Athlete and postgraduate computing student at WIT), Aisling Furlong (digital media consultant with Glanbia), Mairead Meagher (computing lecturer at WIT) and Judy O'Brien (final year student of Computer Forensics & Security). Hosted by Rob O'Connor.2019-03-0749 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastBluffer's Guide To Artificial IntelligenceAhead of the AI2 Applied Artificial Intelligence (www.ai2.ie) conference taking place in Kilkenny this week, Rob sat down with Glen Collins (Conference Director) and Susan Gallagher (Engineers Ireland) to chat about some of the main technical issues surrounding AI in 2019. What is Machine Learning? How computationally intensive is it? Will AI take all our jobs? (No!)2019-02-2733 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastTechnology Enhanced LearningHow can technology assist in the learning experience? How have these systems evolved over the years? What kind of access opportunities to education can they provide? A very interesting discussion on this episode of the podcast between Laura Widger and Pete Windle of the Centre for Technology Enhanced Learning (CTEL) at WIT, Emma Fahey a 3rd year computing student and our host, Rob O’Connor.2019-02-1551 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastEvolution of Mobile App DevelopmentHow did we get here from there? Rob O'Connor is joined by podcast regulars Siobhan Drohan and Eamonn De Leastar along with Jason Blood and Padraig Howlin of Distilled (DoneDeal, Daft.ie and Adverts.ie) to discuss how developing apps for mobile has changed from the early 2000s up to the present day. WAP and J2ME, evolving to iOS and Android platforms, eventually getting to the newer languages such as Swift and Kotlin and their associated toolsets. The panel also discuss the as-yet-unrealised goal of cross-platform development. Finally, Rob gets some cooking analogies in there too ...2019-02-0143 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastTech Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and FutureWe have a festive themed episode today! Rob is joined by Mairead Meagher, Siobhan Drohan, Brenda Mullally and Colm Dunphy to reminisce about tech gifts from years gone by, make some recommendations for tech gift for this Christmas and even predict some trends for the future. Ho Ho Ho!2018-12-0745 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastEfficiencyThis podcast is all about efficiency! The panel (Mairead Meagher, Siobhan Drohan, Peter Carew and Rob O'Connor) discuss the concept of efficiency, how it relates to computing and writing elegant algorithms. This is also the longest episode of The Machine so far, so they weren't very efficient with their chat in the studio ...2018-11-3042 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastBONUS! HDip in Computer Science/ICT SkillsA special bonus edition of The Machine! Colm Dunphy, Eamonn de Leastar, Joan Mangan and Rob O'Connor discuss the part-time HDip in Computer Science/ICT Skills currently on offer at WIT. This follows on from the previous episode in which the panel discussed how adult learners can approach IT. You can learn more about the HDip on offer at https://www.wit.ie/ictskills 2018-11-1616 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastApproaching IT as an Adult LearnerEamonn de Leastar and Colm Dunphy join Rob for this podcast episode in which they discuss how someone might get into ICT from another industry. They discuss what skills an individual could bring from another industry into IT, whether programming is the only game in town (it's not!) and the importance of "soft" skills.2018-11-1636 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastBeginner's Guide To Web DevelopmentEamonn de Leastar and Brenda Mullally join Rob on this episode of the podcast to discuss Web Development. They contrast the difference between the Web and the Internet, then look at static sites built using HTML/CSS before moving onto Content Management Systems. Finally they introduce the world of Scripting (Client Side and Server Side) and discuss Web Apps. They also give advice on how to start dabbling with some web development.2018-11-0934 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastData & Big DataEverything you wanted to know about Data but were afraid to ask! Rob is joined by Brenda Mullally and Siobhan Drohan for a chat about Data. What is it? How is stored? What's Big Data and what does it mean for you? They also explore some ethical dilemmas. So this episode includes maths, programming, science, ethics and philosophy!2018-10-2639 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastAdvice On How To Start CodingFollowing on from the last podcast in which the panel attempted to describe what programming is, this time the same group (Siobhan Drohan, Eamon De Leastar, Mairead Meagher and Rob O’Connor) talk about how a complete beginner can dip their toe in the world of coding. During the discussion, they mention a number of (mostly) free tools that you can find at the links below, presented in the order in which they appear (we think!): Code.org (Hour of Code) - https://studio.code.org/courses Processing - https://processing.org The Coding Train - https://thecodingtrain.com Free Co...2018-10-1236 min

The Machine: A computer science education podcastWhat Is Computer Programming?In our first episode, Rob O’Connor chats with Mairead Meagher, Siobhan Drohan and Eamonn de Leastar about Computer Programming. They approach it from the perspective of an absolute beginner, looking at algorithms, languages, tools and eventually DevOps. The conversation also wanders into the gender divide in computing.2018-10-0128 min