Best Unionist Podcasts (2026)

With the run-up to Christmas, retail workers are preparing to face a tsunami of abuse and even violence. Unions representing shop workers in dozens of countries where Christmas is celebrated are campaigning to protect workers from over-stressed shoppers. Here's our take on Christmas shopping - and a very merry and kind Christmas from all of us at L…

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Commonwealth games: Team NI may not compete under the Ulster Banner. What does this mean for NI's identity issues? 35:52

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25m ago35:52

35:52

Highlights from Talkback. William Crawley and guests discuss the news headlines.By BBC Radio Ulster

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Where should Stormont's money go? 35:03

2h ago35:03

35:03

William and guests discuss Stormont's first draft multi-year budget since 2011.By BBC Radio Ulster

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The Jon Burrows Interview 54:55

4d ago54:55

54:55

In this episode of the Stormont Sources podcast, John Burrows discusses his candidacy for the leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and his vision for the future of unionism in Northern Ireland. He emphasizes a fact-based approach to politics, moving beyond traditional ideological labels, and advocates for a strong unionist position. Burrow…

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International Law in Tatters | The Fellow in the Big Picture | Irish government should be ashamed 21:17

2h ago21:17

21:17

International Law in Tatters Should we be surprised by the decision of President Trump to kidnap President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores? Should we be shocked by his claim that the US will now administer Venezuela or that US Oil companies will manage Venezuela’s huge oil reserves? And what of his threats against Cuba, Colombia, Mexico, G…

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UK Elections 2026 Preview: Reform UK, Labour, SNP & Plaid Cymru 1:08:21

21m ago1:08:21

1:08:21

The Sources Podcast hosts come together for a special New Year 2026 UK politics preview, analysing what could be the most volatile year in British politics for a generation. With local elections in England, Scottish Parliament elections, Senedd elections in Wales, and mounting pressure on the Northern Ireland Executive, this episode explores how th…

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Happy New Year one and all - 2026 - Bliain Úr faoi Mhaise Daoibhse | Eyes On The Prize. | ‘I’m so scared, please come’ 14:55

5d ago14:55

14:55

2026 - Bliain Úr faoi Mhaise Daoibhse A very happy New Year to all readers of this column, to the staff of the Belfast Media Group and The Irish Echo. And to you good readers who have stayed with me over the years. None of us know what 2026 will bring but we can be sure it will be interesting. May it also be good to you all and to your families. Be…

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Gerry Carroll on Gaza, Tweets and Irish Republicanism 43:33

5d ago43:33

43:33

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll joins Stormont Sources for one of the most candid political interviews of the year. In this final episode of Stormont Sources for 2025, host David McCann, alongside Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan, speaks to Gerry Carroll MLA about: 🔴 Gaza and the Palestine debate at Stormont 🔴 The controversial tweet that mad…

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Hunger Strike in English Prisons | Grace – just hold me in your arms … | A bleak Christmas for Palestinians | Nollaig Shona Daoibshe 16:48

12d ago16:48

16:48

Hunger Strike in English Prisons In English prisons five people, imprisoned under new repressive laws targeted at pro-Palestinian activists, are on hunger strike. Several of them will have been on hunger strike now for over 50 days. At the weekend and each day since, protests have taken place across the island of Ireland and in Britain. Irish repub…

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Christmas Special: Stormont’s Year in Review: Best & Worst Parties, MLAs & Big Moments 53:36

13d ago53:36

53:36

Welcome to the Stormont Sources Christmas Special, where David McCann, Michael McKernan and Tim Cairns review the political year in Northern Ireland. In this end-of-year episode, the panel hands out the Stormont Sources Awards, debating: • MLA of the Year – including John O’Dowd, Emma Little-Pengelly, Matthew O’Toole and Timothy Gaston • Party of t…

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Kenova – Collusion and the Murder of Citizens | Bondi Beach | Unity project making progress 17:53

23d ago17:53

17:53

Kenova – Collusion and the Murder of Citizens The Kenova Report adds further substance to the litany of existing reports that over several decades have exposed the extent of British state participation in the murder of citizens. The Kenova Inquiry commenced in June 2016 and the final report was published on 9 December 2025. Operation Kenova covered…

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DUP & Sinn Féin Slide, Budget Chaos & MLAs’ Christmas Recess 45:54

19d ago45:54

45:54

The latest University of Liverpool poll paints a troubling picture for Stormont’s governing parties, with Sinn Féin and the DUP both losing ground, smaller parties rising, and the combined dominance of the two biggest parties falling below 45%. In this episode of Stormont Sources, David McCann is joined by Tim Cairns (former DUP Special Adviser) an…

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A deep dive into Belfast's Nightlife with Night Czar Michael Stewart 48:39

25d ago48:39

48:39

Belfast’s night-time economy is in trouble — and this deep-dive explains why. In this episode of Stormont Sources, David McCann, Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan are joined by Belfast Night Czar Michael Stewart. We explore the Hill Street “gateway issue”, why businesses are walking away from Belfast, the impact of poor transport, policing, licensing…

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And Flowers Grew up Through the Concrete | A Real Peace Settlement Needed | Gearóid Ó Cairealláind | 13:54

26d ago13:54

13:54

And Flowers Grew up Through the Concrete is Laurence McKeown’s second prison memoir. Big Laurny, is a very fine writer. This latest book is an account of his journey through imprisonment, hunger strike, brutality and growing self-awareness. It is beautifully written and unashamedly honest in its emotion. Laurence is one of those gifted republican P…

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60 seconds on ... Lee Cheuk-yan, jailed leader of Hong Kong's trade union movement 0:59

1M ago0:59

0:59

"60 seconds on ..." is a new podcast series hosted by LabourStart and aims to provide the international trade union movement with bite-size nuggets of information about important campaigns and news. In today's episode, we focus on Lee Cheuk-yan, the jailed leader of the Hong Kong Trade Union Confederation, whose trial starts next month. To learn mo…

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Hilary Benn on the Budget Crisis, Border Poll & Stormont Reforms 1:05:30

1M ago1:05:30

1:05:30

On this week's episode Stormont Sources, David McCann, Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan challenge the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the biggest questions facing Northern Ireland: Why does the Treasury say NI already receives 124% of assessed need? Is Stormont spending too much — or is the funding model broken? What happens if the Execut…

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USA: Professor Yiran Zhang on care work 11:39

1M ago11:39

11:39

Professor Yiran Zhang is a prominent emerging voice in the field of labor and employment law, focusing on how care work is governed at the complicated intersection of informal labor markets, the welfare state, and the household. At Cornell’s ILR School, where she is also an Associate Faculty Member at Cornell Law School, she examines the rapidly sh…

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An open letter to my unionist neighbours | Fairytale of New York 14:56

1M ago14:56

14:56

An Open Letter to My Unionist Neighbours A Chairde, I want to respectfully reach out to my unionist neighbours at this time of ongoing change on our island and continuous turbulence and conflict in parts of our world. We should count our blessings. Imperfect though it might be we have peace and the ability to work out our difficulties peacefully. T…

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Netherlands: Union leader Pawel Rudzki, unfairly dismissed for his activism 10:52

1M ago10:52

10:52

Pawel Rudzki has not worked for the Albert Heijn supermarket chain for some two months now. An exemplary worker, never late, with a spotless record, he was bullied and lied about, given warnings he could not reply to -- and then summarily sacked. His union, the FNV, together with UNI Global Union, has been campaigning for his reinstatement. It's th…

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Delivering Rural Health & Care In a New Ireland | The SS Al Rawdah | A Space in which Dialogue is Possible 17:25

1M ago17:25

17:25

The SS Al Rawdah For the first time ever the families of many of the 207 Republican internees held on the Al Rawdah prison ship between 1940 and 1941 met in Belfast. 85 years after their loved ones were interned on the prison hulk the families came together for the launch of Tom Hartley’s insightful account of that period. At the beginning of his r…

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Was NI's Covid Response a Disaster? Plus, Reeves's Budget 42:21

1M ago42:21

42:21

Rachel Reeves has delivered her second Budget as Chancellor — but what does it actually mean for Northern Ireland? In this week’s episode of Stormont Sources, David McCann, Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan break down the major spending announcements, from the headline £370m funding uplift to debates around multi-year budgets, revenue-raising powers,…

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Remembering Friends | Solidarity with Palestine | Health in a New Ireland | Passport office for the north 19:30

2M ago19:30

19:30

Philomena Mulvenna Philomena Mulvenna died in the early hours of last Friday morning. I have known Philomena and her husband Paddy for most of my adult life. Paddy and she were 72 years married and they had 7 children. Mrs Mulvenna protested with other women against military occupation and for decades on behalf of the political prisoners especially…

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The Anglo-Irish Agreement: 40 Years On 55:14

2M ago55:14

55:14

On this week's episode, David McCann, Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan take a trip down memory lane. From the 40th anniversary of the Anglo-Irish Agreement to the notable leadership changes within the SDLP and DUP, our discussion uncovers the lasting impact of these events and their implications for today’s politics. 📱 Join the conversation: WhatsAp…

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Is this the Nobel Prize for the international trade union movement? 8:37

2M ago8:37

8:37

Today we spoke with Amalie Hilde Tofte from the trade union Styrke in Norway. They're the sponsors of the annual Arthur Svensson International Prize for Trade Union Rights. (LabourStart was a recipient a few years back.). Amalie told us about the background to the prize, some of the winners in recent years, and how one applies. We even learned who …

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Defending British interests | The battle for hearts and minds of Unionism | An evening with Jim Fitzpatrick 15:40

2M ago15:40

15:40

Defending British interests Hilary Benn is the 25th British Secretary of State since the Conservative government of Ted Heath scrapped the Stormont Parliament in 1972. Whitelaw was the first. I met him during the London talks in July that year. There was then a gap of 23 years before I met another British Secretary of State, Patrick Mayhew. I have …

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Can the Presbyterian Church be trusted with safeguarding? 53:19

2M ago53:19

53:19

Richard and guests discuss Rev Trevor Gribben’s resignation and the church’s future.By BBC Radio Ulster

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The Executive's Chances of Survival... and a Unionist Merger? 55:00

2M ago55:00

55:00

In this episode of Stormont Sources, David McCann, Michael McKernan, and Tim Cairns go deep inside the latest debates shaking unionism in Northern Ireland. 💬 Main topics: Could the DUP and UUP merge? Or is cooperation between unionist parties still impossible? The real story behind Doug Beattie and Jeffrey Donaldson’s secret talks. How Jim Allister…

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Bill Clinton, John Hume & The Queen — The Stories Behind Colin Davidson’s Portraits 42:33

2M ago42:33

42:33

In this bonus episode of the Stormont Sources podcast, host David McCann is joined by regulars Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan to discuss the intersection of art and politics with guests Colin Davison and Mark Carruthers. The conversation is based around their new book, "12 Paintings- Converstations with Mark Carruthers” which features portraits of…

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Celebrating our Language, Arts and Culture | Ról na nGael i dTógáil Éire Nua | The Olive is never just a Tree 18:04

2M ago18:04

18:04

Celebrating our Language, Arts and Culture Comhghairdeas to all of those who helped make Oireachtas na Samhna the huge success it was. Thousands of Irish language speakers from across the island of Ireland spent part of last week enjoying the music, dance, culture, arts, craic and discussions that are part of the oldest Irish language and arts even…

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Paul Givan as he faces a No Confidence Motion Over Israel Trip 54:30

2M ago54:30

54:30

In this episode of Stormont Sources, Education Minister Paul Givan joins David McCann, Tim Cairns, and Michael McKernan to address the political firestorm surrounding his Israel trip, the no confidence motion he now faces, and the growing tensions inside the Northern Ireland Executive. Givan defends his actions, challenges claims of departmental im…

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Serbia: Interview with SKL union leaders 9:58

2M ago9:58

9:58

This week, we talked with two leaders of the Sindikat kontrole letenja (SKL), the union representing Serbian air traffic controllers, who have been dismissed after their security clearances were revoked based on a vague "negative opinion from the security services." Both played key roles in this year’s lawful and successful strike. In this intervie…

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Hope and Opportunity | The Vinyl Gift | Supporting Palestine 19:08

2M ago19:08

19:08

Hope and Opportunity Ba mhaith liom mo chomhghairdeas a ghabháil le Catherine Connolly agus a foireann. Maith sibh as feachtas Uachtaránachta dearfach, forásach agus trócaireach a chur chun cinn. I want to extend my congratulations to Catherine Connolly and her team. Well done for fighting a positive, progressive, compassionate and cohesive Preside…

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Robbie Butler: The UUP Still Has a Future 51:39

2M ago51:39

51:39

In this episode, host David McCann is joined by regulars Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan to discuss the current political landscape in Northern Ireland. The episode features an interview with UUP Deputy Leader Robbie Butler, who challenges the podcast's previous critical analysis of the UUP's role and future in Northern Ireland. Butler argues for t…

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Sam McBride on Irish Unity, Unionism, and the Future of Northern Ireland 46:04

2M ago46:04

46:04

What does a United Ireland really mean — and what would it take to get there? In this episode of Stormont Sources, investigative journalist Sam McBride joins David, Tim, and Michael McKernan to discuss his new book co-written with Fintan O’Toole, which presents both sides of the Irish unity debate. 🟦 For the Union: McBride explains why unionism sti…

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Stormont’s Secret Spending Fights 40:38

3M ago40:38

40:38

This week on Stormont Sources, David McCann, Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan dive deep into two major Stormont flashpoints. 💷 First, the Stormont monitoring round — Ministers scrambling for cash to plug pay gaps. Mike Nesbitt’s £100 million boost for health — and why it’s only half enough. DUP, Sinn Féin and the smaller parties: who wins and who lo…

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Adh Mór Catherine | Hiding the Truth | Legacy Bill deeply flawed | Comhghairdeas Naomh Eoin 16:33

3M ago16:33

16:33

Adh Mór Catherine The Presidential election is on Friday. Many of you reading this column or listening to it on social media platforms, will not have a vote. But some of you will. So, I am asking you to cast your first preference for Catherine Connolly and to encourage everyone else to do the same. The last week has seen a significant increase in n…

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Lesotho: Interview with Solong Senohe, General Secretary of UNITE 12:33

3M ago12:33

12:33

Solong is the general secretary of the United Textile Employees Union in Lesotho -- a union currently involved in a major struggle for workers' rights and dignity at Quantum Apparel. In this interview, he tells us about a whole series of abusive (and illegal) practices at the company, including forced over-time, short-term contracts and union-busti…

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Palestine Must Be Free | Oireachtas na Samhna | Liam Mellows and the Irish Revolution – ‘a Very Important Book’ 18:47

3M ago18:47

18:47

Palestine Must Be Free A population greater than that of Belfast has been moving back to the northern Gaza strip following the ceasefire announcement last week. Awaiting them is utter destruction. The infrastructure of Gaza has been levelled by the Israeli state’s genocide. The return of the Gazans. is based on hope. Hope that humanitarian aid will…

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What's the point of the UUP? 45:21

3M ago45:21

45:21

Northern Ireland’s political podcast Stormont Sources is back — and this week, David McCann, Tim Cairns, and Michael McKernan unpack the biggest stories in NI politics. 🏛️ Main topics: The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) held its annual conference — but Mike Nesbitt’s speech fell flat. Is this the end for the “grand old party” of unionism? Who could re…

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Chris Andrews Update 28:11

3M ago28:11

28:11

Senator Chris Andrews shares his experience of being onboard the Global Sumad Flotilla and being illegal detained by Israeli authoritiesBy Gerry Adams

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Free Palestine | Where now for Micheál Martin? | The Orange and the Green. 22:52

3M ago22:52

22:52

Where now for Micheál Martin? The decision by Fianna Fáil Presidential candidate Jim Gavin to withdraw from the contest means the race is now between Independent Catherine Connolly and Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys. But what of the man who asked Gavin to stand? Suffice to say I am not a supporter of Micheál Martin. There is nothing personal in this…

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Clare Hanna’s call for an Irish Department of Unification 54:30

3M ago54:30

54:30

The Stormont Sources Podcast takes you inside politics and policy-making in Northern Ireland. This week, David McCann, Tim Cairns, and Michael McKernan dive deep into: The SDLP Conference and Claire Hanna’s bold call for an Irish Department of Unification 🇮🇪 Whether the push for a New Ireland can win back voters Border poll timelines: is 2030 reali…

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Global Sumad Flotilla | A President for All | Using your Loaf! 20:44

3M ago20:44

20:44

A President for All All three candidates in the Presidential election have made commitments in support of Irish Unity. Clear evidence of the growing importance of Irish Unity to the electorate. Last Saturday Catherine Connolly was invited to address a Sinn Fein conference in Dublin. There was a palpable buzz of anticipation in Dublin City Universit…

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SDLP Targets Alliance, Irish Language Clash & DUP’s Uniform Bill 54:19

3M ago54:19

54:19

In this episode of Stormont Sources: 1️⃣ SDLP Conference & Strategy – Clare Hanna sets out her vision, targeting the Alliance Party, moving the unity debate from “conversation” to “action,” and focusing on health, housing, and institutional reform. Can the SDLP recover ground ahead of the next election? 2️⃣ Irish Language Row at Belfast City Counci…

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An Update with Senator Chris Andrews on the Global Sumad Flotilla 14:40

3M ago14:40

14:40

An short update with Chris Andrews, who is on the Flotilla 120 nautical miles away from Gaza. The flotilla is carrying food & humanitarian aid in an attempt to break the blockade on Gaza.By Gerry Adams

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USA: Interview with Chris Garlock of the Labor Radio and Podcasting Network 13:52

3M ago13:52

13:52

Chris, who's based in Washington, D.C., is the founder of the Labor Radio and Podcasting Network. With around 200 members, the network shows the very widespread adoption of podcasting by activists in the trade union movement. We asked Chris about audience size, impact, and how unions and activists can start their own shows. Listeners are encouraged…

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Special Episode - Onboard the Global Sumud Flotilla 16:45

3M ago16:45

16:45

In this Special episode I talk with Senator Chris Andrew who is currently onboard the Global Sumud Flotilla. The flotilla is carrying food & humanitarian aid in an attempt to break the blockade on Gaza. It should be allowed safe passage.By Gerry Adams

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Flotilla | Catherine Connolly – A President for all of Ireland | Cearta –Marching for Rights | Bruce Morrison 18:36

3M ago18:36

18:36

Catherine Connolly – A President for all of Ireland In less than five weeks’ time the next Uachtarán na hÉireann will be elected by the people of the 26 counties. Election day is 24 October. That the people of the North and of the diaspora will be denied a vote is a disgraceful consequence of the efforts over recent years by Fianna Fáil and Fine Ga…

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Canada: Interview with Paul Finch, President of the British Columbia General Employees Union (BCGEU) 11:11

4M ago11:11

11:11

This week we talked with Paul Finch at a particularly interesting moment. His union, the largest in the Canadian province of British Columbia, is on strike. The employer in this case, the provincial government, is a social democratic party -- the NDP. Paul explains why the union is on strike and their strategy to win. He even broke the news to us t…