Best Activate The Robot Wars Podcast Podcasts (2025)

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CLASSIC: Betty and Barney Hill: The UFO Case that Changed Everything, with Toby Ball 57:34

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5h ago57:34

57:34

In September of 1961, on an empty country road in rural New Hampshire, Barney and Betty Hill experienced the most profound, bizarre night of their lives in what would become the first widely-publicized account of an alien abduction in US history -- the case that would go on to influence hundreds, if not thousands, of abduction cases to follow. But …

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Apple’s shiny new gadgets 9:32

3h ago9:32

9:32

Adrian Weckler, Tech editor, Irish and Sunday Independent and Big Tech Show podcast presenter brings us all the tech news and updates. Adrian tells us about Apple’s shiny new gadgets and how why tech is much cheaper in the US.

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Stephanie Regan busts the love myths with facts! 9:13

3h ago9:13

9:13

Don’t go to bed on an argument and love is all you need! Clinical Psychotherapist and Co-Host of the Tough Love Podcast Stephanie Regan busts the love myths with facts.

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The trial of Soldier F begins in Belfast 8:37

3h ago8:37

8:37

The trial of Soldier F begins in Belfast charged with murder and attempted murder on Bloody Sunday. Freelance journalist Amanda Ferguson brought us up to speed with what has happened in the trial so far.

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What exactly is the future of business in Ireland? 10:52

3h ago10:52

10:52

The EU-US relationship has undergone a number of geopolitical shifts since the start of this year. Most notably, the agreement of 15% trade tariffs back in July. But what exactly does the future of business in Ireland look like amidst the economic uncertainty of shifting global trade policies? All to discuss with Larry Donnelly Law Lecturer at Univ…

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Israel has committed genocide in Gaza says UN Commission 11:45

3h ago11:45

11:45

A UN Commission of Inquiry has found that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. We get the latest on this with Fawaz Gerges, Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics.

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Is there a need to ease the planning rules for farmer’s children? 8:55

3h ago8:55

8:55

New research shows that there is massive support from the public to ease the planning rules for farmer’s children. According to the latest Farming Independent Ireland thinks poll, 83 per cent said they believe it should be made easier to build on family farms. To discuss further Pat spoke to Denis Drennan, President of the Irish Creamery and Milk S…

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All the Irish political news updates 11:44

11h ago11:44

11:44

Eoin Hayes has found himself at the centre of another controversy, this time for wearing blackface at a 2009 Halloween party. Political Editor, The Irish Times Pat Leahy brings us the latest on this and the Presidential election nominations.

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President Trump to make second UK state visit later today 5:41

3h ago5:41

5:41

Later today, US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump will arrive for their visit to the UK. Trump will be making his second state visit to the UK, which is a formal trip to the UK by a head of state. We get the details on the visit with Enda Brady, TRT World Presenter.

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Conor Murray reflects on the highs and lows of his career 22:11

2h ago22:11

22:11

Limerick native, Conor Murray, is an Irish Rugby Union legend who made his name as an all-conquering scrum-half for Munster, Ireland and the British and Irish lions. His journey from Patrickswell to Landsdowne road placed him at the pinnacle of rugby. now, in his new book “cloud nine”, subtitled “My life in Rugby”, Murray reflects on the highs and …

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Depaul highlights a stark year for homeless figures 10:21

2h ago10:21

10:21

Depaul this morning launches its 2024 Impact report highlighting the almost 10,000 people it helped last year among 50,000 interventions. Their CEO, David Carroll highlights the figures and what needs to be done to improve the current situation.

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Strange News: ICE Raids in Georgia, Swedish Teen Assassins, LSD and Mass Surveillance in China 51:21

1d ago51:21

51:21

US authorities raid a Hyundai battery plant in Georgia, detaining nearly 500 workers and sparking an international crisis with South Korea. The QAnon Queen of Canada is arrested. The rise of teenage assassins in Sweden. US tech companies are complicit in mass surveillance across China. The good and bad of LSD. All this and more in this week's stran…

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Ask The Expert: On Auto-enrolment pension savings scheme 13:25

4h ago13:25

13:25

Auto-enrolment is a new pension savings scheme for certain employees who are not paying into a pension. They will be automatically included in the scheme but can opt out after 6 months. The introduction of the auto-enrolment retirement savings scheme, called my future fund, will start from 1 January 2026. To explain all the details and to answer li…

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How important is a part time job? 10:03

4h ago10:03

10:03

Is the part time job dying? How important is a part time job? Are young people looking for them or are they relying on the bank of mum and dad? Do they offer financial independence and build confidence or are they a distraction from study? Henry McKean sent us this report.

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Why do girls underperform at Leaving Cert higher level math compared to boys 9:01

4h ago9:01

9:01

Since the introduction of project math in 2012, the proportion of females getting a H1 has declined significantly, with roughly two-thirds of H1’s going to males and just one-third to females. New research from the Tuition Centre and the Society Of Actuaries in Ireland found out why girls are underperforming at leaving cert higher level math compar…

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What is the Tik Tok shop? 8:16

4h ago8:16

8:16

The social media platform where people share videos from tales to trends. But the latest addition to the app, Tik Tok shop Ireland, has allowed Irish businesses to boom. But how exactly does it work and what does it do for Irish businesses? All to chat with Katey McElroy from TikTok Shop Ireland and Denise Buckley, Founder of Sugar Plum Sweetery.…

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The impact of the Irish presidency on the international stage 12:19

5h ago12:19

12:19

As the campaign for the presidential election begins to heat up, the focus on the office often tends towards the domestic role of An Uachtarain. However, ever since Sean T. O’Kelly became the first Irish president to undertake a state visit abroad, the office has frequently made an impact on the world stage. Reporter Simon Tierney has been investig…

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Leo Varadkar on his book 'Speaking My Mind' 23:21

12h ago23:21

23:21

Leo Varadkar, Former Taoiseach joined Pat this morning to chat about his book 'Speaking My Mind'.

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Interviewing Pope Leo 10:57

5h ago10:57

10:57

Pope Leo criticised corporate pay packages that offer executives much higher salaries than their employees in excerpts from his first media interview released on Sunday, citing Tesla's recent $1 trillion compensation plan for CEO Elon Musk. The Pope was speaking to Elise Ann Allen, Senior Correspondent in Italy for the Crux, for her new book 'Leo T…

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We get all the latest on the presidential race! 8:28

1d ago8:28

8:28

We take a look into the presidential race as the battle continues this morning for independents as they look for support to become the latest presidential candidate. Today has been described as “super primary” day with eleven councils due to hold special meetings so they can consider nominating another candidate. But the latest news surrounding the…

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Governments and AI, Chapter Two: Everything Is Precedent 42:56

4d ago42:56

42:56

As human civilization hurtles headlong toward technology it still does not fully understand, your favorite world governments are in a new arms race to control large language models, generative AI, and the terrifying golden goose -- a fully sentient, artificially created, non-organic mind. So what happens when they discover it? As Ben, Matt and Noel…

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A look back on the news stories of the week in our Friday Forum 22:03

2h ago22:03

22:03

Jennifer Whitmore TD, Wicklow, Social Democrats. Spokesperson for Climate, Energy and Biodiversity; and Spokesperson for Agriculture, Fionnán Sheahan, Ireland Editor of Irish Independent and also Shay Brennan TD, Dublin Rathdown, Fianna Fáil was our Friday Forum today.

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What does the Enhanced Games mean traditional “clean” athletes going forward? 14:16

3h ago14:16

14:16

Created by Australian businessman Aron D'Souza, the Enhanced Games, which are set to take place in Las Vegas from the 21st to the 24th of May next year, will allow athletes to use performance-enhancing substances without being subjected to drug tests. This begs the question, what exactly does this mean for traditional “clean” athletes going forward…

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A preview of the weekend of sport 8:25

5h ago8:25

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We now look ahead to what promises to be a busy weekend of sport, with the Irish women’s rugby team set to take the field for their World Cup Quarter Final, a 28 person strong Irish squad in Tokyo for the World Athletics Championship, and the return of the Premier League with a Manchester derby set for Sunday. Shane Hannon previews all the sport ha…

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Japan set to employ robots to fill worker shortage 5:29

4h ago5:29

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Japan's biggest convenience store is looking to employ robots. It comes as the country faces a serious worker shortage in the country as a result of an ageing and shrinking population. The robots will be able to stack shelves and even clean windows. For more on this Pat was joined by Anthony Cuthbertson is deputy Tech Editor and Correspondent at th…

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Could we ever end up with a United Ireland? 14:01

16h ago14:01

14:01

Ireland and Britain’s relationship is as intertwined as it has so often been violent and traumatic. In these Divided Isles, the award-winning author and journalist Philip Stephens charts the dramatic century since the political leaders David Lloyd George, Michael Collins, Winston Churchill and Éamonn De Valera alongside those of millions of Irish e…

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Friday Food with Gareth Mullins 6:54

5h ago6:54

6:54

Gareth Mullins talks us through two slow-cooked comforting French dishes. On the menu today is Lamb Shank and Duck Leg.

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Taoiseach Micheál Martin meets with British Prime Minister 12:55

4d ago12:55

12:55

In the UK this morning, Taoiseach Micheál Martin meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss troubles legacy issues as well as support for Ukraine. Peter Mandelson writes a letter to the US embassy staff after being sacked for his close connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. We get all the UK news updates with Enda Bra…

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Overcrowding and unmaintained facilities in local authority flat complexes in Dublin 12:07

3h ago12:07

12:07

Residents of local authority flat complexes in Dublin are appealing for improved living conditions. They say there are issues with overcrowding, dampness and unmaintained facilities. Our reporter Josh Crosbie has visited some of these developments and he reported back to Pat this morning.

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Listener Mail: Undersea Cable Shenanigans, Anunnaki Pirates, Cat Conversations 41:11

6d ago41:11

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HR prompts an exploration of the world's internet -- and what happens when it fails. Dale pitches the concept of Anunnaki Pirates. Moose shares some insight into cat conversations. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment. They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/ See omnystu…

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Boxed with John Fardy: Task 8:32

7h ago8:32

8:32

Task is an American crime drama television miniseries created and written by Brad Ingelsby for HBO starring Mark Gruffalo. John Fardy gives us his take o the series.

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Disinformation Slot with David Robert Grimes 10:15

4h ago10:15

10:15

The rabbit-hole of wellness conspiracy theories of harmless hacks that quickly became dangerous in this week's disinformation slot. All to discuss with David Robert Grimes.

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US sprinter Dave Sime and the CIA 9:51

4h ago9:51

9:51

In the late 1950s the greatest all-round athlete on the planet was a college kid called Dave Sime, from Fair Lawn, New Jersey. After high school he knocked back a $65,000 offer to join Major League Baseball’s New York Giants so he could go to Duke, where he played centre field and led the league’s batting averages. While he was there he took up tra…

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Apprenticeships as a career option 7:53

5d ago7:53

7:53

70 per cent of young adults want to learn a trade, but almost half have not had the opportunity to learn one in school. That’s according to new research from Chadwick's which looked at views on careers in construction. Shauna Doyle went from beautician to tarmac contractor and is involved in this initiative helping to spread the message that it’s o…

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“We are the closest we have been to open conflict since World War 2” 23:19

4h ago23:19

23:19

On Wednesday, Poland shot down suspected Russian drones in its airspace with the backing of aircraft from its NATO allies. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk says “we are the closest we have been to open conflict since World War 2”. Pat discusses this in details with Kira Rudik, Ukrainian MP and Leader of Holos Party and Duncan Bullivant, CEO, Hende…

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Science with Luke: AI- generated beer 7:45

5h ago7:45

7:45

AI- generated beer and the first AI- enabled drug reaches a clinical milestone. Professor of Biochemistry at the school of Immunology, Trinity College Luke O’Neill has all the latest science next.

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This week marks palliative care week 13:32

2d ago13:32

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This week marks palliative care week. highlighting the importance of being able to care for loved ones at home. Three out of four people say they’d like to die at home, yet only about one in four do. Most still die in hospital. One person who can speak to that in a very real way is Damien Bradley, a HSE paramedic from Donegal who cared for his mam …

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who are the runners and riders for this years Tidy Towns? 10:28

1d ago10:28

10:28

Tidy Towns used to be all about hanging baskets and the generous use of round up, but nowadays a town is more likely to win for their circular economy strategies than their perfectly manicured lawns. So, just how has the countrywide competition developed, and who are the runners and riders for this years top prize? Our reporter Sarah Madden found o…

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Reaction to the killing of American political activist Charlie Kirk 14:59

4h ago14:59

14:59

Charlie Kirk was shot at an event in Utah Valley University and, manhunt is underway following the arrest of two people who have since been released with police saying the had "no current ties" to the shooting. We get reaction to the killing of American political activist Charlie Kirk with Greg Swenson, Chair of the Republicans Overseas UK.…

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Governments and AI, Chapter One: New Tools, Old Game 43:10

6d ago43:10

43:10

Corporations across the planet are going crazy for AI -- and governments are no different. So what happens when new technology revolutionizes the same age-old interests of a government? What happens when a new technology revolutionizes the same age-old mistakes as well?In the first part of this special two-part series, Ben, Matt and Noel explore go…

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Office of the Ombudsman marks 40 years in service 17:58

5h ago17:58

17:58

Office of the Ombudsman marks 40 years in service handling complaints against public bodies. Ombudsman Ger Deering takes us through some of the cases in the office’s history.

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Inside Hollywood: Pulp Fiction 10:46

1d ago10:46

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A film that broke every rule, confused the critics, and made John Travolta cool again. Pulp Fiction didn’t just hit cinemas — it detonated like dynamite, rewriting the language of modern film. It was violent, it was funny, it was shocking, and it was… cool.? It was made for peanuts and almost didn’t get made at all.” Lisa Cannon tells us all about …

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What you need to know about the new BMW 9:16

3h ago9:16

9:16

We have the 10 things to know about the new BMW and China’s Changan enters the UK to take on Tesla. All to discuss with Geraldine Herbert Motoring Editor with the Sunday Independent.

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David McWilliams on fraudulent get rich schemes 12:38

5d ago12:38

12:38

Economist David McWilliams has warned that advertisements on social media platforms for “get rich quick schemes” centred around crypto currency investments featuring him are not real. David spoke to Pat this morning about these fake investments and their impact.

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Paul Johnston outgoing British Ambassador to Ireland 19:58

3h ago19:58

19:58

British Ambassador Paul Johnston will retire from the UK Civil Service next week after 35 years in the Foreign Office. In his final broadcast interview he takes us through his work here and across the other countries he has served.

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Green Scene: A common type of ant breaks the rules of biology 8:11

3h ago8:11

8:11

A new study shows how orangutans in Indonesia learn how to build their nests by closely watching their peers. Also scientists have discovered that a common type of ant breaks the rules of biology. Ant queens of one species can produce male offspring of a whole other species to breed armies of hybrids. All to discuss with Dr Ruth Freeman Director of…

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The lates on the presidential race! 9:13

3h ago9:13

9:13

Danny McConnell, Editor of the Business Post brings us the latest on the presidential race.

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Israel strikes Hamas in Qatar 21:28

3h ago21:28

21:28

Israel strikes Hamas in Qatar while Poland defends itself from Russian attacks. We get reaction with Asher Freedman Former Israeli Strategic Affairs Official & Executive Director of the Misgav Institute for National Security and also Scott Lucas, Professor and Political Analyst, Clinton Institute, UCD.…

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CLASSIC: At What Price Safety: The Conundrum of Clearview AI 59:31

7d ago59:31

59:31

It's "AI" week here on Stuff They Don't Want You To Know. In tonight's Classic episode, Ben, Matt and Noel revisit their 2020 original exploration of Clearview AI -- to its supporters, this company's facial recognition software revolutionizes safety. To its critics, there's much more on the horizon. They don't want you to read our book.: https://st…

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The latest on the Presidential race for the Áras 12:08

15m ago12:08

12:08