Four Weeks Later… and Yes We’re Still Talking About That Podcast
Remember that quiet Saturday morning when news of The Great Podcast Scandal became public.
Well… here we are. Four weeks later. Still debating a podcast as if it were Article 50 of the Good Friday Agreement.
This week, an Oireachtas committee dedicated over two hours plus to discussing “the silly little podcast row” while outside, real world Ireland continued as follows, Homeless people sleeping in freezing temperatures; no Covid inquiry; Women facing violence at shocking levels; Hospital trolleys overflowing; Housing policy imitating a headless chicken and a hostile Russian vessel having a casual wander near our coastline.
But hey listen, it’s priorities. Because apparently a podcast is now a national security issue. Meanwhile, our well funded public broadcaster RTE continues to behave like “The Traitors” tv series is a constitutional amendment while knife crime, drug abuse and collapsing public services politely wait their turn in terms of tv news.
As a former chair of a PR industry body and someone who has survived more media training sessions than is medically advisable, the screens doctor!
I felt obligated to witness the spectacle myself.
Up in the public gallery, I spotted more conflicts of interest than at a family wedding. And yes some very well known PR people chose not to show up. But one man did, pal and fellow trainer Ivan Yates. Cool as ice. Straight into the hot seat. Others hid. He didn’t.
Under the beady glare of Labour’s Alan Kelly, the committee debated, not homelessness, not energy security, not drug policy but two men falling out over a podcast.
Ivan summed it up best soundbites “Nobody tuned in for two versions of Matt Cooper.” Exactly. The contrast the experience, the insight, the unfiltered analysis that was the magic. That’s why people listened he said.
And yet here we are, Ireland held her collective breath.
Twitter/X nearly melted. Journalists wrote thinkpieces with the seriousness normally reserved for wars, peace treaties and Ireland football ticket sales.
All because someone allegedly media trained a presidential candidate who didn’t even run. And yes the burning unresolved national scandal remains.
Ivan was paid and Fianna Fáil hasn’t received a refund.
For the record, if someone wants to pay me for preparing a candidate who never runs I’m available.
So, after four weeks of TikToks, panels, leaks, statements, outrage, gossip and commentariat gymnastics, let’s ask the real questions. Did we learn anything? No. Did it solve anything? Absolutely not. Does anyone outside politics understand what happened? Not a hope!
As someone who listens to podcasts, produces podcasts, and occasionally negotiates with podcast egos like they’re nuclear arms talks, I can now officially confirm:
This was and still is a silly little row.
And the biggest tragedy?
We miss the weekly drop of Path to Power with Ivan. Pity !
