Something Different with John and Sarah

Latest Episodes:

E22: Has the Irish State lost Control? Oct 16, 2026

Show notes

www.johnandsarah.ie

Strikes shut down the country; Drug gangs burn children alive; Ministers are hospitalised, and the Dáil debates.... Non Binary Rights? In this episode we ask a simple question: Has the state lost control?

00:00 - Opening thanks

02:15 - Strike disruption at home, school, and court

04:47 - Why the public sector strike feels bigger than a pay dispute

10:35 - Free school books, lunches, and the politics of “cupcake” spending

18:39 - Why universal state schemes can waste money

23:18 - Waterford murder case and the horror of drug debt intimidation

30:08 - What the state should do about drug gangs and extortion

36:44 - Tatiana Stachiv and welfare fraud across borders

45:00 - Ruth Coppinger’s non-binary and intersex recognition bill

48:28 - The distinction between non-binary, intersex, and transgender

54:02 - Why they see gender recognition law as coercive

58:24 - Patrick O’Donovan in intensive care and political fallout

61:07 - Closing remarks and best wishes to listeners

E21: Paving the Path to Hell Oct 09, 2026

Show notes

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With John away following the death of his father, Sarah is joined by her husband Keith Redmond for a lively discussion of Ireland's miserable budget, the rising cost of employing people, the political capture of our institutions, and why The Guardian thinks exercise turns you right-wing.

00:00 Introduction and episode overview

00:42 Analysis of the Irish budget and its impact on cost of living

03:19 Discussion on minimum wage and its economic effects

09:00 The influence of government spending and taxes on inflation

17:13The political landscape and the march through institutions

29:56 The European Parliament's Trump statue controversy

50:00 Gender dysphoria treatments for minors and legal challenges

54:09 The Guardian article on exercise and political ideology

56:57 The anniversary of October 7th and its implications

01:00:12 Conclusion and final thoughts

E20: We're Emergency Ready Oct 02, 2026

Show notes

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This week: Spiders Terrorise Malahide Woman; Emergency booklets from Helen McEntee; Tusla disaster courtesy of Norma Foley; and Garvaghy Road madness courtesy of... Sinn Fein? The Sports Journos go Feral; and an American Woman is killed twice, but lives.....

00:00 Introduction and Weekly Recap

00.20 Spider Season

04:21 Discussion of the 'Be Emergency Ready' Book

08:12 Government Spending and Waste

12:12 Case Study: Child Abuse and Tusla Failures

14:12 Political Responsibility and Ministerial Accountability

19:51 Systemic Failures in Irish Health and Care Systems

21:53 Community and Parades Disputes in Northern Ireland

29:59 The Role of Media and Public Opinion in Politics

36:01 The Politics of Community Relations and Parades

42:48 Historical Context of Northern Ireland Parades

49:57 The US Justice System and Death Penalty Cases

56:55 Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

E19: Ireland's kids hate it here Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

www.johnandsarah.ieThis week: Ireland's young people hate life in Ireland, objecting to housing shortages, joblessness, and lots more. We discuss in depth. Also: Ebun Joseph fixes your school; Nick Delehanty closes his business; Holly Cairns gets maternity leave for some reason, and have you heard about the Lesbians in America?00:00 - Episode intro and the week’s big topics02:07 - Why so many young people want to leave Ireland04:16 - Policy choices, housing, and the “liberal progressive society” argument07:47 - The emotional and social cost of young adults being stuck at home10:50 - Why the crisis is bigger than a mood and harder to fix politically14:33 - How collapsed nightlife feeds loneliness and weaker dating culture18:03 - The lockdown effect on teenage social development20:02 - What government could do now, from policing to city-centre culture22:23 - Why fewer risks and fewer nights out change how young people grow up24:51 - Why some people leave temporarily and still plan to come back26:55 - David Higgins and the “milestone recession”28:34 - Nick Delahanty’s business closure and the Irish Times reaction30:09 - The reality of starting and running a small business in Ireland36:02 - Labour’s miscarriage leave proposal and the cost to employers41:41 - Holly Cairns, maternity leave, and political virtue signalling45:32 - Exclusive: the Convention on Education agenda in Sligo47:35 - Who gets to define school culture54:32 - Sunny Hostin and the shocking murder trial anecdote59:03 - A wider point about imported culture-war insanity62:30 - Wrap-up and closing remarks

E18: The Dublin Housing List Numbers Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

Sarah's Boob Article: https://www.johnandsarah.ie/p/sarah-ryan-feminists-are-making-tits

This week: The Scandalous Dublin Housing numbers and what to do about them. Also: Trump visits, Ed Sheeran gets cancelled, an athlete poops her pants, and lots of Sydney Sweeney chat.

00:00 - Intro

01:06 - Listener comment about economics versus wider social issues

02:56 - Why Trump’s Ireland visit landed as “non-eventful”

06:24 - Dublin housing list data and the scale of non-Irish applicants

10:32 - Should Irish citizens be prioritised on council housing lists?

15:05 - Opposition parties and the need for a radical housing message

18:21 - Tóibín, abortion, and the three-day waiting period

20:57 - The case for a cooling-off period before abortion

24:22 - Sydney Sweeney ad controversy and the “choice” argument

27:25 - Eroticism, explicit content, and why Sweeney stands out

32:32 - Athlete controversy after finishing while pooping

37:38 - Ed Sheeran, McLemore, and political litmus tests in music

40:42 - Why saying the slogan matters more than what people believe

46:54 - Michael Healy-Rae assaulted and the issue of political violence

52:02 - Dublin city centre disorder and public safety concerns

57:35 - Mary Lou McDonald’s makeover and closing reflections

E16: Immigration Dominates the News Sep 11, 2026

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This week, Sinn Fein announced a major U-turn on immigration - but is it real? The AfD shocked Germany. Jack Chambers was compared to Margaret Thatcher. And Trump comes to Ireland on 9/11's 25th anniversary. It's a busy week!

00:00 Introduction

02:12 Germany's AFD victory

05:01 Irish Reactions to Germany's Election Results

07:15 Sinn Fein's Shift on Migration Policy

11:31 Irish Political Landscape today

16:43 Irish Government Approval Ratings and Public Sentiment

21:01 Leadership in Irish Politics and Future Leaders

24:57 Global Security Post-9/11 and Societal Changes

34:51 Economic Policies and Public Spending in Ireland

42:10 Reflections on 9/11 and Its Global Impact

55:11 Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

E16: Breastfeeding Men and Booby Women Sep 04, 2026

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www.johnandsarah.ieCheck out our poll, below!In this weeks episode: Boobs. Some men want to use theirs to breastfeed, and Sarah is disgusted. Advertisers want boobs back in fashion. And to round it off: Are Government making a tit of the economy?00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview01:52 Support and Future Plans for the Podcast03:57 Controversy Over Men Breastfeeding Conference06:49 The Sexualization of Breastfeeding and Cultural Shifts09:54 The Logic Behind Gender-Related Lactation15:02 Advertising Trends and Cultural Representation in Brands19:58 The Influence of Corporate and Political Culture24:53 Irish Government Spending and Policy Critique29:52 Economic Outlook and Recession Risks40:00 European Union's Regulation of AI and Internet Platforms50:08 Global Innovation, American Dominance, and Europe's Role

E15: The Terrifying New Immigration Numbers Aug 28, 2026

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https://www.johnandsarah.ie/p/the-new-cso-immigration-figures-areThis week, the CSO released new numbers showcasing the extraordinary scale of Irish immigration over the past six years. We discuss how these impact every policy area, and how it might be solved.Also: More Lindsay Clancy, Fuel Prices rising, CAO chaos, and Dolly Parton RIP.(01:02) Sarah’s Greece story and meeting listeners in public(02:18) John’s CSO immigration figures and the housing crunch(03:28) Sarah on demographic change and public denial(05:36) Why pro-immigration arguments now feel harder to make(06:56) Infrastructure strain: roads, schools, hospitals, and electricity(08:00) Sarah on the “you’re racist” trap and resource limits(09:20) Legal immigration, work permits, and why they matter more than asylum numbers(11:14) Using immigration policy to shape the skills mix(12:33) The costs of reducing population and why realism matters(14:14) Young adults living at home and the hidden housing crisis(15:40) Delayed adulthood, later marriage, and the demographic spiral(16:19) “We’re not an economy” and the loss of national identity(19:21) Corporate tax dependence and the illusion of growth(22:57) Political PTSD from the crash and avoidance of hard choices(24:38) Why the next crisis may look different but come from the same problem(26:44) CAO points, Leaving Cert grade inflation, and students getting squeezed(29:56) Fairness, grade inflation, and how the points system actually works(34:50) Fuel tax rises, winter costs, and the politics of punishing drivers(36:16) Temporary taxes that never really go away(38:19) Heating costs, old people, and climate policy resentment(41:41) The Irish man arrested in France and the media blackout(45:31) Should hateful speech be a crime?(48:41) Class, media silence, and selective outrage over anti-Semitism(49:22) Lindsay Clancy, the protests, and why John changed his view(51:52) Sarah on the children as the real victims(53:22) Medication, postpartum psychosis, and accountability(56:11) The Deirdre Morley case and medical privacy failures(59:15) Candace Owens, “black widow,” and coded accusations(60:10) Dolly Parton’s death, generosity, and legacy(63:07) Self-deprecation, Irish identity, and closing remarks

E14: It's Time to Talk about Travellers Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

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This week John and Sarah ask: Why can't we talk openly about traveller culture and how most people experience it? Also, GurrierGate latest, John Kelly's tweets, the UK migrant leaflet, and Lindsay Clancy drives American women mad.

00:00 Introduction

02:58 GurrierGate controversy

05:07 Ireland's crime issues and Traveller Culture

17:34 Proposed new laws and enforcement priorities

18:53 Revelation of John Kelly’s social media posts

29:15 UK migrant leaflet

42:02 The Lindsay Clancy case

54:37 Postpartum psychosis and cultural attitudes

58:46 Closing remarks and upcoming episodes

E13: Joy Riders and Ebun Joseph Aug 16, 2026

Show notes

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As more lives are lost and Gardai seem powerless to intercept joy-riders, John and Sarah ask: Is Ireland lawless? Also, Ebun Joseph's war on the Irish Language, Alison Chawke's good fortune, Jason Arday's Death, and political inaction on Friedreich's Ataxia.00:00 Introduction and episode overview

00:15 Holiday reflections and work-life balance

01:38 Ireland's youth crime and police challenges

02:30 Irish society's perception of crime and safety

04:02 Incidents involving young drivers and police response

09:28 Systemic issues in Irish criminal justice

17:04 Controversy over Ebun Joseph and Irish language debate

43:12 The tragic death of Jason Arday and societal neglect

52:40 Discussion on political priorities and societal reform

55:27 The importance of political courage and action