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Behind the Story

RTÉ News
Ireland
Donald Trump
Gaza
European Union
Israel
RTÉ
Artificial Intelligence
United States
Ukraine
Jim Gavin
Russia
Hamas
Climate Change
Venezuela
Keir Starmer
Fianna Fáil
Social Media
Iran
Dublin
Cocaine

Tune in for insightful and informed conversation as Fran McNulty, Paul Cunningham and some of RTÉ's top journalists digest the news stories of the day. Expect deep dives, analysis, interesting guests, and maybe even some laughs along the way.

Email: behindthestory@rte.ie

New episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

PublishesDailyEpisodes171Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Latest Episodes

Fourteen Irish citizens are en route back to Ireland following their deportation by Israel. They were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla along with hundreds of other activists. The government and EU leaders have expressed dismay at the actions of the... more

The scale of possible job losses announced by Meta today, came as a surprise to many, up to 350 people could be made redundant in the coming months. Brian O'Donovan joins Fran and Paul to outline the situation and later, Tara McIndoe-Calder of the ES... more

Supermarkets are increasingly using information about customer shopping habits to develop new pricing structures and influence how you shop. Consumer journalist Caitriona Redmond joins Fran for a chat about dynamic pricing, robots and AI shopping tro... more

RTÉ published a revised list of the top 10 highest earners for 2024 which included Derek Mooney after it said it had 'reconsidered what constitutes a presenter'. Mr Mooney was previously not included as he was treated as a producer in the accounts. T... more

Key Facts

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Podcast Host
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Nick O'Hare
Former Irish Olympian who competed in the 1996 Olympic Games
Irish Olympic team
Episode: Did the Gaza flotilla change the mood music? and the 'Steroid' Olympics!
Tara McIndoe-Calder
Senior Researcher
ESRI
Episode: Meta job losses, AI and RTÉ at the committee [again]
Caitriona Redmond
Consumer economist with the Irish Examiner
Irish Examiner
Episode: How supermarkets learn about your shopping habits and predicting floods
Muriel Foley
Digital marketing consultant specializing in scams
Independent
Episode: Bertie caught on camera and shopping scams on the rise!
Damien Tiernan
Former presenter for This Parrot, best known for reporting on local media
RTÉ (interview subject via on-location report)
Episode: Fire in Waterford city and Starmer's last chance saloon!
Kathryn Simpson
Associate Professor of Politics at Keele University
Keele University
Episode: Fire in Waterford city and Starmer's last chance saloon!
Tanya Fowles
Journalist
RTÉ or other publication referenced in episode
Episode: The failures in the investigation into Katie Simpson's murder
Pádraic Fogarty
Ecologist and nature restoration advocate
Independent ecologist, nature restoration advocate
Episode: Treks and trails: why Ireland's hills need help
Brian Caulfield
Professor of Transportation
Trinity College Dublin
Episode: Fuel supports and the electric buses going nowhere!

Hosts

Fran McNulty
Host of Behind the Story; RTÉ journalist and commentator.
Paul Cunningham
Host of Behind the Story; RTÉ journalist and broadcaster.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 64 ratings
  • A look at Irish politics and global news with incredibly light politically vacant analysis.

    Podchaser
    3
    Seán
    7 months ago
  • Fergus Finlay

    Your podcast is great. Love the banter between you…a must for every great podcast. Second Captains is another favourite for the same reason. Particularly enjoyed your chat with Fergus Finlay. Always keen to hear his inside track on politics. He’s informed, honest and fun. Like your podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Caroline Heffo
    Ireland9 months ago
  • Are drones changing the Russia-Ukraine war?

    Patrick Brury always great to listen to- good to hear an episode on this hugely consequential war

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    avavshsoksavsm agsvsbsa
    Irelanda year ago
  • 👍 great podcast

    Really like the podcast, concise, topical and entertaining. The 3 hosts work so well together and the fact it’s 20-30mins long is ideal.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    seanregankk
    Irelanda year ago
  • Fabulous topical podcast

    Really love this podcast. Very topical, great banter between the journalists. Really helps explain the current stories in the news.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Markmah47
    Irelanda year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Appreciation for the short, 20–30 minute format and accessible explanations.
Listeners praise concise, topical episodes that are easy to follow.
Praise for strong banter between hosts and expert guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#118
Ireland/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#16
Ireland/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Bertie caught on camera and shopping scams on the rise!
Q: What practical steps can listeners take to protect themselves?
Always verify the site by googling the brand and the offer, check for legitimate loading times and branding inconsistencies, and avoid clicking on ads that Direct you to dubious checkout pages; use trusted payment methods and consider researching reviews.
Bertie caught on camera and shopping scams on the rise!
Q: What makes these online shopping scams so effective now?
They exploit trust in familiar brands, use AI to craft convincing websites, and create a sense of urgency with discounts, which makes people less cautious when shopping online.
How supermarkets learn about your shopping habits and predicting floods
Q: What are the implications of AI-driven pricing for consumers and small businesses?
AI-driven pricing could mean more dynamic, personalized discounts and potentially higher prices during demand surges; while it can benefit consumers who use loyalty programs, it raises concerns about privacy and the power balance between retailers and suppliers.
How supermarkets learn about your shopping habits and predicting floods
Q: What challenges exist in implementing nationwide flood forecasting in government systems?
Fragmented responsibilities across Met Éireann, Office of Public Works, local authorities, and the Department of Defence, plus historical underspending, have slowed progress; a centralized national system has been evolving but with bureaucratic complexity and slow adoption.
How supermarkets learn about your shopping habits and predicting floods
Q: How accurate is the flood predictor, and how does it handle different river systems?
The model reportedly reaches about 85% accuracy by aggregating data across many rivers and regions; it accounts for variables like land slope, soil type, and local hydrology, acknowledging that no single river can be predicted perfectly due to data gaps and local variations.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Behind the Story

What is Behind the Story about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show offers sharp, concise discussions on current events with a strong emphasis on politics, international affairs, and media. Across episodes, the hosts thread together transatlantic diplomacy, European security, and the intersection of religion, policy, and public discourse, alongside practical policy debates like transport decarbonization, remote work, and energy economics. A consistent strength is bringing in expert guests—from constitutional attorneys and journalists to professors and policymakers—paired with clear, accessible explanations that connect global developments to local implications. A standout trait is the mix of fast-paced banter and thoughtful analysis, often anchored by timely events and a clear eye on how decisions ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Behind the Story?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Behind the Story:

1. The Indo Daily
2. In The News
3. Path to Power
4. Today with David McCullagh
5. Brendan O'Connor

How many episodes of Behind the Story are there?

Behind the Story launched a year ago and published 171 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Behind the Story?

Recent guests on Behind the Story include:

1. Nick O'Hare
2. Tara McIndoe-Calder
3. Caitriona Redmond
4. Muriel Foley
5. Damien Tiernan
6. Kathryn Simpson
7. Tanya Fowles
8. Pádraic Fogarty

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