Rephonic
Artwork for Behind the Story

Behind the Story

RTÉ News
Gaza
Israel
Donald Trump
RTÉ
Hamas
Artificial Intelligence
Social Media
Uk-Eu Deal
Shopping Scams
Ireland
Brexit
Israel-Palestine Conflict
European Union
Fishing Rights
Garda Investigation
Michael Gaine
Climate Change
News Stories
World Food Programme
Eurovision

Tune in for insightful and informed conversation as Fran McNulty and some of RTÉ's top journalists digest some of 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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes100Founded9 months ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Behind the Story

Latest Episodes

Senior Gardaí appeared at the Oireachtas media committee today where they revealed they are investigated two hundred complaints about Grok AI and child abuse imagery. Work and Technology correspondent Brian O'Donovan joins Evelyn and Karen to discuss... more

Jessie Buckley won Best Actress at the Golden Globes for her performance in 'Hamnet', an adaptation of the best selling book of the same name by Coleraine born author Maggie O'Farrell.

Evelyn O'Rourke and Maggie Doyle discuss the win, what it means... more

A majority of EU States voted to pass the Mercosor trade deal with South American countries. Ireland, along with 4 other countries voted against the deal. Professor John O'Brennan of Maynooth University joins Evelyn O'Rourk to explain the deal, Irela... more

The Government is hoping to attract more tourists here from India, the UAE and the Asia-Pacific region as part of a new strategic investment plan of €4.7 billion across a range of sectors.

Political Correspondent Mícheál Lehane joined Evelyn and Ka... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Indo Daily
The Indo DailyIrish Independent
Path to Power
Path to PowerMatt Cooper
In The News
In The NewsThe Irish Times
Brendan O'Connor
Brendan O'ConnorRTÉ Radio 1

Recent Guests

Professor John O'Brennan
Jean-Menaise Chair of the European Integration at Maynooth University
Maynooth University
Episode: The Mercosor deal and On The Beat with the Gardaí!
Dara Tallon
Producer from Odd Boy Media
Odd Boy Media
Episode: The Mercosor deal and On The Beat with the Gardaí!
Mícheál Lehane
Political correspondent providing insights on government strategy in tourism investment
Episode: Tankers, Tourism and Grok AI
Eoghan Cleary
Secondary school teacher and researcher with the Sexual Exploitation Research Institute
Episode: Tankers, Tourism and Grok AI
Kristina Callas
Minister of Education and Research in Estonia
Government of Estonia
Episode: The highs and lows of AI in 2025
Laura Riley
Mother of a young woman who died after using an AI therapy chatbot
Episode: The highs and lows of AI in 2025
Barry O'Sullivan
Professor and AI expert
DCU
Episode: The highs and lows of AI in 2025
Kate Varley
Colleague from the RTÉ newsroom working on the foreign desk
RTÉ
Episode: Fallout from the Fianna Fáil report and a visit to a refugee camp
Shona Murray
Europe correspondent for Euronews
Euronews
Episode: Pressure on FF to release report and positive noise from Ukraine talks

Hosts

Fran McNulty
Host and Co-host of the show, Fran McNulty brings a wealth of experience and insight to discussions on current events and news analysis.
David McCullagh
Host and Co-host, David McCullagh is an influential voice in political journalism, contributing thorough insights into various discussions.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 56 ratings
  • A look at Irish politics and global news with incredibly light politically vacant analysis.

    Podchaser
    3
    Seán
    3 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
    Ireland5 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
    Ireland7 months 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
    Ireland8 months 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
    Ireland8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the podcast for its engaging analysis and coverage of significant current events.
Audience feedback highlights the hosts' chemistry and depth of knowledge, making complex topics accessible.
Listeners enjoy the mix of humor and critical thinking, appreciating that episodes are concise and informative.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#187
Ireland/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#47
Ireland/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Mercosor deal and On The Beat with the Gardaí!
Q: So, what happens next then?
After gaining initial approval from the chief, we proceed to meet the sergeants and regular guards to see if they are open to being filmed.
The Mercosor deal and On The Beat with the Gardaí!
Q: Can you explain to us what that view point is and what kind of concerns that they had?
Farmers are worried about farm incomes, health and safety, particularly regarding the competition from Brazilian beef.
Tankers, Tourism and Grok AI
Q: What are your main concerns regarding Grok AI and its effects on teenagers?
Teenagers are being exposed to harmful content that distorts their understanding of healthy relationships and consent.
Tankers, Tourism and Grok AI
Q: Can you give us any details about the new capital investment programme?
The investment focuses on developing industrial sites and attracting foreign investment, particularly in semiconductors and tourism sectors.
Business year in review 2025
Q: What about disputes, strikes this year?
Very few significant strikes occurred this year, with the main focus on school secretaries and caretakers who engaged in effective strikes over pensions.

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?

Expect a blend of insightful conversations and in-depth analysis of current news stories, featuring discussions among experienced journalists and expert guests. The content ranges from national and international politics to social issues, crime analysis, and cultural commentary, ensuring a comprehensive examination of the day's pressing topics. With a format that embraces both seriousness and humor, the discussions also investigate the underlying themes shaping public opinion and events. This podcast is particularly noteworthy for its mix of expert insights and engaging banter among hosts, making complex topics accessible and relatable to listeners.

Where can I find podcast stats for Behind the Story?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Behind the Story. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Behind the Story and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Behind the Story get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Behind the Story, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Behind the Story?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Behind the Story, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Behind the Story have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Behind the Story has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Behind the Story?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Behind the Story:

1. The Indo Daily
2. Path to Power
3. In The News
4. Brendan O'Connor
5. The Pat Kenny Show

How many episodes of Behind the Story are there?

Behind the Story launched 9 months ago and published 100 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Behind the Story?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Behind the Story?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Behind the Story from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Behind the Story?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Behind the Story. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Behind the Story?

Recent guests on Behind the Story include:

1. Professor John O'Brennan
2. Dara Tallon
3. Mícheál Lehane
4. Eoghan Cleary
5. Kristina Callas
6. Laura Riley
7. Barry O'Sullivan
8. Kate Varley

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days