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The Hard Shoulder

Newstalk
Ireland
Dublin
Prague
Iran
United States
World Cup
Donald Trump
Dublin, Ireland
Newstalk
Fianna Fáil
Football
Northern Ireland
Ryder Cup
European Union
Labour Party
Data Centers
Transition Year
Ireland Gateway To Europe
Israel
Energy Prices

The Hard Shoulder Podcast with Ciara Kelly and Shane Colman is your essential drivetime companion—bringing fresh perspective and energy to your drive home.

CONVERSATION THAT COUNTS | Ireland’s national independent talk station for news, sport, analysis and entertainment

Listen to Newstalk at newstalk.com/listenlive | Download the GoLoud app now, the new home for Newstalk

PublishesDailyEpisodes7545Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Latest Episodes

New customs charges for goods purchased outside the EU come into effect from midnight tonight, but how will this affect us when ordering from Irish brands if items are coming from outside the EU?

Joining Shane to shed some light on this is Ray Ryan,... more

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has issued new guidance to food businesses on how to comply with stricter EU food-safety legal limits for the control of listeria in ready-to-eat foods.

Dr Michelle Minihan, Director of Audit, Incidents and Inves... more

Renewed calls for Grace’s Law to be enforced have been made after a hit and run incident. Jayden Deans, who has special needs, suffered serious injuries after being struck by a scrambler.

Newstalk’s Chief Reporter Barry Whyte, has been looking into ... more

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent joins Shane and Ciara to discuss the right to repair directive for your technology.

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

John Farrelly
CEO of the Mental Health Commission
Mental Health Commission
Episode: Mental Health Commission publishes annual report - what to know
Paul Williams
Journalist at Mediahuis Ireland, covering the Irish Independent and the Sunday Independent
Mediahuis Ireland
Episode: 30 years on from the murder of Veronica Guerrin
Mike Kennelly
Fine Gael Senator
Fine Gael
Episode: GAA+: Should championships be broadcast for free?
John Belton
Personal trainer and fitness expert
Self / Fitness professional
Episode: Should we ‘force’ our children to exercise?
Abigail O'Callaghan Platt
Director of Policy for Voice Ireland
Voice Ireland
Episode: Would you use cloth nappies?
Chris Wasser
Arts journalist and Sunday Independent film critic
Independent press
Episode: Movies and TV: Supergirl, The Bear, Jackass
Sean Crowe
Sinn Féin TD
Sinn Féin
Episode: The importance of prostate cancer screening
Michael Fry
Comedian
Big Dirty Fry
Episode: The Thursday Interview: Michael Fry
Peadar Tóibín
Leader of Aontú
Aontú
Episode: Uisce Eireann warns that Greater Dublin water supply “on knife edge”

Hosts

Ciara Kelly
Host of The Hard Shoulder, Newstalk
Shane Colman
Co-host of The Hard Shoulder

Reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars from 229 ratings
  • Desperate interviewing

    Any chance Shane Colman could take a pause and let the interviewee speak? God that man loves the sound of his own voice.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    YerOne73
    Australia3 months ago
  • Stop shouting

    In all the Newstalk podcasts I have to turn up volume to hear guests and turn it down to hear presenter . Also you do not know more than your guest and stop talking across them and trying to be funny …grow up !

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    nxxxtt
    Ireland9 months ago
  • No Barrel Left Unscraped

    Friday’s show is always underwhelming.

    Maybe time for a new producer and someone to replace the bumpkin.

    Need to do something. The rest of the week is not much better these days. Disappointed!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mac an tSionnaigh
    United Statesa year ago
  • Deeee seeeevning

    It’s “this evening” - awful show with terrible overuse of THEEEEEEE before everything. Note to presenter: reading a quotations book and spouting random clever references does not make you clever.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Johanes989
    Irelanda year ago
  • Cringe

    This guy is so disingenuous. The posh accent is actually cringe

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    El Sham
    Ireland2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners crave blunt, energetic discussion and strong host presence.
Fans appreciate the show's willingness to tackle housing, transport, and policy with on-the-ground insight.
Some listeners feel the hosting can overly steer conversations, though guests often provide counterpoints.
Critics note volume and pacing issues but praise timely topics and guest variety.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#179
Ireland/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#34
Ireland/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Should we ‘force’ our children to exercise?
Q: John, where do you stand on the idea of forcing children to exercise or participate in sports?
I believe forcing them tends to backfire; it's far more effective to keep it fun, age-appropriate, and inclusive, and to encourage movement through play and varied options that align with the child's interests.
Would you use cloth nappies?
Q: Tell us a little bit about the scheme and how long it's been running?
The scheme has been running for a couple of years in local authorities and maternity hospitals elsewhere in the country and has recently expanded to Dublin City, providing starter bundles, washing guidance, and online support.
The Thursday Interview: Michael Fry
Q: What's next for you and where do you see your career going?
He envisions acting roles and expanded TV work, with a continued interest in sketch comedy and potential film appearances, while acknowledging the need for planning beyond stand-up.
The Thursday Interview: Michael Fry
Q: How did you first get into comedy and start building your presence online?
Fry explains it began with Twitter in 2018 when video features were allowed; he tested parodies to make friends laugh, gained momentum, and eventually built a career with live gigs and an agent.
Should the Government relocate those impacted by coastal erosion?
Q: Is there a double standard between bailing out existing homeowners and not providing homes for those without houses yet?
Yes, the discussion acknowledges fairness concerns and emphasizes the need for a plan that equitably addresses both existing homeowners and broader housing provision.

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 The Hard Shoulder

What is The Hard Shoulder about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Grounded, opinion-forward discussions cover politics, current affairs, society, culture, and urban policy with a focus on Ireland. Episodes frequently feature live updates, panel debates, and long-form interviews with politicians, journalists, academics, and notable figures, producing a candid, sometimes confrontational, but always topical conversation. Notable strengths include a steady host dynamic, timely coverage of breaking events, and a willingness to tackle evidence-based policy debates, housing, transport, and social issues. The show's format tends to blend sharp analysis with accessible storytelling, making it suitable for listeners who want clear opinions, real-world context, and practical takeaways for public discourse, sponsorsh... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Hard Shoulder?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Hard Shoulder:

1. The Pat Kenny Show
2. Today with David McCullagh
3. The Last Word with Matt Cooper
4. The Claire Byrne Show
5. Brendan O'Connor

How many episodes of The Hard Shoulder are there?

The Hard Shoulder launched 9 years ago and published 7545 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 The Hard Shoulder?

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 The Hard Shoulder?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Hard Shoulder from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on The Hard Shoulder?

Recent guests on The Hard Shoulder include:

1. John Farrelly
2. Paul Williams
3. Mike Kennelly
4. John Belton
5. Abigail O'Callaghan Platt
6. Chris Wasser
7. Sean Crowe
8. Michael Fry

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.

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