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The Hard Shoulder

Newstalk
Olympics
Kellie Harrington
Rhasidat Adeleke
Metro Link
Twitter
Olive Oil
Dublin Airport
Dublin
Driving Safety
Fintan Mccarthy
Paul O'donovan
Camogie
Social Media
RFK Jr.
US Election
Driver Behavior
Housing Market
Paris 2024 Olympics
Transportation Infrastructure
Corinthians Boxing Club

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes7012Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Latest Episodes

The crew of the Artemis II are due to splash down after their historic lunar flyby.

Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are set to splash down in the Pacific off San Diego at 1.07am GMT, after voyaging further from Earth th... more

Water cremation, also known as resomation, may be the future of cremation, while also being better for the environment. But, how does the process work?

Joining Shane and Ciara to discuss is Elizabeth Oakes, Founder of Pure Reflections, a resomarium ... more

Off The Ball’s John Duggan joined Ciara and Shane on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the rest of the week's action…

Despite the hopes of those involved in the blockades, no protest leaders were invited to talks today between the IFA, the Hauliers Association and Taoiseach Michael Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris.

James Geoghegan, Spokesperson for the Fuels Protes... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Karolina Hird
National Security Fellow at the Institute for the Study of War
Institute for the Study of War
Episode: How Russia is rebuilding occupied Eastern Ukraine into ‘New Russia’
Sean Canney
Minister of State, Department of Transport (speaking on transport policy)
Department of Transport
Episode: Retirement age for some school bus drivers set to increase
Sarah Keogh
Registered dietitian
Episode: The impact ‘SkinnyTok’ is having on people’s health
Frank Greaney
Courts Correspondent
Newstalk
Episode: Accused fit to stand trial over stabbing on at Parnell Square in 2023
Claire Hyland
Head of Insights and Strategy at Thinkhouse
Thinkhouse
Episode: What makes for a memorable advertisement?
Aubrey McCarthy
Senator, involved with Tiglin charity
Senator, Tiglin
Episode: Senator Aubrey McCarthy on forgiving man jailed for threatening to kill him
Nick Charalambous
Managing Director at Alpha Wealth
Alpha Wealth
Episode: How to spend less in an energy crisis
Sean Bell
Former fighter pilot, military analyst
Red Matrix podcast
Episode: Israel says it has killed Iran Navy Chief overseeing Strait of Hormuz blockade
Cora Staunton
Eleven-time All-Ireland winner, Mayo sports figure and advocate
Mayo GAA / Mayo Sports Partnership
Episode: The Thursday Interview: Cora Staunton

Hosts

Ciara Kelly
Host and prominent presenter known for her engaging interviewing style and focus on societal issues.
Shane Colman
Co-host known for his sharp analysis and engaging dialogue on pressing topics affecting society.

Reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars from 226 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
    Australia20 days 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
    Ireland6 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.

Content is seen as relevant and thought-provoking, though some feel the presenting style could be overly opinionated at times.
There are mixed feelings about the selection of guests and topics, with some listeners expressing discontent, indicating a desire for broader representation and enhanced depth in coverage.
Listeners appreciate the engaging discussions but have raised concerns about sound quality, requesting improvements to harmonize volume levels across segments.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#102
Ireland/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#22
Ireland/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Rosslare Strand under threat from coastal erosion - what can be done?
Q: Okay. And what do emergency repair works look like? Are they putting down those big rocks and boulders that we see? Are they something else?
Emergency works would likely involve replacing or repairing groins to trap sand, adding rock armor to shield vulnerable sections, possibly stabilizing dunes with vegetation, and replenishing sand in strategic areas to restore beach volume.
Rosslare Strand under threat from coastal erosion - what can be done?
Q: How has coastal erosion in Rosslare become so severe?
The erosion has progressed over years, with the beach losing sand and dunes eroding, leading to a situation where local businesses like Kelly's Hotel are at risk; the lack of a coordinated national plan and insufficient investment have compounded the problem.
Ray Houghton on Ireland’s chances against Czechia
Q: Are you optimistic for the boys in green?
Ray expresses optimism, notes the strong fuel around the country and believes the squad has built momentum and confidence after a positive group stage, with fans and players alike feeling good about their chances.
Trump sends 15 point peace plan to Iran - will it work?
Q: Just briefly, Billy, what's your take on, are there talks taking place or is Donald Trump talking in the mirror?
There are talks about talks ongoing, with an expanding set of mediators—moving beyond Oman to include Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan—while mediation efforts continue with cautious optimism about a possible Islamabad meeting.
Trump sends 15 point peace plan to Iran - will it work?
Q: So the 15-point plan from Donald Trump, do you think that's because deep down he knows Iran is actually in the strong position and this is him trying to claim some kind of victory, even if it isn't there?
The plan appears to be a regurgitation of a previous approach, overlaid with demands like security guarantees and control over the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting the administration is attempting negotiation while recognizing Iran's leverage and the risk of escalation.

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?

Content focuses on a range of societal and cultural issues relevant to Irish audiences, including politically charged topics, health discussions, and light-hearted explorations of everyday life. Episodes often feature expert insights and diverse perspectives, as hosts engage guests from various sectors, providing listeners with critical discussions about current events, public policies, and cultural celebrations. The program is distinctive for its blend of serious dialogue with occasional humor, aiming to make important conversations accessible and engaging.

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Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Hard Shoulder. 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 The Hard Shoulder and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Hard Shoulder get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Hard Shoulder?

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How many subscribers and views does The Hard Shoulder have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Hard Shoulder 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 The Hard Shoulder?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Hard Shoulder:

1. The Pat Kenny Show
2. The Last Word with Matt Cooper
3. Today with David McCullagh
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 7012 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. Karolina Hird
2. Sean Canney
3. Sarah Keogh
4. Frank Greaney
5. Claire Hyland
6. Aubrey McCarthy
7. Nick Charalambous
8. Sean Bell

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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