The State of Us

BBC Sounds

Noah Donohoe

Northern Ireland

Belfast

PSNI

Inquest

BBC

Northwood Road

Mental Health

Department For Infrastructure

Domestic Violence

Kneecap

Stormont

Blue Lights

Rory Mcilroy

Covid-19

Tattle Life

Ryder Cup

Police Investigation

Culvert

CCTV Footage

Tara Mills and Declan Harvey react and reflect on news stories in a BBC NI podcast.

42 ratings

Publishes	Daily	Episodes	136	Founded	a year ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	NewsNews Commentary

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Guests Hosts Reviews Charts Talking Points

Latest Episodes

6. Rape allegations

A special series from The State of Us podcast. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has pleaded not guilty to all 18 charges he faces, including one count of rape. His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, faces a trial of the facts on related charges of aiding and abettin... more

Yesterday • 12 min

5. Woman told she’s ‘making up’ abuse

1 Jun 2026 • 11 min

63. Is key expert impartial?

A special series from The State of Us podcast. In the summer of 2020, 14-year-old Noah Donohoe went missing in Belfast. Six days later his body was found in a storm drain. His disappearance and death have dominated headlines for five and a half years... more

29 May 2026 • 11 min

4. Eleanor accused of seeing abuse

29 May 2026 • 7 min

Key Facts

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Contact Information

Podcast Host

Number of Listeners

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Recent Guests

Sarah McKeown

Solicitor

Independent legal advisor

Episode: The Donaldson trial

Professor Carolyn Roberts

Academic with Oxford background and water themes consultancy, expert in water environments

Independent consultant; Oxford University background

Episode: 58. Problems with time of death

Constable Wiley

Member of the PSNI Search and Rescue Team with high-level first aid training

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Episode: 56. Jury sees body in tunnel

Constable Woods

Colleague of Constable Wiley involved in the tunnel operation

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Episode: 56. Jury sees body in tunnel

Donal Loney

Questioner who discussed timing and CCTV with Constable Wiley

Episode: 56. Jury sees body in tunnel

Brenda Campbell

Questioner who explored how much of the body could be seen in footage

Episode: 56. Jury sees body in tunnel

Conor McConnell

Witness; former claimant in the case

Episode: 54. Fireworks in court

Dr. Mark Cooper

Health and safety expert writing/consulting on risk assessments

Based in England

Episode: 52. The steep drop

Nessa Murnaghan

Barrister for the Department of Infrastructure

Department for Infrastructure

Episode: 52. The steep drop

Hosts

Tara Mills

Host of The State of Us series; BBC Belfast/State of Us umbrella coverage.

Declan Harvey

Co-host of The State of Us; handles in-depth discussion and live in-court commentary.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 42 ratings

Brilliant pod
Great presenters and topics! Refreshing!
Apple Podcasts
5
Podfan213
United Kingdoma year ago
Well done
Love this podcast and the presenters together great chemistry together.
Apple Podcasts
5
crazycat68
United Kingdoma year ago

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Listeners Say

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

High-quality guest expertise enhances credibility for sponsors and listeners alike.

Insightful, rigorous coverage of complex inquest proceedings.

Chemistry between hosts adds clarity to dense legal/technical material.

Episode pacing can be dense but highly informative for professionals.

Strong relevance for policy and legal communities seeking real-world context.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts	#213	United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts	#1	United Kingdom/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts	#26	United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts	#228	Canada/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts	#33	Australia/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts	#61	Ireland/Top Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

50. Copycat fears

Q: What is the role of residents near culverts in safety and risk management?

McKee stated that residents in proximity to dangerous culverts bear some responsibility for safety, as the department cannot manage all risks for every part of society, emphasizing a balance rather than zero risk.

50. Copycat fears

Q: Why was the debris screen eventually changed to a security screen?

The change was explained as part of a broader set of risk-management updates, including new guidance on public safety risk assessments and additional infrastructure changes to prevent entry while managing flood risk; the decision was argued to be independent of Noah's specific case.

50. Copycat fears

Q: Did the Department for Infrastructure consider the risk of a child like Noah getting into the culvert at Northwood Road?

Yes, the department's evidence argued that risk assessment and public safety considerations were central, with changes like locking hatches and switching to security screens implemented as precautionary measures after Noah's death, though precise policies varied over time.

22. The unlocked hatch

Q: What other sort of things were you doing?

Hutchings describes the documented actions and routine procedures, including reviewing last known locations, checking the home address, looking for messages or notes, examining social media, and confirming access to money or medication, all of which are standard in a missing-person investigation.

Christmas with May McFettridge

Q: Do you find that humor has changed over the years?

Yes, audiences seem more easily offended today, which restricts some of the traditional comedic roles.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About The State of Us

What is The State of Us about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A courtroom-focused, inquest-heavy series that follows a high-profile Belfast case from daily proceedings to expert testimony. Episodes center on legal procedures, CCTV frame-by-frame analysis, risk assessments for public infrastructure, and the interplay between police, the coroner, and witnesses. The hosts bring clarity with forensic-style commentary, often featuring solicitors, engineers, and safety experts as they weigh timelines, evidentiary value, and implications for public safety and policy. A notable strength is the meticulous, real-time coverage that translates complex legal and technical details into accessible explanations, making it valuable for listeners who want a rigorous, evidence-driven look at how inquests unfold in real ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The State of Us?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The State of Us:

1. The BelTel
2. Crime World
3. Lines of Enquiry
4. Give My Head Podcast
5. Shattered Lives

How many episodes of The State of Us are there?

The State of Us launched a year ago and published 136 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 State of Us?

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What guests have appeared on The State of Us?

Recent guests on The State of Us include:

1. Sarah McKeown
2. Professor Carolyn Roberts
3. Constable Wiley
4. Constable Woods
5. Donal Loney
6. Brenda Campbell
7. Conor McConnell
8. Dr. Mark Cooper

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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