Blog

Dec. 30, 2021

A Bell Tolls a Chapter in NYC Irish History

Irish Stew listener Danny Leavy shared this account of the Irish in New York and the work underway to preserve and exhibit an Irish American artifact. Up until the end of the American Revolution, Catholic worship was prohibited, but due to some per…

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Dec. 24, 2021

When Christmas Comes Calling and The Year Wraps Up

Our 31 Guests It's Christmas Eve in New York - the Winter Solstice has come and gone. It's that time when we all start to look back at the past year and be thankful for the good things that happened despite the challenging times we live in. A Note…

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Oct. 7, 2021

How Ireland Leverages Soft Power Through Culture

Natalie Nugent O'Shea with (top to bottom) Emer Rocke, Ted Smyth and Ciaran Canon During the first 2 seasons of Irish Stew, we've talked with a number of current and former members of the Irish diplomatic community (DFA)  who make reference to…

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Sept. 4, 2021

Why You Should Listen to Cartoonist Liza Donnelly

Liza Donnelly has drawn cartoons for the New Yorker for over 40 year years. She is a legend in the business working for a legendary publication. Naturally when cohost John Lee mentioned that he had met Liza at an Irish Business Organization speaking…

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Sept. 3, 2021

Why You Should Listen to Diplomat & Executive Ted Smyth

Ted Smyth carved out two successful careers in the Irish diplomatic core and corporate America. My cohost John Lee had gotten to know Ted at Irish Business Organization events and cajoled Ted into coming onto the podcast  I was delighted…

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Sept. 2, 2021

Why You Should Listen to Award Winning Journalist Shaunagh Connaire

We kicked off Season 2 on February 1 with award winning journalist Shaunagh Connaire. I'd crossed paths briefly with Shaunagh a few years before and decided to reach out with an interview request using the Irish / fellow podcaster pretext - sketchy …

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Sept. 1, 2021

Why You Should Listen to Barrister Ruth Cannon

I got to know Ruth Cannon, BL via Twitter. In addition to her wonderful Irish legal history blog, Stories of the Four Courts, Ruth has an interest in old prints and maps of Dublin. It is an interest I share and prompted an extended exchange on Twitt…

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Aug. 29, 2021

Why You Should Listen to Historian and Battlefield Archaeologist Damian Shiels

For regular listeners to the podcast, you probably know I'm a history nerd. I make no apologies for that and I frequently remark that the past is much closer and has a deeper influence on us than is readily recognized. If we are to predict what is t…

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Aug. 26, 2021

Why You Should Listen to TD Ciarán Cannon

Ciarán Cannon kindly agreed to come on the podcast during it's early days and was, and is, the first elected official to appear on Irish Stew. We particularly wanted to talk to the TD from Galway East as he had served as Minister of State for…

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Aug. 24, 2021

Why You Should Listen to Historian Geoff Cobb

I first met Geoff Cobb at a Society of Old Brooklynites event. Geoff had invited me to a talk he was giving on Walt Whitman and his time spent as editor of the Brooklyn Daily Times from 1857 - 1859. Geoff described how one of America's great poets, …

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Aug. 23, 2021

Why You Should Listen to Digital Media Mogul Jeffrey Hayzlett

South Dakotan Jeffrey Hayzlett is many things, a serial entrepreneur, an author, a keynote speaker and happens to have Donald Trump's personal number on speed dial. My cohost John Lee had gotten to know Jeffrey during a pre Irish Stew tilt at the po…

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Aug. 22, 2021

Why You Should Listen to Genealogy Expert Bridget Bray

When visitors to Ireland declare they’ve come in search of their roots, many native born Irish are perplexed by the quest. Why would a person from another country care about such things?The past can’t be changed and don’t these fol…

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Aug. 20, 2021

Why You Should Listen to Tech Executive Aisling MacRunnels

I’ve had a number of young women reach out to me to say how much they learned from this episode. Some wistfully expressed that they wish they had Aisling MacRunnels as a boss. Give the episode a listen and let me know what you think? As…

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Aug. 19, 2021

Why You Should Listen to Bill Schultz

A little over a year ago John Lee and I decided to make a new podcast called Irish Stew. Since we were both newbies to the form, we needed some willing victims.... err... guests who would come on the show and be accepting of our rank inexperience. …

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Aug. 16, 2021

23 Episodes and a Year Later

A New Season CommethThere is no new episode today. We're breeching an uninterrupted bi weekly episode run since October 24th last year. After 2 seasons and 23 episodes, we decided to take a break. We'll be back with a new release on September 12th w…

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March 6, 2021

Liza Donnelly's Cartooning World as Seen on TED

John and I were delighted to have Liza Donnelly on the podcast and learn more about her extensive career and how she bring impact and change to the world To get a sense of her wonderful sense of humor and how that can bring change to the world, t…

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Feb. 25, 2021

Liza Donnelly and The Palace Bar

The Palace Bar Our next podcast guest is visual journalist Liza Donnelly probably best known for her cartoons which have been featured in the New Yorker magazine for over 40 years. In 2018,  Liza, visited Ireland for the first time where …

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Feb. 24, 2021

Ted Smyth: A Mandela Moment

Ted Smyth with Nelson Mandela Last night, Irish Stew tuned into Glucksman Ireland House Annual Gala and was delighted to see our recent guest, Ted Smyth welcoming attendees to the virtual event On the podcast we had talked with Ted for about an ho…

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Feb. 22, 2021

***Publication Alert: Geoff Cobb's The Irish in New York***

Available at Amazon: The Irish in New York Some weeks ago, we sat down with Geoffrey Cobb to discuss his new book: The Irish in New York. As die hard New Yorkers, John and I were delighted to have the opportunity to spread word on the book before i…

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Feb. 19, 2021

Ted Smyth on the Centrality of John Hume

John Hume with Mary Breasted and Ted Smyth on their wedding day John and I asked Ted Smyth for some photos for promoting our recent podcast conversation. Within the collection of American Presidents and other important political figures was a more …

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Feb. 9, 2021

Rock Star Reporter: Shaunagh Connaire

Shaunagh with Yusef, a Syrian Child Refugee Suffering from Cancer To get a sense of Shaunagh Connaire's journalistic talent and commitment to her journalistic craft, take a look at some of her work from Channel 4's Unreported World at the bottom of…

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Jan. 31, 2021

Sale of Cultural Icon?

American Irish Historical Society - 991 Fifth Avenue, New York City We're Delighted to see the NYC Irish Consulate encouraging the American Irish Historical Society to reconsider the sale of their 5th Ave HQ as reported by Kerry O'Shea on Irish Cen…

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Jan. 30, 2021

Meet Shaunagh Connaire Ireland's Latest Pioneering Journalist

Pioneering Journalist: Shaunagh Connaire On Sunday at midnight, Irish Stew will drop a new episode. This piece marks the begining of Season 2 of the podcast and John Lee and I are delighted to have the award winning television journalist Shaunagh C…

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Jan. 29, 2021

When Podcasters Meet Presidents

Bill Schultz with President Joe Biden This Sunday at midnight, the first episode of Irish Stew's season two will drop. Our first season began back in October, yieldeing 9 episodes in total. The very first episode we actually recorded, despite being…

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