The Hard Shoulder The Hard Shoulder

Patrick Geoghegan on Talking History turning 20!

Oct 1, 2026 · 8m

Summary

Professor Patrick Gagan joins The Hard Shoulder to mark the 20th anniversary of Newstalk’s "Talking History." He recounts the show’s origins from a Trinity College course and discusses its evolution into a live panel format. Gagan reflects on memorable episodes, notable guests like Mary Beard, and the shift from radio to a major podcast audience.

Topics discussed

Government of Ireland: Building Ireland ad Introduction: 20th anniversary of Talking History Origins: From Trinity course to live radio show Philosophy: Covering any topic from ancient to modern Memorable moments: Best and worst shows Notable guests: Mary Beard, Richard Evans, and others Outside broadcasts and being recognized by voice The rise of podcasts and changing audience habits Personal growth: Life changes over 20 years Latest episode: The history of The Irish Times Outro: The Hard Shoulder promotion
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