Rephonic
Artwork for Behind the Story

Behind the Story

RTÉ News
Gaza
Israel
Donald Trump
RTÉ
Hamas
Artificial Intelligence
Social Media
Uk-Eu Deal
Shopping Scams
Ireland
Brexit
Israel-Palestine Conflict
European Union
Michael Gaine
Garda Investigation
Fishing Rights
Climate Change
News Stories
Eurovision
World Food Programme

Tune in for insightful and informed conversation as Fran McNulty and some of RTÉ's top journalists digest some of the news stories of the day. Expect deep dives, analysis, interesting guests and maybe even some laughs along the way.

Email: behindthestory@rte.ie

New episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

PublishesDailyEpisodes100Founded9 months ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Behind the Story

Latest Episodes

A new survey from the University of Limerick Student Union found 60% of commuter students travelled more than one hour each way to campus during the last academic year. Commuting is having a substantial impact on students’ academic performance, finan... more

A bitter row has broken out over the last week between farmer organisations and the Chair of Bord Bia, but what's it all about? Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Correspondent Aengus Cox joins Fran to explain what's going on and why he believes both s... more

The Slaney and Dodder rivers burst their banks and flooded surrounding areas following subtantial rainfall over the past few days. And while the clean up has begun, more rain in expected over the next 24 hours. Could the flooding have been predicted?... more

Officials in US President Donald Trump's administration continue to defend the fatal shooting on Saturday of a man by immigration agents in Minneapolis, even as video evidence contradicts their version of events.

Alex Pretti, who worked as an intens... more

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Indo Daily
The Indo DailyIrish Independent
Path to Power
Path to PowerMatt Cooper
Brendan O'Connor
Brendan O'ConnorRTÉ Radio 1
In The News
In The NewsThe Irish Times

Recent Guests

Paula Crotty
Representative from Cared Ireland, advocate for eating disorder awareness
Cared Ireland
Episode: Trump's demand: 'We want a piece of ice' and billionaires squabble!
Dan O'Brien
Chief economist with the Institute of European Affairs
Institute of European Affairs
Episode: Trump's tariff threats and what could it mean for Ireland?
Julieanne Corr
News reporter with the Sunday Times
Sunday Times
Episode: China-Ireland relations and what is a k-hole?
Professor John O'Brennan
Jean-Menaise Chair of the European Integration at Maynooth University
Maynooth University
Episode: The Mercosor deal and On The Beat with the Gardaí!
Dara Tallon
Producer from Odd Boy Media
Odd Boy Media
Episode: The Mercosor deal and On The Beat with the Gardaí!
Mícheál Lehane
Political correspondent providing insights on government strategy in tourism investment
Episode: Tankers, Tourism and Grok AI
Eoghan Cleary
Secondary school teacher and researcher with the Sexual Exploitation Research Institute
Episode: Tankers, Tourism and Grok AI
Kristina Callas
Minister of Education and Research in Estonia
Government of Estonia
Episode: The highs and lows of AI in 2025
Ciaran O'Connor
Institute of Strategic Dialogue Analyst
Institute of Strategic Dialogue
Episode: The highs and lows of AI in 2025

Hosts

Fran McNulty
Host and Co-host of the show, Fran McNulty brings a wealth of experience and insight to discussions on current events and news analysis.
David McCullagh
Host and Co-host, David McCullagh is an influential voice in political journalism, contributing thorough insights into various discussions.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 58 ratings
  • A look at Irish politics and global news with incredibly light politically vacant analysis.

    Podchaser
    3
    Seán
    3 months ago
  • Fergus Finlay

    Your podcast is great. Love the banter between you…a must for every great podcast. Second Captains is another favourite for the same reason. Particularly enjoyed your chat with Fergus Finlay. Always keen to hear his inside track on politics. He’s informed, honest and fun. Like your podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Caroline Heffo
    Ireland6 months ago
  • Are drones changing the Russia-Ukraine war?

    Patrick Brury always great to listen to- good to hear an episode on this hugely consequential war

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    avavshsoksavsm agsvsbsa
    Ireland8 months ago
  • 👍 great podcast

    Really like the podcast, concise, topical and entertaining. The 3 hosts work so well together and the fact it’s 20-30mins long is ideal.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    seanregankk
    Ireland8 months ago
  • Fabulous topical podcast

    Really love this podcast. Very topical, great banter between the journalists. Really helps explain the current stories in the news.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Markmah47
    Ireland9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the podcast for its engaging analysis and coverage of significant current events.
Audience feedback highlights the hosts' chemistry and depth of knowledge, making complex topics accessible.
Listeners enjoy the mix of humor and critical thinking, appreciating that episodes are concise and informative.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#221
Ireland/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#55
Ireland/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why are farmers fighting with Bord Bia? And danger here: US visa rules ahead of World Cup
Q: How significant is U.S. tourism for Irish travelers?
U.S. tourism represents a major opportunity for Irish travelers, with half a million people visiting the U.S. annually.
Why are farmers fighting with Bord Bia? And danger here: US visa rules ahead of World Cup
Q: What concerns do farmers have regarding Brazilian beef imports?
Farmers are afraid that Brazilian beef could undercut local prices and impact their livelihoods.
Why are farmers fighting with Bord Bia? And danger here: US visa rules ahead of World Cup
Q: What is the latest protest about?
Farmers are protesting against Larry Murren of Bord Bia, accusing him of a conflict of interest due to importing Brazilian beef.
The murder of Marilyn Rynn - how Gardaí caught her killer
Q: What happened once the body was found?
Discusses the forensic examination that revealed vital evidence, including DNA that confirmed the identity of her attacker.
The murder of Marilyn Rynn - how Gardaí caught her killer
Q: Can we go back to the beginning and that night that Marilyn was out in December 1995?
Recounts that both Marilyn and her murderer were out for their own Christmas parties that night, leading to their paths crossing.

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 Behind the Story

What is Behind the Story about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Expect a blend of insightful conversations and in-depth analysis of current news stories, featuring discussions among experienced journalists and expert guests. The content ranges from national and international politics to social issues, crime analysis, and cultural commentary, ensuring a comprehensive examination of the day's pressing topics. With a format that embraces both seriousness and humor, the discussions also investigate the underlying themes shaping public opinion and events. This podcast is particularly noteworthy for its mix of expert insights and engaging banter among hosts, making complex topics accessible and relatable to listeners.

Where can I find podcast stats for Behind the Story?

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

How many listeners does Behind the Story get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Behind the Story, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Behind the Story?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Behind the Story, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Behind the Story have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Behind the Story 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 Behind the Story?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Behind the Story:

1. The Indo Daily
2. Path to Power
3. Brendan O'Connor
4. Today with David McCullagh
5. In The News

How many episodes of Behind the Story are there?

Behind the Story launched 9 months ago and published 100 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 Behind the Story?

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 Behind the Story?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Behind the Story from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Behind the Story?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Behind the Story. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Behind the Story?

Recent guests on Behind the Story include:

1. Paula Crotty
2. Dan O'Brien
3. Julieanne Corr
4. Professor John O'Brennan
5. Dara Tallon
6. Mícheál Lehane
7. Eoghan Cleary
8. Kristina Callas

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days