The State of Us Podcast
From BBC News NI. Tara Mills and Declan Harvey react and reflect on the stories that impact our lives and speak to those who can help us understand why we’re in the state we’re in.
From BBC News NI.
Tara Mills and Declan Harvey react and reflect on the stories that impact all our lives and speak to those who can help us understand why we’re in the state we’re in.
This podcast is a new way of talking and learning about the news in Northern Ireland.
There’ll be lots of candid conversations, special guests, with wisdom, informality and some fun along the way.
Nothing will be off the table on “The State of Us”. New episodes every Tuesday and
Thursday. Contact [email protected]
Episodes to download
![]()
Christmas with May McFettridge
Thu 18 Dec 2025
Northern Ireland’s favourite panto dame on funeral gigs and how he saved a life
![]()
Uniquely NI: How the Troubles still fuel homelessness
Tue 16 Dec 2025
How did NI's homeless people grow up? How did the Troubles shape their future?
![]()
Britain’s ‘golden egg’ spy in the IRA
Thu 11 Dec 2025
A Stakeknife pantomime: Who was Freddie Scappaticci, the dead spy Britain still protects?
![]()
The cocaine in Northern Ireland’s water
Tue 9 Dec 2025
New study highlights drugs – from caffeine to ketamine - lurking in our lakes and rivers
![]()
The latest Irish church abuse crisis
Thu 4 Dec 2025
Abuse and safeguarding failings: What's going on in Ireland’s Presbyterian Church?
![]()
Olympic boxer Aidan Walsh: Why I’m delighted to quit the ring
Tue 2 Dec 2025
From Olympic bronze to retirement at 28: Aidan Walsh on why he's quit boxing
![]()
Familiar faces return to count The State of the Budget
Thu 27 Nov 2025
Familiar faces return to count The State of the Budget
![]()
Jim Browning: Meet the mystery hacker scamming the scammer
Tue 25 Nov 2025
The YouTube star who takes on multi-million pound scams across the world.
![]()
EXTRA: Religious education in schools – Supreme Court ruling explained
Thu 20 Nov 2025
The Supreme Court has ruled Christian-focused RE taught in NI schools is unlawful
![]()
Cookstown hotel crush: The ‘open wound’ of Greenvale
Thu 20 Nov 2025
Greenvale witnesses: ‘We were there when friends died – it’s like an open wound’
![]()
Greenvale Hotel Crush: 'Our loved ones died - the years of legal wait is more trauma'
Tue 18 Nov 2025
Family of 3 teens who died in 2019 say they feel "left in the dark" over legal delays
![]()
The State of Us Live: Blue Lights’ Michael Smiley and Joanne Crawford
Thu 13 Nov 2025
Michael Smiley and Joanne Crawford on season three of award-winning TV drama Blue Lights
![]()
The State of Us Live Show: The career of a BBC Panorama reporter
Tue 11 Nov 2025
Darragh MacIntyre on Cpt Robert Nairac, Virginia Giuffre & BBC impartiality
![]()
Northern Ireland’s smear test ‘scandal’ – explained
Thu 6 Nov 2025
17,500 tests rechecked - what was happening in the Southern Trust?
![]()
The children married in Northern Ireland
Tue 4 Nov 2025
16 and 17 year olds can still marry here. Why hasn’t the law changed yet?
![]()
Soldier F – Not guilty
Thu 23 Oct 2025
Former paratrooper not guilty of murdering two people on Bloody Sunday in 1972
![]()
TV writer says pro-Israeli views shut out of the arts
Tue 21 Oct 2025
David Ireland on his loyalist roots, Israel, alcoholism & God
![]()
Parents of SEN child convicted over school non-attendance
Thu 16 Oct 2025
Leigh and James Bryson spent £30k defending themselves in court.
![]()
Did Northern Ireland really inspire Trump's Israel/Gaza peace plan?
Tue 14 Oct 2025
And can mediators and negotiators learn anything from our past?
![]()
Do mugshots matter?
Thu 9 Oct 2025
Why did the PSNI delay publishing a mugshot of a rapist on the run?
![]()
![]()
What the **** is happening in golf?
Thu 2 Oct 2025
Swearing, shouting, and lobbing pints – The Ryder Cup 2025
![]()
Fighting poverty in NI: The minister defends his plan
Tue 30 Sep 2025
The communities minister answers the critics of his anti-poverty strategy.
![]()
Bonus: Kneecap’s Mo Chara terrorism case thrown out
Fri 26 Sep 2025
What happened in court and the reaction from outside – Kelly Bonner speaks to Declan
![]()
Was the PSNI spying on journalists?
Thu 25 Sep 2025
How police used covert powers to unlawfully try to uncover reporters’ sources
![]()
Irish presidential election hots up
Tue 23 Sep 2025
The clock is ticking for nominations – who could be the next president of Ireland?
![]()
Blue Lights – the new series
Thu 18 Sep 2025
The award winning police drama was the brainchild of producer Louise Gallagher
![]()
Uncovering the truth about Katie Simpson’s death
Tue 16 Sep 2025
The secret investigation that led to a murder trial that shook the equestrian community
![]()
Stuart Robinson: ‘Behind enemy lines’ chatting about the Cool FM cash call, BBC licence fee & the biggest show in the country
Thu 11 Sep 2025
He also talks about Barra Best & a cocktail, and his first ever presenting gig
![]()
Tuam: Ireland’s secret burial shame
Tue 9 Sep 2025
Hundreds of babies & children buried in a mass grave. What the excavation has discovered
