“Growing Up Poor in Irish Boston” If you’re a Roman Catholic, funny and relatively conservative slant, then this is for you.
Rod Murphy
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About This Podcast
"Growing Up Poor in Irish Boston” is a podcast series, colored with humor, nostalgia and pathos. It’s about a Boston tenement kid, born in 1939, clawing his way out of poverty by being hard-working, creative, persistent, entrepreneurial and by taking risks often. There are also stories of my later life in Boston, Cambridge and New England. If you like old Boston stories or Irish-American stories or old Cambridge stories, this is your podcast. If you like Pull-Yourself-Up-By-The-Bootstrap type stories and/or down-to-earth philosophy with a Roman Catholic, funny and relatively conservative slant, then this is for you.
I am Roderick Patrick Murphy, born into a large, loving Irish family in Boston, widowed after 50+ happy years. So I am now doing some writing, volunteering and learning how to be a bachelor again.
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Recent Episodes
"Granny's in Trouble", The Unseen Crisis of Over 60 Women, Episode 154A
Send a text"Granny's in Trouble", The Unseen Crisis of Over 60 Women, Episode 154AThis podcast relays my discovery after I became a widower that perhaps 50 % of over 60, Boston and American women are…
The Great Replacement Theory, Episode 152
Send a textThe Great Replacement Theory, Episode 152This episode will discuss a theory that may be described as malevolent entities attempting to replace native born Americans with immigrants. It is…
Johnny Cash, "40 Shades of Green", Episode 153
Send a textJohnny Cash, "40 Shades of Green", Episode 153.Another of the Irish Song Series, this one by Irish Wannabe, Johnny Cash. He visited Ireland, thinking he was of Irish descent, and loved it…
More Paddy Jokes & Murphy's Comedy Club, Episode 145
Send a textMore Paddy Jokes & Murphy's Comedy Club, Episode 145.Paddy Murphy's relatives and friends become fodder for another bunch of Irish jokes.Support the show
What Happened to Ballroom Dancing? Episode 142.
Send a textWhat Happened to Ballroom Dancing? Episode 142.This episode wonders why ballroom dancing in Boston and beyond just about disappeared in the late 20th Century. Also some of my youthfull…
Finbar Furey & "I Remember You Singing This Song, MA", Episode 151
Send a textFinbar Furey & "I Remember You Singing This Song, MA", Episode 151.Dublin's Furey family, Finbar, Eddie, Paul and George were an Irish Music dynasty. They were also members of the…
Does Growing Up in Boston Raise Your !Q? Episode 141B
Send a textDoes Growing Up in Boston Raise Your !Q? Episode 141BThis Episode examines IQ and can it be raised. Also it askes questions how IQ could be aided by growing up in Metropolitan…
Dublin City in the Rare Old Times & Irish Songs & The Rest of the Story, Episode 150.
Send a textDublin City in the Rare Old Times & Irish Songs & The Rest of the Story, Episode 150.A great Irish nostaglia song about Dublin in the mid 20th Century. Urban renewal, redevelopment…
The West's Awake, Irish Songs Series, Episode 141A
Send a textThe West's Awake, Irish Songs Series, Episode 141.A song about the Connacht 1798 Irish Rebellion against British oppression.Support the show
"The West's Awake", Irish Songs Series, Episode 141
Send us a text"The West's Awake", Irish Songs Series, Episode 141.Wonderful stirring rebel song recalling historic Irish battles and the 1798 Rebellion against England's oppression. The meaning and…
Old Boston Irish Pubs, Episode 138
Send a textOld Boston Irish Pubs, Episode 138.This Episode features Irish Pubs in the Boston area and beyond from early 1900s to today. Eire Pub, the Burren, J.J. Foleys, Paris IRA pubs, London's…
Old Boston Restaurants, Episode 131
Send a textOld Boston Restaurants, Episode 131. Historic old Boston restaurants episode including Lock Ober, Italian, Armenian, German, Kosher Delis and others. Lots of anecdotes, etc.Support the show
Episode 142 Irish Songs & "Scorn Not His Simplicity" & The Rest of the Story
Send a textEpisode 142 Irish Songs & "Scorn Not His Simplicity" & The Rest of the Story. "Scorn Not His Simplicity" is an Irish song about a Downs Syndrome boy born to an Irish songwriter and…
Episode 146 Murphy, the Foodie & Old Boston Greek Diners
Send a textEpisode 146 Murphy, the Foodie & Old Boston Greek Diners.In the early 20th Century most Greek restaurants were located in South Cove near Kneeland St. The area became known as…
Episode 139 WB Yeats & Should All Irish Folks Like Poetry? Yes or No?
Send a textEpisode 139 WB Yeats & Should All Irish Folks Like Poetry? Yes or No?I am 100% Hibernian and therefore expected to love poetry but until recently I did not. Poetry seemed to me to be…
Episode 137 In the 1950s Boston, What Was It Like to Live in a Tenement?
Send a textEpisode 137 In the `1950s, What Was It Like to Live in a Tenement?All the nasty details about living, crammed into a Boston Three Decker with 8 other family members in the 1950s. 800 sq.…
Trailer for my Irish Songs Subseries
Send a textTrailer for my Irish Songs SubseriesThis is an announcement of my Irish Songs Subseries featuring many Old Country songs, the history, who wrote them and other details plus a cappella…
Episode 136 Irish Songs & "Back Home in Derry" & The Rest of the Story
Send a textEpisode 136 Irish Songs & "Back Home in Derry" & The Rest of the StoryThis one is about the Long Kesh Prison in Northern Ireland and the Provisional IRA's hero & poet, Bobby…
Episode 127 "Is That All There Is" & Giving the Finger to the World
Send a textEpisode 127 "Is That All There Is" & Giving the Finger to the World.Today in 2026 we see every system; education, work, pensions and healthcare is calibrated for the 20th Century…
Episode 135 Irish Songs & "The Auld Triangle" & The Rest of the Story
Send a textEpisode 135 Irish Songs & "The Auld Triangle" & The Rest of the Story.A classic Irish Rebel song with Dublin and the IRA, Croke Park, Montjoy Jail and the Royal Canal as…
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“Growing Up Poor in Irish Boston” If you’re a Roman Catholic, funny and relatively conservative slant, then this is for you. has published 158 episodes since March 2025, covering topics in History, Kids & Family.
“Growing Up Poor in Irish Boston” If you’re a Roman Catholic, funny and relatively conservative slant, then this is for you. is currently active with new episodes every few days. Average episode length is 7m.
