A memoir podcast - Est. 2025
Growing Up Poor in Irish Boston
A Boston tenement kid, born in 1939, claws his way out of poverty. This podcast is told with humor, nostalgia and pathos, and a Roman Catholic, plainspoken slant.
Latest Episode
▶ Listen nowMagazine Beach, Then & Now, Episode 219
Meet the host
“I am Roderick Patrick Murphy, born into a large, loving Irish family in Boston — widowed after fifty happy years”
Now Rod writes, volunteers, and learns how to be a bachelor again — sharing stories of old Boston, Cambridge and New England for anyone who loves an Irish-American, pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps tale.
Support the show
Every episode is free. If the stories mean something to you, chip in to keep them coming.
From the archive
More Episodes
•Magazine Beach, Then & Now, Episode 219Send us Fan MailMagazine Beach, Then & Now, Episode 219Magazine Beach is a 15 acre riverside park in Cambridge, Mass., located on the banks of the…•Murphy's Comedy Club, Boston Jokes, Episode 218Send us Fan MailMurphy's Comedy Club, Boston Jokes, Episode 218Jabber Murphy, South End Irish Pub, Savin Hill, Dolly Parton's Chest, American, Russian & Italian Spies, All…217Murphy's Comedy Club, God Jokes Plus, #21, Episode 217Send us Fan MailMurphy's Comedy Club, God Jokes Plus, #21, Episode 217St. Francis of Assissi. Marvin Cohen, God, Jewish Bras,Paddy Murphy, Eamon Murphy, Donald Trump and…•F. Scott Fitzgerald, Great Irish Writers, Episode 215Send us Fan MailF. Scott Fitzgerald, Great Irish Writers, Episode 215 The Irish people have been given certain gifts by God but not all Micks have all…214The Flying Irishman Plus, Episode 214Send us Fan MailThe Flying Irishman Plus, Episode 214This episode describes two Michael C. Murphys., both Army Lt. Colonels. One was the legendary "Flying Irishman of…•Murphy's Comedy Club, Religious Jokes Plus #19, Episode 211Send us Fan MailMurphy's Comedy Club, Religious Jokes Plus #19, Episode 211 Priest, Rabbi & Pastor jokes, Nun jokes and others.Support the show213Lt. Michael P. Murphy, Medal of Honor Winner, Episode 213Send us Fan MailLt. Michael P. Murphy, Medal of Honor Winner, Episode 213This one is about Lieutenant Michael Patrick Murphy, born May 7, 1976, was a…212The Rising of the Moon, Irish Songs, Episode 212Send us Fan MailThe Rising of the Moon, Irish Songs, Episode 212This episode, “The Rising of the Moon” refers to the ballad describing the orders for…209Audie Murphy, World War 2 Hero & Movie Star, Episode 209Send us Fan MailAudie Murphy, World War 2 Hero & Movie Star, Episode 209The most decorated World War 2 Hero was Audie Murphy, a 5 foor,…203Cocoanut Grove Night Club Fire, Episode 203Send us Fan MailCocoanut Grove Night Club Fire, Episode 203Boston's Cocoanut Grove Fire was a catastrophy aqnd one the worst fire US history. It happened on…