Scotcast

Hotels housing asylum seekers have attracted protests in Perth, Falkirk and Aberdeenshire. We ask what’s behind the recent spate of demos and David Wallace Lockhart tells us why it’s significant that Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay is defending them. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Natalie Higgins and Laura Miller. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Dr Iain Kennedy (pictured) chairs the British Medical Association and speaks on behalf of Scotland’s 17,000 doctors. He tells us why one of the founding principles of the NHS has 'already died', how the service can be rescued and about his life as Highland GP. And a listener hits back at our coverage of gulls. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Natalie Higgins and L...

A housing crisis is unfolding in the Highlands and for Donna Young (pictured) of the Communities Housing Trust, it’s personal. She tells us why so many people in her part of the world are struggling to find a home. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

The county lines drug epidemic is bringing violence and hard drugs to the Highlands. Detective Chief Inspector Craig Still of Police Scotland tells us how English gangs are targeting the vulnerable and why they are staying clear of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bb...

Accustomed to sparring live on air on a Sunday morning, Martin sits down with Douglas Ross to find out what he really thinks. The former Scottish Conservative leader tells us why he defended Boris Johnson’s government – and why he thinks Holyrood is failing. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcas...

Willie French is a former head teacher with four decades of experience in primary schools. He tells Martin why schools should delay formal education and help children learn old-fashioned life lessons like falling off bikes and out of trees. And Rose Docherty, the first person charged with allegedly breaking Scotland’s abortion buffer zone law, learns she’ll face no further action. Scotcast is the...

City trader turned influencer Gary Stevenson (pictured) is leading calls for a wealth tax. As chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares for the autumn budget, economist Professor Mairi Spowage tells us why a tax targeting the so-called super-rich may have downsides too. And with US Vice-President JD Vance here on holiday, Martin and Laura wonder what’s so special about the Cotswolds. Scotcast is the BBC’s...

Nicola Sturgeon says a social media post by Harry Potter author JK Rowling prompted a wave of 'vile' abuse over the former first minister’s views on transgender policy. It’s one of many more claims in Ms Sturgeon’s memoir, Frankly, which Natalie has read (most of at the time of recording this recording). And as Spiderman webs his way through the streets of Glasgow, Slow Horses director Saul Metzst...

Nicola Sturgeon has been busy promoting her new memoir, Frankly. We’ve read and heard what she thinks about Alex Salmond, Operation Branchform, Isla Bryson and her own sexuality. But how much of it is news? Martin, Natalie and the BBC’s David Wallace Lockhart discuss how much we’ve really learned from the former first minister's book publicity. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Mar...

Former Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark and ex-BBC Scotland political editor Brian Taylor talk to Martin, Laura and Natalie about their careers, covering tragedies and modern journalism. Recorded in front of a live audience at the Edinburgh Fringe on Wednesday 6th August. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc....

Author Irvine Welsh's new book, Men in Love, is a sequel to his debut novel and cult classic Trainspotting. Irvine talks to Martin about revisiting Renton, Begbie and Sick Boy, the state of politics and what smartphones are doing to us. Recorded in front of a live audience at the Edinburgh Fringe on Wednesday 6th August, this episode contains strong language some listeners might find offensive. Sc...

Darren McGarvey (pictured) is an author, documentary maker and rapper whose debut book, Poverty Safari, won the Orwell Prize. He tells us about his latest work, Trauma Industrial Complex, and the pitfalls of sharing personal lived experience. Cover photo courtesy of Jack Cocker. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch: scotc...

Sub Club nightclub owner Mike Grieve has been a leading figure in Scotland’s late-night culture for 40 years. As the Night Time Industries Association warn of the death of the night out, he tells us how his industry has changed. And Natalie reveals how Britney Spears brought about a dance floor injury. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higg...

Deputy first minister Kate Forbes (pictured) is standing down as an MSP at the 2026 Holyrood elections. Martin and Natalie wonder why someone who was so close to becoming first minister of Scotland in 2023 is chucking politics at the age of 35. And after her successful campaign to ban disposable vapes, Laura Young (aka Less Waste Laura) tells us why she’s now targeting dental floss. Scotcast is th...

Two Jewish comedians' Edinburgh Fringe shows have been cancelled over 'staff safety concerns'. It’s the latest in a series of controversies over appears at, and funds, Edinburgh’s festivals. Jenny Niven, who runs the Edinburgh International Book Festival, tells us how she navigates the arts, politics and protest. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and N...

Scottish scientist Professor David MacMillan won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for work which led to developments in drugs for Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. After being added to the National Portrait Gallery, David talks to Martin and Laura about new-found fame, his friendship with Sir Alex Ferguson and why he’s 'not worried in the slightest' about AI. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast,...

Donald Trump has brought the eyes of the world to Scotland this week, but as he heads back to the White House after a meeting with John Swinney, what has he left behind? The BBC’s North America editor, Sarah Smith, tells us how Donald Trump is rewriting the rule book - and Phil Sim reveals how he ruined his trousers in pursuit of the most powerful man in the world. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish n...

Why has John Swinney updated his strategy for securing a second independence referendum on a day the news is dominated by Donald Trump? We ask David Wallace Lockhart, who’s been talking to the first minister and SNP leader about it. And just how awkward was prime minister Sir Keir Starmer’s trip to Trump Turnberry for talks with the US president? Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with M...

Is the US president’s trip to his golf resorts at Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie in Aberdeenshire about business, politics or pleasure? Ahead of Donald Trump’s talks with Sir Keir Starmer and John Swinney, Martin asks Rob Crilly – a member of the White House press pack who travelled here on Air Force One – if it’s a welcome distraction from headlines about Jeffrey Epstein. Scotcast is the BBC’s S...

As Donald Trump lands in Scotland to visit his golf resorts at Turnberry and Menie, Laura is joined by Phil Sim and David Wallace Lockhart to unpick the politics of the US president's trip here. David gives us the details of a 'civil war' he's been reporting on inside the Scottish Greens. And as the Commonwealth Games unveils Finnie as its mascot for Glasgow 2026, Phil reveals why he dressed up as...

Nurse Sandie Peggie (pictured) was cleared of gross misconduct by NHS Fife as an employment tribunal prompted by her changing room dispute with Dr Beth Upton – a transgender woman – resumed. In the third of our weekly July episodes, Laura is joined by the BBC’s David Wallace Lockhart and the Sunday Mail’s political editor Hannah Rodger to discuss the latest twist in a story at the centre of the wi...

Kneecap have performed a sell-out show in Glasgow after being axed from the line-up at the city's TRNSMT festival. In the second of our weekly July episodes, Natalie is joined by the BBC's Phil Sim and Paul McNamee, the editor of The Big Issue, to discuss whether the Irish rappers have outsmarted politicians who urged promotors to drop them. Phil and Paul also give their take on the 'one in, one o...

Sir Keir Starmer has backed Rachel Reeves after the Chancellor cried in the House of Commons as the Prime Minister defended the UK Government's U-turn over welfare reform. In the first of our weekly July episodes, Natalie asks former Number 10 strategist John McTernan, campaigner Talat Yaqoob and the BBC’s Phil Sim what's going on at the heart of Downing Street. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news...

British champion Liam Byrne (pictured), from Aberdeenshire, died at the weekend during a jump in the Swiss Alps. We ask fellow jumper Tim Howell what motivates those in the sport – and what it’s like to jump from a cliff edge. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Edinburgh’s Fettes College, once attended by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, is reportedly pondering job cuts after the UK Government moved to charge VAT on private school fees. Lisa Kerr (pictured), Principal of George Watson’s College, tells us why she thinks taxing schools like hers is also bad for state school pupils. And after ‘hoaching’ and ‘shoogly’ were added to the Oxford English Dictio...