Talk Media

Robbie Armstrong, co-founder of The Bell returns to the Talk Media studio to talk about - among other things - local murders, gangsters and the lauding thereof in the press, escape tunnels and of course, Class A drugs on this week's stimulating packet of Talk Media. Recommendations Robbie - Brìghde Chaimbeul: Tiny Desk Concert Stuart - East of Eden (Netflix) - listen, he just really likes it, okay...

Paddy Duffy returns to Talk Media to chat with Stuart Cosgrove about Reform's collapse to third in the Scottish Parliament with the resignation of Amanda Bland MSP, how Trump can't work out which side he's on in the Russia/Ukraine war, and of course they cover the news that the BBC Scotland TV channel is to close next year. Recommendations Paddy: Who Is Martin Mull? (Netflix) Stuart - East of Eden...

Catriona Stewart, Education Correspondent from The Scotsman, is back on Talk Media this week. She sat down with Stuart Cosgrove to talk about Andy Burnham's big ol' Brexit takes, where all the money's gone in our Scottish unis, what's in a poll after IPSOS found that 50% of Scots think that we're 'heading in the wrong direction', and of course we grilled her on what it was like to meet her hero, f...

Hannah Brown from The Herald returns to Talk Media as she sits down with Stuart Cosgrove to discuss Wings Over Scotland's latest 'fundraising efforts', the struggles facing working mums in Scotland, and they lament the closure of BBC Scotland citing its wasted potential. Independent media analysis is harder than ever. Our supporters allow us to stay forensic and un-influenced. Ad-free listening Su...

Andrea Baker returns to Talk Media from her home in Munich where she discusses the Future of the BBC, World News Day, how to rent a panda from China, and the German elections with Stuart Cosgrove. It's a cracking episode, we hope you enjoy it! Independent media analysis is harder than ever. Our supporters allow us to stay forensic and un-influenced. Ad-free listening Supporters-only episodes...

Paddy Duffy is back with Stuart as the boys take a look at Ed Sheeran's ever-dwindling friendship group, discuss Michael Marra's ascendancy to Scottish Labour leader (Paddy is willing to give him a chance?!) and chat through Earl Spencer's new book about his sister... Independent media analysis is harder than ever. Our supporters allow us to stay forensic and un-influenced. Ad-free listening Suppo...

This week we're delighted to welcome back The Scotsman's Education Correspondent Catriona Stewart who sits down with Stuart Cosgrove to discuss the ramifications of the Cardiff Agreement, attainment in Scottish schools, who's better: Mulder or Scully, Rogue AIs and she also promotes Paul Sweeney MSP to First Minister... Recommendations Users by Beeban Kidron (Waterstones) Careless People by Sarah...

It's Talk Media time again and Stuart Cosgrove returns alongside Angela Haggerty to take a deep dive into the politics of dodgy money, the non-politics of balaclava-covered "protestors" and they delve into 9/11 25 years on. Recommendations Angela: A Night To Remember by Walter Lord Stuart: Derry Girls (it's better than Still Game - his words, not mine) Independent media analysis is harder than eve...

Professor Graham Jeffery from University of the West of Scotland joined Stuart in the Talk Media studio today for a wide-ranging, fascinating chat about all things media practice. They got into our society's obsession with true crime, asked who's in control of cartography as Trump tries to rename another large body of water, and ask what makes Holyrood coverage different to Westminster. Independen...

Foreign affairs writer and photographer David Pratt returns to Talk Media... and so does the holidaymaker! Yes, Stuart Cosgrove is back from his trip and sits down with David to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, including some fascinating insights into Ukrainian petrol stations, Donald Trump's war with Iran, and of course the rumoured cuts to at BBC Scotland which could see the BBC Scotland...

It's Paddy Duffy's last hurrah as Talk Media's substitute teacher and he's joined this week by journalist Catriona Stewart. They discuss the challenges of writing for the right wing press, talk about the education beat, and take a look at the media treatment of the Jason Arday story. There's a wee bit of strong language in this one, so steel yourselves! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit mega...

Paddy Duffy is joined by Hannah Brown, Political Correspondent at The Herald. They discuss what it's like to get into journalism at the moment, the way stories are chosen and prioritised at the paper, as well as chatting about Scottish Labour's Silly Season, Q Manivannan's controversial comments, the Athenian basis for Count Binface (seriously!) and more on this week's Talk Media! Learn more about...

Paddy Duffy sits down with investigative inequalities journalist Eve Livingston to discuss the state of journalism today, her stories and how our perspectives can skew how we process media. It was great to have Eve's perspective, and I think you'll agree that Paddy does an excellent job in the Talk Media hot seat while Stuart's on holiday! Independent media analysis is harder than ever. Our suppor...

Paddy Duffy joins Stuart Cosgrove as the pair discuss the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the ugly scenes at the weekend as masked thugs threw nazi salutes at police, they cover County Mayo's big GAA win, and get in depth on what it takes to get a project made these days. It's a great episode of the show and it gets all around the houses. We really hope you enjoy! Recommendations: The People's Pool...

Talk Media is back! Angela Haggerty joins Stuart Cosgrove to talk about Andy Burnham's first moves as Prime Minister (including elevating Anas Sarwar to the House of Lords), they chat about the challenges facing Glasgow as The Commonwealth Games come to town, and they take a personal look at how parenting has changed in the face of incredible technological and media challenges. Next week's guest w...

Stuart Cosgrove is back, joined by Andrew McDonald from Politico to step behind the curtain of the Westminster Bubble. This week there's discussion on Andy Burnham's ascension to Prime Minister and the challenges that provides for journalists, and they talk about Nigel Farage's political nemesis, a 6,000 intergalactic warrior named Count Binface. Just another normal week in the media... Independen...

We are delighted that Patrick Harvie, long-serving Scottish Greens MSP and former Co-Leader of the party joined Stuart Cosgrove on this edition of Talk Media. They talked about a range of fascinating subjects and this is the only place that you'll find out what Patrick and Lorna Slater did after they stormed out of Bute House on that fateful day when their relationship with Humza Yousaf and the SN...

Stuart Cosgrove sits down with Catriona Stewart to analyse three big stories in the media this week; Andy Burnham and the prospect of a No. 10 in The North, Catriona's piece in The Scotsman about the state of the Scottish Care system, and The Tartan Army Homecoming... Independent media analysis is harder than ever. Our supporters allow us to stay forensic and un-influenced. Ad-free listening Suppo...

Stuart is back with Paddy Duffy as they digest the big stories in the media this week. They're looking at the fallout from Keir Starmer's resignation as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party, the reaction to the Tartan Army invasion of Miami (and the damp squib welcome that England fans received in Boston). This episode was recorded on Wednesday morning (24th June 2026) so we don't know if...

Stuart Cosgrove is joined by journalist Angela Haggerty to get behind the headlines from this week. Angela was present at the anti-racism protest in Glasgow, and they also take a look at the Tartan Army's invasion of the USA. Independent media analysis is harder than ever. Our supporters allow us to stay forensic and un-influenced. Ad-free listening Supporters-only episodes weekly Monthly special...

We are delighted to bring you something a little different this week in the company of multi award-winning journalist Will Hayward. Stuart and Will discuss Welsh politics, identity and how it all worked together to bring Plaid Cymru the leadership of the Senedd. For information on Will's books, have a look ⁠HERE⁠ You can read the Will Hayward newsletter on substack ⁠HERE⁠

Laura Webster, editor of The National, returns to the Talk Media hot seat as she and Stuart Cosgrove get behind the big stories of the week, talking more about the Peter Murrell scandal - specifically about the media's treatment of Nicola Sturgeon, touch on the ban on Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker entering the country and ask if degrees are even worth the paper they're printed on... All this and more...

Paddy Duffy returns to the Talk Media hot seat as he and Stuart Cosgrove get behind the big stories of the week, talking about the Peter Murrell scandal and the Section 30 vote in the Scottish Parliament... All this and more in your FREE AD-SUPPORTED version of Talk Media. Want to get TALK MEDIA fresh from the studio on the day of recording? Join the Supporters Club for £3.96/month at ⁠thebiglight...

Foreign Correspondent David Pratt (The National, The Herald) joins Stuart Cosgrove (Off The Ball, BBC Radio Scotland) to discuss the latest from the front lines of conflicts in Iran & Ukraine and how the UK media is portraying the conflicts. They also discuss the ongoing Labour leadership battle. Will it be Andy Burnham, Wes Streeting, or can Keir Starmer hang on? Want to get TALK MEDIA fresh from...

Paddy Duffy, the Quiz King of Glasgow, returns to give his verdict on the Holyrood elections. A Reform surge, a Labour collapse and an Independence Supporting majority. Who are the big winners in the new Scottish Parliament? Want to get TALK MEDIA fresh from the studio on the day of recording? Join the Supporters Club for £3.96/month at ⁠thebiglight.com/talkmedia⁠