Scotcast

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...

President Trump has accused both Israel and Iran of violating a ceasefire he helped broker. As oil prices see-saw, we ask economist Mairi Spowage and energy industry leader David Whitehouse why energy prices matter so much during times of conflict. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. This episode includes some strong language. Get in...

Former first minister Humza Yousaf is among the loudest critics of US attacks, approved by President Donald Trump, on the Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites. The MSP and ex-SNP leader tells us why he thinks Iran and its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will retaliate – and how that could lead to 'all-out war'. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Mille...

New government guidance on dealing with violence and aggression in schools has been criticised at First Minister's Questions (FMQs). We ask The Herald's education correspondent James McEnaney whether a record number of pupils with additional support needs (ASN) is a factor. And teacher Karen Watson tells us how the classroom, and her job, has changed. And Martin and Laura debate how many sweeties...

As the Labour government in Westminster cuts benefit spending by £5 billion as part of its Welfare Reform Bill, one expert group is urging politicians to back a guaranteed minimum income level for everyone. One of those experts, Chris Birt (pictured) from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, tells us how the Minimum Income Guarantee would work. And Martin reveals what he learned from a 900-gram ball of...

The role of AI is growing in our day-to-day lives, but will it replace us in the jobs we do? We ask Professor Richard Susskind what the rise of artificial intelligence will mean for our work, the economy and the future of humankind. 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

Tommy Sheridan (pictured) made his name in politics protesting the poll tax and leading the Socialist party into the Scottish Parliament. He was later jailed for perjury, but should that conviction prevent him starting a new career as a social worker? He tells Martin about taking Glasgow City Council to court, his 'gender-critical views' and hopes of a political comeback. Scotcast is the BBC’s Sco...

Following the SNP’s by-election defeat to Scottish Labour last week, reports of a challenge to John Swinney have surfaced. We ask David Wallace Lockhart if that talk should be taken seriously - and what he makes of Rachel Reeves' spending plans. 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

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has promised public money for the Acorn carbon capture project in Aberdeenshire in the UK Government's spending review. The funding has been broadly welcomed by politicians and the energy industry, so why do Friends of the Earth call Acorn a 'greenwashing scam'? We ask their climate campaigner Alex Lee (pictured) and the BBC’s Kevin Keane. And after the Flamingo Land Loch...

A shortage of legal aid lawyers could lead to industrial action and a bigger court backlog, Scotcast has been told. Simon Brown, president of the Scottish Solicitors Bar Association, tells us why so many are turning their backs on defending the accused – and why, despite the relatively poor pay, he loves the job. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and N...

Marks and Spencer is resuming online orders following a ransomware attack in April linked to hacking groups DragonForce and Scattered Spider. The BBC’s cyber correspondent Joe Tidy tells us about the gangs behind hacks on M&S, Co-op and public bodies – and what the hackers have told him. And Natalie and Martin discuss why Anas Sarwar said his Sunday morning interview with Martin was "embarrass...