Scottish Independence Podcasts

We chat with Grace Stevens from the Glasgow branch of Living Rent, Scotland's tenants and community union.  We cover current campaigns, tactics and aspirations for a society bult, led by and organised for the people. Key topics discussed: 00:00:40   What is Living Rent? 00:02:13   How could the Tourist Tax levy be used to benefit everybody 00:15:25   Catching Transport Minister Stephen Flynn's att...

Data Centres in Scotland: Gold Rush or Bubble?  We join campaign group Pensioners for Independence at the Bacchus Bar in Glasgow to find out more.   Dr Craig Dalzell, Head of Policy at the Scottish Common Weal, takes on the most pressing question facing Scotland's energy-rich future and unpacks the real economics behind the hype: Can Scotland afford to pass this up? Or are we about to cover our la...

The Scottish and Welsh parliamentary elections in May this year resulted in three of the four nations of the UK electing First Ministers who support self determination for their people.   This week a meeting took place in Cardiff between the party leaders of the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Fein to explore areas of common cause in which they can co-operate to further their respective agendas.  They t...

What does the future of public transport in Glasgow really look like? In this episode, we chat with Susie Wood from the Get Glasgow Moving campaign to explore one of Scotland's most ambitious transport initiatives. We look at: The campaign's manifesto — what are they fighting for, and what's their vision for Glasgow's commuters? The franchising framework — what d opportunities does this model pres...

Pensioners for Independence hosts guest speaker Gordon Morgan, Commonweal energy researcher, who delivers an insightful presentation on nuclear energy generation and the broader nuclear industry. In this episode, Gordon explores the history of nuclear power and changing attitudes within the Uk political sphere . Following his presentation, Gordon engages directly with our audience, answering a wid...

Join us for an enlightening discussion with Bill Kidd, former Scottish MSP and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, as he shares his expertise on one of the most pressing global issues: nuclear weapons and energy policy. In this Pensioners for Independence meeting, Bill draws on his extensive background in peace activism to explore the complex intersections of nuclear weapons proliferation, energy security,...

81 Years After Hiroshima: Scottish CND Commemorates & Campaigns for Nuclear Disarmament This August, Scottish CND marked the 81st anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing with two powerful ceremonies—a gathering at Glasgow's Peace Garden and a vigil at Faslane Nuclear Base. Join Fiona and Marlene as they reflect on these moving commemorations and what they reveal about our ongoing struggle for a n...

Making Campaigns Count: The Science of Effective Activism What separates a campaign that changes the world from one that fades into obscurity? In this episode, Fiona and Marlene are joined by returning guest Dr Craig Dalzell from the think tank Commonweal to explore the research-backed principles of effective activism and civil resistance. Drawing on the groundbreaking work of academics like Erica...

"Building Scotland's Future Now: A Cross-Generational Conversation with Young Scots for Independence" Join Fiona and Marlene as they sit down with Tommy Kelly and Sarah McCahill, the convenor and vice convenor of Young Scots for Independence, for an inspiring intergenerational dialogue that bridges five decades. Despite a 50-year age gap, this dynamic conversation reveals surprising common ground...

Fiona and Marlene dive deep into Bill Ramsay's compelling presentation on the rise of inequality in Britain since the Thatcher era. From the birth of neoliberalism to the stark wealth gaps we see today, this episode traces four decades of economic policy and its ripple effects across society. What started as an ideological shift has reshaped the union—and the consequences are only becoming clearer...

🔌 Who Should Own Scotland's Renewable Energy? | Our Power Campaign Scotland's renewable energy boom is generating billions—but who's actually benefiting? In this episode, Fiona and Marlene chat with Rowan Aitchison from the brand-new campaign group Our Power, a coalition pushing to shift the unequal ownership of Scotland's renewable resources from private corporations to public hands. If you beli...

The Celtic Alliance: A New Political Horizon | Brussels Trip Part 3 After ten years of Brexit, something remarkable is emerging across the Celtic nations. In this final episode of our Brussels mini-series, we move beyond the question of ending Brexit to explore something far more significant: the growing political alignment between Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland—three nations now governed b...

What happens when activists from campaign groups Yes for EU and Europe for Scotland meet with an EU Parliament member to discuss the seismic shift in UK politics?  On the 10th anniverary of the Brexit vote we travelled to Brussels for informal discussions across a wide range of topics. In this episode Austrian MEP Thomas Waitz sits down with a delegation of activists from Scotland to explore the i...

10 Years After Brexit: Scotland's European Journey 🇪🇺🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Ten years on from the Brexit vote, Scotland's relationship with Europe tells a different story. While the UK voted to Leave, Scotland voted decisively to Remain—and support for EU membership has only grown stronger. In this first episode, Fiona and Marlene from IndyPodcasters join campaign groups yes4EU and Europe for Scotland on an ext...

In this episode, Fiona and Marlene chat with Stuart Donald about his landmark research paper, "Lifting the Lid on Britain's Pressure Cooker Politics: How Inequality and Neoliberal Capture Broke First Past the Post." Stuart reveals how the UK's First-Past-The-Post voting system is directly linked to the chronic inequality crisis we see across Britain today. Drawing on 40 years of data on regional d...

What does it take to build a grassroots movement for Scottish independence? In this episode, Fiona and Marlene sit down with Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp, founder of Believe in Scotland, to discuss the organization's current campaign focus, their active petition, and the strategic work underway to advance the case for independence. From mobilizing communities to shaping the independence debate, Gordon sh...

We catch up with Wendy MacDonald and Sean Mellon from All Under One Banner to pull back the curtain on a mainstay of grassroots activism.  How do you organise a march that draws thousands?  How did they get involved with the movement and what's coming next for this dynamic organisation? We delve into the logistics, the passion and the community sprity behind Scotland's most iconic peaceful demonst...

Fiona and Marlene are back for Part 2 of our Election Autopsy series, this week looking at Persuasion UK polling data that reveals what Scottish voters actually care about.  Discover the issues, values, and motivations behind party choices—and what these insights mean for future campaigns and activism. A data-driven follow-up to our Election Autopsy Part 1 reaction episode. Key topics covered: 00:...

Join Fiona and Marlene as they chat with Mike Small, editor of Bella Caledonia, about the platform's exciting 20th anniversary milestone. Mike shares Bella Caledonia's ambitious plans for the future, including a 20-day crowdfunder designed to support the publication's next chapter. A key focus of their expansion is broadening the voices featured on the platform—with a particular commitment to publ...

The dust has settled on Scotland's latest parliamentary elections—but the independence debate is far from over. Fiona and Marlene sit down with young activist Liam Mosson to unpack what the results really mean for Scotland's future. How are you feeling about what just happened at the ballot box? Elated or deflated?  Let us know in the comments section.   Where do independence movements go from her...

#AuldAlliance #ScotlandFrance #EuropeDay #CelticFestivals #FestivalEcossais1782 #ScottishCulture Join Fiona and Marlene as they celebrate Europe Day (9th May) by exploring the centuries-old cultural bond between Scotland and France! In this heartwarming episode, they chat with guest Jane MacKinnon, a Scot now based in France, about the vibrant Celtic festivals keeping the Auld Alliance alive . Fro...

With the Holyrood parliamentary election just around the corner, we've gathered some of our activist friends around the table to dissect the 2026 campaign. What moments made us sit up and take notice? What surprised us? And what had us rolling our eyes? From grassroots organizing to party messaging, we're breaking down what's worked, what hasn't, and what gives us genuine hope for Scottish politic...

Join Fiona and Marlene as they chat with artist and anti-racism champion  Malini Chakrabarty about her powerful work, her experiences living in Scotland, and the crucial skills needed to build a more equitable society. In this wide-ranging conversation, Malini shares both the positive and challenging aspects of her journey in Scotland, offering authentic insights into what it means to be a woman o...

Fiona and Marlene are joined by Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp for an update on  Believe in Scotland's campaign to end the energy rip-off. Thousands of Scottish households and businesses are demanding answers. Despite being an energy-rich nation with abundant renewable resources, Scotland pays the highest energy prices in the UK—a disparity that defies logic and hits hardworking families where it hurts mos...

Latest in our series of interviews with candidates standing for election to Holyrood 2026, our guest this week is Heather Anderson who is standing for the Dundee City West constituency for the SNP. Key themes: 00:01:20 On the Dundee campaign trail 00:03:13 SNP manifesto snippets 00:08:57 Youth hustings 00:11:52 Is low key campaigning a unionist tactic? 00:19:26 Independence is urgent 00:22:27 Impa...