Scotcast

Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr - high-profile members of the Lyons crime gang - have been shot dead at Monaghans Bar in Fuengirola, Andalucia. Livvy Haydock, who hosted the BBC podcast Gangster: The Story of the Daniels and the Lyons, tells us how a decades-old grudge may have led to their brutal killing. And Natalie’s been on the trail of Nigel Farage as campaigning heats up ahead of the Hamil...

Professor Devi Sridhar (pictured) became a household name in Scotland as a key health advisor to Nicola Sturgeon during the Coronavirus pandemic. She tells Martin Geissler about the death threats she received, her experience on an NHS waiting list, and why Scots aren’t living long enough. Devi Sridhar is a professor of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, and author of a new book,...

Stuart Ralston (pictured) is the latest Scottish chef to be awarded a Michelin star. He tells Martin about his journey - from being stabbed twice in school to working under Gordon Ramsay in New York - and running four Edinburgh restaurants, including the award-winning Lyla. And from bugs to camel's milk: Laura and Martin share their weirdest food moments. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcas...

Nigel Farage has defended a controversial Reform UK advert about Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. We ask the BBC’s David Wallace Lockhart why Mr Farage is doubling down over the social media post, described as 'blatantly racist' by first minister John Swinney. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing sc...

Three teenagers have died due to knife crime in Scotland in a year, while police and politicians are concerned about a rise in violence in and around schools. We ask Scotland’s former violence reduction tzar, Karyn McClusky (pictured), how bad the problem is. And Martin tells Laura a tale of meeting a young explorer in war-torn Baghdad. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geis...

The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has proposed new net zero goals to the Scottish Government after it scrapped annual targets. CCC member Professor Keith Bell (pictured) tells us why switching to electric vehicles and heat pumps should be priorities. And we ask the BBC’s Kevin Keane if the financial rewards are enticing enough for people to do so. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with...

Alba MSP Ash Regan’s (pictured) Prostitution Bill could make it illegal to pay for sexual services. Martin asks the former SNP leadership candidate how her suggested law change, which has been criticised by some who work in the industry, will protect women. And Natalie and Martin discuss your reaction to our interview with Rose Docherty: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002c1j8 Scotcast is the BB...

Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of 'capitulating' to the European Union by some sections of Scotland's fishing industry. Business correspondent David Henderson explains why the prime minister prioritised other sectors following the first UK-EU summit since Brexit. And we ask political editor Glenn Campbell whether the UK will eventually rejoin the EU. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast,...

Rose Docherty was the first person charged with allegedly breaking Scotland’s buffer zone law, banning protests near abortion clinics. In an exclusive interview, Martin asks the 74-year-old if she was deliberately testing the new legislation before she was handcuffed by police in February 2025. And Rose tells us why she is refusing to accept a formal warning from the authorities. You can listen to...

Water scarcity warnings have been issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) amid a lengthy hot and dry spell of weather. We ask freshwater scientist Dr Rhian Thomas from Glasgow University and the BBC's Kevin Keane why experts are concerned about a lack of rain. And Martin tells Laura the story of Millie, the fare-dodging dog. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Mar...

A proposal to legalise assisted dying has been backed in principle by MSPs. The BBC’s Kirsten Campbell explains why the bill, brought forward by Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur (pictured), won’t necessarily become law. And MSPs Patrick Harvie and Pam Duncan-Glancy (also pictured) tell us why they voted for and against it respectively. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissle...

Norma and Michelle are both living with life-changing health conditions. But they disagree on whether it should become legal to give terminally-ill people assistance to end their lives. As MSPs prepare to vote on the broad principles of a proposed assisted dying bill, Norma and Michelle explain their perspectives on this emotive and controversial issue. If you are suffering distress or despair and...

The UK is at the forefront of an AI copyright debate, with politicians deciding whether to allow AI models to use music without paying artists for their work. Scottish band Glasvegas joined more than a thousand artists in releasing a silent album in protest at the plans. They want the government to side with creatives over technology companies. Robert Allan, lead guitarist in the band (pictured) a...

The alcohol ban on ScotRail trains, which has been in place since the Covid pandemic, will be scrapped. Martin and Laura discuss why the Scottish Government dropped the measure. And we ask Kirsty Mulcahy (pictured) from Sober Buzz what the change tells us about our drinking culture. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch wi...

First Minister John Swinney has revealed his programme for government for the next year to MSPs at Holyrood - including plans to scrap peak rail fares, tackle youth anti-social behaviour on buses and to increase in GP appointments. Oppositions parties say his government has run out of ideas. And with one year to go before Scots go to the polls, we ask Bernard Ponsonby and Andy Maciver (pictured) t...

Scots are, on average, having fewer children than ever before. And our population is ageing rapidly. We ask demographer Paul Morland, author of ‘No One Left: Why the World Needs More Children’, why our falling birth rate is such a big problem – and how we can fix it. And Kryptonite: Martin responds to Laura and Natalie’s allegation he had no idea what he was talking about. Scotcast is the BBC’s Sc...

Actor, comedian and star of ‘Chewin’ the Fat’, Karen Dunbar, drops by the studio to discuss fame, cancel culture and what it means to laugh. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. This episode contains some use of strong language. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Jim Ratcliffe (pictured), part-owner of the Grangemouth refinery, has blamed carbon taxes after it stopped processing crude oil. We ask energy historian Ewan Gibbs and the BBC’s Kevin Keane what led to the loss of 430 jobs at the 100-year-old site. And Laura and Natalie question whether Martin really understands Kryptonite. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura M...

First Minister John Swinney says rap group Kneecap should be axed from Glasgow's TRNSMT music festival after old footage emerged of one of its members appearing to say: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP." Former Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill tells Laura why Mr Swinney's intervention is “utterly pointless” and why the group, who have apologised to the families of murdered M...

Why is Nicola Sturgeon yet to respond to the UK Supreme Court’s gender ruling? The BBC’s David Wallace Lockhart explains why some are keen to hear from the former First Minister. And employment lawyer Ingrid McGhee and Nick McKerrell, a law lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University, give Laura expert takes on what new Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) guidance means for trans people in p...

The future of River City has been the subject of debate in the Scottish Parliament after the BBC’s decision to cancel the long-running soap due to "changing viewing patterns". Actor Tom Urie, who played Big Bob in the show, tells us how important it has been in launching careers. And we ask TV critic Siobhan Synott if Scotland is a place for creatives to thrive. And what should we do about 'headph...

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage says 'the Scottish political establishment is scared' of his party after being excluded from a summit organised by First Minister John Swinney. We ask Nicola Sturgeon’s former chief of staff Liz Lloyd whether Mr Swinney’s description of Mr Farage’s party as 'far right' is fair. And as rumours swirl about the celebrity lineup, would Martin and Laura prefer to be a Fait...

The Scottish Government has accepted that it has an 'obligation' to move at pace to implement the effects of the UK Supreme Court’s decision that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. Meanwhile, a top Scottish lawyer, Roddy Dunlop, has criticised Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman for what he described as 'reprehensible' comments attacking the judiciary. Ms Chapman - the deput...

Anne Marie Ward from Faces and Voices of Recovery UK has dedicated her life to advocating for those recovering from addiction. She tells us why we need to think differently about our drugs deaths crisis. And gives her take on drug consumption rooms, which we talked about in the very first episode of Scotcast. You can listen to ‘UK’s first drug supervision room opens’ here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/so...

With a third of Scots classed as obese, it’s no wonder weight-loss medicines like Ozempic, which isn’t approved in the UK, are in demand. Pharmacist Sehar Shahid, who prescribes Wegovy and Mounjaro, tells Martin about the complications people are risking by getting these drugs without a prescription. You can listen to our first episode on so-called ‘skinny jabs’, 'Can weight-loss jabs save the NHS...