Scots Whay Hae!

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to writer, and regular guest over the years, Louise Welsh to talk about her latest Rilke novel The Cut Up , which is published with Canongate Books. Louise begins with a brief introduction to the central character of Rilke, before talking about the first novel in which he featured, Louise's celebrated 2002 debut The Cutting Room , a book which h...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to composer and sound designer Oğuz Kaplangı to talk about his new album RESIST . Oğuz talks about the inspirations behind the project, the themes of resistance, solidarity, and human connection, the narrative which runs through the album, and his future plans for RESIST, which are very exciting. The two also discuss the importance of collaboration...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali caught up once again with Dawn Taylor, the Artistic Director & CEO at MANIPULATE Arts, to learn all about this year's MANIPULATE Festival which runs from 4th - 10th February. Now in its 19th year the festival promises something for everyone, and Dawn gives us an overview of the programme, a bit of history, the significance in supporting non-text b...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to Professor of History and Theory of Psychology at the University of Edinburgh (and former magician) Peter Lamont to talk about his latest book Radical Thinking: How To See The Bigger Picture, which is published by Swift Press. It's a continuation of a conversation the two had at last year's Aye Write Book Festival when an hour was nowhere...

For the first Scots Whay Hae! podcast of 2026, Ali spoke to writer and musician Peter May to talk about his new album Towards The Light , but so much more. Peter admits that despite his fame as a writer of crime fiction (31 novels to date), music was always his first love (despite some painful memories of early piano lessons) and he goes on to talk about his early years playing in bands, running a...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast, and the last of our Best of 2025 pods, Ali is joined once more by regulars Chris Ward and a returning Wesley Shearer to talk all things film, or at least to talk about their films of the year. Once again picking five each, they share their enthusiasm for the movies you may have missed first time around, and we’re sure you’ll find something to tickle your fan...

For our latest roundup of 2025 we look at the year in music, with Ali joined once again by musician and righteous supporter of Scottish music, Gefahrgeist's Fiona Liddell. As is now customary, they each pick 10 tracks to discuss which have left their mark over the last 12 months. As they make clear, they could easily have picked many, many, more examples from what was another incredible year f...

For this, the inaugural Scots Whay Hae! Best Crime Fiction podcast Ali was joined by writer Callum McSorley to talk about some of the best books published this year, and to take a look at what's coming in 2026. Each picking six of their favourites, the chat turns to great debuts, superb sequels, welcome returns, award winners, new voices, whisky, weekenders, even werewolves, and so much more!...

As is traditional, the first of our Best of 2025 podcasts is all about books, when once again Ali is joined by Publishing Scotland's Vikki Reilly to talk about the standouts of the year, and to give a heads up as to what's coming in 2026. The two talk fantastic fiction, non-fiction, plenty of prose, and even a little poetry. There are debuts to Last Words, complicated families, celebration...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to theatre director and producer David Hewitson who is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Theatre 118 , a new fringe venue dedicated to grassroots, DIY and emerging theatre makers. David gave some background to Theatre 118, where they are based and why, and what their aims are. The two then talk about the work of the Outer Spaces charity and th...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to returning guest, writer Tom Brogan to talk all about his latest book Dalglish: The Fifty Matches That Made the Player which is published by Pitch Publishing. This was a real treat for Ali as Kenny Dalglish is his first, and arguably greatest, hero, and the two talked about what the player, and the man, means to them both (and they are remarkably...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to writer, broadcaster and campaigner Darren McGarvey (also known as rapper Loki) to talk about his book and live show, Trauma Industrial Complex , and the album Not Funded By Creative Scotland , which are three central strands of the same multi-media project, and the two discuss just how they work together, but also stand alone. Darren talks about...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to to choreographer and dancer Himadri Madan to hear all about The Gaze – you, me, us, and them a new interactive installation with live performances which premieres at The Tramway in Glasgow on November 22nd before it goes to The Studio, Capital Theatre in Edinburgh on 28th February in the new year. Himadri expands on the brief description above, b...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast we welcome back writer Peter Ross to talk to Ali about his latest book Upon A White Horse: Journeys in Ancient Britain and Ireland - published by Headline - and which is the last in the 'fox trilogy' (and to find out what that refers to, you'll have to listen in). Peter gives an overview of the book, and how it fits alongside previous publications...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to crime writer Marion Todd to learn all about Dead Man's Shoes , the latest in the DI Clare Mackay series of thrillers. Marion talks about the challenges and advantages in writing a long-running series ( Dead Man's Shoes is the ninth entry) before giving a spoiler-free breakdown of the novel, explains what comes first - plot or people - and...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali caught up with Donald Smith, the director and founder of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, to hear all about this year's programme, which features over 120 events and which will take place in Edinburgh and all across Scotland from 22nd October - 1st November. Donald breaks down the title Lights Of The North and how that relates to the...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to writer Foday Mannah to hear all about his award-winning debut novel The Search for Othella Savage , which is published by Quercus Books, and which was shortlisted for this year's Bloody Scotland Debut Prize. Foday gives a brief synopsis of the novel, speaks about the real-life incident which inspired him to write it, and why it was important...

For the latest podcast Ali spoke to Scottish-Norwegian filmmaker Iain Forbes to hear all about his award-winning, and Oscar-qualified, short film After Dark . Iain talks about his Scottish roots, gives a brief summary of the film, the critical reception, how and where it was shot, the casting of his two leads, and the personal nature of the story. The two also discuss the themes which underpin eve...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to returning guest Graeme Macrae Burnet about his latest book Benbecula , which is the new entry in Polygon Books' Darkland Tales series of novellas which have quickly become essential reading. Graeme tells us how he came to write his Darkland Tale, why it was this story, the brutal true crime which is at its heart (and it is true, no matter wha...

The latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast is our latest collaboration with Bloody Scotland - Scotland's International Crime Writing Festival - where Ali spoke to the five shortlisted authors for this year's McIlvanney Prize which is awarded for the best Scottish crime book of the year. They include Tariq Ashkanani ( The Midnight King ), Liam McIlvanney ( The Good Father ), Callum McSorley ( Paper...

For the latest, and last, of this year's Scots Whay Hae! Fringe Preview podcasts Ali spoke to musician and storyteller Kirsty Law about her show Scotland Unsung , which is going to be at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on the Royal Mile from the 20th-24th August. Kirsty talks about the structure of the show, why she picked the songs she has, the happy accident of having an Edinburgh focus, th...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to writer and musician Andy Bollen about his latest book Definitely Maybe: The Birth, Death and Resurrection of Oasis , a timely publication - out now with Polygon Books. Although this book is ostensibly about the band, it's actually part-memoir concerning Andy's life in and around music, as well as an overview of British, and particularly S...

The latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast is the third of our Edinburgh Fringe Festival Previews, where Ali talks to a few of the artists who will be appearing at the Fringe this year. First of all actor, writer and theatre maker James Clements' tells us all about The Burns Project where we are promised "An immersive theatrical Burns experience like no other.". Without any spoilers, James t...

The latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast is the second of our Edinburgh Fringe Festival Previews, where Ali talks to a few of the artists who will be appearing at the Fringe this year. First of all writer/director Aoife Parr and composer and sound designer Tom Baines talked about their show Anatomy of Pain which is "An unflinching look at the NHS through the eyes of a young person’s struggle with a...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! Podcast Ali spoke to music journalist, critic (and tour guide) Fiona Shepherd to talk about Glasgow's Greatest Hits: Tales From The City Of Music which is published by Polygon Books. Fiona co-authored the book with Alison Stroak and Jonathan Trew with whom she also founded Glasgow Music City Tours. Fiona talks about Glasgow's reputation and status as a City o...