Scots Whay Hae!

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to Etienne Kubwabo, the Writer/Director/Producer of the new film from Mile Away Films, 'The Difference Between Us', as well as some of the cast - Craig Andrew Mooney, Alex Jackson, Paul Stirrat, and Wam Siluka Jr - to learn all about this debut feature. Etienne sets out the inspiration behind the film, the personal nature of the production,...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to writer Rebecca Smith about her new book 'Rural: The Lives of the Working Class Countryside' (published by William Collins) which is part memoir, part examination of the sociopolitical construct of the countryside, something which is all too rarely written about. Rebecca explains her reasons for writing the book, the difficulty in contextu...

For the latest podcast Ali spoke to writer and academic David Manderson to talk all things Alan Sharp, who is the subject of David's new book 'The Anti-hero's Journey: The Work and Life of Alan Sharp'. David explains what drew him to write about his subject, Sharp's early life and writing, the move into radio and TV, a remarkable success in Hollywood, the mystery of the 'mi...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to poet, playwright, and now podcaster Hannah Lavery about Quines Cast - the podcast she hosts alongside Stellar Quines' Artistic Director & CEO Caitlin Skinner - Series 2 of which is currently being recorded across a number of live events before being available to catch up with in podcast form later in the year. Hannah talks about how Quine...

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali was joined once again by writer and journalist Peter Ross to talk about his latest book 'Steeple Chasing: Around Britain By Church'. Peter talked about why he wanted to write it, the relationship to his previous publication 'A Tomb With A View', the structure of the book, how churches engage with the senses, the future of these buildings, church art,...

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali caught up with Gaelic poet Niall O'Gallagher to talk about his book of 'Selected Poems The Sounds Of Love - Fuaimean Gràidh', which Niall was kind enough to read from. The conversation touched upon translation - including trusting your translators - the process from the poet's point of view, the themes which run through the collection, viewing his ol...

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali spoke to Katch Holmes about this year's Knockengorroch Music Festival which will be celebrating its 25th anniversary. Katch talks about the early years of the festival, how it has grown, the ideas and ideals behind it, this year's programme and the challenges involved, what to expect other than the music (including various workshops), the environmental initi...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! Podcast Ali spoke with performance duo Sarah Rose Graber and Ruxy Cantir to talk about their family-fun and inspiring new show 'Two in a Barrel', which is on tour across Scotland this Spring. They set out the ideas and themes behind the show, the importance of performing to families, their shared theatrical background in clowning, the joy of touring and reach...

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to artists Angie Lewin & Rebecca Collins about their part in the Welcoming Spring exhibition at The Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh. Angie and Rebecca talk about the exhibition, their work and processes, celebrating Scottish nature, the importance of their surroundings in their paintings, and what it's like when you show your work publicly. Th...

For the latest podcast Ali spoke to Indigo Korres, who is the programme co-ordinator of the Scottish Queer International Film Festival's Trans Generational Tour which kicks off in Inverness on the 22nd April. Indigo talks about the history of SQIFF, the aims and ideas behind the Tour, gives a breakdown of the itinerary and what attendees can expect from the programme, details how people can ta...

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali spoke to Olaf Furniss, journalist and founder of Born To Be Wide, an organisation which hosts music business seminars and Scotland's music industry convention/showcase Wide Days, which this year is on between 13-15th April in Edinburgh. The two talk about the history of Born To Be Wide, this year's Wide Days, what people can expect, how they can attend and g...

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali spoke once again to writer David F. Ross to talk about his most recent novel 'Dashboard Elvis Is Dead', which is out now published by Orenda Books. The two caught up in Ali's kitchen and the conversation covers David's reasons for wanting to write this book, the inspirations behind it, the strong bonds created between author and their characters, why...

The latest SWH! podcast is all about this year's Glasgow Short Film Festival, with Ali joined by Programme Director Sanne Jehoul and filmmaker Duncan Cowles. Sanne gives us a bit of background to the festival, takes us through some of the highlights, talks about the competitions which are so important to every festival, the art of programming, the complex question as to what constitutes a &#39...

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali caught up with previous guest, writer Catriona Child, to talk about her latest novel 'Fade Into You', which is published by Luath Press. The two talk about the writing of the book, the inspirations behind it, the setting of the 1990s, the soundtrack, the importance to being true to the past, and whole lot more. They also discuss the teenage years and how keenly ever...

For the latest podcast - the second of our Glasgow Film Festival specials - Ali catches up with musician and composer Scott Twynholm about his work on James Price's 'Dog Days' which premiered earlier in the week. Scott talks about how he came to work on 'Dog Days', collaborating with the director and editor, how every project is different and brings its own challenges, how the film was received by...

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali spoke to writer and journalist (former BBC Foreign Correspondent, no less) Martin Patience to talk about his debut crime novel 'The Darker The Night', which is published by Polygon Books. The two talk about Martin's reasons for writing it, what he found challenging writing fiction, how his journalism fed into the novel, Glasgow as a character, the perspective living...

For the latest podcast, and the first of our Glasgow Film Festival podcasts for 2023, Ali spoke to Muta'Ali, the director of the documentary 'Cassius X: Becoming Ali'. The two talk about the making of the film, Muta'Ali's initial involvement, the importance of Executive Producer Mick McAvoy, working with writer Stuart Cosgrove (whose book 'Cassius X' is the inspiration for the film), the challenge...

For the latest SWH! podcast we welcomed back previous guest Rodge Glass (right) to talk about Gray Day 2023 (Saturday 25th Feb) - the third annual celebration of the life and work of Alasdair Gray.  This year the inspiration is his 1992 novel 'Poor Things', and Rodge talks about the novel, how it fits into the Gray canon, the event at Glasgow's Oran Mor on the evening of the 25th and who will...

For the latest podcast, Ali spoke to writer Allyson Shaw about her book 'Ashes & Stones: A Scottish Journey In Search of Witches and Witness' which examines the Scottish witch hunts and trials of the 16th-18th century, uncovering stories untold, and bearing witness to the people behind them. 'Ashes & Stones' is part historical investigation, part travelogue, part memoir, and Allyson talks...

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali spoke to writer Leila Aboulela to talk about her latest novel, 'River Spirit', which will be published with Saqi Books on the 7th March. Leila spoke about her reasons for writing it, the research required, her interest in Sudanese history, why this period is so important to the country and its people, exploring history through fiction, managing the balance between r...

For the latest podcast Ali spoke to theatre director Tania Azevedo and musician and composer Finn Anderson about the new folk musical A Mother’s Song which will has its World Premiere at the Macrobert Arts Centre in Stirling from 23 - 26 February 2023. The three talk about the ideas behind A Mother's Song and its years in the making, and how it has developed over those years, Tania and Finn also s...

Each week, for the Scots Whay Hae! Radio Show, Ali interviews the artists of the week. Usually the interviews are around 10-15mins, with the unedited versions available on our YouTube channel. Last Saturday's was a chat with Gill Higgins and Hannah Jarrett-Scott from the wonderful CLR Theory, and we blethered on for nearly 40mins so we thought is was too good not to make it into a podcast episode,...

For the first SWH! podcast of 2023 Ali spoke to Dawn Taylor, the Artistic Director & CEO at Puppet Animation Scotland, to learn all about this year's MANIPULATE International Festival of Visual Theatre which runs from 2nd - 12th February. Now in its 16th year, this year's festival will be the biggest yet and Dawn talks about the challenges met during lockdown and the valuable lessons learned,...

For our final podcast of 2022, Ali once again jumps on Zoom to talk to Andy, his brother who runs a gallery in Braemar, for what has become a regular end of year chat. The two talk about the highlights of their cultural year, which includes recorded music, live gigs, books, art, podcasts, films, magazines, & more. We hope you excuse this self-indulgence and enjoy the chat, and that you find so...

For the latest SWH! podcast, and the last of our Best of 2022 pods, Ali is joined once more by regulars Chris Ward and 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 films you may have missed first time around, and we’re sure you’ll find something to tickle your fancy.   They talk a...