The ScotsCare podcast - with Marcus Railton

Featuring legendary music journalist Billy Sloan, whose remarkable 50-year career has placed him at the heart of the music scene. In conversation with Marcus, Billy reflects on his journey from a humble upbringing in Glasgow to becoming Scotland’s leading pop writer. Taking a huge pay cut to pursue music journalism, his determination paved the way for a career that would see him interview icons in...

In this episode of the ScotsCare Podcast, Marcus Railton is joined by JJ Chalmers – former Royal Marine, Invictus Games medallist and broadcaster – for an open conversation about resilience, identity and life after service. JJ discusses growing up in Edinburgh, the values instilled by his family, and the path that led him from university and the Royal Marine Cadets into active service in Afghanist...

Actress Daniela Nardini, best known for This Life, joins Marcus Railton for a candid chat. She reflects on the fame brought by This Life, and the culture in Britain at that time, and why the role both opened doors and narrowed expectations. She discusses creating art during lockdown, and a major career shift into training as a CBT therapist, meaning she stresses less about her acting career. She s...

In this warm and engaging chat, actor Alison O’Donnell —known as Tosh in the BBC drama Shetland —joins Marcus Railton to talk about the twists and turns of her life and career. Alison reflects on growing up in Motherwell, briefly attempting a law degree, and ultimately following her passion for acting. She shares honest stories about the realities of early career life in London: constant house mov...

In this episode of the ScotsCare Podcast, Marcus Railton sits down with Scots poet and social media phenomenon Len Pennie for an open conversation. Len reflects on a pivotal 2025 – from launching poyums annaw to navigating personal healing and mental health. She shares insights into anxiety, explaining how she manages nerves on stage and why showing vulnerability can be an act of strength. A passi...

Christopher Tait - Bringing Robert Burns to the World In this special Burns episode, Marcus Railton sits down with Christopher Tait , Scotland’s leading Robert Burns performer—a man who has spent more than three decades bringing the Bard to life across the globe. Christopher first stepped into character as Burns in 1994, winning a national talent competition with his vivid portrayal of the poet’s...

Ross King  is one of Scotland’s best loved broadcasters, who is well known to many of us as the Los Angeles Showbiz Correspondent for ITV’s Good Morning Britain and Lorraine or even from the most recent season of Strictly Come Dancing. He comes from Glasgow, and cut his teeth on hospital radio, then onto London and the stage. He’s now been in LA for 25 years, presenting and intervie...

Alistair Heather is a Scottish historian, writer, and broadcaster known for his passionate work promoting Scots language, history and culture. He’s a regular voice on radio and podcasts, often exploring identity, heritage, and social justice. Historic Ally's evident passion for his subject has made him a hit on social media, where he's pulled in millions of viewers to his quick sketches about inte...

Lawson Muncaster is the co-founder of City A.M. , joins us to share his remarkable journey—from a dyslexic student to leading London’s daily business newspaper. He opens up about discovering his dyslexia at 30, how it shaped his communication and leadership style, and why relationships are at the heart of business. Lawson reflects on the impact of Covid and reinventing the paper’s digital presence...

Denise Mina's debut novel Garnethill was a bestseller and won the Crime Writers’ Association John Creasey Award for best debut. It was followed by Exile and Resolution, completing a trilogy of novels featuring Maureen O’Donnell, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. In this episode topics range from women in literature, success, empathy, image, social media and the effects of AI to come. Hosted on...

John Gordon Sinclair is a Glaswegian actor, best known for playing Gregory in the 1981 cult classic film Gregory's Girl. Aside from films, he's been in many TV shows and plays like Death in Paradise and An Actor's Life for Me. Acting wasn't his destiny, he just as easily could have ended up as an electrician, training as he was when he first entered the theatre. Marcus and John talk about 'ho...

Literary legend Sir Alexander McCall Smith joins the ScotsCare podcast to kick off series 3, with topics ranging from Scotland, community, positivity and negativity, advice, curiosity and writing, as well as the odd mention of ScotsCare! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jill Douglas is a journalist and sports presenter from the Borders, where she grew up in a small community on the family farm. How did she get from there to being one of the first female presenters on typically male dominated sports such as rugby union? Marcus chats about how she was set on becoming a journalist, what makes a good interview, as well as her great late friend Doddie Weir and the imp...

Chris Carse Wilson is an author and lifelong runner who uses exercise and nature to manage his mental health. Chris was diagnosed as autistic at the age of 40 and is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness. He wrote his well received debut novel Fray in 15 minutes stints on his commute to work at the V&A Dundee, where he was part of the team that created the new museum. He didn't eve...

Melanie Masson is originally from Glasgow, and shot to fame on the X-Factor in 2012, when she gave an amazing performance of Janis Joplin's Cry Baby. Before this she already had a great singing career, but left it to raise her two children. Melanie reflects on her X-Factor journey, the music industry, motherhood and how things are changing for women, if they really are as well as much more! Hosted...

From a working class, humble background, to taking on the world in a global role as Managing Director of Events for The Drum, one of the world’s largest media and marketing platforms, Lynn Lester also runs the podcast From Working Class to World Class, interviewing some top names that have believed and worked hard, from humble origins to achieve some amazing things. From Clydebank to where she is...

Russell has an interesting story, hailiing from Selkirk in the borders, with a life now that takes him around the world. As the first person in his family to go to higher education, he thought a solid career in banking would be the rest of his professional career, but realising that wasn't for him, he discovered a talent for communicating within business and specifically tech businesses. Working i...

Sanjeev chats about how his family moved from London to Glasgow when he was 3 and how the place has changed over the years, including his experience of being one of the few Asians in his school and neighbourhood. He talks about how he fell into a creative career, after studying Maths at University, and how he ended up playing Navid in the wonderful Still Game, as well as the other roles he has pla...

If you're a Scot and a Londoner, you might have heard of the Shoap, a deli in Islington that serves some amazing traditional Scottish scran, giving you a taste of home. It's the brainchild of Gregg Boyd, an economist turned food entreprenuer. Marcus and Gregg talk about how he got the project running, Scots food and the difference in culture for a Scot coming and living in London. Hosted on Acast....

The two meter man from Anchorage, Alaska chats to Marcus about he ended up pursuing his acting career in Scotland, after a stint in London, and going viral with his smorgasboard of regional Scottish accents! Tyler talks about what it takes to be an actor, and how some end up famous, whilst the equally talented can be less lucky. Also, about how he met Limmy's challenge of doing a good Scottish acc...

Sue Palmer, a former primary headteacher in Scotland, is a literacy specialist, writer, presenter and ‘childhood campaigner’. She has written over 200 books, software packages and TV programmes for schools on aspects of literacy and many hundreds of articles for the educational and national press. Over the last fifteen years, her books on child development in the modern world – notably  Toxic...

Sharon Small is a Scottish actress known for her work in film, radio, theatre, and television. Perhaps best known as Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, she is also known for her lead roles in Law & Order: UK, and most recently in the BBC thriller Nightsleeper. Hear how she grew up in Glasgow, and how she decided to become an actress and what it's like to work wit...

Dr Brett Grellier is a psychologist that supports some of our clients with his practice, Brett Grellier Psychology Services. The chat goes into some fascinating areas, such as how being homeless can affect your mental health and stop you getting back on your feet, as well as the mental health issues we all face - feeling stressed and overwhelmed in the busy modern world. Marcus get some insights i...

In this episode of the ScotsCare podcast, Marcus Railton sits down with Ruth Devlin, an educator specialising in the menopause. Despite being from Yorkshire, Ruth has lived in Scotland long enough to earn honorary Scot status, and her accent proves it. Ruth's work has been on Marcus's radar for a while, and their conversation covers a wide array of topics related to menopause, from symptoms to wor...

Marcus Railton sits down with John Webster, head of Scotland House in London. A fascinating journey from a working class background in Glasgow to the most senior government official representing Scotland in London. John talks about leaving a trade to join the world of diplomacy, and working all around the world in dicey places like Afghanistan and Chad, to eventually leading Scotland House and giv...