Scotcast

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: 'Has Burnham caved on indyref2?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00315w2 The first ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have declared that 'Westminster's time is coming to an end' at a summit in Cardiff. We speak to The Herald’s Rebecca McCurdy and our Westminster correspondent Paris Gourtsoyannis whether the gathering boosts SNP leader John Swinney’s independence strategy. Photo: PA Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘How we convicted killer husband and made legal history’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002tzhl Sexual crimes recorded by Police Scotland are at their highest level since 1971. With the Scottish Government preparing to recognise misogyny as a "distinct form of prejudice and abuse" in law, we speak to Karyn McCluskey (pictured left), formerly of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, and criminal defence lawyer Tony Lenehan KC (pictured right). Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘Has Swinney had a good (re)start?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0030xdv David, Lynsey and former Alba Party adviser Kirk Torrance talk about Andy Burnham’s independence comments; SNP ministers dealing with negative headlines; and Nicola Sturgeon teaming up with Michael Gove to take on Russia. Photo: PA Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode of the Politics Show is hosted by David Wallace Lockhart and Lynsey Bews. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘Is the far-right behind the demos on our streets?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002yw1x Police are treating a fire at a housing association tenement in Glasgow as deliberate amid social media claims it was being renovated for asylum seekers. We ask the BBC’s Chris Clements and Jen Gracie from the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations who gets priority for social housing in Scotland – and why we’re not building enough homes. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘What is school for? - The Education Debate’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0ngbw3l There has been a decline in attainment in maths and reading in Scotland, according to the Pisa international study of education standards in secondary schools. We ask the BBC's Lucy Adams and former headteacher John McGhee (pictured), Glasgow City Council’s director of education, why standards are falling. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘What will Burnham do about North Sea oil and gas?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002yvvy The UK government is set to approve the Jackdaw gas field off the coast of Aberdeen, the BBC understands. We talk to the BBC’s James Cook and Paris Gourtsyannis about the environmental and political significance of allowing the project to go ahead. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Who hacked M&S’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002d80d Jude McCorry (pictured) is chief executive of the Edinburgh-based Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland. She talks to us about 'ethical' hacking and the inside story of the cyber attack on car dealership Arnold Clark in 2022. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘Will the NHS shake-up end A&E ‘corridor care’? https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0030yhw David, Lynsey and Nicola Sturgeon’s former chief of staff Liz Lloyd talk about the Programme for Government; the SNP’s independence strategy; and why First Minister John Swinney (pictured) was concerned about Stephen Flynn's World Cup plans. Photo: PA Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode of the Politics Show is hosted by David Wallace Lockhart and Lynsey Bews.

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘How to fix the NHS – The Health Debate’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0ndvclm In his Programme for Government, First Minister John Swinney promised 'radical' reform of public services, including cutting the number of health boards. We ask A&E consultant Dr Jayne McLaren, vice-chair of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine in Scotland, whether NHS reform can help hospitals’ beleaguered emergency departments. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by John MacKay and Laura Miller. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘How we'll avoid a food shortage’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00300w9 Twenty-three organisations have written a joint-letter to John Swinney (pictured), urging the First Minister to scrap plans for a legal cap on some food and drink prices. We ask the BBC’s David Wallace Lockhart and Ewan MacDonald-Russell from the Scottish Retail Consortium whether the policy, a key pledge in the SNP's Holyrood 2026 election manifesto, is likely to be implemented. Photo: PA Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by John MacKay. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘Who’s to blame for Old Firm bedlam?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002sdxp Rangers and Celtic will both play a game behind closed doors as punishment for the crowd trouble which marred a Scottish Cup tie between the clubs. The BBC’s Chris McLaughlin explains why the Scottish Football Association (SFA) imposed such a tough penalty. And we talk to former Celtic and Hibernian player Scott Allan about an SFA 'summit' on the future of Scottish football. Photo: PA Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by John MacKay. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you might also like: 'Darren McGarvey on modern masculinity and Jason Arday' https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0030l83 Crime writer Val McDermid and Geographer Royal for Scotland Jo Sharp (both pictured) have released their first co-authored book, 'This Door of the Seas'. They talk to us about the overlooked, but significant, period of Scottish history which inspired the novella. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler and Laura Miller in front of a live audience at the Edinburgh Festivals. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: 'Stephen Flynn: I don’t want to be First Minister (yet)' https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0p5q38y Lynsey talks to the BBC's Andrew Kerr and ex-Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross about the Scottish Government policy, championed by Education Secretary Màiri McAllan (pictured), of giving free school bags to P1 pupils; the spending challenges facing ministers; and the pitfalls of politicians getting creative on social media. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode of the Politics Show is hosted by Lynsey Bews. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: 'Why Lockerbie is back in the news' https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00272kt The trial of a Libyan man over the 1988 Lockerbie bombing has been postponed for a third time after new evidence emerged. The BBC’s David Cowan talks to us about the latest developments in the story. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by John MacKay and Laura Miller. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Darren McGarvey (pictured), the author of Poverty Safari and Trauma Industrial Complex, has recorded an audio essay for BBC Radio 4 called 'Confessions of a Performative Male': https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002zhnj Almost a decade on from MeToo gaining traction, he tells us why he thinks the movement pushed some men towards the so-called manosphere. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by John MacKay. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘Can police stop what’s going on in Glasgow?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0030b0y BBC Disclosure’s Welcome to Glasgow, which documented blatant drug deals and racial violence, has divided opinion over its portrayal of the city. We talk to BBC Scotland's editor of long-form journalism, Shelley Jofre, about criticism of her team's documentary, which was fronted by BBC reporter Myles Bonnar (pictured). Scotcast is the BBC's Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by John MacKay. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: 'Why Nicola Sturgeon is still making headlines' https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00300qp SNP MSP Stephen Flynn (pictured) was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport by John Swinney in May 2026. He talks to Martin about his political ambitions, Nicola Sturgeon, North Sea oil and gas and his reading habits. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler in front of a live audience at the Edinburgh Festivals. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘The race to replace Sarwar turns sour’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002zrcr Michael Marra (pictured left) and Joe Fagan (right) are vying to succeed Anas Sarwar as Scottish Labour leader. They talk to us about their party’s failures, the route to indyref2 and guilty pleasures. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by David Wallace Lockhart. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: 'The revolt against data centres' https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0nxw722 The Scottish Government has tightened regulations on planning permission for new data centres. We speak to Mark Wilson, CEO of ILI Group, the company behind plans for the world's second-largest data centre project in Auchtertool in Fife. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: 'Who's to blame for our ferry problems?' https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002td6k Ferguson Marine, the last commercial shipyard on the River Clyde, is to cut about a quarter of its workforce. The BBC’s David Henderson and David Wallace Lockhart explain why the nationalised company is struggling to secure work. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk