Scotcast

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Gangster arrests in Dubai: who’s who?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002jtr1 Gangland boss Steven Lyons (pictured) has been arrested by police in Bali following an Interpol red alert. The BBC’s David Cowan tells us why the arrests of Lyons and his partner Amanda could mark a significant moment in an international investigation into organised crime. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk Picture credit: Spindrift

Martin Geissler joins David and Natalie to talk about our election interviews with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar (pictured left) and Russell Findlay of the Scottish Conservatives (pictured right). And as the Holyrood term concludes, what will we remember of the 2021-26 parliament? Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode of the Politics Show is hosted by David Wallace Lockhart and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Russell Findlay (pictured) only became an MSP in 2021. Three years later, he was elected to be the leader of the Scottish Conservatives. He talks to Martin about his previous career as a journalist uncovering organised crime in Scotland, the day in 2015 when a gangster came to his door to throw acid in his face, and how this incident led him towards politics. 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 ‘Malcolm Offord: the election interview’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002scz4 Reform UK's leader in Scotland Malcolm Offord (pictured) has apologised for a 'crude joke' he made about the late pop star George Michael at a rugby club dinner in 2018. We ask the BBC's Phil Sim and pollster Mark Diffley whether a string of controversies surrounding Nigel Farage's Holyrood candidates will do the party any electoral damage. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Anas Sarwar (pictured) has been Scottish Labour leader since 2021. He talks to Martin about his dramatic decision to call for the resignation of prime minister Keir Starmer and why he thinks so deeply about fatherhood. 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 'Can we afford another cost of living crisis?': https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002sps5 The CEO of Centrica, which owns British Gas, says further North Sea oil and gas exploration should be allowed to help alleviate potential price rises. As the world faces an energy shock in the wake of the war in Iran, we ask energy correspondent Kevin Keane whether Chris O’Shea (pictured) has a point. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller and David Wallace Lockhart. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Martin Geissler joins Natalie and Lynsey to talk about our election interviews with Scottish Green co-leader Gillian Mackay and John Swinney of the SNP. And from assisted dying to greyhound racing to Brazilian butt lifts: why have MSPs been voting on so many laws in such a short space of time? Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode of the Politics Show is hosted by Natalie Higgins and Lynsey Bews. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

John Swinney has been SNP leader and First Minister of Scotland since 2024. He talks to Martin about feeling the “love of God” and why he believes racism partly explains the popularity of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

MSPs have rejected a bill brought forward by Liam McArthur (pictured) which would have allowed a medically assisted death for terminally ill people with six months left to live. We ask the BBC’s Scotland Editor and Newscast regular James Cook how a majority of MSPs went from supporting the bill in May 2025 to voting it down 10 months later. Scotcast is the BBC's Scottish news podcast. This episode was hosted by Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Gillian Mackay (pictured) was elected co-leader of the Scottish Greens alongside Ross Greer in 2025.She talks to Martin about 'rebuilding trust' between her party and the SNP, and her childhood bullying ordeal.Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler.Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk