

Scotcast
BBC Radio Scotland
The BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 3, 2026 • 21min
A ‘food desert’ and the fight for a supermarket
Castlemilk is home to 14,000 people on the outskirts of Glasgow. We report on why – despite years of local campaigning – this suburb is still not home to a major supermarket. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Natalie Higgins. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Apr 2, 2026 • 27min
Politics Show: Candidate controversies and North Sea debate
David, Natalie and Phil discuss a string of controversies surrounding Holyrood election candidates and SNP leader John Swinney's softening stance on drilling for North Sea oil and gas. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode of the Politics Show is hosted by David Wallace Lockhart, Natalie Higgins and Phil Sim. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Apr 1, 2026 • 25min
Who's to blame for our ferry problems?
CalMac’s chief executive, Duncan Mackison, says the operator facing a 'firestorm' of disruption with several vessels out of action.Laura Miller asks the BBC’s David Henderson who’s to blame for the problems with our ferry network.Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller.Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Mar 31, 2026 • 27min
The questions raised by the Jordan Linden case
If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0n531cz SNP leader John Swinney has ordered an independent review of the party's complaints process after ex-council leader Jordan Linden (pictured) was convicted of sexually assaulting young men.Martin and David talk to Hannah Rodger from the Scottish Mail on Sunday about investigating the story.Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler and David Wallace Lockhart Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Mar 30, 2026 • 22min
Is the net closing on notorious gangster family?
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

Mar 27, 2026 • 28min
Politics Show: Sarwar, Findlay and end of term
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

Mar 26, 2026 • 55min
Russell Findlay: the election interview
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

Mar 25, 2026 • 24min
Offord admits to 'crude' George Michael joke
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

Mar 24, 2026 • 57min
Anas Sarwar: the election interview
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

Mar 23, 2026 • 21min
Drill, maybe drill? Our North Sea dilemma
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


