Advertise on podcast: The Stooshie: the politics podcast from DC Thomson

New Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra is a few weeks into the top job. He's made it through his first encounters at First Minister's Questions, and he's given his first set-piece speech to UK Labour conference. How is the man who once told Andy Burnham to "shut up" doing in the new role? We caught up with him after making it through the party's conference in Liverpool.

The team reassembles for a summer catch-up just as we get a brand new prime minister. Is this a democrat outrage or actually what the UK needs? What does it mean for Scotland and Holyrood? And what early signs can we see on what Andy Burnham will actually do in office?

Were you paying attention during the Scottish election? Do you have the brains to take on the toughest test in hyper-niche political questioning? Then you should play along with our traditional end of term Stooshie quiz. There is no prize other than personal glory. Enjoy.

Sir Keir Starmer has resigned. What will his departure mean, and can his likely replacement Andy Burnham succeed? We also discuss the by-election results in Arbroath and Broughty Ferry and Aberdeen South. And St Andrews University academic Dr Antonis Vradis speaks to us about his experience on the Gaza flotilla.

Yet more cuts at Dundee University mean lots more job losses. The team assesses what’s gone wrong and digs into the political backlash. It’s also the week of three big UK by-elections, including two covering Dundee and Aberdeen. We spoke to voters in Aberdeen South for their views.

Six party candidates join the Stooshie to go over the priorities for the key by-election, being held on June 18. Join us for a 90-minute special edition with candidates from the Conservatives, SNP, Reform, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Green party.

Plans to build a huge new AI data centre near a Fife village have proven divisive. But businessman Mark Wilson, the man behind the scheme, thinks it’s a “game-changer” for Fife. He speaks to us on the podcast about how he will address the concerns of Auchtertool villagers.

Politicians in London and Edinburgh are under pressure to listen to rural island voices and build better connections under the sea. We spoke to an engineer who builds tunnels around the world – but not our own islands. Andy Sloan has been talking to Westminster and Holyrood recently, and says infrastructure upgrades on that scale are a reality – it just needs political ‘champions’.

The former first minister is our special guest on the podcast this week. Mr Yousaf spoke candidly about Peter Murrell’s embezzlement conviction and the SNP campervan controversy. He also opens up about his in-laws being trapped in Gaza in late 2023 and gives his thoughts on the rise of Reform UK at the Holyrood election.

Just when you thought it was safe to forget about the election, along come two more. The team looks at the upcoming Westminster by-elections in Aberdeen South, and in Abroath and Broughty Ferry. John Swinney is sworn in as first minister once again - but what challenges lie ahead for his new government?

The team picks out the highlights from the Holyrood election and the stories behind the scenes. We look at the leaders, asking who is safe and whose coat is on a shoogly peg. We also assess the under-reported stories and concerns about a “spoiler” party targeting the Greens.

The future of the north-east takes centre stage in a specially recorded live edition of the podcast in Aberdeen. Six candidates from all main parties across the region join host Andy Philip in front of an audience at The Press and Journal offices in the city. Debate, including sharp questions from the public, covers the energy economy, transport, a housing emergency, colleges and universities, and the NHS. Listen to the full two-hour event here, recorded on April 30, in the run-up to the Scottish Parliament election on May 7.

The Holyrood election on May 7 takes centre stage in a specially recorded Leaders Debate live edition of the podcast in Dundee. Six leaders of Scotland's main political parties join host Sean O'Neil in front of an audience at The Courier's offices in the city.

The team talks through each of the six parties as we hit the final stretch. Can the  SNP win big or will they be pegged back? Who will win the battle for second place? And for the losers, what happens next?

The NHS is the number one concern for voters at the upcoming Holyrood election. Dr Chris Williams, based in Grantown-on-Spey, talks about the strain on GPs at the moment. What does he think the next government can do to help after May 7, and will walk-in clinics help ease pressure?