
Advertise on podcast: Scotcast
Rating
4.4from
This podcast has
398 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
BBC Radio ScotlandExplicit
No
Date created
2025/01/07
Latest episode
2026/10/09
Average duration
26 min.
Release period
2 days
Description
The BBC's Scottish news podcast, hosted by Martin Geissler. Conversation with trusted journalists and experts about the country's biggest stories.
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Podcast episodes
Check latest episodes from Scotcast podcast
Are our cities fit for the future?
2026/10/09
If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: Housing crisis: the emotional cost https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002h9zt
Journalist and author Gabriella Bennett (pictured) has spent years researching and writing about housing in Scotland. Her new book “How to Build a City” explores how people around the world live in urban spaces, and how we might live in the future.
She joins Laura to discuss how growing up in Glenrothes shaped how she thinks about cities, and what we can learn from cities around the world.
Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller.
Photo credit: Kimberley Grant
Get in touch: [email protected]
Is Swinney in trouble over pensions claim? – Politics Show
2026/10/08
If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: Will Burnham’s big sell work in Scotland? - Politics Show https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00324k5
Lynsey, Phil and deputy political editor of the Daily Record Chris McCall talk about John Swinney (pictured) defending comments he made about proposed changes to the UK state pension amid claims he may have misled Parliament; the pitfalls of party conference season; and Alex Cole-Hamilton’s latest online videos.
Photo: PA
Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode of the Politics Show is hosted by Lynsey Bews and Phil Sim.
Get in touch: [email protected]
What should happen to BBC Scotland?
2026/10/07
If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘STV boss on costs, cuts and a backlash’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002nkws
The BBC’s new director general Matt Brittin has said that some channels and radio stations may have to go as the corporation faces a drop in licence fee payers and an audience rapidly moving online.
Martin Geissler speaks to TV industry veteran Stuart Cosgrove about whether the BBC Scotland channel could be at risk – and what impact that could have on what programmes are made.
Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast.
Get in touch: [email protected]
Why Scottish Greens waded into the Zionism row
2026/10/06
If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘Meet the new Scottish Green leaders’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002j5l7
Ross Greer (pictured) has said Zionism is racist, following a controversial motion approved by the Green Party of England and Wales.
We dissect Martin’s BBC Radio Scotland interview with the Scottish Green co-leader.
Photo: PA Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler and Natalie Higgins.
Get in touch: [email protected]
What on earth is going on at Celtic?
2026/10/05
If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘Old Firm sanctions: why football bosses got tough’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0030xb8
Celtic’s major shareholder Dermot Desmond (pictured) has been targeted by fans critical of the 76-year-old's stewardship of the club.
Martin talks to The Herald’s Stephen McGowan and Tino Callaghan, host of the Celtic Exchange podcast, about the Celtic Fan Collective’s tennis ball protest in St Andrews – and the furious reaction it provoked.
Photo: PA
Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler.
Get in touch: [email protected]
Humza Yousaf on Gaza and life as FM in Sturgeon’s shadow
2026/10/02
If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Shona Robison on Sturgeon, Murrell and her stalker’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0nz42h1
Humza Yousaf was the first First Minister to have family stuck in an active war zone while doing the top job. In his new book ‘Under Fire’, he details the four weeks his in-laws were in Gaza, just after the October 7th attack by Hamas on Israel - and the subsequent Israeli bombardment of the territory.
Laura Miller talks to him about dealing with a family emergency, being First Minister in Nicola Sturgeon’s shadow and his plans for the future.
Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast.
Get in touch: [email protected]
Will Burnham’s big sell work in Scotland? - Politics Show
2026/10/01
If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: Independence manoeuvres, council shake-ups and political GIFs – Politics Show https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0031vgq
Natalie, Phil and former Labour adviser James Matthewson talk about what the end of the triple lock on pensions could mean in Scotland; Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s (pictured) decision to address the future of the union in his conference speech; and when the next general election will be.
Photo: PA
Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode of the Politics Show is hosted by Natalie Higgins and Phil Sim.
What has changed in the way rape cases are heard?
2026/09/30
If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Why are so many men committing sex crimes?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0p90gzq
A High Court ruling last week changed how corroboration can be used in sexual offence cases. Many of Scotland's leading criminal defence lawyers believe this could risk the accused’s right to a fair trial.
Edith Forrest KC talks to Martin Geissler about what has changed – and how that is impacting how cases are heard.
Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast.
Get in touch: [email protected]
The Promise: a government hamstrung by bureaucracy?
2026/09/29
The government is failing to deliver ‘The Promise’ - first made by Nicola Sturgeon in 2016 – to support all the 12,000 kids living in care. That’s the verdict of the oversight board in a new report.
Its boss tells us about the level of government bureaucracy he faces – and what needs to change.
Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler.
Get in touch: [email protected]
Glasgow City Council vs the unions - what next?
2026/09/28
Glasgow City Council has agreed to pause plans to fire and rehire more than 23,000 members of staff.
Martin is joined by journalists Catriona Stewart from the Scotsman and Beth Templeton from the Glasgow Bell about why this story is decades in the making, and how might it be resolved.
Photo: PA
Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler.
Get in touch: [email protected]
Scientist: ‘We can stop dementia in a generation’
2026/09/25
If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Weight-loss jabs and the NHS: a 'national disgrace'?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0nml1lz
Around 90,000 people are living with dementia in Scotland – and about 144,000 people care for them.
But how close are we to stopping dementia in its tracks, through testing and preventative treatments? The neuroscientist Professor Tara Spires Jones says we’re closer than you think.
Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Natalie Higgins.
Get in touch: [email protected]
Independence manoeuvres, council shake-ups and political GIFs – Politics Show
2026/09/24
If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘Can Michael Marra stick to his indyref2 position?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0031ss7
Natalie, Phil and former the Scottish Labour MSP Paul O’Kane talk about John Swinney’s (pictured) Holyrood motion on independence and how the new Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra (pictured) responded – plus the proposed major changes to councils and Rory Stewart’s viral moment.
Photo: PA
Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode of the Politics Show is hosted by Natalie Higgins.
Get in touch: [email protected]
Sandie Peggie takes on her trade union
2026/09/23
If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘Is the Sandie Peggie ruling discredited?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002njyw
Sandie Peggie (pictured) is taking legal action against her trade union, the Royal College of Nursing, in a dispute over her gender-critical beliefs.
Martin talks to the BBC’s Lorna Gordon, who watched the opening day of evidence at the employment tribunal in Dundee.
Photo: PA
Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler.
Get in touch: [email protected]
The new killer drugs flooding Scotland
2026/09/22
If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Our problem with drugs’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0029hch
Scotland’s drug supply is getting more and more dangerous, according to Dr Lorna Nisbet (pictured) of Dundee University's Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science.
That’s because a new type of synthetic opioid, called nitazenes, are flooding the market. Five hundred times more potent than heroin, a single grain can kill.
Martin Geissler speaks to the BBC’s James Cook about the criminal gangs making these drugs, and how law enforcement struggles to keep up.
Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast.
Get in touch: [email protected]
Can Michael Marra stick to his indyref2 position?
2026/09/21
If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like: ‘The Scottish Labour leadership interviews’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0030b3d
Michael Marra (pictured) overcame fellow MSP Joe Fagan to be elected Scottish Labour’s eleventh leader.
As MSPs prepare to vote on the principle of self-determination, we ask the Daily Record’s Chris McCall and ex-Labour spokesperson James Matthewson how Marra will deal with questions about another independence referendum.
Photo: PA
Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler.
Get in touch: [email protected]
Podcast reviews
Read Scotcast podcast reviews
Chris_Tyler 2026/04/17
Obvious bias
Love the show but needs a more balanced approach. Need hosts and guests of various perspectives.
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